David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 958 (2022-01-22)

Notes (S957)

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Notes (S959)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (5)
	Images from 2022-01-22 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-01-21)

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, DeviceHub 6.5.1.9,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.3.373, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.10
   
• AstroMain 3.48.21 / 3.48.22,  AstroPlan 1.29.4,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.3
  AstroVOE 1.9.2  AstroSN 1.7.3,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.15.3, AstroAllSky 3.14.3,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.1)

Highlights

•  AstroMain/PHD2. In-Session fix to AstroMain at 00:31 (3.48.22) to resolve the issue where some responses from PHD2 are getting lost during networkstream reading process.
•  AstroMain Freeze 1.  Job Queue and ObsMonitor froze at 03:42
•  AstroMain Freeze 2.  ObsManager froze at 6:34 whilst trying to stop Job Queue. may be camera rpc issue.

Notes:

• .
  
  

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Failed Runs (5,8, 14)   - Failed Guide runs due to PHD2 Network Stream Reading issue (now fixed) Black points (13)   - Cloud developing at end of Frame 1 Red Point (3)   - Wrong side of zero line (v. close to Meridian), need to Keep Principal  DecMode South for longer (Az 182) Orange Points (11, 12)   - Non-effective Dec Guiding (South),  Fairly high Alt on East Side)

