David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1147 (2023-09-20)

Notes (S1146)

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Notes (S1148)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2023-09-20 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-09-20)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions (especially wind)

 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 1.38.3,   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 3.19.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9 (1.11.1 on Dev Computer)

Highlights

• Targets. 24/26 planned target were completed, with 1 other target partially completed.  One other target (AT2023rao) was replaced -in-session by a ToO (NGC 7385, DeepSky Challenge Object, Ast.Now) which was completed
•  Dome Slews.  No dome slews were affected by any significant hold-up.
  (Hold Up Stats: 0/30 slews affected, 0%, 0.4 minutes total hold-up time). 

Notes:

• Aurora recorded from the Observatory on night 2023-09-20.  Under Construction.
   (see Aurora Images/Video from 2023-09-20)
  
  

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 20:14:25 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:14 & 04:45 20:14:26   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 20:26:43 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:26) 20:27:12   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:27:25 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-09-20 S01147, ImageSaveNum: 1147001) 20:27:51   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:29:34   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:29:41 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:29:43 Session Pending Session pending (2023-09-20) 20:29:45 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-09-20) 20:29:47   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.3) 20:31:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 921) 20:31:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 20:32:00   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:32:24 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:33:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:33:12 Session Running Session running 20:33:14   Queue Started Observing Queue started (26 targets selected) 20:33:17     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 20:33:29       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:37:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:39:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:41:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:41:32       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:43:24       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:45:06       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:45:23     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 20:46:15     Target Started (1/26) Target started (1/26, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) 20:49:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:51:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:51:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/26, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) 20:51:40   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 20:52:00   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 20:52:02 Session Closed Session closed by User 20:52:05 Program Closed Program closed by User 20:52:42 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.62.12) 20:52:45   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:52:56 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2023-09-20 S01147, ImageSaveNum: 1147005) 20:53:09   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:53:17   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:53:25   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:53:40 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:53 & 04:45 20:53:42 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 20:53:44 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:53) 20:54:50   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:54:56 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:54:59 Session Pending Session pending (2023-09-20) 20:55:01 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-09-20) 20:55:04   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 921) 20:55:18   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -10°C) 20:55:24   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:55:48 Session Running Session running 20:55:50   Queue Started Observing Queue started (26 targets selected) 20:55:57     Target Started (1/26) Target started (1/26, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) 21:13:20     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/26, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) 21:13:24     Target Started (2/26) Target started (2/26, GCVS BL Lac) 21:16:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:18:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:22:40     Target Completed Target completed (2/26, GCVS BL Lac) 21:22:44     Target Started (3/26) Target started (3/26, AT2022fkp (CV)) 21:25:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:27:20       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 21:33:17     Target Completed Target completed (3/26, AT2022fkp (CV)) 21:33:21     Target Started (4/26) Target started (4/26, AT2023bsl) 21:36:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:38:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:54:42     Target Completed Target completed (4/26, AT2023bsl) 21:54:46     Target Started (5/26) Target started (5/26, AT2023rao (CV)) 21:57:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:00:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:02:33     Target Aborted (5/26) Target aborted (5/26, AT2023rao (CV)) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 22:02:37     Target Started (6/27) Target started (6/27, NGC 7385, ToO) 22:05:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:21:24     Target Completed Target completed (6/27, NGC 7385, ToO) 22:21:28     Target Started (7/27) Target started (7/27, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 22:29:54     Target Completed Target completed (7/27, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 22:29:59     Target Started (8/27) Target