Fig 1.

Guidescope focused on terrestrial objects (little change required), and then aligned with LX200 Main Scope.  The latter was perform by continuously acquiring and visually comparing images of a distant lamp-post through both scopes  (whilst tracking was set to Off otherwise the lamp-post would move out of view) and then use 'Orion XY Guidestar Finder' between Scope and Camera to align the center of the Guidescope's view with the center of the Main Scope's view

 - 12" LX200 Main Scope + ST-10XME with CCDSoft5  (0.11s exposures with H alpha filter)

 - 80mm APO GuideScope + ZWO ASI 178MC with SharpCap3 (2ms exposures)

Aligning Guidescope Comparing MainScope view in CCDSoft5 (left) with Guidescope View in SharpCap (right)

Using 'Orion XY GuideStar Finder' to bring Guidescope into perfect alignment with LX200 Main Scope

Local Horizon was mapped and uploaded to TheSky6 as a Local Horizon reference line. This was done as follows:

a) Autostar II handbox used to move scope along horizon whilst viewing images continuously acquired using 80mm Guidescope + ASI 178MC camera with SharpCap3 (This was done in a zig/zag manner due to RA/Dec motions). Altitude of Horizon recorded at roughly every 1 deg of Azimuth and entered in a spreadsheet.

b) Horizon data (360 altitude values from Azim 0 to Azim 359 deg) copied from spreadsheet, pasted into TheSky's Horizon Editor and then saved as the site's new Local Horizon reference file).

Mapping Horizon using GuideScope + ZWO ASI 178MC Camera

Mapped Horizon in TheSky6's Horizon Editor (Horizon Altitude varies between 0.5 and 14 deg)

Whilst not necessarily with a 100% clear view, it was noted that horizon was also visible using LX200 down to altitudes as low as 0.5 deg.  This had not been anticipated as planning had worked on basis that LX200 would be able to see down to altitude of 5 deg with 100% clear view, but carried no expectation of it being able to see much lower than this. Checking the Observatory/Telescope Spreadsheet Model shows that observations down to 0.5 deg altitude are potentially feasible, though high airmass will probably prevent any really useful observations or imaging.

Observatory with Main Scope pointing South with Altitude 0.5 deg (estimated 70% clear view + 30% occlusion by lower roof )

An examination of potential clear view limits for the Main Scope and GuideScope was performed in daylight with the Shutter Open and with the Dome Slaved to Telescope Position using POTH.Hub. Particular checks were made around Zenith where it was expected that GuideScope would stop having a clear view of the sky at certain altitudes above ~80 deg.

- First series of checks with scope at altitudes between 5 and 30 degrees successfully demonstrated that the Main Scope had clear view visibility of the sky at all Azimuth positions. These were accompanied by checks that successfully demonstrated that the Guide Scope also maintained clear view visibility of the sky at all Azimuth Positions, including due E and due W where the GuideScope lies at angles that tip it towards the edge of the shutter aperture.     (This had already been previously examined and checked during the observatory planning stage using Observatory/Telescope spreadsheet charting, but it was satisfying to demonstrate this in the actual Observatory)

- Second series of checks examined viewing around Zenith.   As expected the GuideScope loses clear view visibility of the sky when pointing due south from around altitude 79-80 deg and above. This only applies when pointing south or close to south. When pointing towards east or west the GuideScope maintains clear view visibility above 80 deg. However when pointing east at targets with Declination lower than 57 deg (my latitude) the dome will begin to rotate around to the south as the target tracks across the sky, causing the guidescope to be gradually occluded by the observatory in the process.  When the star lies north of zenith the Guidescope tends to maintain clear view visibility.

[Clear View visibility through Guidescope was in part checked by watching the light value histogram associated with continuously acquired images taken through Guidescope and spotting changes in light levels as the LX200 Main Scope's altitude was altered. This worked reasonably well, except that it was made difficult by naturally varying light levels due to changing & moving cloud  ]

[ When Scope is pointing very close to Zenith it was noticed that the Slaved Dome would behave oddly, repeatedly rotating one way and then the other until it eventually settled down ]

Clear View Checks (Daytime Check with Dome Slaving Active)		Checking Critical Due East View (Guidescope tilted over to the maximum and in the direction of the shutter chain)
Clear View Checking		Checking Due West View (Guidescope tilted over to the maximum)
Checking Clear View near Zenith		Checking Clear View near Zenith

'Observatory Manager' is a recently introduced service that runs in the 'background' of my Observatory Control Program, watching operations and data streams (such as Cloud Sensor, Weather Station etc) and taking action to protect the observatory.  It is designed to run in either Manual, Semi-Automated or Fully Automated Mode, where it has lesser or greater authority to take control and perform tasks to meet an observing objective.

Testing and further development will run in hand over the summer until a full-implementation in Autumn 2018.

Semi-Automated Mode testing has commenced with a series of basic safety tests on 2018-05-22 & 2018-05-23. These confirmed the following behaviour :

• Observatory Dome is not allowed to be opened by the Observatory Control program during daylight, when in
      a) Fully Automated Mode and
      b) Semi-Automated Mode without DayTime Testing override
   
  - This was tested by setting Manager mode to Semi-Automated or Fully Automated and clicking on Open Dome from my Observatory Program.
   
  - A message is correctly given to say that operation is not permitted due to prevailing light conditons
   
  
• Observatory Dome is immediately closed by the Manager if Dome is open (or in the process of opening) and either daylight conditions are seen by Cloud Sensor or Sun Altitude is >0. 
   
  - This was tested by flicking the Manager from Manual to Semi-Automated Mode.
   
  - A message is correctly given to say that dome will be closed due to critical light conditions.
   
  
• Observatory Dome is immediately closed by the Manager if 'rain' conditions are seen by the Cloud Sensor.
   
  - This was tested by sprinkling water onto the Cloud Sensor/AllSky Mast whilst the Dome was open and Observatory Manager was running in Semi-Automated Mode with DayTime Testing option.
   
  - A message is correctly given to say that dome will be closed due to critical rain conditions.
  
  (the water sprinkling test needs to be repeated with the Observatory Manager running in Manual Mode  and Full Automated Mode)

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Observatory Manager Testing (2018-05-23)