David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1073 (2022-12-19)

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	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2022-12-19 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-12-19)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann. Acquire further images of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, as followup to images taken in previous sessions (S1061 - S1072) . Continue to look out for expanding coma following 4 mag outburst on Nov 22nd 2022.
3. AstroMain.  Check new AstroMain version (3.59.8) for any issues introduced by recent changes, bug fixes and additions

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.5.414, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.6
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.11dev2, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.59.8, AstroPlan 1.35.2,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.10.1
  AstroVOE 1.12.0  AstroSN 1.8.6,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.8
  (AstroWeather 1.19.6, AstroAllSky 3.17.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.1, AstroLaunch 1.10.5

Highlights

• Targets. 17 out of 21 planned targets were completed, with 1 further targets partially completed.  2 ToO were addedduring the session, displacing a couple of lower priority planned targets.
• 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann.  Two sets of images were acquired
• Dome Slews.  There were no dome slew holdups during the session  (0/23 slew affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time).
• Sky Conditions.  Clear dark skies for most of the session
• Automated Problem Resolution. After a problem with CCDSoft.Camera locking up the Job executor successfully performed a CCDSoft Restart including SBIG Camera power reset
• AstroMain/Session.  No significant issues apart from initial glitch trying toe Autostart the session.

Notes:

• Wind from SW affected target selection and some images 

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 00:16:04   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:16:29 Foc1FieldsUpdater Frozen Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen at around 00:16 in section 'Update Foc1Fields' 00:16:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -30°C) 00:16:31 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-12-19 S01073, ImageSaveNum: 1073001) 00:17:12 TempMonitor Frozen TempMonitor appears to be frozen at around 00:17 in section 'Get CcdTemp Data' 00:20:09   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:20:11 Session Closed Session closed by User 00:20:14 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:25:21 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:25 & 06:28 00:25:25 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:25) 00:25:45   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:25:58 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2022-12-19 S01073, ImageSaveNum: 1073001) 00:26:05   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:27:48   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:27:55 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:28:00 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-19) 00:28:02 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-19) 00:28:04   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35.3) 00:28:55   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 844) 00:29:20   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 00:29:47   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:30:11 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:30:56   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:30:57   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 00:35:07   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.2 mins total) 00:35:09 Session Running Session running 00:35:11   Queue Started Observing Queue started (21 targets selected) 00:35:14     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 00:35:26       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:38:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:40:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:42:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:43:01       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:44:47       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:46:28       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:46:45     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 00:48:32     Target Started (1/21) Target started (1/21, M31 w/Nova2022zzj) 00:52:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:53:40   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:53:50   SBIG Camera Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 00:54:00       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:54:22   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 00:54:29   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:55:11   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 00:55:13   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 01:11:10     Target Completed Target completed (1/21, M31 w/Nova2022zzj) 01:11:14     Target Started (2/21) Target started (2/21, GCVS U And) 01:15:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:17:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:27:35     Target Completed Target completed (2/21, GCVS U And) 01:27:39     Target Started (3/21) Target started (3/21, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-12a?) 01:31:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:33:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:49:58     Target Completed Target completed (3/21, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-12a?) 01:50:02     Target Started (4/21) Target started (4/21, M33 w/ATNova M33 2022-11a?) 01:53:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:09:45     Target Completed Target completed (4/21, M33 w/ATNova M33 2022-11a?) 02:09:49     Target Started (5/22) Target started (5/22, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 02:13:08       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:27:17     Target Completed Target completed (5/22, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 02:27:19     Target Missed (6/22) Target's time slot was missed (6/22, GCVS ER UMa) 02:27:21     Target Started (7/22) Target started (7/22, AT2022aavm (CV)) 02:44:11     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/22, AT2022aavm (CV)) 02:44:15     Target Started (8/22) Target started (8/22, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 02:48:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:50:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 03:06:27     Target Completed Target completed (8/22, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 03:06:32     Target Started (9/22) Target started (9/22, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 03:09:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:11:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 03:27:59     Target Completed Target completed (9/22, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 03:28:03     Target Started (10/22) Target started (10/22, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 03:31:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:47:15     Target Completed Target completed (10/22, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 03:48:16     Target Started (11/22) Target started (11/22, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 03:52:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:08:36     Target Completed Target completed (11/22, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 04:10:16     Target Started (12/22) Target started (12/22, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 04:13:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:29:55     Target Completed Target completed (12/22, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 04:32:16     Target Started (13/22) Target started (13/22, GCVS AM CVn) 04:35:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:37:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 04:40:09     Target Completed Target completed (13/22, GCVS AM CVn) 04:40:13     Target Started (14/23) Target started (14/23, M98, ToO) 04:44:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:01:28     Target Completed Target completed (14/23, M98, ToO) 05:01:30     Target Missed (15/23) Target's time slot was missed (15/23, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 05:03:37     Target Started (16/23) Target started (16/23, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 05:06:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:09:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 05:20:19     Target Completed Target completed (16/23, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 05:20:23     Target Started (17/23) Target started (17/23, 81P/Wild) 05:20:32     Target Failed (17/23) Target failed due to slew error (17/23, 81P/Wild) 05:24:48 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 05:24 in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Label Dome Azimuth' 05:42:05     Target Started (18/23) Target started (18/23, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 05:45:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:47:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 05:59:12     Target Completed Target completed (18/23, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 05:59:39     Target Started (19/23) Target started (19/23, AT2022trk (CV)) 06:03:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:05:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 06:11:53     Target Completed Target completed (19/23, AT2022trk (CV)) 06:11:57     Target Started (20/23) Target started (20/23, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 06:14:41       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:20:26     Target Completed Target completed (20/23, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 06:23:17     Target Started (21/23) Target started (21/23, UGC 3554 w/SN2022rbo) 06:25:58       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 06:42:12     Target Completed Target completed (21/23, UGC 3554 w/SN2022rbo) 06:45:17     Target Started (22/23) Target started (22/23, AT2022jrp (CV)) 06:50:21       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 06:56:42     Target Completed Target completed (22/23, AT2022jrp (CV)) 06:57:17     Target Started (23/23) Target started (23/23, AT2022evu (CV)) 06:59:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 07:06:13     Target Completed Target completed (23/23, AT2022evu (CV)) 07:06:16   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:06:19 Session Closing Session closing 07:07:12   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 07:07:38   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 19s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:08:24   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s) 07:08:39   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:09:01   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:10:14   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:10:17 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:10:37 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 00:18:14 Red Alert Foc1Fields Updater Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen (last cycle at 00:16:29) in section 'Update Foc1Fields' 00:19:44 Red Alert TempMonitor TempMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 00:17:12) in section 'Get CcdTemp Data' 00:53:40 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:53:50 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress) 00:55:13 Green Alert SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 05:25:20 Red Alert Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Label Dome Azimuth' (last cycle at 05:24:48) 05:26:20 Green Alert Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor has resumed again (05:26) after 1.5 mins

