David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1109 (2023-03-30)

Notes (S1108)

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Notes (S1110)

	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 2023-03-30 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-03-27)

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  2.6.11dev4, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.62.2, AstroPlan 1.38.1,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12
  (AstroWeather 1.20, AstroAllSky 3.19,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9 / 1.11

Highlights

• Targets.  4 out of 25 planned targets were completed, but one of these was badly affected by cloud. Cloud prevented
• Session.  Cloud conditions were more extensive that expected, especially in the first half of night where forecast was suggesting cloud cover of only 18-33% before 01:00
• Dome Slews.  No problems encountered in this session  (Hold Up Stats: 0/7 slews affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time). 

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 20:39:15 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:39 & 04:37 20:39:16   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 21:16:30 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:16) 21:16:50   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:17:03 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-03-30 S01109, ImageSaveNum: 1109001) 21:17:30   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:19:14   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:19:21 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:19:25 Session Pending Session pending (2023-03-30) 21:19:27 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-03-30) 21:19:29   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.1) 21:20:30   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 881) 21:20:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 21:21:32   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:21:56 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:22:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:22:42 Session Running Session running 21:22:44   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 21:22:48     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 21:23:01       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:27:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:29:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:31:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:32:10       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:34:19       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:36:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:36:18     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 21:36:23     Target Started (1/25) Target started (1/25, UGC 3044 w/SN2023cf) 21:39:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:41:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:58:03     Target Completed Target completed (1/25, UGC 3044 w/SN2023cf) 21:58:17     Target Started (2/25) Target started (2/25, C/2022 U2 (ATLAS)) 22:01:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:03:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:11:21       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:15:27       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 22:17:57       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:19:37     Target Completed Target completed (2/25, C/2022 U2 (ATLAS)) 22:19:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:19:41 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:20:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:20:29 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:32:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/25, AT2023cub (CV)) due to cloud 22:55:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/25, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) due to cloud 23:15:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/25, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-03a?) due to cloud 23:29:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/25, AT2023vp (CV)) due to cloud 23:46:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/25, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 00:06:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/25, NGC 3799 w/AT2023clx) due to cloud 00:28:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/25, UGC 6674 w/SN2023bvi) due to cloud 00:50:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/25, M108 w/SN2023dbc) due to cloud 01:12:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/25, NGC 3690 w/ATPSN J11283070+5833456) due to cloud 01:35:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/25, NGC 4611 w/SN2023dtz) due to cloud 01:57:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/25, IC 4305 w/AT2023edc) due to cloud 02:19:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/25, NGC 5915 w/SN2023cpt) due to cloud 02:41:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/25, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) due to cloud 03:00:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/25, 364P/PANSTARRS) due to cloud 03:20:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/25, UGC 11225 w/SN2023bqh) due to cloud 03:42:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/25, AT2023ctx (CV)) due to cloud 03:56:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/25, AT2023cvz (CV)) due to cloud 04:08:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/25, AT2023dwm (CV)) due to cloud 04:27:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/25, GCVS SS Cyg) due to too few stars 04:36:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/25, GCVS BL Lac) due to too few stars 04:47:34 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:48:19   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:48:20 Session Running Session running 04:48:23   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:48:25     Target Started (23/25) Target started (23/25, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:54:35     Target Completed Target partially completed (23/25, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:54:39     Target Started (24/25) Target started (24/25, WDS GRB 34) 04:59:28     Target Completed Target completed (24/25, WDS GRB 34) 04:59:32     Target Started (25/25) Target started (25/25, GCVS HH And) 05:02:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:04:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 05:06:49     Target Completed Target completed (25/25, GCVS HH And) 05:06:52   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:06:56 Session Closing Session closing 05:07:51   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:08:23   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 23s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:09:48   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 81s) 05:10:03   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:10:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:11:58   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:12:01 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:12:06 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail --             No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2023-03-30, S1109)

• 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

• AstroMain's 'Analyse Reduced Folder' process appears to have crashed when analysing image #1109014.  nObjects 15 is not abnormal, but the time taken to attempt linking using GSC stars (389.4s) is abnormal. Image was 3rd 90s main frame of Targer has trailed stars which was likely due to cloud.  Src file was normal. looking.  Process was repeated and again was clear that CCDSoft / TheSky6 were locking up whilst attempting to make 2nd link attempt using GSC stars.  Software was killed and the problem image deleted. Analyse Reduced Folder process was then restarted and finished without further incident.   Raw Image and the Reduced Image were then link using AstroMain's Analysis, 'Link Image (GSC)' button routine. The raw image failed to link but doesn't cause TheSky6 to hang, the reduced image causes TheSky6 to hang.  Redoing the reduction simply creates a new problem image. (issue repeatable). Problem resolved by deleting file.  Issue closed after review 2023-03-31.
  Closed after review 2023-03-31 (Session, CCDSoft / TheSky6) 
   
• Multiple Explorer processes running on Development Computer using up RAM. Each Explorer window opened generates a new Explorer process (PID),  these processes don't end when the explorer window is closed.  Number of processed can reach 30-40 after a period of computer use. Problem was noticed on the previous Development Cmputer running Windows 10.  Restarting Explorer from Explorer Patcher kills the processes but the number of explorer processes simply increases again.  Development Computer runs Windows 11 Home, with ExplorerPatcher. Directories are opened in separate windows, and are frequently opened / killed by AstroMove (but this is the same way of operating as used previously on the Windows 10 machine.  Attempted a fix on 2023-04-03 by opening a Cmd console window as Adminstrator and executing '> sfc /scannow. This reported that it had fix a corrupted file. This appeared to have briefly resolved the issue, but a few minutes later showed the problem was still ongoing. Situation will be monitored as it could return.  It is noticed that closing MS Edge leave several MS Edge processes still running.
  To monitor 2023-04-03 (Development Computer, Windows 11, Explorer)

Small Defects

• AstroMain's ImageSet Analysis shows UGC 3044 at bottom of Image Set List instead of at top of list.  With  List in 'Time' order the image set 'UGC 3044 3x3 180s C' should be listed first but it is getting listed last.   This is explainable as the reduced folder 'UGC 3044 3x3 180s C' folder doesn't contain any FIT files, and therefore AstroMain can't determine the necessary date/time information for the image set.  (This was unexpected as folder should contain 5 FIT images.  This is dealt with a separate Defect ticket)
  Closed as explained 2023-03-31 (Session, AstroMain) 
   
• Reduced subfolder for image set 'UGC 3044 3x3 180s C' should contain 5 FIT files but is empty.  This was noticed as the Image set appeared at bottom of image set list rather than first as expected.  Issue was due to the reduced files (1109001 to 1109013) being moved to a temporary folder when investigating a problem with image 1109014, and then forgetting to move them back prior to grouping Reduced Images.  Issue fixed 2023-03-31.
  Fixed 2023-03-31 (Session, AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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