David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1135 (2023-08-30)

Notes (S1134)

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Notes (S1136)

	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 (2)
	Images from 2023-08-30 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-08-30)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions
2. AstroMain.  Continue to check new AstroMain version (3.62.10) for recent fixes & improvements

 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 3.62.10, 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

• Targets. 13/x planned target were completed, with 4 other targets partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension.
• AstroMain. New AstroMain version (3.62.10) operated ok
• Dome Slews. Two dome slews were affected by significant hold-up (Hold Up Stats: 013slews 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 21:05:34 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:15 & 03:52 21:05:37   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:15 21:15:53   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 21:39:40 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:39) 21:40:01   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:40:14 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-08-30 S01135, ImageSaveNum: 1135001) 21:40:41   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:42:26   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:42:32 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:42:36 Session Pending Session pending (2023-08-30) 21:42:38 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-08-30) 21:42:40   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.2) 21:43:35   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 909) 21:43:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 21:44:33   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:44:57 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:45:42   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:45:44 Session Running Session running 21:45:46   Queue Started Observing Queue started (21 targets selected) 21:45:49     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 21:46:01       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:49:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:51:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:53:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:53:57       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:55:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:57:35       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:57:52     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 21:59:08     Target Started (1/21) Target started (1/21, UGC 9002 w/SN2023pls) 22:02:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:05:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:13:20       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:15:25       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 22:21:33     Target Completed Target completed (1/21, UGC 9002 w/SN2023pls) 22:21:37     Target Started (2/21) Target started (2/21, AT2023qoo) 22:27:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:28:16       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:30:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:44:33   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:44:35   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:44:37     Target Aborted (2/21) Target aborted (2/21, AT2023qoo) due to cloud 22:44:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:44:41 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:45:28   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:45:30 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:02:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/21, AT2023exh) due to cloud 23:14:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/21, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 23:29:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/21, C/2020 R7 (ATLAS)) due to too few stars 23:34:38 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:35:23   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:35:25 Session Running Session running 23:35:27   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:35:29     Target Started (6/21) Target started (6/21, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 23:49:59     Target Completed Target completed (6/21, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 23:50:03     Target Started (7/21) Target started (7/21, HIP 87937) 23:51:49     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 268.7, 267.8, 247.6° (Total delay 68s) 23:56:39     Target Completed Target completed (7/21, HIP 87937) 23:56:43     Target Started (8/21) Target started (8/21, 237P/LINEAR) 23:57:43     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 223.3, 222.3° (Total delay 34s) 23:59:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:02:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:12:14     Target Completed Target completed (8/21, 237P/LINEAR) 00:12:18     Target Started (9/21) Target started (9/21, UGC 9350 w/SN2023nny) 00:16:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:19:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:35:30     Target Completed Target completed (9/21, UGC 9350 w/SN2023nny) 00:35:35     Target Started (10/21) Target started (10/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 00:38:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:46:52     Target Completed Target completed (10/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 00:46:56     Target Started (11/21) Target started (11/21, AT2023ctz (CV)) 00:50:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:52:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:58:09     Target Completed Target completed (11/21, AT2023ctz (CV)) 00:58:28     Target Started (12/21) Target started (12/21, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:01:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:03:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:07:09     Target Completed Target completed (12/21, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:16:14     Target Started (13/21) Target started (13/21, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 01:19:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:22:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:36:27     Target Completed Target completed (13/21, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 01:36:31     Target Started (14/21) Target started (14/21, AT2022yeu (CV)) 01:39:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:41:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:57:22     Target Completed Target completed (14/21, AT2022yeu (CV)) 01:58:10     Target Started (15/21) Target started (15/21, M33 w/AT2023nou) 02:00:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:02:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:19:00     Target Completed Target completed (15/21, M33 w/AT2023nou) 02:20:29     Target Started (16/21) Target started (16/21, UGC 2690 w/SN2023nfg) 02:23:29       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:39:32     Target Completed Target completed (16/21, UGC 2690 w/SN2023nfg) 02:42:29     Target Started (17/21) Target started (17/21, IC 1705 w/SN2023fa) 02:45:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:01:53     Target Completed Target completed (17/21, IC 1705 w/SN2023fa) 03:04:49     Target Started (18/21) Target started (18/21, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) 03:07:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:10:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 03:16:30       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:19:25   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:19:27   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:19:30     Target Aborted (18/21) Target aborted (18/21, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) due to cloud 03:19:32   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:19:34 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:20:20   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:20:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:24:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/21, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) due to cloud 03:42:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/21, 364P/PANSTARRS) due to cloud 03:54:13 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:54:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:55:01 Session Running Session running 03:55:03   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:55:05     Target Started (20/21) Target started (20/21, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 04:01:54       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 04:05:04       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 04:10:46     Target Completed Target partially completed (20/21, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 04:10:50     Target Started (21/21) Target started (21/21, NGC 2326 w/AT2023pgb) 04:22:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:22:34     Target Aborted (21/21) Target aborted (21/21, NGC 2326 w/AT2023pgb) due to too few stars 04:22:36   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:22:39 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:22:41   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:22, closing time 50s) 04:22:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:34:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/21, NGC 2326 w/AT2023pgb) due to light conditions 04:34:54   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:34:58 Session Closing Session closing 04:35:03   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:22, closing time 50s) 04:35:28   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 17s), Az: 90.1 deg 04:36:47   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 73s) 04:37:02   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:37:25   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:38:50   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:38:53 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:39:13 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 23:51:49 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 268.7, 267.8, 247.6° (Total delay 68s) 23:57:43 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 223.3, 222.3° (Total delay 34s) 04:21:21 Red Alert Cloud Sensor Cloud Sensor data has been inactive for more than 5 min 04:21:41 Red Alert Unexpected Dome Closure Dome is unexpectedly closing (Poor Conditions) 04:36:18 Red Alarm Cloud Sensor Cloud Sensor data has been inactive for more than 20 min

