David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 952 (2022-01-09)

Notes (S951)

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Notes (S953)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	Images from 2022-01-09 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-01-09)

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 points (4, 15)   - Non-effective guide pulses (south), near zenith Orange point (9)   - Very bad seeing,  guide star marginally on wrong side of zero line

Reasons for worst frames : Red point (4,14,15)   - Non effective Dec Guiding (near zenith), 2.2" RMS (2), 2.6" RMS (14), 2.5" RMS (15) Red point (9)   - Poor seeing, Star on wrong side of zero line,  2.2" RMS Red point (19)   - Cloud ?,  2.6" RMS

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 16:30:20 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 16:55 & 06:24 16:30:23   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 16:55 16:55:26   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 17:13:28 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:13) 17:14:05 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-01-09 S00952, ImageSaveNum: 952001) 17:14:07   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:15:51   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:15:57 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:15:59 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-09) 17:16:01 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-09) 17:16:03   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.2) 17:16:41   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 706) 17:17:04   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 17:17:11   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 17:17:35 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 17:18:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:19:05 Session Running Session running 17:19:07   Queue Started Observing Queue started (44 targets selected) 17:19:09     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 17:20:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:23:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:25:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:25:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:28:05       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:29:50       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:30:10     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 17:31:07     Target Started (1/44) Target started (1/44, GCVS BL Lac) 17:34:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:36:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 17:40:29     Target Completed Target completed (1/44, GCVS BL Lac) 17:41:25     Target Started (2/44) Target started (2/44, 19P/Borrelly) 17:45:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 17:54:07     Target Completed Target completed (2/44, 19P/Borrelly) 17:55:40     Target Started (3/44) Target started (3/44, GCVS RX And) 17:59:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:01:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:04:50     Target Completed Target completed (3/44, GCVS RX And) 18:04:54     Target Started (4/44) Target started (4/44, LEDA 2204848 w/SN2021umh) 18:08:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:26:03     Target Completed Target completed (4/44, LEDA 2204848 w/SN2021umh) 18:26:07     Target Started (5/44) Target started (5/44, GSC 1224:29) 18:28:47       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:33:31     Target Completed Target completed (5/44, GSC 1224:29) 18:36:34     Target Started (6/44) Target started (6/44, 10P/Tempel) 18:38:40     Target Failed Target failed due to aborted (6/44, 10P/Tempel) 18:38:42   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 18:38:56   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 18:38:58 Program Closed Program closed by User 18:40:13 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-09 S00952, ImageSaveNum: 952051) 18:41:50   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 18:41:52   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 18:41:56   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:42:16   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:42:32   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 18:42:43 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:42:45 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-09) 18:42:47 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-09) 18:42:56   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 706) 18:43:11   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 18:43:17   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:43:36 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:43:38 Session Running Session running 18:43:40   Queue Started Observing Queue started (39 targets selected) 18:43:45     Target Started (6/44) Target started (6/44, 10P/Tempel) 18:56:20     Target Completed Target completed (6/44, 10P/Tempel) 18:56:24     Target Started (7/44) Target started (7/44, UGC 1971 w/SN2021afkk) 18:59:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:01:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 19:17:46     Target Completed Target completed (7/44, UGC 1971 w/SN2021afkk) 19:17:50     Target Started (8/44) Target started (8/44, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz) 19:23:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:39:36     Target Completed Target completed (8/44, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz) 19:39:40     Target Started (9/44) Target started (9/44, GCVS HH And) 19:42:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:45:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 19:47:24     Target Completed Target completed (9/44, GCVS HH And) 19:47:28     Target Started (10/44) Target started (10/44, NGC 233 w/SN2021abzd) 19:50:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:06:32     Target Completed Target completed (10/44, NGC 233 w/SN2021abzd) 20:06:43     Target Started (11/44) Target started (11/44, Nova Cas 2021) 20:09:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:11:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 20:18:56     Target Completed Target completed (11/44, Nova Cas 2021) 20:19:27     Target Started (12/44) Target started (12/44, GCVS TT Ari) 20:22:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:25:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 20:33:21     Target Completed Target completed (12/44, GCVS TT Ari) 20:33:25     Target Started (13/44) Target started (13/44, AT2021xrf) 20:36:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:37:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 20:55:36     Target Completed Target completed (13/44, AT2021xrf) 20:55:40     Target Started (14/44) Target started (14/44, NGC 1569 w/AT2021aczn) 20:56:11   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:01:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:02:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 21:08:27 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:08:29   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:08:32     Target Aborted (14/44) Target aborted (14/44, NGC 1569 w/AT2021aczn) due to cloud 21:08:34   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:08:36 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:09:22   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:12:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/44, NGC 1569 w/AT2021aczn) due to cloud 21:22:09 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:22:54   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:22:57 Session Running Session running 21:22:59   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:23:01     Target Started (15/44) Target started (15/44, GCVS GK Per) 21:28:50     Target Completed Target partially completed (15/44, GCVS GK Per) 21:28:54     Target Started (16/44) Target started (16/44, WDS GRB 34) 21:31:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 21:36:01     Target Completed Target completed (16/44, WDS GRB 34) 21:36:05     Target Started (17/44) Target started (17/44, GCVS U And) 21:39:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:41:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 21:49:37   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:51:03     Target Completed Target partially completed (17/44, GCVS U And) 21:51:05   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:51:08 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:51:58   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:04:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/44, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) due to cloud 22:26:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/44, 2MFGC 03677 w/SN2021agpj) due to cloud 22:48:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/44, UGC 4002 w/SN2021wvy) due to cloud 23:10:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/44, PKS0735+17 w/AT2021agfn) due to cloud 23:15:13 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:15:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:16:00 Session Running Session running 23:16:02   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:16:05     Target Started (22/44) Target started (22/44, UGCA 114) 23:22:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 23:40:20     Target Completed Target completed (22/44, UGCA 114) 23:40:24     Target Started (23/44) Target started (23/44, AT2021xmw) 23:43:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:45:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 23:49:42   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:51:17   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 23:52:57 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:52:59   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:53:01     Target Aborted (23/44) Target aborted (23/44, AT2021xmw) due to cloud 23:53:03   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:53:05 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:53:52   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:54:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/44, AT2021xmw) due to cloud 00:16:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/44, AT2021acba) due to other condition 00:38:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/44, AT2021agjs) due to cloud 01:00:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/44, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 01:21:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/44, UGC 3855 w/SN2021agco) due to cloud 01:38:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/44, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 01:57:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/44, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) due to cloud 02:16:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/44, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) due to cloud 02:39:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/44, UGC 5267) due to cloud 03:01:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/44, NGC 2955 w/AT2021jtt) due to cloud 03:22:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/44, SN 2021aalq) due to cloud 03:44:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/44, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) due to cloud 04:07:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/44, UGCA 298) due to cloud 04:29:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/44, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) due to cloud 04:50:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/44, UGC 5528 w/SN2022B) due to cloud 05:12:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/44, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) due to cloud 05:34:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/44, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) due to cloud 05:48:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/44, AT2021agpw (CV)) due to cloud 06:03:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/44, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 06:22:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/44, CGCG 200-019 w/SN2021usd) due to cloud 06:44:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (43/44, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) due to cloud 07:06:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (44/44, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 07:06:55   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:06:59 Session Closing Session closing 07:07:04   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 23:53, closing time 50s) 07:08:05   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 52s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:09:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 62s) 07:09:27   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 07:09:50   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:10:46   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:10:48 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:11:00 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 17:31:44 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS BL Lac)

