David's Astronomy - Notes 2019-01-30 (S00653)

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Notes - Session 653 (2019-01-30)

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	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result - Night Summary Plot - Session Event Log

	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0), Major Issues (3), Minor Issues (8), Continuous Improvement (11)
	Autofocussing - FWHM & HFD Profiles
	Dark Frames, -30°C

	Images from 2019-01-30 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-01-30)

Main aims

Targets. Acquire images of a range of targets (comets, variable stars, nearby stars and deep sky objects) during a night of expected very good weather conditions
Focusing. Trial FastFocus Technique on different starfields during a live automated session
Software. Test AstroMain 3.8.4 program for any new issues

Equipment & Software

12" LX200 and ST-10XME
80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2, POTH Hub
Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
AstroMain 3.8.4 AstroPlan 1.6.2

Highlights

Images. Images from a number of targets were successfully acquired.
(Quality of images were unfortunately mostly rather poor due to poor sky transparency caused by high level cloud)
LX200 powered up remotely at start of session using Pegasus UPB (and later powered down by remote operation)
(Power Supply issues unfortunately surfaced during the session which appear to be due to voltage losses in the relatively thin-wired power extension cable used to reach the UPB)
Improvements in creation of HFD lines from inner and outer focus.

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan (2019-01-30, S653)

Observing Result (2019-01-30, S653)

Night Sky Summary Plot - 2019-01-30, S653
Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s)
Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)

Session Event Log (2019-01-30, S653)

