David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1268 (2024-11-13)

Notes (S1267)

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Notes (S1269)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (0)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2024-11-13)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. Crab Nebula.  Acquire 1x1 binned, 60s exposures of M1 / CM Tau to assess the needs/limitations for the Crab Nebula Pulser Project.
3. IK Peg. Acquire images of IK Peg, a white dwarf / binary system in Pegasus and around 154 ly from earth.
4. C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). Acquire images of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 7.0.2 RC4, MeadeGeneric 1.3.9, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 7.0.2 RC4,  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 7.0.2 RC4
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.72.3,  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 1.11.5

Highlights

• Targets. 18/23 planned targets observations were completed with 4 targets partially completed.  1 target failed due to cloud
• Dome Slews.  There were 2 (+2) dome slew anomalies during the session.
  Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the 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 23:30:27 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:30 & 05:38 23:30:41 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:30) 23:31:02   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 23:31:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 23:31:32 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-11-13 S01268, ImageSaveNum: 1268001) 23:31:36   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:33:32   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:33:41 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:33:44 Session Pending Session pending (2024-11-13) 23:33:46 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-11-13) 23:33:53   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 23:34:00   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.42.4) 23:34:31   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1050) 23:35:12   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:35:36 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:36:22   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 23:37:02 Session Running Session running 23:37:04   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 23:37:07     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 23:37:21       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:41:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:44:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:46:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:46:30       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:48:44       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:50:37       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:50:57     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 23:51:01     Target Started (1/23) Target started (1/23, GCVS BL Lac) 23:56:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:58:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:02:48     Target Completed Target completed (1/23, GCVS BL Lac) 00:02:52     Target Started (2/23) Target started (2/23, GCVS HH And) 00:06:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:09:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:13:12     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/23, GCVS HH And) 00:13:16     Target Started (3/23) Target started (3/23, 61 Cyg) 00:19:52     Target Completed Target completed (3/23, 61 Cyg) 00:19:56     Target Started (4/23) Target started (4/23, AT2024dsj (CV)) 00:21:06       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:23:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:25:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:30:52   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:30:54   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:30:56     Target Aborted (4/23) Target aborted (4/23, AT2024dsj (CV)) due to cloud 00:30:58   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:31:00 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:31:42   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 00:31:44 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:39:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/23, AT2023ohc (CV)) due to cloud 00:47:28 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:48:14   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 00:48:16 Session Running Session running 00:48:18   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:48:20     Target Started (6/23) Target started (6/23, AT2024ycs) 00:53:39       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:53:44       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:06:00     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/23, AT2024ycs) 01:06:04     Target Started (7/23) Target started (7/23, GCVS FO Ori) 01:15:00     Target Completed Target completed (7/23, GCVS FO Ori) 01:15:04     Target Started (8/23) Target started (8/23, AT2024sjh) 01:38:00     Target Completed Target completed (8/23, AT2024sjh) 01:38:04     Target Started (9/23) Target started (9/23, AT2024xdo) 01:42:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:45:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:01:38     Target Completed Target completed (9/23, AT2024xdo) 02:01:42     Target Started (10/23) Target started (10/23, UGC 3572 w/SN2024ejq) 02:04:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:20:47     Target Completed Target completed (10/23, UGC 3572 w/SN2024ejq) 02:20:51     Target Started (11/23) Target started (11/23, AT2024aasc (CV)) 02:21:19       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 02:24:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:25:30       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 02:32:29     Target Completed Target completed (11/23, AT2024aasc (CV)) 02:32:33     Target Started (12/23) Target started (12/23, M31 w/AT2024aayx) 