David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 810 (2020-09-17)

Notes (S809)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S811)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2020-09-17 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-09-17)

Main aims

1. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of targets if conditions allow.

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 4.6.1.10, UPB 1.5 
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9
   
• AstroMain 3.28.7,  AstroGuard 1.4.3,   AstroPlan 1.16,  AstroShCap 1.2.23, AstroVOE 1.3.6, AstroProtect 1.4.1
  (AstroWeather 1.10.11, AstroAllSky 3.6)
  

Highlights

• Targets. Several targets acquired  despite the poor than forecast conditions.

Lowlights

•   Cloud. Night was far cloudier than expected.  Weather forecast had indicated at least 5 hours of clear skies,  but the total time with clear skies was only about 1 hour.

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) Pre-Session Weather forecast showed dry and relatively clear conditons for the entire night (dropping to 0-2% cloud cover , by 21:00, with cloud patch (25%) around 01:00, increasing to 12-26% cloud cover by dawn)  with minimum temperature of 11°C and  winds falling from 15 mph at dusk to 3 mph at dawn.  In the event conditions were dry and started very clear, however cloud developed at 22:30 and cloud cover remaining at ~100% for the remainder of the night  Winds strength drecreased through the night as per forcast, and minimum temperature was 12°C

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 20:32:32 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-09-17 S00810, ImageSaveNum: 810001) 20:32:35   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:34:24   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:34:33 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:34:35 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 20:15 & 04:50 20:34:37   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 20:15 20:34:39   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 20:34:41 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:32) 20:34:43 Session Pending Session pending (2020-09-17) 20:34:45 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-09-17) 20:34:47   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.16) 20:35:47   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-09-17 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 544) 20:35:59   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 20:36:05   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:36:17 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:37:02   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:37:05   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 20:37:07   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (0.0 mins total) 20:37:09 Session Running Session running 20:37:11   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 20:38:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:43:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:45:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:45:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:48:36       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:50:45       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:51:07       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 20:51:10     Target Missed (1/29) Target's time slot was missed (1/29, GCVS CY Lyr) 20:51:12     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, GCVS SS Cyg) 20:54:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:57:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:00:49     Target Completed Target completed (2/29, GCVS SS Cyg) 21:06:09     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, GCVS BL Lac) 21:08:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:11:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:14:58     Target Completed Target completed (3/29, GCVS BL Lac) 21:16:27     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, B106) 21:18:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:21:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:49:27     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, B106) 21:49:29     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, B107). Using SharpCap 22:08:17     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/29, B107) 22:08:19     Target Started (6/29) Target started (6/29, B110) 22:10:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:13:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:36:15   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:53:10   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 316s) 22:54:15   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:55:58 User Intervention User Intervention to restart Dome Service & restart Software Suite 22:55:59 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 22:56:55     Target Failed Target failed due to aborted (6/29, B110) 22:56:57   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 22:56:59   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 22:57:02 Program Closed Program closed by User 22:57:04 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:00:59 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-09-17 S00810, ImageSaveNum: 810041) 23:01:22   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:01:24   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:01:38   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:02:32   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 23:03:03   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:03:05   Foc1 Port Changed Foc1 Port changed from to COM18 23:03:47   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:05:23   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:05:38   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:06:00   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 23:06:25 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:06:26 Session Pending Session pending (2020-09-17) 23:06:28 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-09-17) 23:06:30   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-09-17 V1 ACTIVE PLAN S810, Plan ID: 544) 23:06:32   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -10°C) 23:06:35   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:06:47 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:06:49 Wait On Weather Waiting For acceptable conditions 23:06:51 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:06:53   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closure time is unknown) 23:06:55   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 23:06:57     Target Missed (7/29) Target's time slot was missed (7/29, GCVS V Sge) 23:06:59     Target Missed (8/29) Target's time slot was missed (8/29, 61 Cyg) 23:07:01     Target Missed (9/29) Target's time slot was missed (9/29, UGC 11964) 23:13:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/29, NGC 7550) due to cloud 23:24:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/29, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 23:44:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/29, UGC 12506) due to cloud 00:02:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/29, NGC 7722) due to cloud 00:17:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/29, GCVS U And) due to cloud 00:26:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/29, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 00:46:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/29, UGC 6) due to cloud 01:08:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/29, UGC 1924) due to cloud 01:21:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/29, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud 01:41:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/29, NGC 2782) due to cloud 01:59:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/29, UGC 6930) due to cloud 02:10:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/29, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 02:35:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/29, UGC 695) due to cloud 02:58:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/29, UGCA 17) due to cloud 03:35:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/29, Abell 370) due to cloud 03:57:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/29, UGCA 42) due to cloud 04:20:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/29, NGC 1128) due to cloud 04:42:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/29, NGC 1637) due to cloud 05:05:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/29, UGCA 102) due to cloud 05:28:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/29, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud 05:28:29   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:28:31 Session Closing Session closing 05:28:36   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closure time is unknown) 05:28:38   Dome Parked Dome already parked (parking time is unknown) 05:29:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 31s) 05:29:42   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 05:30:38   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:30:40 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:30:49 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2020-09-17 S810)

