David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1146 (2023-09-18)

Notes (S1145)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S1147)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (4),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2023-09-18 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-09-18)

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. 21/22 planned target were completed, with 1 other targets partially completed.  Other 2 targets failed due to cloud/session suspension.
• Older Supernova. Images acquired of galaxies that contained earlier supernova that have since faded (xxx). Attempts to image xxx likely failed due to cloud /poor sky transparency and will be repeated at some point.
•  Dome Slews. Only 1 dome slews was affected by a significant hold-up, delay was x s  (Hold Up Stats: 1/24 slews affected, 4%, 1.3 minutes total hold-up time). 

Notes:

• Aurora recorded from the Observatory on night 2023-09-18 / 2023-09-19 over an x  hour period
   (see Aurora Images/Video from 2023-09-18)
  
  

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 20:58:39 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:58 & 04:40 20:58:40 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:58) 20:59:08   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:59:21 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-09-18 S01146, ImageSaveNum: 1146001) 20:59:48   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:01:30   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:01:37 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:01:40 Session Pending Session pending (2023-09-18) 21:01:42 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-09-18) 21:01:44   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.2) 21:02:39   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 920) 21:03:00   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 21:03:36   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:04:01 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:04:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:04:48 Session Running Session running 21:04:50   Queue Started Observing Queue started (24 targets selected) 21:04:53     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 20, HIP 98535) 21:05:04       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:09:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:12:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:14:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:14:54       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:17:04       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:18:46       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:19:04     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 20, HIP 98535) 21:19:08     Target Started (1/24) Target started (1/24, AT2023rfq) 21:22:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:24:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:40:29     Target Completed Target completed (1/24, AT2023rfq) 21:40:33     Target Started (2/24) Target started (2/24, HIP 87937) 21:44:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:46:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:48:43     Target Completed Target completed (2/24, HIP 87937) 21:48:47     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, AT2023rgi) 21:52:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:55:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:11:16     Target Completed Target completed (3/24, AT2023rgi) 22:11:20     Target Started (4/24) Target started (4/24, AT2023bso (CV)) 22:14:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:16:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:22:03     Target Completed Target completed (4/24, AT2023bso (CV)) 22:22:34     Target Started (5/24) Target started (5/24, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 22:29:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 22:31:21       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:34:42   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:34:44   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:34:46     Target Aborted (5/24) Target aborted (5/24, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 22:34:48   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:34:50 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:35:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:35:39 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:41:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/24, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 23:01:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/24, AT2022yeu (CV)) due to too few stars 23:03:35 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:04:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:04:22 Session Running Session running 23:04:24   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:04:29     Target Started (7/24) Target started (7/24, M33 w/AT2023nou) 23:11:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:13:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 23:30:21     Target Completed Target completed (7/24, M33 w/AT2023nou) 23:30:25     Target Started (8/24) Target started (8/24, AT2023rsr (CV)) 23:33:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:35:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:41:28     Target Completed Target completed (8/24, AT2023rsr (CV)) 23:41:32     Target Started (9/24) Target started (9/24, GCVS BL Lac) 23:44:01     Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 129.7, 154.4, 157.3° (Total delay 50s) 23:46:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:48:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:52:21     Target Completed Target completed (9/24, GCVS BL Lac) 23:52:25     Target Started (10/24) Target started (10/24, AT2023rao (CV)) 23:55:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:57:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:13:36     Target Completed Target completed (10/24, AT2023rao (CV)) 00:13:40     Target Started (11/24) Target started (11/24, AT2022xwk) 00:16:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:18:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 00:34:40     Target Completed Target completed (11/24, AT2022xwk) 00:34:44     Target Started (12/24) Target started (12/24, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) 00:37:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:39:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:55:33     Target Completed Target completed (12/24, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) 00:56:07     Target Started (13/24) Target started (13/24, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 00:59:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:01:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:07:36     Target Completed Target completed (13/24, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 01:08:27     Target Started (14/24) Target started (14/24, NGC 205 w/AT2023sqw) 01:11:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:23:37       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:23:57       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:27:20     Target Completed Target completed (14/24, NGC 205 w/AT2023sqw) 01:28:33       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:28:35   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension 01:28:38 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:29:28   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:29:30 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:49:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/24, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023mxi) due to cloud 01:57:36 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:58:21   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:58:24 Session Running Session running 01:58:26   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:58:29     Target Started (16/24) Target started (16/24, NGC 1086 w/SN2023rix) 02:17:52     Target Completed Target completed (16/24, NGC 1086 w/SN2023rix) 02:17:56     Target Started (17/24) Target started (17/24, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) 02:20:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:22:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:39:09     Target Completed Target completed (17/24, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) 02:39:14     Target Started (18/24) Target started (18/24, AT2023rud) 02:43:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:45:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 03:01:11     Target Completed Target completed (18/24, AT2023rud) 03:01:16     Target Started (19/24) Target started (19/24, NGC 1272 w/AT2023seo) 03:06:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:10:45       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:10:55       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 03:22:29     Target Completed Target completed (19/24, NGC 1272 w/AT2023seo) 03:22:33     Target Started (20/24) Target started (20/24, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 03:25:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:28:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:44:14     Target Completed Target completed (20/24, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 03:44:18     Target Started (21/24) Target started (21/24, IC 458 w/SN2023rgp) 03:46:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:49:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 04:05:15     Target Completed Target completed (21/24, IC 458 w/SN2023rgp) 04:06:27     Target Started (22/24) Target started (22/24, NGC 1461 w/AT2023och) 04:10:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:12:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:28:44     Target Completed Target completed (22/24, NGC 1461 w/AT2023och) 04:28:48     Target Started (23/24) Target started (23/24, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 04:31:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:33:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:49:46     Target Completed Target completed (23/24, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 04:50:27     Target Started (24/24) Target started (24/24, MCG +5-26-43 w/SN2023af) 04:54:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:10:36     Target Completed Target completed (24/24, MCG +5-26-43 w/SN2023af) 05:10:39   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:10:42 Session Closing Session closing 05:11:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:12:08   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 25s), Az: 90.1 deg 05:13:36   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 85s) 05:13:51   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:14:14   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:15:38   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:15:41 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:16:01 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 21:01:40 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (48.52 GB) is less than 50 GB 23:44:01 Yellow Alert Dome Slew Dome slew held up at Az. 129.7, 154.4, 157.3° (Total delay 50s) 05:15:57 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (46.93 GB) is less than 50 GB

