David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1250 (2024-10-02)

Notes (S1249)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S1251)

	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 (1)
	Images from 2024-10-02 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-10-02)

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 3.71.3,  AstroPlan 1.42,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.5   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.14,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.13   
  AstroWeather 1.25, AstroAllSky 3.20.6,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroLaunch 1.11.3

Highlights-

• Targets. 31/31 planned targets observations were completed
• Focusing.  No issues with focusing. The primary mirror is hold its position
• Clear Skies.  Skies were clear the entire night.
• 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 20:57:58 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:57 & 05:13 20:58:00 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:58) 20:58:23   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:58:51   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 20:58:53 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-10-02 S01250, ImageSaveNum: 1250001) 20:58:58   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:00:55   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:01:02 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:01:06 Session Pending Session pending (2024-10-02) 21:01:08 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-10-02) 21:01:17   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:01:24   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.42) 21:02:16   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1026) 21:02:56   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:03:20 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:04:05   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 21:04:25 Session Running Session running 21:04:27   Queue Started Observing Queue started (31 targets selected) 21:04:30     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 21:04:46       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:08:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:11:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:14:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:14:12       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:16:20       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:18:04       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:18:22     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 21:18:26     Target Started (1/31) Target started (1/31, GCVS T CrB) 21:21:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:24:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:29:10     Target Completed Target completed (1/31, GCVS T CrB) 21:29:14     Target Started (2/31) Target started (2/31, C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)) 21:32:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:34:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:43:05     Target Completed Target completed (2/31, C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)) 21:43:20     Target Started (3/31) Target started (3/31, AT2023in) 21:46:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:48:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:04:14     Target Completed Target completed (3/31, AT2023in) 22:05:20     Target Started (4/31) Target started (4/31, AT2022bvd (CV)) 22:07:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:10:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:16:36     Target Completed Target completed (4/31, AT2022bvd (CV)) 22:17:40     Target Started (5/31) Target started (5/31, C/2021 O3 (PANSTARRS)) 22:20:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:23:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:35:41     Target Completed Target completed (5/31, C/2021 O3 (PANSTARRS)) 22:35:45     Target Started (6/31) Target started (6/31, AT2023cuj) 22:38:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:41:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:57:50     Target Completed Target completed (6/31, AT2023cuj) 22:57:54     Target Started (7/31) Target started (7/31, AT2024qe (CV)) 23:00:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:03:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:09:13     Target Completed Target completed (7/31, AT2024qe (CV)) 23:09:42     Target Started (8/31) Target started (8/31, AT2023ba (CV)) 23:12:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:14:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:20:52     Target Completed Target completed (8/31, AT2023ba (CV)) 23:22:02     Target Started (9/31) Target started (9/31, AT2024ger) 23:24:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:27:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:43:18     Target Completed Target completed (9/31, AT2024ger) 23:44:02     Target Started (10/31) Target started (10/31, GCVS SS Cyg) 23:46:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:49:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 23:53:27     Target Completed Target completed (10/31, GCVS SS Cyg) 23:54:25     Target Started (11/31) Target started (11/31, GCVS Z And) 23:57:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:59:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:04:12     Target Completed Target completed (11/31, GCVS Z And) 00:04:54     Target Started (12/31) Target started (12/31, AT2024vk) 00:07:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:10:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 00:26:53     Target Completed Target completed (12/31, AT2024vk) 00:26:57     Target Started (13/31) Target started (13/31, AT2023aanv (CV)) 00:29:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:32:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 00:37:58     Target Completed Target completed (13/31, AT2023aanv (CV)) 00:39:14     Target Started (14/31) Target started (14/31, AT2024exg (CV)) 00:42:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:15       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:50:15     Target Completed Target completed (14/31, AT2024exg (CV)) 00:51:14     Target Started (15/31) Target started (15/31, GCVS BL Lac) 00:53:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:55:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 00:59:51     Target Completed Target completed (15/31, GCVS BL Lac) 01:01:32     Target Started (16/31) Target started (16/31, MCG -1-56-5 w/SN2022acxe) 01:06:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:23:03     Target Completed Target completed (16/31, MCG -1-56-5 w/SN2022acxe) 01:23:52     Target Started (17/31) Target started (17/31, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023uiq) 01:26:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:29:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 01:45:34     Target Completed Target completed (17/31, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023uiq) 01:45:52     Target Started (18/31) Target started (18/31, AT2022dbd (CV)) 01:48:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:51:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 01:57:19     Target Completed Target completed (18/31, AT2022dbd (CV)) 01:58:12     Target Started (19/31) Target started (19/31, AT2024woi) 02:01:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:17:31     Target Completed Target completed (19/31, AT2024woi) 02:20:12     Target Started (20/31) Target started (20/31, GCVS U And) 02:23:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:25:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 02:35:57     Target Completed Target completed (20/31, GCVS U And) 02:36:38     Target Started (21/31) Target started (21/31, AT2022abjt) 02:39:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:42:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 02:58:48     Target Completed Target completed (21/31, AT2022abjt) 02:58:52     Target Started (22/31) Target started (22/31, GCVS FO Ori) 03:02:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:05:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 03:09:39     Target Completed Target completed (22/31, GCVS FO Ori) 03:09:44     Target Started (23/31) Target started (23/31, AT2024uxx) 03:12:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:15:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 03:31:45     Target Completed Target completed (23/31, AT2024uxx) 03:31:49     Target Started (24/31) Target started (24/31, GCVS YZ Cnc) 03:34:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:37:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 03:44:44     Target Completed Target completed (24/31, GCVS YZ Cnc) 03:44:48     Target Started (25/31) Target started (25/31, AT2022req) 03:48:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:51:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25) 04:07:32     Target Completed Target completed (25/31, AT2022req) 04:07:36     Target Started (26/31) Target started (26/31, AT2024wqf) 04:10:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:26:41     Target Completed Target completed (26/31, AT2024wqf) 04:29:16     Target Started (27/31) Target started (27/31, AT2023rrr) 04:32:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:34:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26) 04:50:45     Target Completed Target completed (27/31, AT2023rrr) 04:51:37     Target Started (28/31) Target started (28/31, LEDA 899041 w/SN2023pbf) 04:55:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:58:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27) 05:15:00     Target Completed Target completed (28/31, LEDA 899041 w/SN2023pbf) 05:15:04     Target Started (29/31) Target started (29/31, AT2022vdr (CV)) 05:18:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:21:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 28) 05:27:20     Target Completed Target completed (29/31, AT2022vdr (CV)) 05:27:24     Target Started (30/31) Target started (30/31, AT2024wxp (CV)) 05:37:17     Target Completed Target completed (30/31, AT2024wxp (CV)) 05:37:22     Target Started (31/31) Target started (31/31, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf) 05:41:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:57:29     Target Completed Target completed (31/31, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf) 05:57:31   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:57:34 Session Closing Session closing 05:58:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 05:58:49   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 15s), Az: 90.1 deg 06:00:09   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 75s total) 06:00:24   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:00:55   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:02:19   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:02:22 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:02:54     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:04:09     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 93.0°) 06:04:16     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 91.0 to 95.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:05:18     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 93.0°) 06:05:24     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -3.1°) 06:05:26   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:07:33   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (29mA) 06:07:35 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 02:20:29 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 204.7° (T+12.2s) 03:46:10 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 1 deg (AT2022req) 06:07:33 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (29mA)

