David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 718 (2019-10-29)

Notes (S717)

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Notes (S719)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (10)
	Images from 2019-10-29  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-10-29)

Main aims

1. Smarter Suspension:  Test bug fixes to new code that suspends session if 'AllSkyStars' count falls below 20
2. Targets: Acquire images of a selection of new targets plus monitoring of previous variable stars, nearby stars and comets.
   (Rain and/or cloud was expected to interrupt or possibly end the session at some point)
   

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
• SharpCap 3.2
   
• AstroMain 3.16.4,  Astroguard 1.2.8,   AstroPlan 1.12.8,  AstroShCap 1.2.6, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.7.9, AstroAllSky 3.5)

Highlights

• Smarter Suspension. New version of AstroMain worked really well and the Observatory/Software responded well to changing cloud conditions, taking advantage of clearer intervals and suspending operatures (including closing the shutter) when the conditions were not worth observing (images would be poor or completely cloud out). .This success is important step in optimising the observatory operations since knocking out non-useful data speeds up the whole process of data transfer, data reduction and analysis. It also saves wear and tear to equipment.  Key to this improvement has been the use of the star count from AllSky Camera which provide a better discremination of marginal conditions that the Clarity reading from the Cloud Sensor.   The latter is still used for recognising potential rain clouds.

Lowlights

• User Errors.    Errors at start of session, which unnecessarily led to the whole Observing Software Suite to have to be restarted and a further user errors after the session which didn't switch off the power in the morning and reset the observatort mode, which saw the Observatory automatically startup just after sunset the following evening, and then a error which saw the telescope powered down without parking it will will create issues  and extra user interventation at the start of the next session.

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 (API data from darksky.net) Forecast showed some initial clear patches, but with cloud progressively developing through the night, but otherwise dry and calm In the event there was a moderately clear interval between 18:30 and 22:30, with another clear interval at 02:30-03:45.  Transparency wasn't great at any stage. Operations didn't start till suspended at 21:50 and took advantage of clear intervals, suspending when sky deteriorated.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 21:32:34 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-10-29 S00718, ImageSaveNum: 718001) 21:36:29   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 21:37:20 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 21:44:10 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-10-29 S00718, ImageSaveNum: 718001) 21:49:07   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:51:51   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 21:51:53   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 21:52:07 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:52:09 Session Pending Session pending (2019-10-29) 21:52:11 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-10-29) 21:52:13   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-10-29 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 415) 21:52:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:52:25   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:52:39 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:52:42   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:52:44   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 21:52:46 Session Running Session running 21:52:48   Queue Started Observing Queue started (39 targets selected) 21:54:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:55:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:55:54     Target Missed (1/39) Target's time slot was missed (1/39, 61 Cyg) 21:55:56     Target Started (2/39) Target started (2/39, GCVS RX And) 22:00:16     Target Completed Target completed (2/39, GCVS RX And) 22:00:18     Target Started (3/39) Target started (3/39, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 22:02:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:04:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:13:15     Target Completed Target completed (3/39, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 22:13:17     Target Started (4/39) Target started (4/39, GCVS U And) 22:15:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:17:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:26:28   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:28:12     Target Completed Target completed (4/39, GCVS U And) 22:28:14   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 22:28:15 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:29:04   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 48s) 22:31:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/39, GCVS Z And) due to other condition 22:38:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/39, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 22:46:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/39, GCVS CI Cyg) due to cloud 23:00:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/39, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 23:10:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/39, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 23:21:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/39, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 23:29:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/39, WDS GRB 34) due to other condition 23:37:10 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:37:55   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 23:37:58 Session Running Session running 23:38:00   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:38:02     Target Started (12/39) Target started (12/39, GSC 1224:29) 23:44:34     Target Completed Target partially completed (12/39, GSC 1224:29) 23:44:37     Target Started (13/39) Target started (13/39, GCVS FU Ori) 23:47:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:49:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:51:43     Target Completed Target completed (13/39, GCVS FU Ori) 23:51:45     Target Started (14/39) Target started (14/39, GCVS SU Tau) 23:54:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:56:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:00:55     Target Completed Target partially completed (14/39, GCVS SU Tau) 00:00:57     Target Started (15/39) Target started (15/39, GCVS CM Tau) 00:02:17   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:04:03     Target Failed Target failed due to cloud (15/39, GCVS CM Tau) 00:04:05   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 00:04:08 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:04:58   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 00:23:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/39, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 00:42:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/39, NGC 985) due to cloud 00:54:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/39, GCVS DY Per) due to other condition 01:01:58 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:02:43   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 01:02:46 Session Running Session running 01:02:48   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:02:50     Target Started (19/39) Target started (19/39, GCVS U Gem) 01:06:53   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:08:29     Target Completed Target completed (19/39, GCVS U Gem) 01:08:31   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 01:08:34 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:09:23   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 01:12:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/39, GCVS ER UMa) due to other condition 01:23:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/39, GCVS RR Tau) due to other condition 01:32:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/39, GCVS FO Ori) due to cloud 01:45:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/39, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) due to cloud 01:54:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/39, LAMOST-HVS1) due to cloud 02:04:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/39, GCVS RZ LMi) due to threat of rain 02:13:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/39, GCVS NV Ori) due to other condition 02:33:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/39, NGC 1614) due to other condition 02:44:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/39, GCVS CN Ori) due to other condition 02:53:08 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:53:53   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 46s) 02:53:57 Session Running Session running 02:53:59   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:54:01     Target Started (29/39) Target started (29/39, GCVS DX Cnc) 02:59:08     Target Completed Target partially completed (29/39, GCVS DX Cnc) 02:59:10     Target Started (30/39) Target started (30/39, C/2019 Q4 (Borisov)) 03:01:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:03:40       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 03:32:52     Target Completed Target completed (30/39, C/2019 Q4 (Borisov)) 03:32:54     Target Started (31/39) Target started (31/39, SHK 1) 03:36:00       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:52:28     Target Completed Target completed (31/39, SHK 1) 03:52:30     Target Started (32/39) Target started (32/39, NGC 3501) 03:54:39   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:56:44     Target Failed Target failed due to cloud (32/39, NGC 3501) 03:56:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 03:56:50 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:57:39   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 04:22:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/39, NGC 2548) due to cloud 04:41:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/39, UGC 4596) due to cloud 04:53:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/39, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 05:06:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/39, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 05:25:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/39, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 05:36:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/39, GCVS U Mon) due to cloud 06:00:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/39, NGC 2506) due to cloud 06:00:40   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:00:45 Session Closing Session closing 06:00:50   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 03:57, closing time 49s) 06:01:00   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s) 06:01:11   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 10s) 06:01:55 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:02:02 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-10-29, S718)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Continuous Improvement (10)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• When Suspension has been due to SoftSuspend (too few stars), the failure mode is not recorded as 'Cloud'.  At the moment the fail mode is 'non-defined reason(0)' which is not specific enough.   Fix attempted in 1.16.7 .
  Done, 2019-11-01 (AstroMain 1.16.7).    Result of fix to be reviewed in the following session(s).
   
