David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1210 (2024-04-19)

Notes (S1209)

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Notes (S1211)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	Images from 2024-04-19 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-04-19)

Main aims

1. AstroMain. Check new AstroMain 3.68.4 version in case of any issues intrroduced by change/extensions to ObsManager
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

 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 3.68.4,  AstroPlan 1.40.1,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.5   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.13.2,  AstroSN 1.10.3,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.12
  AstroWeather 1.24.1, AstroAllSky 3.20.4,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroLaunch 1.11.3

Highlights

• Targets. 2/19 planned targets observations were partially completed, with other target missed due to software issue or cloud.
• AstroMain. A bug in new ObsManager code in AstroMain 3.68.4 caused a hold-up in ObsManager & Job Queue. Fixed in session with AstroMain 3.68.5 update, but by then cloud had developed and remained until dawn..
• CCDCamera. There were no problems with the recently re-factored and extended CCDCamera object.  It particular there were no incidents in which CCDCamera, CCDSoft &  SBIG Camera froze and needed to be restarted.   The CCDSoft was restarted by the ObsOverseer/Manager to try to fix the apparently frozen job queue, but this was probably not related to the camea.

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 21:22:55 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:38 & 03:24 21:22:57   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:38 21:38:29   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:47:55 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:47) 21:48:16   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:48:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 21:48:45 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-04-19 S01210, ImageSaveNum: 1210001) 21:48:50   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:50:35   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:50:42 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:50:44   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:50:47 Session Pending Session pending (2024-04-19) 21:50:49 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-04-19) 21:50:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:51:03   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.40.1) 21:52:01   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 985) 21:52:45   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:53:09 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:53:54   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 21:54:04 Session Running Session running 21:54:06   Queue Started Observing Queue started (19 targets selected) 21:54:10     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 21:54:26       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:58:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:01:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:03:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:03:17       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:05:17       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:07:00       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:07:17     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 22:07:31     Target Started (1/19) Target started (1/19, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:10:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:13:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:24:01       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:24:57   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:24:59   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:25:01     Target Aborted (1/19) Target aborted (1/19, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 22:25:03   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:25:05 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:25:33   Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 22:25 - 22:25 22:25:52   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 22:25:54 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:33:38   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 22:33:45   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 22:34:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 23:28:12 User Intervention User Intervention to abort job queue & switch back to Manual Mode 23:28:14   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:28:36   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:28:41 Session Closed Session closed by User 23:28:44 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:30:16 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.68.5) 23:30:18 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2024-04-19 S01210, ImageSaveNum: 1210012) 23:30:22   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:30:41   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:30:50   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:31:19 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:31 & 03:24 23:31:21 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 23:31:36 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:31) 23:32:24   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:32:31 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:32:33 Session Pending Session pending (2024-04-19) 23:32:35 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-04-19) 23:32:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 23:32:52   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 985) 23:33:31   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:33:50 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:33:52   Wait On Weather Waiting for acceptable conditions 23:33:54 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:33:56   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 22:25, Closing time 50s, Zigbee 0s 23:33:58 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:46:42 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 23:46:57   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:47:00 Session Closed Session closed by User 23:47:03 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:48:05 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.68.5) 23:48:07 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2024-04-19 S01210, ImageSaveNum: 1210012) 23:48:12   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 23:48:21   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 23:48:29   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:51:13 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:51 & 03:24 23:51:15 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 23:51:18 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:51) 23:52:04   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:52:11 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:52:13 Session Pending Session pending (2024-04-19) 23:52:15 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-04-19) 23:52:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 23:52:32   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 985) 23:53:11   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:53:30 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:54:15   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 23:54:17 Session Running Session running 23:54:20   Queue Started Observing Queue started (15 targets selected) 23:54:24     Target Started (5/19) Target started (5/19, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 23:56:15       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:02:06     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/19, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 00:02:08   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:02:11 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:03:01   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 00:03:03 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:16:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/19, AT2024czk) due to cloud 00:39:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/19, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 00:58:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/19, 62P/Tsuchinshan) due to cloud 01:19:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/19, NGC 5235 w/AT2024grb) due to cloud 01:33:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/19, AT2024crd) due to rain 01:53:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/19, AT2023akq) due to cloud 02:15:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/19, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) due to cloud 02:37:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/19, UGC 11067 w/AT2024grw) due to cloud 02:59:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/19, NGC 6106 w/SN2024ahv) due to cloud 03:21:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/19, NGC 6433 w/SN2024efn) due to cloud 03:33:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/19, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 03:46:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/19, C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)) due to cloud 03:57:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/19, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 04:18:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/19, GCVS AM Her) due to cloud 04:19:00   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:19:04 Session Closing Session closing 04:19:09   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 00:03, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s) 04:19:55   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 38s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:21:05   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 63s total) 04:21:19   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:21:42   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:23:06   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:23:09 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:23:16     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:24:13     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 04:24:19     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 04:24:21   Dome Parked Dome parked 04:26:40   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (36mA) 04:26:42 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 22:35:36 Red Alert Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 22:25:00) 04:21:06 Red Alert Unexpected Scope Movement Scope appears to be tracking even though Tracking=False 04:26:40 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (36mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-04-19 S1210)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• When progressing through SessionState=Suspended the ObsManager is getting to SuspendedStageNo= 6 but isn't successfully entering SuspendedStage=7. (22:27).  After first getting the problem at 22:27 (with AstroMain 3.68.4) , the problem repeated itself at 23:34 (with AstroMain 3.68.5 with added tracing) . Bug found (code was using 'if ClosingStageNo=7' rather than 'if SuspendedStageNo=7'. Fixed in-session and released as AstroMain 3.68.5 update.  Problem was caused by late implementation of new feature giving no opportunity to test it before starting live session.  This was an accepted risk on this opportunity and was mitigated by remote monitoring / in-session code fixing.
  Fixed in-session 2024-04-17 (AstroMain 3.68.5)

Small Defects

• AstroMain's 'Post-Nebulosity' Dialog isn't being displayed in a position centered on the ObsConsole window.  Because the Nebulosity application is given the focus in order to receive SendKeys, AstroMain/ObsConsole loses the focus and Show Dialog ends up being displayed in a position centered on the screen.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.68.6,  a ObsConsole.BringToFront code line has been inserted immediately ahead of the ShowDialog command.
  Fixed in-session 2024-04-23 (AstroMain 3.68.6)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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