David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 816 (2020-10-06)

Notes (S815)

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Notes (S817)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (1),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2020-09-29 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2020-10-06)

Main aims

1. AstroMain 3.30  Check stability of new major release of AstroMain with several changes/fixes
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of deep sky targets
3. TS80 Motor Focus. Check that fixes to Secondary Scope's Motor Focus carry through to successful night time autofocusing.

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 4.6.1.11, UPB 1.5 
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9
   
• AstroMain 3.30.1/3.30.2,  AstroGuard 1.4.5,   AstroPlan 1.16.4,  AstroShCap 1.2.26, AstroVOE 1.4, AstroProtect 1.4.1
  (AstroWeather 1.10.13, AstroAllSky 3.6)
  

• AutoStart. Autostart worked as per design and after establishing there was an issue connecting to telescope, it aborted the session start.
• Bug Fixes. Fixes so that Database Transfer Time was correctly reported (AutoStart) and that Dome.ShutterStatus returned correct values.
• Serious Bug in AstroMain 3.30.1 . Telescope communication was being incorretly set to use COM9 (the com used by dome), instead of COM7 (the correct port)

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)

Pre-Session Weather Forecast (API data from darksky.net) Pre-Session Weather forecast showed dry and partly to moderately cloudy conditons for the entire night ( 33-84% cloud cover) with minimum temperature of 10 °C and steadily increasing wind speed (12mph increasing to 23 mph by dawn In the event conditions were dry with cloudy intervals separately clear intervals  Wind was moderate for most of the night and temperatures were 10°C (min) increasing to 12°C by dawn.

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 23:47:06 Session Created Live Session Created (2020-10-06 S00816, ImageSaveNum: 816001) 23:47:08   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:48:16   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:48:18 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 23:58:04   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 23:58:25 Program Closed Program closed by User 23:58:27 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:03:47 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-10-06 S00816, ImageSaveNum: 816001) 00:04:45   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:04:47   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:04:51   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:05:19   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:16:36   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 00:16:44   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 00:17:28   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:18:40   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:20:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 00:23:14   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:36:23   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 00:37:19   Scope Switched On Telescope power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:41:54   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 00:43:50   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:44:55   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:46:29   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 00:53:49   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:53:53 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:53:55 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:55:51 Session Resumed Live Session Resumed (2020-10-06 S00816, ImageSaveNum: 816001) 00:56:00   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:56:02   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:56:06   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:56:22   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:57:56   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:58:17   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:58:30   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 00:59:04 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:59:05 Session Pending Session pending (2020-10-06) 00:59:07 Session Initiating Session initiating (2020-10-06) 00:59:09   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.16.4) 00:59:57   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (2020-10-06 V1 BEST PLAN, Plan ID: 551) 01:00:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -15°C) 01:00:09   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 01:00:21 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 01:00:23 Wait On Weather Waiting For acceptable conditions 01:00:25 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:00:27   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closure time is unknown) 01:00:29   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 01:06:36 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:07:22   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 01:07:24 Session Running Session running 01:07:26   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:09:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:13:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 01:16:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 01:16:07       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 01:18:56       Focusing Failed Foc2 Focusing Failed - failed QC check (Range) 01:18:58     Target Started (1/23) Target started (1/23, GCVS Z And) 01:20:52       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 01:23:41     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/23, GCVS Z And) 01:23:43     Target Started (2/23) Target started (2/23, GCVS HH And) 01:29:52     Target Completed Target completed (2/23, GCVS HH And) 01:29:55     Target Started (3/23) Target started (3/23, GCVS RX And) 01:32:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:34:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 01:37:37     Target Completed Target completed (3/23, GCVS RX And) 01:37:40     Target Started (4/23) Target started (4/23, GCVS U And) 01:39:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:42:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:52:18     Target Completed Target completed (4/23, GCVS U And) 01:52:20     Target Started (5/23) Target started (5/23, GCVS TT Ari) 01:54:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:57:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 02:03:32     Target Completed Target completed (5/23, GCVS TT Ari) 02:03:34     Target Started (6/24) Target started (6/24, NGC 514, ToO) 02:05:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:08:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 02:19:03     Target Completed Target completed (6/24, NGC 514, ToO) 02:19:05     Target Missed (7/24) Target's time slot was missed (7/24, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 02:19:07     Target Started (8/24) Target started (8/24, GSC 1224:29) 02:27:06     Target Completed Target completed (8/24, GSC 1224:29) 02:27:08     Target Started (9/24) Target started (9/24, NGC 7722) 02:29:11       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:41:33     Target Completed Target completed (9/24, NGC 7722) 02:41:35     Target Started (10/24) Target started (10/24, GCVS DY Per) 02:45:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:48:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:52:30     Target Completed Target completed (10/24, GCVS DY Per) 02:52:33     Target Started (11/24) Target started (11/24, GCVS CM Tau) 02:54:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:57:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 03:01:37   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:04:28   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 03:06:53   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:11:08   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to Improved Conditions 03:11:48     Target Completed Target completed (11/24, GCVS CM Tau) 03:11:50     Target Started (12/24) Target started (12/24, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:13:28   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:15:27       Focusing Failed Foc1 Focusing Failed - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:20:16     Target Completed Target completed (12/24, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:20:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for SoftSuspend 03:20:20 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:21:09   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 49s) 03:33:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/24, WDS GRB 34) due to cloud 03:53:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/24, NGC 2782) due to cloud 04:11:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/24, UGC 6930) due to cloud 04:22:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/24, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 04:31:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/24, GCVS CN Ori) due to cloud 04:41:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/24, GCVS RR Tau) due to cloud 04:54:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/24, Nova AT2020bfc) due to cloud 05:21:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/24, C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)) due to cloud 05:30:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/24, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 05:42:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/24, GCVS DX Cnc) due to cloud 05:51:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/24, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 06:11:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/24, LAMOST-HVS1) due to other condition 06:11:24   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:11:30 Session Closing Session closing 06:11:35   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:21, closing time 49s) 06:12:47   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 71s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:13:41   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 48s) 06:14:11   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 06:15:01   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:15:03 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:15:20 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:48:18 Telescope Alert ASCOM Telescope not connnected 02:43:23 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (GCVS DY Per)

