David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1100 (2023-02-21)

Notes (S1099)

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Notes (S1101)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2023-02-21 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-02-21)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions
2. AstroMain. Check new AstroMain version (3.61.7) for any issues related to recent bug fies and additional features
3. Cam1 Guiding. Test out ShCap (Cam1) Imaging with Cam1 (LX200/ST10) guiding following fixes to AstroMains Guide Manager routine which now clears the PHD2 event queue before starting the guide operations using Cam1.

 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  2.6.11dev4, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.61.7, AstroPlan 1.36.3,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.8
  (AstroWeather 1.19.10, AstroAllSky 3.18,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9

Highlights

• AstroMain.  New AstroMain version (3.61.7) worked without any new issues.
• Cam1 Guiding.  Cam1 Guiding was successfully achieved during ShCap imaging of NGC 2126 (Cam1 Reference Image, Cam1 Guiding and handback for Cam1 to CCDSoft all completed successfully).
• Dome Slews.  No hold-ups during any of the night's dome slews (Hold Up Stats: 0/18 slews affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time).
• Targets.  12/32 targets were completed with a further 2 targets partially completed.  Out of these images from 2 targets (NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu & UGC 3044 w/SN2023cf) were later rejected due to cloud, one target (M31 w/AT2023brc) was rejected due to bad guiding and one target (UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) was replaced in part by the addition of a ToO Target (NGC 2126). Other targets failed or cancelled due to cloud.

Notes:

• User interventation made at 01:54 to end the session as there was no chance of any further observing (skies had clouded over) and it would remove any residual risk to the observatory from rain that was forecast to start at 03:00 or 04:00.
  

