David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1075 (2022-12-26)

Notes (S1074)

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Notes (S1076)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2022-12-26 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-12-26)

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 (3.59.10) 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 3.59.10, AstroPlan 1.35.4,   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. 32 out of 36 planned targets were completed, with 1 further target (booked) partially completed.  1 ToO were added to the Session, displacing a  lower priority planned target
• 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann.  Two sets of images were acquired
• AstroMain/Session.  No significant issues with new version of AstroMain which had modified process for starting the ObsOverseer.
• Dome Slews.  Only 1 dome slew was affected significantly by a holdup. (1/36 slews affected, 3%, 1.2 minutes total hold-up time).
• Booked Observation. Booked observation of Jupiter was included in the Plan, but with a 26 min wasted period beforehand. Time Lapse observations were only partially completed due to interrupion from Rain Threat/Cloud interval.

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 17:08:34 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 17:08 & 06:31 17:08:35 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:08) 17:08:55   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 17:09:20   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 17:09:22 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-12-26 S01075, ImageSaveNum: 1075001) 17:09:47   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:11:30   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:11:37 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:11:40 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-26) 17:11:42 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-26) 17:11:44   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35.4) 17:12:21   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 846) 17:12:36   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 17:13:12   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 17:13:36 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 17:14:21   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:14:22   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 17:18:46   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.4 mins total) 17:18:48 Session Running Session running 17:18:51   Queue Started Observing Queue started (36 targets selected) 17:18:53     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 17:19:05       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 17:21:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:23:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:25:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:25:57       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:27:54       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:29:38       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:29:55     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 17:32:12     Target Started (1/36) Target started (1/36, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 17:36:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:39:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 17:49:58     Target Completed Target completed (1/36, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 18:15:04     Target Started (2/36) Target started (2/36, Jupiter) 18:21:15       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 1 completed 18:31:15       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 2 completed 18:41:15       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 3 completed 18:51:15       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 4 completed 19:01:17       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 5 completed 19:02:46   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 19:02:48   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 19:02:50       TL Frame Aborted Time-lapse frame 7 aborted 19:02:52     Target Aborted (2/36) Target aborted (2/36, Jupiter) due to threat of rain 19:02:54   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:02:56 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:03:41   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 19:49:10 Session Resuming Session resuming 19:49:55   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:49:57 Session Running Session running 19:49:59   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 19:50:02     Target Started (2/36) Target started (2/36, Jupiter) 19:54:08       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 1 completed 20:04:07       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 2 completed 20:10:34       TL Frame Cancelled Time-lapse frame 4 cancelled (end of time slot reached 20:10:36     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/36, Jupiter) 20:10:40     Target Started (3/36) Target started (3/36, M33 w/Nova M33 2022-11a?) 20:27:00     Target Completed Target partially completed (3/36, M33 w/Nova M33 2022-11a?) 20:27:05     Target Started (4/36) Target started (4/36, UGC 2926 w/SN2022acyd) 20:28:28     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 176.7, 156.4° (Total delay 46s) 20:37:00       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:47:28     Target Completed Target completed (4/36, UGC 2926 w/SN2022acyd) 20:47:30   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 20:47:31 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:48:21   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:57:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/36, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 21:05:33 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:06:18   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:06:20 Session Running Session running 21:06:22   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:06:25     Target Started (6/36) Target started (6/36, Nova Per 2020) 21:17:24     Target Completed Target completed (6/36, Nova Per 2020) 21:17:28     Target Started (7/36) Target started (7/36, GCVS RR Tau) 21:27:13     Target Completed Target completed (7/36, GCVS RR Tau) 21:27:18     Target Started (8/36) Target started (8/36, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 21:50:06     Target Completed Target completed (8/36, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 21:50:10     Target Started (9/36) Target started (9/36, AT2022vdr (CV)) 21:54:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:56:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:02:24     Target Completed Target completed (9/36, AT2022vdr (CV)) 22:02:28     Target Started (10/36) Target started (10/36, GCVS FO Ori) 22:06:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:08:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:13:03     Target Completed Target completed (10/36, GCVS FO Ori) 22:13:07     Target Started (11/37) Target started (11/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 22:16:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:18:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:31:51     Target Completed Target completed (11/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 22:31:53     Target Missed (12/37) Target's time