David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 1035 (2022-09-01)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (5),  Small Defects (7),  Continuous Improvement (10)
 
Bullet Images from 2022-09-01 >>        [ Local Files >> ]    
   
2022-09-01
Bullet AllSky Camera Recalibration
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-09-01)

Main aims

  1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & twilight conditions.
  2. Guiding.  Check out guiding performance after rolling PHD2 version back to 2.6.10dev3 (from 2.6.11) and making some improvements to Guiding Manager in AstroMain 3.54.

 Equipment & Software

Highlights

Notes:

Summary Plots & Logs

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

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Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast
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Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
15:21:43 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:03 & 04:03
15:21:45   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:03
21:03:47   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars
21:24:15 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:24)
21:24:47 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-09-01 S01035, ImageSaveNum: 1035001)
21:24:50   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
21:26:33   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:26:40 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:26:45 Session Pending Session pending (2022-09-01)
21:26:47 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-09-01)
21:26:49   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.32)
21:27:25   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 797)
21:27:50   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C)
21:27:57   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
21:28:21 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
21:29:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
21:29:51 Session Running Session running
21:29:53   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected)
21:29:57     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376)
21:30:15   Dome Unparked Dome unparked
21:36:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:39:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
21:41:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
21:41:33       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
21:43:23       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
21:45:06       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
21:45:23     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376)
21:45:28     Target Started (1/23) Target started (1/23, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS))
21:51:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
22:02:44     Target Completed Target completed (1/23, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS))
22:02:48     Target Started (2/23) Target started (2/23, IC 1132 w/SN2022prv)
22:23:50     Target Completed Target completed (2/23, IC 1132 w/SN2022prv)
22:23:54     Target Started (3/23) Target started (3/23, C/2022 E3 (ZTF))
22:26:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:28:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
22:39:58     Target Completed Target completed (3/23, C/2022 E3 (ZTF))
22:40:02     Target Started (4/23) Target started (4/23, HIP 87937)
22:41:49     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 247.0, 246.9, 222.3° (Total delay 76s)
22:44:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:46:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
22:49:07     Target Completed Target completed (4/23, HIP 87937)
22:49:11     Target Started (5/23) Target started (5/23, SH 2-71)
22:51:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:54:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
23:16:17     Target Completed Target completed (5/23, SH 2-71)
23:16:21     Target Started (6/23) Target started (6/23, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc)
23:20:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:22:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
23:39:36     Target Completed Target completed (6/23, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc)
23:39:40     Target Started (7/23) Target started (7/23, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr)
23:42:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:44:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
00:00:35     Target Completed Target completed (7/23, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr)
00:00:39     Target Started (8/23) Target started (8/23, AT2022idn)
00:03:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:05:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
00:21:25     Target Completed Target completed (8/23, AT2022idn)
00:21:29     Target Started (9/23) Target started (9/23, GCVS CI Cyg)
00:24:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:26:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
00:30:17     Target Completed Target completed (9/23, GCVS CI Cyg)
00:30:21     Target Started (10/23) Target started (10/23, GCVS SS Cyg)
00:32:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:34:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
00:39:07     Target Completed Target completed (10/23, GCVS SS Cyg)
00:46:36     Target Started (11/23) Target started (11/23, GCVS Z And)
00:49:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:52:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
00:56:43     Target Completed Target completed (11/23, GCVS Z And)
00:56:47     Target Started (12/23) Target started (12/23, NGC 5875 w/SN2022oqm)
01:00:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:02:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
01:18:44     Target Completed Target completed (12/23, NGC 5875 w/SN2022oqm)
01:18:48     Target Started (13/23) Target started (13/23, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf)
01:24:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:27:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
01:43:32     Target Completed Target completed (13/23, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf)
01:43:36     Target Started (14/23) Target started (14/23, AT2022qus (CV))
01:46:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:49:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
01:55:14     Target Completed Target completed (14/23, AT2022qus (CV))
01:55:18     Target Started (15/23) Target started (15/23, GCVS BL Lac)
01:57:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:59:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
02:03:49     Target Completed Target completed (15/23, GCVS BL Lac)
02:03:53     Target Started (16/23) Target started (16/23, NGC 157 w/SN2022jli)
02:07:21       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
02:23:13     Target Completed Target completed (16/23, NGC 157 w/SN2022jli)
02:24:35     Target Started (17/23) Target started (17/23, Nova Per 2020)
02:27:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:29:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16)
02:37:57     Target Completed Target completed (17/23, Nova Per 2020)
02:39:05     Target Started (18/23) Target started (18/23, NGC 132 w/AT2022sjd)
02:42:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:45:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17)
03:01:41     Target Completed Target completed (18/23, NGC 132 w/AT2022sjd)
03:01:45     Target Started (19/23) Target started (19/23, NGC 298)
03:07:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
03:17:36   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
03:17:38   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
03:17:43     Target Aborted (19/23) Target aborted (19/23, NGC 298) due to cloud
03:17:45   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
03:17:46 Session Suspended Session suspended
03:18:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s)
03:19:51 Session Resuming Session resuming
03:20:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/23, NGC 298) due to cloud
03:20:36   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
03:20:38 Session Running Session running
03:20:40   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
03:21:56   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
03:21:58   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
03:22:00   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension
03:22:01 Session Suspended Session suspended
03:22:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s)
03:46:49 Session Resuming Session resuming
03:47:34   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
03:47:36 Session Running Session running
03:47:38   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
03:47:41     Target Started (20/23) Target started (20/23, WHL0137-08)
03:47:43   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity)
03:49:04   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
03:49:06   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
03:49:08     Target Aborted (20/23) Target aborted (20/23, WHL0137-08) due to cloud
03:49:10   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
03:49:12 Session Suspended Session suspended
03:49:59   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
03:53:35 Session Resuming Session resuming
03:54:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/23, WHL0137-08) due to cloud
03:54:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
03:54:22 Session Running Session running
03:54:24   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
03:57:13     Target Started (21/23) Target started (21/23, WDS GRB 34)
03:59:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:01:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18)
04:03:33     Target Completed Target completed (21/23, WDS GRB 34)
04:05:16     Target Started (22/23) Target started (22/23, M31 w/AT2022eng)
04:07:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:10:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19)
04:22:43   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
04:22:45   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
04:22:50     Target Aborted (22/23) Target aborted (22/23, M31 w/AT2022eng) due to cloud
04:22:52   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
04:22:55 Session Suspended Session suspended
04:23:43   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
04:24:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/23, M31 w/AT2022eng) due to cloud
04:25:43 Session Resuming Session resuming
04:26:28   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
04:26:31 Session Running Session running
04:26:33   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
04:27:16     Target Started (23/23) Target started (23/23, GCVS RX And)
04:29:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:31:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20)
04:34:29   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
04:34:31   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
04:34:37     Target Aborted (23/23) Target aborted (23/23, GCVS RX And) due to cloud
04:34:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
04:34:42 Session Suspended Session suspended
04:35:30   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
04:45:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/23, GCVS RX And) due to cloud
04:46:03   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
04:46:06 Session Closing Session closing
04:46:11   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:35, closing time 50s)
04:47:20   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 61s), Az: 90.0 deg
04:48:38   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 77s)
04:48:53   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox)
04:49:15   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
04:50:08   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
04:50:10 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
04:50:31 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts
Time     Alert Detail
-- No Alerts                --                              
 

