David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 708 (2019-10-11)

Notes (S707)

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Notes (S709)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (4),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2019-10-11  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-10-11)

Main aims

1. Targets . Acquire images of selection of comets, nearby stars, variables and deep sky targets.
2. Focusing.   Move Primary Mirror Focus to a new position near middle of TCF-S focuser range.
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  Astroguard 1.2.7,   AstroPlan 1.12.7,  AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.7.9, AstroAllSky 3.5)

Highlights

• FocusScopeNearZenith.  New routine 'FocusScopeNearZenith' and associated supporting routines are broadly working
  (working that is apart for one easily solved issue that requires Dome Slaving to turned on prior to slewing to the focus field). 
  This new routines allows scope to be autofocused at the beginning of the sessions in case the initial plan targets are close to horizon and don't have a suitable focus star.
  
• Shutdown Observatory.  Revised routine active by button was tested and successfully move the session from suspended to closing throught finished, including checking shutter was hut and parking the dome and the scope etc

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 19:27:41 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-10-11 S00708, ImageSaveNum: 708001) 19:29:32   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:29:34   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:29:38   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:30:41   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:31:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 19:31:30 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:31:33 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-11) 19:31:35 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-11) 19:31:37   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.12.7) 19:32:33   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-11 V6 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 388) 19:32:36   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 19:32:39   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:32:49 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:33:34   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 19:33:37   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:37:35   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total) 19:38:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:40:14       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focus Result Not Accepted (Profile No 1) 19:40:16 Session Running Session running 19:40:18   Queue Started Observing Queue started (55 targets selected) 19:40:20     Target Missed (1/55) Target's time slot was missed (1/55, GCVS CY AQR) 19:40:39 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 19:40:50   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 19:58:20 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:58:25 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-11) 19:58:27 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-11) 19:58:29   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-11 V6 ACTIVE PLAN S708, Plan ID: 388) 19:58:30   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 19:58:32   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:58:43 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:58:46   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 20:02:56 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-10-11 S00708, ImageSaveNum: 708001) 20:04:40   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:04:42   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:04:47   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:05:21   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 20:06:13 Program Closed Program closed by User 20:10:01 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-10-11 S00708, ImageSaveNum: 708001) 20:11:12   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:11:14   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:11:19   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:11:57 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:11:59 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-11) 20:12:01 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-11) 20:12:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-11 V6 ACTIVE PLAN S708, Plan ID: 388) 20:12:14   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 20:12:16   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:12:26 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:12:29   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 20:14:24   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (2.0 mins total) 20:14:28   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 20:18:28   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.0 mins total) 20:19:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:22:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:22:14 Session Running Session running 20:22:16   Queue Started Observing Queue started (53 targets selected) 20:22:18     Target Missed (3/55) Target's time slot was missed (3/55, GCVS CI Cyg) 20:22:20     Target Missed (4/55) Target's time slot was missed (4/55, 61 Cyg) 20:22:22     Target Missed (5/55) Target's time slot was missed (5/55, 68P/Klemola) 20:22:58     Target Started (6/55) Target started (6/55, GCVS S Cyg) 20:25:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:27:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:37:40     Target Completed Target completed (6/55, GCVS S Cyg) 20:37:42     Target Started (7/55) Target started (7/55, GCVS CY Lyr) 20:39:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:41:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:45:29     Target Completed Target completed (7/55, GCVS CY Lyr) 20:47:05     Target Started (8/55) Target started (8/55, GCVS FG Sge) 20:48:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:50:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:52:43     Target Completed Target completed (8/55, GCVS FG Sge) 20:54:26     Target Started (9/55) Target started (9/55, GCVS BL Lac) 20:57:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:58:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:03:09     Target Completed Target completed (9/55, GCVS BL Lac) 21:04:14     Target Started (10/55) Target started (10/55, WDS GRB 34) 21:07:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:09:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:11:07     Target Completed Target completed (10/55, WDS GRB 34) 21:11:39     Target Started (11/55) Target started (11/55, GCVS RX And) 21:14:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:16:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:18:49     Target Completed Target completed (11/55, GCVS RX And) 21:19:09     Target Started (12/55) Target started (12/55, GCVS GK Per) 21:21:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:23:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:26:22     Target Completed Target completed (12/55, GCVS GK Per) 21:27:00     Target Started (13/55) Target started (13/55, GCVS AM Her) 21:29:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:32:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 21:37:34     Target Completed Target completed (13/55, GCVS AM Her) 21:37:36     Target Started (14/55) Target started (14/55, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 21:41:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:43:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 21:52:40     Target Completed Target completed (14/55, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 21:52:43     Target Started (15/55) Target started (15/55, GCVS TT Ari) 21:56:12       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 22:03:10     Target Completed Target completed (15/55, GCVS TT Ari) 22:03:12     Target Started (16/55) Target started (16/55, GCVS SS Cyg) 22:05:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:07:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 