David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1051 (2022-10-30)

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Notes (S1052)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2022-10-30 >>        [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-10-30)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Check new AstroMain version (3.56.6) for any issues introduced by recent changes and additions.
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
3. CCDSoft / SBIG : Understand issues with CCDSoft not responding, SBIG Issues, AstroMain ObsMonitor lockups.

 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 3.56.6  AstroPlan 1.32.6,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.10.1
  AstroVOE 1.12  AstroSN 1.8.6,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.4
  (AstroWeather 1.19.2, AstroAllSky 3.17.1,  AstroObsCam 1.10, AstroLaunch 1.10.3

Highlights

• Targets. 23 out of 34 planned targets where successfully acquired. 2 target swas partially acquired, whilst cloud prevented the acquistion of the other targets.
• Zigbee Network. No significant issues. Again the recently modified 'Restart CCDSoft' routine that includes rebooting the SBIG Camera via Zigbee Network proven useful when ObsMonitor locked up near the beginning of the session.
• AllSky Star Count. AllSky Star Count produced by AstroAllSky is back to expected values following recalibration of Camera geometry and azmiuth..
• AstroMain. No significant issues part from the initial issues with CCDSoft connection, and associated ObsMonitor/ObsManager freezes.
• CCDSoft/SBIG Camera/AstroMain. Various issues with exceptions from SBIG Camera, the [0000] save issue & Obs Monitor freezes in 'Update Foc1 Fields' (ie CCDSoft Camera related) near beginning of session. No issues during the later part of session.

Notes:

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 23:00:36 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:00 & 06:14 23:00:39 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:00) 23:00:59   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 23:01:05   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 23:01:48   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 23:01:50 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-10-30 S01051, ImageSaveNum: 1051001) 23:01:52   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:03:32   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:03:39 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:03:42 Session Pending Session pending (2022-10-30) 23:03:44 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-10-30) 23:03:46   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.32.6) 23:04:34   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 813) 23:04:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 23:04:51   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:05:16 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:06:01   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:06:46 Session Running Session running 23:06:48   Queue Started Observing Queue started (20 targets selected) 23:06:51     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 23:07:04   Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:10:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:12:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:14:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:14:43       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:16:38       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:18:21       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:18:38     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 23:20:12     Target Started (1/20) Target started (1/20, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) 23:25:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:27:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:43:46     Target Completed Target completed (1/20, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) 23:43:50     Target Started (2/20) Target started (2/20, AT2022vxe) 23:49:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:03   SBIG Camera Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 23:52:51 User Intervention User Intervention to Restart CCDSoft 23:52:52   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 23:54:49 User Intervention User Intervention to Restart CCDSoft (repeat attempt) 23:54:50   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 23:54:53       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 23:54:56   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 23:54:58   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 23:55:32     Target Failed Target failed due to exception (2/20, AT2022vxe) 23:55:36   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 00:04:12     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, AT2022why) 00:04:57   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (the bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:07:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:09:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:15:40     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, AT2022why) 00:16:12     Target Started (4/20) Target started (4/20, Nova Per 2020) 00:20:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:22:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:31:46     Target Completed Target completed (4/20, Nova Per 2020) 00:31:50     Target Started (5/20) Target started (5/20, AT2022tqu) 00:37:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:39:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:56:00     Target Completed Target completed (5/20, AT2022tqu) 00:56:04     Target Started (6/20) Target started (6/20, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc) 00:59:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:02:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:18:51     Target Completed Target completed (6/20, UGC 3923 w/SN2022rqc) 01:18:55     Target Started (7/20) Target started (7/20, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:26:32     Target Completed Target completed (7/20, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:30:57     Target Started (8/20) Target started (8/20, GCVS BL Lac) 01:34:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:36:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:40:41     Target Completed Target completed (8/20, GCVS BL Lac) 01:41:03     Target Started (9/20) Target started (9/20, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) 01:44:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:46:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:04:13     Target Completed Target completed (9/20, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) 02:04:17     Target Started (10/20) Target started (10/20, GCVS RX And) 02:08:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:11:17     Target Completed Target completed (10/20, GCVS RX And) 02:12:19     Target Started (11/20) Target started (11/20, AT2021bpy) 02:13:26   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:16:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:19:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:35:47     Target Completed Target completed (11/20, AT2021bpy) 02:35:49   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:35:51 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:36:38   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:53:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/20, NGC 946 w/SN2022yid) due to cloud 03:07:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/20, AT2022whd (CV)) due to cloud 03:27:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/20, EGB 6) due to cloud 03:49:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/20, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) due to cloud 04:11:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/20, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf) due to cloud 04:33:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/20, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) due to cloud 04:55:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/20, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) due to cloud 05:17:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/20, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) due to too few stars 05:17:29 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:18:14   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:18:16 Session Running Session running 05:18:18   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:20:19     Target Started (20/20) Target started (20/20, IC 901 w/AT2022sgr) 05:26:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:39:47   Dome Unparked Dome unparked 05:43:04     Target Completed Target completed (20/20, IC 901 w/AT2022sgr) 05:43:07   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:43:09 Session Closing Session closing 05:43:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 05:44:14   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 11s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:45:36   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 79s) 05:45:51   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 05:46:14   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:47:09   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:47:11 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:47:21 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:51:03 SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 00:04:57 SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (the bSbigDriverException flag is reset)

