David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 962 (2022-02-03)

Notes (S961)

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Notes (S963)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2022-02-03 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-02-03)

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 fixes and enhancements associated with AstroMain 3.48.27

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 3.48.27,  AstroPlan 1.29.6,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.3
  AstroVOE 1.9.2  AstroSN 1.7.3,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.15.3, AstroAllSky 3.14.5,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.2)

Highlights

•  Targets.  x targets acquired.
•   SBIG Camera.   Start of session significantly delayed by issues with SBIG Camera/Connection which led to several false starts. Eventually resolved in session by reseating the power plug connection to camera.

Notes:

• Aurora activity after midnight (see Aurora Images/Video from 2022-02-03 (2022-02-04 am)  >>
  
  

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Black point (12) - Cloud Yellow point (2) - Yellow point (3) -

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)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 22:48:48 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:48 & 05:53 22:48:49 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:48) 22:49:17 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-02-03 S00962, ImageSaveNum: 962001) 22:49:20   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:51:02   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:51:09 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:51:11 Session Pending Session pending (2022-02-03) 22:51:13 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-02-03) 22:51:15   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.6) 22:51:50   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 720) 22:52:14   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 22:52:16 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 22:52 in section Monitor Focuser1 22:52:21   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:52:45 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 22:53:30   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:54:15 Session Running Session running 23:09:36 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-02-03 S00962, ImageSaveNum: 962001) 23:09:55   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:09:57   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:10:01   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:10:37   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 23:10:52   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:12:36   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:12:51   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:13:25   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 23:13:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:13:56 Session Pending Session pending (2022-02-03) 23:13:58 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-02-03) 23:14:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 720) 23:14:17   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 23:14:23   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:14:47 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:14:49 Session Running Session running 23:14:51   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 23:14:54     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 23:16:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:24:12       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 23:24:14       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:26:26       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:28:13       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:28:32     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 23:28:34     Target Missed (1/25) Target's time slot was missed (1/25, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 23:28:36     Target Started (2/25) Target started (2/25, AT2021rl) 23:28:54   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:30:38   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:31:18 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:33:33 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-02-03 S00962, ImageSaveNum: 962001) 23:33:51   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:33:53   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:33:57   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:35:13   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:35:31   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:39:54   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 23:40:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:48:13   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 46s) 23:49:27   Dome Parked Dome parked 23:49:30   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 51s) 23:50:55   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 73s) 23:51:10   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 23:51:32   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 23:52:20   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:55:56       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:12:06 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:12 & 05:53 00:12:11 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:12) 00:12:39 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-02-03 S00962, ImageSaveNum: 962001) 00:12:41   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:14:23   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:14:30 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:14:31 Session Pending Session pending (2022-02-03) 00:14:33 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-02-03) 00:14:38   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 720) 00:14:52   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 00:14:58   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:15:22 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:16:07   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:16:09 Session Running Session running 00:16:11   Queue Started Observing Queue started (22 targets selected) 00:16:14     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 00:17:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:26:31       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:26:34       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:26:47     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 00:26:49   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 00:27:39   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:27:42 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:36:07 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-02-03 S00962, ImageSaveNum: 962001) 00:36:20   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:36:22   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:36:25   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:36:34   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 00:37:46   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:38:01   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:38:29 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:38:32 Session Pending Session pending (2022-02-03) 00:38:34 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-02-03) 00:38:37   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 720) 00:38:51   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 00:38:57   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:39:16 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 00:39:18 Session Running Session running 00:39:20   Queue Started Observing Queue started (21 targets selected) 00:39:23     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 00:40:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:47:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:47:13       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:49:23       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 00:51:08       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:51:25     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 00:51:28     Target Missed (5/25) Target's time slot was missed (5/25, NGC 2922 w/AT2022bdu) 00:52:52     Target Started (6/25) Target started (6/25, PGC 27825) 00:56:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:58:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:15:19     Target Completed Target completed (6/25, PGC 27825) 01:15:23     Target Started (7/25) Target started (7/25, UGCA 258 w/SN2022mm) 01:18:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:34:24     Target Completed Target completed (7/25, UGCA 258 w/SN2022mm) 01:34:29     Target Started (8/26) Target started (8/26, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, ToO) 01:51:35     Target Completed Target completed (8/26, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, ToO) 01:51:39     Target Started (9/26) Target started (9/26, M61 w/AT2021ilb) 02:01:30     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/26, M61 w/AT2021ilb) 02:01:34     Target Started (10/26) Target started (10/26, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 02:04:27       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:20:21     Target Completed Target completed (10/26, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 02:20:52     Target Started (11/26) Target started (11/26, GCVS GK Per) 02:24:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:26:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 02:30:30     Target Completed Target completed (11/26, GCVS GK Per) 02:30:34     Target Started (12/26) Target started (12/26, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 02:34:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:36:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:52:59     Target Completed Target completed (12/26, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 02:53:03     Target Started (13/26) Target started (13/26, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) 02:55:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:11:41     Target Completed Target completed (13/26, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) 03:14:09     Target Started (14/26) Target started (14/26, UGC 8012 w/SN2022aod) 03:16:51       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:33:50     Target Completed Target completed (14/26, UGC 8012 w/SN2022aod) 03:36:09     Target Started (15/26) Target started (15/26, NGC 4774 w/AT2021cjd) 03:39:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 03:55:19     Target Completed Target completed (15/26, NGC 4774 w/AT2021cjd) 03:58:09     Target Started (16/26) Target started (16/26, NGC 4896 w/SN2021wad) 04:00:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:16:33     Target Completed Target completed (16/26, NGC 4896 w/SN2021wad) 04:20:09     Target Started (17/26) Target started (17/26, AT2021kmb) 04:24:18   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:24:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:26:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 04:43:25     Target Completed Target completed (17/26, AT2021kmb) 04:43:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:43:29 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:44:16   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:50:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/26, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 05:02:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/26, Nova Cas 2021) due to cloud 05:14:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/26, AT2021agpw (CV)) due to cloud 05:28:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/26, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 05:38:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/26, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 05:51:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/26, GCVS U Her) due to other condition 06:01:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/26, GCVS SS Her) due to other condition 06:07:11 Session Resuming Session resuming 06:07:56   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 06:07:58 Session Running Session running 06:08:00   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 06:08:03     Target Started (25/26) Target started (25/26, UGC 10566 w/SN2022aab) 06:27:06     Target Completed Target completed (25/26, UGC 10566 w/SN2022aab) 06:27:11     Target Started (26/26) Target started (26/26, HIP 87937) 06:29:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:32:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 06:34:47     Target Completed Target completed (26/26, HIP 87937) 06:34:50   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:34:52 Session Closing Session closing 06:35:45   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:36:16   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 24s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:37:22   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 61s) 06:37:37   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 06:37:59   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:38:52   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:38:54 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:39:05 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 22:52:49 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section Monitor Focuser1 (last cycle at 22:52:16)

