David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1235 (2024-08-29)

Notes (S1234)

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Notes (S1236)

	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 (0)
	Images from 2024-08-29 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-08-29)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.9, 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  2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.69.5,  AstroPlan 1.40.7,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.5   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.13.2,  AstroSN 1.11.1,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.13    when did astroSN 1.10.4 go to 1.11 ?
  AstroWeather 1.25, AstroAllSky 3.20.4,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroLaunch 1.11.3

Highlights-

• Targets. 5/19 planned targets observations were completed and 1 further target was partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension
• Dome. No issues opening/closing shutter during session. Dome closed and parked ok at end of session.

Notes:

• Aurora Images/Video from night, 2024-08-28 >>
  Looking North
   
• Aurora Images/Video from night, 2024-08-27 >>
  Looking North

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 21:26:46 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:26 & 04:05 21:26:47   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 22:51:32 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:51) 22:51:54   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:52:22   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 22:52:25 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-08-29 S01235, ImageSaveNum: 1235001) 22:52:29   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:54:27   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:54:34 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:54:36   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 22:54:39 Session Pending Session pending (2024-08-29) 22:54:41 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-08-29) 22:54:48   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 22:54:55   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.40.7) 22:55:47   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1010) 22:56:27   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:56:51 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:57:36   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 22:57:56 Session Running Session running 22:57:59   Queue Started Observing Queue started (19 targets selected) 22:58:02     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 20, HIP 98535) 22:58:16       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:01:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:05:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:08:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:08:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:11:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:12:44       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:13:01     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 20, HIP 98535) 23:13:05     Target Started (1/19) Target started (1/19, NGC 6384 w/SN2024pxl) 23:16:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:19:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:36:20     Target Completed Target completed (1/19, NGC 6384 w/SN2024pxl) 23:36:24     Target Started (2/19) Target started (2/19, HIP 87937) 23:44:23     Target Completed Target completed (2/19, HIP 87937) 23:44:27     Target Started (3/19) Target started (3/19, AT2023abtv (CV)) 23:47:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:50:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:55:57     Target Completed Target completed (3/19, AT2023abtv (CV)) 23:56:02     Target Started (4/19) Target started (4/19, NGC 7053 w/SN2022pux) 00:00:12   ScopeMonitor Frozen ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen at around 00:00 00:01:58   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to TheSky6 failure 00:03:58 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:04:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 00:04:51 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:05:54     Target Aborted (4/19) Target aborted (4/19, NGC 7053 w/SN2022pux) due to Obs.Manager Request 00:05:57   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:06:53 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:07:38   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 00:07:40 Session Running Session running 00:07:42   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:07:45     Target Started (4/19) Target started (4/19, NGC 7053 w/SN2022pux) 00:19:11     Target Completed Target partially completed (4/19, NGC 7053 w/SN2022pux) 00:19:15     Target Started (5/19) Target started (5/19, AT2021aecv (CV)) 00:22:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:24:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:31:28     Target Completed Target completed (5/19, AT2021aecv (CV)) 00:31:32     Target Started (6/19) Target started (6/19, AT2024koe) 00:34:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:37:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:40:31       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:43:42       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 00:46:17       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:53:16     Target Completed Target completed (6/19, AT2024koe) 00:53:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:53:20 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:54:07   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 00:54:09 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:10:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/19, M31 w/AT2024ssq) due to cloud 01:22:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/19, GCVS EV Lac) due to cloud 01:29:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/19, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 01:40:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/19, AT2024efg (CV)) due to cloud 01:59:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/19, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 02:18:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/19, UGC 4730 w/SN2024hsq) due to cloud 02:30:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/19, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 02:40:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/19, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 02:59:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/19, AT2023rrr) due to cloud 03:21:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/19, UGC 1595 w/AT2024kcu) due to cloud 03:44:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/19, M33 w/AT2024sgd) due to cloud 04:06:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/19, NGC 797 w/SN2024jjc) due to cloud 04:38:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/19, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) due to cloud 04:38:36   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:38:40 Session Closing Session closing 04:38:45   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 00:54, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 04:39:12   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 17s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:40:31   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 74s total) 04:40:46   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:41:08   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:42:33   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:42:36 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:42:48     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:43:47     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.0°) 04:46:16   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (55mA) 04:46:18 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 00:01:53 Red Alert ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 00:00:12) 00:01:58 Red Alert TheSky6 Alert TheSky6 isn't running or isn't working correctly 00:05:58 Green Clear ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor has resumed again (00:05) after 0.0 mins 04:46:16 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (55mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-08-29 S1235)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Session interrupted by a session suspension when Image Link operation in CCDSoft/TheSky6 took an unusually long time, TheSky6 appeared to 'hang' and AstroMain's scope monitor froze. The ScopeMonitor was identified to be frozen and a red alert raised at 00:01:53, after the Monitor had been frozen since it's last completed cycle at 00:00:12.  This was during Image Linking of Locate 2 frame (#1235037) for Target 4/19 (NGC 7053), and the following warning was reported "TheSky6 isn't running or isn't working correctly ". ObsManager intervened and raised a bHardSuspend flag (00:01:58) in order to suspend the session.  ObsOverseer warned that "a task in ImageAndLink/LinkImage is taking a long time?" (00:02:48).  After a prescribed amount of waiting ObsManager gave the following warning "Timed out waiting for JobQueue to raise bSuspendOk" (00:03:58) and set session state to Suspending. This  indicates that JobExecution was held up (almost certainly held up waiting for TheSky6 to complete the ImageLink action). After closing the dome and whilst Session State was suspended  the Image Linking operation eventually completed with the success message "Ok        Solved in 341.5s (Stars 57, Scale 1.407, Angle 180.0°) "  (00:05:54). At the same time the Scope Monitor was recorded as having resumed (00:05:54). The issue was investigated later (Investigation - Job Queue freezing whilst performing a Locate Frame Image Link, leading to Session Suspension, 2024-09-12)  and tracing identfied that the freeze isn't triggered directly by the 'InsertWCS' call (Image Linking) but is triggered instead by following GetObjectRaDec() , .dObjectRa, .dObjectDec calls which access the result of the Image Linking.  The insertion of short (500ms) delays between calls to TheSky6 from AstroMain's ImageLinking routines, added to AstroMain 3.69.8 (2024-09-16) was eventually deemed to have fixed the issue, after seeing no further incidents of the problem during the following 4 sessions S1245-S1248A  (2024-09-16 to 2024-09-28).
  Fixed 2024-09-16 (AstroMain 3.69.8, TheSky6)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• None

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