David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 725 (2019-12-01)

Notes (S724)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S726)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (4),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	Guiding Review
	Images from 2019-12-01  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-12-01)

Main aims

1. Guiding Charts:  Conduct second live test of new guiding chart feature and begin to use them to improve guiding.
   
2. Targets: Acquire images of a selection of new targets plus monitoring of previous variable stars, nearby stars and comets.

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, PHD2  2.6.6dev2
   
• AstroMain 3.18.1 ,  Astroguard 1.2.9,   AstroPlan 1.13.5,  AstroShCap 1.2.10, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.8.2, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)

Highlights

• Autoguiding Charts. The new autoguiding charts are working well and uncovering issues with autoguiding. (fixing those issues may be less easy)
• Secondary Scope Focusing. Fixes to bugs in the routine for focusing the secondary scope seeming to be have resolved the issue in previous session and the auto-focusing using SharpCap is now working well.

Lowlights

•   Program crashes.    The AstroMain program crashed twice due to unhandled exceptions.
  (AstroGuard protection worked well and made the observatory safe after the AstroMain program stopped working)

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 clear skies for first 3 hours, with light cloud continuing till dawn (max cloud cover 28%) In the event after beginning observatory operations around 19:15 high cloud developed from 22:00 onwards (becoming most noticeable around 02:00 and 05:00 onwards) which impacted the quality of images (a feature that normally suspends operations when number of stars falls below a specific number couldn't be used due to moonlit conditions)

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 18:46:40 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-12-01 S00725, ImageSaveNum: 725001) 18:47:56   Scope Switched On Scope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:50:03   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:50:47 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:50:52 Session Pending Session pending (2019-12-01) 18:50:54 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-12-01) 18:50:56   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.5) 18:51:53   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-12-01 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 424) 18:52:07   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 18:52:15   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:52:29 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:52:31 Wait on Weather Waiting for acceptable weather conditions 18:57:30 Session Suspended Session suspended 18:57:32   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closure time is unknown) 18:57:34   Queue Started Observing Queue started (56 targets selected) 19:02:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/56, GCVS CY Lyr) due to wind 19:13:51 Session Resuming Session resuming 19:14:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/56, GCVS TT Ari) due to other condition 19:14:36   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 19:14:37 Session Running Session running 19:14:39   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 19:15:07     Target Started (3/56) Target started (3/56, GCVS HH And) 19:19:28     Target Completed Target completed (3/56, GCVS HH And) 19:22:32     Target Started (4/56) Target started (4/56, 61 Cyg) 19:28:30 Program Crashed Program crashed due to unhandled exception 19:34:00 User Intervention User Intervention to restart programs 19:34:11 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-12-01 S00725, ImageSaveNum: 725003) 19:35:25   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:35:27   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:35:32   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:36:04 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:36:07 Session Pending Session pending (2019-12-01) 19:36:09 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-12-01) 19:36:11   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-12-01 V1 ACTIVE PLAN S725, Plan ID: 424) 19:36:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 19:36:25   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:36:44 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:36:47   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:37:25   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 19:37:27 Session Running Session running 19:37:29   Queue Started Observing Queue started (52 targets selected) 19:38:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:41:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:41:09       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:45:21       Focusing Aborted Foc2 Focusing Aborted 19:45:24     Target Missed (5/56) Target's time slot was missed (5/56, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 19:45:26     Target Started (6/56) Target started (6/56, GCVS CM Tau) 19:50:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:52:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:06:38     Target Completed Target completed (6/56, GCVS CM Tau) 20:06:40     Target Started (7/56) Target started (7/56, WDS GRB 34) 20:12:54     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/56, WDS GRB 34) 20:12:55 User Intervention User Intervention in order to restart LX200 Telescope 20:12:56   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 20:14:09   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 40s) 20:15:03   Scope Switched Off Scope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 20:15:45   Scope Switched On Scope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:17:15   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:18:41 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:18:44 Session Pending Session pending (2019-12-01) 20:18:46 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-12-01) 20:18:48   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-12-01 V1 ACTIVE PLAN S725, Plan ID: 424) 20:18:50   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:18:53   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:19:06 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:19:09   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 20:19:11   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 20:19:13 Session Running Session running 20:19:15   Queue Started Observing Queue started (49 targets selected) 20:19:17     Target Started (8/56) Target started (8/56, GCVS S Cyg) 20:29:29     Target Completed Target partially completed (8/56, GCVS S Cyg) 20:29:31     Target Started (9/56) Target started (9/56, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:32:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:34:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:38:17     Target Completed Target completed (9/56, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:38:56     Target Started (10/56) Target started (10/56, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 20:42:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:44:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:44:33       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:46:12       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:55:02     Target Completed Target completed (10/56, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 20:55:05     Target Started (11/56) Target started (11/56, GCVS CI Cyg) 20:58:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:01:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:01:10       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:03:00       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:05:30     Target Completed Target partially completed (11/56, GCVS CI Cyg) 21:05:32     Target Started (12/56) Target started (12/56, GCVS BL Lac) 21:08:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:10:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:14:22 Critical Rain Alert Critical Rain Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 21:14:24   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (rain) 21:14:27     Target Aborted (12/56) Target aborted (12/56, GCVS BL Lac) due to rain 21:14:29   Queue Paused Queue pausing for HardSuspend 21:14:31 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:15:17   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 21:18:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/56, GCVS Z And) due to other condition 21:30:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/56, GCVS U And) due to other condition 21:34:29 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:35:14   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 45s) 21:35:17 Session Running Session running 21:35:19   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:35:21     Target Started (15/56) Target started (15/56, GCVS AM Her) 21:44:30     Target Completed Target completed (15/56, GCVS AM Her) 21:44:32     Target Started (16/56) Target started (16/56, GCVS RR Tau) 21:47:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:49:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 21:56:37     Target Completed Target completed (16/56, GCVS RR Tau) 21:56:40     Target Started (17/56) Target started (17/56, GCVS RX And) 21:59:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:01:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 22:03:53     Target Completed Target completed (17/56, GCVS RX And) 22:03:55     Target Started (18/56) Target started (18/56, GCVS DY Per) 22:07:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:09:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 22:14:35     Target Completed Target partially completed (18/56, GCVS DY Per) 22:14:37     Target Started (19/56) Target started (19/56, GSC 1224:29) 22:17:30       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:22:05     Target Completed Target completed (19/56, GSC 1224:29) 22:22:07     Target Started (20/56) Target started (20/56, GSC 1224:29) 22:22:36       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:26:55     Target Completed Target completed (20/56, GSC 1224:29) 22:29:14     Target Started (21/56) Target started (21/56, GCVS DX Cnc) 22:32:19   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:36:40     Target Completed Target completed (21/56, GCVS DX Cnc) 22:36:42   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 22:36:45 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:37:34   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 22:47:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/56, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 22:56:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/56, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 23:04:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/56, GCVS CN Ori) due to cloud 23:13:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/56, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 23:21:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/56, GCVS CN Ori) due to cloud 23:30:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/56, LAMOST-HVS1) due to cloud 23:38:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/56, GCVS NV Ori) due to cloud 23:57:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/56, NGC 1614) due to cloud 00:10:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/56, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud 00:18:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/56, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 00:27:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/56, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud 00:37:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/56, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud 00:46:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/56, GCVS SU Tau) due to cloud 01:05:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/56, Rose 4) due to cloud 01:16:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/56, GCVS FO Ori) due to cloud 01:24:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/56, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 01:32:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/56, GCVS CN Ori) due to cloud 01:41:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/56, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 01:41:20 Program Crashed AstroMain program crashed due to unhandled exception 01:55:00 Session Closing Observatory Closed by AstroGuard after AstroMain stopped responding for 15 mins 01:56:05   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (checked by AstroGuard 01:56:10   Dome Parked Dome parked by AstroGuard (parking time 11s) 01:56:30   Telescope Parked Telescope parked by AstroGuard (parking time 7s) 08:39:47 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2019-12-01 S00725, ImageSaveNum: 725160) 08:40:01   Scope Switched Off Scope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 08:40:33 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 08:40:35 Session Closing Session closing 08:41:33 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 08:41:49 Session Finished Session Finished

