David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1185 (2024-02-13)

Notes (S1184)

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Notes (S1186)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2024-02-13 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-02-13)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. 12P/Pons-Brooks. Acquire images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks which has been undergoing regular outbursts.
3. 13P/Olbers. Acquire images of Comet 13P/Olbers

 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 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.65.13, 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. 30/34 planned targets observations was completed, with 3 other targets partially completed.  One target failed due to cloud.  Images from two targets (NGC 3052 w/SN2024chx, AT2023acfn) were later rejected due to cloud and/or  poor sky transparency with poor guiding
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were successfully acquired.
• 113P/Olbers.  Images of Comet 13P/Olbers 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 18:09:42 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:09 & 05:35 18:09:43   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:15:19 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:15) 18:15:29   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:15:54   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 18:15:56 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-02-13 S01185, ImageSaveNum: 1185001) 18:16:01   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:16:06   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 18:16 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 18:17:47   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:17:53 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:17:56 Session Pending Session pending (2024-02-13) 18:17:58 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-02-13) 18:18:00   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.5) 18:19:00   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 959) 18:31:58   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 18:32:06   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 18:32:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 18:33:33   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:33:57 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:34:42   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 18:34:44 Session Running Session running 18:34:46   Queue Started Observing Queue started (34 targets selected) 18:34:48     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 4, HIP 18637) 18:35:01       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:40:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:42:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:44:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:44:44       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:46:53       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 18:48:35       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:48:52     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 4, HIP 18637) 18:48:57     Target Started (1/34) Target started (1/34, 207P/NEAT) 18:52:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:56:25     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/34, 207P/NEAT) 18:56:30     Target Started (2/34) Target started (2/34, 144P/Kushida) 19:00:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:02:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:13:27     Target Completed Target completed (2/34, 144P/Kushida) 19:13:31     Target Started (3/34) Target started (3/34, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) 19:33:14     Target Completed Target completed (3/34, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) 19:33:18     Target Started (4/34) Target started (4/34, GCVS GK Per) 19:36:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:36:40   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:36 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:37:05   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 19:37:46   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:37 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:38:46   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:38 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:39:56   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:39 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:40:26   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 19:40:56   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:40 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:42:06   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:42 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:42:56   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:42 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:43:46   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 19:43 in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:44:26       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 19:44:43   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 19:44:50   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 19:45:41   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:45:43   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 19:46:14     Target Completed Target partially completed (4/34, GCVS GK Per) 19:46:18     Target Started (5/34) Target started (5/34, GCVS BL Lac) 19:56:13     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/34, GCVS BL Lac) 19:56:17     Target Started (6/34) Target started (6/34, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 20:12:02     Target Completed Target completed (6/34, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 20:12:06     Target Started (7/34) Target started (7/34, NGC 7735 w/SN2024we) 20:15:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:31:37     Target Completed Target completed (7/34, NGC 7735 w/SN2024we) 20:31:41     Target Started (8/34) Target started (8/34, M31 w/AT2024ccb) 20:34:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:50:42     Target Completed Target completed (8/34, M31 w/AT2024ccb) 20:53:33     Target Started (9/34) Target started (9/34, AT2023aaky (CV)) 20:56:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:58:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:04:59     Target Completed Target completed (9/34, AT2023aaky (CV)) 21:05:33     Target Started (10/34) Target started (10/34, 13P/Olbers) 21:08:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:21:14     Target Completed Target completed (10/34, 13P/Olbers) 21:23:23     Target Started (11/34) Target started (11/34, AT2022yok (CV)) 21:26:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:29:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:45:03     Target Completed Target completed (11/34, AT2022yok (CV)) 21:45:43     Target Started (12/34) Target started (12/34, IC 2165) 21:48:51       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:05:22     Target Completed Target completed (12/34, IC 2165) 22:08:23     Target Started (13/34) Target started (13/34, SN 2022vod) 22:11:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:13:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:29:47     Target Completed Target completed (13/34, SN 2022vod) 22:30:43     Target Started (14/34) Target started (14/34, 61P/Shajn-Schaldach) 22:37:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:39:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:48:41     Target Completed Target completed (14/34, 61P/Shajn-Schaldach) 22:48:45     Target Started (15/34) Target started (15/34, AT2023gqc) 22:51:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:54:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:09:53     Target Completed Target completed (15/34, AT2023gqc) 23:09:57     Target Started (16/34) Target started (16/34, AT2023vqz) 23:12:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:14:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:31:19     Target Completed Target completed (16/34, AT2023vqz) 23:31:23     Target Started (17/34) Target started (17/34, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 