David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 1155 (2023-10-05)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (15)
Bullet Images from 2023-10-05 >>         
2023-10-08
Bullet LX200 - 'Broken' Mirror Lock (2023-10-08) & Unsuccessful Fix (2023-11-11)
   
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-10-05)

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 (3.62.16) for recent fixes and improvements.

 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
22:53:16 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:53 & 05:18
22:53:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:53)
22:53:37   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
22:53:50 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-10-05 S01155, ImageSaveNum: 1155001)
22:54:17   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
22:56:02   Services Started Observatory Services started
22:56:08 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
22:56:12 Session Pending Session pending (2023-10-05)
22:56:14 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-10-05)
22:56:16   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.5)
22:57:11   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 929)
22:57:32   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C)
22:58:09   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
22:58:33 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
22:59:18   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
22:59:20 Session Running Session running
22:59:22   Queue Started Observing Queue started (22 targets selected)
22:59:24     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911)
22:59:38       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
23:04:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:06:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
23:08:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
23:08:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
23:10:43       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
23:12:25       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
23:12:42     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911)
23:12:47     Target Started (1/22) Target started (1/22, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023trk)
23:15:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:17:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
23:33:41     Target Completed Target completed (1/22, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023trk)
23:35:04     Target Started (2/22) Target started (2/22, M33 w/AT2023nou)
23:36:23     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 132.6° (Delay 56s)
23:38:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:40:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
23:56:40     Target Completed Target completed (2/22, M33 w/AT2023nou)
23:57:24     Target Started (3/22) Target started (3/22, AT2023txn (CV))
00:01:30     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 154.2, 156.6, 175.5, 217.5° (Total delay 170s)
00:03:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:05:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
00:11:48     Target Completed Target completed (3/22, AT2023txn (CV))
00:11:52     Target Started (4/22) Target started (4/22, NGC 6745 w/AT2023ucy)
00:12:55     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 264.7, 265.3° (Total delay 34s)
00:15:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:17:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
00:33:45     Target Completed Target completed (4/22, NGC 6745 w/AT2023ucy)
00:33:49     Target Started (5/22) Target started (5/22, AT2022wyp)
00:37:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:39:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
00:44:48       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
00:45:43       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions
00:55:27     Target Completed Target completed (5/22, AT2022wyp)
00:55:31     Target Started (6/22) Target started (6/22, AT2023tvi (CV))
00:58:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:00:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
01:06:09     Target Completed Target completed (6/22, AT2023tvi (CV))
01:06:13     Target Started (7/22) Target started (7/22, GCVS BL Lac)
01:07:00       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
01:07:59     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 268.6, 267.6, 266.4, 259.4° (Total delay 83s)
01:10:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:12:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
01:13:05       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions
01:16:08     Target Completed Target completed (7/22, GCVS BL Lac)
01:16:22     Target Started (8/22) Target started (8/22, AT2023rfq)
01:17:21       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
01:17:24     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 259.5, 264.2, 265.5° (Total delay 33s)
01:19:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
01:27:07       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions
01:29:42       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
01:32:52       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions
01:35:39     Target Completed Target completed (8/22, AT2023rfq)
01:38:42     Target Started (9/22) Target started (9/22, GCVS SS Cyg)
01:38:58       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
01:41:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:43:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
01:46:13       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions
01:47:40     Target Completed Target completed (9/22, GCVS SS Cyg)
01:48:54       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
01:48:56   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension
01:48:59 Session Suspending Session suspending
01:49:49   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
01:49:51 Session Suspended Session suspended
02:14:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/22, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud
02:34:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/22, AT2023tdi) due to cloud
02:56:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/22, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) due to too few stars
03:07:31 Session Resuming Session resuming
03:08:16   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
03:08:18 Session Running Session running
03:08:20   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
03:08:23     Target Started (13/22) Target started (13/22, UGC 4992 w/AT2023rpu)
03:11:15     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 308.8, 309.3° (Total delay 62s)
03:12:56       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
03:14:01     Target Failed (13/22) Target failed due to cloud (13/22, UGC 4992 w/AT2023rpu)
03:14:03   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
03:14:05 Session Suspending Session suspending
03:14:51   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
03:14:54 Session Suspended Session suspended
03:19:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/22, UGC 4992 w/AT2023rpu) due to cloud
03:40:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/22, UGC 5313 w/AT2023tmr) due to cloud
04:03:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/22, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to too few stars
04:07:52 Session Resuming Session resuming
04:08:37   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s)
04:08:39 Session Running Session running
04:08:41   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
04:08:43     Target Started (16/22) Target started (16/22, Nova Cas 2021)
04:11:37     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 60.8, 308.6° (Total delay 68s)
04:27:20     Target Completed Target completed (16/22, Nova Cas 2021)
04:27:24     Target Started (17/22) Target started (17/22, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-10a?)
04:28:35     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 300.6, 267.5° (Total delay 33s)
04:49:07     Target Completed Target completed (17/22, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-10a?)
04:49:11     Target Started (18/22) Target started (18/22, GCVS RR Tau)
04:53:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:56:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
05:02:38     Target Completed Target completed (18/22, GCVS RR Tau)
05:02:43     Target Started (19/22) Target started (19/22, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS))
05:15:39     Target Completed Target completed (19/22, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS))
05:15:43     Target Started (20/22) Target started (20/22, AT2023cub (CV))
05:20:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
05:26:41     Target Completed Target completed (20/22, AT2023cub (CV))
05:26:45     Target Started (21/22) Target started (21/22, GCVS DX Cnc)
05:32:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
05:36:53     Target Completed Target completed (21/22, GCVS DX Cnc)
05:37:16     Target Started (22/22) Target started (22/22, NGC 2708 w/SN2023bee)
05:42:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S)
05:58:28     Target Completed Target completed (22/22, NGC 2708 w/SN2023bee)
05:58:31   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
05:58:32 Session Closing Session closing
05:59:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s)
06:00:13   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 39s), Az: 90.0 deg
06:01:30   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 71s)
06:01:45   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
06:02:08   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
06:03:35   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
06:03:37 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
06:03:58 Session Finished Session Finished
 
