David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 975 (2022-02-22)

Notes (S974)

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Notes (S976)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (5)
	Images from 2022-02-22 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-02-22)

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. Check bug fixes & an issues associated with further refactoring in AstroMain 3.50.3

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 3.50.3,  AstroPlan 1.29.11,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.7
  AstroVOE 1.9.2  AstroSN 1.7.3,  AstroProtect 1.6,  AstroMove 1.8.6
  (AstroWeather 1.16.2, AstroAllSky 3.15,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.3)

Highlights

•  Targets.  x targets acquired before sky clouded over.
•  AstroMain.  No issues associated with using new AstroMain 3.50.3 version.

Notes:

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Black points (none)   Purple Points (37) - Cloud in Frame 1. Lost of star.  Wind shake / clouds.   Overcorrection taking guide star to the wrong side of zero line. Red point (36) -  Wind shake (and ? clouds) moving star.  Overcorrection taking guide star to the wrong side of zero line. Orange point (25, 35) - Spikes in Telescope Dec due to occasional wind shake (and ? clouds).     Overcorrection taking guide star to the wrong side of zero line. Orange point (26, 32, 34) - Poorly effective Dec Guiding (South) and occasional wind shake effects

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 18:23:22 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:23 & 05:13 18:23:24   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:35:50 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:35) 18:36:19 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-02-22 S00975, ImageSaveNum: 975001) 18:36:21   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:38:05   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:38:11 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:38:15 Session Pending Session pending (2022-02-22) 18:38:17 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-02-22) 18:38:19   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.11) 18:39:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 733) 18:39:25   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 18:39:32   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:39:56 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:40:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 18:41:21 Session Running Session running 18:41:24   Queue Started Observing Queue started (37 targets selected) 18:41:27     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 18:43:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:46:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:48:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:48:26       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:50:38       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 18:52:26       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:52:43     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 18:53:23     Target Started (1/37) Target started (1/37, UGC 3457 w/SN2022blm) 18:56:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:58:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:14:58     Target Completed Target completed (1/37, UGC 3457 w/SN2022blm) 19:15:23     Target Started (2/37) Target started (2/37, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 19:18:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:20:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:28:33     Target Completed Target completed (2/37, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 19:29:16     Target Started (3/37) Target started (3/37, SN 2022bnf) 19:32:14       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:49:31     Target Completed Target completed (3/37, SN 2022bnf) 19:51:16     Target Started (4/37) Target started (4/37, IC 421) 19:54:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:57:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:13:20     Target Completed Target completed (4/37, IC 421) 20:13:24     Target Started (5/37) Target started (5/37, AT2022bqs (CV)) 20:16:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:22:38     Target Completed Target completed (5/37, AT2022bqs (CV)) 20:25:16     Target Started (6/37) Target started (6/37, PKS0735+17 w/AT2021agfn) 20:27:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:43:39     Target Completed Target completed (6/37, PKS0735+17 w/AT2021agfn) 20:47:16     Target Started (7/37) Target started (7/37, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 20:49:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:52:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:05:26     Target Completed Target completed (7/37, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 21:05:51     Target Started (8/37) Target started (8/37, NGC 2922 w/SN2022bdu) 21:08:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:25:00     Target Completed Target completed (8/37, NGC 2922 w/SN2022bdu) 21:27:51     Target Started (9/37) Target started (9/37, NGC 2525) 21:30:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:49:45     Target Completed Target completed (9/37, NGC 2525) 21:49:49     Target Started (10/37) Target started (10/37, NGC 2716) 21:52:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:08:47     Target Completed Target completed (10/37, NGC 2716) 22:11:51     Target Started (11/37) Target started (11/37, IC 2426) 22:14:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:16:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:32:29     Target Completed Target completed (11/37, IC 2426) 22:33:51     Target Started (12/37) Target started (12/37, NGC 3121 w/AT2022dz) 22:36:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:38:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:55:43     Target Completed Target completed (12/37, NGC 3121 w/AT2022dz) 22:55:47     Target Started (13/37) Target started (13/37, IC 635 w/AT2022bqu) 22:58:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:13:56     Target Completed Target completed (13/37, IC 635 w/AT2022bqu) 23:17:51     Target Started (14/37) Target started (14/37, GCVS CN Leo) 23:20:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:22:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:30:23     Target Completed Target completed (14/37, GCVS CN Leo) 23:30:41     Target Started (15/37) Target started (15/37, AT2022cml) 23:33:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:35:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:51:41     