David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1166 (2023-11-12)

Notes (S1165)

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Notes (S1167)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (4),  Continuous Improvement (8)
	Images from 2023-11-12 >>
	2023-11-13
	Storm Debi

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-11-12)

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 3.64.5 , AstroPlan 1.38.10,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10.1,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.7
  (AstroWeather 1.22.3, AstroAllSky 3.19.6,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Targets. 4/37 planned targets observations were completed.  Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension or were cancelled due to early end of session  (ahead of approaching storm the following morning.
   Dome Slews. All dome slews were completed without any hold-ups or delays
    (Hold Up Stats:0/8 slews affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time). 
•  Dome Parking.  Dome didn't parked at correct physical azimuth at end of session (dome was at Az 88.7°) and shutter battery didn't automatically begin re-charging.

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 20:09:38 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:09 & 05:35 20:09:39 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:09) 20:09:58   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:10:11 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-11-12 S01166, ImageSaveNum: 1166001) 20:10:18   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:12:01   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:12:08 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:12:10 Session Pending Session pending (2023-11-12) 20:12:12 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-11-12) 20:12:14   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.10) 20:14:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 940) 20:14:25   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 20:15:02   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:15:26 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:16:11   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 20:16:13 Session Running Session running 20:16:15   Queue Started Observing Queue started (37 targets selected) 20:16:18     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 20:16:29       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:21:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:24:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:26:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:26:50       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:28:58       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:30:25       Focusing Failed Foc2 focusing failed - star lost 20:30:29     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 20:30:33     Target Started (1/37) Target started (1/37, C/2023 H2 (Lemmon)) 20:34:58       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 20:48:54     Target Completed Target completed (1/37, C/2023 H2 (Lemmon)) 20:48:58     Target Started (2/37) Target started (2/37, AT2023wvl (CV)) 20:52:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:54:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:59:54     Target Completed Target completed (2/37, AT2023wvl (CV)) 21:00:17     Target Started (3/37) Target started (3/37, GCVS EV Lac) 21:03:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:05:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:07:53     Target Completed Target completed (3/37, GCVS EV Lac) 21:09:19     Target Started (4/37) Target started (4/37, Nova Cas 2021) 21:12:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:14:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:25:51     Target Completed Target completed (4/37, Nova Cas 2021) 21:27:27     Target Started (5/37) Target started (5/37, NGC 3690 w/SN2023wrk) 21:32:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:21       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 21:38:26   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:38:28   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:38:30     Target Aborted (5/37) Target aborted (5/37, NGC 3690 w/SN2023wrk) due to cloud 21:38:32   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:38:34 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:39:21   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:39:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:41:26 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:42:11   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:42:14 Session Running Session running 21:42:16   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:42:18     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 21:45:01   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:45:03   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:45:11     Target Aborted (NrZen) Target aborted (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) due to cloud 21:45:13     Target Aborted (5/37) Target aborted (5/37, NGC 3690 w/SN2023wrk) due to cloud 21:45:15   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:45:17 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:46:02   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:46:04 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:46:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/37, NGC 3690 w/SN2023wrk) due to cloud 21:59:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/37, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 22:11:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/37, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 22:31:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/37, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) due to cloud 22:48:04 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 22:48:07   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 22:48:09 Session Closing Session closing 22:48:14   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 21:46, closing time 50s) 22:49:42   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 80s), Az: 90.0 deg 22:50:55   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 69s) 22:51:10   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 22:51:51   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 22:53:16   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 22:53:19 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 22:53:29 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 21:24:49 Yellow Alert Dome Dome has been stationary for more than 15 mins 21:27:34 Green Alarm Dome Dome Movements have begun again (outage 17.8 mins) 22:52:24 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 2.7 min. Dome may not have parked correctly 22:53:29 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.8 min. Dome may not have parked correctly

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Operational Issues (2023-11-12, S1166)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (4)
• Continuous Improvement (8)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Dome Check and Close Camera report messages are interlaced instead of being sequential (22:52) . Design is that Dome Check should follow sequentially from Close Camera, but the report messages are interlaced. Fixed by swapping ClosingStage 10 and CloseStage11.
  Fixed 2023-11-12 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
   
• Latest Images page showing Detailed (125%) image of Nova Cas 2021 spectral image itself instead of the realtime spectral chart (21:19).  Spectra chart from 1st Spectra Image was created at ‎21:19:09, and would have created Session.SpectraChart.jpg at the same time and should then have copied this file to live folder as 'Session.TargetDetail05.jpg', and an access time of ‏‎21:19:23, but the picture is  a copy of "0066.oid005.1166045.Nova_Cas_2021.0006_detail.jpg"  which has a creation time of 21:19:09. The 'Session.TargetDetail05.jpg'  file has a modified time of  21:19:09 (and an access time of ‏‎21:19:23, is this the time file was uploaded to website ?) which indicates that the 'Session.SpectraChart.jpg' and  '0006_detail.jpg' files were created and copied to live folder as 'Session.TargetDetail05.jpg' at almost the same time.  Log file indicates that the SpectraChart was created at 21:19:09.88.  The log file shows that ConvertFitsToJpg was called earlier than this at 21:19:08.73, but it take around 1s before the ImageMagicK would have created the '0006_detail.jpg' picture. Ideally the creation of spectral chart should wait until ImageMagicK has finished creating its JPG pictures. This is hard to control. Can we use the file presence 'FinishedConvertToJpg.dat' file for this ? This sound fine in principal but code suggests that not all the necessary handling for 'FinishedConvertToJpg.dat' file is in place, in particular there is nothing to remove/delete the file this would need to done by the bat process.  Instead fixed in AstroMain 3.64.6 by modifying ExtractSpectra_OB() routine so that it puts in a 5s delay before copying 'Session.SpectraChart.jpg' to Live/Session.TargetDetailxx.jpg  using CopyFileWithNewDate().
  Done 2023-11-13 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
   
