David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 737 (2020-01-05)

Notes (S736)

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Notes (S738)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (3),  Minor Issues (7),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Guiding Performance
	Images from 2020-01-05  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-01-05)

Main aims

1. Targets: Acquire images of a selection of targets including deep sky objects, variable stars, nearby stars and comets.
2. Stability:  Ensure that new version of AstroMain is stable following adjustments to autoguiding/PHD2 and recent bug fixes
3. Guiding:  Continue checking 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 3.19 ,  Astroguard 1.2.9,   AstroPlan 1.13.8,  AstroShCap 1.2.10, AstroVOE 1.3.4, UPB 1.4.17  (AstroWeather 1.8.2, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)

Highlights

• Targets. x targets successfully acquired.

Lowlights

•   Guiding Performance.  Several targets suffered from poor guiding in Declination. due to variable backlash experienced at different points in the sky.

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Slew/Centering Performance

Dome Slewing Performance

Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)

Chart not available (file was overwritten by following session)

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  In the event skies

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 22:39:59 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-01-05 S00737, ImageSaveNum: 737001) 22:40:13   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:42:03   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:42:42 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:42:46 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-05) 22:42:48 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-05) 22:42:50   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.8) 22:50:24 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 22:51:53   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 22:53:07 Program Closed Program closed by User 22:56:41 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-01-05 S00737, ImageSaveNum: 737001) 22:57:03   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:58:30   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 22:58:32   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 22:58:36   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:58:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:58:55 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-05) 22:58:58 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-05) 22:59:00   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.13.8) 23:00:07   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-05 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 444) 23:00:20   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 23:00:25   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:00:42 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:01:28   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 46s) 23:01:31   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 23:07:58   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (6.5 mins total) 23:08:00 Session Running Session running 23:08:02   Queue Started Observing Queue started (36 targets selected) 23:09:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:11:27       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Quadratic) 23:11:30       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:12:46       Focusing Failed Foc2 Focusing Failed - star lost 23:12:49     Target Started (1/36) Target started (1/36, GCVS FO Ori) 23:20:56     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/36, GCVS FO Ori) 23:20:59     Target Started (2/36) Target started (2/36, GCVS RR Tau) 23:30:30     Target Failed Target failed due to centering error (2/36, GCVS RR Tau) 23:30:32   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:49:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:00       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 23:57:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:58:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:00:51       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 00:02:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:03:24       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 00:04:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:06:48       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 00:07:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:10:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:12:57 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:13:01 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-05) 00:13:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-05) 00:13:05   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-05 V1 ACTIVE PLAN S737, Plan ID: 444) 00:13:08   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 00:13:14   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:13:32 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:13:33   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 00:13:35   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 00:13:37 Session Running Session running 00:13:39   Queue Started Observing Queue started (34 targets selected) 00:13:41     Target Missed (3/36) Target's time slot was missed (3/36, C/2017 T2 (PanStarrs)) 00:13:43     Target Missed (4/36) Target's time slot was missed (4/36, GCVS GK Per) 00:13:45     Target Missed (5/36) Target's time slot was missed (5/36, GCVS NV Ori) 00:13:47     Target Missed (6/36) Target's time slot was missed (6/36, GCVS FU Ori) 00:13:49     Target Started (7/36) Target started (7/36, GCVS CM Tau) 00:23:53     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/36, GCVS CM Tau) 00:23:55     Target Started (8/36) Target started (8/36, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:32:20     Target Completed Target completed (8/36, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:32:22     Target Started (9/36) Target started (9/36, GCVS CN Ori) 00:35:03       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:38:34     Target Completed Target completed (9/36, GCVS CN Ori) 00:38:37     Target Started (10/36) Target started (10/36, WDS GRB 34) 00:42:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:46:29     Target Completed Target completed (10/36, WDS GRB 34) 00:46:32     Target Started (11/36) Target started (11/36, GCVS RX And) 00:46:53     Target Failed Target failed due to slew error (11/36, GCVS RX And) 00:46:54   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 00:47:05   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:47:07 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:48:17 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-01-05 S00737, ImageSaveNum: 737044) 00:49:30   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:49:32   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:49:37   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:49:43 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:49:46 Session Pending Session pending (2020-01-05) 00:49:48 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-01-05) 00:49:50   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-01-05 V1 ACTIVE PLAN S737, Plan ID: 444) 00:49:51   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 00:50:00   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:50:27 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:50:28   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 00:50:30   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 00:50:32 Session Running Session running 00:50:34   Queue Started Observing Queue started (26 targets selected) 00:51:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:54:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:54:10       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:55:26       Focusing Failed Foc2 Focusing Failed - star lost 00:55:29     Target Missed (11/36) Target's time slot was missed (11/36, GCVS RX And) 00:55:31     Target Started (12/36) Target started (12/36, GCVS DY Per) 00:58:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:00:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:05:46     Target Completed Target completed (12/36, GCVS DY Per) 01:05:48     Target Started (13/36) Target started (13/36, GCVS DX Cnc) 01:16:16     Target Completed Target partially completed (13/36, GCVS DX Cnc) 01:16:18     Target Started (14/36) Target started (14/36, GCVS ER UMa) 01:25:29     Target Completed Target completed (14/36, GCVS ER UMa) 01:25:31     Target Started (15/36) Target started (15/36, GCVS S Cyg) 01:39:45     Target Completed Target completed (15/36, GCVS S Cyg) 01:39:47     Target Started (16/36) Target started (16/36, Scholz's Star) 01:43:29       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:44:16       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope) 01:45:16       Focusing Failed Foc2 Focusing Failed - star lost 01:59:47     Target Completed Target partially completed (16/36, Scholz's Star) 01:59:49     Target Started (17/36) Target started (17/36, GCVS U Gem) 02:02:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:05:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:09:11     Target Completed Target completed (17/36, GCVS U Gem) 02:09:13     Target Started (18/36) Target started (18/36, LAMOST-HVS1) 02:16:53     Target Completed Target completed (18/36, LAMOST-HVS1) 02:16:55     Target Started (19/36) Target started (19/36, GCVS RZ LMi) 02:22:21     Target Failed Target failed due to centering error (19/36, GCVS RZ LMi) 02:22:23   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 02:22:36 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 02:22:38 Session Closing Session closing 02:23:22   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 45s) 02:23:57   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 35s) 02:24:10   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 10s) 02:24:11   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 02:24:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:25:00 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:25:20 Session Finished Session Finished 02:26:54   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:29:33 Program Closed Program closed by User

