David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1273 (2024-11-20)

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Notes (S1274)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (7)
	Images from 2024-11-20 >>
	2024-11-21
	Observatory - New Weather Station (Nov 2024+)

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-11-20)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

• Deferred Aims:  
  
  - Dome Slewing & TheSky. Test/Check for Dome Slewing Anomalies & TheSky6/CCDSoft interations when DeviceHub's Fast Polling Rate is reduced from 1.0s  to value of 0.5s  (ie return DeviceHub fast rate polling rate to that previously used in DH 6.6)
  -  Early evening session to acquire latest images of T CrB
  -  Crab Nebula - Acquire 1x1 binned, 60s test exposures of M1 / CM Tau in preparation for Pulsar Project.
  -  2024 PT5. Attempt to image minor planet/space body 2024-PT5 which is set to temporarily captured into an earth orbit   Jan 10th-Jan-14th

 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 3.72.8,  AstroPlan 1.42.4  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.6   (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 3.20.7,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroLaunch 1.11.6

Highlights

• Targets. 18/27 planned targets observations were completed.  Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension.
• 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 21:22:54 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:22 & 05:50 21:22:56 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:22) 21:23:17   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:23:44   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 21:23:46 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-11-20 S01273, ImageSaveNum: 1273001) 21:23:51   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:25:49   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:25:57 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:26:02 Session Pending Session pending (2024-11-20) 21:26:04 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-11-20) 21:26:13   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 21:26:20   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.42.4) 21:27:02   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1055) 21:27:41   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:28:06 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:28:52   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 21:29:21 Session Running Session running 21:29:24   Queue Started Observing Queue started (27 targets selected) 21:29:26     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911) 21:32:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:36:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:38:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:38:40       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:40:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:42:45       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:43:05     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911) 21:43:09     Target Started (1/27) Target started (1/27, M31 w/Nova M31 2024-11b?) 21:47:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:04:10     Target Completed Target completed (1/27, M31 w/Nova M31 2024-11b?) 22:05:08     Target Started (2/27) Target started (2/27, LEDA 2078778 w/SN2024xqe) 22:08:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:24:45     Target Completed Target completed (2/27, LEDA 2078778 w/SN2024xqe) 22:27:28     Target Started (3/27) Target started (3/27, AT2024zys (CV)) 22:28:24       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:31:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:34:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:40:33     Target Completed Target completed (3/27, AT2024zys (CV)) 22:40:37     Target Started (4/27) Target started (4/27, GCVS GK Per) 22:43:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:46:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:50:14     Target Completed Target completed (4/27, GCVS GK Per) 22:50:19     Target Started (5/27) Target started (5/27, UGC 1596 w/SN2024yhg) 22:53:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:09:56     Target Completed Target completed (5/27, UGC 1596 w/SN2024yhg) 23:11:29     Target Started (6/27) Target started (6/27, NGC 1275 w/SN2024xav) 23:14:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:17:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:33:40     Target Completed Target completed (6/27, NGC 1275 w/SN2024xav) 23:33:44     Target Started (7/27) Target started (7/27, AT2024aaxw) 23:36:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:39:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:55:12     Target Completed Target completed (7/27, AT2024aaxw) 23:55:29     Target Started (8/27) Target started (8/27, AT2024ycs) 23:58:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:01:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:17:12     Target Completed Target completed (8/27, AT2024ycs) 00:17:29     Target Started (9/27) Target started (9/27, LEDA 16241 w/SN2024qiw) 00:21:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:23:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:40:04     Target Completed Target completed (9/27, LEDA 16241 w/SN2024qiw) 00:40:08     