David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 771 (2020-04-21)

Notes (S770)

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Notes (S772)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2020-04-21 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-04-21)

Main aims

1. AstroMain: Test 3.20.4 version of AstroMain. Check for stability, auto-guiding management and recent fixes
2. Targets: Acquire images of a number of deep sky objects 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  2.6.6dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.20.4 (new) ,  Astroguard 1.2.11,   AstroPlan 1.14.1 (new),  AstroShCap 1.2.15, AstroVOE 1.3.5, UPB 1.4.17 
  (AstroWeather 1.8.6, AstroAllSky 3.5.1)
  

Highlights

• Good Conditions.  Very good seeing (< 2 arc secs) & calm condition enabled productive session with good imaging
• Targets.  x targets successfully imaged

Lowlights

• None

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding 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) Weather forecast was for clear skies throughout night with light-very light wind from East and minimum temperature of 7 degC In the event skies were indeed clear for the whole night and wind conditions were good (very light wind). Temperatures fell steadily through the night  and mininum temperature reached (1 deg C) was much lower than forecast.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 21:40:21 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-04-21 S00771, ImageSaveNum: 771001) 21:40:31   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 21:40:33   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 21:40:37   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:40:57   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:42:39   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:43:27   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 21:44:02   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:48:23   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 47s) 21:51:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:54:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:54:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:57:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:58:19       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:58:28       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:00:41       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:01:39 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:01:45 Session Pending Session pending (2020-04-21) 22:01:47 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-04-21) 22:01:49   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.14.1) 22:02:10   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-04-21 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 495) 22:02:14   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 22:02:18   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:02:30 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 22:02:33   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 22:02:35   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 22:02:37 Session Running Session running 22:02:39   Queue Started Observing Queue started (22 targets selected) 22:02:41     Target Started (1/22) Target started (1/22, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:05:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:07:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:12:58     Target Completed Target completed (1/22, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:13:00     Target Started (2/22) Target started (2/22, UGC 5984) 22:15:44       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:33:03     Target Completed Target completed (2/22, UGC 5984) 22:33:05     Target Started (3/22) Target started (3/22, GCVS CN Leo) 22:36:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:39:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:46:43     Target Completed Target completed (3/22, GCVS CN Leo) 22:46:45     Target Started (4/22) Target started (4/22, GCVS SY Cnc) 22:49:45       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:53:54     Target Completed Target completed (4/22, GCVS SY Cnc) 22:56:00     Target Started (5/22) Target started (5/22, UGC 5146) 22:58:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:01:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:17:35     Target Completed Target completed (5/22, UGC 5146) 23:17:37     Target Started (6/23) Target started (6/23, NGC 4277) 23:38:51     Target Completed Target completed (6/23, NGC 4277) 23:38:53     Target Missed (7/23) Target's time slot was missed (7/23, LAMOST-HVS1) 23:38:55     Target Started (8/23) Target started (8/23, UGC 5509) 23:54:42     Target Completed Target partially completed (8/23, UGC 5509) 23:54:44     Target Started (9/23) Target started (9/23, UGC 5936) 23:57:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:58:30       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star lost 00:14:46     Target Completed Target completed (9/23, UGC 5936) 00:14:49     Target Started (10/23) Target started (10/23, GCVS AM CVn) 00:16:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:19:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:22:29     Target Completed Target completed (10/23, GCVS AM CVn) 00:22:31     Target Started (11/23) Target started (11/23, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 00:26:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:29:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:50:41     Target Completed Target completed (11/23, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 00:50:43     Target Started (12/23) Target started (12/23, UGC 6802) 00:54:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:57:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:13:17     Target Completed Target completed (12/23, UGC 6802) 01:13:19     Target Started (13/23) Target started (13/23, UGC 7993) 01:15:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:18:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:34:12     Target Completed Target completed (13/23, UGC 7993) 01:34:14     Target Started (14/23) Target started (14/23, UGC 9138) 01:39:03       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:56:27     Target Completed Target completed (14/23, UGC 9138) 01:56:29     Target Started (15/23) Target started (15/23, UGC 9760) 01:59:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:02:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:18:16     Target Completed Target completed (15/23, UGC 9760) 02:18:40     Target Started (16/23) Target started (16/23, UGC 9796) 02:20:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:23:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:39:30     Target Completed Target completed (16/23, UGC 9796) 02:41:02     Target Started (17/23) Target started (17/23, UGC 9856) 02:43:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:47:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 03:02:50     Target Completed Target completed (17/23, UGC 9856) 03:03:24     Target Started (18/23) Target started (18/23, GCVS R CrB) 03:05:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:08:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:11:14     Target Completed Target completed (18/23, GCVS R CrB) 03:12:05     Target Started (19/23) Target started (19/23, GCVS SS Her) 03:14:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:17:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:20:31     Target Completed Target completed (19/23, GCVS SS Her) 03:21:01     Target Started (20/23) Target started (20/23, UGC 11093) 03:23:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:25:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:41:17     Target Completed Target completed (20/23, UGC 11093) 03:43:23     Target Started (21/23) Target started (21/23, HIP 87937) 03:46:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:48:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:51:12     Target Completed Target completed (21/23, HIP 87937) 03:51:14     Target Started (22/23) Target started (22/23, GCVS CI Cyg) 03:53:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:56:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:59:49     Target Completed Target completed (22/23, GCVS CI Cyg) 03:59:59     Target Started (23/23) Target started (23/23, 61 Cyg) 04:03:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:05:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 04:07:16     Target Completed Target completed (23/23, 61 Cyg) 04:07:19   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:07:21 Session Closing Session closing 04:08:17   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 04:08:22   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 5s) 04:08:34   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 9s) 04:09:04   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 04:09:53   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:09:55 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:10:07 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2020-04-21, S771)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Zenith FWHM chart showing FWHM data posted in the range 0 to 8 arc secs (as intended), but the Y axis is labelled 0 to 6.  Previous version (3.20.3) showed Y Axis in range 2 to 8 arc secs , whilst new version (3.20.4) was intended to show Y Axis in range 0 to 8 arc secs
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.20.5)
   
• UGCA Galaxy targets (recently added project & last in list) are not being selected for night's observing plan even though project is one of 17 selected to use.  UGCA targets appear to be discriminated against !  Selection appears to be biased towards UGC Ring Galaxies.  Selected targets in plan appear to reflect order in which they've been added to database.   It would seem that selection of targets isn't sufficiently random ?.  Investigating showed that the UGCA Galaxies in the database (UGCA 1 to UGCA 82 ) are largely in constellations Fornax, Cetus and Eridanus which are not vieweable at night at this time of year.
  Closed 2020-04-24 (Database)
   
• ObsViewer momentarily showing Closed Shutter in between Half Open (Opening) and Open Shutter (Open) states. Wouldn't normally be noticed unless one looked during the brief (2s) period when issue occurs
  Fixed 2020-05-04 (AstroMain 3.21.4)

Continuous Improvement

• Add remaining UGCA Targets to the UGCA Galaxies project in the database.
  In progress 2020-04-27  (AstroDatabase)
   
• Add remaining Herschel Targets to the Herschel 400 project in the database.
  In progress 2020-09-15  (AstroDatabase)

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