David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 904 Attempt (2021-08-08)

Notes (S903)

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Notes (S904)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2021-08-08)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Try out AstroMain 3.40.8, 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 3.40.8,  AstroPlan 1.22.4,  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

•   AutoMain.  AstroMain 3.40.8 worked ok following fixes to issues in previous S903 session
•   MeadeGeneric.  Telescope connection with date/time bypass proceeded ok
•   Cloud. Skies were cloudy for most of the night and consequently targets were acquired/imaged.

Notes:

• AutoStart Details :
  

  AutoStart Monitoring                    2021-08-08 22:14  (Local)
    AutoStart Reference:        Info      2021-08-08 22:40  (Local, Sun Altitude -10.2 degs)
    AutoStart Window:           Info      2021-08-08 22:14  (Local, Earliest Start)
                                Info      2021-08-09 03:17  (Local, Latest Start)
    Delaying AutoStart...       Info      Unable to begin AutoStart at 22:14 due to high humidity
    Waiting...                  Info      Waiting till conditions are fully suitable for observing

    AutoStart Check             Ok        Conditions at 01:08 are suitable for starting an observing session
    Starting AutoStart...       Info      Starting AutoStart at 01:08

  Session Equilibration                   2021-08-09 01:12  (Local)       Atcual 01:08 
    Now                         Info      2021-08-09 01:12  ( -19 mins )
    Expected Shutter Opening    Info      2021-08-09 01:12  ( -19 mins )  Actual 01:13  (0 min)
    Expected Equilbrat'n Start  Info      2021-08-09 01:13  ( -18 mins )  Actual 01:13  (0 min)
    Expected Run Start          Info      2021-08-09 01:14  ( -17 mins )  Actual 01:14  (0 min)
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc1   Info      2021-08-09 01:15  ( -16 mins )  Actual 01:14  (-1 min)
    Expected Near-Zenith Foc2   Info      2021-08-09 01:23  (  -8 mins )  Actual 01:18  (-5 min)
    Expected Queue Start        Info      2021-08-09 01:29  (  -2 mins )  Suspended 01:19 (-10 min)
    Plan Queue Start            Info      2021-08-09 01:31  ( On Track )  Suspended 01:19 (-12 min)

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

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 22:14:35 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:14 & 03:17 22:14:38   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to high humidity 22:35:00 User Intervention User intervention to disable high humidity check 01:08:59 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (01:08) 01:09:28 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-08-08 S00904, ImageSaveNum: 904001) 01:09:30   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 01:11:13   Services Started Observatory Services started 01:11:20 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 01:11:24 Session Pending Session pending (2021-08-08) 01:11:26 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-08-08) 01:11:28   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.22.4) 01:11:47   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 643) 01:12:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 01:12:08   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 01:12:19 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 01:13:05   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:13:08   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 01:14:25   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (1.3 mins total) 01:14:27 Session Running Session running 01:14:29   Queue Started Observing Queue started (9 targets selected) 01:14:31     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 01:15:00   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 01:15:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:15:45   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 01:18:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 01:18:40 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:18:42   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:18:51       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted due to HardSuspend 01:18:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 01:19:14     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 01:19:15   Queue Paused Queue pausing for Session Suspension 01:19:17 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:20:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:31:21 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:32:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:32:08 Session Running Session running 01:32:10     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 01:32:12   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:32:14   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 01:32:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:35:32 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:35:34   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:35:38       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted due to HardSuspend 01:35:40       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 01:35:57     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 01:35:59     Target Aborted (1/9) Target aborted (1/9, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) due to cloud 01:36:01   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:36:04 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:36:52   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:48:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/9, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 02:07:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/9, NGC 7767 w/AT2021kni) due to cloud 02:29:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/9, UGC 505 w/SN2021ukt) due to cloud 02:41:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/9, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 02:50:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/9, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 02:58:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/9, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 03:18:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/9, M31 w/AT2021urk) due to cloud 03:39:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/9, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 03:39:29   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:39:33 Session Closing Session closing 03:39:38   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 01:36, closing time 50s) 03:40:24   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 38s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:41:30   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 60s) 03:41:45   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 03:42:05   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:42:55   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:42:57 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:42:58 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2021-08-08, S904 Attempt)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Table with Pre-Park Scope Path in logfile contains several Az NaN values. Scope Path points between time 7.1s and 9.8s show Az with value NaN. These seem to correspond to points which have expected Az values close to 180.0° (specifically between 179.14° for time 6.1s and 180.07° deg for time10.8s). There was one case of Az NaN in the following S904 session (2021-08-09).  Extra code added to AstroMain 3.40.9 to help trace occurances of this issue.  Problem may have been fixed in 3.40.9 with the use of Az/Alt values direct from telescope rather than using Az/Alt values calculated from Ra/Dec positions.  No occurance of the problem in Session S905 (2021-08-14).  Decision made on 2021-08-16 to close issue, but continue to monitor log files from next few sessions to ensure problem has been fully fixed.
   Resolved / Closed 2021-08-16 (AstroMain 3.40.9)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

•  None

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