David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 957 (2022-01-21)

Notes (S956)

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Notes (S958)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2022-01-21 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-01-21)

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 3.48.21

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 3.48.21,  AstroPlan 1.29.4,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.3,  AstroVOE 1.9.2  AstroSN 1.7.3,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.15.3, AstroAllSky 3.14.3,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.1)

Highlights

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)   - Cloud Red Point (3) - Non-effective Dec Guiding (South) and/or wrong side of zero line.  Poor seeing (Orange point in RA) Red Point (8) - Wrong side of zero line (v. close to Meridian).  Prncipal DevMode should be South for longer (till Az 182°) Orange Point (20)   - Non-effective Dec Guiding (South) Yellow Point (1)   - Ok in Dec, Orange point in RA due to large Dec spike in Frame Set 14.

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) Plot from first part of night lost due to AstroAllSky crash / disk space issue.

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 17:06:03 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 17:14 & 06:13 17:06:06   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 17:14 17:14:27   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 17:32:20 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:32) 17:32:47 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-01-21 S00957, ImageSaveNum: 957001) 17:32:50   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:34:31   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:34:38 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:34:40 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-21) 17:34:42 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-21) 17:34:44   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.4) 17:35:33   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 713) 17:35:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 17:36:02   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 17:36:26 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 17:37:11   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:37:46 Session Running Session running 17:37:48   Queue Started Observing Queue started (49 targets selected) 17:37:51     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 17:39:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:42:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:45:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:45:10       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:47:22       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:49:10       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:49:28     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 17:49:48     Target Started (1/49) Target started (1/49, GCVS V Sge) 17:53:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:55:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:06:35     Target Completed Target completed (1/49, GCVS V Sge) 18:06:40     Target Started (2/49) Target started (2/49, NGC 7594 w/SN2022de) 18:09:51       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:25:49     Target Completed Target completed (2/49, NGC 7594 w/SN2022de) 18:26:35     Target Started (3/49) Target started (3/49, NGC 2402 w/SN2022ds) 18:30:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:32:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:48:44     Target Completed Target completed (3/49, NGC 2402 w/SN2022ds) 18:48:48     Target Started (4/49) Target started (4/49, GCVS RX And) 18:52:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:54:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 18:58:03     Target Completed Target completed (4/49, GCVS RX And) 18:58:07     Target Started (5/49) Target started (5/49, Nova Cas 2021) 19:01:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:03:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 19:12:50     Target Completed Target completed (5/49, Nova Cas 2021) 19:12:54     Target Started (6/49) Target started (6/49, GCVS FO Ori) 19:24:15     Target Completed Target completed (6/49, GCVS FO Ori) 19:24:19     Target Started (7/49) Target started (7/49, NGC 1325A w/AT2021agbu) 19:45:57     Target Completed Target completed (7/49, NGC 1325A w/AT2021agbu) 19:46:01     Target Started (8/49) Target started (8/49, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz) 19:49:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:06:33     Target Completed Target completed (8/49, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz) 20:06:37     Target Started (9/49) Target started (9/49, GCVS TT Ari) 20:09:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:12:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 20:19:53     Target Completed Target completed (9/49, GCVS TT Ari) 20:19:57     Target Started (10/49) Target started (10/49, 19P/Borrelly) 20:23:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:32:51     Target Completed Target completed (10/49, 19P/Borrelly) 20:32:55     Target Started (11/49) Target started (11/49, GCVS BL Lac) 20:36:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:38:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 20:42:44     Target Completed Target completed (11/49, GCVS BL Lac) 20:42:48     Target Started (12/49) Target started (12/49, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 20:46:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:02:41     Target Completed Target completed (12/49, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 21:02:45     Target Started (13/49) Target started (13/49, Nova Per 2020) 21:07:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:09:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:17:59     Target Completed Target completed (13/49, Nova Per 2020) 21:18:03     Target Started (14/49) Target started (14/49, GCVS RR Tau) 21:20:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:23:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 21:30:35     Target Completed Target completed (14/49, GCVS RR Tau) 21:30:39     Target Started (15/49) Target started (15/49, NGC 958 w/SN2022ao) 21:34:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 21:51:16     Target Completed Target completed (15/49, NGC 958 w/SN2022ao) 21:51:20     Target Started (16/49) Target started (16/49, GCVS GK Per) 21:54:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:56:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 22:00:18     Target Completed Target completed (16/49, GCVS GK Per) 22:00:22     Target Started (17/50) Target started (17/50, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 22:09:54     Target Completed Target completed (17/50, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 22:09:56     Target Missed (18/50) Target's time slot was missed (18/50, GCVS FU Ori) 