David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1153 (2023-10-03)

Notes (S1152)

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Notes (S1154)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (9)
	Images from 2023-10-03 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-10-03)

Main aims

1. 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 3.62.14, AstroPlan 1.38.4,   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. 8/29 planned targets were completed, with 1 other target partially completed.  Other targets were cancelled due to cloud/session suspension. Images from 2 targets (C/2023 E1 (ATLAS) & Groombridge 34) were later rejected due to impact of cloud/poor sky transparency.
•  Dome Slews. No dome slews were affected by any significant hold-up  (Hold Up Stats: 0/9 slews affected, 0%, 0.1 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 20:56:00 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:55 & 05:14 20:56:01 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:56) 20:56:30   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:56:43 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-10-03 S01153, ImageSaveNum: 1153001) 20:57:10   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:58:52   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:58:59 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:59:01 Session Pending Session pending (2023-10-03) 20:59:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-10-03) 20:59:05   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.4) 21:00:13   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 927) 21:00:36   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 21:01:13   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:01:37 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:02:22   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:02:24 Session Running Session running 21:02:27   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 21:02:30     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 21:02:43       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:07:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:09:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:11:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:11:55       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:14:03       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:15:47       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:16:05     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 21:16:09     Target Started (1/29) Target started (1/29, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 21:20:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:36:36     Target Completed Target completed (1/29, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 21:37:33     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-10a?) 21:40:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:42:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:59:01     Target Completed Target completed (2/29, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-10a?) 21:59:53     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, M33 w/AT2023nou) 22:02:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:05:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:21:07     Target Completed Target completed (3/29, M33 w/AT2023nou) 22:22:13     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, AT2022wic) 22:26:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 22:42:16     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, AT2022wic) 22:44:33     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 22:50:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 23:04:21     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, C/2023 E1 (ATLAS)) 23:04:25     Target Started (6/29) Target started (6/29, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023trk) 23:06:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:08:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:23:45       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:24:47     Target Completed Target completed (6/29, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023trk) 23:24:49   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:24:51 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:25:40   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:25:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:31:36 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:32:21   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:32:24 Session Running Session running 23:32:26   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:32:29     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, WDS GRB 34) 23:35:06       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:36:16     Target Completed Target completed (7/29, WDS GRB 34) 23:36:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:36:20 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:37:07   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:37:09 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:46:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/29, AT2022yvx (CV)) due to cloud 00:06:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/29, UGC 11858 w/SN2023rjj) due to too few stars 00:10:20 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:11:05   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:11:07 Session Running Session running 00:11:09   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:11:11     Target Started (10/29) Target started (10/29, 237P/LINEAR) 00:15:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:21:41       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:25:39     Target Completed Target completed (10/29, 237P/LINEAR) 00:25:41   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:25:43 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:26:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:26:33 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:37:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/29, AT2023tvi (CV)) due to cloud 00:49:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/29, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 01:01:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/29, AT2023txn (CV)) due to cloud 01:11:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/29, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 01:31:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/29, NGC 7714 w/SN2023pso) due to cloud 01:54:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/29, NGC 7385) due to cloud 02:16:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/29, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023ttu) due to cloud 02:29:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/29, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 02:38:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/29, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 02:56:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/29, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 03:16:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/29, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 03:38:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/29, UGC 4582 w/AT2023twg) due to cloud 03:55:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/29, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 04:15:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/29, AT2023twu) due to cloud 04:37:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/29, UGC 4992 w/AT2023rpu) due to cloud 04:59:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/29, AT2023tdi) due to cloud 05:18:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/29, 103P/Hartley) due to cloud 05:30:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/29, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 05:59:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/29, NGC 2708 w/SN2023bee) due to cloud 06:00:01   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:00:07 Session Closing Session closing 06:00:12   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 00:26, closing time 50s) 06:01:55   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 94s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:03:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 73s) 06:03:27   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:03:49   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:05:15   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:05:17 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:05:28 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 20:59:01 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (40.37 GB) is less than 50 GB 06:05:25 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (39.67 GB) is less than 50 GB

