David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 920 (2021-10-03)

Notes (S919)

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Notes (S921)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (7),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2021-10-03 >>          [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-10-03)

Main aims

1. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions.
2. AstroMain/AstroPlan. Test updated TP2 linkage between AstroMain & AstroAllSky with SkyAduRate and DiffStats/Photometric Condition Indicator

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2 2.6.10,  DeviceHub 6.5.1.4,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.1.361, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.10
   
• AstroMain 3.43.1 & 3.43.2,  AstroPlan 1.24.3  AstroShCap 1.3.2, AstroGuard 1.6.2,  AstroVOE 1.8,  AstroSN 1.6,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.12.4, AstroAllSky 3.11.2, AstroObsCam 1.5.7)

Highlights

• Targets.  Images from a total of x targets were acquired through the session.   Sky partly clear
•   AstroMain/AstroPlan.  .

Lowlights

Notes:

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)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 23:22:24 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:22 & 05:15 23:22:26 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:22) 23:22:57 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-10-03 S00920, ImageSaveNum: 920001) 23:22:59   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:24:42   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:24:49 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:24:51 Session Pending Session pending (2021-10-03) 23:24:53 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-10-03) 23:24:55   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.24.3) 23:26:52   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 668) 23:27:15   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 23:27:21   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:27:45 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:28:30   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:28:32 Session Running Session running 23:28:35   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 23:28:36     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 23:30:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:33:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:35:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:35:48       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:38:15       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:40:10       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:40:29     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 23:40:32     Target Started (1/25) Target started (1/25, NGC 6500 w/SN2021wuf) 23:44:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:45:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:01:56     Target Completed Target completed (1/25, NGC 6500 w/SN2021wuf) 00:01:58     Target Started (2/25) Target started (2/25, GCVS BL Lac) 00:05:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:07:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:10:55     Target Completed Target completed (2/25, GCVS BL Lac) 00:12:07     Target Started (3/25) Target started (3/25, WDS GRB 34) 00:15:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:17:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:19:08     Target Completed Target completed (3/25, WDS GRB 34) 00:19:48   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted. 00:20:22     Target Started (4/25) Target started (4/25, NGC 940 w/SN2021vtl) 00:23:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:25:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:41:40     Target Completed Target completed (4/25, NGC 940 w/SN2021vtl) 00:42:14     Target Started (5/25) Target started (5/25, Nova Cas 2021) 00:46:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:48:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:58:45     Target Completed Target completed (5/25, Nova Cas 2021) 00:58:48     Target Started (6/25) Target started (6/25, GCVS Z And) 01:01:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:03:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:06:28     Target Completed Target completed (6/25, GCVS Z And) 01:07:04     Target Started (7/25) Target started (7/25, GCVS HH And) 01:10:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:12:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:13:59     Target Completed Target completed (7/25, GCVS HH And) 01:15:19     Target Started (8/25) Target started (8/25, GCVS RX And) 01:19:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:21:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:23:27     Target Completed Target completed (8/25, GCVS RX And) 01:23:29   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 01:23:45   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 01:23:48 Program Closed Program closed by User 01:24:58 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2021-10-03 S00920, ImageSaveNum: 920078) 01:25:20   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 01:25:22   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 01:25:26   Services Started Observatory Services started 01:25:35 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 01:25 & 05:15 01:25:37 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 01:25:39 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (01:25) 01:26:37   Services Started Observatory Services started 01:26:44 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 01:26:47 Session Pending Session pending (2021-10-03) 01:26:49 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-10-03) 01:26:55   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 668) 01:27:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 01:27:15   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 01:27:39 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 01:27:41 Session Running Session running 01:27:43   Queue Started Observing Queue started (17 targets selected) 01:27:46     Target Started (9/25) Target started (9/25, AT2021zkf) 01:32:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:34:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:47:24     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/25, AT2021zkf) 01:47:27     Target Started (10/25) Target started (10/25, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 01:53:17       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:10:34     Target Completed Target completed (10/25, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 02:10:36   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 02:10:46   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 02:10:48 Program Closed Program closed by User 02:12:00 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2021-10-03 S00920, ImageSaveNum: 920093) 02:12:04   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 02:12:06   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 02:12:10   Services Started Observatory Services started 02:12:19 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 02:12 & 05:15 02:12:21 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 02:12:23 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (02:12) 02:13:24   Services Started Observatory Services started 02:13:31 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 02:13:34 Session Pending Session pending (2021-10-03) 02:13:36 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-10-03) 02:13:44   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 668) 02:13:59   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 02:14:04   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 02:14:28 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 02:14:30 Session Running Session running 02:14:33   Queue Started Observing Queue started (15 targets selected) 02:14:35     Target Missed (11/25) Target's time slot was missed (11/25, Vega) 02:14:37     Target Started (12/25) Target started (12/25, GCVS RR Lyr) 02:18:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:20:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:24:51     Target Completed Target completed (12/25, GCVS RR Lyr) 02:25:19     Target Started (13/25) Target started (13/25, Vega) 02:29:24     Target Completed Target completed (13/25, Vega) 02:30:24   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted. 02:32:22     Target Started (14/25) Target started (14/25, M31 w/AT2021zdh) 02:36:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:38:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:54:29     Target Completed Target completed (14/25, M31 w/AT2021zdh) 02:54:31     Target Started (15/25) Target started (15/25, GSC 1224:29) 02:58:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:00:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:05:23     Target Completed Target completed (15/25, GSC 1224:29) 03:05:25     Target Started (16/26) Target started (16/26, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, ToO) 03:24:19     Target Completed Target completed (16/26, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, ToO) 03:24:21     Target Missed (17/26) Target's time slot was missed (17/26, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz) 03:26:48     Target Started (18/26) Target started (18/26, AT2021ckv) 03:30:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:32:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:37:17   UPB.Switch Restart UPB.Switch has been restarted. 03:37:54     Target Completed Target completed (18/26, AT2021ckv) 03:39:10     Target Started (19/26) Target started (19/26, NGC 1166 w/SN2021zby) 03:42:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:00:15     Target Completed Target completed (19/26, NGC 1166 w/SN2021zby) 04:01:02     Target Started (20/26) Target started (20/26, GCVS GK Per) 04:03:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:05:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:08:07     Target Completed Target completed (20/26, GCVS GK Per) 04:09:43     Target Started (21/26) Target started (21/26, M33 w/AT2021wcf) 04:16:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:26:05   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:33:55     Target Completed Target completed (21/26, M33 w/AT2021wcf) 04:33:57   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:33:59 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:34:45   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:50:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/26, NGC 9 w/AT2021zju) due to cloud 05:12:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/26, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) due to cloud 05:26:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/26, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 05:40:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/26, Nova Per 2020) due to cloud 06:02:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/26, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud 06:02:26   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:02:29 Session Closing Session closing 06:02:34   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:34, closing time 50s) 06:03:50   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 68s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:05:11   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 75s) 06:05:26   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 06:05:46   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:06:36   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:06:38 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:06:59 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 00:19:47 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted 00:19:50 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted. 01:00:13 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS Z And) 02:30:24 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted 02:30:26 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted. 03:37:17 UPB.Switch disconnected UPB.Switch has unexpectedly disconnected. Restart will be attempted 03:37:19 UPB.Switch UPB.Switch has been successfully restarted.

