David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 667 (2019-02-23)

Notes (S666)

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Notes (S668)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (0),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2019-02-23  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-02-23)

Main aims

1. Variable Stars Project - Continue acquire  light curve data from selected  variables over the course of a few hours with aim of detecting variation associated with eclipsing binary stars , RR Lyr stars and dwarf novae
2. Software & Systems  - Check stability of software and presence of any side effects following changes to AstroMain/AstroPlan to avoid slewing beyond 340/342°.

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 3.9.4,  AstroPlan 1.8.1

Highlights

• Azmiuth Checking shown to be now working corrrectly, by stopping a slew to target 6 (GCVS TV Cas) at 358.8°.

Lowlights

• Poor sky conditions

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan (2019-02-23, S667)

Observing Result (2019-02-23, S667)

Night Sky Summary Plot - 2019-02-23, S667 Top axis: Sky Brightness at Zenith (in ADU/s) Lefthand axis: Local Time (hh LT). Righthand axis: Sun Altitude (degs)

Session Event Log (2019-02-23, S667)

Time   Event Detail 21:22 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-02-23 S00667, ImageSaveNum: 667001) 21:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:24 Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 21:24 Services Started Observatory Services started 21:25   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:26 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:26 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-23) 21:26 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-23) 21:26   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan () 21:30   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-23 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 290) 21:30   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:30   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:31 Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 21:31 Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:35 Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total) 21:35 Session Running Session running 21:35   Queue Started Observing Queue started (33 targets selected) 21:35     Target Started (1/33) Target started (1/33, GCVS RR Tau) 21:44     Target Completed Target completed (1/33, GCVS RR Tau) 21:44     Target Started (2/33) Target started (2/33, GCVS U Mon) 21:52     Target Completed Target completed (2/33, GCVS U Mon) 21:52     Target Started (3/33) Target started (3/33, NGC 3684) 22:11     Target Completed Target completed (3/33, NGC 3684) 22:11     Target Started (4/33) Target started (4/33, GCVS CN Leo) 22:22     Target Completed Target completed (4/33, GCVS CN Leo) 22:24     Target Started (5/33) Target started (5/33, IC 1222) 22:27   Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:43     Target Completed Target completed (5/33, IC 1222) 22:46     Target Started (6/33) Target started (6/33, GCVS GK Per) 22:49   Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:52   Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:55     Target Completed Target completed (6/33, GCVS GK Per) 22:55     Target Started (7/33) Target started (7/33, C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto)) 23:02     Target Completed Target completed (7/33, C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto)) 23:04     Target Started (8/33) Target started (8/33, GCVS U Gem) 23:08     Target Completed Target completed (8/33, GCVS U Gem) 23:13     Target Started (9/33) Target started (9/33, GCVS SU Tau) 23:20     Target Completed Target completed (9/33, GCVS SU Tau) 23:22     Target Started (10/33) Target started (10/33, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:24   Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:28     Target Completed Target completed (10/33, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:32     Target Started (11/33) Target started (11/33, GCVS SY Cnc) 23:37     Target Completed Target completed (11/33, GCVS SY Cnc) 23:41     Target Started (12/33) Target started (12/33, LAMOST-HVS1) 23:46     Target Completed Target completed (12/33, LAMOST-HVS1) 23:50     Target Started (13/33) Target started (13/33, 46P/Wirtanen) 00:06     Target Completed Target completed (13/33, 46P/Wirtanen) 00:08     Target Started (14/33) Target started (14/33, GCVS AM Her) 00:17     Target Completed Target completed (14/33, GCVS AM Her) 00:18     Target Started (15/33) Target started (15/33, Kepler-447) 00:19 Job Executor Froze Job Executor frooze during middle of centering jog 01:24 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 01:25 Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 01:27 Program Closed Program closed by User 01:28 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-02-23 S00667, ImageSaveNum: 667166) 01:29 Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 01:29 Services Started Observatory Services started 01:29   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 01:36 Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 34s) 01:39 Services Started Observatory Services started 01:39   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 01:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 01:41 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 01:41 Session Pending Session pending (2019-02-23) 01:41 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-02-23) 01:41   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan () 01:43   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-02-23 V2 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 291) 01:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 01:43   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 01:43 Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 01:47 Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.3 mins total) 01:47 Session Running Session running 01:47   Queue Started Observing Queue started (24 targets selected) 01:47     Target Started (1/24) Target started (1/24, 46P/Wirtanen) 02:07     Target Completed Target completed (1/24, 46P/Wirtanen) 02:07     Target Started (2/24) Target started (2/24, GCVS AM CVn) 02:13     Target Completed Target completed (2/24, GCVS AM CVn) 02:13     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, GCVS R CrB) 02:18     Target Completed Target completed (3/24, GCVS R CrB) 02:19     Target Started (4/24) Target started (4/24, GCVS AM Her) 02:27     Target Completed Target completed (4/24, GCVS AM Her) 02:29     Target Started (5/24) Target started (5/24, LAMOST-HVS1) 02:36     Target Completed Target completed (5/24, LAMOST-HVS1) 02:38     Target Started (6/24) Target started (6/24, GCVS SY Cnc) 02:47     Target Started (7/24) Target started (7/24, GCVS CN Leo) 02:57     Target Completed Target completed (7/24, GCVS CN Leo) 03:00     Target Started (8/24) Target started (8/24, TrES-2) 03:03   Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:09     Target Completed Target completed (8/24, TrES-2) 03:11     Target Started (9/24) Target started (9/24, HAT-P-36) 03:21     Target Completed Target completed (9/24, HAT-P-36) 03:22     Target Started (10/24) Target started (10/24, HAT-P-18) 03:31     Target Completed Target completed (10/24, HAT-P-18) 03:33     Target Started (11/24) Target started (11/24, WASP-135) 03:43     Target Completed Target completed (11/24, WASP-135) 03:47     Target Started (12/24) Target started (12/24, GCVS S Cyg) 03:59     Target Completed Target completed (12/24, GCVS S Cyg) 04:01     Target Started (13/24) Target started (13/24, Kepler-447) 04:09     Target Completed Target completed (13/24, Kepler-447) 04:12     Target Started (14/24) Target started (14/24, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:18     Target Completed Target completed (14/24, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:26     Target Started (15/24) Target started (15/24, GCVS U Her) 04:40     Target Completed Target completed (15/24, GCVS U Her) 04:40     Target Started (16/24) Target started (16/24, TrES-3) 04:49     Target Completed Target completed (16/24, TrES-3) 04:49     Target Started (17/24) Target started (17/24, GCVS CI Cyg) 04:55     Target Completed Target completed (17/24, GCVS CI Cyg) 04:56     Target Started (18/24) Target started (18/24, GCVS FG Sge) 05:01     Target Completed Target completed (18/24, GCVS FG Sge) 05:03     Target Started (19/24) Target started (19/24, 61 Cyg) 05:06     Target Completed Target completed (19/24, 61 Cyg) 05:10     Target Started (20/24) Target started (20/24, GCVS EV Lac) 05:15     Target Completed Target completed (20/24, GCVS EV Lac) 05:18     Target Started (21/24) Target started (21/24, GCVS Z And) 05:24     Target Completed Target completed (21/24, GCVS Z And) 05:26     Target Started (22/24) Target started (22/24, GCVS HH And) 05:31     Target Completed Target completed (22/24, GCVS HH And) 05:34     Target Started (23/24) Target started (23/24, GCVS SS Her) 05:40     Target Completed Target completed (23/24, GCVS SS Her) 05:42     Target Started (24/24) Target started (24/24, HIP 87937) 05:47     Target Completed Target completed (24/24, HIP 87937) 05:47 Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:47 Session Closing Session closing 05:48 Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 05:48 Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 27s) 05:49 Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 35s) 05:51 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-02-23, S667)