slot was missed (12/37, P/2010 H2 (Vales)) 22:31:55     Target Started (13/37) Target started (13/37, NGC 1363 w/SN2022ackv) 22:52:05     Target Completed Target completed (13/37, NGC 1363 w/SN2022ackv) 22:52:09     Target Started (14/37) Target started (14/37, GCVS BL Lac) 22:55:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:57:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 23:01:35     Target Completed Target completed (14/37, GCVS BL Lac) 23:01:40     Target Started (15/37) Target started (15/37, M31 w/Nova M31 2022-12a?) 23:04:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 23:20:48     Target Completed Target completed (15/37, M31 w/Nova M31 2022-12a?) 23:20:52     Target Started (16/37) Target started (16/37, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 23:24:34       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:40:41     Target Completed Target completed (16/37, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 23:42:34     Target Started (17/37) Target started (17/37, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 23:46:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:02:36     Target Completed Target completed (17/37, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 00:04:34     Target Started (18/37) Target started (18/37, AT2022uae) 00:05:08       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:08:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:10:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:26:40     Target Completed Target completed (18/37, AT2022uae) 00:26:44     Target Started (19/37) Target started (19/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:29:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:31:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:45:38     Target Completed Target completed (19/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:45:42     Target Started (20/37) Target started (20/37, GCVS DX Cnc) 00:48:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:53:39     Target Completed Target completed (20/37, GCVS DX Cnc) 00:56:00     Target Started (21/37) Target started (21/37, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 00:59:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:16:30     Target Completed Target completed (21/37, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 01:18:00     Target Started (22/37) Target started (22/37, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 01:21:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:23:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:40:08     Target Completed Target completed (22/37, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 01:40:12     Target Started (23/37) Target started (23/37, UGC 6608 w/SN2022zvr) 01:44:14       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:00:36     Target Completed Target completed (23/37, UGC 6608 w/SN2022zvr) 02:02:00     Target Started (24/37) Target started (24/37, NGC 2777 w/SN2022aagp) 02:05:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:21:28     Target Completed Target completed (24/37, NGC 2777 w/SN2022aagp) 02:24:00     Target Started (25/37) Target started (25/37, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 02:27:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:43:49     Target Completed Target completed (25/37, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 02:46:00     Target Started (26/37) Target started (26/37, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 02:49:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:52:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:08:15     Target Completed Target completed (26/37, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 03:08:20     Target Started (27/37) Target started (27/37, HD1 Field) 03:11:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:14:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 03:51:25     Target Completed Target completed (27/37, HD1 Field) 03:51:29     Target Started (28/37) Target started (28/37, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 03:56:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:06:47     Target Completed Target completed (28/37, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 04:06:51     Target Started (29/37) Target started (29/37, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 04:09:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:11:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 04:27:52     Target Completed Target completed (29/37, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 04:28:12     Target Started (30/37) Target started (30/37, NGC 4703) 04:31:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:48:03     Target Completed Target completed (30/37, NGC 4703) 04:50:12     Target Started (31/37) Target started (31/37, NGC 4762) 04:53:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:55:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 05:11:49     Target Completed Target completed (31/37, NGC 4762) 05:12:12     Target Started (32/37) Target started (32/37, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 05:15:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:31:03     Target Completed Target completed (32/37, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 05:34:12     Target Started (33/37) Target started (33/37, 81P/Wild) 05:37:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:55:39     Target Completed Target completed (33/37, 81P/Wild) 05:56:32     Target Started (34/37) Target started (34/37, AT2022evu (CV)) 05:59:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:05:31     Target Completed Target completed (34/37, AT2022evu (CV)) 06:08:32     Target Started (35/37) Target started (35/37, M58) 06:11:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:14:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 06:30:13     Target Completed Target completed (35/37, M58) 06:30:32     Target Started (36/37) Target started (36/37, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 06:34:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:36:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 06:53:28     Target Completed Target completed (36/37, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 06:53:32     Target Started (37/37) Target started (37/37, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 06:56:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 07:07:56     Target Completed Target completed (37/37, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 07:07:59   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:08:00 Session Closing Session closing 07:08:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 07:09:22   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 19s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:10:08   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s) 07:10:23   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:10:46   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:12:08   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:12:11 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:13:41 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 20:10:57 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 199.6° (T+11.9s) 20:28:28 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 176.7, 156.4° (Total delay 46s) 06:30:40 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 181.1° (T+3.0s)