02:36:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:39:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:56:00     Target Completed Target completed (12/23, M31 w/AT2024aayx) 02:56:04     Target Started (13/23) Target started (13/23, AT2024zys (CV)) 02:59:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:02:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:08:32     Target Completed Target completed (13/23, AT2024zys (CV)) 03:08:36     Target Started (14/23) Target started (14/23, AT2022trk (CV)) 03:12:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:15:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 03:21:21     Target Completed Target completed (14/23, AT2022trk (CV)) 03:21:25     Target Started (15/23) Target started (15/23, AT2024zlk) 03:24:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:41:00     Target Completed Target completed (15/23, AT2024zlk) 03:41:04     Target Started (16/23) Target started (16/23, GCVS U Gem) 03:44:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:47:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:50:56     Target Completed Target completed (16/23, GCVS U Gem) 03:51:00     Target Started (17/23) Target started (17/23, UGC 4433 w/SN2024uhc) 03:54:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:57:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 04:14:01     Target Completed Target completed (17/23, UGC 4433 w/SN2024uhc) 04:14:05     Target Started (18/23) Target started (18/23, UGC 5426 w/SN2024aanq) 04:17:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:20:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 04:37:13     Target Completed Target completed (18/23, UGC 5426 w/SN2024aanq) 04:37:17     Target Started (19/23) Target started (19/23, GCVS RR Leo) 04:49:00     Target Completed Target completed (19/23, GCVS RR Leo) 04:49:05     Target Started (20/23) Target started (20/23, NGC 5162 w/AT2024aawh) 05:12:03     Target Completed Target completed (20/23, NGC 5162 w/AT2024aawh) 05:12:07     Target Started (21/23) Target started (21/23, AT2024wpc) 05:15:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:31:47     Target Completed Target completed (21/23, AT2024wpc) 05:31:51     Target Started (22/23) Target started (22/23, AT2024aart) 05:38:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:54:50     Target Completed Target completed (22/23, AT2024aart) 05:54:54     Target Started (23/23) Target started (23/23, NGC 5235 w/SN2024grb) 05:59:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:02:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 06:17:11   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 06:17:13   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 06:17:16     Target Aborted (23/23) Target aborted (23/23, NGC 5235 w/SN2024grb) due to cloud 06:17:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 06:17:20 Session Suspending Session suspending 06:18:06   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 06:18:08 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:22:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/23, NGC 5235 w/SN2024grb) due to cloud 06:23:02   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:23:07 Session Closing Session closing 06:23:11   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 06:18, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 06:23:36   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 15s), Az: 90.1 deg 06:24:24   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 40s total) 06:24:53   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:25:16   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) 06:27:11     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:28:25     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 96.0°) 06:28:31     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 94.0 to 98.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:29:16     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 96.0°) 06:29:22     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -6.1°) 06:29:24   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:31:44   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (32mA) 06:31:46 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 23:33:42 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (49.49 GB) is less than 50 GB 00:03:23 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 288.9° (T+24.6s) 03:51:18 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 161.1° (T+11.2s) 04:14:45 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Telescope Az is > 8 deg (UGC 5426) 04:49:53 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 1 deg (NGC 5162) 06:23:08 Red Alert Unexpected Scope Movement Scope appears to be tracking even though Tracking=False 06:27:04 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (47.78 GB) is less than 50 GB 06:31:44 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (32mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-11-13 S1268)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Two Anomalous Dome Slews recorded during session (00:03, 03:51).  2 out of 24 slews conducted during the session had anomalous dome slews.  In addition there was one case where Difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 8 deg (04:14) and one case where difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 1 deg (04:49).   Eventually fixed on 2024-11-15 by enabling DeviceHub's Composite Slewing and making adjustments to how AstroMain's Slew Monitor operates.
  Resolved 2024-11-15  (DeviceHub Composite Slewing, AstroMain 3.72.5)

Small Defects

• An 'Unexpected Scope Movement' alert was raised during the final stages of the session (06:23).  An 'Unexpected Scope Movement' alert was raised at 06:23:08 with the message "Scope appears to be tracking even though Tracking=False".  This continues to be an occassional issue even though multiple attempts have been made to fix it. The alert was raised directly after turning off tracking (Set Tracking=False) after entering 'Begin Shutdown' tasks following entry into SessionState.Closing
  Fixed  2024-11-14 (AstroMain 3.72.4)
  

Continuous Improvement

• None

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