David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1131 (2023-08-19)

Notes (S1130)

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Notes (S1132)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	Images from 2023-08-19 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-08-19)

Main aims

1. Comets.  Acquire images of previously unobserved comets.
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 1.38.2,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.4
  (AstroWeather 1.21.2, AstroAllSky 3.19.1,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9 (1.11.1 on Dev Computer)

Highlights

• Comets. Images acquired of 4 comets (2P/Encke, 12P/Pons-Brooks, 237P/LINEAR & C/2020 R7 (ATLAS) ) that were observed during the previous session but other recently added targets were not scheduled (? not observable)
• Targets. 14/21 planned target were completed, with two other targets partially completed of which one (AT2023cns) was later rejected due to cloud/bad guiding.
• Telescope Slews.  Pointing accuracy after telescope slews has noticably worsened since the last session. Errors are around 10 arc minute instead of the normal 2 to 3 arc mins.  Problem is not significant and easily corrected by automated centering operations, however additional time is taken (lost) by the longer jog corrections.
• Dome Slews.  5 dome slews suffered significant hold-ups during the session, with delays of 40s, 69s, 77s, 77s & 91s  (Hold Up Stats: 5/18 slews affected, 28%, 7.1 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 18:09:09 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:43 & 03:31 18:09:10   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:43 21:43:22   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 22:11:29 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:11) 22:11:50   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:12:03 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-08-19 S01131, ImageSaveNum: 1131001) 22:12:30   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:14:13   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:14:20 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:14:25 Session Pending Session pending (2023-08-19) 22:14:27 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-08-19) 22:14:29   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.2) 22:15:25   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 905) 22:15:50   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 22:16:26   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:16:51 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:17:36   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:17:38 Session Running Session running 22:17:40   Queue Started Observing Queue started (21 targets selected) 22:17:42     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 22:17:55       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:23:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:26:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:28:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:28:45       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:30:54       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:32:37       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:32:54     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 22:32:58     Target Started (1/21) Target started (1/21, C/2022 L2 (ATLAS)) 22:37:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:39:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:47:57     Target Completed Target completed (1/21, C/2022 L2 (ATLAS)) 22:48:01     Target Started (2/21) Target started (2/21, C/2020 R7 (ATLAS)) 22:51:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:54:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:02:01     Target Completed Target completed (2/21, C/2020 R7 (ATLAS)) 23:02:05     Target Started (3/21) Target started (3/21, HIP 87937) 23:06:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:08:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:10:46     Target Completed Target completed (3/21, HIP 87937) 23:10:50     Target Started (4/21) Target started (4/21, NGC 6934) 23:14:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:17:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:26:30     Target Completed Target completed (4/21, NGC 6934) 23:26:34     Target Started (5/21) Target started (5/21, 237P/LINEAR) 23:29:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:32:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 23:42:55     Target Completed Target completed (5/21, 237P/LINEAR) 23:42:59     Target Started (6/21) Target started (6/21, UGC 9350 w/SN2023nny) 23:46:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:48:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:05:09     Target Completed Target completed (6/21, UGC 9350 w/SN2023nny) 00:05:13     Target Started (7/21) Target started (7/21, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 00:08:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:24:48     Target Completed Target completed (7/21, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 00:25:20     Target Started (8/21) Target started (8/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 00:28:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:30:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:38:44     Target Completed Target completed (8/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 00:39:52     Target Started (9/21) Target started (9/21, KIC 8462852) 00:42:13     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 268.0, 267.6, 246.5° (Total delay 79s) 00:44:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:46:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:50:23     Target Completed Target completed (9/21, KIC 8462852) 00:50:27     Target Started (10/21) Target started (10/21, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 00:52:41     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 222.6, 177.3° (Total delay 77s) 00:55:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:57:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:11:32     Target Completed Target completed (10/21, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 01:11:36     Target Started (11/21) Target started (11/21, IC 1797 w/SN2023nnz) 01:13:15     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 178.3, 177.6, 156.6° (Total delay 40s) 01:15:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:18:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:33:59     Target Completed Target completed (11/21, IC 1797 w/SN2023nnz) 01:34:03     Target Started (12/21) Target started (12/21, 2P/Encke) 01:36:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:38:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:47:49     Target Completed Target completed (12/21, 2P/Encke) 01:47:54     Target Started (13/21) Target started (13/21, NGC 2326 w/AT2023pgb) 01:50:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:53:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:08:56     Target Completed Target completed (13/21, NGC 2326 w/AT2023pgb) 02:09:00     Target Started (14/21) Target started (14/21, AT2023cns (CV)) 02:12:32     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 267.3, 247.1° (Total delay 91s) 02:17:54   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:17:56   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:17:59     Target Aborted (14/21) Target aborted (14/21, AT2023cns (CV)) due to cloud 02:18:01   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:18:03 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:18:49   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:18:52 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:37:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/21, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 02:45:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/21, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 02:47:58 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:48:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:48:45 Session Running Session running 02:48:47   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:48:49     Target Started (17/21) Target started (17/21, GCVS HH And) 02:50:42     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 223.2, 222.7, 178.2, 177.4° (Total delay 69s) 02:52:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:54:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:56:36     Target Completed Target completed (17/21, GCVS HH And) 02:56:40     Target Started (18/21) Target started (18/21, M33 w/AT2023nou) 02:59:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:02:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:12:40   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:12:42   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:12:44     Target Aborted (18/21) Target aborted (18/21, M33 w/AT2023nou) due to cloud 03:12:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:12:48 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:13:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:13:38 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:35:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/21, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) due to cloud 03:57:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/21, UGC 2690 w/AT2023nfg) due to cloud 04:18:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/21, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 04:18:29   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:18:31 Session Closing Session closing 04:18:36   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:13, closing time 50s) 04:19:23   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 38s), Az: 90.1 deg 04:20:37   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 69s) 04:20:52   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:21:14   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:22:39   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:22:42 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:23:02 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 00:42:13 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 268.0, 267.6, 246.5° (Total delay 79s) 00:52:41 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 222.6, 177.3° (Total delay 77s) 01:13:15 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 178.3, 177.6, 156.6° (Total delay 40s) 02:12:32 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 267.3, 247.1° (Total delay 91s) 02:50:42 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 223.2, 222.7, 178.2, 177.4° (Total delay 69s)

