David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1272 (2024-11-18)

Notes (S1271)

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Notes (S1273)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (8),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2024-11-18 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-11-18)

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 7.0.2 RC4 (2), 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 3.72.7,  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 1.13.2   
  AstroWeather 1.25.1, AstroAllSky 3.20.6,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroLaunch 1.11.5

Highlights

• Targets. 10/45 planned targets observations were completed.  Other target failed due to snow/rain, cloud or session suspension. Due to bright moonlit sky the last 2.5 hours of the session were clear but a 'too few stars' threshold was set to avoid risks from snow showers, but meant that targets was percieved as failing due to cloud.
• Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during session. Dome closed and parked at end of session Ok

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 17:17:45 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 17:17 & 05:47 17:17:46 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:17) 17:18:06   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 17:18:33   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 17:18:35 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-11-18 S01272, ImageSaveNum: 1272001) 17:18:40   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:20:40   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:20:48 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:20:51 Session Pending Session pending (2024-11-18) 17:20:53 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-11-18) 17:21:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 17:21:04   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.42.4) 17:21:35   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1054) 17:22:16   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 17:22:40 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 17:23:25   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 17:24:05 Session Running Session running 17:24:08   Queue Started Observing Queue started (45 targets selected) 17:24:11     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 17:24:56       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 17:27:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:30:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:32:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:32:37       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:34:51       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:36:45       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:37:06     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 17:37:32     Target Started (1/45) Target started (1/45, HIP 87937) 17:41:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:44:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 17:47:34     Target Completed Target completed (1/45, HIP 87937) 17:47:39     Target Started (2/45) Target started (2/45, AT2024xig) 17:51:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:54:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:10:55     Target Completed Target completed (2/45, AT2024xig) 18:10:59     Target Started (3/45) Target started (3/45, GCVS BL Lac) 18:14:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:16:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 18:20:46     Target Completed Target completed (3/45, GCVS BL Lac) 18:20:50     Target Started (4/45) Target started (4/45, T CrB) 18:25:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:28:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 18:32:54     Target Completed Target completed (4/45, T CrB) 18:32:58     Target Started (5/45) Target started (5/45, AT2024xpy) 18:36:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:39:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 18:55:05     Target Completed Target completed (5/45, AT2024xpy) 18:55:09     Target Started (6/45) Target started (6/45, AT2023cui) 18:58:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:01:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 19:17:33     Target Completed Target completed (6/45, AT2023cui) 19:17:37     Target Started (7/45) Target started (7/45, Nova Vul 2024) 19:20:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:23:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 19:26:43     Target Completed Target completed (7/45, Nova Vul 2024) 19:26:47     Target Started (8/45) Target started (8/45, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 19:30:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:38:05     Target Completed Target completed (8/45, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 19:38:09     Target Started (9/45) Target started (9/45, AT2024xxu) 19:41:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:44:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 20:00:33     Target Completed Target completed (9/45, AT2024xxu) 20:00:37     Target Started (10/45) Target started (10/45, AT2023jtn) 20:03:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:06:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 20:22:32       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:22:44     Target Completed Target completed (10/45, AT2023jtn) 20:22:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 20:22:49 Session Suspending Session suspending 20:23:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 20:23:40 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:39:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/45, AT2023yyz) due to cloud 21:02:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/45, AT2022rhq) due to rain 21:16:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/45, AT2024aasc (CV)) due to cloud 21:36:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/45, AT2024wqf) due to cloud 21:59:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/45, M31 w/Nova M31 2024-11b?) due to cloud 22:21:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/45, LEDA 867006 w/SN2024ttf) due to cloud 22:43:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/45, UGC 1596 w/SN2024yhg) due to cloud 22:56:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/45, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 23:08:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/45, AT2022fkp (CV)) due to cloud 23:18:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/45, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 23:37:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/45, LEDA 1390871 w/SN2024xxq) due to cloud 23:59:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/45, AT2024aaxw) due to cloud 00:13:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/45, AT2022jlf (CV)) due to cloud 00:33:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/45, NGC 1275 w/SN2024xav) due to cloud 00:56:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/45, LEDA 2078778 w/SN2024xqe) due to cloud 01:18:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/45, LEDA 16241 w/SN2024qiw) due to cloud 01:33:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/45, GCVS CN Ori) due to cloud 01:46:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/45, AT2022rsz (CV)) due to cloud 01:56:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/45, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 02:15:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/45, AT2024ubz) due to rain 02:37:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/45, AT2023eme) due to cloud 02:59:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/45, AT2022xpa) due to cloud 03:09:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/45, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 03:21:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/45, AT2023eiu (CV)) due to cloud 03:30:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/45, Capella) due to cloud 03:41:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/45, AT2024epb (CV)) due to cloud 03:53:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/45, AT2023cwd (CV)) due to cloud 04:05:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/45, AT2023cuh (CV)) due to cloud 04:17:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/45, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 04:36:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/45, LEDA 181124 w/SN2023ytn) due to cloud 04:59:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/45, UGC 5426 w/SN2024aanq) due to cloud 05:21:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/45, AT2024aart) due to cloud 05:43:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (43/45, NGC 5162 w/AT2024aawh) due to cloud 06:06:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (44/45, MCG -1-33-30 w/SN2024byg) due to cloud 06:32:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (45/45, NGC 5235 w/SN2024grb) due to threat of rain 06:32:30   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:32:33 Session Closing Session closing 06:32:38   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 20:23, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 06:35:07   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 141s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:35:51   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s total) 06:36:26   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:36:48   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:38:13   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:38:16 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:38:33     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:39:28     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 89.0°) 06:39:34     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.0 to 91.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:40:45     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 89.2°) 06:40:51     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: +0.8°) 06:40:53   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:43:51 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 17:20:51 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (41.19 GB) is less than 50 GB 06:38:26 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (39.26 GB) is less than 50 GB