started (8/27, AT2023rud) 22:32:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:35:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 22:51:10     Target Completed Target completed (8/27, AT2023rud) 22:51:14     Target Started (9/27) Target started (9/27, NGC 205 w/AT2023sqw) 22:56:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:58:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:14:38     Target Completed Target completed (9/27, NGC 205 w/AT2023sqw) 23:14:42     Target Started (10/27) Target started (10/27, GCVS U And) 23:17:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:19:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 23:30:41     Target Completed Target completed (10/27, GCVS U And) 23:30:46     Target Started (11/27) Target started (11/27, AT2023dnz) 23:33:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:35:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 23:52:31     Target Completed Target completed (11/27, AT2023dnz) 23:52:35     Target Started (12/27) Target started (12/27, AT2022xan) 23:55:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:57:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 00:13:50     Target Completed Target completed (12/27, AT2022xan) 00:13:54     Target Started (13/27) Target started (13/27, CGCG 462-013 w/AT2023see) 00:16:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:32:57     Target Completed Target completed (13/27, CGCG 462-013 w/AT2023see) 00:35:19     Target Started (14/27) Target started (14/27, IC 1874 w/SN2023fu) 00:38:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:54:17     Target Completed Target completed (14/27, IC 1874 w/SN2023fu) 00:57:39     Target Started (15/27) Target started (15/27, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) 01:00:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:02:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:18:40     Target Completed Target completed (15/27, LEDA 1488100 w/SN2023olz) 01:19:59     Target Started (16/27) Target started (16/27, AT2023pmt (CV)) 01:24:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:26:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 01:32:20     Target Completed Target completed (16/27, AT2023pmt (CV)) 01:32:24     Target Started (17/27) Target started (17/27, AT2023rfq) 01:34:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:37:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 01:53:21     Target Completed Target completed (17/27, AT2023rfq) 01:53:59     Target Started (18/27) Target started (18/27, NGC 1086 w/SN2023rix) 01:58:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:00:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 02:16:39     Target Completed Target completed (18/27, NGC 1086 w/SN2023rix) 02:16:43     Target Started (19/27) Target started (19/27, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 02:19:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:22:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 02:37:49     Target Completed Target completed (19/27, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 02:38:19     Target Started (20/27) Target started (20/27, NGC 1272 w/AT2023seo) 02:40:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:43:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 02:59:42     Target Completed Target completed (20/27, NGC 1272 w/AT2023seo) 03:00:40     Target Started (21/27) Target started (21/27, Nova Per 2020) 03:03:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:04:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 03:16:02     Target Completed Target completed (21/27, Nova Per 2020) 03:17:59     Target Started (22/27) Target started (22/27, IC 458 w/SN2023rgp) 03:18:22       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 03:20:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:23:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 03:39:29     Target Completed Target completed (22/27, IC 458 w/SN2023rgp) 03:40:19     Target Started (23/27) Target started (23/27, GCVS DX Cnc) 03:43:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:45:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 03:50:30     Target Completed Target completed (23/27, GCVS DX Cnc) 03:51:32     Target Started (24/27) Target started (24/27, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 03:54:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:56:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 04:13:12     Target Completed Target completed (24/27, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 04:13:32     Target Started (25/27) Target started (25/27, UGC 4992 w/AT2023rpu) 04:16:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:18:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25) 04:34:27     Target Completed Target completed (25/27, UGC 4992 w/AT2023rpu) 04:35:32     Target Started (26/27) Target started (26/27, MCG +5-26-43 w/SN2023af) 04:39:46       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:56:00     Target Completed Target completed (26/27, MCG +5-26-43 w/SN2023af) 04:57:52     Target Started (27/27) Target started (27/27, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 05:00:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:16:53     Target Completed Target completed (27/27, UGC 6983 w/SN2022pru) 05:16:56   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:17:00 Session Closing Session closing 05:17:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:18:35   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 32s), Az: 90.1 deg 05:20:04   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 83s) 05:20:19   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:20:41   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:22:08   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:22:11 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:22:36 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 20:29:43 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (46.12 GB) is less than 50 GB 20:54:57 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (46.04 GB) is less than 50 GB 00:57:52 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 111.4° (T+8.2s) 00:58:11 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 1 deg (LEDA 1488100) 05:22:33 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (44.18 GB) is less than 50 GB

