David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1175 (2023-12-18)

Notes (S1174)

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Notes (S1176)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2023-12-18 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-12-18)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. Afterglow. Attempt to image afterglow from GRB 231215A (AT 2023aaiv), in Cassiopeia
3. 12P/Pons-Brooks. Acquire images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks which has been undergoing an outburst.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.5.414, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.6,  Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
• 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 3.65.7, AstroPlan 1.39.5,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13,  AstroSN 1.10.2,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.10
  (AstroWeather 1.23.7, AstroAllSky 3.19.11,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Targets. 27/29 planned targets observations were completed, with 2other targets partially completed,  of which images from 1 were later rejected due to cloud.. 1 ToO target was also acquired
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were acquired
• Afterglow. Images of xxx were acquired
•  Dome slewing. Dome Slewing was ok with none of the31 slews affected by any delay or hold-up,
•  Dome Parking.  Dome Parked close to but not at the correct position, and didn't allow Shutter Battery to automatically recharge. However the FindPark operation which automatically run at the end of the session was successful and moved the Dome to correct Park Position and allowed charging to begin.
•  FIndPark.  FindPark operated ok by automated call during Finishing Stage and found Park Position ok

Notes:

• .Aurora during the session
  

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 22:07:13 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:07 & 06:24 22:07:14 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:07) 22:07:25   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:07:38 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-12-18 S01175, ImageSaveNum: 1175001) 22:07:45   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:09:30   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:09:37 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:09:40 Session Pending Session pending (2023-12-18) 22:09:42 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-12-18) 22:09:44   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.5) 22:10:35   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 949) 22:11:00   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 22:11:37   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:12:01 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:12:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 22:12:48 Session Running Session running 22:12:50   Queue Started Observing Queue started (28 targets selected) 22:12:52     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 22:13:06       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:18:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:20:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:22:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:22:21       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:24:28       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:26:10       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:26:27     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 22:26:32     Target Started (1/28) Target started (1/28, AT2023eme) 22:30:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:32:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:38:47     Target Aborted (1/28) Target aborted (1/28, AT2023eme) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 22:38:51     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, NGC 5866, ToO) 22:42:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:59:21     Target Completed Target completed (2/29, NGC 5866, ToO) 22:59:26     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, AT2023twu) 23:15:40     Target Completed Target partially completed (3/29, AT2023twu) 23:15:44     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, UGC 2822 w/SN2023dea) 23:34:25     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, UGC 2822 w/SN2023dea) 23:34:29     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, AT2022vdr (CV)) 23:39:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:45:02     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, AT2022vdr (CV)) 23:45:06     Target Started (6/29) Target started (6/29, GCVS BL Lac) 23:49:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:55:23     Target Completed Target completed (6/29, GCVS BL Lac) 23:55:27     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, AT2023aaiv) 23:58:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:00:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:16:58     Target Completed Target completed (7/29, AT2023aaiv) 00:17:30     Target Started (8/29) Target started (8/29, AT2023aaky (CV)) 00:20:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:22:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:28:29     Target Completed Target completed (8/29, AT2023aaky (CV)) 00:29:30     Target Started (9/29) Target started (9/29, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 00:32:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:49:14     Target Completed Target completed (9/29, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 00:51:30     Target Started (10/29) Target started (10/29, GCVS GW Ori) 00:54:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:56:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:10:14     Target Completed Target completed (10/29, GCVS GW Ori) 01:11:32     Target Started (11/29) Target started (11/29, AT2023tjz) 01:14:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:17:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:33:53     Target Completed Target completed (11/29, AT2023tjz) 01:33:57     Target Started (12/29) Target started (12/29, GCVS DX Cnc) 01:37:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:41:46     Target Completed Target completed (12/29, GCVS DX Cnc) 01:44:45     Target Started (13/29) Target started (13/29, NGC 1752 w/AT2023exk) 01:48:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:04:31     Target Completed Target completed (13/29, NGC 1752 w/AT2023exk) 02:06:45     Target Started (14/29) Target started (14/29, AT2023cub (CV)) 02:09:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:12:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:17:56     Target Completed Target completed (14/29, AT2023cub (CV)) 02:18:45     Target Started (15/29) Target started (15/29, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 02:21:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:23:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:36:30     Target Completed Target completed (15/29, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 02:37:41     Target Started (16/29) Target started (16/29, GCVS ER UMa) 02:40:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:44:45     Target Completed Target completed (16/29, GCVS ER UMa) 02:48:00     Target Started (17/29) Target started (17/29, NGC 4490) 02:50:51       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:53:10       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 03:07:32     Target Completed Target completed (17/29, NGC 4490) 03:10:20     Target Started (18/29) Target started (18/29, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 03:13:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:16:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:31:46     Target Completed Target completed (18/29, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 03:32:39     Target Started (19/29) Target started (19/29, 61P/Shajn-Schaldach) 03:35:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:43:44     Target Completed Target completed (19/29, 61P/Shajn-Schaldach) 03:47:11     Target Started (20/29) Target started (20/29, NGC 2848 w/SN2023usp) 03:50:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:07:34     Target Completed Target completed (20/29, NGC 2848 w/SN2023usp) 04:09:11     Target Started (21/29) Target started (21/29, 2MFGC 08161 w/SN2022xld) 04:12:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:28:04     Target Completed Target completed (21/29, 2MFGC 08161 w/SN2022xld) 04:31:31     Target Started (22/29) Target started (22/29, LEDA 1311625 w/AT2023iez) 04:37:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 04:53:35     Target Completed Target completed (22/29, LEDA 1311625 w/AT2023iez) 04:53:39     Target Started (23/29) Target started (23/29, UGC 9002 w/SN2023pls) 04:56:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:58:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 05:14:25     Target Completed Target completed (23/29, UGC 9002 w/SN2023pls) 05:15:31     Target Started (24/29) Target started (24/29, SN 2023zvq) 05:19:08       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:35:00     Target Completed Target completed (24/29, SN 2023zvq) 05:37:31     Target Started (25/29) Target started (25/29, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 05:41:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:43:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 05:47:35       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 05:51:29     Target Completed Target completed (25/29, C/2019 T4 (ATLAS)) 05:52:03     Target Started (26/29) Target started (26/29, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 05:57:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:59:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 06:15:14     Target Completed Target completed (26/29, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 06:15:18     Target Started (27/29) Target started (27/29, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 06:19:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:21:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 06:32:56     Target Completed Target completed (27/29, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 06:33:01     Target Started (28/29) Target started (28/29, C/2021 T4 (Lemmon)) 06:33:23       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 06:36:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:45:08     Target Completed Target completed (28/29, C/2021 T4 (Lemmon)) 06:46:57     Target Started (29/29) Target started (29/29, GCVS CN Leo) 06:50:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:52:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 06:59:28     Target Completed Target completed (29/29, GCVS CN Leo) 06:59:31   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:59:34 Session Closing Session closing 07:01:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 120s, Zigbee 43s) 07:02:41   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 57s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:03:49   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 65s) 07:04:04   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:04:26   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:05:50   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:05:53 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:06:29     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°) 07:07:24     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 07:07:28     Dome Find Park completed (Dome at Az: 93.8°) 07:07:31     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 94.0°, Step 0.2°) 07:08:51     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.8°) 07:08:56     Dome Find Park completed (Dome at Az: 90.8°) 07:08:58 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 22:09:40 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (33.15 GB) is less than 50 GB 07:05:48 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.1 min. Dome may not have parked correctly 07:06:24 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (31.06 GB) is less than 50 GB 07:06:28 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 (2023-12-18, S1175)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroMain's SearchForDomePark (wide-search) found Best Park at Az 91.0° but seemed to make a slew to Az 93.8°.  SearchFor DomePark (wide-search) at the end of session began a seach for Park from Az 80° to 100° at 1° steps. After finding a AtPark zone at Az 91.0° the routine exited from the search loop early at Az 94.0 (? Az 92.9 reported) after finding 2-3°of 'not-parked' according to zigbee Park Sensor.  The routine correctly reported the Best Park Position at Az 91.0. and initiated a slew to this azimuth.   Slew was reported to have been made, with a reported final azimuth at Az 93.8.  
  This was also reported as the Prior Azimuth upon entry to SearchForDomePark (narrow-search).  Issue is due to DomeLink on the Observatory Computer still using the .dll associated with the previous DomeLink version (2023-12-10) (which forces Slewing=True in first 500ms after a SlewToAzimuth call) rather than the new one created (2023-10-18) (which forces Slewing=True for 1500ms) even though it is seemingly using the new (v1.1) Properties form.  A similar issue happened back on 2023-12-10 when trying to update the original prototype version of the program. On that occasion the 'new' DLL was manually into 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ASCOM\Dome'  as a fix. Prehaps the exe has to be run as administrator ? Tried both Administrator and tried dropping in new DLL manually, but both produced an error than stopped the opening of DomeLink's Properties page via DeviceHub setup.  Eventually resolved part-way through S1176 (2023-12-19) by reinstalling the old v1.0 (6.6.1) and then reinstalling the new v 1.1.   Closed after review 2024-01-10 (Resolved at time / DomeLink is now longer used as Pulsar Observatories released a new ASCOM driver that resolves the underlying issue which DomeLink was providing an interim workaround.
  Closed 2023-12-19 (DomeLink, Observatory Computer, User Awareness) 

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• None

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