• Fully automated mode operation Obs.Manager was designed so that a session would automatically start in the next evening,  unless mode was reset to Manual.  This caused a problem when mode was accidently not reset and the observatory started up the following evening, and user wasn't aware.  . Observatory/Software performed precisely as per design,  but User has to be aware of what Fully Automated means.  Need to relook at the design here. Software changed so that mode automatically drop back to Manual when Night Date changes at 09:00 in morning
  Fixed, 2019-10-31 (AstroMain 1.16.5)
   
• Pointing Errors written to the Live Session Pointing file and to the Post Session 'Reduced' pointing file are mostly incorrect. Pointing errors for the set of locate and main images from a given target target don't decrease as would be expected. This problem seems to be going on un-recognised for a long time (5 years+). In fact it is unsure if the file values have ever been correctly output.  Pointing errors in the 'Summ' file are correct and decrease normally as expected.
  Fixed made and tested.  Code is not really optimal and is hard to maintain. PositionAndSync, IV, aImPointingError etc need to be overhauled .
  Fixed, 2019-11-07 (AstroMain 1.17.1)

Continuous Improvement

• Dome Status in AstroGuard is green but without  any text, should it show 'Slaved' in the normal operating state ?
  Done, 2019-11-03 (AstroGuard 1.2.9)
   
• Intra Page links on Current Session Page to be reworked to improve navigation
  Done, 2019-10-31
   
• Add SharpCap to list of Observatory Apps on AstroLaunch Menu
  Done, 2019-10-31 (AstroLaunch 1.3.5)
   
• Need to widen Focus Profile Charts to accomodate Field Name. At the moment the Field/target Name is being clipped for some longer names.  Bitmap bm_FocusProfile width changed from 541 to 640.   Width of  panelGraph on Graph Monitor form also changed from 541 to 640.  (The sideeffects to other routines that occasionally use this form for graphing are unknown)
  Done, 2019-10-31 (AstroMain 1.16.5)
   
• Focus Profile 6  for Target 30/39 (C/2019 Q4 (Borisov)) was rejected by QC checks because 'Quadratic values indicates an issue with profile form' however the profile & best focus fit look good. Profile had the following quadratic parameters  a = 1.06548222108636E-05, b = -0.0603981787753376, c = 89.4391655962498
  QC check on c term is too strict and needs to be relaxed.    c threshold for acceptance is relaxed to > 50
  Done, 2019-10-31 (AstroMain 1.16.5)
   
• When night data changes drop back to manual, if it is on Fully Automated Mode.  This is to ensure that Fully Automated Session will only happen the following night when user explicitly intends.    Obs.Manager code modified so that Session automatically drops back to Manual Mode when NightDate switches to new date.  Code allows a future enhancement whereby a  objconsole.cboxAutoRunNextNight.checked (default False) is used to decide whether to keep in Automated Mode and begin a new live session the following night.
  Done, 2019-10-31 (AstroMain 1.16.5)
   
• Save Live Pictures (_JPGS, _JPGS_sm and _ZWO) in the session's Analysis folder, rather than the session's New folder
  Done, 2019-11-03 (AstroMain 1.16.8)
   
• AstroShCap to extract its version number and display it on Main Form and write it to Report/Log Files
  Done, 2019-11-03  (AstroShCap 1.2.7)
   
• Add Telescope status text box to Observatory Tab and update it with 'Stationary', 'Tracking', Slewing', 'Parked'
  Done (AstroMain 3.17.5)
   
• Update Scope Power Status from ObsMonitor, rather than ObsOverseerer
  Done, 2019-11-07 (AstroMain 1.17.1)

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