David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 948 (2022-01-03)

Notes (S947)

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Notes (S949)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2022-01-03 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-01-03)

Main aims

1. Centering. Test out JogUsingPulseGuide () routine for jogs in range 2 to 5 arc min.
2. Guiding Performance. Test out guiding performance using new
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, DeviceHub 6.5.1.9,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.3.373, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.10
   
• AstroMain 3.48.15 / 3.48.16,  AstroPlan 1.29.1,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.3,  AstroVOE 1.9,  AstroSN 1.7.1,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.15.2, AstroAllSky 3.14.3,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.1)

Highlights

•  Guiding Performance. Dec Guiding performance was good (or at least a lot better than it has been prior to telescope rebalancing, polar alignment adjustment, software improvements.  Dec Guiding performance is no longer worse than RA Guiding performance.   Next step would be to try to improve RA guiding by generating new PEC Curves and/or slightly better Polar Alignment.
•  Wind Exclusion Zone. Use of wind exclusion zones during building of session's Observing Plan meant that planned targets were positioned away from the direction of strongest wind and consequently very few frames were lost because of wind shake/vibration.
•  Targets. Multiple targets werre successfully imaged. Conditions good & no significant issues with software or equipment.

Notes:

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance Centering performance was mostly very good, but an issue with LX200 processing performance (now fixed) caused a problem for slewing to and centering a couple of targets

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Black point (7)   - Slow LX200 Processing causing infrequent Guide Steps and guide failures (issue now fixed) Purple point (6)   - Slow LX200 Processing causing infrequent Guide Steps and guide failures (issue now fixed) Purple point (17)   -  Ineffective Dec guiding (Frames 1-3) and Cloud/Lost Star (Frame 4 & 5) - Black point on RA guiding Red point  (2)   - Guide star on wrong side of Zero Line for the chosen DecGuideMode (overcorrection / cloud /wind ? effects) Yellow points (8) - Ineffective Dec guiding (Frame 1) Yellow points  (11)    - Guide star  on wrong side of Zero Line for the chosen DecGuideMode &  ineffective Dec Pulse Guides. Yellow points  (12, 13)    - Ineffective Dec Pulse Guides (near Zenith, issue guiding south)

Sky Conditions (Locate Frames) Sky Brightness measurement problem (due to a SBIG camera bias level issue) is now fixed

