David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1168 (2023-11-17)

Notes (S1167)

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Notes (S1169)

	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 (13)
	Images from 2023-11-17 >>
	Pulsar Dome - Replacement Rotation Drive Wheel
	2023-11-21
	Additional Greenhouse Sensors

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-11-17)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. 12P/Pons-Brooks. Acquire images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks which has been undergoing an outburst.
3. Dome Slewing. Check out dome slew performance after installation of replacement drive wheel & connector earlier today (2023-11-17)
4. Dome Parking. Check for accurate dome parking after installation of new drive wheel and dome re-calibration earlier today (2023-11-17)

 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, Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
• 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 3.64.7, AstroPlan 1.39,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10.1,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.7
  (AstroWeather 1.22.3, AstroAllSky 3.19.6,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Targets. 3/41 planned targets observations were completed, with 2 other target partially completed. Other targets failed/cancelled due to cloud.
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were successfully acquired.
• AstroMain. New version of AstroMain worked successfully and didn't introduce any new issues
•  Dome Slews. Dome slews were all completed without any hold-ups or delays.
    (Hold Up Stats:0/7 slews affected, 6%, 7.1 minutes total hold-up time). 
•  Dome Parking.  Dome parked at correct location at end of session allowing the Shutter Battery to automatically begin re-charging

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 18:17:52 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:17 & 05:44 18:17:53 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:17) 18:18:03   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:18:16 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-11-17 S01168, ImageSaveNum: 1168001) 18:18:22   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:20:11   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:20:18 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:20:23 Session Pending Session pending (2023-11-17) 18:20:25 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-11-17) 18:20:27   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39) 18:22:20   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 942) 18:22:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 18:23:20   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:23:44 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:25:44   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 120s) 18:25:46 Session Running Session running 18:25:48   Queue Started Observing Queue started (41 targets selected) 18:25:50     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 18:26:03       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:30:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:33:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:35:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:35:51       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:38:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 18:39:46       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:40:00       Focusing Failed Foc2 focusing check failed 18:40:03     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 18:40:08     Target Started (1/41) Target started (1/41, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 18:46:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:48:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:53:46     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/41, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 18:53:50     Target Started (2/41) Target started (2/41, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) 19:13:41     Target Completed Target completed (2/41, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) 19:13:45     Target Started (3/41) Target started (3/41, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 19:17:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 19:29:52     Target Completed Target completed (3/41, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 19:29:56     Target Started (4/41) Target started (4/41, GCVS V Sge) 19:30:37       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 19:34:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:36:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:42:59       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 19:44:53     Target Completed Target completed (4/41, GCVS V Sge) 19:45:29     Target Started (5/41) Target started (5/41, AT2023tvi (CV)) 19:48:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:50:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 19:54:20   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 19:54:22   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 19:54:25     Target Aborted (5/41) Target aborted (5/41, AT2023tvi (CV)) due to cloud 19:54:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:54:29 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:55:45   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 80s) 19:55:47 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:56:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/41, AT2023tvi (CV)) due to cloud 20:08:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/41, AT2023txn) due to cloud 20:18:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/41, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 20:39:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/41, AT2023rao (CV)) due to cloud 21:01:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/41, UGC 831 w/AT2023wdd) due to cloud 21:23:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/41, AT2023pmd) due to cloud 21:34:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/41, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 21:45:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/41, AT2023wvl (CV)) due to cloud 22:05:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/41, AT2022ymv) due to cloud 22:20:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/41, AT2022whd (CV)) due to cloud 22:30:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/41, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 22:32:30 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 22:32:33   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 22:32:35 Session Closing Session closing 22:32:40   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 19:55, closing time 80s) 22:34:16   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 88s), Az: 90.0 deg 22:35:31   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 69s) 22:35:46   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 22:36:08   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 22:37:30   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging ok 22:37:33   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 22:37:35 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 22:37:46 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail --             No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2023-11-17, S1168)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Small Defects (3)
• Continuous Improvement (13)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Dome's Home Magnet has again become badly corroded and is non-functional (pre-session). After replacing the one of the dome's Drive Wheels (whose connector was loose/badly worn) and before the dome was recalibrated the dome's home magnet was checked and was found to be almost totally corroded with minimal remaining strength.  This was happened on two previous occasions in 2000 and 2022. The Home Magnet is believed to corrode in my Observatory due to an electrolysis effect because it is contact with metal beading in the rubber trim attached to the edge of dome's roof flange and frequent wetting from dew runoff. Pieces of corroded magnet were removed and replaced by a new magnet (actually by a pair of magnets,  see Home Magnet Tests, 2022-07-13) in order to finish the dome re-calibration. After calibrating the new magnets were removed and carefully stored ready for some future use (repeated experience shows that the home magnet can't be left in position for extended periods without corroding).
  Fixed 2023-11-17 (Observatory, Pulsar Dome)
   