23:34:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:36:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:44:28     Target Completed Target completed (17/34, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 23:44:32     Target Started (18/34) Target started (18/34, AT2024vf (CV)) 23:47:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:49:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:04:53     Target Completed Target completed (18/34, AT2024vf (CV)) 00:05:55     Target Started (19/34) Target started (19/34, NGC 3052 w/SN2024chx) 00:10:29       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:26:41     Target Completed Target completed (19/34, NGC 3052 w/SN2024chx) 00:27:55     Target Started (20/34) Target started (20/34, UGC 5886 w/SN2024hw) 00:31:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:33:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:50:33     Target Completed Target completed (20/34, UGC 5886 w/SN2024hw) 00:50:37     Target Started (21/34) Target started (21/34, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf) 00:54:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:56:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 01:12:26     Target Completed Target completed (21/34, IC 564 w/SN2023abqf) 01:12:30     Target Started (22/34) Target started (22/34, AT2023acfn) 01:16:08       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 01:32:13     Target Completed Target completed (22/34, AT2023acfn) 01:33:55     Target Started (23/34) Target started (23/34, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) 01:37:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:39:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:55:37     Target Completed Target completed (23/34, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) 01:56:15     Target Started (24/34) Target started (24/34, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) 02:00:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:16:25     Target Completed Target completed (24/34, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) 02:18:15     Target Started (25/34) Target started (25/34, MCG -1-33-30 w/SN2024byg) 02:22:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:38:38     Target Completed Target completed (25/34, MCG -1-33-30 w/SN2024byg) 02:40:35     Target Started (26/34) Target started (26/34, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 02:45:27       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:17:53     Target Completed Target completed (26/34, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) 03:18:53     Target Started (27/34) Target started (27/34, 62P/Tsuchinshan) 03:21:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:24:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:36:03     Target Completed Target completed (27/34, 62P/Tsuchinshan) 03:36:55     Target Started (28/34) Target started (28/34, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) 03:40:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:56:29     Target Completed Target completed (28/34, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) 03:58:55     Target Started (29/34) Target started (29/34, NGC 6106 w/SN2024ahv) 04:02:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:04:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 04:20:01     Target Completed Target completed (29/34, NGC 6106 w/SN2024ahv) 04:20:55     Target Started (30/34) Target started (30/34, NGC 6004 w/SN2024cld) 04:24:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:26:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:42:23     Target Completed Target completed (30/34, NGC 6004 w/SN2024cld) 04:43:15     Target Started (31/34) Target started (31/34, NGC 5363) 04:46:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:48:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:56:40       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 05:04:53     Target Completed Target completed (31/34, NGC 5363) 05:04:55   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:04:58 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:05:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 05:05:48 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:24:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/34, NGC 5395 w/AT2023ycc) due to cloud 05:41:05 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:41:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 42s) 05:41:52 Session Running Session running 05:41:54   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:41:57     Target Started (33/34) Target started (33/34, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 05:54:47     Target Completed Target partially completed (33/34, M101 w/SN2023ixf) 05:54:51     Target Started (34/34) Target started (34/34, MCG +9-27-70 w/SN2023acha) 06:14:23     Target Completed Target completed (34/34, MCG +9-27-70 w/SN2023acha) 06:14:26   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:14:29 Session Closing Session closing 06:15:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 06:15:50   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 19s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:17:14   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 78s) 06:17:29   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:17:51   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:19:17   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:19:19 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:20:01     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:21:06     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°) 06:21:13     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.4 to 93.4°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:22:41     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 06:22:48     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°) 06:22:50   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:25:50 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 18:16:45 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 18:16:06) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 18:32:02 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (18:32) after 0.0 mins 18:49:11 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 196.8° (T+9.3s) 19:37:05 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 19:37:19 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:36:40) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:37:49 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:37) after 0.1 mins 19:38:24 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:37:46) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:38:49 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:38) after 0.1 mins 19:39:25 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:38:46) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:39:30 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:39) after 0.1 mins 19:40:26 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command in progress. Error code = 219 (0xdb).) 19:40:35 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:39:56) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:41:00 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:41) after 0.0 mins 19:41:35 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:40:56) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:42:10 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:42) after 0.0 mins 19:42:45 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:42:06) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:43:00 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:43) after 0.0 mins 19:43:35 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:42:56) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:43:50 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:43) after 0.0 mins 19:44:25 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 19:43:46) in section 'GetCameraProperties' 19:44:30 Green Clear CcdCamera CcdCamera has resumed again (19:44) after 0.0 mins 19:45:43 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 06:19:14 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.4 mins. Dome may not have parked correctly 06:25:50 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.0 min. Dome may not have parked correctly

