David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 707 (2019-10-07)

Notes (S706)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S708)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (6)
	Images from 2019-10-07  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-10-07)

Main aims

1. Targets . Acquire images of selection of comets, nearby stars, variables and deep sky targets.
2. RainTrim.   Evalulate observatory under 'RainTrim' operation control, including new AstroMain and AstroAllSky software versions designed for 'RainTrim' operations.  ('RainTrim' is a collective term for the measures to temporarily adjust the warning & critical rain thresholds associated with Rain Sensor in situations where it has temporarily developed an elevated baseline readings due to recent rain (that is summarised to have entered the 'CloudSensor' box)
3. Check Bug Fixes & New Features: Confirm that recent bug fixes and addition of new features have worked
4. Software & Systems  - Check ongoing stability of observatory software, drivers and equipment

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 3.14 / 3.14.1  Astroguard 1.2.7,   AstroPlan 1.12.5,  AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.7.9, AstroAllSky 3.5)

Highlights

• RainTrim. First time to use observatory in 'RainTrim' operational mode.  
  This is were 'RainTrim' settings in AstroAllSky (3.5+)   and AstroMain (3.14+) were used to adjust the warning and critical rain thresholds to allow the observatory to open in a situation where rain sensor'sbaseline readings are temporaily elevated due to an occasional occuring sideeffect from recent heavy rain. Without them the observatory software would either refuse to open the shutter (preventing an otherwise good observing session) or the observatory would have to be operated without nornal safeguards (which is totally unsafe for automated operations). At the same time the thresholds on the CloudSensor head had to be raised by equivalent amounts to prevent the observatory relay protection from kicking in.
   
• Livefeed.  Livefeed of image frames to website is now working correctly (AdvMain 3.14.1)
   
• Rogue Jogs.   First time live application of 'rogue jog' remediation .  On Target 23/25 (U Gem) the first centering jog was due to move east by 9.3'  but the telescope actually moved east by 45.2' . A corrective jog of 36.0deg West was applied and brought the scope to an acceptable position 0.3' from target.
  Rogue Jogs occur in 1 in 170 centering jog operations and typically  lead to telescope pointing some 30 arc min further away from target , rather than pointing to <1 arc min from target. New code automatically detects a jog discrepency when it has occured and commands a corrective jog without wasting a locate frame or in worse case completly missing the target with the main image frames

Lowlights

• None

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Slew/Centering Performance

Dome Slewing 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)

Pre-Session Weather Forecast (AstroWeather 1.7.8) Forecast showed patchy cloud up to 00:00 and then cloud thickeneing until total cloud cover at 04:00 In the event therre was a moderately clear interval between 23:00 and 00:45. Operations suspended at 23:42 and remained that way until the morning