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Operational Issues (2020-10-06 S816)

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

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Critical Issues

• Unable to Connect to LX200 GPS/R Telescope. After diagnosis (taking 60mins) it became clear that due to a bug in the newly modified TScope class in AstroMain 3.30.1,  the Telescopes COM Port is getting set to that of the Dome (COM 9 rather than COM7).  Once the problem was properly identified it took 5mins to fix the bug and a further 5 mins to get the new code (AstroMain 3.30.2) out to observatory and the session restarted.  Issue is marked as critical as it was a total showstopper for the session and it led to telescope being powered up but unable to connect to it & park it remotely.
  Fixed 2020-10-07 (AstroMain 3.30.2).

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• In the new 'Dome Position Check' section an alert is being given when Last Azimuth Change was only 0.7min ago.  This is a check conducted after the first Locate Frame and the description of the issues relates to Target 3/23 (RX And).  There is also an duplicate report comment
   Last Dome Movement          Alert     Last Azimuth Change 01:30:16 (0.7 mins ago
                               Ok        Last Azimuth Change 01:30:16 (0.7 mins ago)
  Fixed 2020-10-09 (AstroMain 3.30.4)
   
• Dome Slew time and Scope Slew time are suspiciously similar in several cases. Data reviewed 2020-10-09 and concluded there scope and slew times are generally different and seem to be reasonable, slewing times and speeds appear to be good. Recent code modifications have resolved earlier issue. There isn't a residual or new issue to be worked.
  Issue closed following review 2020-10-09.
   
• PHD2 Client Program's SendRequest routine, doesn't always return the Response that is related to the request, but may sometimes send back event data or the response to some other request.  This is particular true of a Set_Profile request, which typically generates a series of GuideParamChange events before sending back the result.  Every SendRequest generates a unique ID and the routine needs to use a special version of GetMessage in which the request ID is used to find the specific response that relates to the request.
  Fixed 2020-10-09 (AstroMain 3.30.5).

Continuous Improvement

• Add Date to TimeStamp used in AstroGuard log file
  Done 2020-10-03 (AstroGuard 1.4.5)

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