David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1080 (2023-01-01)

Notes (S1079)

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Notes (S1081)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2023-01-01 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-01-01)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.5.414, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.6
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.11dev2, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.60.3, AstroPlan 1.35.5,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.12.2  AstroSN 1.8.6,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.8
  (AstroWeather 1.19.6, AstroAllSky 3.17.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.2, AstroLaunch 1.10.5

Highlights

• AstroMain.  No significant issues with new AstroMain 3.60.3 version.
• Dome Slews.  No dome slew was affected by a holdup. (0/7 slews affected, 0%, 00 minutes total hold-up time).
• Targets. 21 out of 37 planned targets were completed. Two ToO targets were completed.  Other planned targets failed due to cloud or were replaced by ToO targets.

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 19:11:52 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:11 & 06:31 19:11:56 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:11) 19:12:16   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:12:30 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-01-01 S01080, ImageSaveNum: 1080001) 19:12:56   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:14:41   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:14:48 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:14:51 Session Pending Session pending (2023-01-01) 19:14:53 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-01-01) 19:14:56   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35.5) 19:16:00   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 851) 19:16:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 19:16:58   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:17:22 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:18:07   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:18:09   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:21:58   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (3.8 mins total) 19:22:00 Session Running Session running 19:22:02   Queue Started Observing Queue started (37 targets selected) 19:22:05     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 19:22:17       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:26:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:28:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:30:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:30:44       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:32:31       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:34:13       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:34:31     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 19:35:24     Target Started (1/37) Target started (1/37, GCVS BL Lac) 19:39:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:41:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:45:44     Target Completed Target completed (1/37, GCVS BL Lac) 19:45:48     Target Started (2/37) Target started (2/37, UGC 11698 w/SN2022abik) 19:50:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:52:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:08:39     Target Completed Target completed (2/37, UGC 11698 w/SN2022abik) 20:08:43     Target Started (3/37) Target started (3/37, NGC 7495 w/SN2022ubb) 20:10:58     Target Aborted (3/37) Target aborted (3/37, NGC 7495 w/SN2022ubb) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 20:11:02     Target Started (4/39) Target started (4/39, Nova Cas 2021, ToO) 20:14:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:16:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:25:37     Target Completed Target completed (4/39, Nova Cas 2021, ToO) 20:25:41     Target Started (5/39) Target started (5/39, M31 w/AT2022aedk, ToO) 20:28:58       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:44:52     Target Completed Target completed (5/39, M31 w/AT2022aedk, ToO) 20:44:57     Target Started (6/39) Target started (6/39, NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu) 20:53:50     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/39, NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu) 20:53:54     Target Started (7/39) Target started (7/39, AT2022absk (CV)) 20:56:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 21:02:22     Target Completed Target completed (7/39, AT2022absk (CV)) 21:03:30     Target Started (8/39) Target started (8/39, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 21:06:38   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:06:40   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:06:42     Target Aborted (8/39) Target aborted (8/39, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) due to cloud 21:06:44   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:06:46 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:07:33   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:07:35 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:22:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/39, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) due to cloud 21:35:51 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:36:36   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:36:38 Session Running Session running 21:36:40   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:36:42     Target Started (9/39) Target started (9/39, AT2022uae) 21:39:41       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 21:40:26     Target Failed (9/39) Target failed due to cloud (9/39, AT2022uae) 21:40:28   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:40:30 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:41:16   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:41:19 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:44:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/39, AT2022uae) due to cloud 21:59:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/39, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 22:05:19 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:06:04   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:06:06 Session Running Session running 22:06:08   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:06:11     Target Started (11/39) Target started (11/39, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) 22:10:09       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:12:44       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 22:17:35       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:18:46     Target Completed Target completed (11/39, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) 22:18:48   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:18:50 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:19:40   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:19:42 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:27:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/39, Nova Per 2020) due to cloud 22:39:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/39, AT2021afkt (CV)) due to too few stars 22:56:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/39, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 23:11:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/39, P/2010 H2 (Vales)) due to too few stars 23:22:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/39, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 23:42:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/39, NGC 1843 w/SN2022pds) due to cloud 00:04:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/39, AT2022qct) due to cloud 00:09:25 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:10:10   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:10:13 Session Running Session running 00:10:15   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:10:18     Target Started (19/39) Target started (19/39, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:13:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:16:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:26:37       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:27:47       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 00:30:18     Target Completed Target completed (19/39, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:30:22     Target Started (20/39) Target started (20/39, UGC 3554 w/SN2022rbo) 00:31:53       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:33:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:35:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:36:38       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 00:40:23       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:41:08       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 00:52:06     Target Completed Target completed (20/39, UGC 3554 w/SN2022rbo) 00:52:10     Target Started (21/39) Target started (21/39, AT2022tmq) 00:55:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:57:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:13:07     Target Completed Target completed (21/39, AT2022tmq) 01:13:11     Target Started (22/39) Target started (22/39, GCVS SY Cnc) 01:16:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:19:37     Target Completed Target completed (22/39, GCVS SY Cnc) 01:19:41     Target Started (23/39) Target started (23/39, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 01:24:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:26:48       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:27:58       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:40:39     Target Completed Target completed (23/39, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 01:41:41     Target Started (24/39) Target started (24/39, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 01:44:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:48:20       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:50:10       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:53:10       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:55:45       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:59:11       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:59:56       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 02:01:48     Target Completed Target completed (24/39, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 02:03:41     Target Started (25/39) Target started (25/39, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 02:03:53       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 02:05:17     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 88.3, 66.5° (Total delay 62s) 02:08:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:24:41     Target Completed Target completed (25/39, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 02:25:41     Target Started (26/39) Target started (26/39, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 02:26:58       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:29:44     Target Failed (26/39) Target failed due to cloud (26/39, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 02:29:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:29:49 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:30:39   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:30:41 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:44:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/39, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) due to too few stars 03:06:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/39, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) due to cloud 03:28:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/39, SN 2022yeg) due to cloud 03:42:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/39, GCVS RR Leo) due to too few stars 03:42:41 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:43:26   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:43:28 Session Running Session running 03:43:30   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:43:31     Target Started (30/39) Target started (30/39, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 03:47:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:49:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 04:00:05     Target Completed Target completed (30/39, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 04:00:09     Target Started (31/39) Target started (31/39, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 04:03:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:05:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 04:21:06     Target Completed Target completed (31/39, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 04:21:36     Target Started (32/39) Target started (32/39, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 04:22:34       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 04:22:53     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 90.1, 89.8° (Total delay 48s) 04:25:14       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:41:25     Target Completed Target completed (32/39, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 04:43:36     Target Started (33/39) Target started (33/39, AT2022evu (CV)) 04:46:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:52:33     Target Completed Target completed (33/39, AT2022evu (CV)) 04:55:36     Target Started (34/39) Target started (34/39, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 04:59:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:10:46     Target Completed Target completed (34/39, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 05:13:10     Target Started (35/39) Target started (35/39, NGC 5665) 05:16:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:32:05     Target Completed Target completed (35/39, NGC 5665) 05:35:10     Target Started (36/39) Target started (36/39, UGC 7607) 05:38:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:55:07     Target Completed Target completed (36/39, UGC 7607) 05:57:10     Target Started (37/39) Target started (37/39, NGC 4921) 06:00:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:02:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 06:18:31     Target Completed Target completed (37/39, NGC 4921) 06:19:10     Target Started (38/39) Target started (38/39, 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova) 06:23:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 06:36:55     Target Completed Target completed (38/39, 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova) 06:37:45     Target Started (39/39) Target started (39/39, 81P/Wild) 06:41:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:43:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 07:00:26     Target Completed Target completed (39/39, 81P/Wild) 07:00:29   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:00:30 Session Closing Session closing 07:01:25   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 07:02:17   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 44s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:03:28   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 65s) 07:03:43   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:04:05   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:05:28   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:05:31 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:06:06 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 02:05:17 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 88.3, 66.5° (Total delay 62s) 04:22:53 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 90.1, 89.8° (Total delay 48s)

