David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 903 (2021-08-04)

Notes (S902)

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Notes (S904A)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2021-08-04 >>      [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-08-04)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Try out AstroMain 3.40.7, following fixes and enhancements. Check for any new issues / introduced bugs.
2. 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 2.6.9dev5,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.4,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.0.344, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev4
   
• AstroMain 3.40.7,  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

•   AutoGuard.  AstroGuard successfully intervened to close down Observatory after AstroMain program crashed.
•  AstroMain. AstroMain crashed
• Cloud. Skies were cloudier than original forecast.

Notes

• Autostart Details:
  

  AutoStart Monitoring                    2021-08-04 21:10  (Local)
    AutoStart Reference:        Info      2021-08-04 22:54  (Local, Sun Altitude -10.2 degs)
    AutoStart Window:           Info      2021-08-04 22:24  (Local, Earliest Start)
                                Info      2021-08-05 03:04  (Local, Latest Start)
    Waiting...                  Info      Waiting till the beginning of AutoStart Window at 22:24
    Delaying AutoStart...       Info      Unable to begin AutoStart at 22:24 due to too few stars
    Waiting...                  Info      Waiting till conditions are fully suitable for observing
  
    AutoStart Check             Ok        Conditions at 22:54 are suitable for starting an observing session
    Starting AutoStart...       Info      Starting AutoStart at 22:54

    Aborting AutoStart...       Alert     Aborting AutoStart & returning to Manual Mode (23:32)
  
  Restarted AstroMain due to telescope connection issue
  
  AutoStart Monitoring                    2021-08-04 23:39  (Local)
    AutoStart Reference:        Info      2021-08-04 22:54  (Local, Sun Altitude -10.2 degs)
    AutoStart Window:           Info      2021-08-04 23:39  (Local, Earliest Start)
                                Info      2021-08-05 03:04  (Local, Latest Start)
    Delaying AutoStart...       Info      Unable to begin AutoStart at 23:39 due to high humidity
    Waiting...                  Info      Waiting till conditions are fully suitable for observing
  
    AutoStart Check             Ok        Conditions at 23:39 are suitable for starting an observing session
    Starting AutoStart...       Info      Starting AutoStart at 23:39
  

  Session Equilibration                   2021-08-04 23:42  (Local)
    Now                         Info      2021-08-04 23:42  ( -18 mins )
    Expected Shutter Opening    Info      2021-08-04 23:42  ( -18 mins )  Actual 23:42  (0 min)
    Expected Equilbrat'n Start  Info      2021-08-04 23:43  ( -17 mins )  Actual 23:43  (0 min)
    Expected Run Start          Info      2021-08-04 23:43  ( -17 mins )  Actual 23:43  (0 min)
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc1   Info      2021-08-04 23:44  ( -16 mins )  Actual 23:43  (-1 min)
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc2   Info      2021-08-04 23:52  (  -8 mins )  Actual 23:49  (-3 min)
    Expected Queue Start        Info      2021-08-04 23:58  (  -2 mins )  Actual 23:54  (-4 min)
    Plan Queue Start            Info      2021-08-05 00:00  ( On Track )  Actual 23:55  (-5 min)

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance

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 22:55:17 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-08-04 S00903, ImageSaveNum: 903001) 22:55:19   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:56:55   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:32:32 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 23:38:52   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:39:32 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:39 & 03:04 23:39:33 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:39 & 03:04 23:39:34 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 23:39:35   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to high humidity 23:39:37   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to high humidity 23:39:55 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:39) 23:39:56 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:39) 23:40:34   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:40:39 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:40:41 Session Pending Session pending (2021-08-04) 23:40:43 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-08-04) 23:40:45   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.22.3) 23:42:02   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 642) 23:42:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 23:42:14   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:42:30 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:43:16   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:43:41 Session Running Session running 23:43:44   Queue Started Observing Queue started (17 targets selected) 23:43:46     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 23:45:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:47:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:49:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:49:38       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:52:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:53:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:54:13     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 23:55:41     Target Started (1/17) Target started (1/17, M57) 00:00:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:02:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:23:27     Target Completed Target completed (1/17, M57) 00:26:33     Target Started (2/17) Target started (2/17, GCVS CI Cyg) 00:33:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:35:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:38:18     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/17, GCVS CI Cyg) 00:38:20     Target Started (3/17) Target started (3/17, AT2021uoa (CV)) 00:44:52   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 00:44:54   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft restarting in attempt to fix image save issue [0000] 00:46:05 Program Hung AstroMain progam hung due to unhandled exception taking image 00:46:34 Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 00:46 - 00:46 00:46:35 Program Crashed AstroMain program cashed due to unhanded exception taking Image 01:01:00 Auto Intervention AstroGuard program intervened after 15mins to close down Observatory 01:01:05 Session Closing Observatory Closing Down under AstroGuard Control 04:53:00 User Intervention User Intervention to restart Observatory Software