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Operational Issues (2021-10-03, S920)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (7)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (1)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Reporting of Sky Brightness (SkyAduRate) is sometimes working (giving expected values) and sometime not (giving values of 0). This can happen within the same target where for example the Conditions section and locate frames report 0, whilst Main Images later on report expected values (eg 34) , and at same time Sky Brightness can be reported as 0, but CloudAduRate is showing an expected number (e.g +14).  AstroAllSky report file shows SkyAduRate & CloudAduRate being meassured from 23:44  to  00:09.  Yet  AstroMain reports 0 at 00:01,  00:03,  00:04, but reports 25 at 00:05, 00:07, 00:09. Possibly fixed. Bug found 'SkyAduRate = TP2.NextTarget(i).SkyAduRate' was missing from GetCloudInformation() routine. Fixed attempted.
   Fixed 2021-10-03 (AstroMain 3.43.2)
   
• Reporting of Av.Sky Properties (target) is failing with message 'Average sky brightness & excess values not available' . Check Conditions section and locate frames reporting are also indicating  0 for SkyAduRate.  Bug found, .n = .n + 1 was missing from update stats section in TP2.ParseDataRecord() routine. Fixed
   Fixed 2021-10-03 (AstroMain 3.43.2)
   
• VRVR Seq Mode not being applied.  RR Lyr had 3 frame sets planned (3 x V & 3 x B using VRVR, followed by 3 x S using VVRR).  Although 2 sets were specified to use VRVR seq mode, they were taken using VVRR mode such that the images were taken in the sequence :  VVV BBB SSS, rather than expected sequence : VV VB VB SSS.   TakeMainScopeFrames() routine had been recently modified to handle 'Auto' Seqence mode.  Bug found in the logic in recent code block which was setting seq .mode to VVRR instead of retaining existing value.
   Fixed 2021-10-04 (AstroMain 3.43.3)
   