Target Completed Target completed (15/37, AT2022cml) 23:52:41     Target Started (16/37) Target started (16/37, UGCA 258 w/SN2022mm) 23:55:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:11:41     Target Completed Target completed (16/37, UGCA 258 w/SN2022mm) 00:14:41     Target Started (17/37) Target started (17/37, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 00:17:47       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:34:41     Target Completed Target completed (17/37, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 00:36:41     Target Started (18/37) Target started (18/37, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) 00:39:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:56:17     Target Completed Target completed (18/37, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) 00:58:41     Target Started (19/37) Target started (19/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 01:02:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:04:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:10:33     Target Completed Target completed (19/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 01:10:37     Target Started (20/37) Target started (20/37, NGC 1233 w/SN2022bqi) 01:13:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:29:32     Target Completed Target completed (20/37, NGC 1233 w/SN2022bqi) 01:32:41     Target Started (21/37) Target started (21/37, GCVS GK Per) 01:36:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:38:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:42:03     Target Completed Target completed (21/37, GCVS GK Per) 01:42:07     Target Started (22/37) Target started (22/37, NGC 5273 w/AT2022csj) 01:45:55       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:02:08     Target Completed Target completed (22/37, NGC 5273 w/AT2022csj) 02:03:58     Target Started (23/37) Target started (23/37, NGC 5732 w/SN2021agpf) 02:06:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:09:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:25:16     Target Completed Target completed (23/37, NGC 5732 w/SN2021agpf) 02:25:58     Target Started (24/37) Target started (24/37, VV 807 w/AT2021fbu) 02:28:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:44:37     Target Completed Target completed (24/37, VV 807 w/AT2021fbu) 02:47:58     Target Started (25/37) Target started (25/37, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) 02:51:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:53:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:09:53     Target Completed Target completed (25/37, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) 03:09:57     Target Started (26/37) Target started (26/37, AT2022sl (CV)) 03:12:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:14:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:21:42     Target Completed Target completed (26/37, AT2022sl (CV)) 03:21:58     Target Started (27/37) Target started (27/37, AT2021agpw (CV)) 03:24:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:27:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:32:54     Target Completed Target completed (27/37, AT2021agpw (CV)) 03:33:58     Target Started (28/37) Target started (28/37, GCVS U Her) 03:36:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:39:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:47:22     Target Completed Target completed (28/37, GCVS U Her) 03:47:26     Target Started (29/37) Target started (29/37, GCVS SS Her) 03:50:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:52:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:57:07     Target Completed Target completed (29/37, GCVS SS Her) 03:57:11     Target Started (30/37) Target started (30/37, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:00:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:02:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 04:10:31     Target Completed Target completed (30/37, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:10:35     Target Started (31/37) Target started (31/37, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:13:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:16:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 04:22:03     Target Completed Target completed (31/37, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:26:36     Target Started (32/37) Target started (32/37, GCVS BL Lac) 04:29:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:33:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 04:37:24     Target Completed Target completed (32/37, GCVS BL Lac) 04:37:29     Target Started (33/37) Target started (33/37, 61 Cyg) 04:40:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:42:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 04:45:34     Target Completed Target completed (33/37, 61 Cyg) 04:45:38     Target Started (34/37) Target started (34/37, Nova Cas 2021) 04:48:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:51:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 05:00:16     Target Completed Target completed (34/37, Nova Cas 2021) 05:00:20     Target Started (35/37) Target started (35/37, UGC 522 w/SN2022bqt) 05:03:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:19:46     Target Completed Target completed (35/37, UGC 522 w/SN2022bqt) 05:21:04     Target Started (36/37) Target started (36/37, NGC 6500 w/SN2021wuf) 05:24:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:26:25       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Ambiguous) 05:43:04     Target Completed Target completed (36/37, NGC 6500 w/SN2021wuf) 05:43:08     Target Started (37/37) Target started (37/37, GCVS CY Lyr) 05:45:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:48:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26) 05:52:29     Target Completed Target completed (37/37, GCVS CY Lyr) 05:52:32   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:52:34 Session Closing Session closing 05:53:29   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:53:51   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 15s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:55:03   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 68s) 05:55:18   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 05:55:40   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:56:36   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:56:38 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:57:10 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 01:33:13 Dome Dome position has been static for more than 5 mins