• Reporting CCD Temperature is using 'Is' instead of 'is'. Majority of messages associated with reporting of CCD Temperature contain the text "Is" (captialised I) instead of the intended text 'is" (no capitialised).  examples are    "CCD Temperature Is 3.0°C below setpoint"  and "CCD Temperature Check Is skipped". This is almost certainly due to original code creation and the way that Visual Studio thinks that 'is' is being used a keyword and automatically capitialises it, before the programmer has had chance to close the text string with a final " character.  Several other examples exist involving "To" , "Using" , "Not" ,"On" instead of non-capitialised forms.
  Fixed 2023-11-14 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
   
• Target Circle not drawn around Focus Star and Main Frames JPG Pictures for AT2023wvl (20:52). This is an occasional issue that was first noticed in Session 1163 (2023-11-08) and was being monitoring after a fix to draw Focus Star Box and it was wonderered if this would fix the occasional issue drawing Target Circles but obviously it does resolve it.  Replaying AT2023wvl (Target ID= 3045, Starting Image No= 1166021) on Developmemt Computer using 'OnTheFly' Imaging wasn't able to duplicate the issue.  This is typical observation when replaying targets with missing Target Circles/Ellipses. Tracing added to AstroMain 3.64.6 in order to understands the circumstances when the issue next arises.  Trace message added to ConvertFitsToJpg() in AstroMain 3.64.6 following an earlier case in session S1163 (2023-11-08,  AT2023txn) needs to be reviewed to see if they shed any light on the issue.  Ticket closed after review 2024-03-25 as issue hasn't occured in last 3 months and seems to have been resolved. Any new future issues with Target Circle drawing will be raised as new  tickets if/when they occur.
  Likely resolved, closed 2024-03-25 (AstroMain 3.64.6)

Continuous Improvement

• Add a 'Aladin' button to ImageSets/Target tab.  Whilst there is a 'Aladin' button on the ImageSets/Reduced tab it would be convenient to also have a button on the ImageSets/Target tab.
  Done 2023-11-12 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
   
• Dome Charging info of ObsViewer showing 'Dome Charging (1,077min ago) would probably be best in hours. Suggest "(18hr ago)" would be better.
  Done 2023-11-12 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
   
• Log ObsManager progression through StartingStages and ClosingStages.
  Done 2023-11-13 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
    
• Begin to order target images on Session Image pages by Smart Astrobased Alphanumeric Order instead of time sequential order.  This would have the benefit that the page's Contents looks more structurated / less chaotic and it makes it easier to find a particular target observation for copying as the basis of image observation when creating a web page for a later session.  This will mainly be a point forward change, though some past sessions will be converted as time allows. A separate continuous improvement has been raised to sort Session's ImageSets using the new Smart Astrobased Alphanumeric Order instead of earlier Smart Order to make the analysis and publishing of web page easier to do.  Seeing the advantage of new smart ordered web pages from Session S1166 to S1168,  the Image pages from  S1165 to S1000 have also been converted to use the new Smart Ordering as of 2023-11-25.
  Done 2023-11-14 (Website)
   
• Add a new imageset sort order based on combination of object type group and name order.  Order should be Sun, Moon, Planets, Periodic Comets, C/ Comets, Asteroids, Stars, AT transients, DeepSky Objects
  Done 2023-11-14 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
   
• Consider the value/benefit of changing the name of 'Housekeeping' state to 'Finishing' .  Once Housekeeping (post-session admin, final stats reporting) is part of what is done when observatory is in this state, the name 'Finishing' is more descriptive of its position between 'Closing' and 'Finished'  (a little bit like the sequence 'Running',  'Suspending', 'Suspended')
  Done 2023-11-14 (AstroMain 3.64.6)
   
• Add two 1cm diameter holes into AllSky Camera's base plate in order to increase ventilation in attempt to reduce dew/condensation issues. The Observatory's AllSky (Oculus) Camera regularly suffers from condensation & dew inside the camera's perspex hemisphere. A 2019-02-08 posting by PhotoGav on Stargazers Lounge in answer to one astronomers issue "Oculus All Sky Camera and Dome - Condensation Problem"  ( https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/325447-oculus-all-sky-camera-and-dome-condensation-problem/ ) seems particularly interesting and referred to a specific solution from the maker of the Oculus Camera.
  
  "I thought I would update this thread as I am delighted to report a successful solution has been supplied by Starlight Xpress. Terry (Platt) at SX was very helpful and after discussion and various failed experiments he sent me a new base plate that has two 1 cm holes drilled in it. I swapped out the base plate and for once I was happy that it rained. The good news is that the dome no longer mists up inside. I’ve run it for the last few nights and it continues to work perfectly. So, ventilation was indeed the issue. .." .  
  
  Whilst the camera is taken down from its mounting for the addition of the two holes, it can be examined for the possibility of retro-installing a small computer fan into the camera housing.
  Done 2023-11-15 (AllSky Camera)
   
• Consider the value/benefit of incorporating ShiftXY  and  MovementXY into calculation of Crop XY for Detailed JPG pictures in AstroMain's ConvertFitsToJpg() routine . AstroMain 3.64.6 has been updated to include Detailed Picture cropping based on Target XY and/or Host XY, but there is no incorporation of ShiftXY or Movement XY and therefore the Target/Host may not remain centered for the duration of the Image Set.  Review should consider the value of including ShiftXY (caused by drift in telescope point) & Movement XY (caused by movement of object/comet during the course of the observation, in order to keep the Target/Host centered in Detailed Pictures.
  To do 2023-11-14+ (AstroMain 3.64.6+)
  

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2023-11-13

Storm Debi

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