• New routine TakeCam2ReferenceImage() failed due to PHD2 failing to connect to SBIG camera (Cam1). New routine is intended to take a 10s reference frame using Cam2 (TS80+178MC) when Guiding is not used (on Vega and other short duration targets). It wasn't the intention to use Cam1 (LX200+ST10).  PHD2 is evidently being asked to connect to the wrong camera. Bug found (code was using Phd2.ConnectCam1Profile instead of Phd2.ConnectCam2Profile).  PHD2 also gave the error message "Cannot connect equipment when Connect Equipment dialog is open" which may have also contributed to the issue.
   Fixed 2021-10-04 (AstroMain 3.43.3)
   
• M31 w/AT not guiding.  PHD2 showing a modal dialog with warning about Cam Library Darks not able to use by newly selected.  Had to manually acknowledge the message and manually initiate guding for the remainder of the target. May not be able to do much.   This occured after PHD2 was accidently set to use equipment profile that uses the SBIG camera.   This was resolved in-session and shouldn't be a normal problem due to fix in TakeCam2ReferenceImage() routine, however it may be an issue further down the road when intentionally switching PHD2 between ZWO Camera profile and SBIG Camera profile. 
   Closed after review 2021-10-04 (Session, PHD2)
   
• Poor guiding for Target 1/25 (NGC 6500).  Star located in western sky. Guide star drifting north.  No Dec correction being applied as a 'North' guide mode was selected Should be Guide South. Dec guiding manually turned and then a little later set to Guide South.  PHD2 guiding then quickly brought the star back to the lock position. It's rare that Guiding Initiation fails to pick up the correct direction of star drift and sets an incorrect Dec Guide mode.  A fix has been attempted in AstroMain 3.43.4 but it requires a live test to confirm resolution of issue or requirements for further tweaking etc.
   Done 2021-10-07 (AstroMain 3.43.4)
   
• Further instance of TheSky6 / TeleAPI error 'Failed to create instance of the scope driver (POTH.Telescope)' on development computer even though TheSky6 was previously using TeleAPI / DeviceHub.Telescope'  TheSky document 'Clair_S611_NewTPointMapping3.sky' . TeleAPI is set to use ASCOM.DeviceHub.Telescope according to Registry.   Although POTH.Hub has been deleted it is still showing as a Key in ASCOM Profile.  POTH.Hub key deleted, to make it less like to be chosen.  Regedit:  shows VirtualStore/Machine/Software/WOW6432Node/SPACE.com/TheSky TeleAPI-ASCOM Plugin/  ASCOM Driver ID = ASCOM.DriverHub.Telescope.  Problem last occurred ahead of session S909 (2021-08-27).   There is suspicion (2022-05-16, See Session DH 6.6.0.8 Upgrade, S1010) that the issue occurs following each update to DeviceHub (which uninstalls old DH version / installs new version). However the issue didn't arise after upgrading DH to 6.6.0.10 on 2022-06-02.  Important to point out that the issue does not occur on the Observatory Computer (it is restricted to Development Computer).  The issue shares some similarity to a problem seen around 2022-07-14 (S1022A) when TeleApi Settings began showing blank Telescope field and not saving a fresh selection following a Windows Update which was resolved by starting TheSky6 one-time as adminstrator (see Investigation -  Can't Connect TheSky6 Scope (Blank TeleAPI, following Win Update), 2022-07-14).
   Resolved, 2022-05-16 (Development Computer, TheSky6/TeleAPI, Windows Update)

Small Defects

• TargetName logged against Start & Stop SkyStatsCollection is invalid. Log file shows 'C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Targets\' instead of target name (GCVS BL Lac). This is due to a code error which referes szTargetListFolder instead of szTargetName.  Fixed
   Fixed 2021-10-03 (AstroMain 3.43.2)

Continuous Improvement

• When Starting PHD2 and SharpCap Services the reporting messages get messed up if PHD2 and/or SharpCap are not open and are auto-opened. When PHD2 and SharpCap are auto-opened (because they are not already open) an extra ReportComment("Ok") is added upon starting each application which causes the subsequent ReportComment ("Ok" , "Started (22:39) (IP: 127.0.0.1 Port: 4400)" )  to be pushed onto the underlying row, without appropritate intent. Bug found (code not honouring the passed parameter 'bReport=False' which was designed to supress report message such as "Ok" in RunApplication2 () character.
   Fixed 2021-10-04 (AstroMain 3.43.3)

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