David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1116 (2023-04-20)

Notes (S1115)

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Notes (S1117)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2023-04-20 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-04-20)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions
2. Hidden Treasures.  Begin collection of images from previously unimaged objeets from Hidden Treasures Catalog  [ Hidden Treasures ]
3. Flat Frames.  Collect Flat Frames through for creating new Master Flats that will correct the new dust motte that has appeared in recent C Filter Images.

 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 3.62.3, AstroPlan 1.38.1,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.2
  (AstroWeather 1.20, AstroAllSky 3.19,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9 / 1.11

Highlights

• Targets. 12 out of 21 planned targets were completed. Other targets failed due to a CCDSoft/SBIG Camera glitch (start of session) or due to Cloud/Haar
• Hidden Treasures. Images of NGC 2169 & NGC 2175 successfully acquired.
• Flat Frames. Dusk Flats (2x2 & 3x3) collected for C Filter from which 2 new master flats were generated
• Dome Slews.  Two slews suffered material hold-ups during session, with hold-ups of 31s & 83s. (Hold Up Stats: 2/20 slews affected, 10%, 2.8 minutes total hold-up time). 

Notes:

• Collected Dusk Flats for C Filter and generated 2 new master flats:
  - MasterFlat.2x2.C.S1116.Flat.AvMedian25.FIT
  - MasterFlat.3x3.C.S1116.Flat.AvMedian25.FIT
  
  Note: Only 4 flat frames were collected at 1x1 binning, before sky became too dark, which was insufficient number for generating a master flat (as stars trails show through in median average)
  

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 20:28:04   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:28:17 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-04-20 S01116, ImageSaveNum: 1116001) 20:29:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 20:34:17   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:36:30 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.62.3) 20:36:32 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2023-04-20 S01116, ImageSaveNum: 1116001) 20:36:43   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:37:11   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:37:20   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:37:40   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:39:23   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:39:41   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 20:42:09   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:45:33       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:53:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 44s) 21:15:28 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:33 & 03:28 21:15:30 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 21:15:32   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:33 21:33:57   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:48:38 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:48) 21:48:59   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:49:04 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:49:08 Session Pending Session pending (2023-04-20) 21:49:10 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-04-20) 21:49:12   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.1) 21:50:02   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 888) 21:50:14   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 21:50:20   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:51:14 Session Running Session running 21:51:16   Queue Started Observing Queue started (21 targets selected) 21:51:20     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 21:54:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:55:12 Foc1FieldsUpdater Frozen Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen at around 20:55 in section 'Update Foc1Fields' 21:56:44 TempMonitor Frozen TempMonitor appears to be frozen at around 20:56 in section 'Get CcdTemp Data' 22:03:42   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 22:03:49   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 22:04:31   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 22:05:18   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 22:07:29   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 22:07:31       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Range) 22:07:33       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:22:23   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 22:22:30   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 22:23:15       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:24:56       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:25:13     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 22:25:15     Target Missed (1/21) Target's time slot was missed (1/21, NGC 2163) 22:25:18     Target Started (2/21) Target started (2/21, UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb) 22:27:01     Target Failed (2/21) Target failed due to aborted (2/21, UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb) 22:27:03   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 22:27:23   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 22:28:52   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 22:28:59   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 22:29:57   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 22:30:09   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 22:31:50   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 22:31:59   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:32:21   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:32:52 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:32 & 03:28 22:32:54 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 22:32:57 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:32) 22:33:17   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:33:21 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:33:25 Session Pending Session pending (2023-04-20) 22:33:27 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-04-20) 22:33:31   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 888) 22:33:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 22:33:52   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:34:11 Session Running Session running 22:34:13   Queue Started Observing Queue started (19 targets selected) 22:34:16     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 22:35:45   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 22:36:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:39:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:41:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:41:55     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 22:41:57     Target Started (3/21) Target started (3/21, NGC 2169) 22:44:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:47:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:54:54     Target Completed Target completed (3/21, NGC 2169) 22:54:58     Target Started (4/21) Target started (4/21, NGC 2175). Using SharpCap 22:57:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:59:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:19:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 23:19:32     Target Completed Target completed (4/21, NGC 2175) 23:26:31     Target Started (5/21) Target started (5/21, UGC 4025 w/SN2023boc) 23:29:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 23:46:40     Target Completed Target completed (5/21, UGC 4025 w/SN2023boc) 23:48:32     Target Started (6/21) Target started (6/21, NGC 4995 w/AT2023gfo) 23:50:58     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 251.3, 227.3, 226.5° (Total delay 83s) 23:53:33       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:54:29     Target Failed (6/21) Target failed due to cloud (6/21, NGC 4995 w/AT2023gfo) 23:54:31   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:54:33 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:55:23   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:55:26 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:07:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/21, NGC 4995 w/AT2023gfo) due to cloud 00:29:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/21, IC 4305 w/SN2023edc) due to cloud 00:43:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/21, AT2023dwm (CV)) due to cloud 00:56:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/21, AT2022fnb (CV)) due to cloud 01:16:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/21, UGC 5276 w/SN2023cxk) due to cloud 01:38:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/21, UGC 6674 w/SN2023bvi) due to cloud 02:00:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/21, NGC 4611 w/SN2023dtz) due to cloud 02:08:51 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:09:36   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:09:39 Session Running Session running 02:09:41   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:09:42     Target Started (13/21) Target started (13/21, NGC 5915 w/SN2023cpt) 02:29:02     Target Completed Target completed (13/21, NGC 5915 w/SN2023cpt) 02:29:06     Target Started (14/21) Target started (14/21, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 02:32:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:34:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 02:42:34     Target Completed Target completed (14/21, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 02:42:38     Target Started (15/21) Target started (15/21, GCVS BL Lac) 02:43:57       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 02:44:37     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 90.5, 68.9° (Total delay 31s) 02:47:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:49:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:53:17     Target Completed Target completed (15/21, GCVS BL Lac) 02:53:21     Target Started (16/21) Target started (16/21, GCVS HH And) 02:56:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:59:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 03:01:09     Target Completed Target completed (16/21, GCVS HH And) 03:01:13     Target Started (17/21) Target started (17/21, AT2023vp (CV)) 03:04:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:06:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 03:12:25     Target Completed Target completed (17/21, AT2023vp (CV)) 03:12:29     Target Started (18/21) Target started (18/21, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:15:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:17:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:21:49     Target Completed Target completed (18/21, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:28:34     Target Started (19/21) Target started (19/21, WDS GRB 34) 03:31:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:33:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 03:36:11     Target Completed Target completed (19/21, WDS GRB 34) 03:37:02     Target Started (20/21) Target started (20/21, AT2023cuo) 03:41:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:57:14     Target Completed Target completed (20/21, AT2023cuo) 03:59:02     Target Started (21/21) Target started (21/21, GCVS CY Lyr) 04:01:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:03:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 04:07:46     Target Completed Target completed (21/21, GCVS CY Lyr) 04:07:49   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:07:52 Session Closing Session closing 04:08:47   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:09:26   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 32s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:10:43   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 73s) 04:10:58   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:11:20   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:12:45   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:12:48 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:13:08 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 21:56:56 Red Alert Foc1Fields Updater Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen (last cycle at 20:55:12) in section 'Update Foc1Fields' 21:59:16 Red Alert TempMonitor TempMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 20:56:44) in section 'Get CcdTemp Data' 22:03:47 Green Clear Foc1Fields Updater Foc1FieldsUpdater has resumed again (22:03) after 8.6 mins 22:03:49 Green Clear TempMonitor TempMonitor has resumed again (22:03) after 7.0 mins 22:05:18 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 22:07:29 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 22:35:45 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 23:50:58 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 251.3, 227.3, 226.5° (Total delay 83s) 02:44:37 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 90.5, 68.9° (Total delay 31s)

