David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session Attempt 672 (2019-03-08)

Notes (S671)

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Notes (S672)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	No Images from 2019-03-08  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-03-08)

Main aims

1. Mixed Targets - Image selection of targets including Variable Stars, Comets and Deep Sky Targets
2. Software & Systems  - Check stability of software and presence of any side effects following ongoing enhancements to AstroMain and associated support programs.

 
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 3.9.6  AstroPlan 1.8.1, AstroGuard 1.2.2

Highlights

• None

Lowlights

• Poor Seeing & Windy (fast jet-stream over UK at moment)
• Issues with AstroGuard closing

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

None

Observing Result

None

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

Session Event Log

Time   Event Detail 21:05 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-03-08, ImageSaveNum: xxx001) 21:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:07 Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 21:07 Services Started Observatory Services started 21:08   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:09 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:10 Session Pending Session pending (2019-03-08) 21:10 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-03-08) 21:10   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan () 21:13   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-03-08 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 302) 21:13   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:13   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:14 Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 21:14 Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:18 Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total) 21:18 Session Running Session running 21:18   Queue Started Observing Queue started (17 targets selected) 21:18     Target Started (1/17) Target started (1/17, GCVS Z And) 21:25     Target Completed Target completed (1/17, GCVS Z And) 21:25     Target Started (2/17) Target started (2/17, GCVS RX And) 21:28   Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:30   Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:33     Target Completed Target completed (2/17, GCVS RX And) 21:33     Target Started (3/17) Target started (3/17, GCVS U And) 21:36   Focusing Started (Foc1) Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:39   Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:47     Target Completed Target partially completed (3/17, GCVS U And) 21:47     Target Started (4/17) Target started (4/17, GSC 1224:29) 21:49 Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 1,773s) 21:59 Program Closed Program closed by User 22:03 Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 22:05 Program Closed Program closed by User

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Operational Issues (2019-03-08, S672A)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• AstroGuard closed Dome Shutter when it wasn't appropriate to do so. After starting services in AstroGuard, the guard manager produced the message that ScoreCard has been silent for 5.5 hours and proceeded to close the Shutter even though skies were completly clear and Obs.Manager was running,  but at this point was still showing as' Stopped' in AstroGuard.  Although AstroGuard quickly recognised that ScoreCard data had 'resumed'  (recognised within 1 minute), the shutter was already closing by this point.  The shutter was opened by user via POTH.Hub's Open Dome button.
    Fixed 2019-03-11 (AstroAllSky  3.3.10, guard manager modified to allow a 2 minutes grace at start-up to allow everything to be connected & refreshing ok)
   
• AstroGuard shutdown the Observatory (closed shutter, parked dome, parked scope)  when it wasn't appropriate to do so. At around 21:47 AstroGuard picked up a ScoreCard message that the shorterm (next 15 min) Rain Forecast had become critical and proceeded to not only Close Shutter, but also Park Dome and Park Telescope.    This was caused a problem for TheSky6, AstroMain and PHD2 which suddenly found that the telescope was not longer responding (having been parked).    Whilst the Radar data (DarkSky.Net) had picked up a Rain at 16 miles to the north and had forecast rain of 0.5mm/hr with up to 73% probability , the skies at the observatory were completely clear and remained clear (the rain didn't materialise).   AstroMain didn't respond to the same Rain Forecast information, as it uses slightly more data to make its judgement.  There was heavy rain at the Observatory around 2 hours before the session was started, showing that risk of rain is an ongoing hazard for unattended operation of the observatory. Three levels of safeguards still exist to close shutter if clouds begin to build or rain actually begins to fall. Fixed in AstroAllSky 3.3.10. A separate Continuous Improvement ticktes has been raised to Review AstroGuard code & logic that led it to Park Dome/Park Telescope, as this was done with no warning.
    Fixed 2019-03-11 (AstroAllSky  3.3.10 modified Critical RainForecast to require Clarity to be < 30)

Minor issues

• PHD2 produced the message that it can't connect to the Mount. This seems to have been a start-up glitch that was resolved by restarting PHD2
  Consider always starting session with a complete refresh/restart of all observatory programs
   
• TheSky produced the message ' The Scope is asleep' . This was a message that hadn't been seen before and there was some confusion as to why the LX200 couldn't be connected to. A visit to the Observatory showed that the Scope had been parked (this was commanded by AstroGuard)..
  Closed.  Issue is unstandable, but left here for future awareness.

Continuous Improvement

• Review AstroGuard code & logic that led it to Park Dome/Park Telescope. Review AstroGuard code & logic that led it to Park Dome/Park Telescope, as this was done with no warning.
  To do (AstroGuard)

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ScoreCard at  21:47 (2019-03-08) Scorecards shows 'Critical Rain Forecast' and associated 'Must Close' notice that AstroGuard program responded to.

AstroGuard  Log (2019-03-08)

Start Observatory Services              2019-03-08 21:19 (Local)   POTH.Dome (COM9):            Ok        Started (POTH->Pulsar Observatories Dome)   Scorecard                    Ok        Started   POTH.Telescope               Ok        Started (Connected to POTH->LX200GPS/R)   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:19 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Alert     Cloud conditions are critical   Dome Safety                  Alert     Rain conditions are critical   Telescope Safety             Alert     Light conditions are critical   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:19 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Alert     Conditions are critical   Dome Safety                  Action    Shutter will be checked (and closed if necessary)   ScoreCard                    Alert     2019-03-08 21:19 (Local)   ScoreCard                    Critical  ScoreCard has been silent for 5.5 hours   Observatory Check            Action    Observatory will be checked and made safe.   Shutter                      Action    Closing Shutter   Dome Safety                  Ok        2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter Can Open   ScoreCard                    Info      2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)   ScoreCard                    Ok        ScoreCard data has resumed at 21:20   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Info      Dome is opening   Dome Safety                  Warning   Shutter taken >62s to close   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Info      Dome is opening   Dome Safety                  Ok        2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter Can Open   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter is opening   Dome Safety                  Warning   Shutter taken >67s to close   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Info      Dome is opening   Dome Safety                  Ok        2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)  <   Multiple messages not shown   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter Can Open          <   Multiple messages not shown   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter is opening        <   Multiple messages not shown   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:20 (Local)  <   Multiple messages not shown   Dome Safety                  Info      Dome is opening           <   Multiple messages not shown   Dome Safety                  Ok        2019-03-08 21:21 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter Can Open   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter is opening   Dome Safety                  Alert     Rain Forecast is critical   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:47 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Alert     Conditions are critical   Dome Safety                  Action    Shutter will be checked (and closed if necessary)   Dome Safety                  Action    Closing Shutter   Dome Safety                  Ok        Shutter has closed (52s)   Dome                         Action    Parking Dome              < Parking Dome & Telescope seems inappropriate   Telescope                    Action    Parking Telescope   Telescope Safety             Ok        Telescope has been parked (7s)   Dome                         Ok        Dome has been parked (85s)   Dome Safety                  Alert     2019-03-08 21:53 (Local)   Dome Safety                  Alert     Rain Forecast is critical

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