David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1144 (2023-09-14)

Notes (S1143)

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Notes (S1145)

	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 2023-09-14 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-09-14)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions
2. Older Supernova. Continue to acquire 'post-SN' images of selected galaxies that were hosts to older 2022 & 2023 Supernovae in order to demonstrate that SN have faded and are no longer visible.

 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 3.62.12, 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. 8/25 planned target were completed, with 4 other targets partially completed.  Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension. Images from 3 targets (Barnards Star, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS) & UGC 4269  w/SN2023dxb were later rejected due to cloud / very poor sky transparency.
• Older Supernova. Images acquired of galaxies that contained earlier supernova that have since faded (UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr & NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj). Attempts to image UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb and UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru likely failed due to cloud /poor sky transparency and will be repeated.
•   Dome Slews. No dome slews were affected by significant hold-up  (Hold Up Stats: 0/14 slews affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time). 

Notes:

• Aurora recorded from the Observatory on night 2023-09-14 / 2023-09-15 over an x  hour period
   (see Aurora Images/Video from 2023-09-14)
  
  

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 20:46:14 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:46 & 04:31 20:46:15 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:46) 20:46:43   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:46:57 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-09-14 S01144, ImageSaveNum: 1144001) 20:47:24   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:49:06   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:49:13 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:49:15 Session Pending Session pending (2023-09-14) 20:49:17 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-09-14) 20:49:19   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.2) 20:50:31   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 918) 20:50:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 20:51:32   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:51:56 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:52:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:52:43 Session Running Session running 20:52:46   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 20:52:49     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 20:53:01       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:57:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:59:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:01:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:01:46       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:03:54       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:05:36       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:05:53     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 21:05:57     Target Started (1/25) Target started (1/25, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 21:11:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:27:56     Target Completed Target completed (1/25, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 21:28:07     Target Started (2/25) Target started (2/25, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 21:31:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 21:39:50     Target Completed Target completed (2/25, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 21:42:39     Target Started (3/25) Target started (3/25, HIP 87937) 21:46:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:48:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:51:24     Target Completed Target completed (3/25, HIP 87937) 21:51:28     Target Started (4/25) Target started (4/25, GCVS BL Lac) 21:54:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:56:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:00:45     Target Completed Target completed (4/25, GCVS BL Lac) 22:01:20     Target Started (5/25) Target started (5/25, NGC 1272 w/AT2023seo) 22:06:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:12:41       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:20:32       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 22:22:24     Target Completed Target completed (5/25, NGC 1272 w/AT2023seo) 22:23:40     Target Started (6/25) Target started (6/25, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 22:28:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 22:36:04       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:39:09       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 22:44:39     Target Completed Target completed (6/25, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 22:46:00     Target Started (7/25) Target started (7/25, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 22:49:46       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 23:04:17       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:04:52   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:04:54   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:04:57     Target Aborted (7/25) Target aborted (7/25, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 23:04:59   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:05:01 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:05:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:05:50 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:27:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/25, AT2023rao) due to cloud 23:49:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/25, AT2023rfq) due to cloud 00:03:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/25, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) due to too few stars 00:05:00 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:05:45   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:05:47 Session Running Session running 00:05:49   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:05:52     Target Started (11/25) Target started (11/25, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 00:25:46     Target Completed Target completed (11/25, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 00:25:50     Target Started (12/25) Target started (12/25, AT2023rud) 00:29:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:31:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:34:13       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:34:39   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:34:41   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:34:44     Target Aborted (12/25) Target aborted (12/25, AT2023rud) due to cloud 00:34:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:34:49 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:35:39   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:35:41 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:43:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/25, AT2023rud) due to cloud 01:05:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/25, M31 w/AT2023gvz) due to cloud 01:19:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/25, AT2023rsr (CV)) due to cloud 01:30:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/25, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 01:49:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/25, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) due to cloud 02:11:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/25, AT2023rgi) due to cloud 02:33:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/25, NGC 1086 w/SN2023rix) due to cloud 02:56:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/25, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) due to cloud 03:18:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/25, IC 458 w/SN2023rgp) due to too few stars 03:20:14 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:21:00   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:21:02 Session Running Session running 03:21:04   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:21:35     Target Started (21/25) Target started (21/25, UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb) 03:27:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 03:37:02   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:37:04   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:37:06     Target Aborted (21/25) Target aborted (21/25, UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb) due to cloud 03:37:08   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:37:10 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:37:57   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:37:59 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:40:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/25, UGC 4269 w/SN2023dxb) due to cloud 04:05:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/25, C/2020 V2 (ZTF)) due to cloud 04:25:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/25, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) due to cloud 04:27:33 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:28:18   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 04:28:20 Session Running Session running 04:28:22   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:28:55     Target Started (24/25) Target started (24/25, NGC 2326 w/AT2023pgb) 04:31:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:34:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 04:50:29     Target Completed Target completed (24/25, NGC 2326 w/AT2023pgb) 04:50:55     Target Started (25/25) Target started (25/25, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 04:55:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:10:33   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 45s) 05:10:36     Target Aborted (25/25) Target aborted (25/25, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) due to too few stars 05:10:38   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:10:40 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:10:42   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 05:10, closing time 45s) 05:10:44 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:12:43 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:13:29   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:13:31 Session Running Session running 05:13:33   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:13:36     Target Started (25/25) Target started (25/25, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 05:20:34   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 05:20:36   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 05:20:39     Target Aborted (25/25) Target aborted (25/25, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) due to cloud 05:20:41   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:20:43 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:21:30   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:21:32 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:22:01   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:22:05 Session Closing Session closing 05:22:10   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 05:21, closing time 50s) 05:22:32   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 14s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:23:57   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 81s) 05:24:12   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:24:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:25:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:26:00 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:26:15 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:09:48 Red Alert Unexpected Dome Closure Dome is unexpectedly closing (Good Conditions)

