David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1076 (2022-12-27)

Notes (S1075)

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Notes (S1077)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (5),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2022-12-27 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-12-27)

Main aims

1. AstroMain.  Check new AstroMain version (3.60) for any issues associated with introduction of Session State 'Suspending' (a new state sitting prior to 'Suspended')
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

 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 3.60, AstroPlan 1.35.4,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.12.2  AstroSN 1.8.6,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.8
  (AstroWeather 1.19.6, AstroAllSky 3.17.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.2, AstroLaunch 1.10.5

Highlights

• AstroMain.  No significant issues with new version of AstroMain which contained modified ObsManager code for suspending session. Four session suspensions arose during the session and all were handled correctly and without issue.
• Dome Slews.  No dome slew was affected by a holdup. (0/18 slews affected, 0%, 0.2 minutes total hold-up time).
• Targets. 11 out of 24 planned targets were completed. Failures were mainly due to cloud,  with one failure due to exceeding Slew Limits

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 22:57:47 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:57 & 06:31 22:57:51 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:57) 22:58:11   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:58:25 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-12-27 S01076, ImageSaveNum: 1076001) 22:58:51   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:00:35   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:00:42 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:00:47 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-27) 23:00:49 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-27) 23:00:51   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35.4) 23:01:34   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 847) 23:01:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 23:02:33   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:02:57 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:03:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:03:44   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 23:07:53   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.2 mins total) 23:07:55 Session Running Session running 23:07:57   Queue Started Observing Queue started (24 targets selected) 23:08:00     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 23:08:11       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:11:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:13:44       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:13:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:14:25       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 23:14:27       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:14:43     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 23:14:45   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension 23:14:47 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:15:34   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:15:36 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:28:40 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:29:25   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:29:27 Session Running Session running 23:29:29   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:29:31     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 6, HIP 28634) 23:32:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:34:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:36:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:36:53       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:38:58       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 23:40:41       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:40:58     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 6, HIP 28634) 23:41:00     Target Missed (1/24) Target's time slot was missed (1/24, P/2010 H2 (Vales)) 23:41:02     Target Started (2/24) Target started (2/24, GCVS SS Cyg) 23:43:21   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:43:23   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:43:29     Target Aborted (2/24) Target aborted (2/24, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 23:43:31   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:43:34 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:44:22   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:44:24 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:54:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/24, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 00:03:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/24, GCVS BL Lac) due to too few stars 00:23:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/24, M31 w/Nova M31 2022-12a?) due to cloud 00:44:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/24, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to too few stars 00:48:38 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:49:23   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:49:25 Session Running Session running 00:49:27   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:49:30     Target Started (6/24) Target started (6/24, M33 w/Nova M33 2022-11a?) 00:53:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:07:59   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:08:01   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:08:04     Target Aborted (6/24) Target aborted (6/24, M33 w/Nova M33 2022-11a?) due to cloud 01:08:06   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:08:08 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:08:55   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:08:57 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:20:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/24, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 01:40:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/24, UGC 2926 w/SN2022acyd) due to too few stars 01:43:53 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:44:38   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:44:40 Session Running Session running 01:44:42   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:44:43     Target Started (9/24) Target started (9/24, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 