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Operational Issues (2022-10-30, S1051)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (2)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Call from TakeImage thread to CCDSoft.Camera.TakeImage froze (23:49:31). Although the S1051 session started without the opening CCDSoft problem that affected the last two sessions (see  Investigation - CCDSoft, ObsMonitor & ObsManager freezing (2022-10-29)) CCDSoft stopped responding whilst taking a 1.5s focus frame image for Focus Profile Step 2/21 (AT2022vxe).  After the TakeImageASync() routine timed-out, TakeFocusProfile () routine tried to continue with analysis of the Step 2/14 image,  but it reported the same results as the Step 1 image.  The routine then attempted to take focus frames for profile steps 3 & 4, but these produced "Command in progress. Error code = 219" exceptions from Camera.TakeImage() at  23:51:03 &  23:51:53 respectively.   The first of these led to a "SBIG Camera Alert"  being issued at 23:51:03 with the description "Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress)" .  During this time ObsMonitor was recorded as frozing in either 'UpdateFoc1Fields1 or 'Monitor Camara1' sections by periods of around 20s at a time.  Noticing that there was a problem a user intervention was made at 23:52:52 to 'Restart CCDSoft' via a button routine on AstroMain's More/Backdoor tab.  After this 'Restart CCDSoft' attempt appeared to freeze and not make the expected progress, a second 'Restart CCDSoft' attempt was was then made at 23:54:50.  Whilst this unlocked the stalled job queue and killed and restarted CCDSoft it also unlocked the first Restart CCDSoft attempt such that both operations ran in parallel.  Despite this connection to CCDSoft Camera was established ok and the next image (operations using CCDSoft/SBIG Camera operated ok for the remainder of the session.   The issue was resolved in-session through user intervention.  The issue might have automatically resolved at the start of the next image though a JobQueue rule that that make an automated call to RestartCCDSoft if bSbigDriverException flag is raised (check code to see that this happens) but this itself may have run into the same problem as the manual/user intervention where the 'RestartCCDSoft' operation  appears to freeze.  Issue status is updated to closed (2022-10-31). Residual actions are transferred to a second issue ticket below.
  Resolved in-session. Closed after review 2022-10-31 (AstroMain, User Intervention).  
   
