David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1081 (2023-01-02)

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Notes (S1082)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2023-01-02 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-01-02)

Main aims

1. 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 3.60.3, AstroPlan 1.35.5,   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

• Telescope Slews.  Average pointing errors from telescope slews  (post telescope resync) were only 1.1'.
• AstroMain.  No significant issues with new AstroMain 3.60.3 version.
• Dome Slews.  One dome slew was badly affected by a holdup. (1/26 slews affected, 4%, 1.1 minutes total hold-up time).
• Targets. Whilst 19 out of 41 planned targets were completed with a further 4 targets partially completed (other planned targets failed due to cloud or too few stars), the imaging and/or guiding that did take place was in some cases heavily compromised by poor sky conditions / cloud.
• Sky Conditions.  Sky conditions in terms of cloud/ poor transparency were a lot worse than expected.

Notes:

•  Ahead of the session the telescope was resynced as pointing errors after slews have worsened in recent sessions.
  - Telescope resynced on starfield near intersection Dec 0  / Meridian
  - Followed by short mapping job (7 points out of 12 successfully mapped, last 5 points failed due to developing cloud)
  - Telescope Parked
  - TheSky6 saved as 'Clair_S1081_TPoint.sky'
  - Observatory put into AutoStart Mode & waited for skies to clear.
  
• Average pointing errors from telescope slews in S1081 session (post telescope resync) were only 1.1'.  This compares with average values of 4.4' and 8.4' during the last two sessions, and shows the telescope resync with short mapping job ahead of the S1081 session has been successful.

