David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1099 (2023-02-18)

Notes (S1098)

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Notes (S1100)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2023-02-18 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-02-18)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions
2. AstroMain. Check new AstroMain version (3.61.6) for any issues related to recent bug fies and additional features

 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  2.6.11dev4, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.61.6, AstroPlan 1.36.3,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.8
  (AstroWeather 1.19.10, AstroAllSky 3.18,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9

Highlights

• Targets.  9/16 targets were completed with a further 4 targets partially completed.  Out of these images from 1 target (C/2020 V2 (ZTF))) were later rejected due to cloud, and 1 target (NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) was rejected because no images were actually taken. Other targets failed due to cloud.
• AstroMain.  New AstroMain version (3.61.6) worked without any new issues.
• Dome Slews.  No hold-ups during any of the night's dome slews (Hold Up Stats: 0/15 slews affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time).

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 00:24:18 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:24 & 05:27 00:24:20 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:24) 00:24:40   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:25:05   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 00:25:07 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-02-18 S01099, ImageSaveNum: 1099001) 00:25:32   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:27:16   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:27:23 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:27:25 Session Pending Session pending (2023-02-18) 00:27:27 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-02-18) 00:27:29   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.36.3) 00:28:50   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 871) 00:29:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 00:29:37   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:30:01 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:30:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:30:48 Session Running Session running 00:30:51   Queue Started Observing Queue started (16 targets selected) 00:30:52     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253) 00:34:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:36:01   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:36:11   SBIG Camera Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 00:37:12       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:37:14       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:43:26       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:46:43       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:49:13       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 00:51:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:52:40     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253) 00:52:50     Target Started (1/16) Target started (1/16, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 00:59:29   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 00:59:31   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue) 00:59:36   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:00:18   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 01:00:21   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 01:01:36   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:01:56   SBIG Camera Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 01:13:13   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 01:13:20   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:14:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 01:14:07     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/16, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 01:14:11     Target Started (2/16) Target started (2/16, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 01:14:50       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 01:17:22   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 01:31:55     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/16, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 01:31:59     Target Started (3/16) Target started (3/16, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 01:32:10       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 01:35:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:46:17     Target Completed Target completed (3/16, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 01:46:21     Target Started (4/16) Target started (4/16, 119P/Parker-Hartley) 01:49:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:52:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 01:54:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 02:05:50     Target Completed Target completed (4/16, 119P/Parker-Hartley) 02:05:54     Target Started (5/16) Target started (5/16, C/2020 S4 (PANSTARRS)) 02:08:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:11:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 02:19:42     Target Completed Target completed (5/16, C/2020 S4 (PANSTARRS)) 02:19:46     Target Started (6/16) Target started (6/16, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 02:22:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:25:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 02:41:24     Target Completed Target completed (6/16, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 02:41:28     Target Started (7/16) Target started (7/16, UGC 6583 w/SN2023bmo) 02:44:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:00:05     Target Completed Target completed (7/16, UGC 6583 w/SN2023bmo) 03:01:15     Target Started (8/16) Target started (8/16, NGC 3862 w/SN2023bqk) 03:03:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:06:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 03:22:07     Target Completed Target completed (8/16, NGC 3862 w/SN2023bqk) 03:23:15     Target Started (9/16) Target started (9/16, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 03:26:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:28:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 03:44:32     Target Completed Target completed (9/16, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 03:45:35     Target Started (10/16) Target started (10/16, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 03:48:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:04:27     Target Completed Target completed (10/16, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 04:07:55     Target Started (11/16) Target started (11/16, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 04:08:12       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:10:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:13:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 04:29:09     Target Completed Target completed (11/16, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 04:29:11   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:29:14 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:30:04   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:30:06 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:47:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/16, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 04:57:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/16, GCVS BL Lac) due to too few stars 05:09:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/16, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) due to too few stars 05:22:24 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:23:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:23:11 Session Running Session running 05:23:13   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:23:16     Target Started (15/16) Target started (15/16, IC 1525 w/AT2023aov) 05:36:07     Target Completed Target partially completed (15/16, IC 1525 w/AT2023aov) 05:36:11     Target Started (16/16) Target started (16/16, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) 05:43:46   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 05:43:48   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 05:43:51     Target Aborted (16/16) Target aborted (16/16, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) due to cloud 05:43:53   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:43:55 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:44:41   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:44:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:04:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/16, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) due to cloud 06:05:00   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:05:03 Session Closing Session closing 06:05:08   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 05:44, closing time 50s) 06:05:52   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 36s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:07:18   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 84s) 06:07:33   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:07:55   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:09:21   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:09:24 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:09:34 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 00:36:01 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:36:11 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 00:59:29 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 01:00:19 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 01:01:36 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:01:38 Green Clear CCDSoft Image file has been saved to disk following CCDSoft Restart 01:01:56 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 01:17:22 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset)