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

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

•  None

Major Issues

• DeviceHub.Dome stopped refreshing (21:40).  Similar to other occurances.  DeviceHub stopped making 5s interval interrogations of the Pulsar Dome Driver at 21:40:44 (specifically at some point after 21:40:44 and before 21:40:49).   This was during Mosaic Point 7/9 of Target 4/29 (B106 Mosaic).  Dome became stationary at Az 204.3 deg at this point as the DeviceHub stopped making adjustments of dome's azimuth in line with Telescope.  Message describing problem posted on ASCOM Talk Forum (2020-09-18)  https://ascomtalk.groups.io/g/Help/topic/76935263#42838 .  Issue was eventually fixed on 2020-10-15 by the installation of Device Hub 6.5.0.1 which has better exception trapping.   Issue deemed closed on 2020-11-06 after there were no similar incidents during the first 8 sessions using the new DH version. 
  Closed 2020-11-06 (Device Hub 6.5.0.1)
   
• Job Queue became frozen (22:24)  Obs.Overseer reported that job queue appeared to have become frozen at 22:24 whilst undertaking Mosaic Point 1/1 for Target 6/29 (B110 Mosaic). Last IamAlive message was from TakeMosaicPoint/Continue/ at 22:14. It's unclear if problem was related in anyway to DeviceHub.Dome issue which started at 21:40 or B107 issue at 21:51.  Slewing to B110 target, centering and autofocusing was completely normal (apart from Dome/ScopeAz discrepency).  Issue closed on 2021-01-04 following a review that showed that the AstroMain was essentially stable (following a series of improvements and fixes), with an absence of any unexplained program hangs or crashes during the 35 sessions between 2020-09-18 & 2021-01-03.
  Closed 2021-01-04 (AstroMain 3.33)

Minor Issues

• Image returned for B107 (supposedly from ShCap) is square & blank (21:51) . B107 image doesn't make sense, a rectangular images is expected but a square one is returned & uploaded to web site. Same thing happended in earlier session (S808).   AstroShCap report shows error message "Method (take_image_set) not known".  AstroMain shows message from Obs.Overseer reporting that TakeSharpCapFrames/Imaging  is 'taking a long time' (22:01) and later 'taking a very long time' (22:06) and aborts the AstroShCap Imaging. Convert FileToJpg still runs and uses the last ShCap image 'Focus_02_check3_7995.fits'  which is scaled up to become the square, relatively blank image uploaded and seen on the website.   Investigating :   AstroMain's 'ImageTargetSharpCap(T as classT) routine calls the ShCap method 'take_image_set'. AstroShCap recognises Method == 'take_image_set' , where if AppState = "Ready" and form.checkboxAutoMode.Checked == True a new thread is started to the TakeImageSet  using LiveStacking  (start_new_thread(TakeImageSet,(objectname, count, exposure, gain)) )    Examining ShCap code shows that "Method (take_image_set) not known" can be generated due to bug where if,  elif, else structure hasn't been correctly applied. This is fixed in AstroShCap 1.2.26, however it does explain why take_image_set (TakeImageSet thread) didn't commence. Need to be re-tested.   Issue is considered closed following changes/updates to AstroShCap and AstroMain in Oct 2020.
  Oct 2020 (AstroMain / SharpCap)
   