Time		Event	Detail
18:42:08		Session Created	Live Session Created (2019-01-30 S00653, ImageSaveNum: 653001)
18:43:06		Obs.Manager Started	Obs.Manager started
18:43:07		Services Started	Observatory Services started
18:45:34		Camera1 Connected	SBIG Camera Connected (set point -30°C)
18:46:10		Telescope Connected	Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
18:46:35		Observatory (Auto)	Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
18:46:37		Session Pending	Session pending (2019-01-30)
18:46:38		Plan Loaded	Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-01-30 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 259)
18:46:41		Camera1 Connected	SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C)
18:46:43		Telescope Connected	Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
18:47:34		Shutter Opened	Shutter opened (opening time 45s)
18:47:35		Equilibration Started	Dome Equilibration started
18:51:33		Equilibration Ended	Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total)
18:51:34		Queue Started	Observing Queue started (31 targets selected)
18:51:35		Target Missed (1/31)	Target Missed (1/31, GCVS NV Ori)
19:00:13		Target Completed	Target partially completed (5/31, UGC 118)
19:06:42		Target Completed	Target completed (6/31, GCVS RX And)
19:14:55		Target Completed	Target completed (7/31, GCVS GK Per)
19:21:59		Target Completed	Target completed (8/31, GCVS EV Lac)
19:31:48		Target Completed	Target completed (9/31, GSC 1224:29)
19:53:14		Target Completed	Target completed (10/31, 46P/Wirtanen)
20:02:19		Target Completed	Target completed (11/31, GCVS DX Cnc)
20:10:29		Target Completed	Target completed (12/31, LAMOST-HVS1)
20:13:25		Focusing Started (Foc1)	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:16:25		Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
20:21:59		Target Completed	Target partially completed (13/31, GCVS RZ LMi)
20:31:52		Target Completed	Target completed (14/31, C/2015 O1 (PANSTARRS))
20:41:30		Target Completed	Target completed (15/31, GCVS BL Lac)
20:41:31		Target Started (16/31)	Target started (16/31, GCVS HH And)
20:47:10		Target Completed	Target completed (16/31, GCVS HH And)
20:47:39		Target Started (17/31)	Target started (17/31, WDS GRB 34)
20:53:25		Target Completed	Target completed (17/31, WDS GRB 34)
20:55:04		Target Started (18/31)	Target started (18/31, GCVS DY Per)
20:57:38		Focusing Started (Foc1)	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:00:45		Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
21:07:43		Target Completed	Target completed (18/31, GCVS DY Per)
21:07:44		Target Started (19/31)	Target started (19/31, GCVS SU Tau)
21:17:04		Target Completed	Target completed (19/31, GCVS SU Tau)
21:17:05		Target Started (20/31)	Target started (20/31, GCVS U Gem)
21:23:24		Target Completed	Target completed (20/31, GCVS U Gem)
21:30:43		Target Completed	Target completed (21/31, GCVS ER UMa)
21:32:19		Target Started (22/31)	Target started (22/31, GCVS AM CVn)
21:40:50		Target Completed	Target completed (22/31, GCVS AM CVn)
21:41:22		Target Started (23/31)	Target started (23/31, GCVS U MON)
21:50:24		Target Completed	Target completed (23/31, GCVS U MON)
22:00:31		Target Completed	Target completed (24/31, 61 Cyg)
22:08:20		Target Completed	Target completed (25/31, GCVS SS Cyg)
22:10:38		Target Started (26/31)	Target started (26/31, GCVS S Cyg)
22:12:32		Focusing Started (Foc1)	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:15:38		Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
22:26:03		Target Completed	Target completed (26/31, GCVS S Cyg)
22:32:22		Target Completed	Target completed (27/31, GCVS FU Ori)
22:39:15		Target Completed	Target completed (28/31, 38P/Stephan-Oterma)
22:42:33		Target Started (29/31)	Target started (29/31, GCVS CN Leo)
22:53:29		Target Completed	Target completed (29/31, GCVS CN Leo)
22:54:55		Target Started (30/31)	Target started (30/31, GCVS FO Ori)
22:57:30		Focusing Started (Foc1)	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:00:08		Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
23:05:52		Target Completed	Target completed (30/31, GCVS FO Ori)
23:05:53		Target Started (31/31)	Target started (31/31, GCVS CN Ori)
23:13:30		Target Completed	Target completed (31/31, GCVS CN Ori)
23:13:31		Queue Completed	Job Queue completed
23:13:33		Session Initiating	Session initiating (2019-01-30)
23:13:38		Plan Requested	Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan ()
23:16:09		Plan Loaded	Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-01-30 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 260)
23:16:16		Camera1 Connected	SBIG Camera Connected (set point -30°C)
23:16:18		Telescope Connected	Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
23:19:44		Session Resumed	Live Session Resumed (2019-01-30 S00653, ImageSaveNum: 653281)
23:20:14		Obs.Manager Started	Obs.Manager started
23:20:37		Observatory (Auto)	Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
23:20:40		Session Pending	Session pending (2019-01-30)