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Operational Issues (2023-02-18, S1099)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Foc1 Focus Frame failed when Take Image operation timed-out (00:35). During Near Zenith Focusing (Foc1 /Wide) Focus Frame 3/23 failed at 00:35:29 with message "timed-out" and following frames failed with message  "Error code = 219". During TakeImageASync the operation CCDSoft.Camera.TakeImage was deemed to have timed out. and following attempts to take Focus Frame failed with log messages "Command in progress Error code = 219"  indicating that CCDSoft.Camera had stalled.  TakeFoc1FocusProfile() ended after attempting frame 8/23 with message "Star has been lost. Aborting Profile".   The issue with the stalled camera was resolved at  00:59 after attempting a Locate Frame for Target 1/16 when an autonomous interventation was made to Restart CCDSoft including a power-reset of the SBIG Camera (this intervention was only partially successful and a second autonomous interventation had to be made 01:13)
  Autonomously resolved in-session 2023-02-18 (Session, AstroMain)  
   
• Locate frames failed for Target 1/16 due to Camera Issue (00:59 & 01:00) . After a "timed-out" error whilst taking a focus frame during Near Zenith Focusing for Foc1 system (LX200/ST10) at 00:35 which went unfixed, a first attempt to take Locate 1 Frame for Target 1/16 (NGC 3938) failed with message "Command in progress  Error code = 219". The job executor intervened with the message "CCD Image [0000] has not saved to disk. Restarting CCDSoft..."  and called the RestartCCDSoft() routine to restart CCDSoft including a power-reset of the SBIG Camera. This resolved the issue (temporarily) and enabled Locate 1 Frame to be successfully taken and analysed and a centering jog was made.  During Locate 2 Frame (10s) however, ObsOverseer reported the warning "Camera.TakeImage task in TakeImage/TakeImage is taking a long time? (01:01)" and the Take Image operation eventually timed out.  Locate 3 (20s) and Locate 4 (30s) failed with the message "Error code = 219"  (due to 'Command in progress' exception from CCDSoft.Camera).   Take Focus Locate Frame also failed with the same error message. The issue with camera was finally resolved when an autonomous interventation was made at 01:13 just ahead of main images, when the RestartCCDSoft() routine was again called to Restart CCDSoft including a power-reset of the SBIG Camera. This worked and there were no further issues during the session.
  Autonomously resolved in-session 2023-02-18 (Session, AstroMain)  

Small Defects

• Logging of exception messages from CCDSoft.Camera are typically thrown across 2-3 lines (00:59). When an exception from CCDSoft.Camera is logged it is typically appears like the following:
  
    00:59:29.35 | NGC 3938      Run TakeImageAsync    Fail | Exception from Camera.TakeImage()
  00:59:29.35 | NGC 3938      Run TakeImageAsync    Fail | Command in progress.
  Error code = 219 (0xdb).
  It is annoying that the exception is shown with carriage returns.  Whilst nothing can be done about these carriage returns/line feeds in the exception message itself, it would be helpful if they can be removed before they are written to the log file, so that it appears like :
    00:59:29.35 | NGC 3938      Run TakeImageAsync    Fail | Command in progress.  Error code = 219 (0xdb).
  Fixed 2023-02-19 (AstroMain 3.61.7)  
   
• Element in log message for call RestartCCDSoftByThread is too long.   The S3b element  'RestartCCDSoftByThread' is too wide and exceeds its allotted column width.
    01:13:13.52 | NGC 3938      Call    RestartCCDSoftByThreadTry | Calling RestartCCDSoftByThread() from OB.TakeMainImage
  Element renamed as 'RestartCCDSoftThr'
    01:13:13.52 | NGC 3938      Call    RestartCCDSoftByThr Try  | Calling RestartCCDSoftByThread() from OB.TakeMainImage
  Fixed 2023-02-19 (AstroMain 3.61.7)  
   
• Target 1/16 (NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) was recorded in database as Partially Completed even though no images were successfully taken. Due to problems with CCDSoft.Camera (SBIG) during centering operations, which necessitated two attempts to RestartCCDSoft to resolve,  progress on the target was delayed to the extent that all 5 main frames were cancelled to prevent the target over-runing its allotted time slot. The action T.ObservationStatus = ObservationState.PartiallyCompleted is set when starting TakeMainScopeFrames() routine. T.ObservationStaus is also set to ObservationState.PartiallyCompleted in the 'Target Result' section when gNumCancelledTimeLapseFrames > 0 to distinguish it from 'Completed' where gNumCancelledImages = 0, but misses the case when "Num Completed Images" is 0.  Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.61.7 by setting T.ObservationStatus = ObservationState.Failed when gNumCompletedImages = 0.
  Fix attempted 2023-02-19 (AstroMain 3.61.7)  

Continuous Improvement

• Review whether the automonous fixing of CCDSoft.Camera (SBIG) using RestartCCDSoft is happening at an earlier enough stage.  There were two incidents during the session when taking a CCDSoft.Camera timed-out, and following images failed with exceptions message "Command in progress.  Error code = 219" . Although subsequent automonous interventations were made and eventually resolved the issue, in each case the issue wasn't immediately addressed and lead to Near Zenith Foc1 focusing being aborted and centering for Target 1/16 to not be completed.  Ticket closed after review 2025-12-07 on basis that a series of improvements have been added to CCDSoft operation and mitigations in 2025.
  Closed after review 2025-12-07 (AstroMain )  

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