22:11:21     Target Completed Target completed (16/55, GCVS SS Cyg) 22:16:43     Target Started (17/55) Target started (17/55, GCVS HH And) 22:19:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:21:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 22:23:03     Target Completed Target completed (17/55, GCVS HH And) 22:24:08     Target Started (18/55) Target started (18/55, GCVS Z And) 22:26:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:28:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 22:32:31     Target Completed Target completed (18/55, GCVS Z And) 22:32:33     Target Started (19/55) Target started (19/55, GCVS TV Cas) 22:35:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:37:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 22:39:16     Target Completed Target completed (19/55, GCVS TV Cas) 22:39:18     Target Started (20/55) Target started (20/55, GCVS X TRI) 22:41:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:43:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 22:50:49     Target Completed Target completed (20/55, GCVS X TRI) 22:50:51     Target Started (21/55) Target started (21/55, GSC 1224:29) 22:53:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:56:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 23:00:11 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 23:00:13   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:00:28     Target Aborted (21/55) Target aborted (21/55, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud 23:00:30   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 23:00:32 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:01:21   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 23:01:23     Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (53s) 23:11:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/55, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 23:15:42 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:16:27   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 23:16:29 Session Running Session running 23:16:31   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:16:33     Target Started (23/55) Target started (23/55, GCVS GK Per) 23:18:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:20:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 23:23:18     Target Completed Target completed (23/55, GCVS GK Per) 23:23:20     Target Started (24/55) Target started (24/55, GCVS AM Her) 23:26:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:28:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 23:34:20     Target Completed Target completed (24/55, GCVS AM Her) 23:34:22     Target Started (25/55) Target started (25/55, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 23:37:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:39:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 23:47:43     Target Completed Target completed (25/55, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 23:47:45     Target Started (26/55) Target started (26/55, GCVS DY Per) 23:49:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 23:56:26     Target Completed Target completed (26/55, GCVS DY Per) 23:56:28     Target Started (27/55) Target started (27/55, GCVS SS Cyg) 23:59:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:01:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 00:05:08     Target Completed Target completed (27/55, GCVS SS Cyg) 00:07:20     Target Started (28/55) Target started (28/55, GCVS HH And) 00:09:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:11:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 00:13:14     Target Completed Target completed (28/55, GCVS HH And) 00:14:45     Target Started (29/55) Target started (29/55, GCVS Z And) 00:18:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:21:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 00:25:22     Target Completed Target completed (29/55, GCVS Z And) 00:25:24     Target Started (30/55) Target started (30/55, GCVS TV Cas) 00:28:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:30:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25) 00:32:26     Target Completed Target completed (30/55, GCVS TV Cas) 00:32:28     Target Started (31/55) Target started (31/55, GCVS X TRI) 00:35:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:37:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26) 00:43:51     Target Completed Target completed (31/55, GCVS X TRI) 00:43:53     Target Started (32/55) Target started (32/55, GSC 1224:29) 00:46:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:48:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27) 00:53:28     Target Completed Target completed (32/55, GSC 1224:29) 00:53:30     Target Started (33/55) Target started (33/55, GCVS TT Ari) 00:56:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:59:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 28) 01:06:05     Target Completed Target completed (33/55, GCVS TT Ari) 01:06:07     Target Started (34/55) Target started (34/55, UGC 2614) 01:09:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:11:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 29) 01:20:08 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:20:10   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:20:13     Target Aborted (34/55) Target aborted (34/55, UGC 2614) due to cloud 01:20:15   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 01:20:18 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:21:03   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 47s) 01:21:06     Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (51s) 01:43:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/55, UGC 2614) due to cloud 01:52:36 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:53:22   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 01:53:25 Session Running Session running 01:53:27   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:53:29     Target Started (36/55) Target started (36/55, UGC 2614) 01:53:31     Target Failed Target failed due to slew error (36/55, UGC 2614) 01:57:42 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 01:57:44   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 01:57:46   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 01:57:49 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:58:37   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 48s) 01:58:39   Queue Resumed Queue resumed after HardSuspend (55s) 02:03:57 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 02:04:00   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 02:04:03 Session Closing Session closing 02:04:07   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 01:58, closing time 48s) 02:04:35   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 22s) 02:05:18   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 39s) 02:06:09 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:06:40 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-10-11, S708)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (4)
  
• Continuous Improvement (0)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Issue with Focusing Offset (Foc1) starting on HH And. After behaving normally , and after taking two locate frames for HH And that well in Focus (#708199-200) that were in focus, and a seemingly successful Focus Profile (Good Profile (aluthough only 12/14 points successful), Best Focus at 5804,  (vs best focus prior to Profile of  5830) the Focuser was moved to 5804. However rather than setting an offset of 3580+/- the offset was set at anomously low figure of 1513.  When the filter was changed to R (including moving the Focuser to a position calculated using the 1513 offset)  the frames were badly out of focus. (with stars appearing like little donuts).  The next target (Z And) had problems image linking due to out of focus stars + cloud.  Although 1st and 2nd frames may not have ever matched due cloud, but teh 3rd/4th locate frames should have linked ok if stars had been better in focus betterA flat focus profile was made based on best focus at 3716.   Surprising this passed focus checks (checks are not rigorous enough) and the Focus Manager proposed a best focus at 3396., and the scope was moved to 3396 and the focus offset saved as 163.
  