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Operational Issues (2024-11-18 S1272)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (8)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Dome Slews holding up during parking  (06:35).  During slew to PrePark position the Dome held up for 29s at Az 219.4-219.6.  Conditions were poor with cold / cold / dampness which may have contributary factors. Although this issue didn't significantly effect or delay the session, it is ranked as a Major Issue to highlight it for further checks/action. The same issue affected daytime tests the following day. Prehaps the tension adjustment on the Dome Rotation Drive needs to increased ?. Also need to check that rubber wheel at top of rotation drive is tightly secured. 
  To check dome 2024-11-19 (Pulsar Dome)

Minor Issues

• Issue Parking Scope at end of daytime test  (2024-11-19). Park Scope operation hung after slewing scope to PrePark position whilst trying to disconnect TheSky6.Telescope.  AstroMain seemed to indicate that the TheSky6 had disconnected but TheSky6 indicated that it was still connected and DeviceHub which seemed unresponsive indicated that 2 clients (which would be AstroMain and TheSky) were still connected. Performing a RestartTheSky6 using backdoor facility released the ParkScope routine and Scope was then Parked and Handbox showed 'Scope parked "Turn scope off". The Park Scope operation seems to have hung again whilst trying to disconnect Telescope from AstroMain.   Problem seems to be due to DeviceHub not responding to commands that involve higher level operations and/or User Interface.   This is similar to issue that affected DeviceHub at end of Session S1269 (2024-11-14) when using DH 7.0.2 RC4.  In the end AstroMain & DeviceHub had to be killed user TaskManager and AstroLaunche's 'Kill Stranded Processes' facility. Prior to the parking / disconnection issue, DeviceHub had been used to make the initial 1st and 2nd attempt to connect to the telescope and it's user interface was noted to be sluggish. A follow-up test was made to check that issue didn't persist / wasn't repeatable.  Follow-up test was successful but there were anomalies : i) the slew to PrePark was reported to be (0.0° scope slew in 0s)" with peed 0.1°/s, ii) the disconnection from Telescope seemed to take quite a long time ? iii) ObsManager hung for 35s in the newly named 'SetScopeWaitingWhenManual' section.  Issue closed after review 2024-11-19.
  Closed after review 2024-11-19 (Session, DeviceHub, User Awareness)
   