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2024-10-02 S1250)

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

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• BVR Images from SS Cyg took a very long to image link (post-session).  During Post-Session Reduction/Folder Analysis and VMA measurements it was found that certain 3x3 15s B,  3x3 5s V & 3x3 3s R image frames from SS Cyg  And (but not all) are taking around 58 - 73s  to Image Link.   It was also found tha 3x3 15s B & 3x3 5s V  images were similarly taking a long time (40s) to image link. In each case the number of star iventory objects was very high (1600-4300) even thoug the number of star was nornal (25-50). This is the same problem that was seen when analysing reduced images from S1136 & S1137 sessions.   As before the problem is only associated with reduced images as the raw images files are not affected.  The issue significant slows up the analysis of images post-session, by 30-50s per image affected.  Taking one of the problem images (Cyg_SS.20241002.im1250072.15s.B.FIT) it is noted that the number of objects/stars with different detection thresholds is as follows:
  2645/35 (threshold 8), 1292/34 (threshold 15),  252/34 (threshold 30), 100/34 (threshold 50) suggesting that the problem can be potentially eliminated by using a higher detection threshold to significantly reduce the number of inventory objects without affecting the number of star objects.   Fix implemented in AstroMain 3.71.5. PlateSolveImage() routine modified so that DetectThreshold is changed to 50 if the number of inventory objects is > 500. A new global variable 'gDetectStarsThreshold' added to track the current DetectThreshold value. AnalyseFolder() modified to set detect threshold value back to default value (8) at start of each image. Code to detect/count inventory objects & stars moved into a separate new routine called 'ReportInventoryObjects()'
  Fixed 2024-10-06 (AstroMain 3.71.5)

