David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 901 (2021-06-11)

Notes (S900)

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Notes (S902)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (5)
	Images from 2021-06-11 >>      [ Local Files >> ]
	2021-07-18
	MeadeGeneric Telescope Driver (1.2.0 and 1.3.0)

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-06-11)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Try out AstroMain 3.40.5, following further refactoring of code.  Check out fixes and enhancements. Check for any new issues / introduced bugs.
2. Guiding.  Collect information to understand the impact of focuser movements & associated change in weight distribution on guiding
3. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.4,  MeadeLX200GPS / MeadeGeneric 1.1.0.337, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev4
   
• AstroMain 3.40.5,  AstroPlan 1.22.3,  AstroShCap 1.3.11, AstroGuard 1.6,   AstroVOE 1.7, AstroSN 1.5.1,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.12.4, AstroAllSky 3.10.4, AstroObsCam 1.5.5)

Highlights

•   Autostart & StartUp.  Session started smoothly with Plan starting at 00:51 (4 mins ahead of Reference Time of 00:55, - 9.5 deg Sun Alt)
•   Cloud. Sky was cloudier than original forecast.

Notes:

• Autostart Details:
  
  AutoStart Monitoring                    2021-06-11 22:08  (Local)
    AutoStart Reference:        Info      2021-06-12 00:55  (Local, Sun Altitude -9.5 degs)
    AutoStart Window:           Info      2021-06-12 00:25  (Local, Earliest Start)
                                Info      2021-06-12 00:47  (Local, Latest Start)
    Waiting...                  Info      Waiting till the beginning of AutoStart Window at 00:25
    Delaying AutoStart...       Info      Unable to begin AutoStart at 00:25 due to too few stars
    Waiting...                  Info      Waiting till conditions are fully suitable for observing
  
    AutoStart Check             Ok        Conditions at 00:28 are suitable for starting an observing session
    Starting AutoStart...       Info      Starting AutoStart at 00:28
  
  Session Equilibration                   2021-06-12 00:33  (Local)
    Now                         Info      2021-06-12 00:33  ( -23 mins )
    Expected Shutter Opening    Info      2021-06-12 00:33  ( -23 mins ) Actual 00:33  (0 min)
    Expected Equilbrat'n Start  Info      2021-06-12 00:34  ( -22 mins ) Actual 00:34  (0 min)
    Expected Run Start          Info      2021-06-12 00:39  ( -17 mins ) Actual 00:39  (0 min)
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc1   Info      2021-06-12 00:40  ( -16 mins ) Actual 00:39  (- 1 min)
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc2   Info      2021-06-12 00:48  (  -8 mins ) Actual 00:45  (- 3 min)
    Expected Queue Start        Info      2021-06-12 00:54  (  -2 mins )
    Plan Queue Start            Info      2021-06-12 00:56  ( On Track ) Actual 00:51  (- 5 min)
  
  

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance Notes: Precision Centering of Target 1/6, BL Lac (orange) failed due to Cloud.

Guiding Performance Dec Notes : Run 1 (black) failed due to cloud/incorrect Dec Mode selection. Run 2 (black) failed due to cloud.

Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)

Night Sky Summary Plot Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s) Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 22:08:29 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:25 & 00:47 00:25:55   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 00:25 00:25:56   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 00:28:51 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:28) 00:29:22 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-06-11 S00901, ImageSaveNum: 901001) 00:29:25   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:31:07   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:31:15 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:31:18 Session Pending Session pending (2021-06-11) 00:31:20 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-06-11) 00:31:22   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.22.3) 00:32:43   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 640) 00:32:58   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 00:33:04   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:33:21 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:34:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:34:17   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 00:39:16   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (5.0 mins total) 00:39:18 Session Running Session running 00:39:20   Queue Started Observing Queue started (6 targets selected) 00:39:22     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 17, HIP 83575) 00:40:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:43:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:45:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:45:26       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:47:56       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:49:50       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:50:10     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 17, HIP 83575) 00:51:17     Target Started (1/6) Target started (1/6, GCVS BL Lac) 00:55:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:00:32     Target Completed Target completed (1/6, GCVS BL Lac) 01:01:35     Target Started (2/6) Target started (2/6, GCVS U Her) 01:05:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:07:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:07:09   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 01:07:11 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:07:13   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:08:10     Target Aborted (2/6) Target aborted (2/6, GCVS U Her) due to cloud 01:08:12   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:08:14 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:09:04   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:12:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/6, GCVS U Her) due to cloud 01:21:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/6, GCVS SS Her) due to cloud 01:29:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/6, HIP 87937) due to cloud 01:39:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/6, GCVS CY Lyr) due to cloud 01:45:02 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:45:47   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:45:49 Session Running Session running 01:45:51     Target Started (6/6) Target started (6/6, GCVS AM Her) 01:45:53   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:49:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:51:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:56:08     Target Completed Target completed (6/6, GCVS AM Her) 01:56:11   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 01:56:13 Session Closing Session closing 01:57:08   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:57:54   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 38s), Az: 90.0 deg 01:59:00   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 58s) 01:59:15   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 01:59:35   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 02:00:25   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:00:27 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:00:34 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2021-06-11, S901)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (5)

