David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 732 (2019-12-24)

Notes (S731)

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Notes (S733)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (1),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2019-12-24  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2019-12-24)

Main aims

1. Targets: Acquire images of a selection of targets including deep sky objects, variable stars, nearby stars and comets.
2. Secondary Scope: Align secondary scope with the main scope
3. Guiding:  Check guiding performance after recent changes

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  2.6.6dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.18.8 ,  Astroguard 1.2.9,   AstroPlan 1.13.6,  AstroShCap 1.2.10, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.8.2, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)

Highlights

• Targets. x targets acquired.

Lowlights

•   Slew Errors started at 03:57:51.  Error code = 219 (0xdb) developed on each slew attempt from 03:57:51 onwards

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 initially cloudy clear with some rain, but then clearing after midnight. Wind quite strong In the event skies rain stopped at 17:00 and skies at 20:00 Observatory opened at 22:07 and Polar Alignment, BackLash Testing was conducted. Main session was started at 02:20 and continued until 05:37 when session suspended due to passing cloud and overall reducing star count.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 21:34:23 Session Created Live Session Created (2019-12-24 S00732, ImageSaveNum: 732001) 21:36:27   Scope Switched On Scope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:38:39   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:39:07   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:39:19   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:40:27 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:40:29 Session Pending Session pending (2019-12-24) 21:40:31 Session Initiating Session initiating (2019-12-24) 21:40:33   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.7) 21:41:04   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2019-12-24 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 438) 21:41:08   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:41:16   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:41:30 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:41:32 Wait on Weather Waiting for acceptable weather conditions 21:46:32 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:46:34   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 16:14, closing time 45s) 21:46:36   Queue Started Observing Queue started (33 targets selected) 21:50:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/33, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 22:03:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/33, GCVS U And) due to cloud 22:26:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/33, NGC 7640) due to other condition 22:34:05 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:34:50   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 44s) 22:34:53 Session Running Session running 22:34:55   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:34:57     Target Started (4/33) Target started (4/33, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 22:43:04   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:46:33     Target Completed Target completed (4/33, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 22:46:35     Target Started (5/33) Target started (5/33, GCVS CM Tau) 22:49:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:50:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:05:05     Target Completed Target completed (5/33, GCVS CM Tau) 23:05:07     Target Started (6/33) Target started (6/33, NGC 3245A) 23:07:24       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:23:39     Target Completed Target completed (6/33, NGC 3245A) 23:24:31     Target Started (7/33) Target started (7/33, Rose 4) 23:28:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:30:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:47:18     Target Completed Target completed (7/33, Rose 4) 23:47:20     Target Started (8/33) Target started (8/33, GCVS FO Ori) 23:50:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:52:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:56:09     Target Completed Target completed (8/33, GCVS FO Ori) 23:56:12     Target Started (9/33) Target started (9/33, GCVS FU Ori) 23:58:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:00:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:03:04     Target Completed Target completed (9/33, GCVS FU Ori) 00:03:06     Target Started (10/33) Target started (10/33, GCVS U Mon) 00:05:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:07:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:13:51     Target Completed Target completed (10/33, GCVS U Mon) 00:13:53     Target Started (11/33) Target started (11/33, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:16:05       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:19:36     Target Completed Target completed (11/33, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:21:23     Target Started (12/33) Target started (12/33, GCVS DX Cnc) 00:23:14       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:28:17     Target Completed Target completed (12/33, GCVS DX Cnc) 00:31:15     Target Started (13/33) Target started (13/33, Scholz's Star) 00:33:37       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:49:29     Target Completed Target completed (13/33, Scholz's Star) 00:52:11     Target Started (14/33) Target started (14/33, GCVS U Gem) 00:54:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:56:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:59:47     Target Completed Target completed (14/33, GCVS U Gem) 01:01:14     Target Started (15/33) Target started (15/33, GCVS RZ LMi) 01:04:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:06:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:11:50     Target Completed Target completed (15/33, GCVS RZ LMi) 01:12:32     Target Started (16/33) Target started (16/33, SHK 1) 01:14:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:16:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:32:49     Target Completed Target completed (16/33, SHK 1) 01:34:24     Target Started (17/33) Target started (17/33, NGC 3821) 01:36:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:38:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:55:32     Target Completed Target completed (17/33, NGC 3821) 01:56:17     Target Started (18/33) Target started (18/33, IC 737) 02:00:11       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:16:47     Target Completed Target completed (18/33, IC 737) 02:18:08     Target Started (19/33) Target started (19/33, IC 791) 02:20:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:22:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:38:51     Target Completed Target completed (19/33, IC 791) 02:40:00     Target Started (20/33) Target started (20/33, LAMOST-HVS1) 02:42:28       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:45:30     Target Completed Target completed (20/33, LAMOST-HVS1) 02:48:56     Target Started (21/33) Target started (21/33, NGC 2914) 02:50:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:53:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:54:45   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:56:30   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 03:03:40   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:09:24     Target Completed Target completed (21/33, NGC 2914) 03:09:26   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 03:09:28 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:10:15   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 49s) 03:19:27   Camera1 SetPoint SBIG Camera Set Point Temperature Updated (new set point -25°C) 03:29:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/33, NGC 4216) due to cloud 03:51:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/33, Rose 29) due to cloud 04:13:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/33, NGC 4289) due to cloud 04:35:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/33, NGC 5058) due to cloud 04:57:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/33, Rose 32) due to cloud 05:19:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/33, SHK 352) due to cloud 05:41:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/33, Rose 9) due to cloud 06:02:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/33, IC 3247) due to cloud 06:24:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/33, IC 893) due to cloud 06:37:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/33, 38P/Stephan-Oterma) due to cloud 06:56:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/33, Hickson 72) due to cloud 07:19:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/33, GCVS U Her) due to cloud 07:20:00   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:20:04 Session Closing Session closing 07:20:08   Shutter Closed Shutter already closed (closed at 03:10, closing time 49s) 07:20:53   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 45s) 07:21:08   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 14s) 07:21:53 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:22:05 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2019-12-24, S732)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• AstroMain crashed at 18:50 just after session entered 'Running' state due to a NullReference Exception. Exception occurred in ReportTime routine in statement 'JD = Utils.ComputerJulianDate'  as the Utils objects was not set (ie was Nothing).  This is not explainable as the Utils is normally always set up at the beginning of program.  The offending statement will be placed within a 'Try, Except, End Try' block
  Fixed 2019-12-19 (AstroMain 3.18.7)
   