Target Started (10/27) Target started (10/27, NGC 1964) 00:44:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:16:09     Target Completed Target completed (10/27, NGC 1964) 01:16:41     Target Started (11/27) Target started (11/27, AT2022xpa) 01:21:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:37:45     Target Completed Target completed (11/27, AT2022xpa) 01:39:01     Target Started (12/27) Target started (12/27, GCVS CN Ori) 01:42:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:45:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:52:50     Target Completed Target completed (12/27, GCVS CN Ori) 01:52:54     Target Started (13/27) Target started (13/27, IC 2163) 01:57:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:13:27     Target Completed Target completed (13/27, IC 2163) 02:15:03     Target Started (14/27) Target started (14/27, AT2024ubz) 02:19:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:21:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:38:14     Target Completed Target completed (14/27, AT2024ubz) 02:38:18     Target Started (15/27) Target started (15/27, AT2024epb (CV)) 02:42:06       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:42:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:48:32     Target Completed Target completed (15/27, AT2024epb (CV)) 02:48:34   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:48:36 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:49:22   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 02:49:24 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:00:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/27, AT2024aasc (CV)) due to cloud 03:20:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/27, AT2023csu) due to cloud 03:42:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/27, AT2023eme) due to cloud 03:49:43 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:50:29   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 03:50:31 Session Running Session running 03:50:33   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:50:34     Target Started (19/27) Target started (19/27, AT2023abqd (CV)) 04:01:42     Target Completed Target completed (19/27, AT2023abqd (CV)) 04:01:47     Target Started (20/27) Target started (20/27, GCVS U Mon) 04:12:03     Target Completed Target completed (20/27, GCVS U Mon) 04:12:07     Target Started (21/27) Target started (21/27, LEDA 1021768 w/SN2022zue) 04:29:57       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:33:36     Target Completed Target completed (21/27, LEDA 1021768 w/SN2022zue) 04:33:38   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:33:40 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:34:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 04:34:29 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:51:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/27, NGC 3389) due to cloud 05:13:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/27, AT2024aart) due to cloud 05:35:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/27, NGC 5162 w/AT2024aawh) due to cloud 05:49:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/27, T CrB) due to cloud 06:09:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/27, MCG -1-33-30 w/SN2024byg) due to cloud 06:35:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/27, NGC 5235 w/SN2024grb) due to too few stars 06:35:25   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:35:29 Session Closing Session closing 06:35:34   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:34, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s) 06:36:13   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 31s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:36:50   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 34s total) 06:37:20   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:37:42   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:39:06   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:39:09 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:39:31     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:40:31     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 92.0°) 06:40:37     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 90.0 to 94.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:41:24     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.8°) 06:41:30     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.8°) 06:41:32   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:41:39   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (27mA) 06:41:41 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 06:41:39 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (27mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-11-20 S1273)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (7)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• The 'TargetName' field on AstroMain's Manager Tab is showing 'Closing' when session is finished (07:56).  After session has finished and had returned to Manual Mode, the 'TargetName' field (next to Scope Status field) showed "Closing". This is confusing to user, raising the question 'is session still closing?' or 'is the dome still closing?'.  The field should not be set to 'Closing' to avoid any confusion. Fixed in AstroMain 3.73.
  Fixed  2024-11-21 (AstroMain 3.73)

