David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 930 (2021-10-30)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
 
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (10),  Small Defects (12),  Continuous Improvement (19)
 
Bullet Images from 2021-10-30 >>         [ Local Files >> ]
Bullet Aurora Images/Video from 2021-10-30 >>
2021-10-31
Bullet LX200 - Occasional Large RA spikes
2021-11-02
Bullet Weather Forecast - OpenWeatherMap.Org vs DarkSky.Net

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-10-30)

Main aims

  1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions.
  2. Guiding Performance. Make further guiding runs with the recently installed new Dec Motor Unit and following a couple of changes since previous S929 session

Equipment & Software

Highlights

Notes:


  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
Image
  
Observing Result
Image
   
  
Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
Image
  
Slew/Centering Performance
Image
  
Guiding Performance
Image
Image
  
Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
Image
 
Night Sky Summary Plot
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)

Image   
  
Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast
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Image   
  
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
20:45:04 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-10-30 S00930, ImageSaveNum: 930001)
20:45:32   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
20:45:34   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
20:45:38   Services Started Observatory Services started
20:45:51   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
20:47:36   Services Started Observatory Services started
20:50:02   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
20:50:39   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
20:51:16     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888)
20:53:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:55:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
20:55:36     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888)
20:58:37       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
21:01:36       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
21:03:51       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
21:04:52 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:04 & 06:10
21:04:54 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode
21:04:56 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:04)
21:05:15   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:05:19 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:05:23 Session Pending Session pending (2021-10-30)
21:05:25 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-10-30)
21:05:27   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.26.1)
21:15:02   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 681)
21:15:15   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
21:15:21   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
21:15:45 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
21:15:47 Session Running Session running
21:15:50   Queue Started Observing Queue started (37 targets selected)
21:15:53     Target Missed (1/37) Target's time slot was missed (1/37, Vega)
21:15:55     Target Started (2/37) Target started (2/37, GCVS RR Lyr)
21:29:37     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/37, GCVS RR Lyr)
21:29:39     Target Started (3/37) Target started (3/37, Vega)
21:33:47     Target Completed Target completed (3/37, Vega)
21:33:49     Target Started (4/37) Target started (4/37, AT2021zkf)
21:38:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:40:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
21:57:18     Target Completed Target completed (4/37, AT2021zkf)
21:57:21     Target Started (5/37) Target started (5/37, AT2021vfg (CV))
22:02:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:04:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
22:10:34     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/37, AT2021vfg (CV))
22:10:36     Target Started (6/37) Target started (6/37, NGC 6627 w/SN2021abkm)
22:14:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:16:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
22:30:07     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/37, NGC 6627 w/SN2021abkm)
22:30:09     Target Started (7/37) Target started (7/37, GCVS BL Lac)
22:33:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:35:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
22:39:45     Target Completed Target completed (7/37, GCVS BL Lac)
22:39:47     Target Started (8/37) Target started (8/37, UGC 235 w/AT2021aazm)
22:42:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:44:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
23:01:45     Target Completed Target completed (8/37, UGC 235 w/AT2021aazm)
23:01:47     Target Started (9/37) Target started (9/37, GCVS EV Lac)
23:05:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:07:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
23:10:36     Target Completed Target completed (9/37, GCVS EV Lac)
23:10:38     Target Started (10/37) Target started (10/37, WDS GRB 34)
23:15:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:17:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
23:20:19     Target Completed Target completed (10/37, WDS GRB 34)
23:20:22     Target Started (11/37) Target started (11/37, GCVS RX And)
23:25:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:28:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
23:30:04     Target Completed Target partially completed (11/37, GCVS RX And)
23:30:06     Target Started (12/37) Target started (12/37, IC 190 w/SN2021abko)
23:32:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:34:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
23:51:38     Target Completed Target completed (12/37, IC 190 w/SN2021abko)
23:51:40     Target Started (13/37) Target started (13/37, NGC 1166 w/SN2021zby)
23:54:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
00:10:07     Target Completed Target completed (13/37, NGC 1166 w/SN2021zby)
00:10:09     Target Started (14/37) Target started (14/37, NGC 514 w/SN2020uxz)
00:16:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:18:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
00:29:37     Target Completed Target completed (14/37, NGC 514 w/SN2020uxz)
00:29:40     Target Started (15/37) Target started (15/37, GCVS TT Ari)
00:35:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:37:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
00:43:11     Target Completed Target partially completed (15/37, GCVS TT Ari)
00:43:14     Target Started (16/37) Target started (16/37, Nova Cas 2021)
00:47:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:49:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
00:55:17     Target Completed Target partially completed (16/37, Nova Cas 2021)
00:55:19     Target Started (17/37) Target started (17/37, GCVS TV Cas)
00:59:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:02:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
01:04:52     Target Completed Target completed (17/37, GCVS TV Cas)
01:04:54     Target Started (18/37) Target started (18/37, UGC 2605 w/SN2021wvw)
01:24:08     Target Completed Target completed (18/37, UGC 2605 w/SN2021wvw)
