David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 934 (2021-11-16)

Notes (S933)

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Notes (S935)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (7),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	Images from 2021-11-16 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-11-16)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions.
2. Dome Shutter.  Monitor shutter closing operations and check for any issues in closing the dome shutter (this follows a failure during previous S932 session where the shutter hung up on the rubber strip attached to lower aperture lip and didn't fully close).
3. Best Focus Chart.  Test new feature that draws the critical focus zone as an 'error bar' for each Focus Measurement on Best Focus Chart

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.5.1.7,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.2.367, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.10
   
• AstroMain 3.46.4,  AstroPlan 1.27.1  AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.2,  AstroVOE 1.9,  AstroSN 1.7.1,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.14.2, AstroAllSky 3.13.4,  AstroObsCam 1.7.2 AstroLaunch 1.7.1)

Highlights

•  Best Focus Chart. New & Traditional CFZ error bars look good on Best Focus Chart
•  Dome Shutter. Shutter operated ok during session (no repeat of issue in last session)
• Guiding Performance. Guiding performance in Dec continues to be very poor.
•  Cloud Conditions.   Session affected by intervals of cloud and also high cloud. Cloud effectivevly ended the session at 00:08

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 21:22:53 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:22 & 05:43 21:22:58   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:26:28 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:26) 21:26:58 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-11-16 S00934, ImageSaveNum: 934001) 21:27:01   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:28:44   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:28:50 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:28:54 Session Pending Session pending (2021-11-16) 21:28:56 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-11-16) 21:28:58   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.27.1) 21:29:56   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 685) 21:30:19   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:30:26   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:30:55 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:31:40   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:32:00 Session Running Session running 21:32:02   Queue Started Observing Queue started (34 targets selected) 21:32:07     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911) 21:33:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:36:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:39:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:39:10       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:41:34       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:43:29       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:43:49     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911) 21:44:00     Target Started (1/34) Target started (1/34, AT2021aetv (CV)) 21:47:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:49:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:56:22     Target Completed Target completed (1/34, AT2021aetv (CV)) 21:56:24     Target Started (2/34) Target started (2/34, GCVS BL Lac) 22:00:46       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 22:04:32   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:04:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/34, GCVS BL Lac) 22:04:59   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:05:01 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:05:47   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:13:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/34, Vega) due to cloud 22:25:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/34, GCVS RR Lyr) due to cloud 22:33:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/34, Vega) due to cloud 22:37:15 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:38:00   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:38:02 Session Running Session running 22:38:04   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:38:06     Target Started (6/34) Target started (6/34, GCVS RX And) 22:41:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:43:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:46:55     Target Completed Target completed (6/34, GCVS RX And) 22:46:57     Target Started (7/34) Target started (7/34, GCVS Z And) 22:50:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:52:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:57:05     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/34, GCVS Z And) 22:57:07     Target Started (8/34) Target started (8/34, NGC 9 w/SN2021zju) 23:16:29     Target Completed Target completed (8/34, NGC 9 w/SN2021zju) 23:16:31     Target Started (9/34) Target started (9/34, Nova Cas 2021) 23:20:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:22:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:29:52     Target Completed Target completed (9/34, Nova Cas 2021) 23:29:54     Target Started (10/34) Target started (10/34, UGC 1977 w/AT2021irz) 23:33:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:35:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 23:52:36     Target Completed Target completed (10/34, UGC 1977 w/AT2021irz) 23:52:38     Target Started (11/34) Target started (11/34, WDS GRB 34) 23:55:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:57:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:00:09     Target Completed Target completed (11/34, WDS GRB 34) 00:00:11     Target Started (12/34) Target started (12/34, AT2021wuy (CV)) 00:11:48     Target Completed Target completed (12/34, AT2021wuy (CV)) 00:11:51     Target Started (13/34) Target started (13/34, UGC 3240 w/SN2021vau) 00:14:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:15:14   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted. 