David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1042 (2022-09-27)

Notes (S1041)

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Notes (S1043)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2022-09-27 >>        [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-09-27)

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. AstroSuite Programs.  Check out new versions of AstroMain, AstroGuard, AstroVOE, AstroAllSky, AstroWeather which have all ungone revisions associated with ongoing conversion of date variables and record timestamps  from Local to UT kind . Check for all issues.

 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 3.55,  AstroPlan 1.32.5,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.9
  AstroVOE 1.12  AstroSN 1.8.6,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.1
  (AstroWeather 1.18, AstroAllSky 3.17 / 3.17.1,  AstroObsCam 1.9, AstroLaunch 1.9.4)

Highlights

• Targets.  Data was acquired from 8 out of 28 planned targets, with partial data acquired from 2 further targets.
• AstroSuite Programs.  Revisions associated with ongoing conversion of date variables and record timestamps from Local to UT kind appear to have worked without any problem. A routine that was added to AstroAllSky (to get around a TheSky6 DST issue) contained a historic flaw however that was exposed by its use and gave rise to intermittant exceptions whilst trying to Measure Stars, preventing AllSky Star Count getting to AstroMain / AstroWeather programs and causing gaps in the NightSummary6 plot and in AllSky & panoromaic videos from the night.  Issue fixed in session, and  and the new version (AstroAllSky 3.17.1) ran successfully from 00:50 onwards.
• Weather Protection.  ObsManager successfully responded to a imminent threat of rain from the DarkSky.Net minutely weather forecast at 04:02:44 and suspended the session and closed the dome. Closure finished at 04:03:36 which was 52s after the weather alert was raised. With cloud increasing and threat still in place the ObsManager kept the dome shut. Rain from a fairly heavy shower began falling at 04:19.  Dome remained closed until dawn. There were further showers at 05:00 (very light) and 06:00 (heavy).

Notes:

• Start of session was delayed by cloud and insufficient stars. Cloud interrupted session and cloud/rain effectively ended the session early at 04:03.
  

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) Various gaps between 19:30 and 00:45 (some gaps are obvious, some only apparent because of gaps in  Sun Alt labelling,  normaly 2 deg intervals). Issue was due to a bug in a newly introduced routine in AstroAllSky 3.17. This was fixed in-session (3.17.1) and the new version ran successfully from 00:50 onwards

