David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 956 (2022-01-20)

Notes (S955)

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Notes (S957)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2022-01-20 >>         [ Local Files >> ]      [ Local Files S956 Attempt, 2022-01-18 >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-01-20)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by time & conditions.
2. AstroMain.  Test bug fixes and enhancements associated with AstroMain 3.48.20

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.5.1.9,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.3.373, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.10
   
• AstroMain 3.48.20,  AstroPlan 1.29.3,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.3,  AstroVOE 1.9.1,  AstroSN 1.7.2,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.15.3, AstroAllSky 3.14.3,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.1)

Highlights

Notes:

• .
  
  

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Black points (1, 10, 12)   - Cloud Yellow Point (6, 7,14)   -

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 18:19:03 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:18 & 06:14 18:19:07 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:19) 18:19:35 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-01-20 S00956, ImageSaveNum: 956001) 18:19:37   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:21:19   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:21:26 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:21:29 Session Pending Session pending (2022-01-20) 18:21:31 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-01-20) 18:21:33   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.3) 18:22:14   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 712) 18:22:37   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 18:22:44   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 18:23:08 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 18:23:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 18:24:33 Session Running Session running 18:24:35   Queue Started Observing Queue started (37 targets selected) 18:24:38     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 18:26:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:29:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:31:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:31:44       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:33:53       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 18:35:39       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 18:35:58     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 2, HIP 9508) 18:36:35     Target Started (1/37) Target started (1/37, NGC 7594 w/SN2022de) 18:39:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:54:57   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 18:55:22   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 18:56:58     Target Completed Target completed (1/37, NGC 7594 w/SN2022de) 19:00:07     Target Started (2/37) Target started (2/37, NGC 958 w/SN2022ao) 19:05:06       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 19:21:04     Target Completed Target completed (2/37, NGC 958 w/SN2022ao) 19:23:39     Target Started (3/37) Target started (3/37, NGC 1325A w/AT2021agbu) 19:27:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 19:44:32     Target Completed Target completed (3/37, NGC 1325A w/AT2021agbu) 19:47:11     Target Started (4/37) Target started (4/37, 19P/Borrelly) 19:50:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 19:59:15     Target Completed Target completed (4/37, 19P/Borrelly) 20:02:36     Target Started (5/37) Target started (5/37, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz) 20:06:47       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:23:31     Target Completed Target completed (5/37, NGC 1400 w/AT2021hcz) 20:26:08     Target Started (6/37) Target started (6/37, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 20:29:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:31:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:41:20     Target Completed Target completed (6/37, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 20:41:33     Target Started (7/37) Target started (7/37, GCVS GK Per) 20:44:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:46:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:50:47     Target Completed Target completed (7/37, GCVS GK Per) 20:51:24     Target Started (8/37) Target started (8/37, LEDA 2204848 w/SN2021umh) 20:54:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:57:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:13:08     Target Completed Target completed (8/37, LEDA 2204848 w/SN2021umh) 21:14:56     Target Started (9/37) Target started (9/37, Nova Per 2020) 21:17:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:18:24   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:19:05   SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 21:20:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:28:24     Target Completed Target completed (9/37, Nova Per 2020) 21:30:58     Target Started (10/37) Target started (10/37, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 21:35:41       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 21:38:37   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 21:38:42 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:38:44   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:38:48     Target Aborted (10/37) Target aborted (10/37, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) due to cloud 21:38:50   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:38:52 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:39:42   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:45:58 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:46:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 21:46:45 Session Running Session running 21:46:47   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:46:50     Target Started (10/37) Target started (10/37, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 21:59:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (10/37, NGC 7446 w/SN2021agdd) 21:59:42     Target Started (11/37) Target started (11/37, GCVS BL Lac) 22:07:44     Target Completed Target completed (11/37, GCVS BL Lac) 22:07:48     Target Started (12/37) Target started (12/37, Nova Cas 2021) 22:09:41   SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:11:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:12:51 Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:12:53   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:12:55     Target Aborted (12/37) Target aborted (12/37, Nova Cas 2021) due to cloud 22:12:57   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:12:59 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:13:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 22:19:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/37, Nova Cas 2021) due to cloud 22:40:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/37, UGC 3383 w/AT2021abbn) due to cloud 23:03:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/37, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) due to cloud 23:27:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/37, PKS0735+17 