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Operational Issues (2023-10-03, S1153)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (3)
• Continuous Improvement (9)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• 'Rebuild All JPGS Pages' (Rebuild Local 'Session Pictures' Pages) is output 'invalid' Target Name Sections (post-session). Using 'Rebuild All JPGS Pages' button updated 'Session Pictures.htm' files  for sessions up to S1131, but the names of targets are invalid/incorrect, appearing as numbers instead of expected text names. Investigating show that the RebuildSessionPicturesHtm() routine was calling BuildJpgPicturePage(1) instead of BuildJpgPicturePageNew(1).
  Fixed 2023-10-04 (AstroMain 3.62.16, Session Pictures page (Local Files) )

Small Defects

• Target Name written in log file as S1 field is incorrect when starting analysis of a new ImageSet/Object (post-session). It seems that szTargetName isn't updated until some later point in the analysis (at a point that is at least later than the 'Repair' Step. Fixed in AstroMain 3.62.15. Small improvements were also made to associated log messages : a line break is added when changing ImageSet, 'Import Target' messages are suffixed with '(Analysis)' instead of '(PlanLoader)' .
  Fixed 2023-10-04 (AstroMain 3.62.15)
   
• The link 'Focus Profiles (Main Scope)' on session Local Files pages doesn't work (post-session). Some time ago Focus Profiles was demoted from being a page section to being a sub-section of Focus Temperature & Best Focus. The 'Focus Profiles (Secondary Scope)' link doesn't work either. Appropriate action needs to be decided & made. Sections consolidated and improved. Two new links/sections are 'Focusing (Main Scope)' and 'Focusing (Secondary Scope)'.  The section for Main Scope include Focus Temperature & Best Focus Graphs that were formerally in their own section.
  Fixed 2023-10-04 (AstroMain 3.62.15)
   
• The Last Observation details on AstroPlan's Must Include Targets Form are not appropriate if the images from the last observation were later rejected.  Fixed in AstroPlan 1.38.6 to restrict search of previous observations to those which haven't be rejected using the additional search condition  "AND observation.Validated <> 1"
  (Validated = 1 means "Rejected", Validated 2 = means "Validated", Validated = 0 means "No assessment")
  Done 2023-10-07 (AstroPlan 1.38.6)

Continuous Improvement

• Close 'reduced' and/or 'aligned' folder after combining images for an Image Set and open parent Object Folder (post-session). This improvement to Session Analysis is designed to save the user from making a folder naviagtion ('up' level) in order to open a Nebulosity (Synthetic Flat) Corrected Image in CCDSoft prior to making final picture.  Initial implementation in AstroMain 3.62.15 is opening the Object Folder before asking the user to 'save' the combined image. Clearly the user may decline the Save' operation in whcih case the open Object Folder is not applicable.  Final implementation (3.62.16) has the Object Folder opened after the 'Save' operation. In order to keep focus on the AstroMain application and to be able to directly answer the 'Link Image' dialog the Object Folder has to be open with AppWinStyle.MinimizedNoFocus. To achieve this a new routine 'OpenMinimizedExplorerFolder()' is used. Using AppWinStyle.NormalNoFocus doesn't release focus to AstroMain, nor does using ActivateSelf()  (calls objConsole.Activate() ) or AppActivate() etc.
  Done 2023-10-05 (AstroMain 3.62.16)
   
• Selecting a different image set folder should automatically reset Cropped' image X Size to 382 (post-session). After creating a 500 px wide cropped image for a prior image set it is annoying to have to manually change the X Size back to standard 382 px size, especially as the user doesn't realise the 500 px sizing is active until after a cropped image 'Build' has been initiated, and then has to go back to select the 382 px width.  Cropped Image size should reset back Crop X Size to 382 each time a different image set.  When a Cropped Image has previously been built for the newly selected image set, the Crop X Size and Scale may be overwritten by values associated with last saved settings.
  Done 2023-10-04 (AstroMain 3.62.15)
   