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 17:47:26 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 17:47 & 06:31 17:47:30   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:56:57 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:56) 18:57:17   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:57:42   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 18:57:44 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-01-02 S01081, ImageSaveNum: 1081001) 18:58:09   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:59:40   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:59:47 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:59:49 Session Pending Session pending (2023-01-02) 18:59:51 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-01-02) 18:59:53   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35.5) 19:01:16   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 852) 19:01:28   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 19:02:04   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:02:28 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:03:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:03:14   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 19:06:53   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (3.7 mins total) 19:06:55 Session Running Session running 19:06:58   Queue Started Observing Queue started (41 targets selected) 19:06:59     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 19:08:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:11:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:13:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:13:28       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:15:39       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:17:22       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:17:40     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 19:20:19     Target Started (1/41) Target started (1/41, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) 19:23:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:26:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:34:29     Target Completed Target completed (1/41, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) 19:34:33     Target Started (2/41) Target started (2/41, UGC 11698 w/SN2022abik) 19:37:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:39:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:56:06     Target Completed Target completed (2/41, UGC 11698 w/SN2022abik) 19:56:23     Target Started (3/41) Target started (3/41, 61 Cyg) 19:59:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:01:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:02:37     Target Completed Target completed (3/41, 61 Cyg) 20:03:15     Target Started (4/41) Target started (4/41, GCVS HH And) 20:06:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:08:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:09:50       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 20:10:30     Target Completed Target completed (4/41, GCVS HH And) 20:10:32   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 20:10:35 Session Suspending Session suspending 20:11:25   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:11:27 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:30:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/41, NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu) due to cloud 20:41:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/41, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 20:52:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/41, AT2022dbd (CV)) due to cloud 21:03:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/41, GCVS DY Per) due to too few stars 21:05:25 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:06:10   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:06:12 Session Running Session running 21:06:14   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:06:17     Target Started (9/41) Target started (9/41, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 21:21:11       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:29:37     Target Completed Target completed (9/41, NGC 5631 w/SN2022acsj) 21:29:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:29:41 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:30:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:30:30 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:34:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/41, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 21:53:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/41, AT2022xhz) due to cloud 22:06:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/41, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 22:15:22     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/41, GCVS TV Cas) due to too few stars 22:34:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/41, AT2022udd) due to too few stars 22:37:48 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:38:34   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:38:36 Session Running Session running 22:38:38   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:38:40     Target Started (15/41) Target started (15/41, AT2022uae) 22:39:20       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:41:44       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:42:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:44:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:54:10   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:54:12   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:54:14     Target Aborted (15/41) Target aborted (15/41, AT2022uae) due to cloud 22:54:16   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:54:18 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:55:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:55:07 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:56:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/41, AT2022uae) due to cloud 23:17:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/41, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 23:27:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/41, GCVS U Gem) due to threat of rain 23:46:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/41, NGC 2777 w/SN2022aagp) due to cloud 00:08:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/41, AT2022vry) due to cloud 00:30:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/41, AT2022acgb) due to cloud 00:42:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/41, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 00:52:16 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:53:01   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:53:03 Session Running Session running 00:53:05   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:53:08     Target Started (22/41) Target started (22/41, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 01:09:24     Target Completed Target partially completed (22/41, NGC 3705 w/SN2022xxf) 01:09:29     Target Started (23/41) Target started (23/41, AT2022aavm (CV)) 01:12:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:14:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:30:52     Target Completed Target completed (23/41, AT2022aavm (CV)) 01:30:56     Target Started (24/41) Target started (24/41, SN 2022xnk) 01:33:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:49:35     Target Completed Target completed (24/41, SN 2022xnk) 01:49:39     Target Started (25/41) Target started (25/41, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 01:55:14       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:11:08     Target Completed Target completed (25/41, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 02:11:24     Target Started (26/41) Target started (26/41, AT2022qyg (CV)) 02:27:28     Target Completed Target completed (26/41, AT2022qyg (CV)) 02:27:32     Target Started (27/41) Target started (27/41, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 02:29:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:46:05     Target Completed Target completed (27/41, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 02:46:09     Target Started (28/41) Target started (28/41, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 02:48:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:51:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:01:43     Target Completed Target completed (28/41, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 03:01:47     Target Started (29/41) Target started (29/41, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 03:04:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:20:45     Target Completed Target completed (29/41, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 03:23:32     Target Started (30/41) Target started (30/41, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 03:27:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:43:42     Target Completed Target completed (30/41, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 03:45:32     Target Started (31/41) Target started (31/41, AT2022evu (CV)) 03:48:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:55:13     Target Completed Target completed (31/41, AT2022evu (CV)) 03:57:32     Target Started (32/41) Target started (32/41, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 04:00:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:02:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 04:14:03     Target Completed Target completed (32/41, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 04:15:06     Target Started (33/41) Target started (33/41, AT2022jrp (CV)) 04:18:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:24:07     Target Completed Target completed (33/41, AT2022jrp (CV)) 04:27:06     Target Started (34/41) Target started (34/41, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 04:29:47       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:45:45     Target Completed Target completed (34/41, UGC 10407 w/AT2022adyb) 04:49:06     Target Started (35/41) Target started (35/41, UGC 10765 w/SN2022wgj) 04:53:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:08:37       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 05:10:27       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 05:10:29     Target Completed Target completed (35/41, UGC 10765 w/SN2022wgj) 05:11:06     Target Started (36/41) Target started (36/41, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 05:15:23       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 05:16:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:20:03   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 05:20:05   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 05:20:08     Target Aborted (36/41) Target aborted (36/41, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) due to cloud 05:20:10   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:20:12 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:20:58   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:21:00 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:30:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/41, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) due to cloud 05:34:19 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:35:05   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:35:07 Session Running Session running 05:35:09   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:35:12     Target Started (37/41) Target started (37/41, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) 05:36:40     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 86.1, 85.8, 63.8° (Total delay 68s) 05:38:20   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 05:38:22   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 05:38:24     Target Aborted (37/41) Target aborted (37/41, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) due to cloud 05:38:26   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:38:28 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:39:15   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:39:17 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:52:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/41, NGC 6745 w/SN2022prr) due to cloud 05:53:01 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:53:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:53:49 Session Running Session running 05:53:51   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:55:06     Target Started (38/41) Target started (38/41, AT2022sfe) 05:57:32       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 05:58:37       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 05:59:34       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 06:03:07       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 06:03:17   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 06:03:19   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 06:03:22     Target Aborted (38/41) Target aborted (38/41, AT2022sfe) due to cloud 06:03:24   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 06:03:26 Session Suspending Session suspending 06:04:12   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:04:15 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:06:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/41, AT2022sfe) due to cloud 06:25:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/41, AT2022vxe) due to cloud 06:37:21 Session Resuming Session resuming 06:37:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/41, KIC 8462852) due to other condition - Blank 06:38:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 06:38:08 Session Running Session running 06:38:10   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 06:38:42     Target Started (41/41) Target started (41/41, GCVS SS Cyg) 06:44:06       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 06:48:29     Target Completed Target completed (41/41, GCVS SS Cyg) 06:48:32   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:48:34 Session Closing Session closing 06:49:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:50:01   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 27s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:51:31   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 87s) 06:51:46   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:52:08   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:53:34   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:53:37 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:53:57 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:36:40 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 86.1, 85.8, 63.8° (Total delay 68s)

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Operational Issues (2023-01-02, S1081)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• ObsCam pictures are not always getting updated on the Current Session Webpage.  Viewing the 'session_current.htm' web page from IPad/Safari around 1 hour after the S1081 session had started it was noticed that the 'Starting' ObsCam image was still showing the picture from the previous S1080 session the night before and was not showing the newly captured/uploaded one. Refreshing the web page didn' resolve issue.  A little later the page was showing the correct version of the image. Webpage should be updated to use the '?<?=rand(1,1000000)?'  so that browser always goes back to the server for the image and doesn't used a cached version. Checking however shows this 'fix' is already being used for this image, viz
   document.write('<img id="ObsCamImage" src="http://www.astro-richweb.net/astro/live/ObsCam_SessionStarted.jpg?<?=rand(1,1000000)?"<br><br>');
  Closed after review 2023-11-19, whilst refresh issues are occasionally still seen they are much improved are may be associated with browser caching anomalies rather then anything associated with website directly.
  Closed after review 2023-11-19 (Website / Current Session Page) 

• None

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