David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1277 (2024-11-27)

Notes (S1276)

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Notes (S1278A)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (7),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (6)
	Images from 2024-11-27 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-11-27)

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 (re-install) , 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 3.73.1,  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 1.26.1 AstroAllSky 3.21.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroColorCam 1.0.5, AstroLaunch 1.11.8

Highlights

• Targets. 17/x planned targets observations were completed with remaining 3 targets partially completed.  Other targets missed there Time Slots or failed due to cloud.
•   Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during session. Dome closed and parked at end of session Ok

Notes

• There seems to have been some issue near end of session with two targets recorded to have missed there time slots and a number of closing/finishing tasks weren't performed. To investigate.
  

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 17:58:50 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 17:58 & 06:01 17:58:52 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:58) 17:59:13   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 17:59:40   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 17:59:42 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-11-27 S01277, ImageSaveNum: 1277001) 17:59:47   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:01:45   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:01:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:01:58 Session Pending Session pending (2024-11-27) 18:02:00 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-11-27) 18:02:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 18:02:16   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.42.4) 18:02:42   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1059) 18:03:23   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:03:47 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:04:33   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 18:05:18 Session Running Session running 18:05:21   Queue Started Observing Queue started (27 targets selected) 18:05:23     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 18:05:38       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:09:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:12:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:14:15       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 18:15:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:15:19       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:15:35     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 18:15:37   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension 18:15:40 Session Suspending Session suspending 18:16:30   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 18:16:32 Session Suspended Session suspended 18:18:35 Session Resuming Session resuming 18:19:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 46s, Zigbee 40s) 18:19:23 Session Running Session running 18:19:25   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 18:19:26     Target Started (1/27) Target started (1/27, T CrB) 18:26:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:27:11       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 18:32:11     Target Completed Target completed (1/27, T CrB) 18:32:15     Target Started (2/27) Target started (2/27, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 18:33:52   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 18:33:54   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 18:33:55     Target Aborted (2/27) Target aborted (2/27, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) due to threat of rain 18:33:57   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 18:33:59 Session Suspending Session suspending 18:34:42   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 18:34:44 Session Suspended Session suspended 18:41:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/27, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) due to cloud 18:51:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/27, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 19:12:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/27, UGC 11087 w/SN2024ixb) due to cloud 19:23:37 Session Resuming Session resuming 19:24:23   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 19:24:25 Session Running Session running 19:24:27   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 19:24:29     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 19:26:51     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 244.7, 221.2, 221.1, 221.0° (Total delay 37s) 19:28:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:31:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:31:04       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:33:18       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4, wide) 19:35:06       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:35:25     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 19:35:27     Target Missed (5/27) Target's time slot was missed (5/27, GCVS Z And) 19:35:29     Target Started (6/27) Target started (6/27, GCVS SS Cyg) 19:37:30     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 214.3, 214.4, 214.5, 215.4° (Total delay 45s) 19:43:12     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/27, GCVS SS Cyg) 19:43:16     Target Started (7/27) Target started (7/27, AT2022fkp (CV)) 19:52:15     Target Completed Target completed (7/27, AT2022fkp (CV)) 19:52:19     Target Started (8/27) Target started (8/27, UGCA 5) 19:52:31       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 19:54:11       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 19:57:51       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:00:57       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 20:03:32       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:06:08       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 20:13:05     Target Completed Target completed (8/27, UGCA 5) 20:13:09     Target Started (9/27) Target started (9/27, UGCA 15) 20:17:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:34:25     Target Completed Target completed (9/27, UGCA 15) 20:34:29     Target Started (10/27) Target started (10/27, M33 w/AT2024abqt) 20:38:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:40:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:57:16     Target Completed Target completed (10/27, M33 w/AT2024abqt) 20:57:20     Target Started (11/27) Target started (11/27, GCVS TV Cas) 20:59:39     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 214.6, 214.7° (Total delay 50s) 21:02:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:04:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:07:29     Target Completed Target completed (11/27, GCVS TV Cas) 21:07:33     Target Started (12/27) Target started (12/27, PGC 2121) 21:09:28     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 244.0, 221.5, 221.4, 221.3° (Total delay 38s) 21:37:55     Target Completed Target completed (12/27, PGC 2121) 21:37:59     Target Started (13/27) Target started (13/27, PGC 4728) 21:41:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 21:58:13     Target Completed Target completed (13/27, PGC 4728) 21:58:47     Target Started (14/27) Target started (14/27, NGC 599) 22:03:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 22:19:35     Target Completed Target completed (14/27, NGC 599) 22:21:07     Target Started (15/27) Target started (15/27, Gliese 65) 22:24:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:27:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:34:14     Target Completed Target completed (15/27, Gliese 65) 22:34:18     Target Started (16/27) Target started (16/27, IC 1898) 22:35:45     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 178.6, 178.5, 178.4, 178.3° (Total delay 36s) 22:40:11       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 22:56:19     Target Completed Target completed (16/27, IC 1898) 22:56:23     Target Started (17/27) Target started (17/27, NGC 681 w/AT2024abup) 23:00:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:16:24     Target Completed Target completed (17/27, NGC 681 w/AT2024abup) 23:18:45     Target Started (18/27) Target started (18/27, UGCA 67) 23:22:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:39:25     Target Completed Target completed (18/27, UGCA 67) 23:41:05     Target Started (19/27) Target started (19/27, UGCA 73) 23:44:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:00:48     Target Completed Target completed (19/27, UGCA 73) 00:03:25     Target Started (20/27) Target started (20/27, UGCA 77) 00:09:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:25:50     Target Completed Target completed (20/27, UGCA 77) 00:25:55     Target Started (21/27) Target started (21/27, HAT-P-3) 00:28:50     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 175.5, 175.4, 175.3, 175.2, 153.8° (Total delay 39s) 00:31:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:32:44   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:33:15   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:33:46   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:34:17   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:34:49   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:34:51       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:35:07   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 00:35:14   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:36:07   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 00:36:10   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:37:11   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:37:15   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 00:37:23   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:38:19   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 00:38:22   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 04:43:56     Target Completed Target partially completed (21/27, HAT-P-3) 04:44:01     Target Started (22/27) Target started (22/27, AT2024accj) 05:04:17     Target Completed Target completed (22/27, AT2024accj) 05:04:21     Target Started (23/27) Target started (23/27, MCG -1-33-30 w/SN2024byg) 05:26:17     Target Completed Target completed (23/27, MCG -1-33-30 w/SN2024byg) 05:26:21     Target Started (24/27) Target started (24/27, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 05:29:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:29:44   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 05:29 in section 'GetCameraProperties / FilterIndexZeroBased' 05:30:21   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 05:30:28   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 05:31:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 05:31:22   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 05:31 in section 'SetCameraProperties / BinX/BinY' 05:31:56   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 05:32:03   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 05:35:41       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 05:50:40   Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 05:50 - 05:50 06:00:45 Session Suspending Session suspending 06:01:16   Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 06:00 - 06:01 06:01:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 06:01:38 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:34:05 Session Closing Session closing 06:34:07   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 06:01, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s) 06:35:00   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 46s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:35:41   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 37s total) 06:36:06   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:36:28   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:41:05   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:41:07 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:46:10     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:46:44     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 83.5°) 06:46:51     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 81.6 to 85.6°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:47:36     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 83.6°) 06:47:43     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: +6.4°) 06:47:45   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:50:44   Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.0 minutes 06:50:46 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 18:01:58 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (49.83 GB) is less than 50 GB 19:26:51 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 244.7, 221.2, 221.1, 221.0° (Total delay 37s) 19:37:30 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 214.3, 214.4, 214.5, 215.4° (Total delay 45s) 20:59:39 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 214.6, 214.7° (Total delay 50s) 21:09:28 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 244.0, 221.5, 221.4, 221.3° (Total delay 38s) 22:35:45 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 178.6, 178.5, 178.4, 178.3° (Total delay 36s) 00:28:50 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 175.5, 175.4, 175.3, 175.2, 153.8° (Total delay 39s) 00:32:44 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:33:15 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:33:46 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:34:17 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:34:49 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:36:10 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:37:11 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:38:22 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 05:30:19 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 05:29:44) in section 'GetCameraProperties / FilterIndexZeroBased' 05:30:24 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (05:30) after 40s 05:31:54 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 05:31:22) in section 'SetCameraProperties / BinX/BinY' 05:31:59 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (05:31) after 37s 06:00:42 Red Alert Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 05:50:10) 06:11:19 Red Alert Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 06:00:46) 06:50:44 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.0 minutes

