David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1199 (2024-03-20)

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Notes (S1200)

	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 (1)
	Images from 2024-03-20 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-03-20)

Main aims

1. 12P/Pons-Brooks. Acquire images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks which has been undergoing regular outbursts.
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
3. AstroMain. Test new 3.66.6 (pre-3.67) version  of AstroMain in a live session, following mutliple changes in version 3.66.4, 3.66.5 & 3.66.6. Verify there are no significant sideeffects or issues with the new versions.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.9, 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  2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.66.6,  AstroPlan 1.39.12,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.13.1,  AstroSN 1.10.2,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.11
  AstroWeather 1.23.15, AstroAllSky 3.20.3,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.3

Highlights

• Targets. 5/31  planned targets observations were completed, with the other 2 targets partially completed, but images from one of which (AT2024eja) was later rejected due to cloud.
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were successfully acquired.
• AstroMain / SBIG Camera. There was one case with CcdCamera / SBIG Camera.but were resolved by AstroMain's Manager/Job Executor.
•  Dome Parking.  Dome parked at correct position at the 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 17:48:47 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:17 & 04:01 17:48:50   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 19:17 19:17:35   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 19:34:21 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:34) 19:34:32   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:34:57   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 19:34:59 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-03-20 S01199, ImageSaveNum: 1199001) 19:35:04   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:36:50   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:36:56 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:36:59   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 19:37:01 Session Pending Session pending (2024-03-20) 19:37:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-03-20) 19:37:05   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.12) 19:37:57   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 973) 19:38:13   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:38:49   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:39:13 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:39:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 19:40:03 Session Running Session running 19:40:05   Queue Started Observing Queue started (31 targets selected) 19:40:08     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:40:22       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:44:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:47:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:48:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:48:58       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:50:59       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:52:42       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:52:59     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:53:29     Target Started (1/31) Target started (1/31, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 19:57:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:59:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:10:22     Target Completed Target completed (1/31, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 20:10:26     Target Started (2/31) Target started (2/31, 13P/Olbers) 20:13:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:15:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:27:22     Target Completed Target completed (2/31, 13P/Olbers) 20:27:26     Target Started (3/31) Target started (3/31, NGC 1122 w/SN2024dru) 20:30:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:32:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:48:23     Target Completed Target completed (3/31, NGC 1122 w/SN2024dru) 20:49:29     Target Started (4/31) Target started (4/31, UGC 2964 w/AT2024epz) 20:52:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:54:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:10:59     Target Completed Target completed (4/31, UGC 2964 w/AT2024epz) 21:11:29     Target Started (5/31) Target started (5/31, AT2024eim) 21:14:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:16:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:32:28     Target Completed Target completed (5/31, AT2024eim) 21:32:29       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:32:32   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension 21:32:35 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:33:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 21:33:27 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:41:25 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:42:10   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 21:42:13 Session Running Session running 21:42:15   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:42:18     Target Started (6/31) Target started (6/31, AT2024eja) 21:48:46       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:52:20     Target Aborted (6/31) Target aborted (6/31, AT2024eja) due to User Intervention 21:52:22   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:52:24 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:53:22   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 60s, Zigbee 44s) 21:53:24 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:57:42 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 21:57:45   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 21:57:47 Session Closing Session closing 21:57:52   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 21:53, closing time 60s, zigbee 44s) 21:59:07   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 67s), Az: 90.0 deg 22:00:25   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 71s total) 22:00:40   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 22:01:02   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 22:02:22   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (48mA) 22:02:24   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 22:02:27 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 22:02:39     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 22:04:09     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 22:04:16     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 22:04:18   Dome Parked Dome parked 22:04:32   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (44mA) 22:04:34 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 19:36:57 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (44.03 GB) is less than 50 GB 22:00:26 Red Alert Unexpected Scope Movement Scope appears to be tracking even though Tracking=False 22:02:35 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (43.26 GB) is less than 50 GB 22:04:32 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (44mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-03-20 S1199)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (4)
• Continuous Improvement (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• RmsE values are not being displayed on Foc2 Focus Profile Chart (19:51).   RmsE calculation has been added to the CalculateBestFitQuadratic() routine in AstroMain 3.66.6 to better describe the quality of the quadratic curve fit to the points in a focus profile. Besides reporting them and for use in accepting or rejecting a curve fit and the value is also displayed on the Focus Profile Chart.  For Foc2 profiles however a null value -99.00 is being displayed rather than the calculated value. The bug (FP.RmsE wasn't being set to the new RmsE) has been tracked down and fixed in AstroMain 3.66.7.
  Fixed 2024-03-21 (AstroMain 3.66.7)
   