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 16:32:39 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 16:47 & 06:27 16:32:44   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 16:47 16:47:46   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 17:04:18 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:04) 17:04:55 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-01-03 S00948, ImageSaveNum: 948001) 17:04:57   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:06:39   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:06:45 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:06:48 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-03) 17:06:50 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-03) 17:06:52   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.2) 17:07:25   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 702) 17:07:48   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 17:07:55   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 17:08:19 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 17:09:04   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:09:54 Session Running Session running 17:09:56   Queue Started Observing Queue started (42 targets selected) 17:09:59     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 17:11:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:15:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:17:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:17:27       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:19:37       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:21:23       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:21:41     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 17:21:56     Target Started (1/42) Target started (1/42, GCVS EV Lac) 17:25:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:27:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 17:30:56     Target Completed Target completed (1/42, GCVS EV Lac) 17:31:00     Target Started (2/43) Target started (2/43, Nova Cas 2021, ToO) 17:33:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:37:18       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Quadratic) 17:45:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/43, Nova Cas 2021, ToO) 17:46:01     Target Started (3/43) Target started (3/43, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 17:55:50     Target Completed Target partially completed (3/43, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 17:55:55     Target Started (4/43) Target started (4/43, 19P/Borrelly) 17:59:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:01:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 18:10:00     Target Completed Target completed (4/43, 19P/Borrelly) 18:10:04     Target Started (5/43) Target started (5/43, 132P/Helin-Roman-Alu) 18:13:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:15:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 18:23:28     Target Completed Target completed (5/43, 132P/Helin-Roman-Alu) 18:23:32     Target Started (6/43) Target started (6/43, UGC 1971 w/SN2021afkk) 18:26:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:28:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 18:44:57     Target Completed Target completed (6/43, UGC 1971 w/SN2021afkk) 18:45:01     Target Started (7/43) Target started (7/43, UGC 1098 w/AT2021ahep) 19:02:46     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/43, UGC 1098 w/AT2021ahep) 19:02:48   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 19:07:08   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 19:09:54 Program Closed Program closed by User 19:13:15 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-03 S00948, ImageSaveNum: 948063) 19:13:44   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:13:46   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:13:49   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:14:07 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:14 & 06:27 19:14:09 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 19:14:11 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:14) 19:14:29   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:17:10   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:18:30 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:18:34 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-03) 19:18:36 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-03) 19:18:44   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 702) 19:18:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 19:19:01   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:19:27 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:19:29 Session Running Session running 19:19:32   Queue Started Observing Queue started (36 targets selected) 19:19:36     Target Started (7/42) Target started (7/42, AT2021agrr) 19:31:21     Target Failed Target failed due to centering error (7/42, AT2021agrr) 19:31:23   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 19:38:34   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 19:38:47 Program Closed Program closed by User 19:42:54 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-03 S00948, ImageSaveNum: 948066) 19:43:16   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 19:43:18   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 19:43:21   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:43:44   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:49:38   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:58:43 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 19:58:45 Session Closing Session closing 19:59:19   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 20:00:14   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 20:00:16 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 20:00:23 Session Finished Session Finished 21:51:57 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-03 S00948, ImageSaveNum: 948066) 21:52:27   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 21:52:29   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 21:52:32   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:52:41   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:54:05   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:54:28   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:55:31 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:55 & 06:27 21:55:33 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 21:55:35 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:55) 21:56:11   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:56:15 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:56:17 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-03) 21:56:19 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-03) 21:56:27   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 702) 21:56:38   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 21:56:44   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:57:08 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:57:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:57:55 Session Running Session running 21:57:57   Queue Started Observing Queue started (28 targets selected) 21:58:02     Target Started (15/42) Target started (15/42, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 22:18:33     Target Completed Target partially completed (15/42, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 22:18:37     Target Started (16/42) Target started (16/42, Nova Per 2020) 22:21:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:23:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 22:32:22     Target Completed Target completed (16/42, Nova Per 2020) 22:32:26     Target Started (17/42) Target started (17/42, GCVS CN Ori) 22:35:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:37:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 22:45:43     Target Completed Target completed (17/42, GCVS CN Ori) 22:45:47     Target Started (18/42) Target started (18/42, Scholz's Star) 22:48:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:51:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 23:06:36     Target Completed Target completed (18/42, Scholz's Star) 23:06:40     Target Started (19/42) Target started (19/42, UGC 3855 w/SN2021agco) 23:10:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:12:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 23:29:14     Target Completed Target completed (19/42, UGC 3855 w/SN2021agco) 23:29:18     Target Started (20/42) Target started (20/42, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 23:32:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:49:28     Target Completed Target completed (20/42, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 23:49:32     Target Started (21/42) Target started (21/42, NGC 2313) 23:52:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:54:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 00:23:15 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:23:17   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 00:23:19     Target Aborted (21/42) Target aborted (21/42, NGC 2313) due to threat of rain 00:23:21   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:23:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:24:10   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:44:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/42, AT2021aghu) due to cloud 01:07:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/42, NGC 2525) due to wind 01:19:31 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:20:16   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:20:18 Session Running Session running 01:20:20   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:20:23     Target Started (24/42) Target started (24/42, AT2021agjs) 01:34:13     Target Completed Target partially completed (24/42, AT2021agjs) 01:34:17     Target Started (25/42) Target started (25/42, GCVS U Gem) 01:37:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:39:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 01:43:26     Target Completed Target completed (25/42, GCVS U Gem) 01:43:30     Target Started (26/42) Target started (26/42, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) 01:47:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:01:21 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:01:23   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 02:01:25     Target Aborted (26/42) Target aborted (26/42, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) due to threat of rain 02:01:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:01:29 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:02:16   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:12:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/42, GCVS SY Cnc) due to wind 02:21:24 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:22:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:22:11 Session Running Session running 02:22:13   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:22:15     Target Started (28/42) Target started (28/42, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:26:19   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 02:26:21 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:26:23   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:26:25     Target Aborted (28/42) Target aborted (28/42, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) due to cloud 02:26:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:26:29 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:27:14   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:31:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/42, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) due to wind 02:51:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/42, UGCA 175) due to other condition 03:13:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/42, SN 2021aano) due to wind 03:15:10 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:15:55   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:15:58 Session Running Session running 03:16:00   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:16:30     Target Started (31/42) Target started (31/42, UGC 5528 w/AT2022B) 03:19:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 03:28:07 Critical Rain Alert Critical Rain Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:28:09   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (rain) 03:28:13     Target Aborted (31/42) Target aborted (31/42, UGC 5528 w/AT2022B) due to rain 03:28:15   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:28:17 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:29:02   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:35:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/42, UGC 5528 w/AT2022B) due to wind 03:57:10     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/42, NGC 3389 w/AT2021hkw) due to wind 04:19:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/42, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) due to rain 04:20:28 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:21:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:21:16 Session Running Session running 04:21:18   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:22:06     Target Started (34/42) Target started (34/42, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) 04:26:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 04:37:40 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:37:42   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 04:37:44     Target Aborted (34/42) Target aborted (34/42, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) due to threat of rain 04:37:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:37:48 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:38:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:40:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/42, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) due to wind 05:03:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/42, UGCA 256) due to other condition 05:25:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/42, UGCA 292) due to wind 05:48:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/42, NGC 4921) due to wind 06:01:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/42, AT2021agpw (CV)) due to wind 06:21:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/42, Mrk 506 w/AT2021agiv) due to wind 06:38:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/42, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) due to wind 06:48:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/42, GCVS BL Lac) due to wind 07:11:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/42, Nova Cas 2021) due to wind 07:11:36   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:11:38 Session Closing Session closing 07:11:43   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:38, closing time 50s) 07:12:15   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 24s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:13:30   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 70s) 07:13:45   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 07:14:07   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:15:00   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:15:02 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:15:19 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 21:58:43 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (NGC 2761) 23:29:52 Dome Dome didn't appear to move during the last telescope slew.

