David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 1072 (2022-12-17)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (4),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (4),  Continuous Improvement (9)
 
Bullet Images from 2022-12-17 >>       
2022-12-18
Bullet Investigation - Job Queue and several monitoring services froze during Plate Solution (04:33)
   
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-12-17)

Main aims

  1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
  2. 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann. Acquire further images of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, as followup to images taken in previous sessions (S1061 - S1070) . Continue to look out for expanding coma following 4 mag outburst on Nov 22nd 2022.
  3. AstroPlan Schedular.  Check that Plan Creation performance issue has been resolved by a fix made in AstroPlan 1.35.2.
  4. AstroMain.  Check new AstroMain version (3.59.7) for any issues introduced by recent changes, bug fixes and additions

 Equipment & Software

Highlights

Notes:

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
Image
  
Observing Result
Image
   
Image
 
Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
Image
  
Slew/Centering Performance
Image
  
Guiding Performance
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
Image 
Image   
  
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
18:14:04 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:14 & 06:27
18:14:06 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:14)
18:14:26   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
18:14:53   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -30°C)
18:14:55 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-12-17 S01072, ImageSaveNum: 1072001)
18:15:19   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
18:17:03   Services Started Observatory Services started
18:17:10 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
18:17:13 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-17)
18:17:15 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-17)
18:17:17   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35.2)
18:18:06   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 843)
18:18:18   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C)
18:18:43   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
18:19:07 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
18:19:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
18:19:54   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
18:24:18   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.4 mins total)
18:24:20 Session Running Session running
18:24:23   Queue Started Observing Queue started (41 targets selected)
18:24:24     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 0, HIP 106)
18:24:37       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
18:27:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:30:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
18:32:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
18:32:20       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
18:34:31       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
18:36:15       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
18:36:32     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 0, HIP 106)
18:37:43     Target Started (1/41) Target started (1/41, GCVS BL Lac)
18:41:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:43:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
18:47:42     Target Completed Target completed (1/41, GCVS BL Lac)
18:47:46     Target Started (2/41) Target started (2/41, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-11d?)
18:51:46       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
19:07:51     Target Completed Target completed (2/41, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-11d?)
19:09:49     Target Started (3/41) Target started (3/41, NGC 891)
19:13:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:16:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
19:32:47     Target Completed Target completed (3/41, NGC 891)
19:32:51     Target Started (4/41) Target started (4/41, GCVS U And)
19:36:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:38:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
19:48:49     Target Completed Target completed (4/41, GCVS U And)
19:48:53     Target Started (5/41) Target started (5/41, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-12a?)
19:52:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:54:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
20:10:10     Target Completed Target completed (5/41, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-12a?)
20:10:14     Target Started (6/41) Target started (6/41, M31 w/Nova2022zzj)
20:13:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:15:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
20:31:03     Target Completed Target completed (6/41, M31 w/Nova2022zzj)
20:31:07     Target Started (7/42) Target started (7/42, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO)
20:35:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:38:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
20:43:44     Target Completed Target completed (7/42, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO)
20:43:48     Target Started (8/42) Target started (8/42, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko)
20:53:15   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000]
20:53:17   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
20:53:31   SBIG Camera Take Image failed, Error Code xxx
20:53:34     Target Aborted (8/42) Target aborted (8/42, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) due to Priority 1 ToO Target
20:53:38     Target Started (9/43) Target started (9/43, NGC 1625, ToO)
20:54:23   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000]
20:54:25   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
20:55:48   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action)
20:55:55   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
20:56:36     Target Failed (9/43) Target failed due to exception (9/43, NGC 1625, ToO)
20:56:40     Target Started (10/43) Target started (10/43, NGC 1363 w/AT2022ackv)
20:57:13     Target Aborted (10/43) Target aborted (10/43, NGC 1363 w/AT2022ackv) due to Priority 1 ToO Target
20:57:17     Target Started (11/44) Target started (11/44, NGC 1625, ToO)
20:57:23     Target Failed (11/44) Target failed due to slew error (11/44, NGC 1625, ToO)
20:59:01     Target Aborted (12/44) Target aborted (12/44, GCVS SS Cyg) due to Priority 1 ToO Target
20:59:05     Target Started (13/45) Target started (13/45, NGC 1625, ToO)
20:59:10     Target Failed (13/45) Target failed due to slew error (13/45, NGC 1625, ToO)
21:00:40   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted
21:00:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:00:56 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-17)
21:00:58 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-17)
21:01:08   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 843)
21:01:22   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C)
21:01:25 Foc1FieldsUpdater Frozen Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen at around 21:01 in section 'Update Foc1Fields'
21:01:48   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
21:02:01 TempMonitor Frozen TempMonitor appears to be frozen at around 21:02 in section 'Get CcdTemp Data'
21:02:04 Obs.Manager Obs.Manager is frozen in 'Equilibrating' (last cycle was at 21:02:04)
21:02:12 Session Running Session running
21:04:05   Make Observatory Safe Obs.Overseer intervened to Make Observatory Safe
21:05:29   Dome Parked Dome moved to Az 90° (Park Position)
21:06:02   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped
21:06:07 Session Closed Session closed by User
21:06:10 Program Closed Program closed by User
21:11:43 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.59.7)
21:11:45   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
21:11:58 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2022-12-17 S01072, ImageSaveNum: 1072073)
21:12:33   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started
21:12:35   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started
21:12:41   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:12:59 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:12 & 06:27
21:13:01 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode
21:14:28 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:14)
21:15:24   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:15:30 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:15:33 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-17)
21:15:35 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-17)
21:15:45   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 843)
21:15:59   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C)
21:16:25   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
21:16:49 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
21:17:34   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
21:17:36 Session Running Session running
21:17:38   Queue Started Observing Queue started (33 targets selected)
21:17:43     Target Started (9/41) Target started (9/41, GCVS SS Cyg)
21:17:55       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
21:21:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:23:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
21:27:36     Target Completed Target completed (9/41, GCVS SS Cyg)
21:31:43     Target Started (10/41) Target started (10/41, GCVS RX And)