• Pointing accuracy associated with Telescope Slews has decreased in past 2 sessions. (S1167 & S1168). Slewing accuracy has deteriorated slightly in session S1167 & S1168, compared to earlier sessions. Issue doesn't have much impact at the moment, but it is nevertheless proposed to perform a short mapping job at start of next session or so in order to resolve this. Telescope sync + short mapping conducted at beginning of S1169 session (2023-11-30).  Average slew error (3.1' in S1166, 2.8' in S1167, 5.3' in S1168) was improved (1.1' in S1169, ` 2.3' in S1170,  1.6' in S1171).
  Fixed 2023-11-18+ (Telescope, TheSky6/TPoint, Session)

Small Defects

• Observing Replay in a Test Session generating lots of log message "AnalyseStarsInImage Fail ... Cannot write to a closed TextWriter" (post-session)
  Whilst replay BL Lac observing from S1167, it was noticed that the log file contains lots of messages
  
    23:18:00.85 | GCVS BL Lac  Run AnalyseStarsInImage  Fail | Exception executing StarDatFile.WriteLine in AnalyseStarsInImage
  23:18:00.85 | GCVS BL Lac  Run AnalyseStarsInImage  Fail | Cannot write to a closed TextWriter.
  There were 32 of these 'Cannot write to a closed TextWriter' exceptions recorded for each Locate Frame.   Prehaps the log should report the first instance of this exception for each locate frame, but not repeat the message for other 31 instances ? Prehaps the StarDatFile needs to be opened ?. Fixed in AstroMain 3.64.8 by checking/opening the StarDatFile before attempt to write to file. RecordBrightestStars_LocateInfo()
  Fixed 2023-11-18 (AstroMain 3.64.8) 
   
• First two stars in AstroMain's Stored Brightest Stars List have identical positions & raw magnitudes and seem to be a duplicate.  The list is generated in RecordBrightestStars_LocateInfo(). In the example below it can be seen that both rows are for a star at 102.5, 92.7 with raw mag -13.00.
   1 , X: 102.5, Y: 92.7,  RawMag: -13.00
 2 , X: 102.5, Y: 92.7,  RawMag: -13.00
 3 , X: 165.0, Y: 128.4, RawMag: -11.80
 4 , X: 357.2, Y: 279.8, RawMag: -11.49
 5 , X: 590.8, Y: 465.2, RawMag: -11.38
 6 , X: 37.0,  Y: 293.3, RawMag: -11.11
 7 , X: 446.7, Y: 91.9,  RawMag: -10.80
 8 , X: 658.8, Y: 213.7, RawMag: -10.77
  Src files doesn't contain a duplicate record and the code to write out the list is confirmed to be reporting correctly from the StarX(), StarY() & StarMagnitude() arrays ok and writes correctly to the LocateInfo.BrightestStars() list. This suggests that the source of the bug is in the sorting of the Star arrays. However debugging shows that the problem is in CCDSoft Inventory arrays - item 0 and item 1 are identical. It is also observed that the Inventory arrays are already sorting on brightness, which if consistently the case could allow the code to sort Star arrays to be bypassed or removed.
  Fixed 2023-11-18 (AstroMain 3.64.8) 
   