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 18:24:27 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:43 & 05:05 18:24:29   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 19:43 19:43:33   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 20:44:06 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:44) 20:44:50   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 20:44:52 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-09-27 S01042, ImageSaveNum: 1042001) 20:44:54   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:46:35   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:46:42 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:46:46 Session Pending Session pending (2022-09-27) 20:46:48 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-09-27) 20:46:50   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.32.5) 20:47:21   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 804) 20:47:37   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 20:47:43   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:48:07 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:48:52   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:49:52 Session Running Session running 20:49:55   Queue Started Observing Queue started (28 targets selected) 20:49:58     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 20, HIP 98535) 20:50:11   Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:54:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:56:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:58:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:58:52       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:01:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:02:44       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:03:01     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 20, HIP 98535) 21:03:18     Target Started (1/28) Target started (1/28, AT2022kl (CV)) 21:06:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:08:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:28:06     Target Completed Target completed (1/28, AT2022kl (CV)) 21:28:10     Target Started (2/28) Target started (2/28, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) 21:29:37   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:31:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:44:09   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:44:11   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:44:16     Target Aborted (2/28) Target aborted (2/28, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) due to cloud 21:44:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:44:21 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:45:04   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 22:04:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/28, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) due to cloud 22:24:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/28, IC 1132 w/SN2022prv) due to threat of rain 22:26:34 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:27:19   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:27:22 Session Running Session running 22:27:24   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:27:42     Target Started (5/28) Target started (5/28, AT2022tru (CV)) 22:29:32     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 222.2° (Delay 61s) 22:30:00   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:30:55   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:30:57   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 22:30:59     Target Aborted (5/28) Target aborted (5/28, AT2022tru (CV)) due to threat of rain 22:31:01   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:31:03 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:31:45   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 22:46:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/28, AT2022tru (CV)) due to cloud 22:56:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/28, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 23:05:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/28, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 23:25:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/28, NGC 7594 w/SN2022de) due to too few stars 23:36:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/28, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 23:55:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/28, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-09a?) due to cloud 00:17:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/28, NGC 7495 w/SN2022ubb) due to cloud 00:30:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/28, GCVS Z And) due to cloud 00:46:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/28, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 01:05:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/28, NGC 7814) due to cloud 01:27:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/28, NGC 157 w/SN2022jli) due to cloud 01:49:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/28, NGC 233 w/SN2021abzd) due to other condition - Blank 01:49:50 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:50:35   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:50:37 Session Running Session running 01:50:39   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:52:52     Target Started (17/28) Target started (17/28, AT2022vxe) 01:56:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:58:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 02:15:01     Target Completed Target completed (17/28, AT2022vxe) 02:15:06     Target Started (18/28) Target started (18/28, GCVS HH And) 02:16:41     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 246.9° (Delay 62s) 02:18:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:21:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:23:11     Target Completed Target completed (18/28, GCVS HH And) 02:23:15     Target Started (19/28) Target started (19/28, GCVS U And) 02:24:38     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 222.2° (Delay 48s) 02:27:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:29:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:39:54     Target Completed Target completed (19/28, GCVS U And) 02:39:58     Target Started (20/28) Target started (20/28, GSC 1224:29) 02:43:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:48:17     Target Completed Target completed (20/28, GSC 1224:29) 02:48:53     Target Started (21/28) Target started (21/28, UGC 2508 w/AT2022trp) 02:52:34       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:09:00     Target Completed Target completed (21/28, UGC 2508 w/AT2022trp) 03:10:53     Target Started (22/28) Target started (22/28, AT2022ods) 03:13:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:14:48       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 03:31:35     Target Completed Target completed (22/28, AT2022ods) 03:32:53     Target Started (23/28) Target started (23/28, AT2022tqu) 03:35:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:37:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:53:31     Target Completed Target completed (23/28, AT2022tqu) 03:54:53     Target Started (24/28) Target started (24/28, AT2022tmq) 03:58:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:01:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 04:02:36   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:02:38   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 04:02:44     Target Aborted (24/28) Target aborted (24/28, AT2022tmq) due to threat of rain 04:02:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:02:49 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:03:36   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:13:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/28, AT2022tmq) due to cloud 04:35:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/28, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) due to cloud 04:57:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/28, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf) due to rain 05:19:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/28, AT2022qcs) due to cloud 05:51:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/28, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc) due to rain 05:51:54   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:51:59 Session Closing Session closing 05:52:04   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:03, closing time 50s) 05:52:23   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 11s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:53:38   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 72s) 05:53:53   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 05:54:15   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:55:12   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:55:14 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:55:25 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 00:22:39 AllSky/Synopsis AllSky Star & Synopsis data has been inactive for more than 5 mins 00:24:59 AllSky/Synopsis AllSky Star & Synopsis data is active again (outage 2.5 mins)

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Operational Issues (2022-09-27, S1042)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• AstroAllSky's AllSkyTakeFrames() routine is encountering intermittent exceptions that prevent processing and analysis of AllSky Images for periods of 3-10 minutes. There were outages in generation of AllSky Counts and update of NightSummary6 plot at 18:16 (5 min), 18:51 (5 min), 19:26 (8 min),  20:00 (6 min), 20:08 (4 min), 29:58 (3 min), 21:06 (8 min). Logs show a System.OverflowException is being recorded at line 28348 [ 'GetAllSkyCoords(ObjectName, ID, .Az, .Alt, Xm, Ym, .X, .Y, .PlotCode)' ] in globals.MeasureDisplayStar (JD, ID).  Immediately before the exception there is a log message indicating Az has a NaN value (e.g.
    2022-09-27 21:01:40.06 | Debug, Info, Trace Az is NaN, JD= 2,459,850.334455, Ra= 20.350203, Dec= -14.7813, LHA= 359.7319, LST= 304.984942368896, Alt= 17.90, JD= 2459850.33445527
The MeasureDisplayStar routine was recently modified in AstroAllSky 3.17 to convert Ra/Dec coordinates to Az/Alt coordinates using the AstroRoutines method call  "ConvertRaDecToAzAlt(SU.SiteLat, SU.SiteLong, JD, .Ra2000, .Dec2000, .Az, .Alt)" instead of using TheSky6.Utils.ConvertRADecToAzAlt(.Ra2000, .Dec2000) in order to get around a DST Issue that contsrains TheSky6's abilities during the one hour that clocks go back and end of daylight saving.    The Trace Az is NaN is generated in the ConvertRaDecToAzAlt() routine (called by ConvertRaDecToAzAlt(SU.SiteLat, SU.SiteLong, JD, .Ra2000, .Dec2000, .Az, .Alt) and it is the .Az is NaN that generates the exception when 'GetAllSkyCoords(ObjectName, ID, .Az, .Alt, Xm, Ym, .X, .Y, .PlotCode)' is called.   Issue fixed in AstroAllSky 3.17.1 (the ConvertRaDecToAzAlt routine was using an 'divide by 57.2938' approximation for actual conversion from Deg to Rad (which is to divide by 180/PI  =  divide by 57.2957795) , resolved by calling degToRad() function to make the conversion accurately). Issue fix in-session and corrected version (3.17.1) installed at 00:50 which executed successfully for the rest of the session.
  Fixed 2022-09-28 (AstroAllSky 3.17.1) 