21:34:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:36:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
21:39:52     Target Completed Target completed (10/41, GCVS RX And)
21:39:56     Target Started (11/42) Target started (11/42, P/2010 H2 (Vales), ToO)
21:43:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:45:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
21:57:12     Target Completed Target completed (11/42, P/2010 H2 (Vales), ToO)
21:57:16     Target Started (12/42) Target started (12/42, SN 2022mww)
22:05:30     Target Completed Target partially completed (12/42, SN 2022mww)
22:05:34     Target Started (13/42) Target started (13/42, GCVS CN Ori)
22:08:21   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out)
22:08:41   SBIG Camera Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress)
22:12:47   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread)
22:12:54   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
22:13:40   SBIG Camera Take Image failed, Error Code xxx
22:13:42   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread)
22:13:47   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
22:14:32   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread)
22:14:39   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
22:15:13   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread)
22:15:21   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
22:16:06   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread)
22:16:13   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
22:16:26     Target Completed Target partially completed (13/42, GCVS CN Ori)
22:16:28   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted
22:17:15   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -30°C)
22:17:34 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
22:17:36 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-17)
22:17:38 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-17)
22:17:48   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 843)
22:18:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C)
22:18:28   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
22:18:52 Session Running Session running
22:18:54   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected)
22:19:00     Target Started (13/41) Target started (13/41, M33 w/ATNova M33 2022-11a?)
22:21:20   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset)
22:39:30     Target Completed Target completed (13/41, M33 w/ATNova M33 2022-11a?)
22:39:34     Target Started (14/41) Target started (14/41, UGC 2926 w/SN2022acyd)
23:02:01     Target Completed Target completed (14/41, UGC 2926 w/SN2022acyd)
23:02:05     Target Started (15/42) Target started (15/42, NGC 1625, ToO)
23:05:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
23:21:42     Target Completed Target completed (15/42, NGC 1625, ToO)
23:21:44     Target Missed (16/42) Target's time slot was missed (16/42, AT2022oar)
23:21:56     Target Started (17/42) Target started (17/42, GCVS RR Tau)
23:24:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:26:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
23:33:39     Target Completed Target completed (17/42, GCVS RR Tau)
23:34:05     Target Started (18/42) Target started (18/42, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS))
23:38:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
23:48:17     Target Completed Target completed (18/42, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS))
23:48:22     Target Started (19/42) Target started (19/42, NGC 1622)
23:52:05     Target Aborted (19/42) Target aborted (19/42, NGC 1622) due to Priority 1 ToO Target
23:52:09     Target Started (20/43) Target started (20/43, GCVS GK Per, ToO)
23:55:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:57:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
00:01:00     Target Completed Target completed (20/43, GCVS GK Per, ToO)
00:01:04     Target Started (21/44) Target started (21/44, GCVS DY Per, ToO)
00:04:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:06:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16)
00:11:30     Target Completed Target completed (21/44, GCVS DY Per, ToO)
00:11:34     Target Started (22/45) Target started (22/45, GCVS GK Per, ToO)
00:13:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
00:50:30     Target Completed Target completed (22/45, GCVS GK Per, ToO)
00:50:32     Target Missed (23/45) Target's time slot was missed (23/45, UGC 8317 w/AT2022qvu)
00:50:34     Target Missed (24/45) Target's time slot was missed (24/45, 107P/Wilson-Harrington)
00:51:22     Target Started (25/45) Target started (25/45, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
00:54:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
01:00:45     Target Completed Target completed (25/45, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
01:03:00     Target Started (26/45) Target started (26/45, GCVS U Mon)
01:07:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:10:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17)
01:16:50     Target Completed Target completed (26/45, GCVS U Mon)
01:16:54     Target Started (27/45) Target started (27/45, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq)
01:18:49       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
01:21:00     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 157.1, 98.5, 90.0, 89.6, 67.6, 54.1, 53.6, 43.5° (Total delay 159s)
01:22:27 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 01:22 in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Label Dome Azimuth'
01:38:55     Target Completed Target partially completed (27/45, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq)
01:39:00     Target Started (28/45) Target started (28/45, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp)
01:42:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
01:59:11     Target Completed Target completed (28/45, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp)
01:59:15     Target Started (29/45) Target started (29/45, GCVS YZ Cnc)
02:02:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:04:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18)
02:11:41     Target Completed Target completed (29/45, GCVS YZ Cnc)
02:11:46     Target Started (30/45) Target started (30/45, NGC 2777 w/SN2022aagp)
02:15:52       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
02:32:02     Target Completed Target completed (30/45, NGC 2777 w/SN2022aagp)
02:33:07     Target Started (31/45) Target started (31/45, GCVS DX Cnc)
02:36:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
02:40:56     Target Completed Target completed (31/45, GCVS DX Cnc)
02:43:28     Target Started (32/45) Target started (32/45, LEDA 1012969 w/SN2022zvu)
02:47:25       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
03:03:32     Target Completed Target completed (32/45, LEDA 1012969 w/SN2022zvu)
03:05:27     Target Started (33/45) Target started (33/45, Scholz's Star)
03:10:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:12:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19)
03:28:02     Target Completed Target completed (33/45, Scholz's Star)
03:28:06     Target Started (34/45) Target started (34/45, IC 530 w/SN2022aatx)
03:31:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:33:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20)
03:49:47     Target Completed Target completed (34/45, IC 530 w/SN2022aatx)
03:49:51     Target Started (35/45) Target started (35/45, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf)
03:54:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:57:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21)
04:12:56     Target Completed Target completed (35/45, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf)
04:13:00     Target Started (36/45) Target started (36/45, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS))
04:17:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:19:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22)
04:30:06     Target Completed Target completed (36/45, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS))
04:30:10     Target Started (37/45) Target started (37/45, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr)
04:33:20   ScopeMonitor Frozen ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen at around 04:33
04:33:22 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 04:33 in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Label Dome Azimuth'
04:35:04   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to TheSky6 failure
04:35:44   Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 04:33 - 04:35
04:35:53 Foc1FieldsUpdater Frozen Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen at around 04:35 in section 'Update Foc1Fields'
04:37:04 Session Suspended Session suspended
04:37:54   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
04:43:48   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread)
04:43:55   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
04:44:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -30°C)
04:52:36   Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 04:52 - 04:52
05:00:40   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread)
05:00:47   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
05:01:31   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -30°C)
06:50:51 Session Closing Session closing
06:50:53   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:37, closing time 50s)
06:51:10   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 12s), Az: 90.0 deg
08:43:13   Telescope Parked User recorded telescope parked using DeviceHub (Park)
08:46:12   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
 