• 'Print Screen' button is accidentally being hit which annoyingly dims the screen and opens Windows Snipping Tool. On the Development Computer (running Windows 11) the Print Screen (Prt Sc) button is frequently hit by accident instead of hitting the adjacent 'Delete'. This is annoying as the screen dims and the Snipping Tool is opened which interrupts the editing task in hand. Prt Sc isn't used as 'Capture Screen' facility in PaintShopPro is generally the method used to capture a screen or form. Previously Prt Sc would copy the screen to clipboard which didn't interrupt editing at all.  For users who don't like this change in Windows there is way to disable it in the Windows 11 Settings by going to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and toggling off the 'Use the Print Screen key to open Snipping Tool' setting (tip from bleepingcomputer.com).
  Fixed 2023-11-29 (Development Computer)

Continuous Improvement

• Add a TNS ID field to the filters on AstroMain's Target List .  This will be useful feature to help to find a specific Transient/Supernova where host galaxy is not known/remembered and/or where the current project isn't known.
  Done 2023-11-18 (AstroPlan 1.39.1)
   
• Add a partial break in the log file before performing a 'Brightest Star Match'.  This would be a useful aid in visually separating the messages associated with Taking / Linking Image and the follow-on analysis & Jpg picture creation. A partial line break shouldn't be used as that is used to differentiate between different images (eg. Image 1/5, Image 2/5 etc). Implemented 2023-11-18.
  Done 2023-11-18 (AstroMain 3.64.8)
   
• Add a link to Mosaic Data folder from On-The-Fly Observing Tab and also have folder automatically open when 'Build Mosaic' is clicked.  Path to folder is "C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Targets\_Mosaic Data". Note that Mosaic Data folder can already be opened from AstroPlan's Target Form when Obs. Type is 'Mosaic'.   Partially implemented in AstroMain 3.64.8.  Explorer Window is opened when 'Build Mosaic' is successful used.  Link to folder not added as it is felt that it would  clutter the form/tab unnecessarily.
  Done 2023-11-19+ (AstroMain 3.64.8)
   
• Extend AstroMove's Download Aurora Files to include 'lerwick-k' file. Following extension to AstroAllSky 1.19.7 to automatically create a 'lerwick-k' picture (previously lerwick-magnetometer' ) by cropping the 'uk-kandkp' picture downloaded from the Internet each morning (CI  S1147 2023-09-20)  AstroMove's  Download Files from Observatory routine should be modified to include this extra file.
  Done 2023-11-19 (AstroMove 1.12.8)
   
• Add new Greenhouse Sensors in to Observatory's Zigbee Network for further remote monitoring of greenhouse. New multi-sensor for recording Greenhouse T/H (named 'Greenhouse'2) and new door/window sensor (named 'GreenhouseVent') was added to the Zigbee Network today (2023-11-21) (See notes:   Additional Greenhouse Sensors (2023-11-21) ).  This added 4 items to the network's sensor list: 13) Greenhouse2  humidity,  14) Greenhouse2  temperature, 15) Greenhouse2 pressure., 16) GreenhouseVent open/closed. Further actions are been raised to make the sensor values accessible to AstroWeather / Website.
  Done 2023-11-21 (Observatory Zigbee Network)
   
• Add Handing for additional Greenhouse Sensors (Greenhouse Temperature2 , Greenhouse Humidty2 & Greenhouse Pressure 2 & GreenhouseVent) to AstroMain's Zigbee Monitor .
  Done 2023-11-21 (AstroMain 3.64.9)
   
• Add Greenhouse Temperature, Humidty and Pressure to ObsEnv records that are sent from AstroMain to the AstroWeather & other programs running on AllSky/Weather Computer.
  Done 2023-11-22 (AstroMain 3.64.9)
   
• Modify AstroWeather's ObsEnv record reading and update relevant Graph Charts.  Changes to GraphID 2, 14, 55, 59, 61, 62. Change for GreenHouseVentState still pending.
  Done 2023-11-22  (AstroWeather 1.23)
   