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Operational Issues (2022-02-03, S962)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• CCDSoft & AstroMain's TakeImage & ObsMonitor Threads hanging whilst taking focus frames during initial Near Zenith focusing.  Problem with the connection with the SBIG camera.  Possibly due to a power cable/plug or USB cable/plug issue.  Attempts to fix issue by power-cycling SBIG Camera gave only a short term fix and  the problem reoccurred again during next attempt to start the session.   Attempted an in-session fix by making a visit to Observatory and firmly inserting power cable to SBIG camera which appeared to be possibly loosened. Appears to have fixed the problem ?  No issue during following S963 session.  Issue deemed to be closed.
  Closed 2022-02-04 (Session, SBIG Camera)

Minor Issues

• AllSky/Weather computer ran out of free disk space shortly after the S962 session finished. Fixed in shortern by cleaning up files (regaining some 60 GB).  Need to get a new external disk. New 4 TB external archive drive (3.67 TB formatted capacity) added to AllSky Computer on 2022-02-06.
  Fixed 2022-02-06 (AllSky/Weather Computer) 
   
• Too many targets are not getting focussed due to lost star or star too dim. This was an issue in this session and particularly in previous S961 session (2022-01-28). Could some of these targets have been focussed by say increasing exposure time/widening tolerance, prioritising if time since last focus is too long, prioritising when ahead of schedule, considering whether altitude is otherwise good.? , consider the latest cloud value at target.
  To investigate 2022-02-04 (AstroMain 3.49+)  

Small Defects

• Newly added housekeeping report on PHD2 Datastream showing 0 complete reads and 0 incomplete reads.   Complete read expected to be significantly greater than 0 Bug found (an incorrect counter was being reported) on 2022-02-04 and fixed.
  Fixed 2022-02-04 (AstroMain 3.48.30)  
   
• 'Rollback Session' button routine didn't seem to copy files into Live Folder from the SavedSession Folder .  Code examined and tested. Seem to work ok. Some comments which were iinherited from originating subroutine have been corrected.
  Closed 2022-02-04 (AstroPlan 1.29.9)

Continuous Improvement

• Query. Orientation of target ellipse on JPG pictures of PGC 27825 doesn't seem to match the long axis of the galaxy seen on CCD pictures. Review orientation wrt to Galaxy PA from TheSky6 and with galaxy in final stacked frames to see if there is an issue or not.   TheSky6's Object Information shows galaxy of size 1.3' x 0.7' with Positional Angle of 34° 00' .  Examination shows that the long axis of the ellipse drawn on the JPG image doesn't correspond with the actual orientation of the galaxy in the image.  So either the TheSky6 PA is wrong or the PA value is being incorrectly applied when drawing the ellipse.  'Light coloured ellipses (linecolor = "SlateGray2) drawn around a transients host galaxy seem to be drawn with the correct ellipse orientation but darker blue ellipses (linecolor = "DeepSkyBlue") around target galaxies are more often not correct ?.  NGC 5117 which is drawn ok as a host galaxy ellipse has a Positional Angle of 154° in TheSky6, which is either 120 deg or 60 deg different to that PA of PGC 27825. Plotting galaxy ellipses in TheSky6 shows that PGC 27825 has an ellipse with the same orientation as the ellipse drawn on JPG picture by the ConvertFitsToJpg() routine, showing the problem is with catalog Positional Angle in the Catalog.
  Query answered  2022-02-04 (TheSky6 Catalogs)
   
• Optimise Wide Search Focusing by cancelling remaining steps when the peak profile has clearly been passed. Wide Search focusing can be shortened by cancelling unnecessary steps. Implemented in late 2022.
  Done 2022-2H (AstroMain 3.44)

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