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Operational Issues (2023-01-01, S1080)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Interior of Oculus AllSky Camera Hemisphere had dewed up again, meaning that camera isn't significantly compromised in its role as a discriminator of sky conditions & aurora monitoring/imaging. Problem has occurred frequently over the last 4 - 5 months.  Issue rank raised to Major Issue to highlight it further.  Hemisphere removed and the dew water removed with a tissue the following day. Camera images ok for the following S1081 session. Problem is believed to be caused by a break /  missing 12 mm section from the o-ring that is used to make the hemisphere water tight.  Rain water is believed to leak into the hemisphere through the gap in the O-ring where it is evaporated by the AllSky Dew Heater only to condense on the cool interior surface of the hemisphere.   Dew had reappeared inside the hemisphere on the night 2023-01-3 following heavy rain and confirming that the broken O-Ring needs to be replaced. A separate ticket item is raised for acquiring and installing a replacement O-Ring.  This was installed 2023-01-04 and hopefully will resolve problem..
  Temporarily fixed 2023-01-02 (AllSky Camera) 

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• AstroPlan's Submit 'Do At/After' ToO facility produces a misleading message and should be modified. When submittting NGC 5602 as a ToO at/after a specific time (22:55) AstroPlan gave a message 'Submitting NGC 5602 to Job Queue - Execute Next'.  The message should read  'Submitting NGC 5602 to Job Queue - Execute At/After 22:55'.
  Done 2023-01-04 (AstroPlan 1.35.6) 

• Acquire and install a replacement O-ring on the AllSky Camera.  A rubber O-ring is used to make the Camera's polycarbonate hemisphere water tight.  The O-Ring has been broken for some time and a 12mm section of the O-Ring seems to be missing or appears to be missing as the O-Ring can now long stay stretched to it require circumference length. Rain water is believed to leak into the hemisphere through gap in the O-ring, where it is evaporated by the AllSky Dew Heater only to the condense on the cool interior surface of the hemisphere as dew. Hemisphere removed and the dew water removed with a tissue the following day. Whilst the dew issue can be temporarily fixed by removing the hemisphere and drying out the interiror with a tissue, the remedy is only short-term. Hemisphere is 80mm diameter. Unlike spare Hemispheres the O-Ring is not promoted as an accessory for the Oculus Camera. Instead a pack of 80mm O-Rings (2mm thickness , OD 80mm, ID 76mm) have been bought from Amazon in an attempt to resolve issue.  Pack of O-Rings arrived today (20230104) and one of them was installled. As expected it was very slightly on the small size but easily stretched to the diamter required.  The pictures from the AllSky Camera will be monitored over next few days to see that it has fixed the issue with dew formation inside the hemisphere. 
  Done 2023-01-04 (AllSky Camera) 
   
• AstroMain's 'Target Of Opportunity' table should give more status information   For NGC 5602 that was submitted from AstroPlan as to execute At/After 22:55,   AstroMain reports the Status/Result as "Submitted". It would be more informative to say "Submitted. Do at/after 22:55"   More data is now given, but it is unclear when it was specifically added. Closed after review 2025-12-30.
  Done 2025-12-30 (AstroMain 3.60.4 - 3.79.9 ) 

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