David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1186 (2024-02-16)

Notes (S1185)

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Notes (S1187A)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (6)
	Images from 2024-02-16 >>
	2024-02-17
	PHD2 Update 2.6.13

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-02-16)

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 regular outbursts. .
3. 13P/Olbers. Acquire images of Comet 13P/Olbers
4. AstroMain. Test fixes to CCDSoft Camera/SBIG Camera operations to prevent stalled execution during starting, fix issues due to occasional repeated failures during Cam1 focusing and occassional unexpected CCD Temperature regulation.

 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 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.65.14, 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 1.23.10, AstroAllSky 3.19.11,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Targets. 13/34 planned targets observations was completed, with 4 other targets partially completed.  Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension.
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were successfully acquired.
• 113P/Olbers. Only a single frame of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks was acquired due to cloud.
• AstroMain. No issues with CCDSoft Camera/SBIG Camera.
•  Dome Parking.  Dome parked ok at the correct position at end of the session.

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 17:41:41 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:04 & 05:28 17:41:45   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 18:04 18:04:23   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:35:47 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:35) 18:35:58   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:36:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 18:36:25 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-02-16 S01186, ImageSaveNum: 1186001) 18:36:30   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:38:15   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:38:22 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:38:25 Session Pending Session pending (2024-02-16) 18:38:27 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-02-16) 18:38:29   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.5) 18:39:52   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 960) 18:40:04   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 18:40:40   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:41:04 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:41:49   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 18:41:51 Session Running Session running 18:41:53   Queue Started Observing Queue started (34 targets selected) 18:41:55     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 4, HIP 18637) 18:42:06       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:45:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:47:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:49:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:49:50       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:51:41       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 18:53:24       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:53:41     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 4, HIP 18637) 18:54:55     Target Started (1/34) Target started (1/34, 13P/Olbers) 18:58:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:01:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:12:55     Target Completed Target completed (1/34, 13P/Olbers) 19:12:59     Target Started (2/34) Target started (2/34, 207P/NEAT) 19:16:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 19:33:51     Target Completed Target completed (2/34, 207P/NEAT) 19:36:05     Target Started (3/34) Target started (3/34, AT2023xzr) 19:39:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:42:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:57:55     Target Completed Target completed (3/34, AT2023xzr) 19:58:25     Target Started (4/34) Target started (4/34, AT2023elx (CV)) 20:02:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:04:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:11:05     Target Completed Target completed (4/34, AT2023elx (CV)) 20:11:09     Target Started (5/34) Target started (5/34, AT2023rrr) 20:14:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:17:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:32:52     Target Completed Target completed (5/34, AT2023rrr) 20:33:05     Target Started (6/34) Target started (6/34, AT2023xvv (CV)) 20:37:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:39:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 20:55:12     Target Completed Target completed (6/34, AT2023xvv (CV)) 20:55:25     Target Started (7/34) Target started (7/34, GCVS BL Lac) 20:59:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:01:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:05:07     Target Completed Target completed (7/34, GCVS BL Lac) 21:05:43     Target Started (8/34) Target started (8/34, NGC 7735 w/SN2024we) 21:09:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:25:58     Target Completed Target completed (8/34, NGC 7735 w/SN2024we) 21:27:43     Target Started (9/34) Target started (9/34, NGC 2345) 21:32:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:34:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:42:01     Target Completed Target completed (9/34, NGC 2345) 21:42:15     Target Started (10/34) Target started (10/34, UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb) 21:45:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:47:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 22:03:50     Target Completed Target completed (10/34, UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb) 22:04:15     Target Started (11/34) Target started (11/34, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf) 22:11:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:27:03     Target Completed Target completed (11/34, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf) 22:27:07     Target Started (12/34) Target started (12/34, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 22:30:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:38:09     Target Completed Target completed (12/34, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 22:40:47     Target Started (13/34) Target started (13/34, AT2024vf (CV)) 22:43:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:46:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:01:36     Target Completed Target completed (13/34, AT2024vf (CV)) 23:02:35     Target Started (14/34) Target started (14/34, UGC 5886 w/SN2024hw) 23:06:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:06:41       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 23:09:50   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:09:52   