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Operational Issues (2023-09-20, S1147)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Report messages appear to be interlaced after starting Autostart Session. Interlaced Report Message is an indications of more than one Job Execute process in progress and can be problematical. Initial examination of report/console message couldn't establish the likely cause to the issue - more detailed investigation is required for this.   As a precaution against a material problem (rather than a purely cosmetic issue) it was decided to abort the AstroMain session (after Near Zenith focusing had been completed) and then restart the AstroMain program & session.  This provided an immediate in-session resolution to the interlaced report messages.  The case should however still  be investigated further to establish any learnings or required fixes / safeguards to the program.  Investigations the following morning 2023-09-21 showed that messages in Report File are entirely normal with absolutely no sign of any interlacing.  Report file should have been checked before restarting the session as this probably wasted 5-10 minutes. If there is an issue it is that the console message box (but not the Report File) might have been missing some ReportComment text ahead of AddComment text, that was suggesting an interlace problem when there wasn't one. Unfortunately the console screen output is not captured (that is the function of the Report File). User should look into potential issue before making an intervention.
  Closed 2023-09-21 (AstroMain, User)
   
• Earwigs visible on AllSky Camera lens in images acquired on 2023-09-20. Earwigs visible on images between 21:00 and 00:00. Their image size suggests they have returned to the inside Camera Housing, coming out from inner part of camera through 2 holes and entering the camear's hemisphere were they crawl onto the camera's fish-eye lens. Previous problem with earwigs was resolved using a powder for killing woodlice (and earwigs).  The same fix was attempted the following day (2023-09-21), which will hopefully resolve the issue for a while at least.   Powder inserted by opening the camera hemisphere and dropping some powder into the camera around the fisheye lens using a spatula.  The process of getting powder onto the spatula and into the camera was somewhat difficult due to a strong wind at the time.   Opening the hemisphere had a added benefit for replacing the air in the hemisphere (likely high humidity air based on dewing inside the hemisphere in last fortnight) with drier air (60% humidity at the time).  Images in following few nights show and absence of any earwigs, and confirm that issue has been fixed and can be closed.
  Fixed 2023-09-21 (AllSky Camera)
   
• Foc1 Best Focus position appears to be drifting towards low DRO values. Focus position appears to be gradually drifting and has now reached around 1000 (DRO) out of 0-7000 range.  This could be associated with a gradual movement of the primary mirror position on the 12" LX200 telescope (despite being 'locked down') . Alternatively there is a seasonal change.  Either way there is a risk that best focus position drifts to the bottom 600 DRO steps of the range on the TCF-S focuser which could either prevent accurate autofocusing or lead to poorly focused images. Primary mirror to be adjusted at start of next session so that best focus corresponds to be position at around 3500 DRO on the TCF-S focuser.  Primary mirror adjustment finally made at beginning of S1151 session (2023-09-29) which buys more time before focus again drifts to the extremes of the TCF-S focuser range. The underlying issue which is gradual drift in primary mirror position still remains unresolved.
  Partially fixed 2023-09-29 (Session, LX200 Telescope, TCF-S Focuser)

Small Defects

• TDays shouldn't include commas as thousands separators (post-session). During Analysis of S1147 images it was noted that TDays for Nova Per 2021 is written as 'T+1,029.3d'.  Comma shouldn't be included, it should instead be written as 'T+1029.3d'.  The same issue might also affect AstroPlan.  Fix added in AstroMain 3.62.14 using
  DDays = FormatNumber(DaysSinceDiscovery(T.TnsDiscoveryDate, TargetDate), 1, TriState.True, TriState.False, TriState.False)
  Fixed 2023-10-01 (AstroMain 3.62.13, AstroPlan 1.38.5)
   