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Operational Issues (2022-12-19, S1073)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Glitch starting new session Foc1FieldsUpdater frozen  CCDSoft not responding.   At the start of the session Autostart begun and a new Live Session was created (00:16), which included restarting CCDSoft in order to set autosave number, reconnecting the CCDSoft Camera and reporting the the AutoSave Starting Number [1073001]. Directly after this a warning message "Foc1FieldsUpdater is frozen (00:18) in section 'Update Foc1Fields'" was reported by the Obs.Overseer followed a little latter by a red alert "TempMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 00:17:12) in section 'Get CcdTemp Data'".   CCDSoft was noted to be not responding.  Autostart seemed to stop progressing.   Observatory Software was closed or killed and then restarted.
  Resolved in-session 2022-12-20 (AstroMain  Foc1 Focuser, CCDSoft)
   
• SBIG Camera Alert was issued (00:53).  A Red Alert issued a 00:53:14 "SBIG Camera Alert - Take Image failed (Command timed-out). " followed  by another red alert  at 00:53:50 "SBIG Camera Alert - Take Image failed, Error Code 219 (Command in progress)".  This occurred for Focus Points 3/14 & 4/14 for Target 1/21 (M31 w/Nova2022zzj).   The Focusing was abandoned an  automated RestartCCDSoft operation (attempt to fix locked thread) including was SBIG Camera power-reset was successfully performed at 00:54.  A green alert was issued at 00:55:13 "SBIG Camera - Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset)" and by 00:55:14 the Job Executor was again successfully taking images for the target. AstroMain was able to successfully diagnose and resolve the issue itself.
  Resolved in-session 2022-12-20 (AstroMain , SBIG Camera, CCDSoft)

Small Defects

• Naming issues associated with Extragalactic Nova.  Extragalactic nova or Candidate Extragalactic novae imported from Rochester 'Supernovae' Website have identifiers like "Nova M31 2022-11d?".   This is stored in the Targets Database in the TNSid field. The TNSid field is mostly used for holding AT transient or SN supernova identifiers, but the same field is used in AstoPlan for storing equivalent kinds of identifier (like these extragalactic novae identifiers). The BuildTargetDisplayName() routine used to populate T.TargetDisplayName (and T.TargetDisplayNameLite ) which are then used to output an ImageSet's Title text for website description. For an Extragalactic Nova which obviously doesn't have Type Ia or Type II type currently recieves an 'AT'  suffix as opposed to a 'SN' suffix resulting in a Target Display name in the form like "M31 with ATNova M31 2022-11d?" or "M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-11d?". A custom fix is made in AstroMain 3.59.9 so that "ATNova" is replaced by "Nova".  A similar issue exists when the Label 1 name is created for the annotating AstroMain's ImageBuilder tool. For this extragalactic nova the Label "AT Nova M31 2022-12a?" is generated.  Whilst the label name can be edited prior to finalisation of the annotated image (picture), it is an tedious extra step.   A custom fix is made in AstroMain 3.59.9 (listboxObjectFolders_SelectedIndexChanged() routine) so that "AT " suffix isn't added to the label for such these Nova objects. A further custom fix is added to the generation of "Title2" text so that Object part of the text (ie "M31 with" or "M33 with" isn't included for M31 & M33 Nova objects).  A further small issue is that an EGN type transient like AT 2022zzj (in M31) is given the title "M31 with Nova2022zzj" when the required title is M31 with Nova M31 AT2022zzj"
  Fixed 2022-12-20 (AstroMain 3.59.9)
   
• Image Name generated for Periodic Comets with format like "P/2010 H2 (Vales)" need to be revised.  AstroMain's produces a listing of FITS file ('Fit Summary.dat' file) during Housekeeping/Post-Session Admin  in which Images of Periodic comet "P/2010 H2 (Vales)" are listed with the name "P/2010 H2 (Vales)". From this name Excel's FIT Summary importer calls X2_Modify_Object_Names() macro and produces an Object Name "Comet_P_2010_H2_Vales" , which is subsequently used as the suffix to naming image FIT files & any resulting .png/.jpg picture files.  The required Object Name is "Comet_P2010_H2_Vales". Excel macro updated 2022-12-20 to give the required name ( "P/20" replaced by P20",  "P/19" replaced by P19")
  Fixed 2022-12-20 (Excel Fits Summary)

• None

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