• Unable to get CumulusMX to read data from new Ecowitt Weather Station on AllSky Weather Computer(2024-11-19).  Whilst CumulusMX works fine on Development Computer collecting data from Ecowitt Wittbox with GW2000 Gateway connected to IP 192.168.1.53,   the same program running on the AllSky/Weather Computer can't seem to get data from the Weather Station and do other functions involving IO or Http Request or Net Sockets. Examining logfiles in the \CumulusMX\MXdiags folder the following errors are seen
    Failed to get the latest build version from GitHub
  Exception: System.Net.Http.HttpRequestException (The SSL connection could not be established
  Exception: System.IO.IOException
             Unable to write data to the transport connection.
             An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
  Exception: System.Net.Http.HttpRequestException
             An error occurred while sending the request.
  Exception: System.IO.IOException
             Unable to write data to the transport connection:
             An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host..
  Exception: System.Net.Sockets.SocketException
             An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host.
  It seems that Firewall or Kaspersky is blocking the program ?  Attempting to go to 'Details and Rules' for CumulusMX in Kaspersky produces the message "Application was moved or removed". Cumulus original zipped download was unzipped on the AllSky/Weather Computer and the CumulusMX folder copied to More Programs folder as "CumulusMX2" (original could be removed).   Using CumulusMX.exe in this new program folder and going through Station Setup again seems to have resolved the issue (through still can't get to the application's  'Details and Rules' in Kaspersky).  Tried to get CumulusMX working at "C:\More Programs\CumulusMX", but couldn't. Finally settled in running CumulusMX at "C:\More Programs\Cumulus MX"
  Resolved 2024-11-19 (AllSky/Weather Computer, CumulusMX, Kaspersky)
   
• Dome Slews holding up during daytime tests  (2024-11-19).  During daytime test to looks at MeadeGeneric 1.3.11.509-develop driver and potential fix or not for Anomalous Dome Slews issue, a number of telescope/slaved dome slews were conducted. Several slews the Dome hung at certain positions with dome rotation wheels presumably spinning.  Conditions were poor with snow / cold/ dampness which may have contributary factors.  Prehaps the tension adjustment on the Dome Rotation Drive needs to increased ?
  To check dome 2024-11-19 (Pulsar Dome)

Small Defects

• Disk Space on Observatory Computer is down to 39 GB. Fixed 2024-11-19, some old data was deleted to take free space back up to 60 GB.
  Resolved 2024-11-19 (Observatory Computer)
   
• Unable to switch Telescope Power on from AstroMain's More/Obs. Tab (2024-11-19).  Ahead of daytime telescope tests using MeadeGeneric 1.3.11.509-develop an attempt to turn-on telescope power was made using the 'Switch ON Scope Power' button on the More/Obs Tab, but this was not allowed with the Fail message "Telescope power can not be switched on at this time" with no further explanation. To get around this the Telescope Power was turned on within the Pegasus UPB PowerBox application. This happens because ObservatoryState was 'Finished' .  Fixed in AstroMain 3.72.8.  A conditions check in SetPowerOn() routine is changed from
    (ObsManager.bRunning = True And ObsManager.SessionState = SessionState.Manual)
  to
    (ObsManager.bRunning = True And gObservatoryMode = omAutoStart)
  Fixed 2024-11-19 (AstroMain 3.72.8)
   
• Unable to turn off Dome Slaving from AstroMain, if user answers 'No' to the "ObsCam picture hasn't been taken yet. Take one now?" dialog (2024-11-19). During daytime test, user is asked whether any ObsCam should be taken. When this is not necessary and 'No' is answered it cancels the 'Turn Off Dome Slaving' operation.   Fixed in AstroMain 3.72.8.
  Fixed 2024-11-19 (AstroMain 3.72.8)
   
• ObsManager was pending for 35s when Parking Telescope (2024-11-19). During daytime tests ObsManager hung for 35s in the newly named 'SetScopeWaitingWhenManual' section (formerally part of 'Resolve CloseShutter Issue' section). This is a related to the same underlying issue with the ObsManager holding up in this code section, with holdup starting when the Telescope is parked and ending after the Telescope is disconnected (see Small-Defect Issue in Session S1269, 2024-11-14) . Fixed in AstroMain 3.72.8 by use of new bRunningParkScope flag variable.  When the flag is raised the 'SetScopeWaitingWhenManual' code is not run by the ObsManager.
  Fixed 2024-11-19 (AstroMain 3.72.8) 
   
