David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 846 (2021-01-06)

Notes (S845)

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Notes (S847)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2021-01-06 >>
	2021-01-07
	UPB Powerbox - New T/H sensor

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-01-06)

Main aims

1. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets and deep sky targets as allowed by conditions.
2. PHD2.  Try out new 2.6.9dev3 version

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.0,  UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev3
   
• AstroMain 3.33.3  AstroGuard 1.4.6,   AstroPlan 1.18  AstroShCap 1.3.6, AstroVOE 1.5.2, AstroSN 1.1,  AstroProtect 1.4.1
  (AstroWeather 1.10.13, AstroAllSky 3.6)

Highlights

• Shutter Operation.  Shutter operations worked flawlessly.
• AstroMain UI.  AstroMain operated without hanging even though windows were being manipulated during session monitoring.
   (previously program has appear to hung when program windows were clicked/bright to front. Earlier frozen AstroMainissues can be considered resolved).

Lowlights

•   AstroAllSky.  AstroAllSky program suffered a random glitch causing it to crash and unable to auto-restart.  Scope/Shutter data columns lost from NightSummary6 plot.

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance

Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)

Chart unavailable for this 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) Telescope & Shutter Information is missing due to problem with AstroAllSky

Pre-Session Weather Forecast (API data from darksky.net) Pre-Session Weather forecast showed initial snow showers followed by slight clearing (85-91% cloud cover), followed by overcast skies,  with possible sleet/snow showers moving to later to rain showers as temperatures rose from -2 degC at dusk to 4 degC at dawn Wind calm/light in first part of night, but strengthening later reached 17-19 mph by dawn. In the event skies were very clear from dusk to 22:30 before clouding over for the remainder of the night with prolonged rain shower at rain shower at 02:30-03:15. Minumum Temperature of -4 degC at 22:00 before warming later in night under cloud. Winds relatively light in first half of night, but strengthening towards dawn.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 17:14:15 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 17:14 & 06:36 17:14:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:14) 17:14:58 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-01-06 S00846, ImageSaveNum: 846001) 17:15:01   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:16:56   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:17:04 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:17:07 Session Pending Session pending (2021-01-06) 17:17:09 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-01-06) 17:17:11   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.18) 17:17:38   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2021-01-06 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 581) 17:17:52   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 17:17:56   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 17:18:06 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 17:19:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:20:09   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 17:25:08   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (5.0 mins total) 17:25:10 Session Running Session running 17:25:12   Queue Started Observing Queue started (44 targets selected) 17:26:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:29:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:31:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:31:31       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:33:44       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:35:33       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:35:49       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 17:37:07     Target Started (1/44) Target started (1/44, GCVS SS Cyg) 17:39:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:41:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 17:44:57     Target Completed Target completed (1/44, GCVS SS Cyg) 17:52:19     Target Started (2/44) Target started (2/44, UGC 12914) 17:55:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:57:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:13:12     Target Completed Target completed (2/44, UGC 12914) 18:14:42     Target Started (3/44) Target started (3/44, M33 w/AT2021bl) 18:18:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:35:24     Target Completed Target completed (3/44, M33 w/AT2021bl) 18:36:33     Target Started (4/44) Target started (4/44, GCVS HH And) 18:39:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:41:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 18:43:20     Target Completed Target completed (4/44, GCVS HH And) 18:44:48     Target Started (5/44) Target started (5/44, WDS GRB 34) 18:47:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:49:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 18:50:46     Target Completed Target completed (5/44, WDS GRB 34) 18:53:03     Target Started (6/44) Target started (6/44, GCVS DY Per) 18:55:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:57:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 19:02:16     Target Completed Target completed (6/44, GCVS DY Per) 19:03:11     Target Started (7/44) Target started (7/44, SN 2020aagy) 19:05:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:07:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 19:23:01     Target Completed Target completed (7/44, SN 2020aagy) 19:25:33     Target Started (8/44) Target started (8/44, GCVS RX And) 19:27:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:29:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 19:32:04     Target Completed Target completed (8/44, GCVS RX And) 19:33:53     Target Started (9/44) Target started (9/44, UGC 1161 w/SN2020acch) 19:36:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:54:13     Target Completed Target completed (9/44, UGC 1161 w/SN2020acch) 19:56:15     Target Started (10/44) Target started (10/44, UGC 2528 w/AT2020adnx) 19:58:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:00:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 20:16:26     Target Completed Target completed (10/44, UGC 2528 w/AT2020adnx) 20:18:07     Target Started (11/44) Target started (11/44, AT2021W) 20:19:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:21:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 20:32:33     Target Completed Target completed (11/44, AT2021W) 20:35:29     Target Started (12/44) Target started (12/44, VV 107) 20:37:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:39:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 20:55:28     Target Completed Target completed (12/44, VV 107) 20:57:51     Target Started (13/44) Target started (13/44, 277P/LINEAR) 21:00:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:02:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 21:12:30     Target Completed Target completed (13/44, 277P/LINEAR) 21:14:21     Target Started (14/44) Target started (14/44, Nova Per 2020 w/AT2020abap) 21:17:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:19:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 21:27:36     Target Completed Target completed (14/44, Nova Per 2020 w/AT2020abap) 21:29:13     Target Started (15/44) Target started (15/44, GCVS CM Tau) 21:31:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 21:47:44     Target Completed Target completed (15/44, GCVS CM Tau) 21:49:14     Target Started (16/44) Target started (16/44, UGCA 201) 21:49:27     Target Failed Target failed due to slew error (16/44, UGCA 201) 22:11:35     Target Started (17/44) Target started (17/44, NGC 3277) 22:14:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:16:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 22:21:35 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Shutter) 22:21:37   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:21:41     Target Aborted (17/44) Target aborted (17/44, NGC 3277) due to cloud 22:21:43   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:21:46 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:22:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:30:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/44, NGC 3277) due to cloud 22:53:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/44, UGCA 240) due to cloud 23:15:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/44, UGC 4043) due to cloud 23:29:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/44, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 23:30:57 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 23:30:59   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:31:02 Session Closing Session closing 23:31:07   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 22:22, closing time 50s) 23:34:16   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 181s), Az: 90.0 deg 23:34:59   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 38s) 23:35:29   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 23:36:19   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 23:36:21 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 23:36:32 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 18:54:47 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS DY Per) 19:04:32 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (SN 2020aagy)

