David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1183 (2024-01-16)

Notes (S1182)

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Notes (S1184)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (5),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2024-01-16 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-01-16)

Main aims

1. SN 2024gy. Acquire spectral images of Type Ia Supernova 2024gy in NGC 4216
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
3. 12P/Pons-Brooks. Acquire images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks which has been undergoing regular outbursts.

 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
• DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1
   
• AstroMain 3.65.12, 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 1.23.10, AstroAllSky 3.19.11,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Targets. 13/18 planned targets observations was completed, with 3 other targets partially completed.  2 planned targets missed their slots as they were replaced by ToO observations (NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy)
• SN 2024gy. Spectral images of Type Ia Supernova 2024gy in NGC 4216 were successfully acquired
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were successfully acquired
•  Dome Parking.  Dome parked ok at the correct position at end of 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 00:19:41 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:19 & 06:19 00:19:44   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to wind 00:22:29 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:22) 00:22:48   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:23:02 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-01-16 S01183, ImageSaveNum: 1183001) 00:23:04   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 50s, Zigbee 42s) 00:23:09   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:24:55   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:25:02 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:25:04 Session Pending Session pending (2024-01-16) 00:25:07 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-01-16) 00:25:09   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.5) 00:25:38 User Intervention User Intervention to restart Dome Connection 00:26:30   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 957) 00:26:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 00:27:09   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:27:35 Session Running Session running 00:27:38   Queue Started Observing Queue started (18 targets selected) 00:27:41     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 00:27:56       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:32:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:35:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:37:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:37:17       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:39:28       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:41:14       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:41:31     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 00:41:36     Target Started (1/18) Target started (1/18, 103P/Hartley) 00:45:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:47:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:58:18     Target Completed Target completed (1/18, 103P/Hartley) 00:58:23     Target Started (2/19) Target started (2/19, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO) 01:08:08   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 01:08:10   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue) 01:08:15   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:09:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -30°C) 01:09:12     Target Aborted (2/19) Target aborted (2/19, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO) due to User Intervention 01:09:17     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO) 01:11:11   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 01:11 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 01:12:34 User Intervention User Intervention to RestartCCDSoft & SBIG Camera 01:12:36   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 01:12:43   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:13:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -30°C) 01:55:00     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy, ToO) 01:55:02     Target Missed (4/20) Target's time slot was missed (4/20, AT2024vf (CV)) 01:55:04     Target Missed (5/20) Target's time slot was missed (5/20, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf) 01:55:06     Target Started (6/20) Target started (6/20, UGC 5886 w/AT2024hw) 02:07:23     Target Completed Target partially completed (6/20, UGC 5886 w/AT2024hw) 02:07:27     Target Started (7/20) Target started (7/20, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) 02:10:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:12:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 02:28:28     Target Completed Target completed (7/20, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) 02:28:32     Target Started (8/20) Target started (8/20, 62P/Tsuchinshan) 02:31:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:43:34     Target Completed Target completed (8/20, 62P/Tsuchinshan) 02:43:38     Target Started (9/21) Target started (9/21, Vega, ToO) 02:47:22     Target Completed Target completed (9/21, Vega, ToO) 02:47:26     Target Started (10/21) Target started (10/21, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 03:23:28     Target Completed Target completed (10/21, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 03:23:32     Target Started (11/21) Target started (11/21, CGCG 160-062 w/SN2023ke) 03:26:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 03:37:13       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:37:15   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:37:17   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 03:37:19     Target Aborted (11/21) Target aborted (11/21, CGCG 160-062 w/SN2023ke) due to threat of rain 03:37:21   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:37:23 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:38:08   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 45s) 03:38:10 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:40:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/21, CGCG 160-062 w/SN2023ke) due to wind 03:51:05 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:51:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 42s) 03:51:52 Session Running Session running 03:51:54   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:51:57     Target Started (12/21) Target started (12/21, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 04:07:52     Target Completed Target partially completed (12/21, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 04:07:56     Target Started (13/21) Target started (13/21, NGC 4415 w/SN2022pul) 04:12:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:28:23     Target Completed Target completed (13/21, NGC 4415 w/SN2022pul) 04:28:27     Target Started (14/21) Target started (14/21, UGCA 287) 04:31:54       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:48:49     Target Completed Target completed (14/21, UGCA 287) 04:50:21     Target Started (15/21) Target started (15/21, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 04:53:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:55:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 05:11:19     Target Completed Target completed (15/21, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 05:12:41     Target Started (16/21) Target started (16/21, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) 05:16:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:32:16     Target Completed Target completed (16/21, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) 05:34:41     Target Started (17/21) Target started (17/21, AT2024mu (CV)) 05:37:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:40:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 05:45:58     Target Completed Target completed (17/21, AT2024mu (CV)) 05:47:01     Target Started (18/21) Target started (18/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 05:50:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:52:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 06:04:00     Target Completed Target completed (18/21, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 06:05:03     Target Started (19/21) Target started (19/21, GCVS BL Lac) 06:08:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:10:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 06:14:55     Target Completed Target completed (19/21, GCVS BL Lac) 06:15:21     Target Started (20/21) Target started (20/21, MCG +9-27-70 w/SN2023acha) 06:18:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:20:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 06:37:18     Target Completed Target completed (20/21, MCG +9-27-70 w/SN2023acha) 06:37:41     Target Started (21/21) Target started (21/21, NGC 6745 w/SN2023ucy) 06:40:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:42:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 06:58:38     Target Completed Target completed (21/21, NGC 6745 w/SN2023ucy) 06:58:42   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:58:44 Session Closing Session closing 06:59:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 45s) 06:59:54   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:01:09   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 70s) 07:01:24   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:01:46   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:03:10   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:03:13 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:03:34     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 07:04:41     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°) 07:04:48     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.4 to 93.4°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 07:06:18     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 07:06:23     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°) 07:06:25   Dome Parked Dome parked 07:09:29 Session Finished Session Finished 07:09:31   Shutter Battery Shutter battery level has fallen below 88%