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Operational Issues (2022-09-01, S1035)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

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AllSky Camera Recalibration

Issue
AstroAllSky's annotated AllSky fisheye images seem to just show annotated stars in Zenith, W & NW Sky region, but show very fews stars in SE, E & NE sky region. Star Count also seems low given the clear dark skies during the night 2022-08-31. 

Problem noticed in session S1030 (2022-08-20), but was particularly severe during observing session S1034 (2022-08-31) and it was finally decided to get on and perform an overdue re-calibration.   So finally a new calibration was performed today (2022-09-01) using 6 AllSky Fits files taken from night date 2022-08-31 (22:30, 00:00, 01:00, 02:00, 03:00 & 04:00 local times). To make AstroSuite Programs  particularly live session operations using AstroMain, AstroPlan & AstroAllSky robust to DST changes.

Pictures below (for a frame from 2022-08-31 21:30 UT) compare the original annotated view (prior to recalibration) with the new view after the recalibration process. Annotated stars are now spread across the whole sky and star count has increased from 20 to 28.   This is still somewhat lower than expected.  There are a number of stars that are annotated in the original picture but are not annotated in the new picture.  This may be due to different star SExtractor settings on Development Computer compared to those on the AllSky/Weather Computer or different image contrast settings.

Calibration may be visited again but the result is still a lot better than before. The first indications from tonight's session (2022-09-01 S1035) look good, with AllSky Star Count of 42-48 stars (see picture of frame from 2022-09-01 20:59 UT at bottom of this note).

Original (prior to re-calibration)

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Result - after re-calibration

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Calibration
Pictures showing the recalibration best match and the new Camera Calibration settings are shown below

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New Camera Calibration Settings

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AllSky Picture from night date 2022-09-01 using the new calibration

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