David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 997 (2022-03-31)

Notes (S996)

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Notes (S998)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2022-03-31 >>         [ Local Files >> ]
	Investigation -  Slow Dome Slews, Session S997

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-03-31)

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 new AstroMain verson 3.50.9 to ensure that it hasn't introduced any issues for live operations.

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 3.50.9,  AstroPlan 1.29.14,   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.  12 targets succcessfully acquired
•  AstroMain.  New version of AstroMain operated ok without introducing any new problems
•  Dome Protection.  CloudSensor / Rain Forecast and AstroMain system worked well to recognise rain threat at 00:10 and intervene to close shutter and suspend session before rain arrived between 00:13 and 00:15.
•  Late Start.  Session could have been started 1 to 1.5 hours earlier than it did (this happened because the weather forecast wasn't looking favourable, and the clear skies were noticed till later in the evening).

Notes:

• Session interrupted by rain/snow and cloud
  

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Note:

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 22:26:05 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:26 & 04:29 22:26:08 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:26) 22:26:36 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-03-31 S00997, ImageSaveNum: 997001) 22:26:39   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:28:19   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:28:26 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:28:28 Session Pending Session pending (2022-03-31) 22:28:31 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-03-31) 22:28:33   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.14) 22:29:02   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 755) 22:29:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 22:29:30   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:29:54 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 22:30:39   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:31:35 Session Running Session running 22:31:37   Queue Started Observing Queue started (21 targets selected) 22:31:39     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253) 22:34:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:37:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:39:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:39:49       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:40:04     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253) 22:43:37     Target Started (1/21) Target started (1/21, IC 609) 22:46:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:09:04     Target Completed Target completed (1/21, IC 609) 23:11:41     Target Started (2/21) Target started (2/21, GCVS CN Leo) 23:14:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:16:17       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Ambiguous) 23:23:31     Target Completed Target completed (2/21, GCVS CN Leo) 23:24:31     Target Started (3/21) Target started (3/21, UGC 4219 w/AT2022eya) 23:27:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:29:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:31:17   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:32:02 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:32:04   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 23:32:07     Target Aborted (3/21) Target aborted (3/21, UGC 4219 w/AT2022eya) due to threat of rain 23:32:09   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:32:12 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:33:02   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:42:13 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:42:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:43:01 Session Running Session running 23:43:03   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:43:05     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 23:44:18       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:46:29       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4, wide) 23:48:14       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:48:32     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 23:48:34     Target Missed (3/21) Target's time slot was missed (3/21, UGC 4219 w/AT2022eya) 23:48:40     Target Started (4/21) Target started (4/21, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 23:51:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:53:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:02:25     Target Completed Target completed (4/21, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 00:02:29     Target Started (5/21) Target started (5/21, 19P/Borrelly) 00:05:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:10:42 Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:10:44   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 00:10:46     Target Aborted (5/21) Target aborted (5/21, 19P/Borrelly) due to threat of rain 00:10:48   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:10:50 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:11:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:13:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/21, 19P/Borrelly) due to cloud 00:33:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/21, UGC 5304) due to rain 00:55:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/21, NGC 3367 w/SN2022ewj) due to cloud 01:17:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/21, UGC 6312 w/SN2022eyj) due to rain 01:39:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/21, IC 3862) due to cloud 02:01:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/21, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) due to cloud 02:15:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/21, AT2022evv (CV)) due to cloud 02:27:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/21, AT2022evu (CV)) due to cloud 02:47:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/21, NGC 5427) due to cloud 02:51:56 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:52:42   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:52:44 Session Running Session running 02:52:46   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:52:48     Target Started (14/21) Target started (14/21, NGC 5718) 03:15:42     Target Completed Target completed (14/21, NGC 5718) 03:15:46     Target Started (15/21) Target started (15/21, AT2021agpw (CV)) 03:18:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:21:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 03:26:52     Target Completed Target completed (15/21, AT2021agpw (CV)) 03:26:56     Target Started (16/21) Target started (16/21, UGC 5560 w/SN2022ewv) 03:30:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:32:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 03:49:08     Target Completed Target completed (16/21, UGC 5560 w/SN2022ewv) 03:49:12     Target Started (17/21) Target started (17/21, NGC 4615) 04:09:59     Target Completed Target completed (17/21, NGC 4615) 04:10:03     Target Started (18/21) Target started (18/21, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:22:08     Target Completed Target completed (18/21, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:24:32     Target Started (19/21) Target started (19/21, GCVS BL Lac) 04:27:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:29:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 04:34:01     Target Completed Target completed (19/21, GCVS BL Lac) 04:34:38     Target Started (20/21) Target started (20/21, AT2022fkn) 04:37:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:39:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 04:56:00     Target Completed Target completed (20/21, AT2022fkn) 04:56:38     Target Started (21/21) Target started (21/21, NGC 5732 w/SN2021agpf) 04:59:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:01:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 05:17:17     Target Completed Target completed (21/21, NGC 5732 w/SN2021agpf) 05:17:20   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:17:24 Session Closing Session closing 05:18:19   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:20:01   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 94s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:21:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 65s) 05:21:22   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 05:21:44   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:22:37   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:22:39 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:22:50 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 02:56:57 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (NGC 5718)

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Operational Issues (2022-03-31, S997)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Four dome slews took an unexpectedly long time. Slews that took an unexpectedly long time were 1) slew to Focus Field 10 (89.9° in 115s, 0.78 °/s), 2) slew to NGC 5718 (84.6°in 240s, 0.35 °/s) , 3) slew to NGC 4615 (40.2° in 131s, 0.31 °/s),  4) slew to SS Cyg  (176.5° slew in 218s, 0.81 °/s). Slews were investigated and shown to be due to slippage at particular 'flat spot' azimuths, which is consistent with a previous hypothesis (see Investigation - Slow Dome Slews, Session S997).   It is believed to be due to a combination of grease/dew on the dome flange and the non-perfect geometry of the dome roof related to original installation.  (Update at 2022-06-09:  Code added to AstroMain 3.51.13 (2022-06-03) to automatically identify and report holdups in dome rotation (azimuth & holdup seconds), and issue yellow/red Session Events for hold-ups longer than 30s/60s.  Issue is ongoing (eg occurred in S1018 on 2022-06-09.  Daytime testing 2022-06-08 failed to replicate the issue for a slew operation having an issue in S1018).
  Closed  2022-04-03 (Session, Dome)  

Small Defects

• None

• When a 'Must-Include' Target is deemed Completed (Status=Completed) target's Must Include flag should be reset in database. UpdateTargetState() routine modified to set MustInclude=0 (false).
  Done 2022-04-11 (AstroMain 3.50.10) 
   
• Complete backlog of image building and web page documentation of all 18 observing sessions from Mar 2022.  Backlog finally completed on 2022-04-12.
  Done 2022-04-12 (Session Website) 

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Investigation -  Slow Dome Slews, Session S997

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