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 01:08:08 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 01:11:47 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 01:11:11) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 01:12:37 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (01:12) after 0.0 mins 01:15:11 Green Clear CCDSoft Image file has been saved to disk following CCDSoft Restart 07:03:08 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.2 mins. Dome may not have parked correctly 07:09:29 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.1 min. Dome may not have parked correctly 07:09:31 Yellow Alert Shutter Battery Shutter battery level has fallen below 88%

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Operational Issues (2024-01-16, S1183)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (5)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Shutter Battery data was flat-lining in days ahead of S1183 and shutter battery fell from to 87% (pre-session). Issue noted at beginning of S1183 session at 2024-01-17 00:25) and as a precaution, the dome connection was restarted.  Charts (Fig 1) show that the Shutter battery data began to flat-line at 2024-01-14 12:00 when trickle charge value dropped to 0.  and movements in the Temperature chart stopped.  It was later determined that during this time battery level fell from 97% to 87%. Examining the Pulsar ASCOM log showed that flat lined values (970 15001 -4 25411 3519) began at 2024-01-14 11:53 to 11:58. ASCOM Driver continued reporting Volatile messages every 1s, until the Dome Connection was restarted at 2024-01-17 00:25  No changes were made to the dome at midday on 2024-01-14.  As the Shutter Battery flat-lined at this time it is assumed there must have been a glitch with ASCOM driver or it is communication with Pulsar Dome as fresh data immediately started coming through when the Dome Connection (Dome Driver) was restarted. The Shutter Battery stopped recharging at some point but we can't tell when this was as the data is flat-lined. It is hard to see why the flat-lining would have stopped the recharging or when data flat lined when recharging stopped.   It is assumed that there was a 'edge-case' change in separation between the two halves of the Induction Charger which stopped recharging that was separate to the flat-lining incident.  Resolved by user intervention to restarting Dome Connection (00:25). A  separate continuous improvement ticket is already in place to decrease the separation between the two halves of the Induction Charger which was work completed on 2024-01-19.
  Resolved by user intervention 2024-01-17 (Pulsar Dome),  continue to monitor
   