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Operational Issues (2020-01-05, S737)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (3)
• Minor Issues (7)
• Continuous Improvement (2)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Large number of message lines sent to logfile regarding saving Session Tab/Panels images, causing the logfile to grow to 16 GB. Problem due to bug introduced in AstroMain 3.19. Issue fixed by correcting bug, and restarting session using AstroMain 3.19.1. It was still necessary to access key information in the log file for diagnosis of other issues in the session and unable to find a file editor that could manage the task a special routine had to be written (hosted by AstroGuard) to read the big file and write out a new log file with the offending message lines removed.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.19.1)
   
• Images from first two targets couldn't be image linked as scope had lost its position. Attempt to find position using images from Guide Scope view failed to find location.  In the end the Observatory had to be visited to check scope which was some 20 deg off position and to re-align and sync scope on Betelguese.  Problem may have been related to the problems attempting to start the session, whereby the scope had to be reparked/restarted or issue caused by using PemPro connection  LX200 (handbox) whilst using the scope from AstroMain.  Issue is close to being marked as 'Critical'   as there was a risk of damage if a particular telescope slew exceeded a safe limits without the normal software controls  (AstroMain, TheSky, AstroGuard) being aware of the real physical position of the scope. Essentially resolved. Problem was related to automated switch off of Scope Power following too closely to Scope Parking.  A 30s delay is now incorporated into Shutdown / Park Routines
  Resolved. 2020-Jan (AstroMain)
   