  An interventation was made to manually enter the previous focus offset and apply it. Images of stars from the following TV Cas target were ok. with no sign of the Focus Problem  (Best Focus at 5661, Focus Offset set as 3462).  Examining Focus2.dat file, shows that there was a momentary glitch in OTA temperatures, with Focus Profile Chart showing -6.63degC  at 00:09 (compared to +8.39 at 23:59,  +1.29degC at 00:18 and +9.03 at 00:28) .   The Monitor File (recording at 2 min intervals) doesn't show any Foc Temperature anomaly through the period 23:50 to 00:30, nor do the OTA temperature graphs using the ObsEnv data passed to the AllSky/Weather Computer.
  
  Issue is characterised as Major, since without interventaion it could have lead to a situation where image linking could fail (e.g Z And),  refocusing could fail (as the focus was too far away from the DRO range being tested, e.g. Z And)
  
  Reviewing the focus table for Profile 23 shows that the 1st and last point didn't have produce a valid focus value (Object failed star test, even after repeat frames) and all values for the point including temperature was set as unknown value -99.   An average temperature was subsequently using the two bad points with the null value of -99 and 12 points with value around 8.8 producing the figure of -6.63deg seen. This was then used for defining an incorrect offset value.
  Fixed 2019-10-12 (AstroMain 3.14.4).

Minor Issues

• New 'FocusScopeNearZenith' feature needs to set Dome Slaving On. During live testing it was shown that after running equilibration with Dome Slaving deliberately turned off,  that Dome Slaving remains off whilist new 'FocusScopeNearZenith routine makes a telescope slew to the Focus Field.  On both attempts Dome Slaving was manually switched via the POTH hub. Without this Focus Scope would have failed as dome roof would have obsured the  sky from the telescope/camera.
  Fixed 2019-10-12 (AstroMain 3.14.4).
   
  
• AstroMain program crashed whilst attempting to 'manually' slew the scope via TheSky6 virtual view.   The crash happened with user manipulating program windows at the Observatory Computer. TheSky produced a message 'wrong tracking state', immediately before the crash.
  Closed for time being (2019-10-14),
   
• AstroMain's Report Manager is having problems writing to txtBox.  The Report messages are being written to .htm files normally,  but the lines that appear in the Main Form console are sometime missing or more often out of sequence.   The object is not behaving as first in, first out behaviour . This might be a major issue if issue repeats again in the next session.
  Closed for time being (2019-10-14), as the issue was not experienced in following session (S609), examination of code offered no clues to what had caused the issue and the writing to Report file is normal
  
  
• Focus Profile 17 (GSC 1224:29) and Profile 24 (Z And) both have flat FWHM profiles   due to measuring a hot spot rather than a true star.
  Examing the quadratic fit data shows negative a and c parameter values, which can be used to identify such profiles not use their results for autofocusing
  Profile 16 (X Tri):  Quadratic Fit: a = 1.15059677737523E-05, b = -0.13731566184374, c = 412.909979839997
  Profile 17 (GSC 1224:29):  Quadratic Fit: a = -6.25138954526233E-07, b = 0.00886414269751029, c = -28.076555972703
  Profile 18 (GK Per): Quadratic Fit: a = 1.15485663652943E-05, b = -0.13576126584946, c = 402.08857093876
  
  Profile 22 (SS Cyg):  Quadratic Fit: a = 1.30924130704846E-05, b = -0.15374034891879, c = 454.339818740374
  Profile 23 (HH And):  Quadratic Fit: a = 1.03218103080234E-05, b = -0.119820926642926, c = 350.153339886955
  Profile 24 (Z And)   :  Quadratic Fit: a = -7.12689036351699E-06, b = 0.0578975835106514, c = -113.572263383264
  Profile 27 ( ) : Quadratic Fit: a = 6.96536526914005E-06, b = -0.0786364966864822, c = 223.508368819173
  Profile 28 ():  Quadratic Fit: a = 4.52668082501227E-07, b = -0.00584748336372135, c = 20.4539941766475
  Fixed 2019-10-12 (AstroMain 3.14.4). Check added to ensure a > 0 and c > 100
  

Continuous Improvement - None

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