Minor Issues

• AstroRoutines methods in AstroMain, AstroAllSky and AstroVOE use inaccurate approximations for the conversion from Degs to Rad.   A general flaw in AstroRoutines was exposed by AstroAllSky's ConvertRaDecToAzAlt() routine, This flaw  converting RaDec to Az/Alt (and more specifically in converting degrees to radians) caused a major issue for AllSky Imaging during S1042 session (2022-09-27). The same flaw is present in other methods as well and could cause a future issue or problem that could also affect live operations at some mided.  Flaw fixed by changing 'deg / 57.2938' to 'DegToRad (deg)' (or elsewhere by  using 'deg / DR'  where DR = 180/PI
  Fixed 2022-09-28 (AstroAllSky 3.17.1, AstroMain 3.55.1, AstroVOE 1.12,1).
   
• Data Boxes on Latest Weather Web page are showing "-" for 'Wind Speed', 'Wind Gust', 'Wind Direction' and 'Dew Heater' instead of expected numerical values.  Effects 'Wind Speed' (GraphID=1, WsData(iWsData).AvWindSpeed), 'Wind Gust' (GraphID=3, WsData(iWsData).WindGust), 'Wind Direction' (GraphID=19, WsData(iWsData).AvWindDirection)  & 'Dew Heater' (GraphID=27, ObsEnvData(nObsEnvData).DewHeater1) but not other box graphs. This is likely to be an issue related to the recent change to AstroWeather (1.18) program to hold weather/environmental data internally as UT times rather than Local times.   Investigating showed that the problem related to MinutesSince() routine (and also to SecondsSince() & HoursSince() routines), which hadn't been updated to return timespan since now based on DateTimeKind.
  Fixed 2022-09-28 (AstroWeather 1.18.1).
   
• Cloud Sensor data not plotting in correct position on Graphs (2022-09-29). Data is plotted 1 hour later that it should be. Issue effects GraphID 5, 22 & 25. Issue (a teething issue related to switch over from Local to UT internal handling) found and fixed 2022-09-29.
  Fixed 2022-09-29 (AstroWeather 1.18.1).

Small Defects

• Exception Message for the mutiple exception in AstroAllSky program refer  to AstroAllSky.globals2.MeasureDisplayStar() instead for globals.MeasureDisplayStar().  Issue resolved, the 'globals' module in globals.vs was called 'globals2' for some unknown historic reason.  Module renamed as 'globals' and program successfully rebuilt without issue or conflict.
  Fixed 2022-09-28 (AstroAllSky 3.17.1)  
   
• There were minor holdups of during slewing to 3 targets (holdups at Az 222° and 247°). Holdups of 48 to 61s duration.. This is a known ongoing issue without an immediate resolution.
  Unresolved (Pulsar Dome)  
   
• There were an anomalous large slew error during slew to target NGC 6745 (21:28 ). Slew to Target 228 (NGC 6745) at Az 235.8° / Alt 66.7° had a slew error of 27.1'. Large slew errors like this are rare (typically error is 0.5' to 4'). Pointing error reduced to only 0.78' after first centering jog and then reduced to only 0.31' after the second centering jog.  The centering operations following the slew worked as per design to centre the target within acceptable tolerance. Closed after review 2022-09-28
  Closed after review 2022-09-28 (LX200 Telescope)  

• Complete transfer of legacy WriteLogFileRecord calls to WriteLogFileRecord2 format.  Change format of WriteLogFileRecord calls (311 remaining) to WriteLogFileRecord2 format.  The latter format splits the 3rd parameter (S3) into two (S3a & S3b). Then rename WriteLogFileRecord2() routine to WriteLogFileRecord().  
  Done 2022-09-29 (AstroMain 3.55.1)  

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