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 22:51:51 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-10-07 S00707, ImageSaveNum: 707001) 22:54:19   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 22:54:21   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 22:54:26   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:55:00 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:55:05 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-07) 22:55:07 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-07) 22:55:09   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.5) 22:55:51   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-07 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 382) 22:56:04   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 22:56:06   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:56:18 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 22:56:20 Wait on Weather Waiting for acceptable weather conditions 23:01:19 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:01:21   Queue Started Observing Queue started (35 targets selected) 23:05:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/35, GCVS Z And) due to rain 23:12:24 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:13:10   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 23:13:13 Session Running Session running 23:13:15   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:13:17     Target Started (2/35) Target started (2/35, GCVS HH And) 23:16:53     Target Completed Target completed (2/35, GCVS HH And) 23:16:55     Target Started (3/35) Target started (3/35, 61 Cyg) 23:20:15 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 23:20:17   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 23:20:19     Target Aborted (3/35) Target aborted (3/35, 61 Cyg) due to threat of rain 23:20:21   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 23:20:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:21:05   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 44s) 23:21:07     Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (49s) 23:28:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/35, GCVS CI Cyg) due to rain 23:42:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/35, GCVS SS Cyg) due to rain 23:50:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/35, WDS GRB 34) due to rain 23:52:00 User Interventation User interventation to stop program and install new bug-fix version 23:52:04   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:52:35   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:52:37   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:52:39   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:53:02   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:53:08   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:53:18 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:58:42 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-10-07 S00707, ImageSaveNum: 707012) 23:59:14   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:59:16   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:59:21   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:00:01 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:00:05 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-07) 00:00:07 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-07) 00:00:09   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-07 V1 ACTIVE PLAN S707, Plan ID: 382) 00:00:11   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 00:00:14   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:00:24 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:01:09   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 00:01:12   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 00:05:10   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total) 00:05:12 Session Running Session running 00:05:14   Queue Started Observing Queue started (28 targets selected) 00:05:16     Target Started (8/35) Target started (8/35, GCVS BL Lac) 00:07:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:08:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:13:09     Target Completed Target completed (8/35, GCVS BL Lac) 00:13:11     Target Started (9/35) Target started (9/35, C/2018 W2 (Africano)) 00:17:58       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 00:26:49     Target Completed Target completed (9/35, C/2018 W2 (Africano)) 00:26:52     Target Started (10/35) Target started (10/35, GCVS CY AQR) 00:29:51       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:39:20     Target Completed Target completed (10/35, GCVS CY AQR) 00:39:23     Target Started (11/35) Target started (11/35, GCVS RX And) 00:41:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:43:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:46:22     Target Completed Target completed (11/35, GCVS RX And) 00:46:24     Target Started (12/35) Target started (12/35, GCVS TV Cas) 00:48:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:49:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:52:05     Target Completed Target completed (12/35, GCVS TV Cas) 00:53:20     Target Started (13/35) Target started (13/35, GCVS S Cyg) 00:56:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:58:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:09:05     Target Completed Target completed (13/35, GCVS S Cyg) 01:09:07     Target Started (14/35) Target started (14/35, GCVS WZ Sge) 01:12:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:14:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:20:04     Target Completed Target completed (14/35, GCVS WZ Sge) 01:20:06     Target Started (15/35) Target started (15/35, GCVS U And) 01:22:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:24:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:35:03     Target Completed Target completed (15/35, GCVS U And) 01:35:05     Target Started (16/35) Target started (16/35, GCVS TT Ari) 01:37:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:40:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:47:11     Target Completed Target completed (16/35, GCVS TT Ari) 01:47:13     Target Started (17/35) Target started (17/35, GCVS DY Per) 01:48:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:50:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:55:45     Target Completed Target completed (17/35, GCVS DY Per) 01:55:47     Target Started (18/35) Target started (18/35, GSC 1224:29) 01:58:31       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:03:21     Target Completed Target completed (18/35, GSC 1224:29) 02:03:23     Target Started (19/35) Target started (19/35, GCVS GK Per) 02:05:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:07:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:10:15     Target Completed Target completed (19/35, GCVS GK Per) 02:11:00     Target Started (20/35) Target started (20/35, UGC 2614) 02:12:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:14:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:31:03     Target Completed Target completed (20/35, UGC 2614) 02:32:52     Target Started (21/35) Target started (21/35, C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto)) 02:36:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:38:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:48:25     Target Completed Target completed (21/35, C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto)) 02:48:27     Target Started (22/35) Target started (22/35, GCVS CM Tau) 02:51:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:53:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 03:07:58     Target Completed Target completed (22/35, GCVS CM Tau) 03:08:00     Target Started (23/35) Target started (23/35, GCVS U Gem) 03:11:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:13:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 03:16:51     Target Completed Target completed (23/35, GCVS U Gem) 03:16:53     Target Started (24/35) Target started (24/35, GCVS YZ Cnc) 03:19:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:21:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 03:28:24     Target Completed Target completed (24/35, GCVS YZ Cnc) 03:28:26     Target Started (25/35) Target started (25/35, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 03:30:42       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:39:01     Target Completed Target completed (25/35, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 03:41:16     Target Started (26/35) Target started (26/35, GCVS RR Tau) 03:43:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:44:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:51:30     Target Completed Target completed (26/35, GCVS RR Tau) 03:51:50     Target Started (27/35) Target started (27/35, IC 2098) 03:54:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:56:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 04:12:49     Target Completed Target completed (27/35, IC 2098) 04:13:42     Target Started (28/35) Target started (28/35, IC 2207) 04:16:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:18:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 04:34:44     Target Completed Target completed (28/35, IC 2207) 04:35:34     Target Started (29/35) Target started (29/35, LAMOST-HVS1) 04:38:18       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:41:50     Target Completed Target completed (29/35, LAMOST-HVS1) 04:44:30     Target Started (30/35) Target started (30/35, GCVS RR Leo) 04:48:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:50:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:56:13     Target Completed Target completed (30/35, GCVS RR Leo) 04:56:15     Target Started (31/35) Target started (31/35, IC 2461) 04:58:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:00:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 05:16:38     Target Completed Target completed (31/35, IC 2461) 05:17:03     Target Started (32/35) Target started (32/35, NGC 3068) 05:18:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:21:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 05:37:22     Target Completed Target completed (32/35, NGC 3068) 05:38:55     Target Started (33/35) Target started (33/35, GCVS FO Ori) 05:40:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:42:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 05:46:51     Target Completed Target completed (33/35, GCVS FO Ori) 05:47:03     Target Started (34/35) Target started (34/35, GCVS NV Ori) 05:49:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:51:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 05:54:41     Target Completed Target completed (34/35, GCVS NV Ori) 05:54:43     Target Started (35/35) Target started (35/35, Scholz's Star) 05:57:25       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:12:49     Target Completed Target completed (35/35, Scholz's Star) 06:12:52   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:12:53 Session Closing Session closing 06:13:43   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 45s) 06:14:18   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 34s) 06:14:49   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 32s) 06:15:40 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:15:59 Session Finished Session Finished