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Operational Issues (2024-02-13, S1185)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Job Execution held up during Session Starting whilst Connecting Camera (18:19). During 'Session Starting' the execution of 'Connect Camera' operation held up at 18:19 until it was noticed at 18:31 and user action was taken to 'Restart CCDSoft'.  This seemed to resolve the issue and the session was able to continue. Although issue was fixed in-session by user action the issue is rated as a 'Major Issue' as without this user intervention it is probable that the session would have remained stalled for the entire night with lost of several hours of observing time. First problem message "CcdCamera is Pending (19s) ' in section 'GetCameraProperties' occured at 18:16:25.81  A Red Alert was then issued at 18:16:45 with message "CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 18:16:06) in section 'GetCameraProperties' ".   "CcdCamera is Frozen.. " messages continued until 18:31:57 which is when CCDSoft/SBIG Camera were restarted by the user.   It is unclear if the issue was a continuation of the SBIG Camera issues at the end the S1184 session the previous night (2024-02-12), or is side-effect of code changes introduced in AstroMain 3.65.13 in an attempt to solves those earlier issue, or is totally unrelated.  Analysis showed that the issue was definately not due to the recent code change in AstroMain 3.65.13 and is likely a known occasional glitch in the SBIG Camera, the SBIG Driver or in CCDSoft Camera.  The root cause is likely to be not determinable or fixable, but AstroMain monitoring should pick up on the issue (frozen thread already detected by ObsOverseer) and automatically initiate a RestartCcdSoft operation (including restarting the SBIG Camera).   Fixed in AstroMain 3.65.14. New RestartCCDSoftMode added (FrozenCcdCamera = 5).  ObsOverseer loop extended to call RestartCCDSoftByThread (FrozenCcdCamera, vcNull)
  Resolved in-session,  Fixed 2024-02-15 (Session, CCD Camera, AstroMain 3.65.14)

Minor Issues

• Series of CCD Camera failures/freezes (19:37 to 19:44). Overseer reported 'Take Image failure (command timed out) at 19:37:05, and Take Image failure (Command in Progress) at 19:40:26  with series of red-alert 'CcdCamera appears frozen in section 'GetCameraProperties' and green alerts 'CcdCamera has resumed again after 0.1 mins' (or after '0.0 mins').  This was during Cam1 Focusing for Target 4/34 (GK Per). Series ends at 19:45:43 with message Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) after RestartCcdSoft() was called by ObsOverseer at 19:44.  Issue seemed to have eventually resolved itself by automated intervention. Due to delays associated with the issue (amounting to some 8 mins), by the time the issue was resolved there was little/no time to take VR frames for the GK Per Target.   What caused the issue and whether the intervention could have been more effective (loosing less time) should be reviewed & investigated post-session.   Issue fixed in AstroMain 3.65.14.  MeasureFocusProfile_Foc1() modified to include a wait loop if  bRestartingCCDSoft flag is raised so that a new Focus Frame isn't started whilst CCDCamera is frozen or otherwise has an issue, that would cause a new Focus Frame to hang or predictably fail.
  Fixed 2024-02-15 (AstroMain 3.65.14)

Small Defects

• Camera 'unexpectedly' connected at end of RestartCCDSoft procedure to SetAutoSaveNo during AutoStart operations (18:15). During Autostart operations at the beginning of session, RestartCCDSoft() was called as per normal, at 18:15:29 in order to SetAutoSaveNo.  This was successfully done but during the routine Camera1 was 'unexpectedly' connected at 18:15:54 with the event message "SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20C)".  A camera connection at this point isn't normal (it didn't occur in sessions S1178 to S1184)  and may have contributed to a freezing up of CcdCamera thread and the raising of Red Alert at 18:16:45 with message "CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 18:16:06) in section 'GetCameraProperties' ". It was initially hypothesized that the camera connection was due to change in an 'if' statement in RestartCCDSoft made in AstroMain 3.65.13 ahead of S1185 session (2024-02-13) in order to resolve an issue in proceeding S1185 session (2024-02-12).  However the new condition [ .. or (RestartMode <> RestartCCDSoftMode.SetAutosaveNo And ObservatoryManager.bLiveSession) then ... ] shouldn't have led to CameraConnection as routine was called with RestartMode = RestartCCDSoftMode.SetAutosaveNo.  Furthermore, looking back shows that Camera1 Connection at this point did previously occur in Session 1177 (2023-12-26) and shows that the exitsing code/design does allow Camera1 connection to be made at this point 'if PriorConnectionState = True' .  On this previous occasion the CcdCamera didn't freeze up.  Closed after review 2024-02-15 as this situation isn't totally unexpected as issue title implies, and the cause/fix of the subsequent CcdCamera freeze is being investigated under a separate issue.
  Closed after review (AstroMain)
   
