David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 908 (2021-08-24)

Notes (S907)

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Notes (S909)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (8)
	Images from 2021-08-24 >>        [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-08-24)

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
•  Cloud.   Conditions deteriorated after the 3rd target with cloud/haar rapidly covering the entire sky

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 20:46:58 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:24 & 03:36 21:24:45   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:24 21:24:46   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 21:54:32 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:54) 21:55:12 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-08-24 S00908, ImageSaveNum: 908001) 21:55:14   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:56:53   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:57:01 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:57:03 Session Pending Session pending (2021-08-24) 21:57:05 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-08-24) 21:57:07   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.22.6) 21:57:35   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 649) 21:57:50   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 21:57:56   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:58:11 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:58:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 46s) 21:59:01   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 22:00:03   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (1.1 mins total) 22:00:05 Session Running Session running 22:00:07   Queue Started Observing Queue started (24 targets selected) 22:00:09     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 22:02:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:05:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:06:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:06:43       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:09:03       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:10:53       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:11:13     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 22:12:03     Target Started (1/24) Target started (1/24, NGC 4896 w/SN2021wad) 22:18:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:35:25     Target Completed Target completed (1/24, NGC 4896 w/SN2021wad) 22:35:27     Target Started (2/24) Target started (2/24, NGC 5513 w/AT2021wqi) 22:39:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:56:13     Target Completed Target completed (2/24, NGC 5513 w/AT2021wqi) 22:59:55     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 23:02:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 23:19:58     Target Completed Target completed (3/24, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 23:20:00     Target Started (4/24) Target started (4/24, GCVS S Cyg) 23:24:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:26:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:27:00 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 23:27:02   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:27:04     Target Aborted (4/24) Target aborted (4/24, GCVS S Cyg) due to cloud 23:27:06   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:27:08 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:27:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:30:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/24, GCVS S Cyg) due to cloud 23:51:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/24, SN 2021gmh) due to cloud 00:13:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/24, AT2021kku) due to cloud 00:28:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/24, Nova Cas 2021) due to cloud 00:37:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/24, GCVS Z And) due to cloud 00:56:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/24, NGC 940 w/SN2021vtl) due to cloud 01:12:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/24, Nova Per 2020) due to cloud 01:27:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/24, 2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 01:38:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/24, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 01:46:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/24, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 02:01:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/24, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 02:09:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/24, GCVS EV Lac) due to cloud 02:21:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/24, AT2021vdq (CV)) due to cloud 02:30:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/24, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 02:38:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/24, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 02:58:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/24, UGC 2528 w/SN2020adnx) due to cloud 03:16:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/24, 17P/Holmes) due to cloud 03:36:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/24, UGC 3240 w/AT2021vau) due to cloud 03:55:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/24, 15P/Finlay) due to cloud 04:05:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/24, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud 04:24:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/24, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 04:24:57   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:25:03 Session Closing Session closing 04:25:08   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 23:27, closing time 50s) 04:26:34   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 78s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:28:01   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 80s) 04:28:16   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 04:28:36   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:29:25   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:29:27 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:29:33 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:21:15 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS S Cyg)

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Operational Issues (2021-08-24, S908)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (8)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Program version numbers are missing from AstroLaunch's Observatory Tab in some situations. When AstroLaunch program is initially started on Development Computer the various program version numbers are present on the primary Analysis tab but are missing on the Observatory Tab.  Program versions begin to appear on the Observatory Tab when mode is explicity changed to 'Observatory' or are present initially when running in Observatory mode (as happens on the Observatory computer - where this issue is not seen). Fixed in AstroLaunch 1.6.1.
   Fixed 2021-08-26 (AstroLaunch 1.6.1) 

Small Defects

• After a Store folder has been created for an object the 'Store Folder Exists' flag remains Red and isn't set to Green as expected. Flag remains as Red in the situation that Store Folder doesn't initially exist for the Object but is subsequently created using 'Open Store/Create Store' button operation.
   Fixed 2021-08-25 (AstroMain 3.41.4)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroGuard to force a disconnection from Telescope when it is 'Parked' and AstroMain is indicating 'Finished'. This is to ensure full disconnection from the telecope and prevent situation that MeadeGeneric driver believes scope is still connected and doesn't by-pass Date Settings at start of following session,  as happened for session S903 (2021-08-04).  AstroGuard modified 2021-08-26.
   Done 2021-08-26 (AstroGuard 1.6.1)
   
• AstroPlan should be checked when 'Open in AstroPlan' button is used in AstroMain/Analysis. Currently the 'Open In AstroPlan'  button doesn't do anything if AstroPlan program isn't already open. User has to manually open AstroPlan to see the target.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.41.4. Code now calls a new routine 'CheckAstroPlan()' that check that AstroPlan is open (and opens it if it isn't already running).
   Done 2021-08-25 (AstroMain 3.41.4)
   
• Add first 3 targets to TP.NextTargets array when starting initial NearZenithFocusing.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.41.4. Code now calls a new routine 'CheckAstroPlan()' that check that AstroPlan is open (and opens it if it isn't already running).
   Done 2021-08-25 (AstroMain 3.41.4)
   
• Investigate feasbility of automating screen capture by PaintShopPro from button function in AstroMain/Analysis.  Look at possibility of sending Shift-C to PaintShopPro followed by F11 a second later.  New 'Capture FV' button routine added to AstroMain's Analysis/ImageSets tab. 
   Done 2021-08-27 (AstroMain 3.41.4)
   
• Modify '>> Open-FV' routine (StartFvApplication) on AstroMain's Analysis/ImageSets tab to pass active File Name to FV.  FileName determined from Image.Path and passed to RunApplication2() routine as new parameter (ProcArguments) which is applied using Process.StartInfo.Arguments = ProcArguments
   Done 2021-08-27 (AstroMain 3.41.4)
   
• Modify AstroSN to build a Comment Line with the discovery date in format yyyy-mm-dd.ddd format. AstroSN currently retains discovery date in original format yyyy/mm/dd.ddd (2021/08/20.214).  It would be useful to have date displayed in yyyy-mm-dd.ddd (2021-08-20.214) for general 'richweb' consistency & for direct copying to Image Sequence section of Transient's WebPage.
   To do 2021-08-27 (AstroSN 1.5.2)
   
• Add 'AstroSN' to list of launch programs on AstroLaunch's Analysis Tab..
   Done 2021-08-27 (AstroLaunch 1.6.2)
   
• Send first 3 targets to TP.NextTarget() for display on Annotated AllSky Image.  UpdateTpnNextTargets(1) to be called after connecting to scope / TheSky and again as part of FocusNearZenith(). Note: at the moment UpdateTpnNextTargets() doesn't consider whether a target has missed its time slot. (should AllSky show the next target(s) in Plan or the next target(s) that will actually be taken ?)
   Done 2021-08-27 (AstroMain 3.41.4)

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