Session Alerts & Alarms
Time     Type       Name Detail
20:53:15 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue
20:53:31 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed, Error Code xxx
20:54:23 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue
21:03:10 Red Alert Foc1Fields Updater Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen (last cycle at 21:01:25) in section 'Update Foc1Fields'
21:04:05 Red Alert Obs.Manager Obs.Manager is frozen in 'Equilibrating' (last cycle at 21:02:04)
21:04:35 Red Alert TempMonitor TempMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 21:02:01) in section 'Get CcdTemp Data'
22:08:21 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out)
22:08:41 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress)
22:13:40 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed, Error Code xxx
22:21:20 Green Alert SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset)
23:52:18 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 195.2° (T+3.9s)
01:21:00 Red Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 157.1, 98.5, 90.0, 89.6, 67.6, 54.1, 53.6, 43.5° (Total delay 159s)
01:22:59 Red Alert Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Label Dome Azimuth' (last cycle at 01:22:27)
01:23:59 Green Alert Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor has resumed again (01:23) after 1.5 mins
04:33:52 Red Alert Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Label Dome Azimuth' (last cycle at 04:33:22)
04:35:03 Red Alert ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 04:33:20)
04:35:04 Red Alert TheSky6 Alert TheSky6 isn't running or isn't working correctly
04:37:38 Red Alert Foc1Fields Updater Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen (last cycle at 04:35:53) in section 'Update Foc1Fields'
04:43:53 Green Alert Foc1Fields Updater Foc1FieldsUpdater has resumed again (04:43) after 0.0 mins
04:45:49 Red Alert Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 04:33:14)
05:02:40 Red Alert Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 04:52:06)
 

