David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 772 (2020-04-22)

Notes (S771)

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Notes (S773)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (4),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2020-04-22 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-04-22)

Main aims

1. AstroMain: Test 3.20.5 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 3.20.5 (new) ,  Astroguard 1.2.11,   AstroPlan 1.14.1,  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 cloud in the first part of night but with possibility of some clear breaks later in night. Conditions were forecast to be dry and calm with temperatures dropping to minimum of 5 deg C by dawn. In the event conditions were clearer than forecast, allowing a session to be conducted. Fog/haar developed from the east. Conditions calms with minimum temperature of 0.5 deg C (much lower than forecast)

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 21:19:13 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-04-22 S00772, ImageSaveNum: 772001) 21:19:54   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 21:20:46   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 21:20:48   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 21:20:52   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:21:02   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:22:46   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:23:26   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 21:23:35   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:26:03   Shutter Opened Shutter opened (opening time 43s) 21:27:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:30:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:30:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:34:42       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:35:04       Focusing Started Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:37:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:37:38 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:37:40 Session Pending Session pending (2020-04-22) 21:37:42 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-04-22) 21:37:44   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.14.1) 21:38:10   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-04-22 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 496) 21:38:13   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 21:38:22   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:38:34 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:55:02   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:55:04   Equilibration Skipped Dome Equilibration skipped by user 21:55:06 Session Running Session running 21:55:08   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 22:02:01     Target Started (1/29) Target started (1/29, LAMOST-HVS1) 22:04:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:07:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:11:30     Target Completed Target completed (1/29, LAMOST-HVS1) 22:11:48     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, GCVS SY Cnc) 22:14:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:18:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:21:02     Target Completed Target completed (2/29, GCVS SY Cnc) 22:21:26     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:26:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:28:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:33:59     Target Completed Target completed (3/29, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:34:01     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, NGC 3245) 22:37:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:39:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:54:41     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, NGC 3245) 22:54:43     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, UGCA 205) 23:00:57       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 23:05:27     Target Aborted (5/29) Target aborted (5/29, UGCA 205) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 23:05:29     Target Started (6/30) Target started (6/30, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 23:08:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:11:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:33:12     Target Completed Target completed (6/30, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 23:33:15     Target Started (7/31) Target started (7/31, UGC 8040) 00:00:41     Target Completed Target completed (7/31, UGC 8040) 00:00:43     Target Missed (8/31) Target's time slot was missed (8/31, GCVS DX Cnc) 00:00:45     Target Missed (9/31) Target's time slot was missed (9/31, Frosty Leo Nebula) 00:00:47     Target Missed (10/31) Target's time slot was missed (10/31, GCVS ER UMa) 00:00:49     Target Started (11/31) Target started (11/31, GCVS AM CVn) 00:02:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:05:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:08:21     Target Completed Target completed (11/31, GCVS AM CVn) 00:08:23     Target Started (12/31) Target started (12/31, 88P/Howell) 00:11:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:14:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:24:42     Target Completed Target completed (12/31, 88P/Howell) 00:24:44     Target Started (13/31) Target started (13/31, GCVS SS Her) 00:28:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:31:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 00:35:07     Target Completed Target completed (13/31, GCVS SS Her) 00:35:09     Target Started (14/31) Target started (14/31, GCVS R CrB) 00:37:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:39:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:42:37     Target Completed Target completed (14/31, GCVS R CrB) 00:42:39     Target Started (15/31) Target started (15/31, GCVS U Her) 00:45:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:48:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:55:33     Target Completed Target completed (15/31, GCVS U Her) 00:55:35     Target Started (16/31) Target started (16/31, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:00:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:03:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 01:06:42     Target Completed Target completed (16/31, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:06:44     Target Started (17/31) Target started (17/31, 61 Cyg) 01:13:55     Target Completed Target completed (17/31, 61 Cyg) 01:13:57     Target Started (18/31) Target started (18/31, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 01:17:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:19:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:40:39     Target Completed Target partially completed (18/31, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) 01:40:41     Target Started (19/31) Target started (19/31, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 01:44:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:47:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 01:55:05     Target Completed Target completed (19/31, C/2018 N2 (ASASSN)) 01:55:07     Target Started (20/31) Target started (20/31, GCVS AM Her) 01:57:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:00:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 02:05:33     Target Completed Target completed (20/31, GCVS AM Her) 02:05:35     Target Started (21/31) Target started (21/31, GCVS V Sge) 02:08:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:11:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 02:17:48     Target Completed Target partially completed (21/31, GCVS V Sge) 02:17:50     Target Started (22/31) Target started (22/31, GCVS CI Cyg) 02:20:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:22:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 02:26:25     Target Completed Target completed (22/31, GCVS CI Cyg) 02:26:27     Target Started (23/31) Target started (23/31, HIP 87937) 02:28:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:31:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 02:34:11     Target Completed Target completed (23/31, HIP 87937) 02:34:13     Target Started (24/31) Target started (24/31, GCVS S Cyg) 02:49:05     Target Completed Target partially completed (24/31, GCVS S Cyg) 02:49:07     Target Started (25/31) Target started (25/31, Basel 10) 02:52:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:55:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 03:00:42     Target Completed Target partially completed (25/31, Basel 10) 03:00:44     Target Started (26/31) Target started (26/31, GCVS DY Per) 03:03:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:06:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 03:10:44     Target Completed Target completed (26/31, GCVS DY Per) 03:10:46     Target Started (27/31) Target started (27/31, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:13:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:15:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 03:19:32     Target Completed Target completed (27/31, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:21:38     Target Started (28/31) Target started (28/31, GCVS BL Lac) 03:24:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:26:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 03:30:28     Target Completed Target completed (28/31, GCVS BL Lac) 03:31:56     Target Started (29/31) Target started (29/31, GCVS HH And) 03:34:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:37:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25) 03:39:18     Target Completed Target completed (29/31, GCVS HH And) 03:40:11     Target Started (30/31) Target started (30/31, WDS GRB 34) 03:42:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:45:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26) 03:47:17     Target Completed Target completed (30/31, WDS GRB 34) 03:48:26     Target Started (31/31) Target started (31/31, GCVS RX And) 03:50:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:53:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27) 03:56:34     Target Completed Target completed (31/31, GCVS RX And) 03:56:37   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:56:41 Session Closing Session closing 03:57:36   Shutter Closed Shutter closed (closing time 50s) 03:58:11   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 35s) 03:58:23   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 9s) 03:58:54   Scope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 03:59:42   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:59:44 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:00:02 Session Finished Session Finished

