David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 1183 (2024-01-16)

 
Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
Bullet Operational Issues
  - Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (5),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
Bullet Images from 2024-01-16 >>         
   
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-01-16)

Main aims

  1. SN 2024gy. Acquire spectral images of Type Ia Supernova 2024gy in NGC 4216
  2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
  3. 12P/Pons-Brooks. Acquire images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks which has been undergoing regular outbursts.

 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
00:19:41 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:19 & 06:19
00:19:44   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to wind
00:22:29 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:22)
00:22:48   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
00:23:02 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-01-16 S01183, ImageSaveNum: 1183001)
00:23:04   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 50s, Zigbee 42s)
00:23:09   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox.
00:24:55   Services Started Observatory Services started
00:25:02 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
00:25:04 Session Pending Session pending (2024-01-16)
00:25:07 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-01-16)
00:25:09   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.5)
00:25:38 User Intervention User Intervention to restart Dome Connection
00:26:30   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 957)
00:26:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C)
00:27:09   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
00:27:35 Session Running Session running
00:27:38   Queue Started Observing Queue started (18 targets selected)
00:27:41     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139)
00:27:56       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
00:32:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:35:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
00:37:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
00:37:17       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
00:39:28       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
00:41:14       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
00:41:31     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139)
00:41:36     Target Started (1/18) Target started (1/18, 103P/Hartley)
00:45:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:47:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
00:58:18     Target Completed Target completed (1/18, 103P/Hartley)
00:58:23     Target Started (2/19) Target started (2/19, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO)
01:08:08   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000]
01:08:10   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue)
01:08:15   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
01:09:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -30°C)
01:09:12     Target Aborted (2/19) Target aborted (2/19, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO) due to User Intervention
01:09:17     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO)
01:11:11   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 01:11 in section 'GetCameraProperties'
01:12:34 User Intervention User Intervention to RestartCCDSoft & SBIG Camera
01:12:36   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action)
01:12:43   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled
01:13:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -30°C)
01:55:00     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO)
01:55:02     Target Missed (4/20) Target's time slot was missed (4/20, AT2024vf (CV))
01:55:04     Target Missed (5/20) Target's time slot was missed (5/20, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf)
01:55:06     Target Started (6/20) Target started (6/20, UGC 5886 w/AT2024hw)
02:07:23     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/20, UGC 5886 w/AT2024hw)
02:07:27     Target Started (7/20) Target started (7/20, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx)
02:10:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:12:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
02:28:28     Target Completed Target completed (7/20, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx)
02:28:32     Target Started (8/20) Target started (8/20, 62P/Tsuchinshan)
02:31:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
02:43:34     Target Completed Target completed (8/20, 62P/Tsuchinshan)
02:43:38     Target Started (9/21) Target started (9/21, Vega, ToO)
02:47:22     Target Completed Target completed (9/21, Vega, ToO)
02:47:26     Target Started (10/21) Target started (10/21, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy)
03:23:28     Target Completed Target completed (10/21, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy)
03:23:32     Target Started (11/21) Target started (11/21, CGCG 160-062 w/SN2023ke)
03:26:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
03:37:13       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
03:37:15   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
03:37:17   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain)
03:37:19     Target Aborted (11/21) Target aborted (11/21, CGCG 160-062 w/SN2023ke) due to threat of rain
03:37:21   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
03:37:23 Session Suspending Session suspending
03:38:08   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 45s)
03:38:10 Session Suspended Session suspended
03:40:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/21, CGCG 160-062 w/SN2023ke) due to wind
03:51:05 Session Resuming Session resuming
03:51:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 42s)
03:51:52 Session Running Session running
03:51:54   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
03:51:57     Target Started (12/21) Target started (12/21, M101 w/SN2023ixf)
04:07:52     Target Completed Target partially completed (12/21, M101 w/SN2023ixf)
04:07:56     Target Started (13/21) Target started (13/21, NGC 4415 w/SN2022pul)
04:12:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
04:28:23     Target Completed Target completed (13/21, NGC 4415 w/SN2022pul)
04:28:27     Target Started (14/21) Target started (14/21, UGCA 287)
04:31:54       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S)
04:48:49     Target Completed Target completed (14/21, UGCA 287)
04:50:21     Target Started (15/21) Target started (15/21, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj)
04:53:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:55:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
05:11:19     Target Completed Target completed (15/21, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj)
05:12:41     Target Started (16/21) Target started (16/21, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz)
05:16:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S)
05:32:16     Target Completed Target completed (16/21, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz)
05:34:41     Target Started (17/21) Target started (17/21, AT2024mu (CV))
05:37:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
05:40:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
05:45:58     Target Completed Target completed (17/21, AT2024mu (CV))
05:47:01     Target Started (18/21) Target started (18/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks)
05:50:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
05:52:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
06:04:00     Target Completed Target completed (18/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks)
06:05:03     Target Started (19/21) Target started (19/21, GCVS BL Lac)
06:08:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
06:10:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
06:14:55     Target Completed Target completed (19/21, GCVS BL Lac)
06:15:21     Target Started (20/21) Target started (20/21, MCG +9-27-70 w/SN2023acha)
06:18:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
06:20:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
06:37:18     Target Completed Target completed (20/21, MCG +9-27-70 w/SN2023acha)
06:37:41     Target Started (21/21) Target started (21/21, NGC 6745 w/SN2023ucy)
06:40:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
06:42:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
06:58:38     Target Completed Target completed (21/21, NGC 6745 w/SN2023ucy)
06:58:42   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
06:58:44 Session Closing Session closing
06:59:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 45s)
06:59:54   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s), Az: 90.0 deg
07:01:09   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 70s)
07:01:24   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
07:01:46   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
07:03:10   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
07:03:13 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
07:03:34     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide)
07:04:41     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°)
07:04:48     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.4 to 93.4°, Step 0.2°, Narrow)
07:06:18     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°)
07:06:23     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°)
07:06:25   Dome Parked Dome parked
07:09:29 Session Finished Session Finished
07:09:31   Shutter Battery Shutter battery level has fallen below 88%

 
Session Alerts & Alarms
Time     Type       Name Detail
01:08:08 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue
01:11:47 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 01:11:11) in section 'GetCameraProperties'
01:12:37 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (01:12) after 0.0 mins
01:15:11 Green Clear CCDSoft Image file has been saved to disk following CCDSoft Restart
07:03:08 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.2 mins. Dome may not have parked correctly
07:09:29 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.1 min. Dome may not have parked correctly
07:09:31 Yellow Alert Shutter Battery Shutter battery level has fallen below 88%
 

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Operational Issues (2024-01-16, S1183)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

Continuous Improvement

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Fig 1.   Shutter Battery Graphs

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Fig 2.  Focus Profile Charts, Profile 2, Foc2, Near Zenith Focus Field 9
 Showing flat-topped Max Pixel Values

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Fig 3.   Shutter Battery Graphs (2024-01-20)

Graphs showing increase in Trickle Charge rate following adjustment in Induction Charger spacing around midday on 2024-01-19.
Modification should led to faster charging following a session where battery is drawn down due to Open/Close Shutter operations.
It is hoped that modification will fix recent issue where start of shutter battery charging is delayed by up to 60 minutes after Parking Dome.

 Image

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