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:09:55     Target Aborted (14/34) Target aborted (14/34, UGC 5886 w/SN2024hw) due to cloud 23:09:57   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:09:59 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:10:45   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 23:10:47 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:21:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/34, UGC 5886 w/SN2024hw) due to cloud 23:43:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/34, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) due to cloud 23:57:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/34, AT2023aaky (CV)) due to cloud 00:17:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/34, NGC 3052 w/SN2024chx) due to cloud 00:48:26 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:49:12   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 00:49:14 Session Running Session running 00:49:16   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:49:19     Target Started (18/34) Target started (18/34, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 01:01:35     Target Completed Target partially completed (18/34, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 01:01:39     Target Started (19/34) Target started (19/34, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 01:05:08       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:06:14   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:06:16   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:06:18     Target Aborted (19/34) Target aborted (19/34, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 01:06:20   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:06:22 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:07:09   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 01:07:11 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:18:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/34, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 01:31:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/34, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 01:46:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/34, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 02:05:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/34, M84) due to cloud 02:28:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/34, MCG -1-33-30 w/SN2024byg) due to cloud 02:52:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/34, AT2024crd) due to cloud 03:13:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/34, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) due to cloud 03:35:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/34, NGC 6106 w/SN2024ahv) due to cloud 03:57:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/34, AT2023tsk) due to cloud 04:19:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/34, MCG +9-27-70 w/SN2023acha) due to cloud 04:41:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/34, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) due to cloud 05:01:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/34, 62P/Tsuchinshan) due to cloud 05:13:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/34, AT2023abtv (CV)) due to cloud 05:28:05 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:28:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 05:28:52 Session Running Session running 05:28:54   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:28:55     Target Started (32/34) Target started (32/34, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 05:36:11       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 05:36:16   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 05:36:18   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 05:36:21     Target Aborted (32/34) Target aborted (32/34, 12P/Pons-Brooks) due to cloud 05:36:23   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:36:25 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:37:11   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 05:37:13 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:52:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/34, NGC 6004 w/SN2024cld) due to cloud 06:18:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/34, C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 06:18:50   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:18:56 Session Closing Session closing 06:19:01   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 05:37, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s) 06:19:28   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 19s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:20:56   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 84s) 06:21:11   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:21:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:22:56   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (19mA) 06:22:59   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:23:01 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:23:23     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:24:22     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.0°) 06:24:28     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:25:53     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 06:26:00     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 06:26:02   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:26:52   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (18mA) 06:26:54 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 06:26:52 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (18mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-02-16, S1186)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (6)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AllSky Camera Imaging affected by dew inside camera hemisphere.  Damp/wet condition is past  2 days has caused condensation and consequential dew drops inside the AllSky Camera's hemisphere.  This caused reduced image quality and lowered the AllSky Star Count during the session.  Dew was known about from the previous night and should have been dealt with by visiting the camera mast and wiping dry the inside of the hemisphere ahead of the S1186 session but it the the task was unforgotten forgotten / not done.   Camera to be dried ahead of next session.  Camera check in afternoon 2024-02-18 and confirmed to be visually dry of any dew or condensation. Hemisphere opened to allow any damp air to escape and then closed again.
  Resolved 2024-02-18 (Session, AllSky Camera, User Awareness)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Shorten reporting of 'Search for Dome Park' routine (06:23).  Shortening reporting of 'Search for Dome Park' routine by combining Search Type and Search Range onto a single line.
  Done 2024-02-17 (AstroMain 3.65.15)
   