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 18:24:27 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:24 & 06:12 18:24:30 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:24) 18:25:07 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-01-22 S00958, ImageSaveNum: 958001) 18:25:09   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:27:23   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:27:29 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:27:31 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-22) 18:27:33 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-22) 18:27:35   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.4) 18:28:23   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 714) 18:28:49   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 18:28:52   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:29:23 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:30:08   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 18:30:38 Session Running Session running 18:30:40   Queue Started Observing Queue started (42 targets selected) 18:30:42     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 18:32:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:35:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:38:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:38:25       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:40:36       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 18:42:24       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:42:42     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 18:42:46     Target Started (1/42) Target started (1/42, GCVS TT Ari) 18:46:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:49:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:56:13     Target Completed Target completed (1/42, GCVS TT Ari) 18:56:17     Target Started (2/42) Target started (2/42, NGC 958 w/SN2022ao) 19:19:33     Target Completed Target completed (2/42, NGC 958 w/SN2022ao) 19:19:37     Target Started (3/42) Target started (3/42, NGC 1325A w/AT2021agbu) 19:23:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 19:40:31     Target Completed Target completed (3/42, NGC 1325A w/AT2021agbu) 19:40:35     Target Started (4/42) Target started (4/42, GCVS BL Lac) 19:50:32     Target Completed Target completed (4/42, GCVS BL Lac) 19:50:36     Target Started (5/42) Target started (5/42, NGC 7594 w/SN2022de) 19:53:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 20:10:20     Target Completed Target completed (5/42, NGC 7594 w/SN2022de) 20:11:17     Target Started (6/42) Target started (6/42, 19P/Borrelly) 20:15:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:17:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:25:57     Target Completed Target completed (6/42, 19P/Borrelly) 20:26:01     Target Started (7/42) Target started (7/42, GSC 1224:29) 20:29:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:34:08     Target Completed Target completed (7/42, GSC 1224:29) 20:35:30     Target Started (8/42) Target started (8/42, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 20:38:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:41:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:57:16     Target Completed Target completed (8/42, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 20:57:30     Target Started (9/42) Target started (9/42, Nova Cas 2021) 21:00:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:03:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:11:20     Target Completed Target completed (9/42, Nova Cas 2021) 21:11:24     Target Started (10/42) Target started (10/42, AT2021kkh) 21:15:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:17:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:35:10     Target Completed Target completed (10/42, AT2021kkh) 21:35:14     Target Started (11/42) Target started (11/42, SN 2021wcu) 21:38:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:41:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:57:51     Target Completed Target completed (11/42, SN 2021wcu) 21:57:55     Target Started (12/42) Target started (12/42, AT2021rl) 22:19:55     Target Completed Target completed (12/42, AT2021rl) 22:19:59     Target Started (13/42) Target started (13/42, 2MFGC 03677 w/SN2021agpj) 22:29:53 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:29:55   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:29:58     Target Aborted (13/42) Target aborted (13/42, 2MFGC 03677 w/SN2021agpj) due to cloud 22:30:00   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:30:03 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:30:53   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:34:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/42, 2MFGC 03677 w/SN2021agpj) due to cloud 22:57:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/42, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 23:10:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/42, GCVS U Mon) due to cloud 23:13:28 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:14:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:14:16 Session Running Session running 23:14:18   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:14:20     Target Started (16/42) Target started (16/42, GCVS RR Tau) 23:17:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:19:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:26:00   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:26:50     Target Completed Target completed (16/42, GCVS RR Tau) 23:26:52   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:26:54 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:27:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 23:33:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/42, AT2021agxs (CV)) due to cloud 23:52:22   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:52:37   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:52:44 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:53:56 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-22 S00958, ImageSaveNum: 958119) 23:54:02   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:54:04   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:54:07   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:55:49   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:14:03   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:14:05   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:14:07 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:15:08 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-22 S00958, ImageSaveNum: 958119) 00:16:25   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:16:27   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:16:31   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:17:19   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:18:19   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:18:28   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:18:30   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:18:34   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:30:57   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:31:01 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:31:38 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-22 S00958, ImageSaveNum: 958119) 00:33:15   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:33:17   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:33:20   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:34:18   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:34:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 00:35:25 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:35:30 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-22) 00:35:32 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-22) 00:35:39   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 714) 00:35:51   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 00:35:57   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:36:16 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:37:01   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:37:03 Session Running Session running 00:37:05   Queue Started Observing Queue started (22 targets selected) 00:37:10     Target Started (21/42) Target started (21/42, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 00:58:21     Target Completed Target partially completed (21/42, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 00:58:25     Target Started (22/42) Target started (22/42, NGC 2955 w/AT2021jtt) 01:01:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:03:59   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:08:55   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:12:05   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:12:30   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:18:21   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:18:44     Target Completed Target completed (22/42, NGC 2955 w/AT2021jtt) 01:18:47   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:18:49 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:19:36   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:26:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/42, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 01:47:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/42, AT2021xbh) due to cloud 01:59:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/42, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 02:12:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/42, GCVS YZ Cnc) due to cloud 02:21:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/42, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 02:32:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/42, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 02:51:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/42, AT2021afkg) due to cloud 03:12:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/42, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) due to cloud 03:31:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/42, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) due to cloud 03:42:08 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 03:42 in section Monitor Focuser1 03:42:10 Program Hung Obs.Monitor froze in section 'Monitor Focuser 1' 03:45:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/42, 100P/Hartley) due to cloud 03:46:27 Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 03:45 - 03:46 06:34:34 Program Hung Obs.Manager froze in Run AbortJobExplicit, whilst aborting camera or slew 07:20:00 User Intervention User intervention to park telescope & park dome using DeviceHub 07:24:35 User Intervention User intervention to stop CCDSoft5 07:24:42     Target Missed (33/42) Target's time slot was missed (33/42, AT2021bgi) 07:24:44   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 07:24:47 Session Closing Session closing 07:24:49   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 01:19, closing time 50s) 07:24:51   Dome Parked Dome already parked (parking time is unknown) 07:26:05   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 07:26:09 Program Closed Program closed by User

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:14:55 Dome Dome position has been static for more than 10 mins 03:42:42 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section Monitor Focuser1 (last cycle at 03:42:08) 03:56:29 Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 03:45:57)