• Set Image Crop Size and Scale based on most recently saved settings when selecting an image set folder (post-session). After creating a 500 px wide cropped image for a prior image set it is annoying to have to manually change the X Size back to standard 382 px size, especially as the user doesn't realise the 500 px sizing is active until after a cropped image 'Build' has been initiated, and then has to go back to select the 382 px width.  Cropped Image size should reset back Crop X Size to 382 each time a different image set.  When a Cropped Image has previously been built for the newly selected image set, the Crop X Size and Scale may be overwritten by values associated with last saved settings. First implementation (AstroMain 3.62.15) didn't give the correct Image Crop Scale. Fixed in final implementation (AstroMain 3.62.16)
  Done 2023-10-05 (AstroMain 3.62.16)
   
• No need to show a newly created Store Folder (post-session). When a previously un-imaged target is analysed, Image Sets routine asks for user to confirm creation of a store folder for the new target object and then proceeds to open the new Store Folder in Internet Explorer.  There is no need to open this (empty) folder at this stage.  This is achieved by calling OpenStoreFolder(StoreFolderName, OpenMode) with OpenMode = 2 (Auto) which asks for user confirmation to open a new store folder, but doesn't open the folder once created.
  Done 2023-10-04  (AstroMain 3.62.15)
   
• After clicking on a Build button on the Analysis/ImageSets/Image tab focus should move to the Image Window (post-session).  Image window already become focussed when opening the window, but doesn't get focussed when being updated with a new image.  In most cases this saves the user a button click to manually take the 'focus' to the Image window.  BuildCroppedPicture uses ImageBuilder.ShowImage() which calls Me.Show() & Me.BringToFront.  .  Tests suggest that ImageBuilder window is shown when various Build buttons or their proxy buttons are clicked. Nevertheless Me.Focus() has been added to ImageBuilder.ShowImage in AstroMain 3.62.15.
  Closed 2023-10-04  (AstroMain 3.62.15)
   
• Change title of 'New Live Section' to 'Create Session' and include a link to it from Report Contents .
  Done 2023-10-04  (AstroMain 3.62.15)
   
• Add 'Constellation' Column to AstroPlan's Must Include Targets Form.
  Done 2023-10-04+ (AstroPlan 1.38.6)
    
• Add 'Days Since Last Observation" Column to AstroPlan's Must Include Targets Form.  This has been implemented by searching back for most recent Observation of the Target based on a database search joining on TargetID.  This means that for a Transient or Supernova Target,   e.g. NGC 3021 with SN 2023bvj,  the implemented search doesn't look at past observations of the host galaxy alone or other transient/SN in the same host galaxy.
  Done 2023-10-07 (AstroPlan 1.38.6)
   
• SBIG Camera should be connected at an earlier point in the process when commencing a Live Observatory Session.  Connecting slightly earlier allows more time for CCD Temperature to be brought down to the required regulated temperature, preventing a delay or ensuring the first couple of images in session (usually 2 Locate frames for Near Zenith Focus Field) are correct temperature.  In Session S1153 the 'Connect Camera' operation was made at 21:00 just after entering the 'Session Starting' stage with first image (Locate Frame for Near Zenith Focus Field) taken 6 minutes later at 21:06.   On this CCD Temperature had reached & stabilised at the Set Temperature  (-15°C) before the first image was acquired   In other sessions the first couple of images have been up to 1 or 2°C above/or below the Set Temperature.  If Camera had been conducted during at the end of Start Observatory Services in S1153, this would have at 20:58 (8 minutes before first image), or at 20:59 (7 minutes before first image) if conducted during Session Initiating just ahead of request to make the session's Observing Plan.  Implemented in AstroPlam 3.67, Connect CCD Camera has been moved from 'Session Starting' to the beginning of the 'Session Initiating' which pulls it ahead of the 'Build Plan' which buys a couple of extra minutes.
  Done 2024-04-24 (AstroMain 3.67)
  

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