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Operational Issues (2022-02-22, S975)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (5)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• After accidently 'Load Data' button in the session's Fits Summary excel file, but cancelling the task in the following user confirmation dialog, the Proc Step was jumped to the next one (Group Reduced Fits) instead of staying on 'Load Data' .   The 'RunNextProcecure' button routine should probably look at either time since 'Group Raw Fits' button was used and/or the presence of files in the 'Reduced' Folder as a double check on whether user can proceed with the 'Load Data' procedure.   Check implemented by looking for presence of a .'reduced (pointing).dat' file. (Couldn't get count files in folder to work in VBA , exception  with GetFolder(...).Files.Count  or it wouldn't supply a actual non-zero value file count).
  Fixed   2022-02-23  (Fits Summary/Excel) 
   
• Wind Direction indicators on WindSpeed Graphs are being drawing with short arrows in conditions where actual wind speed was fairly high.   AstroWeather's Wind Speed Graphs (vwsGraph4.jpg (8h), vwsGraph49.jpg (16h) &  vwsGraph9.jpg (5d) ) have recently modified in version 1.16.2 to substitute the Currently.WindBearing when WeatherStation.WindDirection data is deemed to be frozen when plotting wind direction indicators.  It was therefore initially thought that wind direction arrow  not honouring the substitute wind speed from Currently.WindSpeed. Investigation however showed that the problem was associated with existing code in situations where WeatherStation wind data is patchy and in situations where AvWindSpeed was vcNull the minimal arrow length (6 px) was being using.  Issue fixed 1.16.3 but using Currently Wind Data where AvWindSpeed from WeatherStation data is vcNull.
  Fixed   2022-02-23  (AstroWeather 1.16.3)

• Bring CCDSoft to front before showing the reduced folder when using the create 'Bad Folder' button routine (Analysis/ImageSets/Reduced Tab).
  Done  2022-02-23  (AstroMain 3.50.4).
   
• Add 70pc and 175pc scale buttons to Analysis/ImageSets/Images Tab.  These are only occassionally used scales for cropped images but useful to have.
  Done  2022-02-23  (AstroMain 3.50.4).
   
• Add a 'an2' category/checkbox to ImageBuilder form.  This is to allow an alternately annotated picture to be created/saved to store/ web folder without resorting to file explorer manipulation.
  Done  2022-02-23  (AstroMain 3.50.4).
   
• For button routines like 'Store  >>' , 'Reduced >>' if there explorer window already open for the folder then bring that window to the front rather than open an extra explorer window for that folder.  This would be helpful in overloading the Task Bar with duplicate windows but still present folder to front when needed. There may be away , but after trying different things I couldn't find a way of bringing existing folder window to front (folder is IWebBrowser2  type ?), and implemented a solution by closing the existing window first using .Quit(),  before opening the new window.
  Done   2022-02-23  (AstroMain 3.50.4).
   
• Query: Guide Run 25 (UGC 9083). Star Lock changed wasn't made between frames 4 & 5 even though Dec Error was >1" at time and near to 2" before/after. Changes to lock position were made after frames 2 and 3 ok.   Lock shift change is essentially made when dRecentAverageY And dLastY are both outside +1.0 to -1.0 window.   RecentDecPoints after prior to 3 , 4 and 5 are listed below where it can be seen that the criteria wasn't made prior to frame 5 (LastY only -0.9) .   Should LastY threshold be relaxed to +0.8 to -0.8  ?.   In the meantime the item is deemed to be answered and closed.
    N 6, Av gY 2.3", Min gY 1.4", Last gY 2.4"
  N 5, Av gY 2.1", Min gY 1.8", Last gY 2.3"
  N 6, Av gY -1.5", Min gY -0.9", Last gY -0.9"
  Closed 2022-02-26  (AstroMain) 

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