David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1161 (2023-11-06)

Notes (S1160)

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Notes (S1162)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	Images from 2023-11-06 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-11-06)

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 3.64.1, AstroPlan 1.38.8   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.7
  (AstroWeather 1.22.2, AstroAllSky 3.19.6,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Targets. 9/34 planned targets observations were completed with 3 further targets partially completed.  Other targets failed due cloud / suspension suspension or were cancelled due to their replacement by ToT targets.  One of the targets that initially failed due to cloud (12P/Pons-Brooks) was later successfully imaged as a ToT target.  Images from one target (AT2023sqo) were later rejected due to cloud.
•  Dome Slews. All dome slews completed without any hold-ups or delays.  This was an amazing good performance given very heavy dew during the night and demonstrates that combination of to anti-slip tape and fix to loose drive wheel has resolved the long standing dome slewing performance issue.
   (Hold Up Stats:0/17 slews affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time). 
•  Dome Parking.  Dome failed to park at correct physical azimuth at end of session. Dome found to be at physical location of Az 90.9° instead of Az 90.0°, and meant that  the shutter battery was unable to automatically re-charge following the session.

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 19:15:45 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:15 & 05:23 19:15:48 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:15) 19:15:59   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:16:12 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-11-06 S01161, ImageSaveNum: 1161001) 19:16:18   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:18:04   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:18:11 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:18:13 Session Pending Session pending (2023-11-06) 19:18:16 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-11-06) 19:18:18   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.8) 19:19:58   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 935) 19:20:19   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 19:20:55   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:21:19 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:21:21   Wait On Weather Waiting for acceptable conditions 19:21:23 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:21:25   Dome Closed Dome already closed 19:21:27 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:21:52   Queue Started Observing Queue started (34 targets selected) 19:28:11 Session Resuming Session resuming 19:28:56   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:28:58 Session Running Session running 19:29:00   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 19:29:02     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 19:29:11       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:31:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:34:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:36:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:36:14       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:38:22       Focusing Failed Foc2 focusing failed (failed QC check - Range) 19:38:26     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 19:38:30     Target Started (1/34) Target started (1/34, AT2023txn) 19:41:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:43:12       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 19:43:17       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 19:43:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:49:40     Target Completed Target completed (1/34, AT2023txn) 19:49:44     Target Started (2/34) Target started (2/34, AT2023tvi (CV)) 19:52:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:53:03       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 19:53:48   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 19:53:50   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 19:53:58       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 19:54:00     Target Aborted (2/34) Target aborted (2/34, AT2023tvi (CV)) due to cloud 19:54:02   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:54:03 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:54:53   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s) 19:54:55 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:57:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/34, AT2023tvi (CV)) due to cloud 20:07:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/34, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 20:25:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/34, C/2023 H2 (Lemmon)) due to cloud 20:43:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/34, 12P/Pons-Brooks) due to cloud 21:03:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/34, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) due to cloud 21:12:05 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:12:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:12:52 Session Running Session running 21:12:54   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:12:56     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 21:14:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:16:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:16:45       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:18:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5, wide) 21:20:38       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:20:56     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 0, HIP 106) 21:20:58     Target Missed (7/34) Target's time slot was missed (7/34, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 21:21:00     Target Started (8/34) Target started (8/34, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-10a?) 21:23:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:25:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:41:49     Target Completed Target completed (8/34, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-10a?) 21:41:53     Target Started (9/34) Target started (9/34, AT2023cz (CV)) 21:44:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:46:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:54:44     Target Completed Target completed (9/34, AT2023cz (CV)) 21:54:48     Target Started (10/34) Target started (10/34, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023uri) 21:57:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:59:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:18:55     Target Completed Target completed (10/34, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023uri) 22:19:00     Target Started (11/34) Target started (11/34, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023ufj) 22:21:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:24:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:42:47     Target Completed Target completed (11/34, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023ufj) 22:42:51     Target Started (12/34) Target started (12/34, AT2023otv) 22:45:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:47:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:03:56     Target Completed Target completed (12/34, AT2023otv) 23:04:00     Target Started (13/34) Target started (13/34, UGC 831 w/AT2023wdd) 23:06:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:09:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:27:28     Target Completed Target completed (13/34, UGC 831 w/AT2023wdd) 23:27:32     Target Started (14/35) Target started (14/35, 12P/Pons-Brooks, ToO) 23:31:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:43:27     Target Completed Target completed (14/35, 12P/Pons-Brooks, ToO) 23:43:29     Target Missed (15/35) Target's time slot was missed (15/35, M33 w/AT2023nou) 23:44:50     Target Started (16/35) Target started (16/35, GCVS HH And) 23:47:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:50:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 23:54:08     Target Completed Target completed (16/35, GCVS HH And) 23:54:12     Target Started (17/35) Target started (17/35, AT2023twu) 23:59:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:05:36       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:06:01       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 00:07:56   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:07:58   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:08:01     Target Aborted (17/35) Target aborted (17/35, AT2023twu) due to cloud 00:08:03   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:08:05 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:08:52   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:08:54 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:12:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/35, AT2023twu) due to cloud 00:27:48 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:28:33   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:28:36 Session Running Session running 00:28:38   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:28:41     Target Started (18/35) Target started (18/35, AT2023tjz) 00:31:29       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 00:32:59       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 00:36:39   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:36:41   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:36:44     Target Aborted (18/35) Target aborted (18/35, AT2023tjz) due to cloud 00:36:46   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:36:48 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:37:34   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:37:37 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:39:40 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:40:25   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:40:27 Session Running Session running 00:40:29   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:40:31     Target Started (19/35) Target started (19/35, AT2023sqo (CV)) 00:52:29     Target Completed Target completed (19/35, AT2023sqo (CV)) 00:52:34     Target Started (20/35) Target started (20/35, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 01:02:27   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:02:29   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:02:32     Target Aborted (20/35) Target aborted (20/35, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) due to cloud 01:02:34   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:02:36       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 01:02:38 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:03:22   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:03:24 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:08:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/36, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) due to cloud 01:16:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/36, AT2023tjz, ToO) due to cloud 01:22:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/36, AT2023wbv (CV)) due to cloud 01:36:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/36, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 01:55:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/36, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 02:15:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/36, UGC 4308 w/SN2023usf) due to cloud 02:38:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/36, AT2023gqc) due to cloud 02:57:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/36, 103P/Hartley) due to cloud 03:17:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/36, UGC 4582 w/SN2023twg) due to cloud 03:39:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/36, NGC 2708 w/SN2023bee) due to cloud 04:01:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/36, SN 2022yeg) due to cloud 04:24:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/36, NGC 4611 w/SN2023dtz) due to cloud 04:33:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/36, NGC 4490) due to cloud 04:52:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/36, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) due to cloud 05:14:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/36, UGC 4992 w/AT2023rpu) due to cloud 05:36:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/36, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 06:08:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/36, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) due to cloud 06:08:48   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:08:50 Session Closing Session closing 06:08:55   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 01:03, closing time 50s) 06:09:44   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 41s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:10:55   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 69s) 06:11:10   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:11:32   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:12:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:13:00 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:13:15 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 06:12:05 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 2.4 min. Dome may not have parked correctly 06:13:15 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.5 min. Dome may not have parked correctly