00:16:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:33:14     Target Completed Target completed (13/34, UGC 3240 w/SN2021vau) 00:33:16     Target Started (14/34) Target started (14/34, 10P/Tempel) 00:37:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:39:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:49:53     Target Completed Target completed (14/34, 10P/Tempel) 00:49:56     Target Started (15/34) Target started (15/34, Nova Per 2020) 00:53:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:54:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:04:30     Target Completed Target completed (15/34, Nova Per 2020) 01:04:33     Target Started (16/34) Target started (16/34, GSC 1224:29) 01:07:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:13:19     Target Completed Target completed (16/34, GSC 1224:29) 01:13:22     Target Started (17/34) Target started (17/34, NGC 940 w/SN2021vtl) 01:16:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:18:34       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Quadratic) 01:35:08     Target Completed Target completed (17/34, NGC 940 w/SN2021vtl) 01:35:10     Target Started (18/34) Target started (18/34, GCVS GK Per) 01:38:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:40:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:44:09     Target Completed Target completed (18/34, GCVS GK Per) 01:44:11     Target Started (19/34) Target started (19/34, IC 357 w/AT2021fyd) 01:49:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:52:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:08:59     Target Completed Target completed (19/34, IC 357 w/AT2021fyd) 02:09:02     Target Started (20/34) Target started (20/34, AT2021ckv) 02:20:41     Target Completed Target completed (20/34, AT2021ckv) 02:20:44     Target Started (21/34) Target started (21/34, GCVS CN Ori) 02:25:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:28:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:33:44     Target Completed Target partially completed (21/34, GCVS CN Ori) 02:33:46     Target Started (22/34) Target started (22/34, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 02:36:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:38:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 02:47:36     Target Completed Target completed (22/34, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 02:47:38     Target Started (23/34) Target started (23/34, GCVS DX Cnc) 02:49:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:51:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 02:57:21     Target Completed Target completed (23/34, GCVS DX Cnc) 02:57:23     Target Started (24/34) Target started (24/34, GCVS RZ LMi) 03:00:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:01:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:07:40     Target Completed Target completed (24/34, GCVS RZ LMi) 03:07:42     Target Started (25/34) Target started (25/34, IC 482 w/SN2021heh) 03:10:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:12:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:28:52     Target Completed Target completed (25/34, IC 482 w/SN2021heh) 03:28:55     Target Started (26/34) Target started (26/34, Scholz's Star) 03:34:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:36:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 03:53:07     Target Completed Target completed (26/34, Scholz's Star) 03:53:10     Target Started (27/34) Target started (27/34, UGC 5751 w/SN2021abcw) 03:56:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:59:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 04:15:36     Target Completed Target completed (27/34, UGC 5751 w/SN2021abcw) 04:15:38     Target Started (28/34) Target started (28/34, 15P/Finlay) 04:18:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:28:54     Target Completed Target completed (28/34, 15P/Finlay) 04:28:57     Target Started (29/34) Target started (29/34, GCVS SY Cnc) 04:31:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:34:47     Target Completed Target completed (29/34, GCVS SY Cnc) 04:37:34     Target Started (30/34) Target started (30/34, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 04:39:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:41:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 04:55:40     Target Completed Target completed (30/34, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 04:56:31     Target Started (31/34) Target started (31/34, C/2021 A1 (Leonard)) 04:59:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:01:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 05:12:12     Target Completed Target completed (31/34, C/2021 A1 (Leonard)) 05:13:02     Target Started (32/34) Target started (32/34, NGC 4583 w/AT2021aetw) 05:15:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:17:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 05:34:07     Target Completed Target completed (32/34, NGC 4583 w/AT2021aetw) 05:34:53     Target Started (33/34) Target started (33/34, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) 05:38:25       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:54:28     Target Completed Target completed (33/34, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) 05:56:45     Target Started (34/34) Target started (34/34, UGC 5994 w/AT2021ably) 06:02:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:20:31     Target Completed Target completed (34/34, UGC 5994 w/AT2021ably) 06:20:32   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:20:38 Session Closing Session closing 06:21:33   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:22:16   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 36s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:23:31   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 70s) 06:23:46   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 06:24:06   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:24:55   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:24:57 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:25:29 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 00:15:14 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted 00:15:16 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted.