Continuous Improvement

• Pair extra T/H sensor with Ecowitt GW2000 Gateway and check/setup access (2024-11-20).   The extra Ecowitt T/H sensor (WN31) arrived today (2024-11-20). After unpacking the sensor was set to use Channel 1 with units in Celsius (default dip settings), batteries were installed and the sensor place near to GW2000 Gateway for it to automatically pair.   CumulusMX's realtimegaugesT.txt template was then edited to replace the three  '-99' placeholders  with <#ExtraTemp1>, <#ExtraHum1> & <#ExtraDP1> tags.  Running CumulusMX it was confirmed that the it was accessing and outputting the new sensor values correctly to the realtimeguages.txt file.
  Done  2024-11-20 (Ecowitt Weather Station, CumulusMX)
   
• Install new Observatory Station outdoors (2024-11-21).  Implemented 2024-11-21. New Ecowitt Wittboy Weather Station mounted on 1" diam pole attached to existing weather station post located around 10m distance from the Observatory. GW2000 Gateway was installed in the Observatory's AllSky/Weather Bay, powered by a USB cable attached to previously empty port on the Pegasus USB Hub, and connected by an Ethernet cable to the Observatory's Ethernet Switch. After initial teething issues (solved by moving Ethernet cable to a different port on the Ethernet Switch, and using a more tighting locking Ethernet Cable) data communication to CumulusMX and to AstroWeather programs running on the AllSky/Weather Computer was confirmed. The extra T/H sensor (WN31) will be installed outside at a later date.
  Done  2024-11-21 (Ecowitt Weather Station, Observatory)
   
• Add 'IsRaining' field to new Weather Data record (2024-11-21).  Implemented in AstroWeather 1.25.4.  IsRaining field subsequently added to Data Tab in AstroWeather 1.25 on 2024-11-23.
  Done  2024-11-22 (AstroWeather 1.25.4)
   
• Add new graphs to AstroWeather for showing RainRate (Ws) & Solar Radiation (2024-11-21). Added new graphs for extra data items available with new Ecowitt Weather Station.  Implemented in AstroWeather 1.25.4 (Rain Ws GraphID 66-67, Pressure zigbee, GraphID 68, Solar Radiation GraphID 69-71)
  Done  2024-11-22 (AstroWeather 1.25.4)
   
• Finalise new versions of AstroWeather, AstroAllSky and AstroMain to work with the new data records from the Ecowitt Weather Station (2024-11-21).  IThe recent test/development versions of AstroWeather (1.25.1), AstroAllSky (3.20.8) and AstroMain (3.72.9) need to be finalised to use the data records produced by CumulusMX for the Observatory's New Ecowitt Weather Station by default, instead of the older Weather Station records produced by VWS. .
  Done  2024-11-21 (AstroWeather (1.26), AstroAllSky (3.21) & AstroMain 3.73)
   
• AstroMove to run process after daybreak to automatically find any new session on the Observatory Computer and Auto Select it and check the 'All' items, pending user action. It would save time in the morning following a session for AstroMove to automatically prepare the 'From Observatory' tab ready for user to take the final step of clicking 'Copy Files From Observatory' button. The process will only be able to run from time the Development Computer is brought out of hibernation, but that still might be enough time for auto-routine to execute before the user attempts to use AstroMove to 'Copy Files From Observatory' . It would be helpful if the new process could also pre-prepare the connection to the AllSky/Weather Computer, by downloading a dummy file (with as many attempts as required to force a windows explorer connection).  Implemented in AstroMove 1.14 within AutoRefresh() routine.
  Done  2024-12-09 (AstroMove 1.14
   
• Query. List Com Ports takes around 2.4s, can it be speeded up. When starting a Session or starting Autostart, the 5 com ports used in the Observatory are checked and listed.  The process for doing this needs to be checked for efficiency. Is there a way to make the process more efficient. When measuring the routine using tracing it takes <0.1s to run.  However the external timer takes 2.1s to run, is this the impact of Throttle Report Messaging when running in Manual Mode ?
  To investigate 2024-11-21+ (AstroMain 3.72.9+)

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2024-11-21

Observatory - New Weather Station (Nov 2024)

The Observatory's new Ecowiit Weather Station went live today (2024-11-21).

Background
After a couple of years thinking that a new weather station was required and having previously looked at Ecowitt models in Dec 2023 and putting the idea on hold,  further issues with intermittent data in Oct/Nov 2024 from the existing weather station's Wind Sensor (even after installing new batteries) it was decided on 2024-11-02 to purchase an Ecowitt Wittboy Station with GW2000 Gateway.

After unpacking the new station and gateway were initially set-up indoors for testing and set up (2024-11-12)
CumulusMX was installed on the development computer and setup for communication with the Ecowitt Gateway.

A weather record format was defined on 2024-11-14 (realtimeguagesT.txt),  and AstroWeather was progressively modified to be able to access/handle the new record format written to realtimegauges.txt.   After testing,  AstroAllSky and AstroMain were then also modified to access/handle the new weather record format which is sent to them from AstroWeather via local TCP/IP links.