• Unable to perform a Foc2 Focusing Replay on Development Computer.  Whilst attempting to replay Profile 2 (Foc2) from the session to test the fix for the 'displaying RmsE' bug,  an initial attempt using ShCap (the default tool) was failing with messages "Connect ShCap Camera... Fail" and "Fail   Unable to find SharpCap Image" . The alternative method using PHD2 couldn't initially be used as Shcap wasn't connected, even though it wouldn't be used with this method, but later after connnecting to ShCap, the PHD2 method encountered the issue that PHD2 was unable to find an acceptable guide star (it turned out this was due to PHDS's Simulator Camera bringing up images comprised of noise without stars, which was resolved by restarting PHD2 in order to pick up fresh simulator images (which do contain stars). However the issue then arose that the PHD2 method produces HFD values and not FWHM values,  and in an cases weren't one associated with the profile being replayed. Then tried to replay the Foc2 profile using Foc1 Focusing but was unable to do so as the Focus Steps from the Foc2 profile (7742-8037) were "outside the allowed step range"  for Foc1 Focusing (0-7000). Issue finally resolved in AstroMain 3.66.7,  it turned out that the SharpCap  'Test Camera 1 (Deep Sky)' that needs to be use in Test Mode on new Development Computer isn't 5 (which was used on old development) , but is 3 on the new computer. Also the hardcoded ImagePaths to get a locate frame and dummy focus frame on old computer had to be changed for the new computer.
  Fixed  2024-03-21 (AstroMain 3.66.7)
   
• Foc1 Focusing for 12P/Pons-Brooks chose the comet itself as the focus star rather than a proper star (19:57).  Foc1 focusing for target 1/31 (12P/Pons-Brooks) chose the comet itself as the Focus Star as it was the brightest object in the FOV (being brighter than the brightest star in the image). See Fig 1. Whilst focusing was successful the FWHM (8") estimated from the Focus Frames sees a much more diffuse object than is normally seen for a star object with a typical FWHM (3").  See Fig 2. The present design of AstroMain's GetBrightestObject() simply gets the coordinates of the brightest star in an image that doesn't lie in an optional edge exclusion zone. It does this regardless of the type of target.  The issue is not a defect/bug and the ticket is therefore closed. A separate Continuous Improvement ticket has however been raised to look at implementing a enhancement whereby a specific object could be excluded from being found by the GetBrightestObject() routine.
  Closed 2024-03-21 (Session, AstroMain)
   
• Focus Star square not being drawn at correct position on JPG PIcture during Target Replay. Whilst replaying 12P/Pons-Brooks with Foc1 focusing using new GetBrightestStar method involving not selecting the comet object (see Continuous Improvement ticket below), the coordinates of next brightest object in the image was correctly found and reported (669, 179) but the resulting JPG picture had the focus star (square + text) drawn in the wrong position. Later on for unknown reasons the focus star box was plotted in the correct position.  Issue is considered to be resolved.
  Resolved 2024-03-21 (Session, AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify Foc1 Focusing so that it optionally avoids focusing on a specific object such as a diffuse comet object. Focusing for 12P/Pons-Brooks in S1199 chose the comet itself as the focus star rather than a proper star as it was the brightest object in the FOV (See Fig 1)..  Whilst focusing was successful the FWHM (8") estimated from the Focus Frames sees a much more diffuse object than would normally be seen for a star with typical FWHM (3") (See Fig 2).  The present design of AstroMain's GetBrightestObject() routine simply gets the coordinates of the brightest star in an image that doesn't lie in an optional edge exclusion zone, regardless of the type of target object.  A method should be sought whereby region around the coordinates of a specific object could be excluded from the GetBrightestObject() routine.  Whilst the modified methology is intended for use with comets it might also apply to galaxies with a bright/diffuse nucleus or small but bright planetary nebula .  The one drawback is that the second brightest object might be too dim for focus profiling meaning that the target goes unfocussed, though this not normally a problem as the session will most likely already had previous Foc1 focusing.  A solution has been implemented in AstroMain 3.66.7 (See Fig 3). The PerformAutoFocusRun(),  RunAutoPickFocusStar(), GetBrightestObject()  & GetBrightestObjectInclFWHM() routines have been extended to allow the X/Y coordinates of the 'exclusion' object to be sent as parameters from OB.FocusMainScope()  through to GetBrightestObjectInclFWHM()  (or to send vcNull coordinates where no object exclusion is required).  The FocusMainScope() routine uses LocateInfo.ObjectX & ObjectY as the coords to exclude if ObjectType is "Comet".
  Done 2024-03-21 (AstroMain 3.66.7)

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