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Operational Issues (2022-01-03, S948)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (2)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• LX200 Communication/Processing became very slow.  Major anomaly occurred starting part way through Target 6/43 (UGC 1971) at 18:29 in which processing of commands by the observatory's LX200 telescope and general comminications between it and driver/clients slowed right down. This caused slewing, centering and guiding tasks to become impossibily slow.  A visit to the observatory was unable to determine the cause of the problem or find a solution.  Manual slew using the scope's Autostar II control pad operated ok.   Parking scope and closing down Observatory Software, and restarting Session didn't fix the problem.  Parking scope, rebooting observatory computer and restarting software/session didn't fix the problem.    Began some diagnosis : After parked scope & restarting, the telescope was connected using Device Hub's telescope tab from where a direct slew worked ok.  Scope was then connected from TheSky6 from where a slew a target star worked ok.  Scope was then connected to from PHD2 from where autoguiding operated ok. However when AstroMain was connected to scope,  everything then became slow with slew commands taking a long time to reach the scope and then took a long time to take place/finish.  It was as if the LX200's telescope computer processing slowed down to a snails pace.  After temporary closing the Observatory/Session the issue was investigated and it was determined that the problem seemed to be direct related to ObsMonitor making calls to read Scope.Temperature  which due to a recent code change the calls to CommandString (:fT#) to get temperature increased to once every 3s (instead of normal once very 20s) when returned temperatures fell below -10°C or so.    Fixed in session by changing Scope.Temperature to return vcNull and thereby avoid sending any :fT# commands.  This fix resolved the issue and the session was continued (at 21:57) , however by this time 3.5 hours of good observing time was lost.  
  Fixed in-session 2022-01-03 (AstroMain 3.48.16)