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Operational Issues (2021-11-16, S934)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (7)
• Continuous Improvement (3)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• "Store" button facility in AstroPlan (and AstroMain) is unable to see/open the associated store folder for Target 'GCVS DX Cnc' (alias Gliese 1111).  The find Store facility recognises 'Cnc DX' to be the principal Store folder name for the target.   However it happens that the target has a store folder that is atypically named 'Cnc DX (Gliese 1111)' .    Fixed so that Store facility will find folders like Cnc DX (Gliese 1111)  which use AliasName in brackets   " (Gliese 1111). Other atypical forms or cases where Alias Name is held in the target database or there are more than one alias name held will not work, and need to be subject or a future ticket when they arise.
  Fixed 2021-11-17  (AstroPlan 1.27.2 , AstroMain 3.46.5)

Small Defects

• Reporting of Main Scope Frames wraps around to the following console line when sky is particularly bright.  Wrapping of line is annoying and runs contrary to design intent.  Issue is not helped by Sky brightness values > 1000 ADU/s being reported with a thousand separator (eg  1,007) which lengthes the report line by a further character.
  Fixed 2021-11-17  (AstroMain 3.46.5)
   
• Session.LatestReport.htm files showing Target titles with inappropriate larger Font and causes date/time values to be drawn in an incorrect column position.   The LatestReport file is a cut down (shorterned) version of the Full Report and newly added href/bookmarks seem to have had an unwanted consequence when shortern version of report file is produced.   Problem appears to be due to stripping of </a> from the shorterned file version.  However it may in part be caused by missing > character. The bookmark should look like ths
  <a name="Vega"></a>
  The LatestReport  html for target Vega is as follows:
  <a name="Vega"
  <font face="Courier New" size="2"><u>Vega&nbsp;&nbsp;(3/34)
  Whilst the html code in the original full report is as follows:
  <a name="Vega"</a>
  <font face="Courier New" size="2"><u>Vega&nbsp;&nbsp;(3/34)
  Fixed 2021-11-17  (AstroMain 3.46.5)
   
• Log Message for 'Finalising Session Charts' is unexpectedly wrapping to a new line after the S1 text (Housekeeping). Bug fixed (there was an accidental carriage return in code   szTargetName = "Housekeeping        {CR }".
  Fixed 2021-11-17  (AstroMain 3.46.5)
   
• Target Circle for AT2021aetv on Locate 2 JPG picture is in a significantly different position than on the Locate 1 picture even though both frames have a pointing error of 0.5'.  Report files shows that pointing error after slew was 0.51 arc mins (W -0.25', N 0.45'),  and jogs (W: 0.25', N: -0.45' jog) were made to get closer to the target .  Scope was detected to have moved 1.77 arc mins (W: 1.00', N: 1.46' scope change),  however Locate 2 showed a pointing error that was essentially  unchanged ( 0.52 arc mins (W: -0.26', N: 0.45) ) from that associated with Locate 1. Examining the two frames it is clear that the Locate 2 image doesn't NOT have the same pointing error as the Locate 1 frame.  The scope has clearly moved W 0.46', N 1.37' between the two frames.  Examining the report file in further detail, Locate 1 had 8 inventory stars and was linked with UCA/USNO in 1.9s and WCS Check showed the WCS center matches that from Image Link.   Locate had only 7 inventory stars and was linked with the UCA/USNO*  ('FailSafe' ) in 0.7s and link check failed (image doesn't contain keywords for WCS center (CRVAL1, CRVAL2)). The cutoff for using FailSafe Link first was recently introduced with a threshold of <=7 stars to resolve a problem with images not linking with 7 stars using UCA/USNO for another target.  Propose to playback the target to understand the problem.   Problem is due to a missing Image.InsertWCS which needs to be called to place the Locate 2 image into TheSky. Without this TheSky was linking the earlier Locate 1 image that it still had in the virtual sky. Fixed in 3.46.5
  Fixed 2021-11-17  (AstroMain 3.46.5)
   
