David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1256 (2024-10-17)

Notes (S1255)

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Notes (S1257)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2024-10-17 >>
	2024-10-18
	Observatory - Wired Ethernet Cable Connection

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-10-17)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. AstroMain.  Check new 3.71.8 version of AstroMain following introduction of ResolveScopePortIssue handling which includes noteworthy changes to ObsManager MainLoop code for progressing Auostart, Starting, Suspended and Closing States
3. CCDCamera.  Monitor operation of CCDSoft / SBIG Camera, & CCD Camera following issues in the last 2 sessions (S1254-55).

 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 3.71.8,  AstroPlan 1.42.4  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.5   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.15.1,  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. 27/29 planned targets observations were completed. 2 targets (GCVS T CrB & GCVS UV Cet) failed due to 3.3 airmass cutoff.
• AstroMain.  The new AstroMain version 3.71.8 worked as per design with no problems
• UPB / Telescope.  No issues with UPB Power Box Switches or Telescope COM Port.
• CCD Camera.  No issues with CCDCamera/CCDSoft freezing
• LAN Connection.  Observatory's LAN Connection remained in operation throughout the session.
• 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 21:35:43 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:35 & 05:45 21:35:44 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:35) 21:36:07   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:36:35   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:36:37 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-10-17 S01256, ImageSaveNum: 1256001) 21:36:42   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:38:43   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:38:50 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:38:55 Session Pending Session pending (2024-10-17) 21:38:57 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-10-17) 21:39:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 21:39:13   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.42.4) 21:40:04   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1035) 21:40:45   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:41:09 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:41:54   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 39s) 21:42:14 Session Running Session running 21:42:16   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 21:42:20     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 21:42:31       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:45:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:47:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:49:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:49:57       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:52:05       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:53:47       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:54:04     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 21:55:41     Target Started (1/29) Target started (1/29, Nova Vul 2024) 21:58:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:01:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:05:15     Target Completed Target completed (1/29, Nova Vul 2024) 22:05:31     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, GCVS T CrB) 22:05:36     Target Failed (2/29) Target failed due to airmass limit (2/29, GCVS T CrB) 22:16:27     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, AT2024xpy) 22:19:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:22:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:38:40     Target Completed Target completed (3/29, AT2024xpy) 22:38:44     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, AT2024yej) 22:42:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:45:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:01:22     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, AT2024yej) 23:01:26     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, AT2024vla) 23:04:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:07:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:23:21     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, AT2024vla) 23:23:25     Target Started (6/29) Target started (6/29, AT2024fjg (CV)) 23:26:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:29:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 23:35:00     Target Completed Target completed (6/29, AT2024fjg (CV)) 23:35:27     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, 61 Cyg) 23:38:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:40:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:42:35     Target Completed Target completed (7/29, 61 Cyg) 23:42:39     Target Started (8/29) Target started (8/29, MCG -1-56-5 w/SN2022acxe) 23:46:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:02:42     Target Completed Target completed (8/29, MCG -1-56-5 w/SN2022acxe) 00:05:03     Target Started (9/29) Target started (9/29, M31 w/AT2024hvb) 00:08:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:10:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:26:44     Target Completed Target completed (9/29, M31 w/AT2024hvb) 00:27:03     Target Started (10/29) Target started (10/29, GCVS UV Cet) 00:27:08     Target Failed (10/29) Target failed due to airmass limit (10/29, GCVS UV Cet) 00:38:17     Target Started (11/29) Target started (11/29, GCVS Z And) 00:41:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:43:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:48:20     Target Completed Target completed (11/29, GCVS Z And) 00:48:45     Target Started (12/29) Target started (12/29, AT2024wqf) 00:51:27       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:07:33     Target Completed Target completed (12/29, AT2024wqf) 01:11:05     Target Started (13/29) Target started (13/29, GCVS RX And) 01:12:03   ScopeMonitor Frozen ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen at around 01:12 01:21:32     Target Completed Target completed (13/29, GCVS RX And) 01:21:36     Target Started (14/29) Target started (14/29, AT2024vlc) 01:24:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:27:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:43:08     Target Completed Target completed (14/29, AT2024vlc) 01:43:12     Target Started (15/29) Target started (15/29, AT2022sfe) 01:48:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:51:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:57:54     Target Completed Target completed (15/29, AT2022sfe) 01:57:58     Target Started (16/29) Target started (16/29, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:01:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:03:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:08:10     Target Completed Target completed (16/29, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:08:14     Target Started (17/29) Target started (17/29, GCVS BL Lac) 02:11:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:13:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:17:40     Target Completed Target completed (17/29, GCVS BL Lac) 02:17:44     Target Started (18/29) Target started (18/29, AT2022acqx) 02:21:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:23:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:40:40     Target Completed Target completed (18/29, AT2022acqx) 02:40:44     Target Started (19/29) Target started (19/29, NGC 1647). Using SharpCap 02:43:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:45:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 02:56:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 02:56:08     Target Completed Target completed (19/29, NGC 1647) 02:56:11     Target Started (20/29) Target started (20/29, AT2024gyv) 03:17:45     Target Completed Target completed (20/29, AT2024gyv) 03:17:49     Target Started (21/29) Target started (21/29, AT2023rey (CV)) 03:20:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:23:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:39:47     Target Completed Target completed (21/29, AT2023rey (CV)) 03:39:51     Target Started (22/29) Target started (22/29, AT2024xhn (CV)) 03:43:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:45:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:01:52     Target Completed Target completed (22/29, AT2024xhn (CV)) 04:01:57     Target Started (23/29) Target started (23/29, AT2023cuz) 04:05:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:08:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:24:06     Target Completed Target completed (23/29, AT2023cuz) 04:24:10     Target Started (24/29) Target started (24/29, AT2024hgj) 04:27:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:29:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 04:45:43     Target Completed Target completed (24/29, AT2024hgj) 04:45:47     Target Started (25/29) Target started (25/29, AT2024wxp (CV)) 04:48:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:51:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 05:01:09     Target Completed Target completed (25/29, AT2024wxp (CV)) 05:01:14     Target Started (26/29) Target started (26/29, LEDA 1846725 w/SN2024iss) 05:05:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:22:05     Target Completed Target completed (26/29, LEDA 1846725 w/SN2024iss) 05:22:09     Target Started (27/29) Target started (27/29, AT2024xxb) 05:27:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:36:49     Target Completed Target completed (27/29, AT2024xxb) 05:36:53     Target Started (28/29) Target started (28/29, IC 2810 w/SN2024jhm) 05:43:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:59:16     Target Completed Target completed (28/29, IC 2810 w/SN2024jhm) 05:59:20     Target Started (29/29) Target started (29/29, IC 3091 w/SN2024jdi) 06:05:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 06:22:08     Target Completed Target completed (29/29, IC 3091 w/SN2024jdi) 06:22:10   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:22:13 Session Closing Session closing 06:23:03   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 06:23:21   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:24:37   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 71s total) 06:24:52   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:25:14   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:26:41   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:26:44 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:27:16     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:28:18     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.0°) 06:30:09   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (53mA) 06:30:11 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 01:13:47 Red Alert ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 01:12:03) 01:13:48 Red Alert TheSky6 Alert TheSky6 program isn't responding 01:16:57 Green Clear ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor has resumed again (01:16) after 4.9 mins 06:30:09 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (53mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-10-17 S1256)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Zigbee Network not available, deConz not connecting to Combee II (post-session, 2024-10-18).  Without an warning flag in the system tray (unlike AllSKy/Weather Computer)  Windows OS shut down/restarted the Observatory computer to installed updates. After logging back in and starting Services / Software, it was found that the Observatory's Zigbee Network wasn't available.   DeConz hadn't connected to the Combee II device.  Restarting deCONZ it was noted that it would connect to any of the 3 items listed in Combo box.   Eventually restarted the computer and eventually got deCONZ to recognise the Combee II / Zigbee Network.  This didn't go smoothly as deCONZ has been updated to latest version (2.29) and it wouldn't correctly recognise 6 sensors which were shown with UID number names and not their normal user-defined names.  Dropped deCONZ back to the previous used version (2.18) and the 6 sensors were then shown with their expected names in deCONZ's  network view. Tried connecting to the zigbee network from AstroMain but found that 5 sensors were unreachable.  However over the course of the next hour, their status gradually changed to all being reachable.
  Resolved 2024-10-19 (deCONZ, Zigbee Network)