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Operational Issues (2022-12-17, S1072)

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2022-12-18


Investigation - Job Queue and several monitoring services froze during Plate Solution (04:33)

Issue. Job Queue and several monitoring services seemed to freeze at around 04:33, during Plate Solution.

Description

During Centering operations for target 37/45 (UGC 8046) several services seemed to freeze at around 04:33.   ObsMonitor appeared to be frozen in section ''Refresh Dome Picture/Label Dome Azimuth" (last cycle at 04:33:22).  ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 04:33:20) and at 04:35 there was an alert message "TheSky6 isn't running or isn't working correctly". 

Eventually the ObsManager aborted the Target and at 04:37 suspended the session (including closing the dome). The Obs.Overseer reported that the Job Queue appears frozen (04:43) and activated a Restart CCDSoft operation in an attempt to 'fix locked thread'.   The Restart successfully occurred and Camera was reconnected (it is unclear whether CCDSoft had become frozen or not).  Meanwhile the ObsManager made two further AbortTarget  requests.   CCDMonitor first changed CCD temperature to -25degC before lowering it to -30degC. 

Obs.Overseer reported that Job Queue was still frozen at 04:45 and again at 05:00.  At 05:00 there was another call to RestartCCDSoft (again an 'attempt to fix locked thread') which again seems to have been successful in restarting CCDSoft but unsuccessful in triggering a release of Job Queue.     At 06:50 the 'End of Schedule Plan' was passed and the Observatory Manager (which was evidently still running ok) moved the session into 'Closing' state. 

