David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 907 (2021-08-23)

Notes (S906)

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Notes (S908)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	Images from 2021-08-23 >>        [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-08-23)

Main aims

1. 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 2.6.10,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.4,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.1.361, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.10
   
• AstroMain 3.41.3,  AstroPlan 1.22.5,  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 1.5.7)

Highlights

•  Targets. 6/15 planned targets were completed with 2 other targets partially completed.
•  Haze/Cloud.   Conditions deteriorated after 4th target with haze banks along the horizon and thin cloud overhead.  Issue made worse by full moon, that lit up the haze/cloud and made the sky particularly bright. Clarity around 24-25 and AllSky Star count dropping to just 3-10.

Notes:

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 23:20:20 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:20 & 03:33 23:20:21   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 00:13:20 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:13) 00:13:50 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-08-23 S00907, ImageSaveNum: 907001) 00:13:52   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:15:35   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:15:42 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:15:46 Session Pending Session pending (2021-08-23) 00:15:48 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-08-23) 00:15:50   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.22.6) 00:16:26   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 648) 00:16:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 00:16:49   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:17:04 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:17:51   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 46s) 00:18:46 Session Running Session running 00:18:48   Queue Started Observing Queue started (15 targets selected) 00:18:50     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 00:20:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:23:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:25:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:25:36       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:27:51       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:29:39       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:29:59     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 00:30:46     Target Started (1/15) Target started (1/15, C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)) 00:34:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:35:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:43:49     Target Completed Target completed (1/15, C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)) 00:45:12     Target Started (2/15) Target started (2/15, GCVS SS Cyg) 00:48:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:50:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:54:01     Target Completed Target completed (2/15, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:00:23     Target Started (3/15) Target started (3/15, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 01:03:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:20:17     Target Completed Target completed (3/15, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 01:22:15     Target Started (4/15) Target started (4/15, 17P/Holmes) 01:26:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:28:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:38:35     Target Completed Target completed (4/15, 17P/Holmes) 01:38:45     Target Started (5/15) Target started (5/15, GCVS BL Lac) 01:42:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:44:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:48:03     Target Completed Target completed (5/15, GCVS BL Lac) 01:49:03     Target Started (6/15) Target started (6/15, Nova Cas 2021) 01:53:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:55:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:02:04     Target Completed Target completed (6/15, Nova Cas 2021) 02:02:06     Target Started (7/15) Target started (7/15, GCVS RX And) 02:05:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:07:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:09:06 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:09:08   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:09:10     Target Aborted (7/15) Target aborted (7/15, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 02:09:12   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:09:14 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:09:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 02:09:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/15, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 02:28:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/15, NGC 940 w/SN2021vtl) due to cloud 02:45:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/15, Nova Per 2020) due to cloud 02:53:25 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:54:10   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:54:12 Session Running Session running 02:54:14   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:54:16     Target Started (10/15) Target started (10/15, 15P/Finlay) 02:58:10 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 02:58:12   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:58:15     Target Aborted (10/15) Target aborted (10/15, 15P/Finlay) due to cloud 02:58:17   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:58:19 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:59:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:01:05 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:01:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:01:52 Session Running Session running 03:01:54   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:01:56     Target Started (10/15) Target started (10/15, 15P/Finlay) 03:06:56   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 03:07:52     Target Completed Target partially completed (10/15, 15P/Finlay) 03:07:54   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:07:56 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:08:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:10:01 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:10:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:10:48 Session Running Session running 03:10:50   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:10:52     Target Started (11/15) Target started (11/15, UGC 3240 w/AT2021vau) 03:12:01 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 03:12:03   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:12:05     Target Aborted (11/15) Target aborted (11/15, UGC 3240 w/AT2021vau) due to cloud 03:12:07   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:12:09 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:12:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:14:17 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:15:02   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:15:04 Session Running Session running 03:15:06   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:15:08     Target Started (11/15) Target started (11/15, UGC 3240 w/AT2021vau) 03:23:47 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 03:23:49   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:23:56     Target Aborted (11/15) Target aborted (11/15, UGC 3240 w/AT2021vau) due to cloud 03:23:58   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:24:00 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:24:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:38:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/15, 2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 03:48:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/15, GCVS Z And) due to cloud 03:56:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/15, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 04:14:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/15, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 04:14:47   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:14:53 Session Closing Session closing 04:14:57   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:24, closing time 50s) 04:15:20   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 14s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:16:40   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 75s) 04:16:56   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 04:17:16   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:18:04   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:18:06 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:18:13 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 00:32:12 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)) 01:51:43 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (Nova Cas 2021) 03:59:01 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted 03:59:03 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch could not be restarted

