David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 985 (2022-03-14)

Notes (S984)

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Notes (S986)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2022-03-14 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-03-14)

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 3.50.7,  AstroPlan 1.29.12,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.7
  AstroVOE 1.9.2  AstroSN 1.7.3,  AstroProtect 1.6,  AstroMove 1.8.6
  (AstroWeather 1.16.5, AstroAllSky 3.15.3,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.3)

Highlights

•  Targets.  Images acquired from 15 targets
•  SBIG Camera/CCDSoft.  Problems with CCDSoft/SBIG Camera operations freezing whilst trying to take focus images at start of session.
•  Cloud.  3 hours of observing time were lost due to cloud.

Notes:

• Aurora activity during the previous evening (see Aurora Images/Video from 2022-03-13) >>
  

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Black/Purple points (None) - Red points (None) - Orange targets (16,18) -

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 19:28:18 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:28 & 04:20 19:28:19   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 19:28:29 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:28) 19:29:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 19:29:11 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-03-14 S00985, ImageSaveNum: 985001) 19:29:13   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:30:54   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:31:00 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:31:04 Session Pending Session pending (2022-03-14) 19:31:06 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-03-14) 19:31:08   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.13) 19:31:40   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 743) 19:31:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 19:32:01   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 19:32:25 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 19:33:10   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:34:10 Session Running Session running 19:34:13   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected) 19:34:15     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:35:25 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 19:35 in section Monitor Focuser1 19:47:11   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being killed and restarted in attempt to fix locked threads 19:58:20 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:58 & 04:20 19:58:23 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:58) 19:58:52 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-03-14 S00985, ImageSaveNum: 985001) 19:59:23   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:59:27 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:59:30 Session Pending Session pending (2022-03-14) 19:59:32 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-03-14) 19:59:40   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 743) 20:00:03   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:00:10   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:00:29 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:00:31 Session Running Session running 20:00:33   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected) 20:00:36     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 20:04:06   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 20:06:46 Program Closed Program closed by User 20:14:39 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:14 & 04:20 20:14:42   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 20:17:37 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:17) 20:18:05 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-03-14 S00985, ImageSaveNum: 985001) 20:18:40   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:18:47 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:18:49 Session Pending Session pending (2022-03-14) 20:18:51 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-03-14) 20:18:55   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 743) 20:19:17   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:19:24   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 20:19:43 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 20:19:45 Wait On Weather Waiting for acceptable conditions 20:19:47 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:19:49   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closure time is unknown) 20:19:51   Queue Started Observing Queue started (31 targets selected) 20:22:17 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 20:22 in section Monitor Focuser1 20:27:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/32, AT2022eoq) due to cloud 20:35:39 Session Resuming Session resuming 20:35:44   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being killed and restarted in attempt to fix locked threads 20:36:07   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:36:24   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:36:26 Session Running Session running 20:36:28   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 20:36:31     Target Started (3/32) Target started (3/32, UGC 3457 w/SN2022blm) 20:38:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:41:06       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:42:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:44:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:52:35 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 20:52 in section Refresh Dome Picture 20:54:41   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being killed and restarted in attempt to fix locked threads 20:55:04   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 20:56:22   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 20:56:27 Program Closed Program closed by User 21:16:56 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:16 & 04:20 21:17:01 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:17) 21:17:40   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:17:42 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2022-03-14 S00985, ImageSaveNum: 985004) 21:18:18   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:18:25 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:18:26 Session Pending Session pending (2022-03-14) 21:18:28 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-03-14) 21:18:34   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 743) 21:18:47   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 21:18:53   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 21:19:17 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 21:20:02   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:20:04 Session Running Session running 21:20:06   Queue Started Observing Queue started (28 targets selected) 21:20:09     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 21:21:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:25:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4, wide) 21:27:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:27:02     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 21:27:04     Target Missed (5/32) Target's time slot was missed (5/32, UGC 3383 w/AT2021abbn) 21:28:42     Target Started (6/32) Target started (6/32, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 21:29:48   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:31:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:35:04   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 21:37:34   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:42:07     Target Completed Target completed (6/32, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 21:42:09   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:42:12 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:43:00   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:51:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/32, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 22:02:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/32, GCVS DY Per) due to cloud 22:21:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/32, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) due to cloud 22:43:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/32, NGC 3822 w/AT2022eiu) due to cloud 23:05:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/32, NGC 4134 w/AT2021adlx) due to cloud 23:27:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/32, NGC 4253 w/AT2022cqd) due to cloud 23:40:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/32, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 23:55:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/32, 70P/Kojima) due to cloud 00:15:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/32, NGC 3823 w/SN2022aoe) due to cloud 00:29:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/32, AT2021aena (CV)) due to cloud 00:49:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/32, UGC 7546 w/ATPSN J12264665+0852586) due to cloud 01:11:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/32, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) due to too few stars 01:13:01 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:13:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:13:48 Session Running Session running 01:13:50   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:14:06     Target Started (19/32) Target started (19/32, AT2021hut) 01:17:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:34:43     Target Completed Target completed (19/32, AT2021hut) 01:36:06     Target Started (20/32) Target started (20/32, UGC 9886 w/SN2022dmj) 01:39:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:55:33     Target Completed Target completed (20/32, UGC 9886 w/SN2022dmj) 01:58:06     Target Started (21/32) Target started (21/32, Nova Cas 2021) 02:02:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:05:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:13:25     Target Completed Target completed (21/32, Nova Cas 2021) 02:13:29     Target Started (22/32) Target started (22/32, NGC 3683 w/AT2022azb) 02:17:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:33:12     Target Completed Target completed (22/32, NGC 3683 w/AT2022azb) 02:33:51     Target Started (23/32) Target started (23/32, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) 02:37:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:40:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:56:44     Target Completed Target completed (23/32, UGC 9083 w/AT2021buk) 02:56:48     Target Started (24/32) Target started (24/32, GCVS BL Lac) 03:00:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:02:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 03:06:31     Target Completed Target completed (24/32, GCVS BL Lac) 03:06:35     Target Started (25/32) Target started (25/32, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:09:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:11:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:16:55     Target Completed Target completed (25/32, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:22:13     Target Started (26/32) Target started (26/32, NGC 5732 w/SN2021agpf) 03:25:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:27:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 03:44:42     Target Completed Target completed (26/32, NGC 5732 w/SN2021agpf) 03:44:46     Target Started (27/32) Target started (27/32, Mrk 506 w/AT2021agiv) 03:48:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:50:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 04:07:19     Target Completed Target completed (27/32, Mrk 506 w/AT2021agiv) 04:07:23     Target Started (28/32) Target started (28/32, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:23:26     Target Completed Target completed (28/32, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:23:30     Target Started (29/32) Target started (29/32, HIP 87937) 04:26:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:28:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 04:30:51     Target Completed Target completed (29/32, HIP 87937) 04:30:56     Target Started (30/32) Target started (30/32, KIC 8462852) 04:33:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:35:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 04:40:13     Target Completed Target completed (30/32, KIC 8462852) 04:40:17     Target Started (31/32) Target started (31/32, 61 Cyg) 04:43:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:45:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 04:48:46     Target Completed Target completed (31/32, 61 Cyg) 04:48:50     Target Started (32/32) Target started (32/32, GCVS AM Her) 04:51:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:53:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 04:59:03     Target Completed Target completed (32/32, GCVS AM Her) 04:59:06   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:59:10 Session Closing Session closing 05:00:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:00:23   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 12s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:01:36   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 71s) 05:01:51   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 05:02:13   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:03:07   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:03:09 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:03:20 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 19:36:00 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section Monitor Focuser1 (last cycle at 19:35:25) 20:22:52 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section Monitor Focuser1 (last cycle at 20:22:17) 20:35:49 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor has resumed again after 13.5 mins 20:53:06 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section Refresh Dome Picture (last cycle at 20:52:35) 20:54:46 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor has resumed again after 2.1 mins