• Shutter Battery didn't immediately begin to charge after Parking Dome at end of Session (07:06). After rough Park procedure the dome was parked using 'FindDoesPark' routines  which ended at 07:06:24. Pulsar Dome should have reported that dome had started recharging by at least 135s after this. But at 07:09:29 a Red 'Dome Charging' Alert was raised with the message  "Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.1 min. Dome may not have parked correctly" followed by a yellow' Shutter Battery' alert with messge "Shutter battery level has fallen below 88%". Battery level at end of session was 86% and recharging should really have begun immediately upon Induction Charger being aligned. This has occurred with previous version of Pulsar Software.    Examining the Pulsar ASCOM log showed that although fresh Shutter Battery data was coming through every 135s, dome charging (at 22mA) didn't commence until 08:09:20, around 63 minutes after Parking had occurred (Fig 1).  Is this a delay in re-charging a behaviour associated with the new Pulsar Software or is it related to the Induction Charger alignment ?   A separate continuous improvement ticket is already in place to decrease the separation between the two halves of the Induction Charger, which was work completed on 2024-01-19. (Fig 3)
  Resolved itself 2024-01-17 (Pulsar Dome), continue to monitor
   
• 'Check CCD Camera' became frozen (01:11).   CCDCamera process became frozen at 01:11:00. Logs show message "CcdCamera is Pending (16s) ' in section 'GetCameraProperties'" at 01:11:16 and "CcdCamera is Frozen (36s) in section 'GetCameraProperties' "at 01:11:47.   This occurred after CCDSoft/Sbig Camera were restarted at 01:08 after Frame 1/5 for Target 2/19 (NGC 4216) failed with message "CCD Image [0000] has not saved to disk."  CCDSoft were reconnected at 01:08:xx (not logged in log file?).  Target was aborted and a new ToO target, Target 3/20 (NGC 4216), was started at 01:09. Whilst Centering execution enter a wait loop "Waiting for CCD to stabilise at -30.0°C".  The Obs.Overseer intervened to issue red alert and report "CcdCamera is frozen (01:11) in section 'GetCameraProperties' ". User intervened at 01:12 to Restart CCDSoft/SBIG Camera. Unclear why the issue arose. Interventation was successful and there were no further issues with CCDSoft/Camera during the session.  A separate continuous improvement ticket is raised to see if the system would have/should have made an interventaion to RestartCCDSoft after issue at 01:12.
  Resolved 2024-01-17 (Session, AstroMain)
   
• Unable to enter Observatory due to frozen lock & door handle.  Minimum temperature during session was -4°C and led to frozen lock/handle on Observatory Door. This is a regular issue following subzero night time temperatures. Resolved using small towel soaked in hot water, applied for a minute or two.
  Resolved 2024-01-18 (Session, Observarory)
   
• CCD Temperature SetPoint was unexpectedly lowered to -35.0 degC (00:59).  Before starting Target 2/19 CCD Temperature SetPoint was lowered from -25°C to -30°C this was expected given the cold conditions (Ambient Temperature -3°C). -30c would require cooling of 27°C below ambient (-3°C) which is feasible.  As the CCD Temperature wasn't at -30°C at start of Centering Operations execution entered a 'Waiting On CCD Cooler' loop with message "Wait on Camera    (Waiting for CCD to stabilise at -30.0°C) " . Whilst waiting a message was reported saying "CCD Temperature SetPoint has been lowered to -35.0 degC (00:59)". This was unexpected as it would require CCD Cooling of 32°C, which may have been challenging and library doesn't have any 2x2 180s Dark Frame for the intended spectral images for NGC 4261 w/SN2024gy". An intervention was made (01:09:49)  to change the setpoint temperature back to -30°C .  'Wait on CCD Cooler' process took 3.8 minutes.   Why was there this automated reduction in Set Point Temperature to -35C ?. A simillar issue occurred during later session (S1185 2024-02-13) in which the CCD Temperature was unexpectedly raised from -20° to -15°C. This case was investigated in detail and as a result a fix has been attempted in AstroMain 3.65.14; the connectCamera() routine was modified to set CcdMonitor.PhaseStartTime = Now() when Temperature Regulation is started and this should prevent prevent the situation where a Raise or Lower SetPoint flag becomes prematurely or inappropriately set.
  Fixed 2024-02-15 (AstroMain 3.65.14)