• Issue with telescope slew paths going to and from GCVS S Cyg (Azim 2) . Telescope slew from ER UMa (Az 102°, Alt 75°, Dec 52°)  to S Cyg (Az 2° Alt 25° Dec 58°) appears to have crossed western sky and gone through the Azim no-go area (Az 345-360°) rather than take the shorter, and safer route across the eastern sky.  At first it was thought this was a bug in tracking and displaying the telescope path, but the data logged for this slew and the following slew on to Scholz's Star ( ) do seem consistent with the with this interpretation.   It couldn't be predicted that this path would have been chosen by the scope.
  It is suspected that the 'scope's perception of the North point was somehow thrown off by initial problems during startup & syncing.
  It is fortunate that that having crossing the north point and tracking from Az 2° to Az 4° (during S Cyg imaging) the scope then slewed back the way it came
  The controls in AstroMain for preventing entry into the no-go area didn't come into operation as the programmed target was outside the region and there was no reason to suspect the scope would have taken the path it apparently did.  The controls in AstroGuard for preventing entry into the no-go area picked up that scope had moved beyond 345°, but no action was taken since the next cycle of the program loop found the scope at 2° which is considered a safe area. 
  Partly Resolved. User Awareness. (AstroMain Observatory)

Minor Issues

• Problems encountered whilst attempting to start the session. Problems were probably 'self-inflicted' when session was stopped or restarted after it had been forgotten to upload the current AstroDatabase files.   Scope had to be parked using POTH and all programs restarted.
  User Awareness (Observatory)
   
• Problems with poor autoguiding (may be due to setting AntiBacklash in telescope mount to 80% from previous value of 130%.  Backlash reset back to 130% using PemPro in case this change had caused the problem. Cloud/atmospheric turbelence may also have been a factor in poor guiding results. Finally resolved by changing operations from using Bi-Directional Dec Guiding to use Uni-Directional Dec Guiding.
  Resolved (Observatory/AstroMain)
   
• Issue (twice) with Stop All Services getting stuck whilst stopping Observatory Manager
  Issue appears to have resolved itself  (AstroMain)
   
• Focus Position may have jumped since last session or the otherwise be too close to it the focuser's. Best Focus position which was at DRO 1319 at the end for previous session (the night before) was found to be at 916 steps upon initial focusing.  Although the  difference can be explained by temperature increase between the two time points  (from 6.6 to 9.2° C ) , the Main Scope Primary Mirror was refocussed to provide more working space on the TCF-S focuser. An attempt was made to refocus the main mirror with the TCF-S focuser at a position 3800 steps but this didn't work out, and the final best focus was a position of 2483 steps. 
  Closed 2020-01-05. (Observatory)
   
• Issue with AstroGuard freezing when stopping Dome Services.  Is there a problem with shutting down Telescope Power whilst other processes (AstroGuard , Poth) are still 'connected' to the scope ?
  Fixed 2020-01-21 (AstroGuard 1.2.11)
   
• Centering performance was poorer than normal.  Poor performance has previous correspended with the scope not correctly restarting up following a park operation.   Prehaps POTH needs to be stopped and restarted, otherwise it might not see and respond correctly to a power cycle and new connection ?  Fine tuning of scope RA balance seems to have made centering worse.   Sorting out automated Telescope SwitchOff (2020-01-xx ), a new TPoint model (2020-01-17) and a small adjustment to RA balance (2020-01-20) have improved things.
  Largely resolved, 2020-01-20 (AstroMain, Observatory)
   
• Copy of Live Sky Conditions Chart was not saved to session folder before it was overwritten by the following session.  There is a requirement to  automatically take copies of the Sky Conditions Chart and save them to the Session Folder. At the moment this done as manual task the following morning.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.19.3)

Continuous Improvement

• Reorder right-hand temperatures items on CCD Temperature Chart (putting Ambient Temperature first)
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.19.2)
   
• Hide/remove the 'ResetNightSumm6' button on AstroPlan Main Form
  Fixed (AstroPlan 1.13.9)

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Guiding Performance

Examples of guiding results from the session are shown below:

Example of Guiding Performance from Session S737

Comparison with previous results

• Forward Plan
  
  - Consider starting the Dec Drift monitoring during an extended setting period. This would be instead of during the first 180s frame or first few 45s frames.
     To do
  
  - Consider recording the direction in which the scope comes onto the target (ie from north or from south) and use that to help predict the backlash that may need to be taken up before the guiding is able to move the scope
      To do