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Operational Issues (2024-11-27 S1277)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (7)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (6)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Unable to go back to MeadeGeneric Hub 1.3.9 (pre-session).  MeadeGeneric 1.3.11.510-develop was tested during pre-session daytime tests in the Observatory to see if it resolves issue where telescope Slewing properties continues to return False for around 2 seconds after calling SlewTo CoordinatesAsync It didn't fullt resolve the issue that causes Dome Slewing Anomalies and it was noted to have a serious issue whereby it would ocsionally cause TheSky6 to put a model error dialogue, with message " Unable to start the direct slew!!! due to an exception raised by MeadeGeneric ("Cannot start a slew whilst slew is in progress"), and passed on via DeviceHub. Wishng to return to an older (but fully working) telescope driver version before a live session this evening, an attemopt was made to execute 'Meade.net.Setup.1.3.9.482' but it failed givig  the error message "A newer version is already installed"  Taking the 'install' options for 1.3.11.509 Uninstall appeared to uninstall the program andr remove the driver from ASCOM Profile/Telescopes. Trying a second time to install 1.3.9 version conitnued to give the "A newer version is already installed" error. Eventually resolved the problem by using uninstall MeadeGeneric from Windows Control Panel / Programs , and then installing 1.3.9 and reentering Telescope settings in MeadeGeneric's setup form.
  Resolved 2024-11-27+ (MeadeGeneric, Observatory Computer, User Awareness)
   
• Pulsar Dome rotation were holding up during several slews through the session.  Dome Slew were noted to hold up several times through the session. HoldUps totalled 5.0 mins across the entire session. There were 6 slews with hold-ups of >30s (36, 37, 38, 39, 50s) and 3 slews with shorter holds (14, 14, 26s). Hold-up points were at Az 123°, 153°, 175°, 178°, 215°, 221° & 244°. The Dome's Rotation Drive tension needs to be checked & adjusted.  Fix attempted 2024-11-28.  Drive Tension adjusted / tightened and dome rotation tested for full 360 slews.  Dome is rotating ok without holding up but the conditions were dry and it requires a couple of live session before it can be concluded tha the fix has been fully successful.    After adjustment the dome was recalibrated using the Pulsar Software.
  Considered to be fixed 2024-11-28 (Observatory, Pulsar Dome)
   
• Session's Fits files not copied from New Folder to Raw Folder at end of session (06:41).  When trying to Create a Workbook post session , the task failed as no Summary log could be found. Investigating the session Fits image & Summary file hadn't been copied to the Raw folder and therefor had been transferred to the Development/Analysis Computer. Fixed by transferring across the session New Folder and then running the 'Post-Session Admin' task. Logs indicate that PostSession Admin was started at 06:41:08 (Finishing Stage 1) , but Finishing Stage 2 (Wait of Post-Session Admin) wasn't exited until 5 minutes later at 06:46:08, which was likely due to a timeout.  Normally Finishing Stage 2 is exited after around 30s. So something was holding things up in Post-Session Admin, but what ?    Check ObsManager code confirms that the FinishingStage 2 has a 5 minute timeout at which point it ObsManager progress to FinishingStage 3 (as suspected). Investigating PerformPostSessionAdmin() routine that is called during Finishing Stage 1 show that the call to CreateFitsSummaryFile() is most-likely the place where the operation hung up as it involved calls to "CCDSoft.Image" and it has already been established there was a hold-up with CcdCamera / CCDSoft. Closed after review 2024-11-30.
  Issue understood / closed 2024-11-30 (Session, AstroMain, CCDSoft)
   