• Target Circle for DX Cnc and CN Ori not following star on Main Image Frames . Target circle is well positioned on locate frames but is incorrect on focus frame and main frames.  Mispositioning of CN Ori circle is greater than for DX Cnc, and was CN Ori was therefore chosen for playback on development computer, but the mispositioning couldn't be duplicated - the target circle lies over the target star in main images frames as expected. For 1st main frame the imageshift in playback was 25.7 arc sec  (nStars 7, n 7, Shift 18.3px, X -4.2, Y -17.8) whilst in the live session the ImageShift(WrtLoc) was only 2.1 arc sec (nStars 8, n 7, Shift 1.5px, X -1.2, Y 0.9).   This is difficult to explain ? Does it happen because that Cam2 Reference Images and Cam1 Focus Frames are taken during live session which aren't taken during test session on development computer.   Extra tracing added to AstroMain 3.46.5 (2021-11-17) in order to work out exactly what might be happening during Live Session.  S934 showed Focus Locate frame is partial updating the LocateInfo.BrighestStar array between the last Locate frame and the first main frame. This wasn't being done during test on development computer and might explain the ealier noted difference.  The RunAutoPickFocusStar() routine was calling the RecordBrightestStars_LocateInfo() routine when it should have been calling CalculateImageShift_BrightStar() routine.
  Believed fixed 2021-11-20 (AstroMain 3.46.6)
   
• 'Build Heading' button routine in Analysis/ImageSets Tab isn't reporting the object type when even though data is available. Example NGC 4582 and  UGC 8975 which should both be reporting ' - Spiral Galaxy with Transient'.  Fixed BuildImageSetHeading() routine.
  Fixed 2021-11-21 (AstroMain 3.46.6)
   
• When imaging is held because of a large focus change and a Dec Mode change the necessary hold period is double counted.  The 'hold period' should be rationalised to prevent double counting. Difficult to implement as the hold is performed in different routines/different threads.  Delay after large focus change is only 10s compared to 30s after Dec Mode change, so it is not quite double-counting. Decide to close following review 2021-11-21
  Closed 2021-11-21 (AstroMain/Session)

Continuous Improvement

• Add CFZ 'error bars' to Foc2 Focus Profiles.  Critical Focus Zones error bar ranges have been added to Foc1 Focus Profiles in AstroMain 3.46.4 and can be easily added to Foc2 Focus Profiles with minimal extra work.
  Done 2021-11-17  (AstroMain 3.46.5)
   
• Change the log messages for several housekeeping items to use more general S3a/S3b text  'Report SessionStats' . Instead of a) use b)
  a)  Report  OpenDomeRequests Info | Open Dome Requests: 2 (Completed: 2)
  b)  Report  SessionStats     Info | Open Dome Requests: 2 (Completed: 2)
  Done 2021-11-17  (AstroMain 3.46.5)
   
• Question .  Examine Guiding Start logs to see if it casts any light on why some guiding chart graphs start with the guidestar some 4" away from the 'zero line'  lock position.  Examining data for the last Target (UGC 5994, Guide Profile 31) shows that prior to first Dec Mode on the guiding chart  just prior to Frame1 image when Dec position jumped from +4 to -4 with a single guide pulse (South), there was an earlier single guide pulse (North) just after guiding started, when from a dy position of -0.72 (Dec Guide -0.553) the scope jumped to +4.894.   This explain why the guiding charts can start with the guidestar several arc secs away from the lock position.  The two unexpected jumps in Dec position with just a single pulse suggests that the Dec Anti-Backlash setting in the scope is still too excessive even after being changed from +150% to +80%.   Guiding routine modified to show initial guide step data on history graph which wasn't been plotted previously and draw a vertical to signify official start of GuideMonitor.
  Done 2021-11-17  (AstroMain 3.46.5)

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