 
Session Alerts & Alarms
Time     Type       Name Detail
22:56:12 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (36.07 GB) is less than 50 GB
23:12:54 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 112.9° (T+2.2s)
23:36:23 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 132.6° (Delay 56s)
00:01:30 Red Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 154.2, 156.6, 175.5, 217.5° (Total delay 170s)
00:01:38 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Telescope Az is > 8 deg (AT2023txn)
00:01:40 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 1 deg (AT2023txn)
00:12:55 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 264.7, 265.3° (Total delay 34s)
01:07:59 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 268.6, 267.6, 266.4, 259.4° (Total delay 83s)
01:17:24 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 259.5, 264.2, 265.5° (Total delay 33s)
03:11:15 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 308.8, 309.3° (Total delay 62s)
04:11:37 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 60.8, 308.6° (Total delay 68s)
04:28:35 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 300.6, 267.5° (Total delay 33s)
06:03:55 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (35.18 GB) is less than 50 GB
 
 

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Operational Issues (2023-10-05, S1155)

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2023-10-08


LX200 - 'Broken' Mirror Lock (2023-10-08) & Unsuccessful Fix (2023-11-11)

The Focus Position on the LX200 has been noted to be drifting on a number of occasions during the last 2-3 years (eg S1057 (2022-11-01), see Focusing - Temperature and Primary Mirror Slippage Effects (2022-11-01), and S1151 (2023-09-29), see Investigation - Drift in Best Focus Position (Primary Mirror Focus Slipping / Mirror Lock Not Working (2023-09-30) Whilst occassional adjustments of the LX200 Primary Mirror position buys time by taking telescope's focus back to a position corresponding to rough half-way on the TCF-S focuser range (ie 3500 in 1-7000 range), the root cause to the issue is that the mirror lock on the 12" LX200R Main Scope isn't working.

Image

Research suggests that the Mirror Lock can be fixed and is something that I can probably do myself based on reading the web page Meade Mirror Lock Fix on the Peterson Engineering web site  (https://petersonengineering.com/meade-upgrades/meade-mirror-lock-fix )

The suggested steps involved in fixing the mirror lock are as follows:

  1. First, turn the knob all the way clockwise to the unlock position stop.

    On my scope the mirror lock knob can no longer be turned but it is evident from the observed focus drift and the ability of the focus knob to change the scope's focus that the mirror lock is in an unlocked position)
     
  2. Then remove the 3 cap screws that hold the locking knob assembly from the backplate of the OTA. The locking knob assembly will now be free. You may have to tilt the knob assembly slightly as you removed it from the telescope.
     
    Viewing through the backplate locking knob hole you will be able to see the 8" steel gear that serves to lock the collar around the mirror sled. About 1-inch of the rim of the gear has no teeth on it. This is the “stop”. (For those of you familiar with machinery, the mirror lock is simply a very large collet)
     
  3. Insert your right index finger into the hole and push down, rotating the gear clockwise ONLY until the part with no teeth on the gear has just passed the hole where the mirror locking knob fits.  DO NOT ROTATE THE LARGE GEARED LOCKING DISK COUNTERCLOCKWISE as you will be unscrewing it from a very short thread, and if it comes free you’re faced with a major disassembly of the telescope or a return to Meade for major repair.
     