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Operational Issues (2022-03-14, S985)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Obs.Monitor & Job Queue froze whilst attempting to Near Zenith Foc1 Focusing (19:36).  ObsOverseer detected that ObsMonitor and Job Queue has frozen and attempted to perform a CCDSoft restart at 19:47.   but this didn't work /  with the apparent error 'Problem changing to filter C (1)' .  Software was restarted and again problems occurred was trying to perform autofocusing on Near Zenith Focus Field, with ObsOverseer giving the warning ' Camera.TakeImage task .. Is taking a Long time? (20:02). Software againing killed/restarted after slewing to first Target  (3/32, UGC 3457) and after successfully performing Foc2 focusing,  Foc1 focusing was started, this initially began ok, but during Focus Step 11/23,  CCDSoft Take Image froze, and ObsOverseer gave the warning "Camera.TakeImage task Is taking a Long time? (20:46)" .  Attempts to restart SBIG Camera by switching it off/on failed to resolve the problem.  Checked Cable leads to SBIG Camera, they seemed ok.   Eventually resolved issue in-session by rebooting the Observatory Computer and restarting the session afresh at 21:17.   There were no further problems with SBIG camera or CCDSoft during the rest of the session but the delay lost some 60-90 minutes of observing time.  This was a significant loss since shortly after restarting (with the partial imaging of just a single target) the sky conditions rapidly deteriorated and necessiated suspending the session for 3 hours (imaging eventually resumed at 01:14)
  Resolved in-session 2022-03-14    (Session / SBIG Camera)

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• None

• None

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