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:32:32 Scope Alert TheSky's scope is reporting a RA=0/Dec=0 position or is not connected 23:40:41 Dome Alert DomeRecords have stopped updating 00:10:43 Dome Alert DomeRecords are not updating 00:40:46 Dome Alert DomeRecords are not updating 00:44:52 CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 04:56:07 Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 00:46) 04:56:20 Cloud Sensor Cloud Sensor data has been inactive for more than 5 mins

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Operational Issues (2021-08-04, S903)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• AstroMain crashed (unhandled RPC exception ).  AstroMain crashed at 00:46, due to unhandled exception "The RPC server is unavailable. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800706BA)".  at (line 6734 in jobqueue.vb).   AstroGuard successfully intervened to close down Observatory after AstroMain program crashed.  Opening the debugger shows that the exception occurs in the TakeMainImage routine" () on the line "If Image.Path <> "" then" .  Researching this error suggests that it occurs when Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) blocks a WMI connection.  However the act of accessing and comparing the value of Image.Path (which should be a local file) shouldn't have ellicited a firewall response. The exception is not directly explainable.     Investigating further showed that problems began at 00:43, when the JobExecutor reported that a CCD Image hadn't saved to disk (the so-called  "0000" condition).  Logs show that new Image being started at 00:43:48  with "SBIG driver: Transmission timeout" error occuring at 00:44:32.   At around the same time Obs.Monitor stalled briefly at ~00:43:58 and then became frozen at ~00:44:08. The normal recovery procedue was initiated and at 00:44 an attempt was made to restart CCDSoft.   However after restarting CCDSoft & creating a new camera object, connection to the SBIG camera failed at 00:45 with the message "SBIG driver: Camera not found."   At about the same time (00:45:13) CCDMonitor gave the error message "Exception: The remote procedure call failed. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800706BE) ".   At 00:46:04  Take Image failed with message "No connection".  Also at  00:46:04 the CCDMonitor reported  "Exception: The RPC server is unavailable. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800706BA)".    The Job Executor needs to be able to trap and record the exception and do it in a way that the program doesn't crash, and can either safely recover  or put the Observatory into 'Safe Mode'.   AstroMain 3.40.8 made more robust to issues of this kind.  New FailureState (26)= "Exception" added to AstroMain 3.40.8 and AstroPlan 1.22.4 (2021-08-08).
    Mitigation attempted  2021-08-08 (AstroMain 3.40.8)

Minor Issues

• Dome Control showing a Red Traffic Light.  ObsPic pictures show a Red traffic light for entire session (from running Autostart at 21:08 up until 00:46 when the AstroMain program crashed.   The Dome Control traffic light only returned to Green when Observatory Software was restarted at 05:03.   Problem seems to be related to loss of connection to UPB PowerBox in hours prior to session which caused CCD Monitor to become frozen.  It is unclear why traffic light didn't return to green after UPB software was restarted just prior to session.
   Closed 2021-08-08 (Observatory) 
   
• LX200 Date Prompts still showing after telescope connection.  Telescope connection issue when AutoStarting Session at 22:56:36,  with message "Daylight prompts are still showing" after connection, with the alert message "Daylight Saving prompt ! (Autoset Time/Date appears not to have worked)" .   TheSky's scope reported "TheSky's scope is reporting a RA=0/Dec=0 position or is not connected"  AutoStart was automatically aborted and the observatory returned to manual mode.  Manual intervention was appropriate to the problem and the Telescope was disconnected and then connected again (successfully this time) at 23:37. Why did the MeadeGeneric driver (1.3.0.344) fail to by-pass the Scope's Date Prompts fail ?. Should AstroMain automatically disconnect in such a situation and make a second attempt to disconnect.   Does MeadeGeneric need to wait for longer before checking AutoStar display message ?. MeadeGeneric ascom log from 2021-08-04 began at  23:37:43. This dates to the second attempt to connect scope.   The first attempt to connect scope is logged in earlier ascom log from 2021-07-24.  This indicates that DeviceHub continued to have a connection to the MeadeGeneric driver after the end of the last session (S902, 2021-07-24). This happened even though LX200 was parked and powered and disconnected in AstroMain and PHD2. Monitor next few sessions and ensure that the MeadeGeneric driver is fully disconnected & closed between sessions. It is conjectured that this issue could potentially arise if Telescope driver was still connected in AstroGuard,  as this connection is not automatically closed at end of session,  but has to be manually closed via AstroGuard's main form.
    Resolved (AstroMain, Observatory, MeadeGeneric driver)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

•  None

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