01:48:30       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:04:50     Target Completed Target completed (9/24, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 02:05:50     Target Started (10/24) Target started (10/24, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 02:09:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:26:23     Target Completed Target completed (10/24, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 02:27:50     Target Started (11/24) Target started (11/24, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 02:31:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:48:23     Target Completed Target completed (11/24, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 02:49:50     Target Started (12/24) Target started (12/24, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 02:52:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:09:18     Target Completed Target completed (12/24, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 03:11:50     Target Started (13/24) Target started (13/24, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 03:15:30       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:31:34     Target Completed Target completed (13/24, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 03:33:50     Target Started (14/24) Target started (14/24, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 03:37:11       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:53:26     Target Completed Target completed (14/24, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 03:55:50     Target Started (15/24) Target started (15/24, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 03:59:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:14:55     Target Completed Target completed (15/24, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 04:17:50     Target Started (16/24) Target started (16/24, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 04:21:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:24:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 04:39:58     Target Completed Target completed (16/24, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 04:40:02     Target Started (17/24) Target started (17/24, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 04:40:10     Target Failed (17/24) Target failed due to slew error (17/24, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 04:58:25     Target Started (18/24) Target started (18/24, M90) 05:01:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:17:40     Target Completed Target completed (18/24, M90) 05:20:25     Target Started (19/24) Target started (19/24, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 05:25:34       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:36:17     Target Completed Target completed (19/24, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 05:36:33     Target Started (20/24) Target started (20/24, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 05:39:55       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:40:01       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 05:51:43     Target Completed Target completed (20/24, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 05:51:45   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:51:47 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:52:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:52:39 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:15:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/24, 81P/Wild) due to cloud 06:34:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/24, 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova) due to cloud 06:53:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/24, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) due to cloud 07:25:10 Session Resuming Session resuming 07:25:55   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 07:25:57 Session Running Session running 07:25:59   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 07:26:02     Target Started (24/24) Target started (24/24, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf) 07:26:04     Target Failed (24/24) Target failed due to missed start time (24/24, NGC 5894 w/SN2022pgf) 07:26:07   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:26:10 Session Closing Session closing 07:27:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 07:27:26   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 14s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:28:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s) 07:28:27   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:28:50   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:30:13   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:30:16 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:30:26 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail --             No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2022-12-27, S1076)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Small Defects (5)
• Continuous Improvement (0)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• 'Farget failed Target 17/24 (67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) failed due to slew error (04:40). Report file indicates 'Slew Failed (Limits exceeded)' and Annotated AllSky shows target position very close to house's roofline.  Target Az/Alt must been just below the horizon limit line used by TheSky6 and therefore failed the call to TheSky6.Telescope.SlewToCoordinates, but the targethad just passed the Horizon Limits check in AstroPlan's schedular and had just sneaked into the Plan.   Issue may have been caused by the fact that job queue was running slightly ahead of schedule and the slew attempt was made 4 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.  As target was rising in east, it would have had an altitude that was slightly less than had been assumed during the schedule building.  Issue may have been caused by the fact that altitude check in GetAltScore is made based on the target's expected Mid Observation Time. As target was rising it had an altitude at planned start time that was less than that assumed during schedule building (even more less if target's actual start time was earlier than the planned start time).  CalculateAltScore() routine whose result is used in Calculating Target/Plan Fitness should be modified to give a result that is based on Mid Time, but be overriden and set to return 0 if GetAltScore() fails (ie returns 0) when 'TEarliestStart' is checked (Start - 5 mins)
  Fixed 2022-11-28 (AstroPlan 1.35.5).
   
