David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 896 (2021-05-07)

Notes (S895)

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Notes (S897)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2021-05-07 >>      [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-05-07)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Test out bug fixes in AstroMain 3.39.11 and collect trace data to help understand other particular issues/bugs.
2. Image Linking. Test out modification to Image Linking / Pointing Error Determination made in AstroMain 3.39.11
3. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.3,  MeadeGeneric 1.1.0.337, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev4
   
• AstroMain 3.39.11,  AstroPlan 1.21.6,  AstroShCap 1.3.11, AstroGuard 1.6,   AstroVOE 1.7, AstroSN 1.5,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.12.4, AstroAllSky 3.10.4, AstroObsCam 1.5.5 )

Highlights

•   Image Linking.  AstroMain 3.39.11 seems to have resolved issues with image linking/pointing error determination seem during recent sessions. 
•   Centering.  Centering appears to be working correctly.

Lowlights

•   None

Notes:

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Dec Notes : Run 3 (red) impacted by periods of ineffective Dec guiding Run 6 (red) impacted by anomalous Dec jumps Run 1 (orange) impacted by periods of ineffective Dec guiding

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)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 00:32:13 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 00:32 & 02:26 00:32:14 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:32) 00:32:45 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-05-07 S00896, ImageSaveNum: 896001) 00:32:47   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:34:29   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:34:36 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:34:39 Session Pending Session pending (2021-05-07) 00:34:41 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-05-07) 00:34:43   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.21.6) 00:35:43   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 635) 00:35:57   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 00:36:03   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:36:13 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:37:00   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 46s) 00:37:40 Session Running Session running 00:37:42   Queue Started Observing Queue started (10 targets selected) 00:38:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:42:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:43:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:43:49       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:46:07       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:47:58       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:48:14       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 00:49:39     Target Started (1/10) Target started (1/10, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 00:52:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:54:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:11:03     Target Completed Target completed (1/10, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 01:11:31     Target Started (2/10) Target started (2/10, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) 01:15:14       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:32:05     Target Completed Target completed (2/10, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) 01:33:23     Target Started (3/10) Target started (3/10, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) 01:36:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:38:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:51:19     Target Completed Target completed (3/10, C/2020 T2 (Palomar)) 01:52:20     Target Started (4/10) Target started (4/10, GCVS R CrB) 01:56:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:57:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 02:00:43     Target Completed Target completed (4/10, GCVS R CrB) 02:01:01     Target Started (5/10) Target started (5/10, GCVS AM Her) 02:04:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:06:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:11:15     Target Completed Target completed (5/10, GCVS AM Her) 02:11:42     Target Started (6/10) Target started (6/10, 61 Cyg) 02:16:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:18:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:20:15     Target Completed Target completed (6/10, 61 Cyg) 02:20:17     Target Started (7/10) Target started (7/10, GCVS BL Lac) 02:24:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:26:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:29:40     Target Completed Target completed (7/10, GCVS BL Lac) 02:29:42     Target Started (8/10) Target started (8/10, AT2021hkn) 02:34:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:36:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:42:17     Target Completed Target completed (8/10, AT2021hkn) 02:42:19     Target Started (9/10) Target started (9/10, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) 02:45:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:47:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 03:03:40     Target Completed Target completed (9/10, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) 03:03:42     Target Started (10/10) Target started (10/10, UGC 11177 w/AT2021koq) 03:10:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:12:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:28:50     Target Completed Target completed (10/10, UGC 11177 w/AT2021koq) 03:28:53   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:28:55 Session Closing Session closing 03:29:50   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:30:37   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 40s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:31:37   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 54s) 03:32:07   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:32:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:32:59 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:33:10 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2021-05-07, S896)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• When Scope is slewing ObsCam pictures show Scope Az/Alt and Dome Az values which lag behind the actual scope & dome data.   Position data needs to be more frequently updated during slewing.   TeleComm code changed so that TP/IP messages are sent every 250ms when the scope is slewing or TP.bFollowScope = True (the normal send frequency is every 3s (was every 5s).
  Fixed 2021-05-09 (AstroMain 3.39.12)

Small Defects

• Hour Angle shown on ObsCam pictures is incorrect by 1h.  With Scope at RA 10h 08m and LST of 09h 20m, ObsCam shows HA  +00h 12m, but the correct HA show have been -0h 48m.
  Fixed 2021-05-09 (AstroMain 3.39.12)

Continuous Improvement

• Make further modifications to positioning of Log File line breaks. Further modification to improve readability and structure of log file
  Done 2021-05-08 (AstroMain 3.39.12)
   
• Assess the results of changes to ImageLink assessment & Pointing Error determination that were made in AstroMain 3.39.11.  Results from session seem to indicate that fixes to Plate Solution/Centering in AstroMain 3.39.11 appears to be successful.  Need to results from further sessions to be totally assured that fix works in all circumstances.
  2021-05-09 (Session / AstroMain)
   
• Add AllSky/Scope Pictures to Local Files WebPage.
  Done 2021-05-09 (AstroMain 3.39.12)
   
• Save AllSky Scope picture of Near Zenith Focus Field
  Done 2021-05-09 (AstroMain 3.39.12)

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