01:24:11     Target Started (19/38) Target started (19/38, NGC 1060, ToO)
01:27:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:29:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16)
01:45:59     Target Completed Target completed (19/38, NGC 1060, ToO)
01:46:01     Target Missed (20/38) Target's time slot was missed (20/38, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz)
01:46:03     Target Started (21/38) Target started (21/38, GCVS DY Per)
01:49:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:51:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17)
01:56:50     Target Completed Target completed (21/38, GCVS DY Per)
01:56:52     Target Started (22/38) Target started (22/38, Nova Per 2020)
01:00:00 Clock Changed Clock has gone back 1 hour at 02:00 (end of Daylight Saving Time)
01:00:05 Program Hung AstroMain hung with issue related to daylight savings change
01:45:00 User Intervention User intervention to restart obsevartoty software after issue related to daylight savings change
01:53:39 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2021-10-30 S00930, ImageSaveNum: 930157)
01:54:18   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
01:54:20   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
01:54:22   Services Started Observatory Services started
01:54:24 Critical Temperature Alert Critical Temperature Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter)
01:55:08   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
01:56:54   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
01:56:56 Program Closed Program closed by User
02:03:10 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 02:03 & 06:10
02:03:12 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode
02:03:14 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (02:03)
02:03:34   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
02:05:20   Services Started Observatory Services started
02:05:27 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
02:05:29 Session Pending Session pending (2021-10-30)
02:05:31 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-10-30)
02:05:50   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 681)
02:06:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C)
02:06:11   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
02:06:40 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration
02:07:25   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
02:07:27 Session Running Session running
02:07:30   Queue Started Observing Queue started (16 targets selected)
02:07:33     Target Started (22/37) Target started (22/37, GCVS RR Tau)
02:11:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:14:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19)
02:21:28     Target Completed Target completed (22/37, GCVS RR Tau)
02:21:31     Target Started (23/37) Target started (23/37, M31 w/AT2021aceg)
02:24:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:26:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20)
02:43:11     Target Completed Target completed (23/37, M31 w/AT2021aceg)
02:43:14     Target Started (24/37) Target started (24/37, NGC 9 w/SN2021zju)
02:46:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:48:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21)
03:05:12     Target Completed Target completed (24/37, NGC 9 w/SN2021zju)
03:05:14     Target Started (25/37) Target started (25/37, GCVS FO Ori)
03:08:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:11:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22)
03:16:31     Target Completed Target completed (25/37, GCVS FO Ori)
03:16:33     Target Started (26/37) Target started (26/37, GCVS FU Ori)
03:19:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:22:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23)
03:24:29     Target Completed Target partially completed (26/37, GCVS FU Ori)
03:24:31     Target Started (27/37) Target started (27/37, 4P/Faye)
03:27:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:29:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24)
03:36:31     Target Completed Target partially completed (27/37, 4P/Faye)
03:36:34     Target Started (28/37) Target started (28/37, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS))
03:39:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:41:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25)
03:50:24     Target Completed Target completed (28/37, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS))
03:50:26     Target Started (29/37) Target started (29/37, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko)
03:53:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
04:06:57     Target Completed Target completed (29/37, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko)
04:07:00     Target Started (30/37) Target started (30/37, UGC 3873 w/SN2021yok)
04:09:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:11:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26)
04:28:34     Target Completed Target completed (30/37, UGC 3873 w/SN2021yok)
04:28:36     Target Started (31/37) Target started (31/37, CGCG 178-036 w/SN2021hfu)
04:31:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:33:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27)
04:50:39     Target Completed Target completed (31/37, CGCG 178-036 w/SN2021hfu)
04:50:41     Target Started (32/37) Target started (32/37, GCVS SY Cnc)
04:53:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
04:57:17     Target Completed Target completed (32/37, GCVS SY Cnc)
04:58:36     Target Started (33/37) Target started (33/37, LAMOST-HVS1)
05:03:06       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
05:06:45     Target Completed Target completed (33/37, LAMOST-HVS1)
05:08:21     Target Started (34/37) Target started (34/37, GCVS HH And)
05:12:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
05:15:25     Target Completed Target completed (34/37, GCVS HH And)
05:16:37     Target Started (35/37) Target started (35/37, C/2021 A1 (Leonard))
05:21:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
05:22:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 28)
05:33:53     Target Completed Target completed (35/37, C/2021 A1 (Leonard))
05:33:56     Target Started (36/37) Target started (36/37, GCVS YZ Cnc)
05:39:05       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
05:47:01     Target Completed Target completed (36/37, GCVS YZ Cnc)
05:47:03     Target Started (37/37) Target started (37/37, GCVS DX Cnc)
05:49:58       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
05:54:57     Target Completed Target completed (37/37, GCVS DX Cnc)
05:54:59   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
05:55:01 Session Closing Session closing
05:55:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
05:56:46   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 43s), Az: 90.0 deg
05:58:07   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 73s)
05:58:22   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox)
05:58:42   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
05:59:33   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
05:59:35 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
06:00:27 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
01:00:00 Clock Changed Clock has gone back 1 hour at 02:00 (end of Daylight Saving Time)
(Added retrospectively)