• RestartCCDSoft operation appeared to freeze and not make expected progress (23:53). Although the S1051 session started without the opening CCDSoft problem that affected the last two sessions CCDSoft stopped responding whilst taking a 1.5s focus frame image for Focus Profile Step 2/21 (AT2022vxe).  After the TakeImageASync() routine timed-out, TakeFocusProfile () routine tried to continue with analysis of the Step 2/14 image,  but it reported the same results as the Step 1 image.  The routine then attempted to take focus frames for profile steps 3 & 4, but these produced "Command in progress. Error code = 219" exceptions from Camera.TakeImage() at  23:51:03 &  23:51:53 respectively.   The first of these led to a "SBIG Camera Alert"  being issued at 23:51:03 with the description "Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress)" . Noticing this a user intervention was made at 23:52:52 to 'Restart CCDSoft' via a button routine on AstroMain's More/Backdoor tab.  After this 'Restart CCDSoft' attempt appeared to freeze and not make the expected progress, a second 'Restart CCDSoft' attempt was was then made at 23:54:50.  Whilst this unlocked the stalled job queue and killed and restarted CCDSoft it also unlocked the first Restart CCDSoft attempt such that both operations ran in parallel.  Despite this connection to CCDSoft Camera was established ok and operations using CCDSoft/SBIG Camera operated ok for the remainder of the session.   This ticket concerns the apparent freezing of the RestartCCDSoft() operation.  This is an operation that is intended to fix a CCDSoft/SBIG Camera issue and not cause an issue of its own. Fixed in AstroMain 3.56.12 / 3.56.13
  Fixed 2022-11-06 (AstroMain 3.56.13).

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• The 'Current Humidity' doesn't seem to be updating. 'Current Humidity' field on AstroMain's More/Dome tab seems to be stuck on 81%. Review again 2022-11-01, the current humidity field seems to be updating ok, the issue is deemed to be closed.
  Closed after review (AstroMain). 
   
• Logfile anomalies during user action RestartCCDSoft.  After initiating a RestartCCDSoft action from button routine at 23:52:52, the log message line 'User Action  Request RestartCCDSoft was unexpectedly followed by one blank line and a line that read '(& Camera Reconnection)' which seems out of place. After initiating a RestartCCDSoft action from button routine at 23:54:50, the log message line 'User Action  Request RestartCCDSoft was unexpectedly followed by two blank lines.   Very shortly after  two  "Manager    Run  DisconnectCamera" message lines were written without any timestamp.   Both observations are defective.  Issue with blanklines & the 'Camera Reconnection' text on an isolated line fixed 2022-11-01. Issue with missings timestamp can't be explained, as problem occurred with the 23:54:50 attempt, but not with the 23:52:52 attempt.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.56.7). 

• Hide Last Observatory Event, Alert and Alarm details if its date is older than 12 hours. WriteEventFields, WriteAlertFields and WriteAlarmFields updated to consider HoursSince(Date) and if > 12 then to write white table and blank fields.
  Fixed (Observatory Alarms Page). 
   
• Add further hot pixels in AllSky Images to DefectPixels.dat.  Several hot pixels still noticed in South & North Panorama images.   DefectPixels.dat file updated with following points (230,411), (526,1034, (527,1033), (610,730), (622,121), (749,52).
  Fixed (Observatory Alarms Page). 
   
• Complete backlog of image building and web page documentation from Oct 2022.  8 sessions still incomplete as of 2022-12-16 (S1044-51).   Backlog finally completed 2023-07-31.
   Done  2023-07-31 (Session, Website)
   
• Try to find an alternative method of accessing button presses from Nedis 4-button Remote Controller.  An attempt was made to install a battery operated, 4-button remote controller (NEDIS ZBRC10WT) on Observatory's Zigbee network  but it wouldn't install via Phoscon.  Whilst device appeared as a node of type 'IAS Ancillary Control Equipment' in deCONZ,  it wasn't accessible as a sensor or other id'ed device, and couldn't be changed or referenced using Rest API.   (see https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin/issues/1139 & https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin/issues/1323 ). It might be possible to associate it with alarmsystems id=1, and to pick up changes in arm status of the alarmsystem. Attempts to make the Nedis 4-button remote accessible to wider deConz network have failed (it is not visible to REST-API).  See Nedis 4-Button Remote Controller (Zigbee), 2022-10-22 & 2022-11-01 ).  Item placed on-hold.   A MoesGo 4-button portable remote control has subsequently been successfully added to the Observatory Zigbee Network (see MoesGo Portable Remote Control  (2022-11-18)).
    On Hold 2022-11-02 (deCONZ / Observatory / Remote Controller).

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