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Operational Issues (2022-12-26, S1075)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroMain's Link Image operation on saved stacked image from Image Set 'UGC_8046 3x3 180s C' didnt give correct cross-hairs XY or crop centre XY coodinates.  Image link (UCA/USNO, solved in 1.4s (Stars 51, Scale 1.401, Angle 179.6°, WCS center matches that from image link) gave correct Plate RA/Dec and Object Ra/Dec Coordinates, but -25.6 and 100.0 were given for both cross-hairs XY or crop centre XY coodinates.  Going into InsertObjCrossHairsData() routine LocateInfo.ObjectX  LocateInfo.HostX appear to have an unexpected values of 753.85 and 740.79 respectively. Issue repeatable.   Performing Link Image on first Aligned image files gives the correct result.  Unclear why the stacked image doesn't produce correct coordinates.  Although Stacked Images appears to link,  hovering on a star show that the image hasn't been calibrated.
  Worked around 2022-12-31 (AstroMain)

Small Defects

• Session's Observing Plan was created with a 26 minute wasteful gap before the Booked Observation (17:53 - 18:20). Session's Plan had a start time of  17:37 and a booked observation start time at 18:20.   The final plan produced by AstroPlans' schedular after 50 generations had Target 1/36 (73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) in a 16 minutes time slot from 17:37 to 17:53  followed by Target 2/36 (Jupiter/Booked) in a 1h 45m timeslot from 18:20 to 20:05. This arangement leaves a wasted gap of 26 min which would have been plenty of time to execute one or two extra targets, instead of a long wasteful wait.  This situation probably arose because the plan was initially created with a Target  in position 1 which has some 31-36 min duration, which was later replaced by the 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann with duration of only 16 min, without any attempted to pad out the available gap with a new target. after the position 1 replacement   The requirment for intra-plan  (as opposed to existing end-plan padding is outside of the current design of the Scheduler). Issue closed after investigation & review (2022-12-27).  This new requirement for Intra-Plan padded is added a separate continuous improvement ticket. A solution to resolve underlying issue was implemented in AstroPlan 1.35.10 (2023-01-14).
  Closed after investigation & review  2022-12-27 (AstroPlan)
   
• Frame Numbers are getting reset when a Time Lapse Observation is interrupted by a session suspension (19:02 - 19:49) . Jupiter was scheduled as a booked observation involving 10 time lapse frames.  After taking  5 time lapse frames and whilst waiting for the 6th time lapse frame to begin the session was interrupted by a suspension due to a critical 'threat of rain' at 19:02.  After session resumed at 19:49  time lapse observation of Jupiter continued but started again with time lapse frame 1/10. Ideally Job Executor should enter a hold loop and continue counting down time lapse frames whilst session is suspended,  and continued with time lapse set 8/10 when the session resumed.   TakeMainScopeFramesMaster() routine is designed to enter a loop if a bHardSuspend or bSoftSuspend is raised, but this doesnt seem to have been activated.  It appears that following Critical Conditions (Rain Threat) at 19:02:46.52, there were log messages indicating that Obs.Manager will close the Dome (19:02:46.54.)  and ScopeMode is being set to 'Suspending' at 19:02:46.54. At 19:02:46.63 the message "Completed 5 out of 10 time-lapse frames" indicates that the TimeLapse Loop had been exited (due to a JobAbort or a JobAbortTarget flag), At 19:02:46 the Observatory Manager reported that a Hard Suspend had been called, but evidently this must have been after a JobAbortTarget flag. At 19:02:47.31 the Job Executor produced the message "Target (Jupiter) has been aborted due to threat of rain".   At 19:02:47.35 the Job Executor produced the message "Waiting for bSuspend to clear in order to proceed to next target".    Analysing code shows that bHardSuspend is raised first, following by call to AbortTargetExplicit() if bTargetIsExecuting.   This raised jobAbortTarget which is required for TakeMainScopeFrames() to be exited,   The TimeLapseLoop() needs to modified so that the loop isn't  automatically exit if JobAbortTarget flag is raised but allow to proceed to the supend wait loop if bHardSuspend if raised.
  Fixed (AstroMain 3.59.11)  Fixed 2022-12-27 (AstroMain 3.60)

• Add IntraPlan padding to Schedular GA code.  Due to GA modification a long duration target could be replaced by a shorter duration target ahead of a booked observation, creating an excessive/wasteful gap that could be occupied by the insertion of a extra target without overlapping the start time of the booked observation.  Adding new code to perform intra-plan padding would be of beneficial by reducing or eliminating an otherwise wasteful gap.  Fix attempted in AstroPlan 1.35.10 using calls to new routine FillInGaps() from RunGA() routine.
  Fix attempted 2023-01-14 (AstroPlan 1.35.10)

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