• ObservingPlan wasn't changed from an active plan to an executed plan at end of session.  As part of finishing tasks at end of session, the Observing Plan used in the session would normally ha its name changed from being the 'Active Plan' to the 'Executed Plean'.  This didn't occur this session.  The task of copying FITS images to the Raw also didn't take place. TThe task of updating the observing plan's description is carried out by the ObsManager at end of session, but isn't activated if CompletedFrameJobs = True And RunningFrameJobs = False.  Since the Job Queue was frozen neither of these conditions was met. Closed after review 2024-11-30.
  Closed after review 2024-11-30 (Session, AstroMain, AstroPlan)
   
• JobQueue became frozen towards end of session (05:50). The job queue became frozen towards end of session. The last log message from the Job Executor was at 05:50:12 when the following message was written  "Save GuideFrameImage  Ok  Image Saved (Guider... Guide20_F2_1_1.5s.29P_Schwassman-Wachman.FIT".  The expected next log message would have been "Run ConvertFitsToJpg   Sleeping for 2.5s to throttle BatchFileSubmission"  following by 3 more "Run ConvertFitsToJpg" messages but these didn't appear.  At 06:00:42 the ObsOverseer reported that "a Task in TakeMainScopeFrames/Continue appears to be frozen (Last message at 05:50)".  There was an attempt to explicity close down the job queue at 06:33:59  using the JobAbortExplicit flag, but it is unclear if Job Executor was operating and wasn't still frozen and couldn't respond to the request.
  Closed after review 2024-11-30 2024-11-28 (Session, AstroMai)
   
• SBIG Camera wasn't closed down / disconnected at end of session.  Camera was still connected in CCDSoft at end of session with temperature regulation/CCD Cooling still running at -25°C.  The operation to close down the camera failed, possibly due to frozen CCDCamera. SBIG Camera was closed down/disconnected by the user the following morning. Closed after review 2024-11-30.
  Resolved post-session / Closed after review 2024-11-30 (Session, AstroMai)
   
• A black coloured form was left open at end of Session  An empty black form with title "C:\More programs\AstroMain\AstroMain.exe" was open at end of session.  Unclear what function the form was meant to serve and why was open on the end of the session. To investigate. The form had a external side of 978 x 511 px,  with internal size of 960 x 480 px.   This is wider and shorter than the Focus Profile Form.  Unclear what the window is associated with, could it be related to HAT-3-P run (exoplanet 'monitoring'). Ticket closed after review 2024-11-30 as unexplained.
  Closed after review 2024-11-30 (Session, AstroMain)

Small Defects

• Several log messages are occuring with a blank S1 field rather than the expected Target Name (05:44, 05:46 & 05:49).  On 3 occasions during Target 24/27 (29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) at 05:44:08, 05:46:51 & 05:49:34 there are a group of up to 11 log messages in which the S1 field that was expected to show "29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann" was instead blank. This suggests that the szTargetName becomes temporarily set directly to "", or to another variable that had the value "",  for some unknown reason. In each case the appearance of blank S1 field seemed to be associated with call to CcdCamera.TakeImage which failed due to frozen CcdCamera/Unresponsive CCDSoft Camera, and the exception "RPC Server is Unavailable".  The preceeding line in each case is a message "The RPC server is unavailable. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800706BA)" (from an Exception in TakeMainImage()" and the first line with blank S1 field is "Problem with Image.InventoryArray in GetImageInventory()" (written in GetImageInventory() routine). The S1 field returns to that of a proper target name again when the next Image is 'started'. The GetImageInventory() routine simply uses the current value of 'szTargetName'.   The situation around these 3 cases is that for each Main Image, a 'Run TakeImageAsync' log message indicated a Fail with the description "Cancelling Image as RestartingCCDSoft is taken more than 2 mins" and the 'Exec Camera.TakeImage' log message indicated a Fail with the description "Image  failed (CCDSoft was restarted)". In each case after leaving OB.TakeMainImage (4 separate points from where this routine is called), there is already a remedial fix
      If szTargetName = "" Then szTargetName = T.TargetName
  which should have ensured that szTargetName was reset to "29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann"
  To investigate 2024-11-28 (Session, AstroMain)
   