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 18:08:58 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:11 & 05:20 18:09:02   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 18:11 18:11:42   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 19:03:52 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:03) 19:04:12   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:04:37   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 19:04:39 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-02-21 S01100, ImageSaveNum: 1100001) 19:05:04   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:06:51   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:06:58 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:07:02 Session Pending Session pending (2023-02-21) 19:07:04 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-02-21) 19:07:06   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.36.3) 19:08:24   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 872) 19:08:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 19:09:14   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:09:38 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:10:23   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:10:25 Session Running Session running 19:10:28   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected) 19:10:29     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:10:43       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:13:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:15:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:17:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:17:50       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:18:24       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 19:19:56       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:21:30       Focusing Failed Foc2 focusing failed - star lost 19:21:34     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:21:36   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension 19:21:38 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:22:19   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 19:22:22 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:32:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/32, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 19:42:41 Session Resuming Session resuming 19:43:26   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:43:28 Session Running Session running 19:43:30   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 19:43:32     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:45:08       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:47:14       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 19:48:55       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:49:12     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:49:16     Target Started (2/32) Target started (2/32, NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu) 19:55:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 19:59:33     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/32, NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu) 19:59:37     Target Started (3/32) Target started (3/32, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) 20:02:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:04:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:21:42     Target Completed Target completed (3/32, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) 20:21:46     Target Started (4/32) Target started (4/32, M31 w/AT2023brc) 20:24:30       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 20:40:36     Target Completed Target completed (4/32, M31 w/AT2023brc) 20:41:32     Target Started (5/32) Target started (5/32, NGC 2283 w/SN2023axu) 20:45:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:01:25     Target Completed Target completed (5/32, NGC 2283 w/SN2023axu) 21:03:32     Target Started (6/32) Target started (6/32, M33 w/Nova M33 AT2023bne) 21:06:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:08:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:24:46     Target Completed Target completed (6/32, M33 w/Nova M33 AT2023bne) 21:25:52     Target Started (7/32) Target started (7/32, IC 1874 w/SN2023fu) 21:28:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:44:31     Target Completed Target completed (7/32, IC 1874 w/SN2023fu) 21:44:35     Target Started (8/33) Target started (8/33, NGC 2126, ToO). Using SharpCap 21:46:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:48:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:01:28   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 22:01:30     Target Aborted (8/33) Target aborted (8/33, NGC 2126, ToO) due to User Intervention 22:01:32     Target Started (9/33) Target started (9/33, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 22:14:54     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/33, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 22:14:58     Target Started (10/33) Target started (10/33, MCG +5-26-43 w/SN2023af) 22:17:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 22:33:48     Target Completed Target completed (10/33, MCG +5-26-43 w/SN2023af) 22:33:52     Target Started (11/33) Target started (11/33, LEDA 4201363 w/SN2022vik) 22:36:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:38:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:54:56     Target Completed Target completed (11/33, LEDA 4201363 w/SN2022vik) 22:55:12     Target Started (12/33) Target started (12/33, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 22:57:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:59:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:16:46     Target Completed Target completed (12/33, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 23:17:32     Target Started (13/33) Target started (13/33, UGC 6674 w/AT2023bvi) 23:19:58       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:36:25     Target Completed Target completed (13/33, UGC 6674 w/AT2023bvi) 23:39:32     Target Started (14/33) Target started (14/33, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 23:42:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:44:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:55:06     Target Completed Target completed (14/33, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 23:56:16     Target Started (15/33) Target started (15/33, AT2023vp (CV)) 00:00:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:02:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:07:54     Target Completed Target completed (15/33, AT2023vp (CV)) 00:08:16     Target Started (16/33) Target started (16/33, UGC 3044 w/SN2023cf) 00:13:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 00:27:59       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:29:23     Target Completed Target completed (16/33, UGC 3044 w/SN2023cf) 00:29:25   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:29:27 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:30:14   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:30:16 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:47:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/33, 2022 U2 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 01:07:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/33, SN 2022vod) due to cloud 01:30:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/33, NGC 2708 w/SN2023bee) due to cloud 01:45:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/33, GCVS YZ Cnc) due to cloud 01:54:22 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 01:54:25   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 01:54:27 Session Closing Session closing 01:54:32   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 00:30, closing time 50s) 01:55:54   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 74s), Az: 90.0 deg 01:57:20   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 82s) 01:57:35   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 01:57:57   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 01:59:25   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 01:59:27 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 01:59:43 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail --             No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2023-02-21, S1100)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• A ToO target was accidentally submitted to the Job Queue with 200 frames instead of 20 frames intended (21:36).  Target 8/33 (NGC 2126) was submitted to job queue for imaging using Secondary Scope (TS80/178MC). Target was set up in AstroPlan using remote connection from an IPAD and accidently edited to shoot 200 frames instead of 20 frames intended.  This meant the  target was scheduled to take 118 mins instead of 17 min if intended number of frames was used. In the event of a ToO target taking longer than 20 minutes it would be helpful if AstroPlan pointed out the expection duration and required user to provide confirmation.  When the issue was realised there might have still been time to retract the target before its start time but this facility (athough defined via a previous continuous improvement ticket) has not yet been delivered.  In the event the imaging was allowed to take 33 frames before the imaging run was aborted, but this meant the a realtime JPG picture for the stacked frameset was not generated (this is dealt with under a separate continuous improvement ticket).  User Confirmation dialog added to Submit buttons on AstroPlan's SubmitToO Form.
  To fix 2023-02-22 (AstroMain 3.61.8, AstroPlan 1.36.4)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Provide a facility to allow Shcap target to align and stack the images that have been collected when target is aborted part way through.  Target 8/33 (NGC 2126) was submitted to job queue for imaging using the Secondary Scope (TS80/178MC). Target was accidently set up to shoot 200 frames instead of 20 frames intended. In the event the imaging was allowed to taking 33 frames before the imaging run was aborted to prevent the target from completely replacing other targets in the queue.   Although more frames were collected than intended, the use of Abort Target button facility meant that not only the remained 167 frames not collected, the normal operation to align and stack the frames collected using SIril and post a JPG picture of the stacked image on website was passed over.  It would be handy if the user was given the option to still go ahead and stack the frames collected.
  Done  2023-02-22 (AstroMain 3.61.8)

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