David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1041 (2022-09-23)

Notes (S1040)

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Notes (S1042)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2022-09-23 >>        [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-09-23)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & twilight conditions.
2. Guide Star Selection.  Carry out tests & experiements to help resolve issue with guide star selection when using a guiding in PHD2 with a specified ROI.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.0.16,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.5.414, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.6
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.11dev2
   
• AstroMain 3.54.9,  AstroPlan 1.32.5,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.8.2
  AstroVOE 1.11  AstroSN 1.8.5,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.1
  (AstroWeather 1.17.8, AstroAllSky 3.16.2,  AstroObsCam 1.9, AstroLaunch 1.9.4)

Highlights

• Targets.  Data was acquired from 20 out of 20 planned targets
• Guiding.  Guiding was generally good but some targets were affected by poor guiding on certain frames. Guiding poorer in RA than Dec.

Notes:

• Start of session was delayed by cloud and rain.
• Ambient temperate fell from 13°C down to 6°C over the course of the session.
  

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance

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 00:03:42 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:03 & 04:56 00:03:43 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:03) 00:04:15 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-09-23 S01041, ImageSaveNum: 1041001) 00:04:18   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:06:02   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:06:09 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:06:13 Session Pending Session pending (2022-09-23) 00:06:15 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-09-23) 00:06:17   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.32.5) 00:06:57   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 803) 00:07:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 00:07:15   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:07:39 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:08:24   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:09:19 Session Running Session running 00:09:21   Queue Started Observing Queue started (18 targets selected) 00:09:25     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 00:09:37   Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:14:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:16:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:18:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:18:45       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:20:53       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:22:36       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:22:53     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 00:22:58     Target Started (1/18) Target started (1/18, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) 00:26:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:28:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:44:34     Target Completed Target completed (1/18, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) 00:44:45     Target Started (2/18) Target started (2/18, GCVS BL Lac) 00:46:40     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 246.9° (Delay 80s) 00:48:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:51:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:54:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/18, GCVS BL Lac) 00:55:01     Target Started (3/18) Target started (3/18, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-09a?) 00:57:11     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 222.5° (Delay 75s) 00:59:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:16:27     Target Completed Target completed (3/18, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-09a?) 01:16:51     Target Started (4/18) Target started (4/18, AT2022tru (CV)) 01:20:30       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:36:34     Target Completed Target completed (4/18, AT2022tru (CV)) 01:38:51     Target Started (5/18) Target started (5/18, GCVS HH And) 01:40:33     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 223.1, 222.5, 221.5° (Total delay 89s) 01:42:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:45:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:47:04     Target Completed Target completed (5/18, GCVS HH And) 01:47:08     Target Started (6/18) Target started (6/18, GCVS EV Lac) 01:49:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:51:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:54:31     Target Completed Target completed (6/18, GCVS EV Lac) 01:55:33     Target Started (7/18) Target started (7/18, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:58:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:00:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:04:32     Target Completed Target completed (7/18, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:09:03 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 02:09 in section Monitor TheSky6 Scope 02:11:48     Target Started (8/18) Target started (8/18, AT2022kl (CV)) 02:14:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:16:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:21:22   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:27:03   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:27:05   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:27:10     Target Aborted (8/18) Target aborted (8/18, AT2022kl (CV)) due to cloud 02:27:12   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:27:15 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:28:03   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:33:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/18, AT2022kl (CV)) due to cloud 02:53:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/18, NGC 7495 w/SN2022ubb) due to cloud 03:04:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/18, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 03:23:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/18, NGC 157 w/SN2022jli) due to cloud 03:45:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/18, UGC 2508 w/AT2022trp) due to cloud 03:50:43 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:51:29   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:51:31 Session Running Session running 03:51:33   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:51:35     Target Started (13/18) Target started (13/18, Jupiter) 03:52:43     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 246.8° (Delay 42s) 03:53:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:57:46     Target Completed Target completed (13/18, Jupiter) 04:00:06     Target Started (14/18) Target started (14/18, GSC 1224:29) 04:03:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:08:16     Target Completed Target completed (14/18, GSC 1224:29) 04:10:26     Target Started (15/18) Target started (15/18, AT2022tqu) 04:13:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:15:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 04:31:32     Target Completed Target completed (15/18, AT2022tqu) 04:32:26     Target Started (16/18) Target started (16/18, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc) 04:35:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:38:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 04:44:30   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:44:32   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 04:44:38     Target Aborted (16/18) Target aborted (16/18, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc) due to threat of rain 04:44:40   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:44:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:45:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:51:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/18, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc) due to threat of rain 04:55:22 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:56:07   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:56:09 Session Running Session running 04:56:11   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:56:14     Target Started (17/18) Target started (17/18, AT2022tmq) 04:59:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:01:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 05:17:10     Target Completed Target completed (17/18, AT2022tmq) 05:17:14     Target Started (18/18) Target started (18/18, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf) 05:20:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:23:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 05:39:26     Target Completed Target completed (18/18, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf) 05:39:29   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:39:33 Session Closing Session closing 05:40:28   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:41:12   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 37s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:42:47   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 93s) 05:43:02   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 05:43:24   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:44:20   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:44:22 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:44:38 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 02:09:38 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section Monitor TheSky6 Scope (last cycle at 02:09:03) 02:10:23 Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor has resumed again after 1.3 mins

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Operational Issues (2022-09-23, S1041)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Notes

Minor Issues

• There were holdups during slewing to 4 targets (holdups at Az 222-223° and 247°). Holdups of 42 to 80s duration.. A smallholdup of 13s also occurred at Az 89° This is a known ongoing issue without an immediate resolution.
  Unresolved (Pulsar Dome)

Small Defects

• Unable to Set Photometry Aperture (access to DEFAULT.sxt is denied).  Set Detection Aperture Failed with error message "Error: Access to the path 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Software Bisque\CCDSoft Version 5\Configuration Files\DEFAULT.sxt' is denied".   User permission on Default.sxt' file changed to full control. Re-tested SetDetectAperture() routine on Observatory Compouter and confirmed that the issue has been fixed.
  Fixed 2022-09-25 (AstroMain 3.54.10) 
   
• AstroSN unexpectedly loaded AT2022uqw to targets database as a Rank 2 / Must Include (Tier 2) target. Transient AT2022uqw in 2MASX J09012714+3427513 appears to have been loaded as a Must Include target because its maximum magnitude appeared to show it to be very bright. However its Max Mag value of 0.0 is almost certainly just a placeholder and it not a real magnitude.  AstroSN should ignore Max Mag when it has value 0.0.
  To Fix 2022-09-25 (AstroSN 1.8.6) 
   
• Obs.Monitor frozen for 1.6 mins in section Monitor TheSky6 Scope (02:09). ObsMonitor reported to be frozen for a 1.6 min interval at 02:09:03 whilst waiting to start Target 8/18 (AT 2022kl). Ongoing minor issue, continue to monitor for any pattern. Added trace code to AstroMain 3.54.10 which calls new routine 'LogTheSkyCpuUsage()' which runs a quick performance to measure and log TheSky6's current CPU usage whenever ObsMonitor is hung-up in 'Monitor TheSky6 Scope' section. Fixed 2022-10-24 by moving the Monitor TheSky6 Scope code into a separate routine (RunTheSkyScopeMonitor) which is called from a separate thread.  So whilst this new routine/thread can still be held up by occassional but unexplained holdups querying TheSky6.Scope.IsConnected, they no longer cause a holdup of the Obs.Monitor thread.
  Fixed 2022-10-24  (AstroMain 3.56.2)

• None

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