David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 954 (2022-01-13)

Notes (S953)

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Notes (S955)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2022-01-13 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-01-13)

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.  Test bug fixes and enhancements associated with AstroMain 3.48.18

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 3.48.18,  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 : Black points (7,8)   - Cloud / lost star events prevent guiding Red Point (13)   - Poor seeing, some cloud, some lost stars events, guide star on wrong side of zero line (close to Meridian crossing) Orange Point (15)   - None-effective guiding (south) Green Point (2)   - Good guding in Dec, but large RA deviation during Frames 1 &2 caused Purple Point on RA RMS plot.

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 22:45:47 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:45 & 06:21 22:45:52 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:45) 22:46:21 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-01-13 S00954, ImageSaveNum: 954001) 22:46:23   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:48:03   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:48:09 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:48:17   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.2) 22:48:41   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 709) 22:49:03   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 22:49:09   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:50:19   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:51:19 Session Running Session running 22:51:20 Program Crashed AstroMain program crashed reading ProjectStars.txt 22:51:21   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 22:55:11 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-13 S00954, ImageSaveNum: 954001) 22:55:20   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 22:55:22   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 22:55:24   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:55:45 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 22:55:48 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:55) 22:56:41   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:56:45 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:56:53   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 709) 22:57:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 22:57:07   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:57:36   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 22:57:38 Program Crashed AstroMain program crashed reading ProjectStars.txt 23:08:22 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-13 S00954, ImageSaveNum: 954001) 23:08:38   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:08:40   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:08:43   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:09:06 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 23:09:08 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:09) 23:09:28   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:11:09   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:11:16 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:11:26   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 709) 23:11:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 23:11:45   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:12:09 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:12:11 Session Running Session running 23:12:14   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 23:12:15 Program Crashed AstroMain Program crashed reading ProjectStars.txt file 23:17:52 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-13 S00954, ImageSaveNum: 954001) 23:18:16   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:18:18   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:18:21   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:19:39 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 23:19:41 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:19) 23:20:01   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:21:46   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:21:53 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:22:04   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 709) 23:22:17   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 23:22:23   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:22:47 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:22:49 Session Running Session running 23:22:51   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 23:22:54     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 23:24:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:27:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:30:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:30:23       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:32:32       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:34:19       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:34:37     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 23:34:39     Target Missed (1/25) Target's time slot was missed (1/25, UGC 1971 w/SN2021afkk) 23:34:41     Target Started (2/25) Target started (2/25, 132P/Helin-Roman-Alu) 23:34:45 User Intervention User Intervention to re-install AstroMain 3.48.18 with correct ProjectStars.txt file 23:34:46     Target Failed Target failed due to aborted (2/25, 132P/Helin-Roman-Alu) 23:34:48   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:35:01   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:35:06 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:36:39 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-01-13 S00954, ImageSaveNum: 954001) 23:36:44   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:36:46   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:36:49   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:37:15 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 23:37:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:37) 23:38:15   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:38:22 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:38:32   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 709) 23:38:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 23:38:51   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:39:12 Session Running Session running 23:39:14   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 23:39:39     Target Started (3/25) Target started (3/25, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 23:44:54       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:00:46     Target Completed Target completed (3/25, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 00:01:31     Target Started (4/25) Target started (4/25, Nova Cas 2021) 00:04:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:06:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:13:51     Target Completed Target completed (4/25, Nova Cas 2021) 00:14:15     Target Started (5/25) Target started (5/25, UGC 3855 w/SN2021agco) 00:17:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:19:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:37:26     Target Completed Target completed (5/25, UGC 3855 w/SN2021agco) 00:37:30     Target Started (6/25) Target started (6/25, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 00:41:14       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:54:30     Target Completed Target completed (6/25, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 00:55:04     Target Started (7/25) Target started (7/25, GCVS SY Cnc) 00:58:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:01:22     Target Completed Target completed (7/25, GCVS SY Cnc) 