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Critical Issues

•  None

Major Issues

•  None

Minor Issues

• Number of images examined during VMA 3 analysis and number of failed images are incorrect.  3 images where examined (VMA3) of which 2 out of 3 failed.   However VMA3 reported that 4 images where examined, 3 failed & 1 succeeded. Reasons for failure aren't given (reason counts 'Failed to ... etc) are all zero). Problem related to recent refactoring of VMA code.
    Fixed 2021-06-12 (AstroMain 3.40.6)
   
• VMA 2 Analysis failing in cases where WCS center is reported to be offset. .  Selected Images where examined (VMA3) from earlier S826 session of which 2 out of 3 failed. 
    And_RX.20201103.im826054.8s.R.FIT
    Linking image (UCA/USNO)... Ok        Solved in 1.6s    (Stars 21, Scale 1.409, Angle 179.0°)
    - Checking WCS              Fail      WCS center is offset by 1.31 arc mins [Offset N: 1.08',  W -0.74']
    - Fixing BestRaDec2000      Info      Resetting BestRaDec2000 to coordinates of WCS Center (CRVAL1, CRVAL2)
    Star C    Fail      SAO 36919         Offset: 79.1"     
    Star K    Fail      GSC 2803:1045     Offset: 79.0"     
    Star V    Fail      GSC 2807:1623     Offset: 79.4" 
  Issue fixed by updating the ValidateWCS routine to set SavedWCSisValid= False when it recognises a situation where Plate Solved Image Center doesn't match the WCS Center coordinates, and then subsequently use this flag to either use Image.XYToRADec & Image.RaDecToXY (when Flag is True) or use the alternate CalcRaDecToXY & CalcXYToRADec() routines (when Flag is False).
   Fixed  2021-06-13 (AstroMain 3.40.6)

Small Defects

• Session name isn't updated on Session Tab when Test session is selected (VMA Mode).   Code shows that ChangeSession() routine was  deliberately being exited before VM.SessionName is updated.  This 'exit sub' line is now commented out in AstroMain 3.40.6 so that Session name is refreshed ok.   Monitor for any unwanted side-effects.
   Fixed  2021-06-12 (AstroMain 3.40.6)

Continuous Improvement

• Include an 'Open Logs folder' button to AstroMain VMA Tab.
   Done 2021-06-12 (AstroMain 3.40.6)
   
• Implement 'Locate First Image'.  Ob.LocateImageLite() routine has already been created to Plate Solve the active mage and update the LocateInfo aray. (The routine calls PlateSolveImage() and upon success then calls CalculatePointingError() and UpdateLocateInfo_OB()  ).    The routine is called from OB.TakeMainScopeFrames and executed upon the following condition 'iFrameNo = 1 And bLocateFirstImage'
   Done 2021-06-12 (AstroMain 3.40.6)
   
• Incorporate Centering table in Session's Local Web Page. Aim is to include (centering).dat file in web page as per Latest Session Page online. This has previously proved problematic to do without using scripts (as running scripts on local web pages is generally disabled and has to be enabled each time page is opened which is a showstopper).  Proposal is to read the (centering).dat file and write rows into Web Page when it is built.  (this makes the values hard-coded into the web page).   
   Done 2021-06-14 (AstroMain 3.40.6)
   
• Star Inventory to be switched off in CCDSoft after linking an Image during Target Analysis.  This is to better streamline the normal process,  which currently requires user to manually turn-off star inventory to allow a clearer view of the image whilst the Black/White range is adjusted via Histogram tool.
   Done 2021-06-16 (AstroMain 3.40.6)
   
• Complete backlog of image building and web page documentation of all 8 observing sessions from May-Jun 2021.  6 sessions still incomplete as of 2022-04-12. Backlog finally completed 2024-07-27.
  Done 2024-07-27 (Session, Website) 

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2021-07-18

MeadeGeneric Telescope Driver (1.2.0 & 1.3.0)

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