w/AT2021agfn) due to cloud 23:50:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/37, AT2021aghu) due to cloud 00:14:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/37, Scholz's Star) due to cloud 00:37:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/37, NGC 2402 w/SN2022ds) due to cloud 00:50:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/37, GCVS SY Cnc) due to cloud 01:11:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/37, SN 2021aalq) due to cloud 01:30:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/37, UGC 6930 w/SN2020rcq) due to cloud 01:53:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/37, AT2021aghd) due to cloud 02:15:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/37, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) due to cloud 02:28:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/37, GCVS RR Leo) due to cloud 02:47:54 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:48:39   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:48:42 Session Running Session running 02:48:44   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:48:46     Target Started (25/37) Target started (25/37, NGC 4896 w/SN2021wad) 02:56:17     Target Completed Target partially completed (25/37, NGC 4896 w/SN2021wad) 02:56:21     Target Started (26/37) Target started (26/37, GCVS RZ LMi) 02:59:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:01:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 03:07:46     Target Completed Target completed (26/37, GCVS RZ LMi) 03:07:51     Target Started (27/37) Target started (27/37, IC 4040 w/SN2022jo) 03:11:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:27:57     Target Completed Target completed (27/37, IC 4040 w/SN2022jo) 03:29:03     Target Started (28/37) Target started (28/37, AT2021kmb) 03:31:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:34:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 03:50:57     Target Completed Target completed (28/37, AT2021kmb) 03:52:35     Target Started (29/37) Target started (29/37, UGC 8975 w/SN2021adpe) 03:55:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:11:44     Target Completed Target completed (29/37, UGC 8975 w/SN2021adpe) 04:16:07     Target Started (30/37) Target started (30/37, AT2021ife) 04:19:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:36:47     Target Completed Target completed (30/37, AT2021ife) 04:39:39     Target Started (31/37) Target started (31/37, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 04:43:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:46:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 05:02:21     Target Completed Target completed (31/37, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 05:03:11     Target Started (32/37) Target started (32/37, IC 863 w/SN2021foa) 05:06:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:22:26     Target Completed Target completed (32/37, IC 863 w/SN2021foa) 05:26:43     Target Started (33/37) Target started (33/37, AT2021agpw (CV)) 05:29:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:35:30     Target Completed Target completed (33/37, AT2021agpw (CV)) 05:40:15     Target Started (34/37) Target started (34/37, GCVS U Her) 05:43:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:45:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 05:55:38     Target Completed Target completed (34/37, GCVS U Her) 05:55:42     Target Started (35/37) Target started (35/37, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 05:59:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 06:15:31     Target Completed Target completed (35/37, NGC 6184 w/SN2021wkv) 06:16:23     Target Started (36/37) Target started (36/37, UGC 10566 w/AT2022aab) 06:19:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:35:45     Target Completed Target completed (36/37, UGC 10566 w/AT2022aab) 06:39:55     Target Started (37/37) Target started (37/37, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 06:42:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:45:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 06:54:04     Target Completed Target completed (37/37, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 06:54:07   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:54:09 Session Closing Session closing 06:55:05   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:55:31   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 19s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:56:44   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 68s) 06:56:59   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 06:57:21   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:58:17   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:58:19 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:58:35 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2022-01-20, S956)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Too many targets are needing to wait before starting. Wait time for many target is frequently around 2 mins, but sometimes up to 4 mins.  Total wait time may have been as high as 43mins equivalent to 2 or 3 whole targets.  These waits are partly due to 1) changes in AstroPlan 1.29.3 / AstroMain 3.48.20 where scheduled target durations were modified to explicitly include time for focusing (150s) which wasn't explicitly included before, and extra time was added to Begin Guiding (90s) and Begin Imaging (60s), and 2) some targets ending 2 mins earlier than planned in cases where focusing is cancelled early due to focus star being determined as 'too dim' or 'lost'.  The average task times over the session were :  slewing 33s (vs 80s plan),  centering 77s  (vs 120s plan), begin guiding 56s (vs 90s plan),  aborted focusing 30s (vs 150s plan), completed focusing 163s (vs 150s plan), begin imaging 19s (vs 60s plan). Looking at longest task instances : longest slew was 81s (vs 80s plan), longest centering was 180s (vs 120s plan),  longest begin guiding 65s (vs. 90s plan), longest focusing 184s (vs 150s plan),  longest begin imaging 54s (vs 60s plan).     Plan times modified in AstroPlan / Database according to new proposal (see updated timing details). 
  Done 2022-01-21 (AstroPlan 1.29.4, AstroMain 3.48.21)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Add a blank report line before 'Waiting for Guider to Settle..." message.
  Done 2022-01-21 (AstroMain 3.48.21)
   
• Modify Plan durations for making a filter change (including time to change focus position) and modify CalculateDuration routines to incorporate the precise number of filter changes for each target.  Average time for filter change increased from 2s to 10s  (based on 3s for a small focus change,  17s for a large focus change).
  Done 2022-01-21 (AstroPlan 1.29.4, AstroMain 3.48.21)
   
• Record a Waiting Time for all targets even if those that don't have to wait. At present waiting timing is only recorded to session's (waiting).dat file when target has to wait. Timings should be recorded for all targets. Obviously duration = 0.0 will be output for those targets that don't have to wait.
  Done 2022-01-21 (AstroMain 3.48.21)
   
• Update Plan Time for targets created in AstroVOE and AstroSN programs. OverheadTimes updated to align with new settings in AstroPlan and AstroMain.
  Done 2022-01-21 (AstroSN 1.7.3, AstroVOE 1.9.2)

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