• When using Redo Object Info utility from AstroMain ImageSets/Special tab, focus should be given to CCDSoft program.  This would save a mouse click.
  Also look at sending a 'Cntl-Shift-I' command to CCDSoft  to bring up Cursor Information dialog.  The latter (Cursor Information) only works if the main CCDSoft Window is focussed as opposed to a CCDSoft sub-window. As some mitigation for this a call to new ShowCCDSoft_CursorInformation() routine is made after saving a combined Image (ie before Image Linking).
  Done 2024-02-18  (AstroMain 3.65.15)
   
• Upon using Job Abort for an ImageSet image link focus should move to 'Special' tab.  Moving focus to 'special' tab allows user to quickly change the Detection Threshold and have another go at performing an Image Link.
  Done 2024-02-18  (AstroMain 3.65.15)
   
• Examine if Nebulosity can be successfully started from Command Line with the name FIT file to open.  Nebulosity is frequently used to create and apply a synthetic flat file, to remove uneven gradient / zoning in an image. Starting Nebulosity with a FIT file automatically already opened would save a couple of manuals steps and allowed increased level of automation, speeding up the process of image preparation for website.  The following command was successfully used to open Nebulosity with FIT file from AT2023elx  image set :
     "C:\Program Files (x86)\Nebulosity4\Nebulosity4.exe" 
   "C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Sessions\2024-02-16 S01186\AT2023elx 3x3 60s\AT2023elx.20240216.im1186043-47.av4x60s.C.FIT"
  Whilst the file is successfully opened the work folder isn't changed to the imageset folder (as happens when Image is manually opened in Nebulosity4) and therefore a processed image can not be easily saved without manually changed the save folder.  Nebulosity has a special“Listenport #” command, commands can be sent via TCP/IP sockets. This allows other programs to dynamically control Nebulosity's actions, but is it practical as it seems you have to run command(s) in Nebulosity to set this up (it doesn't seem to be like PHD2 where there is a server already waiting to open a connection).   New proposal (2024-02-23) is to use SendKeys to send Cntl-O to accesss open image dialog and then send full path name of file to open.  Tests with AstroMain 3.65.19 show using SendKeys.SendWait ()  to send "^o", Image.Path &  "{ENTER}"  to Nebulosity4 will open the Image file that is currently 'active' in CCDSoft in the Nebulosity 4 program.
  Sending Full FileName to Nebulosity is a bit slow. See if this is faster
    Set Keys = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
  Keys.sendKey "abcdefg.FIT"
  Closed 2024-02-23 (Nebulosity4 AstroMain 3.65.19 )
   
• Integrate automated opening of FIT file in Nebulosity from AstroMain Analysis/ImageSets routines.  After partially successfully demonstration that Nebulosity can be opened from command-line with a specified FIT image open, the new finding should be integrated into AstroMain's Analyse Imageset operations in order to save a couple of manuals steps and allowed increased level of automation thereby speeding up the process of image preparation for website. Done.
  Done 2024-02-20 (AstroMain 3.65.15 / 3.66)
   
• Create own Message Box to allow AstroMain to make particular customisations to the stand Message box. Customisations could include centering dialog on Console form rather than centering on the screen, ensuring window always showed in Task Bar. Changes to size, changes to butttons. Implemented new 'QueryDialog' form in AstroMain 3.67.  Key methods of the new dialog form are Setup(), SetButton() and an overloaded 'ShowDialog(SelectedOption as integer)' function. Also implemented the first use of the new dialog in the ImageSets Workflow, whereby after 'Link Image', a QueryDialog is put up with the Button options 'FV' and 'Nebulosity', which then opens the current image in one of the two software tools. Further uses of the new QueryDialog will be added in due course, as required by new improvements.  Further tweaks to QueryDialog are likely to be made in due course, such as placement / alignment of buttons & automatic resizing of form to optimal size based on number of buttons etc.
  Done 2024-03-24 (AstroMain 3.67)

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2024-02-17

PHD2 Update 2.6.13

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