23:20:42		Plan Loaded	Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-01-30 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 260)
23:20:54		Camera1 Connected	SBIG Camera Connected (set point -30°C)
23:20:57		Telescope Connected	Telescope Connected (TheSky6)
23:21:02		Equilibration Started	Dome Equilibration started
23:21:03		Queue Started	Observing Queue started (37 targets selected)
23:21:04		Target Started (1/37)	Target started (1/37, GCVS NV Ori)
23:27:59		Target Completed	Target completed (1/37, GCVS NV Ori)
23:41:43		Target Completed	Target completed (2/37, PLN 194+2.1)
23:41:44		Target Started (3/38)	Target started (3/38, NGC 3254 SN2019np)
00:05:48		Target Completed	Target completed (3/38, NGC 3254 SN2019np)
00:05:49		Target Started (5/38)	Target started (5/38, 46P/Wirtanen)
00:13:32		Target Completed	Target partially completed (5/38, 46P/Wirtanen)
00:21:39		Target Completed	Target completed (6/38, GCVS RZ LMi)
00:21:40		Target Started (7/38)	Target started (7/38, GCVS DX Cnc)
00:28:33		Target Completed	Target completed (7/38, GCVS DX Cnc)
00:29:56		Target Started (8/38)	Target started (8/38, 38P/Stephan-Oterma)
00:36:48		Target Completed	Target completed (8/38, 38P/Stephan-Oterma)
00:40:02		Target Started (9/38)	Target started (9/38, GCVS CN Leo)
00:50:46		Target Completed	Target completed (9/38, GCVS CN Leo)
00:52:24		Target Started (10/38)	Target started (10/38, GCVS FO Ori)
00:58:45		Target Completed	Target completed (10/38, GCVS FO Ori)
01:00:32		Target Started (11/38)	Target started (11/38, GCVS RR Tau)
01:10:28		Target Completed	Target completed (11/38, GCVS RR Tau)
01:11:06		Target Started (12/38)	Target started (12/38, GCVS FU Ori)
01:17:24		Target Completed	Target completed (12/38, GCVS FU Ori)
01:18:36		Target Started (13/38)	Target started (13/38, NGC 2628)
01:36:52		Target Completed	Target completed (13/38, NGC 2628)
01:40:28		Target Started (14/38)	Target started (14/38, GCVS SY Cnc)
01:45:35		Target Completed	Target completed (14/38, GCVS SY Cnc)
01:49:37		Target Started (15/38)	Target started (15/38, C/2015 O1 (PANSTARRS))
01:57:51		Target Completed	Target completed (15/38, C/2015 O1 (PANSTARRS))
02:00:00		Session Suspended	Session Suspended
02:01:29		Target Started (16/38)	Target started (16/38, GCVS Z And)
02:09:28		Target Started (17/38)	Target started (17/38, GCVS RX And)
02:16:58		Target Started (18/38)	Target started (18/38, GCVS U And)
02:19:00		Session Resuming	Session Resuming
02:20:00		Session Running	Session Running
02:30:34		Target Started (19/38)	Target started (19/38, GCVS DY Per)
02:39:51		Target Completed	Target completed (19/38, GCVS DY Per)
02:53:32		Target Completed	Target completed (20/38, GCVS S Cyg)
02:54:11		Target Started (21/38)	Target started (21/38, GCVS EV Lac)
03:02:11		Target Started (22/38)	Target started (22/38, GCVS U Her)
03:15:59		Target Completed	Target completed (22/38, GCVS U Her)
03:22:54		Target Started (24/38)	Target started (24/38, GCVS AM CVn)
03:29:20		Target Completed	Target completed (24/38, GCVS AM CVn)
03:31:57		Target Started (25/38)	Target started (25/38, GCVS R CrB)
03:37:11		Target Completed	Target completed (25/38, GCVS R CrB)
03:39:48		Target Started (26/38)	Target started (26/38, NGC 6181)
03:56:02		Critical Conditions Alert	Critical Conditions Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter
03:56:08		Target Aborted (26/38)	Target aborted (26/38, NGC 6181) due to cloud
03:56:13		Session Suspended	Session suspended
03:57:02		Shutter Closed	Shutter closed (closing time 49s)
03:58:17		Session Resuming	Session resuming
03:59:02		Shutter Opened	Shutter opened (opening time 45s)
04:01:40		Target Started (27/38)	Target started (27/38, GCVS SS Her)
04:08:09		Target Completed	Target completed (27/38, GCVS SS Her)
04:09:46		Target Started (28/38)	Target started (28/38, GCVS ER UMa)
04:18:11		Target Completed	Target completed (28/38, GCVS ER UMa)
04:19:34		Target Started (29/38)	Target started (29/38, GCVS SS Cyg)
04:27:20		Target Completed	Target completed (29/38, GCVS SS Cyg)
04:33:56		Target Started (30/38)	Target started (30/38, GCVS HH And)
04:41:21		Target Started (31/38)	Target started (31/38, WDS GRB 34)
04:46:06		Target Completed	Target completed (31/38, WDS GRB 34)
04:48:46		Target Started (32/38)	Target started (32/38, GCVS GK Per)
04:56:37		Target Started (33/38)	Target started (33/38, GCVS BL Lac)
05:03:04		Target Completed	Target completed (33/38, GCVS BL Lac)
05:06:25		Target Started (34/38)	Target started (34/38, 61 Cyg)
05:10:10		Target Completed	Target completed (34/38, 61 Cyg)
05:13:29		Target Started (35/38)	Target started (35/38, GCVS AM Her)
05:21:25		Target Completed	Target completed (35/38, GCVS AM Her)
05:23:40		Target Started (36/38)	Target started (36/38, GCVS CI Cyg)
05:29:42		Target Completed	Target completed (36/38, GCVS CI Cyg)
05:31:33		Target Started (37/38)	Target started (37/38, GCVS FG Sge)
05:38:54		Target Started (38/38)	Target started (38/38, GCVS V Sge)
05:38:56		Queue Completed	Job Queue completed
05:39:51		Shutter Closed	Shutter closed (closing time 49s)
05:42:16		Session Finished	Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-01-30, S653)