Minor Issues

• Get Telescope.Temperature property failing with message ' Invalidating Temperature (temperature calculated as10.49°C)' etc Communication/Processing became very slow.  Invalidating Scope Temperature messages began at 18:24:30 (when calculated temperature was logged as being -10.49°C) and temperature gradually fell to a low of -16.42°C.   Message appear every 3s corresponding to observatory monitor's cycle time.  Whilst there were no Invalidating Scope Temperature messages before 18:24 the Focus Temperature log doesn't suggest that any temperatures were received in the range +6 to -4°C  (ambient temperature was 1°C) .    It is hypothesized that the frequent CommandString calls to the scope caused the driver and/or LX200 scope to slow right down.   When scope temperatures aren't being invalidated a gap of at least 20s is left between sending CommandString(":fT#") commands to the telescope. DeviceHub activity log message seems to be sometimes 'messed' up when using :fT#  commands, eg.
  19:54:31.824: Telescope - Commands: CommandString - :fT#19:54:32.495: Telescope - Statuses: Get Declination: -7.99027777777778
19:54:52.626: Telescope - Commands: CommandString - :fT# returned +04.45 (done).
  Examining DeviceHub logs show that prior to 18:24 the telescope was returning temperatures of 23.8 to 18.8°C. This explains why they didn't appear on Focus Temp Chart which was only plotting data in range -4 to 6° C :
  17:06:08.374 CommandString: Command :fT#, Raw True, Returned -100.00 (done).
17:06:11.893 CommandString: Command :fT#, Raw True, Returned +74.81 (done).  ( = 23.8° C)
17:16:27.916 CommandString: Command :fT#, Raw True, Returned +71.24 (done).
18:24:08.100 CommandString: Command :fT#, Raw True, Returned +65.94 (done).  (  = 18.8° C)
18:24:30.679 CommandString: Command :fT#, Raw True, Returned +13.12 (done).  ( = -10.4° C)
  At 18:24  the temperature returned by the scope suddenly dropped from +18.8°C to -10.4°C in 20s.  
  18:24:08.100 CommandString: Command :fT#, Raw True, Returned +65.94 (done).  (  = 18.8° C)
18:24:30.679 CommandString: Command :fT#, Raw True, Returned +13.12 (done).  ( = -10.4° C)
  Beside the bug that caused commandString calls to increase to every 3s (and thereby causing major problems to the LX200 Driver/Scope Processing), the temperatures that are returned by the scope are plainly unreliable.    The anomalous temperature readings returned by the scope were shown in the previous S947 session.    It is proposed to withdraw the Scope.Temperature property and to remove ScopeTemperature from the Focus Temp Chart, from the ObsPic Chart and from the Observatory Tab. See Separate Ticket.
  Closed 2022-01-04 (LX200, AstroMain)

Small Defects

• Text on Rain Forecast plot  (vwsRain60min.png) sometimes shows 'False' instead of the expected rain forecast description.  Bug found and fixed (there was a bug/typo was in the code line :    S = S = " (beginning in " + CStr(PrecipStart) + " minutes)" , where the second '=' should have been a '+').
  Done 2022-01-06 (AstroWeather  1.15.3)

Continuous Improvement

• Withdraw the Scope.Temperature property and remove ScopeTemperature from the Focus Temp Chart, from the ObsPic Chart and from the Observatory Tab. Although only recently introduced enough data has been collected to show that the temperatures returned by the observatory's LX200GPS telescope is anomalous & unreliable for most of the time (either too hot or too cold) and with trends that don't reflect the trends seen by other tenperature sesnors used inside & outside the observatory. Reading the temperature value too frequently can also cause the LX200 Telescope/Driver processing to slow down to the point that major problems are seen during slewing, centering and guiding.
  Done 2022-01-06 (AstroMain 3.48.17)
   
• User to be warned before Parking Dome if Snow Protection is on.  User to be warned if Snow Protection is on before parking dome and given option to disable snow protection before proceeding (if dome is parked and snow protection is left on the dome will again rotate again into wind following the park operation).
  Done 2022-01-06 (AstroMain 3.48.17)
  

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