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Operational Issues (2022-01-22, S958)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (5)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Job Queue and ObsMonitor froze at 03:42. ObsManager subsequently froze at 6:34 whilst trying to stop Job Queue. Obs.Overseer reported that ObsMonitor had frozen in section 'Monitor Focuser 1' at 03:42, but this might not have been the specific problem area. Obs.Overseer reported that Job Queue appeared to be frozen at 03:45 whilst observatory session was suspended on Target 32/42 (100P/Hartley) .   Shutter was already closed and telescope tracking was off. In any case AstroGuard was running and would have stepped in to close shutter in event of rain etc ?  ObsManager seemed to freeze at 06:34:34.47 whilst running AbortJobExplicit and it called Abort Camera.   The Job Queue/ObsManager resumed (specifically the threads unlocked) when CCDSoft5 was manually stopped after it had become frozen whilst testing Focuser1 movement.  Job Queue resumed on Target 33/42 which was recognised by Obs.Overseer, AstroMain reported an RPC exception when CCDSoft was killed.  It would seem that ObsOverseer needs to look at a way to resume a stuck job queue.  Can it kill/restart CCDSoft5 ?  It would seem that ExplicitAbortJobQueue needs to be run via an arms-length thread in order to keep Obs.Manager running and not freeze. Changes and additions made to AstroMain 3.48.3 in order to alleviate problems caused by issues (ObsOverseer calls KillAndRestartCCDSoftByThread 8 mins after the Job Queue freezes)
  Fix attempted 2022-01-22 (Session / AstroMain 3.48.23)

Minor Issues

• Initial connection to PHD2 Server upon connecting services took 8 attempts to get the connected PHD2 Camera and Mount .  The session's (PHD2) log file shows that the first 'get_current_equipment' request produced a response spread across separate stream reads :
  
  18:26:32.98 | 4 REQUEST >> {"method": "get_current_equipment", "id": 4}
18:26:32.98 | Trace << {"jsonrpc":"2.0","result":{"camera":{"name":"ZWO ASI Camera","co
18:26:32.99 | Trace << nnected":false},"mount":{"name":"","connected":false}},"id":4}
  causing the Response not to be recognised. The second and further request also produced responses spread across separate stream reads :
  
  18:26:42.58 | 6 REQUEST >> {"method": "get_current_equipment", "id": 6}
18:26:42.59 | Trace << {"jsonrpc":"2.0","result":{"camera":{
18:26:42.60 | Trace << "name":"ZWO ASI178MC","connected":true},"mount":{"name":"DeviceHub -> Meade Generic (ASCOM)","connected":true}},"id":6}
  and it wasn't until eighth get_current_equipment request that a single line response was received and recognised.
  
  18:27:15.45 | 20 REQUEST >> {"method": "get_current_equipment", "id": 20}
18:27:15.47 | Trace << {"jsonrpc":"2.0","result":{"camera":{"name":"ZWO ASI178MC","connected":true},"mount":{"name":"DeviceHub -> Meade Generic (ASCOM)","connected":true}},"id":20}
  AstroMain's PHD2 Message Monitor needs to recognise incomplete messages and wait for the next stream read before combining the message parts and only then 'closing out' the message import.    Responses from the server are meant to be a single line of text terminated by CR LF.   Issue happens if first part of message has been recieved but not the whole part when received part is read. Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.48.22 by checking if the packet string ends with a vbCRLF string and waiting for the rest of message to come through if it doesn't.
  Fixed 2022-01-23 (AstroMain 3.48.22)
   
• SBIG Camera Monitor/Manager bouncing between -15°C and -20°C. Camera cooling falling to just less than 64% cooling power and camera set point temperature reduced from -15°C to -20°C,  but camera requires 100% cooling power to keep CCD at -20°C , which forces camera monitor/manager to raise set point temperature to -15°C again, for the issue to repeat again.   Issue resolved in-session but reducing lower power threshold from 64% to 60%, which kept the CCD temperature set to -15°C.
  Fixed in-session 2022-01-22 (SBIG Camera / Session / AstroMain settings)
   
