David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1127 (2023-08-08)

Notes (S1127A)

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Notes (S1128)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2023-08-08 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-08-08)

Main aims

1. AstroMain, CCDSoft.  Check AstroMain, CCDSoft, SBIG Camera following issues in recent sessions (S1126, 2023-08-06 & S1127A, 2023-08-07)
2. 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 3.62.7, AstroPlan 1.38.1,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.4
  (AstroWeather 1.21.1, AstroAllSky 3.19.1,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9 (1.11.1 on Dev Computer)

Highlights

• Targets.11 /16 planned targets were completed, with 1 further target partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension.
• AstroMain. AstroMain program (3.62.7) operated without significant issues related to CCDSoft/SBIG Camera (COMException)
• CCDSoft/SBIG Camera. Several instances of CDCSoft loosing connection with SBIg Camera or conflicting calls to Camera object by AstroMain program (3.62.7). All cases were dealt with automatically by AstroMain via CCDSoft Restart (including SBIG Camera restart).
• Dome Slews. None of session's dome slews were affected by any significant hold-ups  (Hold Up Stats:0/14 slews affected, 0%, 0.4 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 22:47:36 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:47 & 03:08 22:47:37 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:47) 22:47:57   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:48:10 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-08-08 S01127, ImageSaveNum: 1127001) 22:48:37   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:50:20   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:50:28 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:50:31 Session Pending Session pending (2023-08-08) 22:50:33 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-08-08) 22:50:35   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.1) 22:51:15   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 901) 22:51:36   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 22:52:13   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:52:37 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:53:22   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:53:37 Session Running Session running 22:53:40   Queue Started Observing Queue started (16 targets selected) 22:53:43     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 22:53:57       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:57:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:00:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:02:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:02:31       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:04:27       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:06:09       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:06:26     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 23:07:03     Target Started (1/16) Target started (1/16, NGC 5297 w/AT2023mlt) 23:10:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:12:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:27:21       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:28:41   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:28:43   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:28:45     Target Aborted (1/16) Target aborted (1/16, NGC 5297 w/AT2023mlt) due to cloud 23:28:47   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:28:49 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:29:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 23:29:33 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:42:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/16, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 23:43:32 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:44:17   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:44:19 Session Running Session running 23:44:21   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:44:24     Target Started (3/16) Target started (3/16, HIP 87937) 23:46:12   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:46:14   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:46:16     Target Aborted (3/16) Target aborted (3/16, HIP 87937) due to cloud 23:46:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:46:20 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:47:02   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 23:47:05 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:49:08 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:49:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:49:55 Session Running Session running 23:49:57   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:50:00     Target Started (3/16) Target started (3/16, HIP 87937) 23:54:06     Target Completed Target completed (3/16, HIP 87937) 23:54:10     Target Started (4/16) Target started (4/16, AT2022wut) 23:57:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:59:16   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 23:59:26   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 23:59:36       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:00:11   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 00:00:18   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:01:00   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 00:01:02   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:17:01     Target Completed Target completed (4/16, AT2022wut) 00:17:05     Target Started (5/16) Target started (5/16, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 00:37:38     Target Completed Target completed (5/16, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 00:37:42     Target Started (6/16) Target started (6/16, GCVS SS Cyg) 00:40:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:41:07   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:41:17   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 00:41:37       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:41:54   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 00:42:01   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:42:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 00:42:52   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:44:49   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:44:59   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 00:45:06   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:45:48   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 00:46:02   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:48:01     Target Completed Target completed (6/16, GCVS SS Cyg) 00:51:38     Target Started (7/16) Target started (7/16, UGC 9350 w/SN2023nny) 00:55:46       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:12:04     Target Completed Target completed (7/16, UGC 9350 w/SN2023nny) 01:13:38     Target Started (8/16) Target started (8/16, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 01:19:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:35:39     Target Completed Target completed (8/16, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 01:35:43     Target Started (9/16) Target started (9/16, AT2023ctz (CV)) 01:39:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:41:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:45:49       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:47:43     Target Completed Target completed (9/16, AT2023ctz (CV)) 01:47:45   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:47:47 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:48:34   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:48:37 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:57:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/16, GCVS WZ Sge) due to cloud 02:15:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/16, GCVS V Sge) due to cloud 02:26:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/16, AT2023eu (CV)) due to too few stars 02:28:23 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:29:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 50s) 02:29:15 Session Running Session running 02:29:17   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:29:20     Target Started (13/16) Target started (13/16, GCVS HH And) 02:32:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:34:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:36:51     Target Completed Target completed (13/16, GCVS HH And) 02:36:56     Target Started (14/16) Target started (14/16, NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu) 02:40:25       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:56:34     Target Completed Target completed (14/16, NGC 7769 w/SN2022aedu) 02:58:25     Target Started (15/16) Target started (15/16, WDS GRB 34) 02:58:28       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:01:06       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 03:02:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:04:39   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 03:04:59   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 03:05:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 03:05:32   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 03:05:37       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:05:39   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 03:06:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 03:06:23   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 03:07:17       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 03:08:01     Target Completed Target completed (15/16, WDS GRB 34) 03:08:05     Target Started (16/16) Target started (16/16, M33 w/AT2023nou) 03:30:28     Target Completed Target completed (16/16, M33 w/AT2023nou) 03:30:31   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:30:34 Session Closing Session closing 03:31:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 03:31:57   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 25s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:33:15   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 74s) 03:33:30   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:33:52   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:35:17   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:35:19 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:35:35 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 23:59:16 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 23:59:26 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 00:01:02 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:41:07 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:41:17 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 00:42:52 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 00:44:49 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:46:02 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 01:36:15 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 304.1° (T+26.5s) 03:04:39 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 03:04:59 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 03:06:23 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset)