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2023-09-18, S1146)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (4)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
  

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AllSky Videos from 2023-09-18 showing last night's Aurora display not uploaded to website. Other files appear not to have uploaded from 00:15 onwards. Issue investigated and shown to be related to an Network/Internet outage at around 00:20, which lasted around 5 minutes (noted separately on two IPad Tablets) and a deficiency in AstroAllSky that does allow it to begin a new WinSCP session when an outage occurs.  Closed after review (2023-09-19). A separate Continuous Improvement ticket has been raised to add a user initiated button facility to upload previous night's video files to website when user deems that the internet connection is back & working.
  Closed after review 2023-09-19 (Session, AstroAllSky).
   
• AstroAllSky stopped uploading files to website at around 00:15 routines.  Timing apppears to correspond to a Network/Internet outage at 00:20, that although lasting only 5 minutes of so, prevented subsequent uploads to the website from AstroAllSky & AstroPlan from occuring.  AstroAllSky log file shows Exception "Error: Unable to Upload File : C:\Data\AllSky Imaging\Server\vwsGraph8.jpg"  & "Network error: Software caused connection abort at  00:20:22" followed by "Session has unexpectedly closed"  on the next upload attempt" and "Error: Element session@0 already read to the end" on the next upload attempt. The latter error prevented each upload attempt between 00:22 & at least 06:39. Issued resolved post-session by restarting AstroAllSky.  A separate "Continuous Improvement" ticket is raised so that forces a new connection session through WinSCP or automatically restarts in the event of seeing a "Element session@0 already read to the end" error. Closed after review 2023-09-19.
  Closed after review 2023-09-19 (AstroAllSky).
   