22:09:59     Target Started (19/50) Target started (19/50, AT2021agxs (CV)) 22:12:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:15:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 22:21:16     Target Completed Target completed (19/50, AT2021agxs (CV)) 22:21:20     Target Started (20/50) Target started (20/50, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:24:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:26:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 22:32:19     Target Completed Target completed (20/50, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:32:51     Target Started (21/50) Target started (21/50, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) 22:36:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:39:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 22:51:42     Target Completed Target completed (21/50, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) 22:51:46     Target Started (22/50) Target started (22/50, AT2021xbh) 23:14:23     Target Completed Target completed (22/50, AT2021xbh) 23:14:27     Target Started (23/50) Target started (23/50, AT2022hy (CV)) 23:26:21     Target Completed Target completed (23/50, AT2022hy (CV)) 23:26:25     Target Started (24/50) Target started (24/50, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:29:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:33:58     Target Completed Target completed (24/50, GCVS DX Cnc) 23:34:11     Target Started (25/50) Target started (25/50, GCVS SY Cnc) 23:36:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 23:40:20     Target Completed Target completed (25/50, GCVS SY Cnc) 23:43:38     Target Started (26/50) Target started (26/50, SN 2021aalq) 23:46:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:02:54     Target Completed Target completed (26/50, SN 2021aalq) 00:05:38     Target Started (27/50) Target started (27/50, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 00:08:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:24:41     Target Completed Target completed (27/50, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 00:24:45     Target Started (28/51) Target started (28/51, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 00:34:16     Target Completed Target completed (28/51, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 00:34:20     Target Started (29/52) Target started (29/52, 4P/Faye, ToO) 00:45:25     Target Completed Target completed (29/52, 4P/Faye, ToO) 00:45:29     Target Started (30/53) Target started (30/53, 100P/Hartley, ToO) 00:56:32     Target Completed Target completed (30/53, 100P/Hartley, ToO) 00:56:34     Target Missed (31/53) Target's time slot was missed (31/53, GCVS U Gem) 00:56:36     Target Missed (32/53) Target's time slot was missed (32/53, NGC 2955 w/AT2021jtt) 00:58:59     Target Started (33/53) Target started (33/53, Scholz's Star) 01:02:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:05:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:21:44     Target Completed Target completed (33/53, Scholz's Star) 01:21:48     Target Started (34/53) Target started (34/53, PKS0735+17 w/AT2021agfn) 01:45:18     Target Completed Target completed (34/53, PKS0735+17 w/AT2021agfn) 01:45:22     Target Started (35/53) Target started (35/53, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 02:07:21     Target Completed Target completed (35/53, NGC 2761 w/SN2021aggu) 02:07:25     Target Started (36/53) Target started (36/53, GCVS RR Leo) 02:20:37     Target Completed Target completed (36/53, GCVS RR Leo) 02:20:41     Target Started (37/53) Target started (37/53, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 02:32:04     Target Completed Target completed (37/53, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 02:32:08     Target Started (38/53) Target started (38/53, AT2021agoa (CV)) 02:36:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:38:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 02:44:23     Target Completed Target completed (38/53, AT2021agoa (CV)) 02:44:28     Target Started (39/53) Target started (39/53, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:47:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:49:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:02:55     Target Completed Target completed (39/53, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 03:03:00     Target Started (40/53) Target started (40/53, AT2021eio) 03:05:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:22:09     Target Completed Target completed (40/53, AT2021eio) 03:22:13     Target Started (41/53) Target started (41/53, AT2021rl) 03:27:14   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:28:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 03:45:16     Target Completed Target completed (41/53, AT2021rl) 03:45:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:45:20 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:46:06   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:52:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/53, GCVS AM CVn) due to cloud 04:12:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (43/53, AT2021kmb) due to cloud 04:34:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (44/53, MCG +6-30-84 w/SN2021K) due to cloud 04:56:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (45/53, UGC 8975 w/SN2021adpe) due to cloud 05:18:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (46/53, UGC 10566 w/AT2022aab) due to cloud 05:40:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (47/53, LEDA 1614458 w/AT2022ed) due to cloud 05:54:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (48/53, AT2021agpw (CV)) due to cloud 06:06:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (49/53, AT2022jw (CV)) due to cloud 06:20:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (50/53, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 06:32:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (51/53, GCVS AM Her) due to cloud 06:41:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (52/53, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud 07:01:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (53/53, GCVS SS Her) due to other condition 07:01:19   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:01:25 Session Closing Session closing 07:01:30   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:46, closing time 50s) 07:02:53   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 74s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:04:13   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 76s) 07:04:28   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 07:04:51   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:05:47   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:05:49 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:06:21 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 22:16:25 AllSky/Synopsis AllSky Star & Synopsis data has been inactive for more than 5 mins 22:47:38 AllSky/Synopsis AllSky Star & Synopsis data is active again (outage 36.3 mins)