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Operational Issues (2023-08-08, S1127)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• CCD Imaging failed at four points during session with SBIG Camera Alert Message : Take Image failed (Command Timed-out ) & associated Take Image failed (Command In Progress) (23:59, 00:41, 00:44 & 03:04). Take Image failed at four points during the night 1) at 23:59 whilst taking Focus Frame 11/14 for Target 4/16 (AT2022wut), 2) at 00:41 whilst taking 1/14 for Target 6/16 (GCVS SS Cyg), 3) at 00:44 whilst taking Main Frame 4/9 (B Filter) for Target 6/16 (GCVS SS Cyg),, and 4) at 03:04 whilst taking Focus Check Frame 2/3 for Target 15/16 (WDS GRB 34).   In each case AstroMain automatically intervened to restart CCDSoft (including restart of the SBIG Camera).  Target specific focuser check/refocusing was not achieved in 3 cases and in the other case one/two images frames were not acquired.  Whilst the four instances were automatically resolved in-session to allow the next images to be acquired there is clearly an ongoing issue here that has been affecting the last 3 sessions to vary extents. A loose/poor cable connection is a possible cause as  momentarily breaking the connection between Camera and CCDSoft might produce the details described here.  SBIG Cables & Connectors need to be checked and adjusted if needed before the next session. Daytime checks confirm that camera power cable input to the SBIG camera appears to be prone to momentary disconnections / camera restarts which could be the source of the camera disconnections/failures.  Cable tied back in a way to best keep a stable power connection. This fix appears to have resolved the issue, as there have been no issues with stability of SBIG Camera connection to CCDSoft in sessions S1128-S1131.
  Fixed 2023-08-10 (SBIG Camera, Observatory) but monitor over next few sessions

Small Defects

• Links to Sigma Beta 10 program nor working from AstroLaunch' Support Apps tab or Reduction Workflow tab on Development Computer. This is because on the new Development Computer the Sigma Beta 10 program hasn't seemingly been installed yet.  Fixed 2023-08-11 by installing the program.
  Fixed 2023-08-11 (Development Computer, Sigma Beta 10 ).

Continuous Improvement

• Make Autofocusing more robust to a Image Frame failure (23:59). At 23:59 whilst taking Focus Frame 11/14 for Target 4/16 (AT2022wut) a Take Image operation failed with message "Command Timed-out"  & "Command In Progress.   Error code = 219 (0xdb)"  The autofocusing operation was aborted at this point.  Later on at 03:04 whilst taking Focus Check Frame 2/3 for Target 15/16 (WDS GRB 34), a Take Image operation similarly failed, and again the autofocusing operation was aborted.  In both cases there was probably still enough data collected (10 focus frames successfully acquired in the first case. This could be done in AstroMain 3.62.8,   Another alternative would be to insert a CCDSoft/SBIG Camera Restart directly following the detection of SBIG camera communication issue, and proceed with next focus frame, rather than aborting the Refocussing and only then doing a "Restart CCDSoft.  Issue fixed in AstroMain 3.65.14.  MeasureFocusProfile_Foc1() modified to include a wait loop if  bRestartingCCDSoft flag is raised so that a new Focus Frame isn't started whilst CCDCamera is frozen or otherwise has an issue, that would cause a new Focus Frame to hang or predictably fail.
  Fixed 2024-02-15 (AstroMain 3.65.14)

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