David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1236 (2024-08-30)

Notes (S1235)

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Notes (S1237)

	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 2024-08-30 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-08-30)

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. 14/14 planned targets observations were completed.
• Dome. No issues opening/closing shutter during session. Dome closed and parked ok at end of session.

Notes:

• Aurora Images/Video from night, 2024-08-30 >>
  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 00:08:16 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:08 & 04:08 00:08:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:08) 00:08:37   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:09:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:09:08 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-08-30 S01236, ImageSaveNum: 1236001) 00:09:13   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:11:13   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:11:20 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:11:22 Session Pending Session pending (2024-08-30) 00:11:24 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-08-30) 00:11:33   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:11:40   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.40.7) 00:12:26   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1011) 00:13:07   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:13:31 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:14:16   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 39s) 00:14:41 Session Running Session running 00:14:43   Queue Started Observing Queue started (14 targets selected) 00:14:46     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 00:15:00       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:18:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:21:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:23:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:23:56       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:26:05       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:27:49       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:28:06     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 00:28:10     Target Started (1/14) Target started (1/14, AT2023abtv (CV)) 00:34:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:36:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:43:20     Target Completed Target completed (1/14, AT2023abtv (CV)) 00:43:24     Target Started (2/14) Target started (2/14, NGC 6384 w/SN2024pxl) 00:46:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:49:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:05:54     Target Completed Target completed (2/14, NGC 6384 w/SN2024pxl) 01:05:58     Target Started (3/14) Target started (3/14, AT2024rwq (CV)) 01:09:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:11:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:17:42     Target Completed Target completed (3/14, AT2024rwq (CV)) 01:17:46     Target Started (4/14) Target started (4/14, 61 Cyg) 01:20:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:23:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:24:50     Target Completed Target completed (4/14, 61 Cyg) 01:24:54     Target Started (5/14) Target started (5/14, AT2023yyz) 01:27:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:44:03     Target Completed Target completed (5/14, AT2023yyz) 01:44:24     Target Started (6/14) Target started (6/14, GCVS BL Lac) 01:47:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:49:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:53:35     Target Completed Target completed (6/14, GCVS BL Lac) 01:54:42     Target Started (7/14) Target started (7/14, WDS GRB 34) 01:58:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:00:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:02:37     Target Completed Target completed (7/14, WDS GRB 34) 02:03:10     Target Started (8/14) Target started (8/14, GCVS U And) 02:06:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:08:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:19:14     Target Completed Target completed (8/14, GCVS U And) 02:19:36     Target Started (9/14) Target started (9/14, M33 w/AT2024sgd) 02:22:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:25:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:41:16     Target Completed Target completed (9/14, M33 w/AT2024sgd) 02:41:56     Target Started (10/14) Target started (10/14, NGC 797 w/SN2024jjc) 02:44:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:47:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:03:47     Target Completed Target completed (10/14, NGC 797 w/SN2024jjc) 03:04:16     Target Started (11/14) Target started (11/14, UGC 4730 w/SN2024hsq) 03:07:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:10:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 03:27:33     Target Completed Target completed (11/14, UGC 4730 w/SN2024hsq) 03:27:37     Target Started (12/14) Target started (12/14, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2024ssq) 03:31:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:33:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 03:50:08     Target Completed Target completed (12/14, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2024ssq) 03:50:12     Target Started (13/14) Target started (13/14, GCVS X TRI) 03:53:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:55:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 04:02:48     Target Completed Target completed (13/14, GCVS X TRI) 04:02:52     Target Started (14/14) Target started (14/14, UGC 1595 w/AT2024kcu) 04:05:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:08:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 04:24:23     Target Completed Target completed (14/14, UGC 1595 w/AT2024kcu) 04:24:25   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:24:29 Session Closing Session closing 04:25:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 04:26:11   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 40s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:27:28   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 73s total) 04:27:43   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:28:06   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:29:31   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:29:34 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:29:56     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:30:54     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 04:31:00     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°) 04:31:02   Dome Parked Dome parked 04:31:14   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (49mA) 04:31:16 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 01:25:27 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Telescope Az is > 8 deg (AT2023yyz) 04:31:14 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (49mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-08-30 S1236)

• 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

• Images from 61 Cyg took a very long to image link (post-session).  During Post-Session Reduction/Folder Analysis it was found that 2x2 2s R image frames from 61 Cyg are taking around 72s  to Image Link. This is much longer than expected.  Investigating it was noted that images were reported to have some 2100-2200 objects (even though number of actual stars was only around 75-80.   A similar issue was noted fro 2x2 5s R images from Groombridge 34 (WDS GRB 34). Need to see if the problem is with the original raw frames or with either the Master Flat frame or the Master Dark frame used during Image Reduction. A similar issue affected 3x3 VR images for R X And in the following S1237 session. where a more detailed examination of image, darks & flat frames was made  The issues is closed after review (2024-10-04_ as a definitive explaination for the problem couldn't be found. Redoing the Master Dark Frame & Master Flat shouldn't hurt and might just resolve the problem, and is therefore a recommended action. Fix implemented in AstroMain 3.71.5, the PlateSolveImage() routine was modified so that DetectThreshold is changed to 50 if the number of inventory objects is > 500.
  Fixed 2024-10-06 (AstroMain 3.71.5)
  

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• None

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