CumulusMX and new development version AstroWeather were installed on the AllSy/Weather Computer.

2024-11-20.  An additional temperture/humidity sensor (WN31, Chanel 1) was added to the system on 2024-11-20.

2024-11-21. After further testing of system and software the new weather station was installed outside on a mounting pole & post around 10m from the Observatory, and the GW2000 Gateway was installed in the Observatory's AllSky/Weather Computer Bay, and the system made live.

Finalised versions of AstroWeather, AstroAllSky & AstroMain which use the new weather record format by default were installed onto the Observatory & AllSky Computers (AstroWeather (1.26), AstroAllSky (3.21) & AstroMain 3.73).

Changed CumulusMX Settings for 'Rain'
- 'Select Rain Sensor' setting changed from 'Tipping Bucket' to 'Piezo Sensor (WS90)'
- 'Use Piezo IsRaining' setting to checked (ie 'Use the piezo sensor IsRaining value to trigger CumulusMX IsRaining')
- 'Is Raining trigger' setting changed from Primary Rain Sensor to 'Haptic rain sensor'

2024-11-22  Added 'IsRaining' to weather data record <#IsRaining>

Added new graphs (RainRate (Ws), Solar Radiation.

Still to do
2024-12-09. Additional temperture/humidity sensor (WN31, Channel 1) to be installed outside in shady area.
2024-11-xx. 20m long 12v Power Cable and A/C Adapter for Haptic Sensor / Sonic Anemometer heater to be installed & connected to the Wittboy Station.

 

Photo showing new Weather Station  Ecowitt Wittboy (WS90) Light, UV, Haptic Rain, Sonic Anemometer, Temperature & Humidity Sensors Bird Spike Circle is attached to new station to stop birds landing on the Light & Haptic Rain Sensor		Photo showing old Weather Station Oregon Scientific WMR80 Wind Vane is not long recording direction and Wind Speed recording is intermittant The existing anemometer and vane will be retained to provide a visual indicator of wind speed and direction)

Technical Details for the new Weather Station system

- GW2000 Gateway   'GW2000X'  IP:  192.168.1.53
- CumulusMX.exe opened from AstroLaunch (opens a console window that needs to be left open)
- http://localhost:8998 used to bring up CumuluMX program on AllSky/Weather Computer.
- http://192.168.1.55:8998 used to bring up CumuluMX program on IPad or Development Computer.
- CumulusMX/ Station set up using CumulusMX Setup Wizard using following data units
     "tempunit":  "C"
    "windunit":  "mph"
    "pressunit": "mb"
    "rainunit":  "mm"
- Data (JSON files & realtimegauges.txt) saved locally to "C:\Data\AllSky Imaging\Weather Station\"
- Fresh Weather Data Record written to  "C:/Data/AllSky Imaging/Weather Station/realtimegauges.txt" every 15s

Contents of data folder

2024-11-20
- Built and fitted Bird Spike Circle to Ecowitt Wittboy.

Update 2024-12-09.
Additional temperture/humidity sensor (WN31, Channel 1) installed outside in shady area.

There are now two outdoor sensors.:
 - The CH1 T/H sensor which is located in a shaded area (but further from the Ekowitt G2000 Gateway)
-  The T/H sensor on the Ecowitt Wittboy (W90) station itself, but may be less reliable in summer as it is in a full sunlight position and less reliable in mid-winter due to proximity to the Sonic Anaenometer Heater (when installed)
The graph shows the drop in temperature at 13:00 as the sensor is more from relatively warmer Observatory where it sat in AllSky/Weather Computing Bay, next to AllSky/Weather Computer and on a shelf above various equipment, such as the Ethernet Switch and various A/C Adapters), to the outdoors position where reading become similar to the W90's Temperature.

Fig.  Ch1 Temperature following relocation from temporary position inside to a permanent position outdoors (2024-12-09)

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