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2019-12-01, S725)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (2)
• Minor Issues (4)
• Continuous Improvement (3)

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• AstroMain program crashed at 19:28 due to an unhandled exception. Whilst monitoring the session remotely AstroMain program crashed with an unhandled .NET exception. Opening  VS 2017's debugger showed that exception was associated with Image.ShowInventory command in AnalyseStarsInImage routine with the error message saying that image should be saved before using this command.   This is the first time to see this exception at this point in the program.  AstroMain and other observatory software had to be restarted
  Fixed 2019-12-02 (AstroMain 3.18.2)
   
• AstroMain program crashed at 01:41 due to an unhandled exception. After 15 minutes of inactivity the AstroGuard program intervened to shutdown the observatory, closing the shutter and parking the dome and the telescope.  Due to backup protection there was no risk to the observatory, but a couple of hours of good observing time was lost. Opening  VS 2017's debugger showed that exception had occured in DrawText routine belonging to the new TargetInfo Charts class when an attempt was made to write to the chart's graphics object (g) when it was apparently in use elsewhere.   Unclear what other process was using the object, but issue fixed by covering the object with 'try, catch, end try' blocks
  Fixed 2019-12-02 (AstroMain 3.18.2)

Minor Issues

• Foc2 focusing using SharpCap was allowed to begin without the ShCap server (AstroShCap) being connected  
  Believed Fixed 2020 (AstroMain)
   
• Telescope Jogs not effective (not correct) after restaring Obsrevatory Software.  Problem was immediately recognised by remote monitoring and is due to POTH being closed  then reconnected.  After confirming the problem on the following target, the job queue was stopped, and the telescope parked and power cycled before reconnecting again.   This fixed the issue with minimal loss of observing time
  Closed as a known issue.  User awareness (AstroMain)
   
• 'Framesets' are being labelled as 'Frames' rather than 'Framesets' on Guiding Chart 
  Fixed 2019-12-10 (AstroMain)
   
• TS80 Focus Profile 6 had a '4/14' row  as the the first step in SharpCap server report.  This happened to be the point at which preceeding TS80 focus profile was aborted. Fixed or irrelevant with new Foc2 Focusing (ShCap V3 method) in AstroMain 3.22
  Closed 2020-05-12 (AstroMain 3.22)

Continuous Improvement

• Query. Are there too many "rotating into wind" messages whilst equilbrating ?
  Fixed 2020-01-16 (AstroMain)
   
• Query. Why was the 3rd imageset of S Cyg curtailed early (as seen on Guiding Chart).  The 120s V Frame from the third BVR imageset was cancelled to prevent observation from overrunning its time slot.  It is presumed that this interferred with initiation of 3rd image set. This is a fairly situation and no change to code is required.
  Closed 2021-01-09 (AstroMain)
   
• Query. Why was the SHK1 target scheduled when it was imaged and presumably Completed in late session.
  Resolved (AstroDatabase)

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top

Secondary Scope - Focusing

Secondary Scope focusing is now working reasonably well.  Focus Profile examples from the session  are shown below:

Automated Focus Profiles taken on Secondary Scope,  2019-11-18 Orange dots are MultiStar FWHM measurements from SharpCap Blue dots are single star HFD measurements from PHD2

Back to Top