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Operational Issues (2021-01-06 S846)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Continuous Improvement (4)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroAllSKy crashed at 22:50. Resolved by restarting AstroAllSky, CCDSoft & TheSky.  Night Summary plot unfortunately lost from the first part of night.  Exception
  System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80010105): The server threw an exception. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80010105 (RPC_E_SERVERFAULT))
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.LateBinding.LateGet(Object o, Type objType, String name, Object[] args, String[] paramnames, Boolean[] CopyBack)
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.NewLateBinding.LateGet(Object Instance, Type Type, String MemberName, Object[] Arguments, String[] ArgumentNames, Type[] TypeArguments, Boolean[] CopyBack)
   at AstroAllSky.globals2.AllSkyTakeFrames() in C:\Users\David\Documents\Visual Studio 2017\Projects\AstroAllSky\globals.vb:line 13720
  Line 13720 corresponds to the following code in the AllSkyTakeFrames() routine
      ObjectInfo = Chart.Find("Sun")
  It's unclear why the program would have randomly crashed at this point, unless they was some particular problem with TheSky program or TheSky COM objects.  AstroAllSky 3.6  has been running on Laptop7 since 2020-06-01 without encountering this issue, so issue is presumed to be a rare random glitch.  Recommendation to close issue.
  Closed 2021-01-07, unable to determine cause  (AstroAllSky)

Continuous Improvement

• Cloud Sensor Plot cuts off AllSky Star Count at 50 (Y Max) - Curve should be allowed to continue plotting above 50.  GraphIDs 5, 24, & 25
  Done 2020-01-08 (AstroWeather 1.10.14)
   
• Adjust dome closing routine so that any 'Ignored' Close Shutter Commands are quickly followed up. Code modified so that if Shutter hasn't started closing after 15s, the Close Shutter request is resent.
  Done 2020-01-08 (AstroMain 3.33.4)
   
• Modify AstroSN so that M31, M33 and CV transients are placed in specific Programs.   New Programs created in database: M31 Transients (Program ID=45), M33 Transients (Program ID=46), CV Transients (Program ID=47), Novae (Program ID=48) , 2021-01-11
  Done 2021-01-11 (Target Database, AstroSN 1.2.1)
   
• Weather Icons with snow need to be collated/created. Snow icons have been check/created were necessary 2021-10-28 which work with OpenWeatherMap API response's at least.
  Done 2021-10-28 (AstroWeather

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2021-01-07

UPB Powerbox - New T/H Sensor

The Humidity Sensor on existing T/H sensor connected to UPB PowerBox failed in Q4 2020.  Sensor reads humidity of 99%. This was the same failure as the original T/H sensor.  Instead of going back through to Pegasus Astro, it was decided to order a couple of Sonoff AM2301 T/H sensors (a replacement and a spare) via AliExpress.

These arrived today (2021-01-07).  Unfortunately the new sensor has a narrower dimension (mini) male plug than the existing sensor, and therefore doesn't fit the female receptor on the UPB Powerbox.    

A 2.5mm female to 3.5mm male stereo adapter has been ordered via Amazon in the hope that it will allow the new sensors to be connected !

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