• Guiding Charts for three Guide Runs were empty and image frames show that guiding wasn't active.  Guide Charts for Guide Run 5 (NGC 7594), Guide Run 8 (NGC 7446), Guide Run 14 (RR Tau) are empty of data with no history data or any RA/Dec error data. Header data from Guide Run 5 (19:52) shows that Dec Algorithum and Dec Mode values required two attempts to get the data, whilst Guide Run 14 shows that Dec Algorithum and Dec Mode values weren't obtained both attempts.  Earlier the Initial PHD2 server connection attempt took 8 attempts to get mount and camera details. Problem occurred even though PHD2 was restarted before the session begun.   Logs shows exception (Conversion from string "" to type 'Integer' is not valid) whilst trying to set PHD2 Profile, and exceptions (Conversion from string "" to type 'Double' is not valid and later on Conversion from string "Error: camera not connected" to type 'Double' is not valid.) when trying to get PHD2 Binning.   Examination of image frames shows that Guiding wasn't implemented on any of the 3 targets involvedThe session's (PHD2) log file shows that the 1st Dec Algorithum request at 19:52:52 {459} is being received by and answered by PHD2 application server but the response is broken by a line feed and the {459} response is currently not being recognised by the PHD2 stream monitor, and has to wait for the response to repeated reequest {460}. 
  
  19:52:52.46 | 459 REQUEST >> {"method": "get_algo_param", "params": ["dec","algorithmName"], "id": 459}
19:52:52.47 | Trace << {"jsonrpc":"2.0","result":"Hysteresis","i
19:52:52.48 | Trace << d":459}
19:52:55.48 |
19:52:55.48 | 460 REQUEST >> {"method": "get_algo_param", "params": ["dec","algorithmName"], "id": 460}
19:52:55.49 | Trace << {"jsonrpc":"2.0","result":"Hysteresis","id":460}
  AstroMain's PHD2 Message Monitor needs to recognise incomplete messages and wait for the next stream read before combining the message parts and only then to 'close out' the message import. Fix in AstroMain 3.48.22 by testing if the packet string ends with a vbCRLF string and waiting for rest of message if it doesn't.
  Fixed  2022-01-23 (AstroMain 3.48.22)

Small Defects

• Description in the log message for the termination of current camera activity is incorrect.   Description for 'Abort  Camera' is incorrectly output as 'Attempt to abort telescope slewing' . Fixed 2022-01-23.
  Fixed  2022-01-23 (AstroMain 3.48.23)
   
• Open '>> Session' folder button on AstroPlan Session and Target Forms don't open the relevant session folder when it resides on the D Drive.  Folder is getting opened when it resides on the D Drive ('CCD Session Archive') rather than on the C Drive (CCDImaging/Analysis).
  Fixed  2022-01-24 (AstroPlan 1.29.5)

Continuous Improvement

• Fine tune GetProposedDecModeFromScopePosition() routine. DecGuiding does carry correct PrinicpalDecGuide when Az is 180-183 degs.  Threshold for East (South Mode) vs  West (North Mode) Dec Guide Mode to be set to 183° instead of  previous threshold of 180°.  This is to resolve guiding issue for guide runs like Guide Run 3 (NGC 1325A).
  Done  2022-01-23 (AstroMain 3.48.23) 
   
• Add program version number to TrigParallax Main Form. .
  Done  2022-01-24 (TrigParallax 1.1) 
   
• Add TrigParallax and AstroPyCode program handling (move/backup etc) to AstroMain program. .
  Done  2022-01-24 (AstroMove 1.8.3)
   
• Add TrigParallax and SAOImageDS9 launch handling  to AstroLaunchprogram. .
  Done  2022-01-24 (AstroLaunch 1.8.3)
   
• Add a button routine to AstroMain's ImageSets/Target tab to copy target coordinates to clipboard in format hh mm ss.sss +dd mm ss.ss.  This will facilitate faster centering of Aladin onto targets specific coordinates.   Target coordinates should also be copied to clipboard when clicking Aladin button and the target name is a transient (starting AT* or SN*).
  Done  2022-01-25 (AstroMain 3.48.24)

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