01:04:43     Target Started (8/25) Target started (8/25, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 01:07:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:15:48     Target Completed Target completed (8/25, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 01:18:58     Target Started (9/25) Target started (9/25, Scholz's Star) 01:22:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:28:43   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 01:28:45 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:28:47   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:28:49     Target Aborted (9/25) Target aborted (9/25, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 01:28:51   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:28:53 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:29:38   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:36:24 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:37:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:37:11 Session Running Session running 01:37:13   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:37:15     Target Started (9/25) Target started (9/25, Scholz's Star) 01:43:43     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/25, Scholz's Star) 01:43:47     Target Started (10/25) Target started (10/25, AT2021djx) 01:46:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:49:04       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Quadratic) 02:05:10     Target Completed Target completed (10/25, AT2021djx) 02:05:14     Target Started (11/25) Target started (11/25, UGC 5528 w/SN2022B) 02:08:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:10:38   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:11:53 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:11:55   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:11:57     Target Aborted (11/25) Target aborted (11/25, UGC 5528 w/SN2022B) due to cloud 02:11:59   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:12:01 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:12:43   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 02:21:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/25, UGC 5528 w/SN2022B) due to cloud 02:36:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/25, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 02:56:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/25, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) due to cloud 03:18:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/25, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) due to cloud 03:39:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/25, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) due to cloud 04:01:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/25, NGC 3836 w/SN2021aefs) due to cloud 04:23:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/25, UGCA 258 w/SN2022mm) due to cloud 04:45:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/25, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) due to other condition 04:47:06 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:47:51   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:47:54 Session Running Session running 04:47:56   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:48:32     Target Started (19/25) Target started (19/25, IC 4040 w/SN2022jo) 04:51:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:07:47     Target Completed Target completed (19/25, IC 4040 w/SN2022jo) 05:10:24     Target Started (20/25) Target started (20/25, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 05:13:52       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:30:08     Target Completed Target completed (20/25, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 05:32:16     Target Started (21/25) Target started (21/25, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 05:35:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:37:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 05:55:45     Target Completed Target completed (21/25, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 05:55:49     Target Started (22/25) Target started (22/25, AT2021agpw (CV)) 05:58:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:00:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 06:07:13     Target Completed Target completed (22/25, AT2021agpw (CV)) 06:07:17     Target Started (23/25) Target started (23/25, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 06:10:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:10:57       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 06:21:22     Target Completed Target completed (23/25, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 06:21:26     Target Started (24/25) Target started (24/25, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) 06:24:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:27:44 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 06:27:46   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 06:27:48     Target Aborted (24/25) Target aborted (24/25, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) due to cloud 06:27:50   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 06:27:52 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:28:34   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 06:39:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/25, UGC 8975 w/AT2021adpe) due to cloud 07:02:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/25, GCVS U Her) due to cloud 07:02:48   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:02:53 Session Closing Session closing 07:02:58   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 06:28, closing time 45s) 07:03:51   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 45s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:05:03   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 68s) 07:05:18   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 07:05:59   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:06:55   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:06:57 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:07:08 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2022-01-13, S954)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• New AstroMain version (3.48.18) crashing when starting job queue.  Reverted to earlier build of 3.48.18 but still crashing, so reverted to 3.48.17 which has successfully worked for the last 2 sessions and demonstrated that was still working ok.   Although logs showed no error messages etc, it was identified that the crashes seemed to be occur whilst reading Reference files. It was strongly suspected that the issue was being caused by a change in the format of the ProjectStars.txt that is used with 3.48.18,  but new format file on Development Computer hadn't been loaded onto the Observatory Computer prior to starting the session.  Issue resolved by temporarly stopping the session, loading the newly format ProjectStars.txt file onto the Observatory Computer, reinstalling the new AstroMain 3.48.18 version and then resuming the session again. This time the new version worked with crashing.
  Resolved in-session 2022-01-13 (AstroMain 3.48.18 / ProjectStars.txt)

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Newly added Pre-Guide nudges to North/South to prevent issues with Anti Backlash Compensation are being made regardless of scopes last  direction of Dec movement during centering.  Code added in AstroMain 3.48.18 to ensure scope is fully preparared for Dec guiding was missing a critical test. Bug fixed in AstroMain 3.48.19 (code now checks that PrincipalDecMode <> gLastNorthSouthMotion before executing a short pulse guide in direction of required Dec Guiding).
  Fixed 2022-01-14 (AstroMain 3.48.19)

Continuous Improvement

• None
  

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