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Operational Issues (2023-08-30, S1135)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• CloudSensor data communication to Observatory Computer stopped (04:16).  CloudSensor data communication to Observatory Computer (and thus to the AstroMain & AstroGuard programs stopped at around 04:16 or so.  Weather data communication  also stopped at the same time. AstroMain issued a 'Cloud Sensor' red alert at 04:21:21 with the message "Cloud Sensor data has been inactive for more than 5 min". This happened because the AstroWeather program appeared to have crashed on the AllSky/Weather Computer.  Last message in AstroWeather's log (LogFile1 (Weather & Cloud).txt) can be inferred to have been written at 04:16:49 or so. Preliminary investigation carried out but the reason for the crash is unknown, the program has been operating ok in recent months & days without crashes.. There were no error / exception messages to help identify the route cause.  Fortunately the incident happened very close to the end of the planned session and relatively little data was 'lost'. Situation could have been worse if the incident had happened earlier in the session (which would led to the issue being ranked as a 'Major Issue). Specific issue concerning the AstroWeather crash is closed after review. Separate tickets are raised for associated impacts/issues relating to the Obervatory Computer.
  Closed after review 2023-08-31 (AstroWeather, AllSky/Weather Computer).
   
• Dome's shutter unexpectedly closing (04:21). AstroMain raised a 'Unexpected Dome Closure' red alert at 04:21:41 with message "Dome is unexpectedly closing (Poor Conditions)".  Conditions at the time were good (Clarity 35, Rain 0, Light 0, Sky Stars 37). The unexpected closure happened around the same time as a Cloud Sensor red alert  at 04:21:21) that was issued 5 minutes after CloudSensor data communication from AllSky/Weather Computer stopped at 04:16.  A shutter closure related to Relay between CloudSensor & Dome Controller can likely be ruled out.  (Cloud Sensor operating ok at this time and CloudSensor_Data.csv file records good conditions). AstroGuard' log however shows a 'Closing Shutter' action "Closing Dome due to Light Condition" following a 'Telescope Safety' warning at 04:21 with the message  "Light conditions are on a warning state, 2023-08-31 04:21 (Local)". There seems to be two issues here: i) AstroGuard correctly identifed a data issue at 04:21 but it is wrongly attributed it to a "Light condition" warning. ii) AstroGuard responds correctly by at some point in calling a Dome Safety' alert with a 'Closing Shutter' action, however it isn't attributing it to correct reason (ie 'no cloud sensor data' rather than 'light conditons', and isn't allowing AstroMain to take the primary role in suspending session & closing the dome. Criteria in AstroMain & AstroGuard need to be checked and made appropriately consistent.
  To fix 2023-08-31+ (AstroGuard, AstroMain).

Small Defects

• Weather and Environment Charts stopped updating (04:16). This happened because the AstroWeather program appeared to have crashed on the AllSky/Weather Computer.  The crash also caused Cloud Sensor/Weather data communication to stop, which caused the session to end early. Preliminary investigation carried out but the reason for the crash is unknown, the program has been operationg ok in recent months & days without crashes.. There were no error / exception messages to help identify the route cause.  Issue closed after review but the program should be monitored for future problems.
  Closed after review 2023-08-31 (AstroWeather, AllSky/Weather Computer), but continue monitoring for future incidents
   
• Weather and Environment Charts are missing observatory data from 04:16 onwards (2023-08-31). After restarting AstroWeather post-session, weather & enviromental charts were missing observatory data such as OTA Tube Temperature, Env Temp.  This happened as the AllSky/Weather computers local copy of the ObsEnv data file wasn't being refreshed with observatory data, during the period that AstroWeather program wasn't running.  Fixed post-session by stopping AstroWeather services and using Import ObsEnv facility to update the ObsEnv file from the original file version on the Observatory Computer.
  Fixed 2023-08-31 (AstroWeather, AllSky/Weather Computer).

Continuous Improvement

• AstroWeather's log to show timestamp of each message line. AstroWeather's log (LogFile1 (Weather & Cloud).txt) doesn't currently contain a timestamp for each line. Whilst time associated with lines is explicityly stated or can be inferred by reference to a time counter on certain lines referenced to a stated zero time it would be helpful if log file contained a timestamp on each line.    LogFile.WriteLine(Now().ToString("HH:mm:ss.ff") + " | " + S)
  Done 2023-10-07 (AstroWeather 1.21.3)
   
• Time of AstroGuard actions to be explicity reported.  AstroGuard's report log showed a 'Closing Shutter' action "Closing Dome due to Light Condition". Whilst it can be inferred that the action was undertaken at 04:21 fom the preceeding report line "Light conditions are on a warning state, 2023-08-31 04:21" it would helpful if the action line contained the time (04:21) or (04:21:ss).
  To do 2023-08-31+ (AstroGuard 1.10.3)

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