David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1177 (2023-12-26)

Notes (S1176)

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Notes (S1178)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2023-12-26 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-12-26)

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.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• 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
• DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1
   
• AstroMain 3.65.9, AstroPlan 1.39.5,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13,  AstroSN 1.10.2,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.10
  (AstroWeather 1.23.8, AstroAllSky 3.19.11,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Targets. 6/52 planned targets observations were completed, with 1 other target partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspension.
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were not acquired due to cloud conditions
•  Dome slewing. Dome Slewing was ok with none of the 9 slews affected by any significant delay or hold-up,
•  Dome Parking.  Dome Parked ok at the correct position.

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 16:25:15 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 16:39 & 06:27 16:25:15   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 16:39 16:39:47   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 17:00:50 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:00) 17:01:00   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 17:01:25   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 17:01:27 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-12-26 S01177, ImageSaveNum: 1177001) 17:01:32   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:03:18   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:03:25 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:03:27 Session Pending Session pending (2023-12-26) 17:03:29 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-12-26) 17:03:31   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.5) 17:04:33   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 951) 17:04:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 17:05:22   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 17:05:46 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 17:06:51   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 65s, Zigbee 41s) 17:06:53 Session Running Session running 17:06:56   Queue Started Observing Queue started (52 targets selected) 17:06:57     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 17:07:11       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 17:11:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:13:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:15:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:15:28       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:17:39       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:19:23       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:19:41     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 17:19:57     Target Started (1/52) Target started (1/52, AT2023ydp (CV)) 17:23:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:25:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 17:31:20     Target Completed Target completed (1/52, AT2023ydp (CV)) 17:31:57     Target Started (2/52) Target started (2/52, AT2023yvv (CV)) 17:34:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:36:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 17:42:45     Target Completed Target completed (2/52, AT2023yvv (CV)) 17:43:57     Target Started (3/52) Target started (3/52, AT2023aanv (CV)) 17:46:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:48:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 17:54:33     Target Completed Target completed (3/52, AT2023aanv (CV)) 17:55:57     Target Started (4/52) Target started (4/52, NGC 7171 w/SN2023yoo) 18:00:05       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:16:13     Target Completed Target completed (4/52, NGC 7171 w/SN2023yoo) 18:18:17     Target Started (5/52) Target started (5/52, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) 18:21:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:23:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 18:28:31       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 18:39:31     Target Completed Target completed (5/52, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) 18:39:33   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 18:39:35 Session Suspending Session suspending 18:41:18   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 105s, Zigbee 43s) 18:41:20 Session Suspended Session suspended 18:48:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/52, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 19:05:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/52, 12P/Pons-Brooks) due to cloud 19:13:47 Session Resuming Session resuming 19:15:07   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 80s, Zigbee 41s) 19:15:09 Session Running Session running 19:15:11   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 19:15:13     Target Started (8/52) Target started (8/52, GCVS BL Lac) 19:21:00     Target Completed Target partially completed (8/52, GCVS BL Lac) 19:21:04     Target Started (9/52) Target started (9/52, NGC 7466 w/SN2023uu) 19:23:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 19:26:58       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 19:40:13     Target Completed Target completed (9/52, NGC 7466 w/SN2023uu) 19:40:15   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:40:17 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:42:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 110s, Zigbee 43s) 19:42:07 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:58:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/52, UGC 530 w/SN2023yma) due to cloud 20:15:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/52, GCVS U And) due to cloud 20:36:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/52, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023yqt) due to cloud 20:58:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/52, NGC 682 w/SN2023xtg) due to cloud 21:17:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/52, Nova Per 2020) due to cloud 21:38:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/52, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) due to cloud 21:54:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/52, GCVS X TRI) due to cloud 22:07:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/52, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 22:19:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/52, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud 22:38:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/52, IC 415 w/SN2023yzv) due to cloud 22:52:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/52, AT2023elx (CV)) due to cloud 23:12:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/52, AT2023pmd) due to cloud 23:25:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/52, GCVS Z And) due to cloud 23:44:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/52, AT2023pfd) due to cloud 23:58:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/52, AT2023aaky (CV)) due to cloud 00:10:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/52, AT2023add (CV)) due to cloud 00:30:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/52, GCVS GW Ori) due to cloud 00:42:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/52, AT2023bcg (CV)) due to cloud 00:52:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/52, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 01:03:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/52, AT2023srv (CV)) due to rain 01:14:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/52, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud 01:34:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/52, AT2023qun) due to cloud 01:48:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/52, AT2023zzs (CV)) due to cloud 02:08:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/52, NGC 1086 w/SN2023rix) due to cloud 02:22:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/52, AT2023srw (CV)) due to cloud 02:34:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/52, AT2022zkn (CV)) due to cloud 02:46:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/52, AT2023vww (CV)) due to cloud 02:58:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/52, AT2023cxz (CV)) due to cloud 03:11:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/52, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud 03:21:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/52, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 03:32:57 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 03:32:59   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 03:33:02 Session Closing Session closing 03:33:07   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 19:42, closing time 110s, zigbee 43s) 03:34:28   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 73s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:35:49   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 75s) 03:36:04   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:36:26   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:37:47   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (7mA) 03:37:50   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:37:52 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:38:04     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 03:39:08     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°) 03:39:15     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.4 to 93.4°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:39:18 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:37:59 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (42.58 GB) is less than 50 GB