Critical Issues (0)
Major Issues (3)
Minor Issues (8)
Continuous Improvement (11)

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Critical Issues

None

Major Issues

AstroMain program not responding. Program froze after Obs Session had moved itself onto the 2nd Observing Plan (V2). Seemed to occur when click back onto the half hidden main window. Freeze events only occur when the program window is 'reactivated' by the user. There are no freeze events when program is running by itself. However the program can be reactivated /repainted time and again without issue and then an event suddenly occurs. Fixed in AstroMain 3.38 following major re-factoring to provide greater isolation of the UI Thread from the business code. Deemed fixed by tests during the final part of session S867 (2021-03-05).
Resolved 2021-03-06 (AstroMain 3.38)
Targets failing because their airmass values are greater than the airmass limit setting. Targets mainly GCVS variable stars failed because AstroMain uses a tight 3.3 airmass limit for variable stars whilst many variables stars where assigned C3 or P3 sky constraints which had an airmass limit of 5.0. The Issue means that the expected data is not collected and the time slot is wasted
Fixed 2019-02-02 (Airmass Constraints adjusted in Target Database using AstroPlan)
Need to get AutoFocusing working for the Foc2 system. Manual focusing of Focuser2 using Camera2 is difficult.
Closed. Foc2 Focusing is now implemented May 2020 (AstroMain/AstroShCap)

Minor Issues

Shift the Position of Predicted Best Focus to left hand side of Fast Focus Graph Plots. Closed as fast focus profiling has been been cancelled.
Closed (2020)
Review results of FastFocus Trials. Plot Focus Offset vs Temp, vs Time, vs Altiitude. Closed as fast focus profiling has been been cancelled.
Closed (2020)
Issue with autoguiding of 46P Wirtanen. Guide Star drifted 5 arc secs to S through the observations . Did this happen because PHD2 happened to select the comet as the guide star. New feature added in Oct 2020 creates a picture for each guiding run showing the object being used as guide star. This could be used to understand any future issues similar to this one
Closed 2020-10-26 (AstroMain 3.31.2)
Issue performing FastFocus on a star that is too dim. Look into testing the Brightest Pixel level and aborting if star is not brighter than some threshold (say 1000 ADU)
Fixed 2019-02-02 (AstroMain 3.8.6)
Dome Position Discrepany of 5.2° showed for DY Per. Discrepancy is larger than normal but still feasible dependant on the direction and altitude that telescope is pointing.
Fixed 2019-02-10 (AstroMain 3.9.1, Green: DeltaAzim <6 deg, Yellow: DeltaAzim < 10 deg, Red: Delta Azim >=10deg)
>> Consider implementing Slaved Dome Coordinate Calculations independantly and use these for flagging any discrepancis in Dome Slew Position
Focusing Status need to be sent to CurrentFrame field instead of CurrentObject field. When used in a live session the 'Target Name (2/33)' is lost and the final focus position is carried foward for the remainder of the target
Fixed 2019-01-31 (AstroMain 3.8.5)
U Mon frames (B Filter) not linking. Currently 8s exposure (2x2 binning)
Fixed 2019-01-31 (Exposures lengthened AstroDatabase 3 > 4s (R), 5 > 8s (V), 8s > 45s (B) )
Issue with BL Lac Guiding (low in NW sky)
Ongoing issue for targets lying west of the Meridian .