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Operational Issues (2023-09-14, S1144)

• 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

• Unexpected Dome Closure alert raised (05:09). An 'Unexpected Dome Closure' red alert was raised at 05:09:49 with the message "Dome is unexpectedly closing (Good Conditions)".  Whilst taking 4th 180s main image for Target 25/25 (NGC 3021) an alert was reported "Dome is unexpectedly closing (Good Conditions)" followed by the report message "Dome is closing (Clarity: 29.1, Stars: 18, Rain: -1.0, Wind: 0.0)" and "Dome is closed (Closing time 45s)".  ObsPics show a momentary glicth at 05:09:18 with AllSky Star Count changing from 36 to '-' (unknown) and dome closing at 05:09:50, and AllSky Star Count quickly increasing to 18 and then 29 - 30 over the next minute or so (Light value remains at 0).  AstroAllSky's Night Summary show a momentarily glitch at around 05:09 with a momentary jump in sky count and a one-line gap in AllSky pixel row. Now a glitch in AllSky Star Count wouldn't lead to a HardSuspend by AstroMain and there is no reporting of any HardSuspend/Dome Closure Command. So what commanded the dome to close if it wasn't a command from AstroMain.  The AstroGuard log reports a 'Telescope Safety' warning at 05:09 with message "Light conditions are on a warning state" and with a following 'Dome Safety' action with the message "Closing Dome due to Light Conditions".  CloudSensor data records don't show any glitch in values stored at one minute intervals, but this doesn't mean that there wasn't a glitch in instaneous data.  The log file '2023-09-14 (data).dat' on AllSky/Weather Computer show momentary glicth in values for record at 2023-09-15 05:09:02 with  -99 znon values for Light, Clarity & Rain.   Issue is put down to a glitch and the behaviour is evidently as per current design.  Strictly AstroGuard should wait a small amount of time for AstroMain to initiate the action but evidentally hasn't on this occasion. Given that values quickly went back to normal by the next data record at 05:09:33 waiting to check that sky conditions have changed should have been a better move which wouldn't have led to session being suspended whilst conditions were actually good. A separate ticket is raised to put a brake on AstroGuard actions to prevent a momentary data glitch in CloudSensor data from closing the Dome.
  Closed after review 2023-09-16 (Session, Cloud Sensor, AstroMain, AstroGuard).

Small Defects

• AstroSN created two target records in Target Database for NGC 205 w/AT2023sqw (2023-09-16). AstroSN created two records for NGC 205 w/AT2023sqw. These were ID 2947 (AT 2023sqw (Type: unk) discovered 2023-09-15.249 UT by David Balam and 2948 (AT 2023sqw (Type: unk) discovered 2023-09-15.249 UT by Balam). It is unclear if this is a bug in AstroSN or a duplicate entry in the data file downloaded from Rochester site (http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/snname.html). Record 2948 has been manually deleted.  This is the first time this issue has arisen but in case it does AstroSN should be modified so that duplicate TNS entries can not be put in the database.
  Fixed 2023-11-21 (AstroSN 1.10.2)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroGuard to prevent a momentary data glitch from forcing a Shutter Closure. An 'Unexpected Dome Closure' red alert was raised in Session S1144 at 05:09:49 with the message "Dome is unexpectedly closing (Good Conditions)".  Investigating showed that the dome closure was commanded by AstroGuard due to an Unknown (-99) or  bad data value from either CloudSensor or AstroAllSky Synopsis (Scorecard). AstroGuard should be modified to put a brake on AstroGuard actions to prevent a momentary data glitch in CloudSensor data from closing the Dome.
  To do 2023-09-16+ (AstroGuard 1.10.3).

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