• Modify AstroMain's Title2 routine for Comets to calculate and report the number of arc secs traversed by comet or asteroid over the course of an imageset and the pixel equivalent. This will be useful to deciding whether Align of Stars is sufficient or Align on Comet needs to be used. Implemented in AstroMain 3.64.9.
  Done 2023-11-23 (AstroMain 3.64.9)
   
• Add an 'Altitude' button to AstroMain's ImageSets/ImageBuilder to get the altitude of the current image. Sometime it is useful to view the altitude of the object show in the current image to help understand issues such as bad seeing / bad image quality, and record the observed altitude of any particularly low Dec objects. Implemented in AstroMain 3.64.9. Altitude value is reported at end of 'Description' text, instead of making it a new button/routine.
  Done 2023-11-23 (AstroMain 3.64.9)
   
• Append TDays to AstroMain's Analysis Form Title when ImageSet is a Supernova or other Transient. Where the ImageSet object has a non-null TnsId value the ImageSet observation will have a TDays number entered in the TDays field (txtTargetTnsTDays) on ImageSets/Target Tab. In this situation the TDays value should be appended to title of the form.
  Done 2023-11-23 (AstroMain 3.64.9)
    
• Tidy Up/Refresh Session Notes from late 2017-2018 covering the transition from old Roll-Off Observatory to the Dome Observatory. Aim is to bring the Session Notes from S603 to S623 up to a similar standard and consistency with later Session Notes pages. (Session Notes). Improvements, give notes sections a left margin / white space to notes section using <div class="Notes">  </div>
  In Progress 2023-11-26+ (Website)
   
• Query.  JPG Pictures produced for Replayed Targets / original Raw Frames show the current date/time, should they show original Date/Time from the substitued frames ?  In Progress at 2024-04-17  A new checkbox (cboxAdHocPicturesUseCurrentlTime) 'Adhoc Pictures uses Current Time' has been added to Controller Tab (with default = True) in AstroMain 3.68.3, but can be unchecked if required.  If UseTestMode and cboxAdHocPicturesUseCurrentlTime.checked = False, the picture will be annotated with original date/time, instead of the current date/time.
  In Progress 2024-04-17+ (AstroMain 3.68.3)

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Pulsar Dome - Replacement Rotation Drive Wheel

Last month, whilst checking the Dome's Rotation Drive tension after installation of Anti-Slip Tape to the dome's roof flange, it was noticed that the inner drive wheel was very loose and there were indications of aluminum filings in the vicinity of the motor drive (Pulsar Dome - Loose Rotation Drive Wheel, 2023-10-27). Evidentally the drive wheel connector was so loose that it was spinning on the drive motor shaft rather than rotating with it and finally explains the long standing issue with frequent poor dome slewing performance with frequent delays and hold-ups during slewing.

A replacement drive wheel connector arrived from Pulsar Observatories this morning (2023-11-17) and was immediately installed in the Observatory.  After doing this the dome was recalibrated and parked. Photos below :

Replacement Drive Wheel & Connector		Base of new drive wheel connector
Base of old drive wheel connector showing it's very extensive wear		New Drive Wheel successfully connector to its Drive Motor

This fix finally resolves the ongoing issue with poor Dome Slewing Performance/Slew Hold-ups & Delays which were described in a number of sessions over the past 2-3 years, including S943, S945, S1019 and many others since then.

Home Magnet

After replacing the loose Drive Wheels (and before the dome was recalibrated the dome's home magnet was checked and was found to be be almost totally corroded with minimal remaining strength - the Dome couldn't find Home Position using it.  This was happened on two previous occasions in 2000 and 2022. The Home Magnet is believed to corrode in my Observatory due to an electrolysis effect because it is contact with metal beading in the rubber trim attached to the edge of dome's roof flange and frequent wetting from dew runoff. Pieces of corroded magnet were removed and replaced by a new magnet (actually by a pair of magnets,  see Home Magnet Tests, 2022-07-13) in order to finish the dome recalibration. After successful calibrating the dome the magnets were removed and carefully stored ready for some future use - repeated experience shows that they can't be left in position for extended periods without corroding.

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2023-11-21

Additional Greenhouse Sensors

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