• Must Include Tier field is not showing correct value after saving a Transient or Supernova as Completed / Inactive Project (post-session). During Analysis of S1147 images of MCG +5-26-43 w/SN2023af it was noted that SN has faded and is no longer visible.  Target opened in AstroPlan after marking target as completed and changing project to 'Supernovae (Inactive)' and then saving the Target it was noted that Target was still checked as a Must Include Tier 1.  Reopening the Target the target form shows a blank Must Include field indicating that Must-Include has been correctly reset in the database. Unclear when precisely this was fixed but the bug was attended to in late Sept/Oct 2023. Closed on 2023-11-20 after testing the fix in AstroPlan 1.39.1.
  Fixed 2023-09-22+ (AstroPlan 1.38.4+)

Continuous Improvement

• Don't re-open WinSCP program if it is already running when using 'Open Web Folders' facility from AstroMove/Admin.  IsProcessingRunning() routine is used to used to determine if WinSCP is running or not. Special handling is used to determine the ProcID that will be used by AppActivate to bring focus to WinSCP window. This is because there are two items in the ProcessList with name WinSCP.exe.  The special handling identifies and returns the Process with lowest numbered ProcID (AstroMove 1.12.5,  2023-10-04). Subsequent experience shows that can be 0, 1 or 2 WinSCP.exe processes running.   One process using around 11,000 KB memory is the normal WinSCP Interface/Form. Another process using around 3300 KB is a WinSCP library embedded in the AstroPlan code for uploading 'Live' files to website.  IsProcessingRunning() routine's Special Handling has to modified to identify/select the normal WinSCP Interface/Form. It is unclear if it can access Memory Size to differentiate between different WinSCP processes.  The lowest numbered ProcID is not a suitable selector. Fixed in AstroMove 1.12.6 (2023-10-05)
  Done 2023-10-05 (AstroMove 1.12.6)
   
• Picture of UK Current Geomagnetic Activity to be captured/saved at end of night session. Picture https://geomag.bgs.ac.uk/images/kandkp_bar.jpg to be captured so that graph of Lerwick geomagentic activity can be extracted and added to a given night's Aurora page.  A separate Continuous Improvement ticket has been also raised that automatically extracts the Lerwick graph.  Implemented in AstroAllSky 3.19.3. Arrays for Internet image details (SU.ImageUrl, SU.ImageFileName, SU.ImageCaptureMode) increased from 5 to 6. Fields for Image Array (6)  add to Setup Form and Load/Save handling modified to accomodate new Image . Loop in CaptureInternetImages() increased from 5 to 6.  Setup updated with new details: ImageUrl(6) = "https://geomag.bgs.ac.uk/images/kandkp_bar.jpg",  ImageFileName(6) = "uk-kandkp_&NIGHTDATE.jpg" , ImageCaptureMode(6) = 3 . Tested on S1154 2023-10-04. A separate Continuous Improvement' ticket has been raised on 2023-10-04 to extend AstroMove's Copy 'Aurora Files' From AllSky/Weather Computer to include the "uk-kandkp_&NIGHTDATE.jpg" image.
  Done 2023-10-04 (AstroAllSky 3.19.3)
   
• Update AstroAllSky's Settings to download station-k-index.png. Download of planetary-k-index.gif hasn't been working for the last 12 months.  Reviewing the source shows that nearest equivalent to planetary-k-index.gif is download 'station-k-index.png'.   AstroAllSky's settings updated to access station-k-index.png instead of planetary-k-index.gif. Tested to be working during night sesion S1154 2023-10-04.
  Done 2023-10-04 (AstroAllSky 3.19.3)
   
• Automatically extract graph of Lerwick Geomagnetic Activity from BGS Picture showing activity from all UK Sites.   Eventually implemented in AstroAllSky 3.19.7 (2023-11-19). A separate Continuous Improvement' ticket was also later raised and completed 2021-11-19 (CI S1168) to extend AstroMove's Copy 'Aurora Files' From AllSky/Weather Computer to include the "lerwick-k_&NIGHTDATE.jpg" image.
  Done 2023-11-19 (AstroAllSky 3.19.7)

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