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Operational Issues (2021-08-23, S907)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (3)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• UPB Switch service could not be restarted (03:59).  After UPB Switch was unexpectedly disconnected a simple restart of  UPB.Switch service was attempted but failed. Code is already present in AstroMain to restart the UPB Software in this situation.  This executed and was successful in restoring the UPB Switch service.   A separate improvement ticket will be raised to add a Green Alert when the UPB Software/UPB Switch service has been successfully restarted.
   Automatically resolved (Session)
   
• Attempt to image C/2019 U6 (Lemmon) was needlessly made.  Comet wasn't visible in earlier session S826 (2020-11-03), when comet was at Sun Distance 2.36 AU / expected mag +15.9. With comet having now receeded to 5.50 AU / expected mag +20.9, it was extremely unlikely that comet would have detected on this occasion.  Time was taken attempting to  image the comet when the time could have been better spent on another target.  Comet  has been removed from active comet list to prevent the same thing happening in future session. 
   Closed (AstroDatabase)
   
• Collection of AllSky Meas for Focus Field 21 timed out waiting for information from AllSky Computer (00:18). Code added in AstroMain 3.42.3 to include a Conditions report at start of near zenith focusing.  Current Conditions and Next 15 mins Forecast both work ok, but the current AllSky Meas reports 'timed out waiting for information from AllSky Computer. AstroAllSky logs shows that AllSKy Measurements are made against the Scope Measure at 00:18 to 00:20 , but a measurement against 'Focus Field 21' position isn't made until 00:21:23 by which time the AstroMain job executor has already timed out waiting for a 'Focus Field 21 result.  Need to understand why there coud be a delay in AllSky computer recieving the Focus Field 21 position. It doesn't appear to be a communication delay.  It seems that the initial setting of Target details(0) with Focus Field 21 position somehow get's blanked/cleared and only becomes set to Focus Field 21 position after the telescope has completed its slew to the position.  The same issue affected 'Focus Field 19' in the following session (S908).  Fix attempted 2021-08-26. ShowScope("Scope") called at same time as setting NextTarget(0) to the selected Focus Field. This should ensure that AstroAllSky recognises that Scope is to be shown and not hidden. Fix attempted 2021-08-28 (AstroMain 3.41.5) but didn't work.  Extra Trace message added to AstroMain 3.41.6 (controlled via cboxTraceCloudInformation checkbox on More/Backdoor Tab) to help understand this issue. Review (2022-05-16) indicates that issue hasn't not been resolved despite multiple atttempts in 2021.  Issue closed 2022-06-03 as the issue can't be readily fixed and it has been decided to remove the reporting of AllSky Measurement from Near Zenith Focusing in order to avoid waiting for a 30s time-out.
  Closed 2022-06-03 (AstroMain 3.51.13) 

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Add a Green Alert message when UPB Switch service has been successfully restored following a restart of UPB Software.  After UPB Switch unexpectedly disconnects, as it occasionally does, a simple restart of UPB.Switch service is performed. This is normally successfully but when it isn't a Red Alert message is issued 'UPB.Switch could not be restarted' and UPB Software is restarted.  It would be helpful if a Green Alert was then issued following successful restart of the UPB Software & associated restoration of UPB.Switch connection.  Without the Green Alert user remains worried by the Red Alert and has to delve deeper into reporting to establish that session is still ok.  Requires adding  code to make a simple test to confirm that Switch service is functional (e. raise dew heater by 1 point
   Done 2021-08-26 (AstroMain 3.41.4)
   
• Collect -5deg C Master Dark frames for missing exposures.  Several master darks frames are missing for the -5degC set temperature setting. Whilst special reduction  (bias with 2 banding master darks taken at 2 different exposure) can be used and -5degC set point isn't normally used outside summertime it is preferrable to complete set of dark frames if possible.  Darks collected in afternoon and late evening of 2021-08-25 and compiled into master darks on 2021-08-26.
   Done 2021-08-26 (Session S908)
   
• A number of small issues found using RSpec 2.0.0, which require a workaround or an annoying repeated action.  Need to document issues/requests and pass onto the RSpec author for his consideration/incorporation into future RSpec release. (Note: upgrades will remain free for 1 year from date of recent upgrade purchase on 2021-08-21).
   To pass issues/requests to RSpec Author (RSpec)

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