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Operational Issues (2023-08-19, S1131)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (3)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• 7 minutes of observing time lost to dome slew hold-ups. Issue of hold-ups during dome slewing has reappeared., with hold-ups up to 91s.  It is unclear why sessions was badly affected as the next 3 session were notable in having very good dome slew performance.  For time being the issue is considered resolved closed (2023-08-25).  
  Closed after review 2023-08-25 (Pulsar Dome).  
   
• Slewing accuracy has become worse in the last few sessions with pointing errors of 10-11 arc min. The defect appear between Session S1127(2023-08-08) and S1128 (2023-08-13).  Pointing error is significantly reduced by in-session corrections and by centering operations. Short mapping job is required at the beginning of the next session. Was the recent degradation of slewing performance related to adjusting the CCD Camera cable recently on 2023-08-10 following session S1127 ?. Seems to be the most-likely explanation.  Telescope position resynced and short mapping job conducted at start of session S1132 (2023-08-20)
  Fixed 2023-08-20 (LX200,  TPoint,  Session).

Small Defects

• Tips of hedge blocking AllSky Camera from seeing lowest parts of Northern Sky. Hedge needs to be trimmed taking a conservative approach. Aim is to show the northern sky down to a low altitude but without revealing lighs associated with the housing estate that lies to NNE.  Iniial trimming was performed 2023-08-20. Results shown in Fig 1 show issue fixed in N and NNW directions. Careful additional trimming is still required in the NNE direction. This was performed on 2023-08-24,  but pictures from the evening's AllSky Camera suggest that a little too much was trimmed, exposing the housing estate and its associated house & vehicle lights. Hopefully the hedge will grow / fill-in more before the winter season.
  Closed 2023-08-25 (Observatory, AllSky Camera).

Continuous Improvement

• Add a Dome Charging Flag to ObsViewer when Dome is Parked. Whilst Dome is Parked (not applicable when Dome is not parked) and not slaved. new Flag on ObsPics pictures should current/recent state of charging. i) Charging was active in last 5 minutes - Green Flag, ii) . 5-10 minutes since charging was active or when Dome just Parked (Yellow Flag), iii) Charging not active in last 10 minutes (Red Flag).  Implementation attempted 2023-08-22 by addition to ParseDomeLogRecord() and DrawObservatoryPicture(0 but may need further fine tuning.  Review 2023-08-25 indicates that new flag is operating ok, decision taken to close ticket.
  Done 2023-08-25 (AstroMain 3.62.9).
   
• Add images of 2P/Encke and C/2013 R1 Lovejoy to Comets 2013 web page.  Whilst compiling image of 2P/Encke (Attempt) from the S1131 Session it was noted that images of 2P/Encke and C/2013 R1 Lovejoy taken on 2013-11-01 (S552) are not compiled to the Comets 2013 web page.  Web pages from sessions in May-Dec 2013 should be checked for other comets not present on the Comets 2013 web page.
  Done 2023-08-27 (Website).
   
• Add API Wind Direction to wind direction graph.   Add Wind Direction line to 5d wind direction graph (GraphID 42). Based API Curve on Wind Speed in GraphID 9.
  Done 2023-08-20 (AstroWeather 1.21.3).

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