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Operational Issues (2022-01-21, S957)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AllSky Star and Synopsis data stream stopped at 22:16.  Investigating showed that AstroAllSky program crashed due to a very low disk space issue on AllSky/Weather computer.  Space down to < 2 GB.  Error message also being reported by Aurora Cloud Sensor "failed to flush '..Aurora Eurotech\CloudSensor III/data_plot.png ..'. 100 GB disk space cleared, and programs restarted.   Star and Synopsis data stream to Observatory Computer resumed at 22:47. Downtime only 31 min, but all Night Summary Plot data before 22:16 was unfortunately lost.  Issue would have been classified as major, but the session was able to carry on as problem was caught sufficiently early and the Cloud Sensor data stream was not affected by the problem. New 4 TB external archive drive (3.67 TB formatted capacity) added to AllSky Computer on 2022-02-06.
  Resolved In-Sesion 2022-01-21 (AllSky/Weather Computer)
   
• Whilst adding new comet targets to AstroPlan the target name for target ID 1607 (29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) was accidently overwritten by 100P/Hartley. Problem identified when performing later analysis of the observations from session. Resolved by creating a new target entry for 100P/Hartley (ID 2101), renaming target ID 1607 back to 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann and renaming the Target ID in FITS headers from 100P/Hartley files to show Target ID 2101. Still to be done change Target ID for the 100P/Hartley session observation table row (Session ID 957 / Seq No 29),  to be 2101 (instead of 1607).
  Resolved 2022-01-25 (AstroPlan/Database)
   
• The Constellation shown for non-sidereal target observations on AstroPlan's session and plan forms do not always reflect the actual Constellation of target at the time/date of the observation.  The Constellation shown for non-sidereal target observations on session and plan forms are taken from the 'Con' field of the associated target row in the target table and will not necessarily reflect the actual  constellation of the target at the time/date of the observation. Shortterm fix has been made so that the Con field is blanked ('-') on session and plans forms where the target is a non-sidereal one. A separate ticket item has been added to come upo with a longer term solution.
  Fixed  2022-01-25 (AstroPlan 1.29.5)

Small Defects

• Image Set Text incorrectly positioned on some GuidingChart History Graphs.  Example Guide Run 33 (GCVS RR Leo) , where Set 1, Set 2 don't use a correct ImageStartX value. Fix attempted.
  Fixed 2022-01-23 (AstroMain 3.48.23)

Continuous Improvement

• Add Image start/end lines to history graph to separate individual frames within a frame set and label with filter names.  Implementation added in AstroMain 3.48.23 using new GuidingChart routines StartNewSubImage(), StopSubImage(), CloseOutSubImage().   There may be some teething issues or unwanted / sub-optimum chart behaviour which will only become evident once the new code has been tried out in the next live session.
  Done 2022-01-23 (AstroMain 3.48.23)
   
• Make constellation for non-sidereal target observations shown on AstroPlan's session and plan forms to reflect the constellation of target at the time/date of the observation (actual or planned observation).  The Constellation shown for non-sidereal target observations on the session and plan forms are currently taken from the existing 'Con' field of the associated target row in the target table and will not necessarily reflect the actual constellation of the target at the time/date of the observation. A shortterm fix has been made (2022-01-25) to blank the Con field on session and plan forms when target is a non-sidereal one. Long term fix might be to add a Con field to the observation and plan_observation tables and save the actual Con at the time of Observation or Plan. Would also need a procedure to retrospectively generate the Con for past observations which might not always be possible.
  To review  2022-01-26 (AstroPlan/Database/AstroMain)

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