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Operational Issues (2023-04-20, S1116)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Imaging with SBIG Camera failed whilst taking Focus Frames for Near Zenith Target.  Foc1FieldsUpdater appears to be frozen (last cycle at 20:55:12) in section 'Update Foc1Fields and TempMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 20:56:44) in section 'Get CcdTemp Data' this was directly during/after acquiring Focus Frame 1/23 for Near Zenith Focus Field. Obs.Overseer intervened at 22:03 to restart CCDSoft. and both Foc1FieldsUpdater and TemptMonitor threads resumed (after being frozen for 7 to 8.6 minutes).  This occurred. Focus Profiler then tried to take Focus Frame 22/23 at 23:05 but timed-out, and Frame 23/23 frame failed due to "Command in progress (Error code = 219)". Job Executor attempted to take Locate frame for Target 1/21 but with CCDSoft not responding an attempt to Restart CCDSoft was made but this seemed to fail. Reconnect Camera operation gave the error "SBIG driver: Device not found. Error code = 1027".   AstroMain services were restarted and eventually resolved the problem
  Resolved in-session  2023-04-20 (AstroMain, CCDSoft)

Minor Issues

• Unable to open dome at -2° Sun Alt in order to take Sky Flats shortly after sunset. AstroMain gave message that Conditions were too light.  Disabling 'Light' on CloudSensor on AllSky/Weather Computer didn't allow Dome to be opened. It is hypothesized that the message is due to a Light warning from AstroAllSky's ScoreCard/Synopsis record. In the event it wasn't until around Sun Alt -6° before the sky was darker enough to permit dome opening, but this left insufficient time to collect planned number of 1x1 Flats, as sky became too dark for flats.
  To review  2023-04-20 (AstroMain)
   
• Planned Dusk Flats job (C Filter) began by taking sky flats using V Filter. List of required  C Filter flats were entered into a new ".\Targets\SkyFlats_S1116.txt" file and the file name was entered on the AstroMain / Flats tab, but the Dusk Flats process began taking V Filter flats instead of the expected C Filter Flats.  Process was halted and checks made. This showed that the list of required C Filter flats needed to be entered into the ".\Targets\AutoSkyFlats.txt" file instead. Process was restarted and this time the required C Filter flats were successfully acquired.
  Resolved in-session  2023-04-20 (AstroMain)

Small Defects

• Unable able to successfully link a couple of 15s B Filter images due to 'Find Inventory Anomaly'.  Unable to link a couple of 15s, 3x3, B Filter frames for SS Cyg. Images acquired with CCD Temp of -20 degC. Problems have been seen before where Find Inventory generates 1500-2500 objects and linking is very slow/fails.  e.g problem seen in previous S1115 session.  Can also occur with V filter frames. Need to review if there is a particular Dark Frame/Flat frame issue at all.
  To monitor issue  2023-04-20 (CCDSoft)

Continuous Improvement

• Reprocess Images from session S1113 to S1116 using Master Flats generated from the Sky Flats acquired at the start of S1116 Session.
  Done  2023-04-22 (AstroMain)

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