Small Defects

• When performing Analysis for Target M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023yij , the target's TDay & Status not showning in AstroMain's Form Title. Analysis for session S1173 (2023-12-16), with "M31_AT2023yij 3x3 180s C" image set selected the Form Title showed "Analysis (2023-12-06 S0173)", Reselecting the ImageSet displayed the expected title "Analysis (2023-12-06 S0173) - M31 with M31 Nova AT2023yij (Inactive), T+22.9d". Closed as issue not immediately repeatable. Monitor for other cases to determine what the pattern / conditions are that present the bug. Reopened after spotting that the bug occurs when ImageSet is clicked on for a second or subsequent time. Selecting a different image set and then reselecting original image set produces the correct title. Fixed in AstroMain 3.65.16 by slight reordering of code in listboxObjectFolders_SelectedIndexChanged().
  Fixed 2024-02-20 (AstroMain 3.65.16)
   
• Foc2 Focus Frames for Near Zenith Focus Field 9 have flat topped max pixel value (00:37)  . Foc2 Focus Frames were taken with exposure time 1.5s and gain 50. (see Fig 2). Whilst FWHM values and Best Focus positions weren't impacted by the issue , QC could be be affected in a different situation, and the confidence in Focusing process when viewing Focus Profile is slighly reduced. Placed 'On-Hold' 2024-03-25.  Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.67.2 but was still giving a problem in S1204. A modified fix was made in AstroMain 3.68.1,  thresholds changed to x0.25 for max pixel > 65000, x0.3 for max pixel > 60000. 
  Fixed  2024-04-05 (AstroMain 3.68.1)

Continuous Improvement

• Examine whether Obs.Overseer would have / should have eventually intervened when Camera became frozen at 01:11.  CCDCamera process became frozen at 01:11:00. Whilst Centering for Target 3/20 execution enter a wait loop "Waiting for CCD to stabilise at -30.0°C" during whichThe Obs.Overseer intervened to issue red alert and report "CcdCamera is frozen (01:11) in section 'GetCameraProperties' ". User intervened at 01:12 to Restart CCDSoft/SBIG Camera. Unclear why the issue arose. Whilst the Manual Interventation was successful and there were no further issues with CCDSoft/Camera during the session there is a need to investigate/review whether the ObsOverseer/ObsManager system would have/should have automatically made an interventaion to RestartCCDSoft in this case.    Issues related to stalling of session when there is a CcdCamera becomes frozen whilst waiting on CCD Temperature to stabilise where investigated following an occurance of the issue during a later session  (S1185 2024-02-13),  and fixed in AstroMain 3.65.14, a new RestartCCDSoftMode added (FrozenCcdCamera = 5).  ObsOverseer loop extended to call RestartCCDSoftByThread (FrozenCcdCamera, vcNull)
  Done / Fixed 2024-02-15 (AstroMain 3.65.14)

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Fig 1.   Shutter Battery Graphs

 

Fig 2.  Focus Profile Charts, Profile 2, Foc2, Near Zenith Focus Field 9
 Showing flat-topped Max Pixel Values

 

Fig 3.   Shutter Battery Graphs (2024-01-20)

Graphs showing increase in Trickle Charge rate following adjustment in Induction Charger spacing around midday on 2024-01-19.
Modification should led to faster charging following a session where battery is drawn down due to Open/Close Shutter operations.
It is hoped that modification will fix recent issue where start of shutter battery charging is delayed by up to 60 minutes after Parking Dome.

 

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