During Session Closing, progress stalled immediately after beginning Park Telescope Operations at 06:51 (this is a separate issue but as it turns out one that is related to the issue under investigation).   User intervention had to be made at 08:45 to finally end the session.

7 targets from the end of the Observing PLan were not executed as a result of the problem.

Analysis
Logs clearly show that Locate Frame 3 (#1072308) had been successfully acquired and there was no issue with the CCDSoft.Camera in acquiring the image or with CCDSoft.Image with regard to opening and using the image acquired. 

 Logs show that Stars objects in the image inventory were counted (8) & validated, and the process of searching for a Plate Solution using TheSky6 ad begun.  Several 'InsertWCS' operations were tried. The final insert, InsertWCS (0\1), at 04:33:20, seems to have provided the most successful Link  (Stars 7 | Angle 179.66 | Scale 1.400). Shortly after this (2.5s later) the log would normally then show the Best Match, give details about the ImageCentre and give the results of a check on the  WcsCenter, but there no such logging occurs in this case indicating that the Job Queue has frozen between 04:33:20 and 04:33:23. At this same time the ScopeMonitor and ObsMonitor both freeze. 

One of DeviceHub's ASCOM log files which is believed to be the one reporting its communications with TheSky6 (via TeleLink/TeleApi) show queries of the Telescope RA/Dec coordinates (which normally occur every 0.5s) stopping at 04:33:21.50.  Thus it seems that TheSky6 hung at this same point.

Automation had determined that the JobQueue was frozen due to a CCDSoft Issue, but this seems to be incorrect and the job queue was frozen because of some other reason.

Probably the only way of keeping the session's activities going at this point would have been for the ObsManager or ObsOverseer to Kill and Restart TheSky6 and restart TheSky objects & scope connection etc.  Killing TheSky6 would probably have released the frozen threads, which may or may not have exited gracefully but they would have at lleast had the opportunity to do so.    The act of killing and restarting TheSky6 requires coordination since AstroPlan, AstroVOE have connections to TheSky6, will will need to be informed that TheSKy6 is being terminated. and allow them to adjust their operations and to restart their connections after a specific amount of time.

Park Telescope operation at 06:51 failed as the routine to send the telescope to a Pre-Park position using TheSky6 Telescope slewing became stalled due to TheSky6 not responding (having been in this state since 04:33).

Findings & Conclusions
1)  ObsMonitor should be made more robust to occasions when TheSky6 stalls.  ScopeMonitor should be the sacrifical 'Canary' . All monitoring interactions with TheSky6 should be made through the ScopeMonitor alone in order to protect the ObsMonitor/ObsViewer.

2) Automation had determined that the JobQueue was frozen due to a CCDSoft Issue, but this seems to be incorrect and the job queue was frozen because of some other reason.  Automated diagnosis should use a wider set of information in making a judgement about a stalled job queue in order to select the appropriate course of action to resolve the issue.

3) Automated diagnosis/problem resolution needs access to a new routine that can kill and restart TheSky6 in order to deal with issues where Job Queue is frozen due to a TheSky6 not responding.

Actions
Image Isolate ObsMonitor/ObsViewer from TheSky6 Telescope.  Make all monitoring interactions with TheSky6 to be through the ScopeMonitor alone
 
Image Modify Job Queue self-diagnosis or oversight-diagnosis algorithums. 
Automated diagnosis should use a wider set of information in making a judgement about a stalled job queue in order to select the appropriate course of action to resolve the issue.
 
Image Create a Kill and Restart TheSky6 routine. 
Create a routine that can be called to resolve issues due to a non-responding TheSky6 instance.
 
Image Create an automated process(es) that can refresh TheSky6 objects in AstroPlan/AstroVOE when TheSky6 program is killed/restarted.  AstroPlan/AstroVOE require access to TheSky6 and functionality needs to be restored if/when TheSky6 is killed and restarted.

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