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Operational Issues (2022-01-09, S952)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (3)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Guide Stats not reported or  shown on Guide Chart 1 (BL Lac) and Guide Chart 3 (RX And).  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 also occurred during  Guide Run 5 (67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) during previous S951 session (2021-01-08).  Issue may have been resolved by restarting AstroMain and PHD2.   .
  Resolved 2022-01-09 (Session)

Small Defects

• 'Analyse Astrometry' facility in AstroMain/Session Analysis unable to find files when session is archived on D Drive.  Fixed by changing 'FolderForAstrometricAnalysis' to use Session.SessionFolder instead of SU.BaseFolder.
  Fixed 2022-01-10 (AstroMain 3.48.18)
   
• A Foc2 focus profile chart is being created for 1st (sometimes 2nd)  even though no profile is executed.  The anomoulous/unexpected Foc2 profile chart has target 1 (profile3.oid002.foc2.GCVS_BL_Lac.gif) has field name Focus Field 0, Focuser TS80  and a x-axis range corresponding to that used by last Foc1 profile. Issue has been present since at least mid Dec, but has only just now been identified (probably missed before now because the anomalous profile isn't uploaded to the Current Session WebPage). Fixed attempted 2022-01-13.   Issue closed 2022-07-31 as the problem hasn't seemed to have reoccured in the past year.
  Considered fixed 2022-01-13 (AstroMain 3.48.18)

Continuous Improvement

• Set TheSky6 Date as part of 'Analyse Astrometry' facility in AstroMain/Session Analysis.
  Done 2022-01-10 (AstroMain 3.48.18)
   
• Mark comet target 10P/Tempel as completed.
  Done 2022-01-13 (Database)
   
• Reduce the length of 'large focus change' indicator lines on Guiding Charts.  Long Green vertical line should be shorterned but still sufficiently long that distinguishes them from small focus change lines.
  Done 2022-01-13 (AstroMain 3.48.18)

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