• AstroAllSky's Images are not showing Wind Speed, Dir, T & H data when using Ecowitt Weather Records (2024-11-19). First test of Ekowitt data records in AstroAllSky is possibiliy failed to parse correctly. Wind Speed, Direction, T. & RH. data are not being displayed though Pressure data is. Fixed in AstroAllSky 3.20.7 (2024-11-20), issue was due to DateTimeStr handling, fixed by changing IV.WeatherDateTime(String) to IV.WeatherDateX(Date).
  Fixed 2024-11-20 (AstroAllSky 3.20.7)
   
• Precip. Next 15 mins is showing "Rain (10.0 mm/hr) but field isn't coloured red (2024-11-19). The Precip. Next 15 Mins field on AstroMain's Manager Tab is showing Rain (10mm/hr) but the data field is 'Gainboro' and not  'Salmon'. The Rain Forecast field has similar issue and doesn't show a background color of  'Salmon'. Investigating showed that Salmon was only be assigned in
  Fixed 2024-11-20 (AstroMain 3.72.8)
   
  
• When a Dome Connection is made, multiple "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" exceptions are logged over a period of 7s before the Connection is completed (2024-11-19).  Whilst Dome is being Connected to and Initiatilised multiple "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" exceptions are logged from requests to Get Dome.AtPark, Dome.Connected and Dome.Slaved requests.  The logging of these pre-connection exceptions should be disabled and make not called at for 8s period.  A Connecting 'Flag' is used to indicate when the dome is Connecting (this is an emmulation of the Connecting Property in ASCOM 7).  Fixed in AstroMain 3.72.9.
  Fixed 2024-11-20 (AstroMain 3.72.9)
   
• AstroMain didn't issue the usual Dome Charging green alert at end of session. Normally at end of session a green 'Dome Charging' alert is raised with the message "Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (43mA)" but didn't at the end of this session even though it was confirmed as being parked.  The issue is due to the dome being at pretty much full charge since the last Shutter operation was some 10 hours beforehand and had only been used for initial opening and what turned out to be its final closure. If Shutter Battery is fully charged, the alert message should probably be "Dome is parked and well-charged (95%)", or the test period to see if dome is charging should be extended, but allow a special non-modal dialog to display which can be 'skipped' if the user is in attendance.
  Fixed 2024-11-19 (AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement

• POTH Hub & MeadeLX200GPS Driver can be removed from list of processes checked by AstroLaunches 'Kill Stranded Processes' operation. POTH Hub and MeadeLX200GPS driver are no longer used.
  Done 2024-11-19 (AstroLaunch 1.11.6)
   
• Add a "TheSky.Telescope  Ok  Connection Completed" report message to the end of the TheSky6 Telescope Connection routine.  This extra report line is aimed to make it clear when the operation has finished and the TheSky6 telescope is ready.
  Done 2024-11-19 (AstroMain 3.72.8)
   
• If user responds "No" to 'Take Starting ObsCam Image' dialog, further requests should be disabled in the same session.  When doing daytime tests it is annoying to be kept asked to 'Take a Starting ObsCam Image' can this be disabled. Implemented in AstroMain 3.72.8 using a new flag variable 'bDisableStartingObsCamImageByUser' The flag is checked before asking user and if user answers no the flag is set to True. Flag is reset if session is changed. the flag doesn't affect the taking of a Starting ObsCam Image during a live session.
  Done 2024-11-19 (AstroMain 3.72.8)
   
• AstroAllSky's Photometric Sky Quality message should remove commas from large numbers. AstroAllSky is producing report line like
      Photometric Sky Quality Fail Peak 68, Centre 7,349, Mean 6,922, FHWM 5,130, C 2,178.5, RMS 15.9
  This should be written without comments like
      Photometric Sky Quality Fail Peak 68, Centre 7349, Mean 6922, FHWM 5130, C 2178.5, RMS 15.9
  which shortens the lines by 4 characters and might prevent message from wrapping to next line in the AstroAllSky Console. 
  Done 2024-11-19 (AstroAllSky 3.20.7) 

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