David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1240 (2024-09-10)

Notes (S1239)

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Notes (S1241)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2024-09-10 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-09-10)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. T CrB. Acquire baseline images of T CrB prior to its forecast nova eruption some time in the next few months or years..

 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 3.69.6,  AstroPlan 1.40.8,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.5   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.13.2,  AstroSN 1.12,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.14    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. 21/23 planned targets observations were completed, with 1 other target partially completed. One target failed due to replacement by ToO targets  (T CrB, TCrB centered & Saturn)
• T CrB. xx images of T CrB were acquired but they were of poor quality due to wind shake (a consequence of wind strength, wind direction and the necessary telescope direction for viewing T CrB)
• Dome. No issues opening/closing shutter during session. Dome closed and parked ok at end of 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 21:20:38 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:20 & 04:35 21:20:39 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:20) 21:21:02   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:21:31   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 21:21:33 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-09-10 S01240, ImageSaveNum: 1240001) 21:21:38   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:23:36   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:23:43 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:23:44 Session Pending Session pending (2024-09-10) 21:23:46 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-09-10) 21:23:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 21:24:02   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.40.8) 21:25:09   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1015) 21:25:49   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:26:13 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:26:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 21:27:03 Session Running Session running 21:27:06   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 21:27:10     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 21:27:24       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:30:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:35:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:35:39       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:37:47       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:39:29       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:39:46     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 21:40:30     Target Started (1/23) Target started (1/23, Nova Vul 2024) 21:45:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:48:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:55:12     Target Completed Target completed (1/23, Nova Vul 2024) 21:55:16     Target Started (2/23) Target started (2/23, AT2024ed) 21:58:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:01:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:16:59     Target Completed Target completed (2/23, AT2024ed) 22:17:03     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, GCVS T CrB, ToO) 22:20:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:24:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:26:56     Target Completed Target completed (3/24, GCVS T CrB, ToO) 22:27:00     Target Started (4/24) Target started (4/24, AT2023exh) 22:28:11   ScopeMonitor Frozen ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen at around 22:28 22:29:59   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to TheSky6 failure 22:32:00 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:32:49   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 22:32:51 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:33:22     Target Aborted (4/24) Target aborted (4/24, AT2023exh) due to Obs.Manager Request 22:33:24   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:33:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/24, AT2023exh) due to wait on timer 22:34:55 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:35:40   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 22:35:41 Session Running Session running 22:35:43   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:37:00     Target Started (5/24) Target started (5/24, GCVS BL Lac) 22:39:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:42:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:46:10     Target Completed Target completed (5/24, GCVS BL Lac) 22:46:14     Target Started (6/25) Target started (6/25, GCVS T CrB, ToO) 22:50:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:52:30       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 22:59:36     Target Completed Target completed (6/25, GCVS T CrB, ToO) 22:59:40     Target Started (7/26) Target started (7/26, Saturn, ToO) 23:05:22     Target Completed Target completed (7/26, Saturn, ToO) 23:05:26     Target Started (8/26) Target started (8/26, SN 2023reh) 23:11:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (8/26, SN 2023reh) 23:11:42     Target Started (9/26) Target started (9/26, AT2022vqv (CV)) 23:14:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:17:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:24:04     Target Completed Target completed (9/26, AT2022vqv (CV)) 23:24:08     Target Started (10/26) Target started (10/26, AT2023abtv (CV)) 23:27:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:29:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:35:53     Target Completed Target completed (10/26, AT2023abtv (CV)) 23:35:57     Target Started (11/26) Target started (11/26, AT2023abqc (CV)) 23:38:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:41:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:47:03     Target Completed Target completed (11/26, AT2023abqc (CV)) 23:47:07     Target Started (12/26) Target started (12/26, AT2022snh) 23:50:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:52:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 00:09:02     Target Completed Target completed (12/26, AT2022snh) 00:09:06     Target Started (13/26) Target started (13/26, AT2022wxa) 00:11:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:14:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:30:31     Target Completed Target completed (13/26, AT2022wxa) 00:30:58     Target Started (14/26) Target started (14/26, AT2022jsu (CV)) 00:33:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:36:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:52:31     Target Completed Target completed (14/26, AT2022jsu (CV)) 00:53:18     Target Started (15/26) Target started (15/26, NGC 7253B w/SN2023wuk) 00:55:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:58:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 01:14:28     Target Completed Target completed (15/26, NGC 7253B w/SN2023wuk) 01:15:18     Target Started (16/26) Target started (16/26, GCVS U And) 01:18:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:20:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:32:08     Target Completed Target completed (16/26, GCVS U And) 01:32:12     Target Started (17/26) Target started (17/26, AT2023ud) 01:35:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:37:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 01:53:48     Target Completed Target completed (17/26, AT2023ud) 01:53:53     Target Started (18/26) Target started (18/26, M31 w/AT2024ikt) 01:56:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:12:38     Target Completed Target completed (18/26, M31 w/AT2024ikt) 02:16:04     Target Started (19/26) Target started (19/26, M33 w/Nova M33 2024-08a?) 02:18:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:21:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 02:37:57     Target Completed Target completed (19/26, M33 w/Nova M33 2024-08a?) 02:38:24     Target Started (20/26) Target started (20/26, AT2024rrb) 02:41:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:43:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 02:59:41     Target Completed Target completed (20/26, AT2024rrb) 03:00:24     Target Started (21/26) Target started (21/26, NGC 797 w/SN2024jjc) 03:03:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:05:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:21:42     Target Completed Target completed (21/26, NGC 797 w/SN2024jjc) 03:22:44     Target Started (22/26) Target started (22/26, Nova Per 2020) 03:25:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:28:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 03:44:10     Target Completed Target completed (22/26, Nova Per 2020) 03:45:04     Target Started (23/26) Target started (23/26, GCVS DX Cnc) 03:48:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:54:57     Target Completed Target completed (23/26, GCVS DX Cnc) 03:56:17     Target Started (24/26) Target started (24/26, NGC 3079) 03:59:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:01:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 04:18:18     Target Completed Target completed (24/26, NGC 3079) 04:18:37     Target Started (25/26) Target started (25/26, NGC 3073 w/AT2024unf) 04:21:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:23:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 04:40:35     Target Completed Target completed (25/26, NGC 3073 w/AT2024unf) 04:40:57     Target Started (26/26) Target started (26/26, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) 04:44:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:01:01     Target Completed Target completed (26/26, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) 05:01:03   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:01:05 Session Closing Session closing 05:02:00   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 05:02:33   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 25s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:03:57   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 81s total) 05:04:12   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:04:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:05:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:06:00 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:06:48     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 05:07:53     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 92.0°) 05:08:00     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 90.0 to 94.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:09:02     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.7°) 05:09:08     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.7°) 05:09:10   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:11:16   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (32mA) 05:11:18 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 22:29:55 Red Alert ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 22:28:11) 22:29:59 Red Alert TheSky6 Alert TheSky6 isn't running or isn't working correctly 22:33:26 Green Clear ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor has resumed again (22:33) after 0.0 mins 00:31:07 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 202.6° (T+4.4s) 05:06:41 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (49.85 GB) is less than 50 GB 05:11:16 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (32mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-09-10 S1240)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (3)
• Continuous Improvement (2)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Alerts raised that ScopeMonitor was frozen and TheSky6 isn't running (22:28). This is known occasional issue where the ScopeMonitor freezes whilst waiting for TheSky6 to return from a property call. Whilst performing plate solution on Locate 1 frame (#01240030, 136 stars) for Target 4/24 (AT2023exh ) Obs.Overseer gave a warning "ScopeMonitor is frozen (22:29) ", followed by a Red 'TheSky6' Alert with the message "TheSky6 isn't running or isn't working correctly" and a warning "Task in ImageAndLink/LinkImage is taking a long time? (22:30)". The ObsManager aborted the target and the session was suspended.  In this case Scope Monitor resumed again at 22:33, indicating a freeze of around 4-5 minutes. The results of a successful image link ("Solved in 310.3s  (Stars 117, Scale 1.406, Angle 180.1°) " )  were reported whilst ObsCam was taking a 'Suspended' Image.  Similar problems were encountered in S1235 (2024-08-29) and S1252 (2024-09-12). 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

