David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1125 (2023-08-05)

Notes (S1124)

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Notes (S1126)

	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 (0)
	Images from 2023-08-05 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-08-05)

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 3.62.6, AstroPlan 1.38.1,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.3
  (AstroWeather 1.21.1, AstroAllSky 3.19.1,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9 (1.11.1 on Dev Computer)

Highlights

• Targets. Only 7/16 targets were recorded as completed due to cloud of which one target (NGC_5297) was later rejected due cloud/poor transparency / bad guiding.
• Sky Conditions / High Cloud. High cloud / decreasing star count, decreasing sky tranparency affected the session.
• Dome Slews. Two dome slews were affected by hold-ups (one with a 41s hold-up and a second one (during Park attempt) with a 144s hold-up)  (Hold Up Stats: 2/9 slews affected, 22%, 3.1 minutes total hold-up time). 

Notes:

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan All targets were recorded as either completed , however images from first 7 targets were later rejected.as they were significantly out of foucs. Scope was automatically focused ahead of V Sge and the last 5 targets were accepted.

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 22:30:37 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:30 & 02:59 22:30:39   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 23:27:01 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:27) 23:27:21   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 23:27:34 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-08-05 S01125, ImageSaveNum: 1125001) 23:28:01   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:29:45   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:29:52 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:29:56 Session Pending Session pending (2023-08-05) 23:29:58 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-08-05) 23:30:01   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.1) 23:30:39   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 898) 23:31:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 23:31:38   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:32:02 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:32:47   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:33:02 Session Running Session running 23:33:05   Queue Started Observing Queue started (16 targets selected) 23:33:08     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 23:33:22       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:37:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:39:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:41:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:41:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:44:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:45:45       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:46:02     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 23:46:28     Target Started (1/16) Target started (1/16, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 23:49:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:59:05       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:59:55     Target Completed Target completed (1/16, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 23:59:58   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:00:00 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:00:50   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:00:53 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:09:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/16, HIP 87937) due to cloud 00:20:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/16, AT2023hxd (CV)) due to too few stars 00:40:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/16, AT2023cti) due to cloud 00:44:25 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:45:10   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:45:12 Session Running Session running 00:45:14   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:45:16     Target Started (5/16) Target started (5/16, AT2023cvz (CV)) 00:46:54     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 247.3° (Delay 41s) 00:49:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:51:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:57:34     Target Completed Target completed (5/16, AT2023cvz (CV)) 00:57:38     Target Started (6/16) Target started (6/16, 61 Cyg) 01:00:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:02:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:04:06     Target Completed Target completed (6/16, 61 Cyg) 01:04:10     Target Started (7/16) Target started (7/16, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:05:17       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:06:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:08:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:10:28       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:12:37     Target Completed Target completed (7/16, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:20:25     Target Started (8/16) Target started (8/16, 80P/Peters-Hartley) 01:23:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:25:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:33:37     Target Completed Target completed (8/16, 80P/Peters-Hartley) 01:35:15     Target Started (9/16) Target started (9/16, NGC 5297 w/AT2023mlt) 01:41:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:44:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:00:24     Target Completed Target completed (9/16, NGC 5297 w/AT2023mlt) 02:00:28     Target Started (10/16) Target started (10/16, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 02:04:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:06:03       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:20:44     Target Completed Target completed (10/16, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 02:20:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:20:48 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:21:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:21:37 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:30:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/16, AT2023efy (CV)) due to cloud 02:50:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/16, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 03:02:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/16, AT2022adzf (CV)) due to cloud 03:11:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/16, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 03:19:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/16, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 03:49:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/16, M31 w/AT2023hrm) due to cloud 03:49:06   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:49:09 Session Closing Session closing 03:49:14   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:21, closing time 50s) 03:52:22     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 36.8° (Delay 144s) 03:52:24   Dome Park Aborted Dome Park aborted (0s, Az=36.9°) 03:53:56   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 91s) 03:54:11   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:54:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:55:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:55:59 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:56:09 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 00:46:54 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 247.3° (Delay 41s) 03:52:22 Red Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 36.8° (Delay 144s) 03:52:24 Red Alert Dome Failed To Park Parking aborted after 3 mins, Rotation Drive wheels are likely to be slipping (Dome at Az 36.9°)

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Operational Issues (2023-08-05, S1125)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Dome failed to park correctly due to dome hold-up. Whilst slewing to the Near Park Azimuth (90°), the dome held up at 36.8°for 144s. After 3 minutes waiting to reach Az 90°  the Park operation was aborted by the Obs Manager and the dome was left at Az 36.8° Dome was later rotated to Az 50° under manual control and there was no problem.  incident.  Similarly there were no problems making a slew to Az 10° or a following slew to Park Position (Az 90°),  In both cases there was no problem moving clockwise or anticlockwise past Az 36.8° where the hold-up was experienced. Whilst there are evidently still occasional issues with dome slew, this particular issue is deemed closed after review on 2023-08-07 as the hold-up wasn't repeatable during daytime testing and the fact that parking occured without incident during the S1126 session the following night. Problem was evenually found to be due to a loose/worn drive wheel connector. A replacement Drive Wheel & Connector eventually arrived on 2023-11-17 and was successfully installed in the Observatory (See Pulsar Dome - Replacement Rotation Drive Wheel, 2023-11-17 ).
  Fixed 2023-11-17 (Observatory, Pulsar Dome)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• None

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