• Auto-Dew Control set dew heaters to 0%, leading to OTA dropping below dew point.    Problem was alter shown to occur  when sessionstate switches to 'Starting'  but stays like this when session is running, leading to condensation to form on the SCT's correctors lens.   Code was later examined but no explanation was found.  Extra log trace lines added to 3.18.10 in session S734 helped to narrow down the root cause to a specific Select Case SessionState Block in 'ObservatoryManager.CheckAutoDewControl' routine    Stepping through code in a test environment eventually showed that error was caused by an extra comma is Select Case block which prevented the proposed DewHeaterPower variable from being set.
  Fixed 2020-01-02 (AstroMain 3.18.11)

Minor Issues

• AstroVOE crashed due to overflow exception. AstroVOE program crashed due to an overflow exception whilst waiting for a server reconnection in 'WaitForConnection' routine.  Lost in connection to GCN_Server Atlantic_2  occurred at 04:43 .  Exception occurred at 05:37  when prepared a 32nd attempt  to reconnect to server when nAttempt of 32 was used in the statement WaitSecs= 2 ^ (nAttempts - 1)
  Fixed 2019-12-19 (AstroVOE 1.3.5)

Continuous Improvement

• Remove StarMass (SM) column from Guiding Sunmary Table and replace with Altitude instead
  Done 2019-12-20 (AstroMain 3.18.7)

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Flat Frames (2019-12-24 & 2019-12-25)

A  new sets of Sky Flats were collected following installation of new Optolong dual narrow band (DB) & clear (C) filters and the removal of no longer used AO-8 unit (see new filters, 2019-12-23).  The time available to take sky flats at dusk before the sky becomes too dark s fairly limited and it was only possible to acquire flats for some filter/bin combinations (no flats were possible for Xo, Ha, Nd and S filters)

Some further flats were taken on 2019-12-31 (including Ha and Nd filter) after new dust appeared, see Flat Frames, 2020-01-31 . A further complete new set of Flats were later takenthrough all filters/bins on 2020-01-09 after cleaning the filters, Camera/Filter Wheels optics window and CCD Sensor window, see Flats Frames, 2020-01-09)

Results

New Flats -  2019-12-24 & 25, S732 Sky Flats, CCD Temp -15°C		Earlier Flats, 2018-09-09, S629 Sky Flats, CCD Temp -15°C
Master Flat, New C filter (3x3), 2019-12-24 (Average Median for 25 frames )		Master Flat, C filter (3x3), 2018-09-12 (Average Median for 25 frames )
Master Flat, New DB filter (3x3), 2019-12-24 (Average Median for 15 frames )
		DB (3x3) not taken  in 2018
Master Flat, B filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Sky Flat, Average Median for 15 frames )		Master Flat, B filter (3x3), 2018-09-09 (Sky Flat, Average Median for 15 frames )
Master Flat, V filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Average Median for 15 frames )		Master Flat, V filter (3x3), 2018-09-09 (Average Median for 15 frames )
Master Flat, R filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Average Median for 15 frames )		Master Flat, R filter (3x3), 2018-09-12 (Average Median for 15 frames )
Master Flat, I filter (3x3), 2019-12-25 (Average Median for 15 frames )		Master Flat, I filter (3x3), 2018-09-12 (Average Median for 15 frames )

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