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• AstroMain didn't record a red alert for 5s power outage  (Pre-Session, 2024-10-17 04:48).  During general session for night 2024-10-16 & 17 a green UPS System alert was raised with the message "UPS running on Mains Power at 04:48:39 (outage time Unknown)"., However there is no corresponding red or yellow alert.   Log file records the following
  04:48:34.74 | {"October 17, 2024-4:48:34 am", "level": 2, "The system is powered by the UPS battey"}
04:48:39.31 | {"October 17, 2024-4:48:39 am", "level": 2, "Shutdown in 50 min 10 s"}
04:48:39.84 | {"October 17, 2024-4:48:39 am", "level": 1, "The system is powered by the utility"}
  whilst the report file shows
  
   > UPS Monitor               Ok        UPS running on Battery backup (04:48:34)                         
 > UPS Monitor               Ok        Mains Power restored          (04:48:39, outage Unknown)
  these show that the UPS Monitor recognised that the UPS system was running on Battery backup but didn't record the event as a power outage.  This might  be because the ObsManager hadn't detected that Laptop as running on Battery, the fact that outage time is 'Unknown' suggests that the power outage was only partially picked up.  Small outage of 5s duration have been recorded before.  It is unclear if 5s is the real time of these outages or then are short 1-5s and only get recorded as 5s due to a cycle time. Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.71.9, with addition of flag bLaptopBatteryOutageReported which is either set True in RunPowerMonitor() (when Laptop goes to Battery power, or it remains False in which case RunUpsMonitor() will record retrospective Event/Alert records when Mains Power is restored.
  Fixed 2024-10-21  (AstroMain 3.71.9, UPS System)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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2024-10-18

Observatory - Wired Ethernet Cable Connection

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