Small Defects

• AstroMain's ImageSet Image Tab should insert a default Image Scale that is appropriate to the binning of an Image Set (post-session) Whilst working with "Saturn 1x1 BVR" (images not linkable) an Image Scale of 1.407 was displayed in the tabs Image Scale text box, and when an annotated Image picture was built it had an incorrect Scale Bar. The Scale Bar should be consistent with the image link  (if available) or otherwise consistent with the image binning.
  Fixed 2024-10-03 (AstroMain 1.71.4)
   
• Three dome slews, all in the SW Quadrant, were slower than normal. Whilst  25 dome slews had normal speeds, 3 slews were particularly slow (Red), The later are shown as the 'Red' Coloured arcs on the Dome Slewing Performance Chart (Fig 1).  All of the slower slews were ones in the SW Quadrant, and are highlighted by pink colour in the Slew Table (Fig 2).  (Note: 3 further slews are not plotted as these are very short slews (~ 1°) and their speeds are not representative).   In case of slew to U And dome reached the target Az at 4s and stopped slewing, but was recorded as slewing again without making any angle change at 12s (this was interpreted to be a 8s long hold-up and a slow overall slew speed.  In case of slew to AT2023rrr, the dome didn't report Slewing=True and begin its slew until 15.3s into the slew process. This doesn't indicate a physical hold-up but would seem to be a glitch in DeviceHub's Dome Slaving routine, in which it didn't 'intercept' the Telescope SlewToTarget and therefore didn't command an immediate dome slewing, instead the dome slew was in response to seeing changes in the telescope position.  Examining logs the SlewTelescope command was made at 04:29:21. whilst the Pulsar log shows Dome SlewToAzimuth 258.11 being made at 04:29:36 (15s later).  There was a prior  SlewToAzimuth 268.8 at 04:29:03, which might have caused the Dome to not be listening at 04:29:21 ?  . In case of slew to AT2022bvd the dome slewed from Az 223.1° to 215.8° before continuing the slew back to 220.9°. It isn't clear why the dome did this but the longer slew  of 12.4° (7.3° + 5.1° ) rather than the direct slew of 2.2° explains the slower than expected speed.  3 further slews had slow slew speeds, but they have very small slew angles (<= 1.2°) and its previously been shown that their speed speeds (typically slow) are not representative of a problem. Examining them now, they all seem normal slew, but due to the polling rates the time that a slew is completed is typically overestimated (eg slew that might be physically completed in 1.8s may not show as completed until 3.3s.  Issue closed after review 2024-10-04 after concluding that there is neither a mechanical issue nor a specific issue with the AstroMain control program. The occurance of these slow domes in SW quadrant is purely related to the fact that the majority of targets during the session lay in the SW quadrant of the sky.
  Closed after review 2024-10-04 (Session, Pulsar Dome, DeviceHub, AstroMain, User Awareness)
   
• VMA Analysis aborted following a RPC_E_SERVERFAULT exception.  VMA Analysis of S1250 session was paused during image 46/58 to allow editing of session notes and to test star inventory count on other FIT images. The VMA Analsyis was then unpaused, and VMA reported the "Exception in AnalyseVmaBand , error: The server threw an exception. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80010105 (RPC_E_SERVERFAULT))" , and exited the VMA Analysis Operation, leaving 12 images unanalysed. In case the problem was restricted to just a particular image or target, the exception should be caught for the current image being analysed and not allowed to propogate to the top level which causes the entire operation (loop) to close.
  Fixed 2024-10-07 (AstroMain 3.71.5)

Continuous Improvement

• AstroMain's Image Builder picture should use a scale bar of a more reasonable length.  When creating an annotated image picture of image from "Saturn 1x1 BVR" image set and using a manually inserted Image Scale of 0.467, the picture displayed a 30" scale bar with a length of 96 pixels.  Instead of such a long scale bar, the picture should instead show a 15" scale bar with a length of 48 pixels.
  Done  2024-10-03 (AstroMain 1.71.4)
   
• Extend AstroMain's 'Redo Object Info' to report number of Star Inventory objects & stars. It would be helpful to problem investigation if 'Redo Object Info' button facility could report the number of objects & stars in the Star Inventory using the current Detection Threshold.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.71.5.
  Done  2024-10-06 (AstroMain 1.71.5)

[ Prev | Next ]

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top