• When closing out Guiding Chart there was an exception from PHD2.LockPosition.  Log records a "PHD2.Lock Position - Exception in PHD2.GetLockPosition" with exception message "Conversion from String to Double ..."'.    The exception is one posted by the AstroMain from the function PHD2.GetLockPosition.  Closed after review 2024-11-30.
  Closed after review 2024-11-30  (Session, AstroMain, PHD2)

Continuous Improvement

• Enable uploading of Latest Day & Night NorthCam Keograms to Observatory Web Site.  AstoColorCam now creates 'NorthCam.LatestDayKeogram.jpg' and 'NorthCam.LatestNightKeogram.jpg' pictures which need to be uploaded to the Observatory Website.  Add these files to those files uploaded to the website by AstroAllSky applications which contains the principle file uploader for the AllSky/Weather Computer. Also add these Keograms to suitable web pages on the Observatory Website:  eg NightKeogram on Aurora Watch & LatestAllSKy Images.   DaytimeKeogram on the Greenhouse page & Latest WeatherPage.
  Done 2024-11-28 (AstroAllSky 3.21.3, Observatory Website )
   
• Improve visibility of tjhe 'Open Target' on AstroPlan's Plan Form.  The existing green coloured Open Target is difficult to visually spot and utilise, in blends into the 'background' of other buttons and fields, and is a different colour to that used else.  Fixed in AstroPlan 1.42.5, by slightly enlarging button/text and change it to a blue coloured button. Same change also made to the Session Form.
  Done 2024-11-28 (AstroPlan 1.42.5)
   
• Pulsar Dome rotation needs to be recalibrated.  Dome is slewing to positon up to 7-8 degrees away from Park position at end of night as determined during final Find Park operation Slew . The dome needs recalibrating but this has to wait until Rotation Drive tension is checked & adjusted, and the dome is shown to be no longer holding up.
  Done  2024-11-28 (Observatory, Pulsar Dome)
   
• Add Rolling Keogram Plot to AstroColorCam program . Following the addition of Standard  Keogram Plotting (for Day and for Night) to AstroColorCam Application (v1.0.6) extend the capability to create a realtime rolling Keogram cover the last 14-16  hours or so.  Implemented in AstroColorCam 1.0.8, by developing a TKeogram Class from existing keogram related routines with two object instances, Keogram1 (for cmDay & cmNight) and Keogram2 (for cmRolling).
  Done 2024-11-29 (AstroColorCam 1.0.8)
   
• Query. How to get the Exception type from an exception ? When an exception is encountered and handled in a Try..Catch Ex as Exception...End Try block, the exception message is usually logged using 'ex.message . How can the exception type also be reported. Try  using  logfile.writeline (ex.GetType().ToString) . Code tests confirmed that the exception type can be obtained using 'ex.GetType().ToString'
  Logging of exceptions can be changed if required to
   WriteLogFile ("- " + ex.GetType().ToString + " (" + CleanupExMessage(ex.Message) + ")")
  The new CleanupExMessage() function strips off any trailing fullstop from the exception message.
  Done 2024-12-02 (AstroMain 3.73.4)
   
• Prevent calling CcdCamera.TakeImage() when CCDCamera is already frozen.  There were a number of cases when time-outs getting or setting CCDCamera properties indicated that the CcdCamera was frozen and not responsive, but the Job Executor still went ahead and called CcdCamera.TakeImage() only for the a timeout to occur because there had been not response from the camaera and the task was overruning by 2 minutes. Job Executor should pro-actively call RestartCcdSoft () routine.
  To Do 2024-11-30 (AstroMain 3.73.2)

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