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2019-10-07, S707)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
  
• Continuous Improvement (6)

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Latest image frames are not always being displayed in appropriate sequence on 'session_current.htm' page.
  This was a problem seen during the last session (S606).  Diagnosing the problem during the session established that problem arose in situations where short (<10s) exposure frames were intentionally not sent for upload to website, but due to a design flaw  the iImageFrame counter was still  incremented, leading to the mismatches seen. A bug fixed version of the software (V3.14.1) was uploaded to the Observatory Computer and successfully used for the remainder of the session
  Fixed 2019-10-07 (AstroMain 3.14.1).
   
• Slight issue with output of report messages concerning Corrective Jogs (rogue jog remediation)
  There was a missing AppendComment statement that lead to a rather disjointed output of messages
  Fixed 2019-10-08 (AstroMain 3.14.2).
   
• Problems with recording the correct full name of Schloz's Star in FITs header
  - FITs Header has "Scholz's"  for OBJECT instead of  Schloz's Star . It is assumed that the problem is caused by the apostrophe.  Is this a problem of AstroMain or CCDSoft. If the later is their a workaround. Testing the routine for saving object name in FITS header as OBJECT shows that the problem is not with CCDSoft, but must occur at an earlier point in the process.   Problem caused by the apostrophe when saving name to FITS file.
  Two new functions are added to the AstroMain program  "TrimAndFix()" is used when writing to  Image.FitsKeyword("OBJECT"), whilst "TrimAndUnFix()" is used when reading from the FITs Keyword.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.17.5)
  

Continuous Improvement

• Have the autoguiding manager send 'get_lock_position' requests to PHD2  when using Star Lock Shifting.  This will be needed for monitoring the proximity of the guide star to the edge of FOV whilst following a comet's motion.
  Done 2019-10-08 (AstroMain 3.14.2).
   
• Try out PHD2 request get_sensor_temperature, just in case the ZWO ASI camera has a hidden temperaure sensor that can be utilised.
  Done 2019-10-11.  It doesn't work - PHD2 gives the server error message "method not found"
   
• Widen the width of Master Frame File Names on AstroMain's Reduction tab
  Done 2019-10-08 (AstroMain 3.14.2).
   
• Add 'No. of Rogue Jogs' counter to bottom right corner of Centering Chart
  Done 2019-10-11 (AstroMain 3.14.3).
   
• Create a session data file containing counters etc, that can be called up in the event that AstroMain program has to be restarted (due to user intervention or crash). Data would be nOpenShutterRequests, nCompletedShutterClosures,  RogueJogs etc
  Done 2019-10-08 (AstroMain 3.14.2).
   
• Autostart Observatory session with  PowerBox running.
  An attempt to Autostart Session with Obs.Manager running was also tried but didn't work
  Done 2019-10-11 (AstroMain 3.14.3).

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top