• Critical Issues (0)
  
• Major Issues (2)
  
• Minor issues (0)
• Continuous Improvement (1)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Job Executor stopped executing during a telescope jog at 00:19:55.    Job Executor with Target Centering (which had been working fine in previous session and was working ok for the first 14 targets in the current session)  suddenly  stopped whilst performing the jog operations after the first locate image for target 15 (Kepler 447). (see Fig 1) A 6.54' E Jog was completed ok, but routine froze when making 3.96' N Jog.  Problem was not noticed until 01:25 as the job queue had not moved to the following targets.  Obs.Manager and AstroMain User Interface both seemed to be working ok and allowed the program to be exited using Close button without terminating/killing the process.  It would seem that the program was waiting for the Telescope.Jog operation to return.  This is the first time this problem has been seen. Whilst Stopping the Observatory Services there was a failure associated with POTH.telescope service :
     POTH.Telescope:        Failed            Exception in JogQSO: No connection. Error code = 200 (0xc8).  (see Fig 2)
  Issue was monitored for future reoccurance through 2019 and action taken to add some form of 'Imalive monitoring' of the job executor so that the Obs.Manger can possibly spot a problem and see if some remedial operation can fix and gracefully stop and restart the session.  Issue closed on 2021-01-04 following a review that showed that the AstroMain was essentially stable (following a series of improvements and fixes), with an absence of any unexplained program hangs or crashes during the 35 sessions between 2020-09-18 & 2021-01-03.
  Closed 2021-01-04 (AstroMain 3.33)
    
• Using objScope.AbortSlew and objDome.AbortSlew to stop a slew in progress produced an unwelcome side-effect
  A test to simulate a new fast-react abort successfully stopped a Dome+Scope slew that was in progress, but left the Dome and Scope out of sync, whereby if there was say 124 deg difference in azmiuth after the the Dome/Scope aborted, then if the scope was then moved, the dome would move, but retain the 124  deg difference in azimuth.(see Fig 3).  It would seem to be an issue with POTH.Hub.  Turning Dome Slaving Off/On didn't fix the problem.   Problem was fixed by stopping and restarting POTH.
  
  Something similarly was noticed at the end of the previous session when TheSky connection was stopped/restart during a protective slew to bring the scope back from beyond the Az.Limit (242/250 deg).   Code modified 2019-02-28 (AstroMain 3.9.6) so that Dome.Slaving is turned off before aborting telescope and dome slews. 
    (Use of POTH.Hub dropped in 2020 following move to DeviceHub.)
    Closed 2019/2020.

Minor issues

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Add Ambient Temperature text box to AstroMain / Observatory Tab, placed next to CCD Temp Selection
  Added read-only field to show ambient temperature (AstroMain 3.10.1)

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