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Operational Issues (2023-12-26, S1177)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• LAN Connection to Observatory went down, stopping Uploads to Observatory Computers and stopping remote access & window explorer access (2023-12-27 18:52). This seems to be a repeat of the issue that affected the Observatory's LAN Connection in early Dec (2023-12-09, 2023-12-10, 2023-12-13 & 2023-12-15) which was investigated (see Investigation - Outages in Observatory's LAN Connection ).  AstroPlan and AstroAllSky modified at that time to autoatically Restart WebUploader's SecureTransfer if/when the LAN communication is restored to minimise outages in Web Uploading as far as possible. Observatory will be left until the morning (2023-12-28) to see if the Observatory LAN connection restores itself or not.  Investigating the following showed that the Observatory LAN hadn't restored itself by 10:20 in morning and an Observatory visit was required in order to switch off/switch on the Ethernet over Powerline Adapter.   Propose to swap the Observatory's Ethernet over Powerline for one of the adapters used in the house to see if that improves things.
  Resolved 2023-12-28 (LAN Network, Observatory)
   
• AstroMain's Zigbee HandleSensorEvent routine is recorded several unexpected yellow events saying "Observatory Door has opened" followed immediately by green events saying "Observatory Door has closed (open time 0s)"  (2023-12-27 11:44 to 15:30).  7 pairs of Observatory Door events recorded over a 4 hour period, 6 reported open times of 0s but the last one reported an open time of 2 min.  These events occurred during a storm with strong wind/rain and there were no Observatory visits during this time. Propose to check Observatory sensor for any mispositioning/water entry tomorrow (2023-12-28). Propose to examine Zigbee event logs to see if the off a clue.   It is suspected these are false alarms but why they have occurred is presently unknown. One hypothesis, however, is that wind shaking the door, moves the magnet element relative to the sensor magnet is a manner than triggers a momentary change in state.  Whilst this might explain the very short (0s) changes in state, it seems harder to examine the door being supposedly open for 2 min at 15:30.  Unlikely to be due to weak sensor signals as sensor battery level is 95%.  Sensor operated ok the following morning 2023-12-28 10:17 when Observatory was briefly visited to restart its Ethernet Over Powerline adapter. Examining AstroMain's Zigbee log confirms a momentary 'Open' event at 11:44 from Sensor (ID: 5)  with the occurance of an Open=True event at 11:44:24.245 followed 0.1s later by an Open=False event.
  
    Event << {"e":"changed","id":"5","r":"sensors","state":{"lastupdated":"2023-12-27T11:44:24.245","open":true},"t":"event"}
  Event << {"e":"changed","id":"5","r":"sensors","state":{"lastupdated":"2023-12-27T11:44:24.343","open":false},"t":"event"}
  Looking at the longer 'Open' event at 15:30 confirms an Open=True event at 15:30:30.028 for 122s later by an Open=False (Closed) event
  
    Event << {"e":"changed","id":"5","r":"sensors","state":{"lastupdated":"2023-12-27T15:30:30.028","open":true},"t":"event"}
  Event << {"e":"changed","id":"5","r":"sensors","state":{"lastupdated":"2023-12-27T15:32:32.208","open":false},"t":"event"}
  Checking the following day (2023-12-28) confirmed that the Observatory Door was locked shut and couldn't have been physically opened at 15:30 without a key.  The case is concerning as the monitoring of the Observatory / independant check on ShutterState depends on accurate Sensor measurements. Closed after review 2023-12-28.
  Closed after review  2023-12-28 (Observatory, AstroMain, Zigbee Network), closed but continue to monitor

Small Defects

• AstroMain's SearchForDomePark (Narrow) at end of session overran into the succeeding General Session. After completing SearchForDomePark (wide),  ObsManager's Finishing Wait Step didn't wait for the narrow search but exited Session Finishing and reopened the General Session where report messages were interlaced with those coming from the still running Narrow Search and Dome Sync. There is also a  ReportLine at start of SearchForPark which shouldn't be there.
  Fixed  2023-12-28 (AstroMain 3.65.10)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroAllSky's 'Upload Last Night's Images button routine to seek user confirmation and to report action. .
  Done  2023-12-28 (AstroAllSky 3.19.12)

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