  4. Once you have rotated the locking section of the gear past the open hole, reinstall the locking knob assembly.
     
    The knob has teeth on the back of it, well those teeth are spring to slide back and forward. If you simply reinsert the knob, the teeth do not reach far enough into the scope to engage with the scope gear teeth. What you have to do is use a thin screwdriver to push the knob teeth out (i.e. extend them) as you are inserting the knob. This makes them long enough to reach the scope teeth. Hold the knob with a small bit of sideways pressure to keep the two sets of teeth together, then withdraw the screwdriver and keep holding the knob while you reinstall the three capscrews.

    The spring on the knob teeth pulls the teeth back and the bottom plate of the knob teeth then sits behind the scope gear teeth.
     
    It all sounds tricky but it’s very easy and is an essential step to ensure the knob teeth are properly engaged in the scope teeth.
     
    Once inserted correctly the mirror lock should now lock and unlock properly. Don’t worry about how many turns you have from end stop to where you start to feel locking resistance. All that matters is that you have some free movement in the full clockwise position and when the knob is turned counter-clockwise you’re able to snug up the mirror.

    (Pete Westeir noted that once re-installed the clockwise (unlock) stop worked perfectly, then it was 8.5 turns counterclockwise to the mirror lock position.

The above steps are lifted from the Pete Peterson's page on the Peterson Engineering site - see link  (the steps which are themselves lifted from old LX200GPS user group postings and to a procedure attributed to Buck Harley and Doc Clay, and extended to include an addendum added by Phi Westeir in Dec 2017).

Important Caveat: 
It is important to note that the above steps are those to fix an issue that the locking knob spins freely in either direction and does not lock.

It is unclear if the steps will resolve my issue where the locking knob can't be turned and can't lock the primary mirror.  


Update 2023-11-11

An attempt to fix the Mirror Lock was made today (2023-11-11) based on the steps listed above

  1. "First, turn the knob all the way clockwise to the unlock position stop"

    The Mirror lock knob was already as far clockwise as it could go (in fact the knob couldn't be turned in either direction)
     
  2. "Then remove the 3 cap screws that hold the locking knob assembly from the backplate of the OTA. The locking knob assembly will now be free. You may have to tilt the knob assembly slightly as you removed it from the telescope"

    The 3 cap screws that hold the locking knob assembly from the backplate of the OTA were removed,
    and the locking knob assembly was then taken out (this was easily achieved) .

     Image


    "Viewing through the backplate locking knob hole you will be able to see the 8" steel gear that serves to lock the collar around the mirror sled. About 1-inch of the rim of the gear has no teeth on it. This is the “stop”

     Viewing through the back plate locking knob hole the 8" steel gear that serves to lock the collar around the mirror sled was visible.
     The short section of gear with no teeth (the "stop") was just visible on the anti-clockwise side.

    Image
     

  3. "Insert your right index finger into the hole and push down, rotating the gear clockwise ONLY until the part with no teeth on the gear has just passed the hole where the mirror locking knob fits."

    Right index finger was inserted into the hole and pushed down.
    (it was assumed this meant pushing down on the gear rim, when this was done there was no noticable 'give' - the feel was 'solid'  )
     
    An attempt was made to rotate the gear clockwise, but it wouldn't budge / wouldn't rotate.
     
  4. "Once you have rotated the locking section of the gear past the open hole, reinstall the locking knob assembly

    After making several unsuccessful attempts to manually rotate the gear, gave up and reinserted mirror lock assembly and refitted the 3 cap screws.

    The steps on Peterson Engineering web site talk about the teeth on the back of the knob being spring loaded and needing to push them out with a small screwdriver for them to engage but I couldn't see what he was talking about.

    Image

I may try again to fix the mirror lock on a later occasion. 

Prehaps the Mirror Lock can't be turned because of the position/ tightness of the Focus Knob.

If the Focus Knob is loosened (until it spins more freely) prehaps that loosens the Mirror Knob ?

Update 2024-09-29
This issue again came up in September when the TCF-S's best focus position (c. 500) was noted to have drifted towards the lower end of the focuser's 0-7000 focus step range, and then following a refocusing of the LX200's primary focus to bring the TCF-S's best focus position back to around 3500, the best focus jumped out to 6000 position at start of the following session (see Focus Profile, 2024-09-28) .

Update 2024-10-27
Photo showing focuser in a dissembled LX200 can be seen in photos 9 & 10 at https://astronomyknowhow.hu/en/disassembly-of-meade-lx200

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