• AstroPlan program froze, whilst copying Target Mars to form a new target for Saturn (22:32). It is hypothesized that there was a dialog form hidden behind the Target Firm form that couldn't be seen and closed  in order to return execution to main target form. Other programs seem ok.  There was some concern about implications to Target Database (used by AstroMain and AstroVOE) if AstroPlan was killed, however the program was stopped from Task Manager without incident or problem.
  Resolved in-session 2024-09-10 (AstroPlan)
   
• M31 w/AT2024ikt (id 3246) was placed in the night's observing plan, even though it has a 'Tier 3 (Standby)' state in the Targets Database. A Tier3 (Standby) Must-Include state, is meant to mean that the target will not be placed on an observing plan. It can only be included if user submits the Target as a ToO Target. Fixed in AstroPlan 1.40.9.
  Fixed 2024-09-14 (AstroPlan 1.40.9)
   
• The time that ScopeMonitor was frozen is incorrectly reported as 0.0 mins (22:33).  After the ScopeMonitor froze at around 22:28:55 with a Red ScopeMonitor Alert  with the message " ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 22:28:11)"  the Monitor resumed around 5 minutes later.  A Green 'All-Clear' ScopeMonitor Alert at 22:33:26 is recorded with the message "ScopeMonitor has resumed again (22:33) after 0.0 mins".  The period 0.0 is clearly incorrect, the correct figure being around 5.0 minutes. Fixed in AstroMain 3.69.7, by adding and using new date variable 'TheSkyScopeFreezeTimePoint'.
  Fixed 2024-09-14 (AstroMain 3.69.7)

Continuous Improvement

• Split pictures on Novae.htm page into individual novae pages by year.  The 'novae.htm' page is a somewhat unwieldy due to the large number of images from Nova Per 2020 and Nova Cas 2021. There would be a benefit moving forward in moving images onto separate novae pages by year. Implemented 2024-09-11
  Done 2024-09-11 (WebSite)
   
• Investigate if 'flot' (JavaScript plotting for jQuery) could have a role in plotting & displaying data collected by the Observatory. Flot is described as "a pure JavaScript plotting library for jQuery, with a focus on simple usage, attractive looks and interactive features" , or alternativley as "JavaScript plotting library for engineering and scientific applications". Website https://www.flotcharts.org/
  To do 2024-09-11+ (flot, WebSite)

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