David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1202 (2024-03-29)

Notes (S1201)

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Notes (S1203)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (2)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2024-03-29)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
    ( 12P/Pons-Brooks is now an early evening object only and its was not a feasiblea im for the session due to expected early cloud)
2. AstroMain. Test new 3.67.1 version  of AstroMain. Verify there are no significant side-effects or issues with the new versions
3. 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 1.3.9, 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 3.67.1,  AstroPlan 1.39.14,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.3   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.13.1,  AstroSN 1.10.2,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.11
  AstroWeather 1.24, AstroAllSky 3.20.3,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.3

Highlights

• Targets. 2/23 planned targets observations were completed. Other targets failed or cancelled due to cloud, rain or too few stars. One ToO target was started but not completed due to cloud
•  Dome Parking.  Dome parked at correct position at the end of the session.
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks could be acquired due to cloud ahead 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 20:24:19 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:24 & 03:33 20:24:22 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:24) 20:24:32   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:24:45 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-03-29 S01202, ImageSaveNum: 1202001) 20:24:52   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:26:39   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:26:45 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:26:47 Session Pending Session pending (2024-03-29) 20:26:49 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-03-29) 20:27:05   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 20:27:10   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.14) 20:28:09   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 977) 20:28:52   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:29:16 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:30:01   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 20:30:11 Session Running Session running 20:30:13   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 20:30:17     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 20:30:31       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:35:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:37:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:39:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:39:36       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:41:44       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:43:28       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:43:45     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 20:43:50     Target Started (1/23) Target started (1/23, 13P/Olbers) 20:47:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 21:00:46     Target Completed Target completed (1/23, 13P/Olbers) 21:01:28     Target Started (2/23) Target started (2/23, UGC 2964 w/AT2024epz) 21:04:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:06:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:23:17     Target Completed Target completed (2/23, UGC 2964 w/AT2024epz) 21:23:21     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, 119P/Parker-Hartley, ToO) 21:28:08   Critical RainThreat Alert Critical Rain Threat Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:28:10   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (threat of rain) 21:28:12     Target Aborted (3/24) Target aborted (3/24, 119P/Parker-Hartley, ToO) due to threat of rain 21:28:14   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:28:16 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:29:03   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 21:29:05 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:37:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/24, 119P/Parker-Hartley, ToO) due to cloud 21:42:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/24, NGC 3443 w/SN2024ehs) due to rain 22:02:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/24, 62P/Tsuchinshan) due to cloud 22:22:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/24, UGC 7357 w/SN2023vhb) due to cloud 22:45:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/24, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 23:07:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/24, NGC 6745 w/SN2023ucy) due to rain 23:29:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/24, NGC 4192A w/AT2024exw) due to rain 23:51:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/24, M86) due to rain 00:13:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/24, UGC 8630 w/SN2024drv) due to cloud 00:36:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/24, NGC 4216 w/SN2024gy) due to cloud 00:50:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/24, AT2024crd) due to cloud 01:13:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/24, 207P/NEAT) due to cloud 01:34:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/24, NGC 3690 w/SN2023wrk) due to cloud 01:50:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/24, GCVS U Her) due to cloud 02:10:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/24, IC 2190 w/SN2024dhp) due to cloud 02:32:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/24, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) due to cloud 02:54:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/24, NGC 5036 w/SN2024dop) due to cloud 03:17:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/24, NGC 6433 w/SN2024efn) due to cloud 03:31:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/24, AT2023txn) due to cloud 03:43:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/24, AT2024epa (CV)) due to cloud 03:55:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/24, AT2023abtv (CV)) due to cloud 04:15:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/24, GCVS BL Lac) due to too few stars 04:15:52   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:15:55 Session Closing Session closing 04:16:00   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 21:29, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 04:16:31   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 23s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:17:48   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 71s total) 04:18:03   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:18:25   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:19:45   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (43mA) 04:19:47   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:19:50 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:19:57     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:21:25     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.0°) 04:23:15   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (41mA) 04:23:17 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 20:26:47 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (40.52 GB) is less than 50 GB 04:19:53 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (40.46 GB) is less than 50 GB 04:23:15 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (41mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-03-29 S1202)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Make a number of small tweaks to Session Logging. 1) Add a log line at commencement of InitiatingStageNo=1.  2) Remove duplicated log message for "PostSlew.DomeAz", 3) Rationalise logging of successive messages for 'PostSlew.ScopeAzAlt' & 'PostSlew.AzAlt(Calc),' change PostSlew.AzAlt(Calc) to a '(trace)' message.
  Done  2024-03-30 (AstroMain 3.67.2)
   
• Make changes to the 'Sort by Name' & 'Sort by Con' checkboxes on AstroPlan's Targets List form, lead automatically to a Form Refresh. Implemented in AstroPlan 1.39.15.
  Done  2024-03-29 (AstroPlan  1.39.15)

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