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Operational Issues (2020-04-22, S772)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Zenith FWHM chart showing only 6 grid lines instead of 8 lines intended and not showing final Y Axis label for 8.0 .   Previous change  to show Y Axis in range 0 to 8 arc secs has only partially worked and further coding changes are required.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.20.6)
   
• Dome Slews taking longer than normal. There were 4 very slow dome slews during the session with speeds in range 14-25°/min.   There was also several slow slews in range 25-75°/min.  The longest slew (to S Cyg) took 183s at a speed of 24.6°/min and may have caused or contributed to target not being completed within its alloted time slot.   Despite this problem all slews were completed, there was no loss in position tracking and the dome parked in correct position at end of session. The slowest slews occured in the eastern sky when rotating anti-clockwise. It is possible that the problem related to wet / slippery dome roof flange due to the high humidity.   Flange was wiped clean on the following morning.
  Closed 2020-04-23 (Observatory)
   
• Data on the Focus Temperature chart dropped below the 12° to 2°C range of the chart. Temperature range is set at the beginning of the session and large falls or large rises in temperature could see temperature curve ploting outside range. There was some code in the routine (I think) to try to handle this but it may need tuning/correcting. Part fixed for adjusting StartChart procedure so that Chart has 3°C of headroom above the starting temperature and 7°C below.
    Part Fixed 2020-05-06 (AstroMain 3.21.6)
   
• Time label and grid lines missing from Focus Temperature at around 02:30.  Time label for 02:30 and grid lines from 02:20 to 02:50 missing from chart.  These would be normally drawn by a call to FocusTempChart.ExtendChart which extends the chart in increments of 30 minutes.  Log file shows exceptions in ExtendChart routine at 02:00 ' Extend FocusTempChart Fail - Object is currently in use elsewhere'. This can happen very occasionally due to competing calls to use FocusTempChart.   Problem can be solved by placing a lock on FocusTempChart and holding calls to update chart until the lock is cleared.  Alternatively a flag could be set when the extension has been successfully performed,  or call the repeated on to the next iteration if the flag hasn't been set.  Same fix made as used for solving issue for ZenithFWHM chart (see S857).
  Fixed 2021-02-07 (AstroMain 3.36)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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