• Green All-Clear Alerts for 'CcdCamera has resumed again' show incorrect downtime durations (18:32 & 19:37-19:44). After CcdCamera resumed again at 18:32, the CcdCamera had been frozen since 18:16 (some 16 minutes) but this was reported as "CcdCamera has resumed again (18:32) after 0.0 mins". Other cases are described as "after 0.0 mins" or  as "after 0.1 mins" . Fixed in AstroMain 3.65.14. New variable CcdCameraFreezeTimePoint (date) added and ObsOverseer loop modified to calculate CcdCameraFrozenSecs = SecondsSince(CcdCameraFreezeTimePoint) and use it for presenting the 'after' duration time.
  Fixed 2024-02-15 (AstroMain 3.65.14)
   
• Camera set point temperature was unexpectedly raised to -15°C whilst waiting for CCD to stabilise at -20°C (19:47).  Before Centering Target 5/34 (BL Lac) there was a 'Update Temperature' wait loop initiation with a "CCD to stabilise at -20.0°C" message, but this was followed by a 'Raise CCD SetPoint' message "CCD Temperature SetPoint has been raised to -15.0°C (19:48)".   Spotting this attempt to unexpectedly raise CCD Set Point Temperature to -15°C (at ambient temp at 3.9°C) a user intervention was made to 'Propose' CCD Temperature (which indicated -20°C) and to 'Update' CCD Temperature' (to -20°C). This anomalous behaviour has been spotted before.  A similar problem was previously noted where there was an unexpected 'Lower CCD SetPoint' message where an attempt was made to lower CCD Set Point to -35°C.   Issue on this occasion seems to be due to CCD Cooling Power being above Upper CoolingThreshold (84%) for an extended period and code concluding that SetPoint needs to be raised by 5°C points (from -20°C to -15°C).  CcdMonitor main loop set  bRaiseSetPoint = True  IF (MinutesSince(PhaseStartTime) > SettlingMins + GraceMins OrElse (MinutesSince(PhaseStartTime) > 8 AndAlso CCDCamera.CoolerPower > 95 AndAlso CcdTempIsAcceptable = False) And AvCoolerPower > UpperPowerLevel.   ObsManager monitors  bLowerSetPoint &  bRaiseSetPoint and if either flag is True it calls ChangeCameraSetPoint().  PhaseStartTime is set if Temperature Regulation has just been switched on or if SetPoint Temperature has been changed.  Settling Time is 10 mins, Grace Time is 5 mins. Cooling Thresholds 60% (low) to 84% (high).   During Target 4/34 (GK Per) CCDSoft/SBIG Camera were restarted at 19:44:43 in attempt to fix locked thread during Foc1 Focusing.  Camera was reconnected at 19:45:40, at which point CCD Temperature was recorded as -10.2°C and Set Point Temperature was set to -20°C.   After slew to following Target 5/34 (BL Lac), the job executor entered a pre-centering wait loop at 19:47:06 to wait for the CCD to stabilise at -20 °C using a call to CheckForStableCCDTemperature(T, 1) .  Fixed attempted in AstroMain 3.65.14; the connectCamera() routine modified to set CcdMonitor.PhaseStartTime = Now() when Temperature Regulation is started, which should prevent the situation where a Raise or Lower SetPoint flag becomes prematurely or inappropriately set.  As similar issue occurred in session S1201 (S1201, 2024-03-17) which is undergoing an investigation (see Investigation - CCD Monitor lowered Camera SetPoint Temperature to an unachievable level (2024-03-27) ).
  Fixed 2024-02-15 (AstroMain 3.65.14)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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