• Obs.Overseer producing 'Obs.Monitor is Pending' message for each TakeFocusImage operation.  Whilst reviewing an issue with B110 target log file was noted to contain an Obs.Monitor message for each TakeFocusImage at point 6s after starting 2s focus frame.    (The allowed time may not be enough ?).   The message is sometimes accompanied by a 'UI is Pending' message.   Logfile is littered with the 'Obs.Monitor is Pending' messages (64 in total during the session) which indicates that something is frequently slowing down the Obs.Monitor loop.    The more critical 'Obs.Monitor is Frozen' message is much rarer (just 2 in total during whole session  one at 20:38:27 (near start of Focus Profile 1, Wide)  the other at 20:42:58 (near end of Focus Profile 1, Wide ).   'Obs.Monitor is Pending' messages are produced when the current ObsMonitorCycle has taken > 4s (but < 10s) to execute.   When cycle has taken > 10s to execute the 'Obs.Monitor is Frozen' message is produced.  Code modified to show exact time taken by over-running Monitor cycles, to show when an overran monitor cycle has finished.   Monitor cycles are set to have a fixed 2.5s interval time (except where overrun)  instead of a fixed 2s sleep at the end of each and every cycle.   Data will aid further diagnosis.   Finally fixed in AstroMain 3.38.1 (2021-03-08) by preventing access to Focuser1 properties whilst Focuser1.Moving is True.
  Done 2021-03-08 (AstroMain 3.38.1)
   
• No report or alert messages were produced when AllSky/Weather data went offline at 04:17. AllSky/Weather computer appears to have rebooted around 04:17 which knocked out AllSky/Weather data to Observatory Computer whilst session was alive but suspended.  There were no messages or alerts to indicate this.  Monitor data file shows Cloud Sensor data static on the same values for 30 mins, before turning blank. Weather Station data turns blank immediately.   At 04:42 session reported target cancelled/session suspended 'due to cloud',  whilst at 05:05 the next target was cancelled and the session suspended 'due to absence of current sky/weather info'.   Obs.Manager has been extended to produce Alarm / Alert / Report / Log messages when LastCloudSensorTime was more than 5 minutes ago.   MonitorFile only writes CloudSensor readings ( Rain, Clarity, Light) if LastCloudSensorTime is < 2 minutes old.
  Fixed 2020-09-28 (AstroMain 3.29.3) 

Continuous Improvement

• Target Info chart for ShCap Targets should say 'Imaging Started (ShCap)". Info Charts for B107 showed 'Imaging Started', however 'Imaging Started (ShCap)' would be more useful.
  Done 2020-09-19 (AstroMain 3.28.9)
   
• Log file contains Dew Control messages '98_T1', '98_T2' & '98_TubeTemp' . It is unclear these messages are significant or whether they are simply old debug lines.  Code shows these mesage lines are generated when   Focuser1.PreciseTemperature < TargetTemperature - 2 * Tolerance    Lines finally commented out in AstroMain 3.30
  Resolved 2020-10-04 (AstroMain 3.30)
   
• Eliminate high dew heater episodes that can occur during daytime as the outside air heats up before the interior of observatory heats up.   CheckAutoDewHeating() routine caps Dew Heater power to maximum of 70% when SunAlt > 4 degs
  Done 2020-09-21 (AstroMain 3.29.0)

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top