• AstroPlan stopped uploading files to website at around 00:15 routines.  Timing apppears to correspond to a Network/Internet outage at 00:20, that although lasting only 5 minutes of so, prevented subsequent uploads to the website by AstroPlan from occuring..  AstroPlan Log file shows "Exception in 'UploadFileFTP2' during PutFiles() for Session.Header.js" and "Error: Network error: Software caused connection abort ..." at 00:020:31  followed by "Error: Session has unexpectedly closed"  on the next upload attempt" and the "Error: Element session @ 0 already read to the end" on the next upload attempt. The latter error prevented each upload attempt after 00:20:31 until AstroPlan was restarted by user post-session. Error messages are very similar to those given by AstroAllSky (see above issue). & at least 06:39. Issued resolved post-session by restarting AstroAllSky.  A separate "Continuous Improvement" ticket is raised so that forces a new connection session through WinSCP or automatically restarts in the event of seeing a "Element session@0 already read to the end" error. Closed after review 2023-09-19 and with the issue subsequently fixed in AstroPlan 1.39.12, 2024-03-20 (the bRestartWebUploader flag is now raised whenever this exception occurs).
  Closed after review  2023-09-19 (AstroPlan).
   
• AstroMain's Manager Tab should show a Red background to 'Precip. Next Rain' field when Rain is forecast (2023-09-19).  Precip. Next 15 mins' field contained the text "Rain (3.2 mm/hr)" but background colour was neutral.  In cases like this where Precipitation is forecast in the the next 15 mins, the background colour should be Yellow (low rain rate) or Red (high rain rate). The Rain Forecast field is showing a neutral colour when next field shows 'Critical'.  The value field should have a Red background even though the field is blank. Considered fixed but precise date and version of fix are uncertain.
  Considered fixed 2023-10-20 ? (AstroMain ?

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroPlan's Draw Chart routines (both Plan & Session Chart) so that "_sm" versions of the charts are no longer produced.  Small Plan & Small Session Charts were originally made for presentation on the website, however these "_sm" pictures these are now considered to be surplus to requirement as Picture Appearance/Size can be changed from 1300 to 850 px wide for Sessions Notes Webpage with the benefit of having less files to manage & store.
  Done 2023-09-19 (AstroPlan 1.38.3).
   
• Add button facility to AstroAllSky to upload previous night's AllSky video files to website.  Add a user initiated button facility to upload previous night's AllSky video files to website when the user deems that the internet connection is back & working following some issue that prevented files from being automatically uploaded in the morning. Button added to 'More' Tab. New button 'Upload Last Night's Videos' added to AstroAllSky 3.19.2. The associated routine assumes that video's have already been successfully created but have not been uploaded to website (a future improvement could see the generation of video files for cases where video creation was either not called or failed for some reason).  The routine uploads videos that are normally created (ie  'AllSky.LatestVideo_annotated.mp4',  'AllSky.LatestVideo_pannorth.mp4', 'AllSky.LatestVideo_pansouth.mp4' and 'AllSky.LatestVideo_small.mp4') and their assoicated 'firstframe' images. The new routine works but new files may not be immediately visible in web browsers due to caching issues (worked ok with Safari/IPad, but now on MS Edge on Development Computer (which may require deleting 'Cached images and files' in 'Settings/ Privacy, search, and extensions /Clear browsing data/ )
  Done 2023-09-19 (AstroAllSky 3.19.2).
   
• Make AstroPlan & AstroAllSky automatically start a new WinSCP connection in the event of seeing a "Element session@0 already read to the end".  A Network/Internet outage at 00:20, that although lasting only 5 minutes of so, prevented subsequent uploads to the website from AstroAllSky & AstroPlan from occuring. A new WinSCP connection session should be started upon seeing an "Element session @ 0 already read to the end" error. Altenatively AstroAllSky should automatically restart to ensure uploading proceeds.  Implemented in AstroPlan 1.39.12 and AstroAllSky 1.20.3, the bRestartWebUploader flag is now raised whenever this or related exceptions occur.
  Done 2024-03-20 (AstroPlan 1.39.12, AstroAllSky 1.20.3)
   
• Regenerate North Sky Panoramic Pictures for 2023-09-18 using optimised contrast setting. Details on bright Aurora pictures on night date 2023-09-18 are saturated/washed out. Fits images should be reprocessed to optimise details.
  To do 2023-09-19+ (Session, AstroAllSky).

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top