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Operational Issues (2021-10-30, S930)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

Continuous Improvement

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Fig 1. Chart showing rain fall in the last 5 days
(Y Axis is 'rain rate' as measured by Eurotech/Aurora Cloud Sensor)
Image 

 

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2021-10-31


LX200 - Occasional Large RA spikes

Occasional large RA spikes have been noticed during autoguiding in recent sessions. 
They've all occurred in an approximately a similar part of sky and the RA deviation has all been in the same direction.

Are these due to a cable snag in some form or an issue with a particular section of the RA gear system ?

3 cases are documented below :

1) 4th 180s frame for NGC 9 target saw a large RA spike. Frame saw a large RA spike that is evident in star trails in the image and a large RA jump in guiding data.
At the time (2021-10-31 02:59 LT, LST 05h 29m 32s) the target lay at Az 275.35, Alt 25.33.  
RA (Current) position was at 00h 10m 02s (Dec: +23°56'26") =  RA (J2000) position 00h 08m 54s (Dec: +23°49'04")

  Propose daytime and night-time time tests slewing to Az 274.52, Alt 25.86' and watch tracking for 5-10 mins. 

Image

Image

2) A 45s S Filter frame for GCVS RR Lyr target in previous S929 also saw a similar large RA spike.   (Zero Order star is distinctly trailed in the image below).
At the time (2021-10-30 00:55 LT, LST 02h 21m 05s) the target lay at Az 305.79, Alt 28.57
The RA (Current) position was 19h 25m 39s (Dec: +42°47'56").   RA (J2000) position 19h 25m 28s (Dec: +42°47'04")

Image

Image

3) A 20s B Filter frame and a 45sS Filter frame for GCVS RR Lyr target in earlier S927 session also saw a couple of similar large RA spikes.
At the time of first spike (2021-10-25 00:42 LT, LST 01h 48m 20s) the target lay at Az 300.31, Alt 32.27
The RA (Current) position was 19h 25m 39s (Dec: +42°47'56").   RA (J2000) position 19h 25m 28s (Dec: +42°47'04")

Image

Other Cases:

4) Guiding for GCVS RR Lyr target in S935 session (2021-11-19) saw several large RA spikes.
At the time of first image (2021-11-19 21:30 LT, LST 01h 19m 07s) the target lay at 295.4°,  Alt 35.8°
The RA (Current) position was 19h 24m 55s (Dec: +42°47'30").   RA (J2000) position 19h 25m 14s (Dec: +42°44'43")
 
Image

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2021-11-02


Weather Forecast - OpenWeatherMap.Org vs DarkSky.Net

AstroWeather has recently been extended to be able to produce a Weather Forecast Chart for the Clair Observatory using API request to OpenWeatherMap. This is to provide back up for when DarkSky.Net API eventually closes in 2022 and in the meantime for when the DarkSky.Net minutely precipiation forecasting is occasionally offlline and doesn't provide live data.

Plots comparing the 24 hour forecasts from OpenWeatherMap.Org and DarkSky.Net made at around 14:30 today (2021-11-02) are shown below. 
(In both forecast cases it doesn't look like conditions will be suitable for observing tonight)

OpenWeatherMap.Org Forecast

Image

DarkSky.Net Forecast

Image

Image

The bove plot show a night summary plot for the actual night shown at the correct position and scale equivalent to the forecast. . White curve shows number of stars from AllSky Camera.  Green Curve anc Cyan filled curves are Sky Clarity and Rain detected by the Eurotech/Aurora CloudSensor.   This shows clear sky intervals in later part of the night but shower in between.    The forecast based on DarkSky.Net probably wins, mainly because it shows less cloud that the OpenWeather Forecast.

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