Continuous Improvement

Remove >> Logs button and Test buttons from Manager tab
Done 2019-01-31 (AstroMain 3.8.5)
Shorten 'Move From Observatory' Section Title . Change title from 'Transfer Selected Files from Observatory2019-01-30' to
'Transfer Files from Observatory 2019-01-30'
Done 2019-01-31 (AstroMove 1.2.5)
Add extra header to Focus Data output after Moving Focuser to NearFocus Position
Done 2019-01-31 (AstroMain 3.8.5)
Don't Start Dark Set if Camera Power > 95%. Abort Dark Set if Camera Power is >100%
Done 2019-01-31 (AstroMain 3.8.5)
Add Target Name as an information label on Obs.Manager tab
Done 2019-01-31 AstroMain 3.8.5)
Add Quick Launch to FITS_Summary.xls
Done 2019-01-31 (AstroLaunch 1.2.5)
Rationalise Graph plots (AstroWeather). eg add Env Temp as overlay to Obs Temp Graph
Done 2019-01-31 (AstroWeather 1.5.2)
Add Dome Volts & Amps to Weather/Environmental Graphs
Done 2019-02-02 (AstroWeather 1.5.2)
Look into having a Tab dedicated to Last Target/Current Target for reviewing status/ quality of operations. Implemented using a Target Info charts uploaded to Current Session WebPage instead of a implementing as a Tab in AstroMain
Done 2020 (AstroMain/WebSite)
Build a new alternate Schedule Plan Builder in AstroPlan that cycles around a set of user selected targets. This is for looping around a sequence of stars that might be eclipsing or ungoing reasonable rapid variation f
Done 2019-02-09 (AstroPlan 1.7)
AstroMain's main window Icon disappears whilst program is running on User Computer (Laptop 10/Windows 10). Whilst placeholder is still present and can be clicked to raise the Window it can be difficult to spot the program on a busy task bar. Closed in 2023, this is no longer an issue, current development computer is Windows 11 where the issue doesn't occur.
Closed (Development Computer}

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Autofocussing / HFD Profiles

Focus Profiles from Session, including new HFD measurements

Profile 1: Re-focusing prior to Target 10 (GCVS Z And)

Profile 2: Re-focusing prior to Target 22 (NGC 2585, Set 2)

Profile 3: Re-focusing prior to Target 33 (GCVS SY Cnc)
My Standard autofocus method has been thrown off by two anomalous
FWHM points at either end of range. HFD method performs ok.

Profile 4: Focusing Test
Focusing Test on planned Focus Star (GSC 1310:2696)
for Crab Pulsar Project. The focus star is a double star
and cause problems for autofocusing

Issues

Where there is insufficient data to produce a good quality inner or outer line, then line should either not be drawn or the default gradient line (if
gradient is available) should be drawn as a dashed line through the largest HFD point (usually the first or last point as appropriate)
>> Extend code for drawing of inner and outer limit lines
Gradient of Inner and Outer Focus Lines (HFD) to be annotated on diagram
>> Extend code for drawing of inner and outer focus line gradients

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Dark Frames, -30°C

22 dark frame sets were acquired at the end of the session

CCD Temp.	Binning	Exposures		No. of Frames per set
-30°C	2x2	0.12s, 0.2s, 0.3s, 0.5s, 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 8s 10s,15s		15 frames
-30°C	2x2	20s, 30s, 45s, 60s, 90s, 120s, 180s		17 frames
-30°C	1x1	45s, 60s, 90s		17 frames

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This Web Page:	Notes - Session 653 (2019-01-30)
Last Updated :	2023-11-26
Site Owner :	David Richards
Home Page :	David's Astronomy Web Site