David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 951 (2022-01-08)

Notes (S950)

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Notes (S952)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2022-01-08 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-01-08)

Main aims

1. 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 3.48.17,  AstroPlan 1.29.2,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.3,  AstroVOE 1.9,  AstroSN 1.7.1,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.15.3, 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

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Orange point (6)   - Star on wrong side of zero line during final frame (Lock Position wasn't adjusted before starting frame 5) Orange point  (19)   - Erratic dec movements (poor seeing ?).   Problem reading data from PHD2 server ?  Dec Mode not set? Yellow points (2, 8, 17, 18) - Star marginally on wrong side of zero line (2), non-effective North guide pulses (8)

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 00:26:29 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:26 & 06:25 00:26:30 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:26) 00:27:07 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-01-08 S00951, ImageSaveNum: 951001) 00:27:09   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:28:57   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:29:03 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:29:06 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-08) 00:29:08 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-08) 00:29:10   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.2) 00:29:35   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 705) 00:29:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 00:30:02   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:30:32 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:31:17   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:32:13 Session Running Session running 00:32:15   Queue Started Observing Queue started (20 targets selected) 00:32:17     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 00:33:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:36:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:39:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:39:07       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:41:18       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:43:04       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:43:22     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 00:44:14     Target Started (1/20) Target started (1/20, UGC 1971 w/SN2021afkk) 00:47:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:49:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:06:43     Target Completed Target completed (1/20, UGC 1971 w/SN2021afkk) 01:06:47     Target Started (2/20) Target started (2/20, AT2021agjs) 01:11:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:12:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:29:02     Target Completed Target completed (2/20, AT2021agjs) 01:29:06     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, UGC 5245) 01:32:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:48:25     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, UGC 5245) 01:50:20     Target Started (4/20) Target started (4/20, UGC 5528 w/SN2022B) 01:53:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:09:58     Target Completed Target completed (4/20, UGC 5528 w/SN2022B) 02:12:12     Target Started (5/20) Target started (5/20, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:14:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:17:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 02:30:30     Target Completed Target completed (5/20, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:31:09     Target Started (6/20) Target started (6/20, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 02:33:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:50:10     Target Completed Target completed (6/20, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 02:53:02     Target Started (7/20) Target started (7/20, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 02:56:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:12:16     Target Completed Target completed (7/20, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 03:14:53     Target Started (8/20) Target started (8/20, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 03:17:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:20:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 03:30:22     Target Completed Target completed (8/20, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 03:30:26     Target Started (9/20) Target started (9/20, UGC 3855 w/SN2021agco) 03:33:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:35:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 03:52:10     Target Completed Target completed (9/20, UGC 3855 w/SN2021agco) 03:52:14     Target Started (10/20) Target started (10/20, SN 2021aalq) 03:55:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:11:31     Target Completed Target completed (10/20, SN 2021aalq) 04:12:52     Target Started (11/20) Target started (11/20, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 04:16:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:18:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 04:34:33     Target Completed Target completed (11/20, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 04:34:44     Target Started (12/20) Target started (12/20, IC 3322A w/SN2021hiz) 04:37:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:39:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 04:55:49     Target Completed Target completed (12/20, IC 3322A w/SN2021hiz) 04:56:36     Target Started (13/20) Target started (13/20, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) 05:01:52       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:18:06     Target Completed Target completed (13/20, UGC 8426 w/AT2021knq) 05:18:28     Target Started (14/20) Target started (14/20, UGCA 233) 05:22:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:23:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 05:39:53     Target Completed Target completed (14/20, UGCA 233) 05:40:50     Target Started (15/20) Target started (15/20, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) 05:44:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:00:30     Target Completed Target completed (15/20, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) 06:02:42     Target Started (16/20) Target started (16/20, AT2021agpw (CV)) 06:06:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:08:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 06:14:42     Target Completed Target completed (16/20, AT2021agpw (CV)) 06:14:46     Target Started (17/20) Target started (17/20, GCVS U Her) 06:17:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:19:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 06:31:04     Target Completed Target completed (17/20, GCVS U Her) 06:31:08     Target Started (18/20) Target started (18/20, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 06:34:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:36:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 06:44:46     Target Completed Target completed (18/20, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 06:44:50     Target Started (19/20) Target started (19/20, GCVS BL Lac) 06:54:38     Target Completed Target completed (19/20, GCVS BL Lac) 06:54:42     Target Started (20/20) Target started (20/20, Nova Cas 2021) 06:58:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 07:00:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 07:07:02     Target Completed Target completed (20/20, Nova Cas 2021) 07:07:05   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:07:09 Session Closing Session closing 07:08:04   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 07:08:50   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 39s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:10:18   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 82s) 07:10:33   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 07:10:55   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:11:51   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:11:53 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:12:10 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2022-01-08, S951)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (0)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• RA, Dec guiding algorithum values are missing from some guiding charts.  Dec Algorithum & Dec Mode missing from Run 9 (UGC 3855),  Run 17 (U Her) , Run 19 (BL Lac). Problem continued into the beginning of next session. Possibly resolved by restarting AstroMain and PHD2.   Issue is due to the occurance of "Incomplete PHD2 data stream reads".
  (see Investigation - PHD2 Client/Server Comms Issues (2022-07-28)
  Resolved in next session  2022-01-09 (Session)
  
   Note: Similar problem appeared again for one guide run in session S953 (2022-01-10)
   
• Guide Stats not reported or shown on Guide Chart for Guide Run 5 (67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko).  Guide chart error graphs and history are empty of any data. Exception occurred whilst trying to set PHD2 Profile before trying to start guiding (02:13) & there was a failure to capture a reference image ahead of guiding and guiding probably didn't begin.   Issue was restricted in this session to just this one target.  However 2 out of 4 targets at the beginning of the next session (S952) also suffered from the same issue, where it was possibly resolved by restarting AstroMain and PHD2. Examining log shows that for the set_profile (1) request {495} at 02:13:53.77 PHD2 responded with a Response (Result: 0) {495} ,  but for the following get_profile request {496} no response was received (either not sent by PHD2 or somehow lost} .  The expected response would have included  "id":1,"name":"TS80/178MC" and would be expected to have been recieved after 20ms.  A get_camera_request returned a "camera not connected" error message , whilst a guide request at 02:14:10 returned a "all equipment must be connected first" error message.  Issue is due to the occurance of "Incomplete PHD2 data stream reads".
  Resolved 2022-01-09 (Session, PHD2)
   
• Images of UGC 8975 show star trailing.  Guiding chart is empty of data. Issue is presumed to be related to same underlying problem involving PHD2-AstroMain communications, which is resolved by restarting AstroMain and PHD2.   Issue is believed to be due to the occurance of "Incomplete PHD2 data stream reads".
  Resolved  2022-01-09 (Session)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• None
  

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