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Operational Issues (2023-11-06, S1161)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (3)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• The General Alerts table produced by AstroPlan is missing the last column on the occasions that there are 'No Alerts'. Fixed in AstroPlan 1.38.9.
  Fixed 2023-11-07 (AstroPlan 1.38.9)
   
• Certain report sub-sections that normally shown after moving to Session Running are missing from the report when session begins running from a Suspended State .  When a session moves directly from Starting/Equilibrating state to Running state the following report sub-sections are shown: 'Night Date', 'Location & Date', 'AutoSave Settings', 'Equipment Status' & 'Prepare Job Queue', but if the session moves from Starting/Equilibrating to Suspended (as it did in S1161 Session) then these sub-section don't appear apart from the 'Prepare Job Queue' sub-section.  This happens because the execution path through the code is different.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.64.6. A new flag 'bSessionRunningReported' is used to keep track for whether execution has been through SetState_Running or not.  After 'Session Resuming' the flag is checked and if true execution passes to 'Session Running (again)', but if false execution passes to SetState_Running, but instead of 'Prepare Job Queue' + 'Submiting Job Queue', 'Resume Job Queue' occurs instead.
  Fixed 2023-11-13 (AstroMain 3.64.6)

Continuous Improvement

• Add handling to Fits Summary macro's that recognises 'Aborted' in a 'Save As Colour Group' column and doesn't create use the row to create an Image Set. When an image is aborted before its planned exposure time, it ends with an exposure time of say 83.33s.  Even though the corresponding Raw Folder (eg  -20c 3x3 83.33s C) is deleted by the user and the the Fit file isn't reduced by the User, such that a Reduced Fits isn't created, Excel's Group_Reduced macro nevertheless generates an image set folder based on the row's details (called for example:  ).  Is this actually still true ? .  Special handling needs to be added to the macro so that the user can put a code word 'Aborted' into 'Save As Colour Group' column in order to flag to the macro to skip this particular row.
  Done 2023-11-07 (Excel Fits Summary)
   
• Add a 'filter byTarget ID' field to AstroPlans' Targets Form. There is currently no field to directly search on a given Target ID (e.g 2975), though it can be done using the SQL filter facility, if the format can be remembered. (TargetID = 2975).  Added a Target ID filter field and associated handling to AstroPlan 1.38.9.
  Done 2023-11-07 (AstroPlan 1.38.9)
   
• Add ToolTip pop-ups to 'Thread Flags' on AstroMain's Observatory Tab.  Added in AstroMain 3.64.2 by add tool tip to each flag's properties, using existing ToolTip1 field,.
  Done 2023-11-07 (AstroMain 3.64.2)
  

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