• AstroMain's 'Last S' field on Aanlsysis/ImageSets tab isn't showing the last session for M31 and M33 nova objects. Fixed in AstroMain 3.60.1.
  Fixed 2022-11-27 (AstroMain 3.60.1)

Small Defects

• During Session Closing the 'Slew Scope to Pre-Park' operation failed with the message "TheSky Telescope is either not connected or there is an issue (1)" (07:27).  As a consequence the Telescope slew to PrePark Position doesnt occur and the Dome and (obviously) the Telescope movements to their respective Pre-Park locations, adjacent to their final park positions, aren't recorded in slew tables or slew charts. Despite the issue the telescope was parked ok and the telescope was turned off normally which are the primary functions of the ParkScope2() routine. Looking back at previous Report files the same issue affected recent sessions S1073 - S1075.  The issue is most probably due to a bug in the code added in AstroMain 3.59.8 as a respone to a Major Issue in session S1072 where Closing Operations stalled whilst attempting to Park the Telescope as TheSky6 was in a non-responsive state. Bug easily found and fixed in AstroMain 3.60.1.
  Fixed 2022-11-28 (AstroMain 3.60.1)
   
• 'Failed (Conditions)' missing from AzAltResults Charts. Although targets are being listed in left-hand list with small cyan circles (recently added), the symbol is missing from the legend .
  Fixed 2022-11-28 (AstroMain 3.60.1)
   
• A red Target Failed Circle should have been drawn on AzAltResult Chart for Target 17/24 (67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko)  (04:40). Session's Report file show a 'Slew Failed (Limits exceeded)' message for Target 17/24 (67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko).  Whilst a Red (Failed) Circle was drawn in the Target's list on the left-hand side of the AzAltResults Chart, it would have been appropriate and helpful if a Red (Failed) Circle had been drawn on the AzAlt chart itself at the planned Az A/t position of the target.  Presumably the point wasn't drawn on the chart as the Az / Alt values supplied to AddAzAltResult() routine (gTargetAz & gTargetAlt ) had vcNull values.   AstroMain 3.60.1 modified so that gTargetAz & gTargetAlt are set to T.Az & T.Alt respectivily when entering the OB.GotoTarget() routine.
  Fix attempted 2022-11-29 (AstroMain 3.60.1)
   
• 'Booked Observations' form isn't being hidden when 'Close Work Forms' button is clicked from AstroPlan's Main Form. Booked observations form is a recent addition to AstroPlan, and the functionality to close (hide) the form along with other work forms was missed.
  Fixed 2022-11-28 (AstroPlan 1.35.5)
   
• When using AstroMain's ImageBuilder() for M31 Nova 2022-12a?' the target object is badly position in cropped image. This happens because of large offset between the nova and the centre of M31 host galaxy, and picture builder attempts a crop based on trying to crop centered on target coordinates (incl planned offsets) , providing the explicit coordinates for the target are within the cropped area.  Fix attempted so that the crop centre X/Y uses Crosshairs X/Y when the original Crop Centre X/Y are negative or are larger than the image size.
  Fixed 2022-11-29 (AstroMain 3.60.1)
   
• When using AstroMain's PictureBuilder() for 'Nova M33 2022-11a? ' the target object coordinates lie outside of field of view (Analysis) During much later session analysis of M33 with Nova M33 2022-11a? the combined image (M33_Nova_2022-11a.20221228.im1076011-12.av2x180s.C.FIT) show that the telescope was correctly positioned (matching images from prior sessions) and the TAG coordinates match those of the target.  The combined image links ok but produce a cross-hairs X/Y (and Crop Centre X/Y) result of -210.4 / -22.1 using AstroMain 3.60.8. This is outside the image area.   Although SavedWCSisValid is True after linking images and the link reports "Centres match (WCS center matches that from image link)", which is normally taken to be a successful link operation this no guarentee that Image.RADecToXY will give a successful (correct) result.  Code in RunAnalysisOperations (AnalysisStage.Link) changed to explicitly set SavedWCSisValid to False which causes own CalcRaDecToXY() routine to be called instead.  It is noted that after the apparently successful linking of the image the Cursor Information dialog in CCDSoft acts as if image doesn't have an Inserted WCS as calibrated Mag values are clearly Instrumental (-ve) magsthat aren't calibrated.   CCDSofts 'Insert WCS/Auto Astrometry' are noticed to be grey-out. Problem might be caused by CCDSoft Object Issue. Closing & Unclosed  CCDSoft process resolved the specific the problem. For the future a 'By-Pass Image.RADecToXY' facility has been added as a checkbox on the 'Special' tab.  (A similar issue happened when analysing images of UGC 2926 w/SN2022acyd from the following session, it was found that using By-Pass Image.RADecToXY facility didn't initially work, but regenerating the combined image (ie without any WCS inserted and then Image Linking using the By-Pass Image.RADecToXY facility did work.   Regenerating the combined image again and then Image Linking without the By-Pass Image.RADecToXY facility produced the expected Cross-hair X/Y,  Strange !).
  Fixed Attempted 2022-11-29 (AstroMain 3.60.1)

• None

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