David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 969 (2022-02-10)

Notes (S968)

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Notes (S970)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	Images from 2022-02-10 >>         [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-02-10)

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.  Check bug fixes associated with AstroMain 3.49.3

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 3.49.3,  AstroPlan 1.29.9,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.6.3
  AstroVOE 1.9.2  AstroSN 1.7.3,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.15.3, AstroAllSky 3.14.6,  AstroObsCam 1.8, AstroLaunch 1.8.2)

Highlights

•  Targets.  x targets acquired.
•  Sky Condition.  Conditions generally clear for the whole night. Whilst passing cloud , cloud near horizons affected some images/some targets, the dome remained open the whole night and all targets were recorded as 'Completed'.
•  Obs.Monitor.  No problems with Obs.Monitor freezing in the S969 session (It had been concerning that the last two sessions have without apparent reason seen the ObsMonitor loop freezing in the section 'Monitor TheSky6 Scope' for periods of 37s (S967) and 4.5mins (S968) )

Notes:

• Aurora activity observed from 2022-02-10 23:10 UT and 2022-02-11 03:25 UT.  See Aurora Images/Video from 2022-02-10
  
  

  Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan

Observing Result

Dome & Scope Slewing Performance

Slew/Centering Performance

Guiding Performance Reasons for poor Dec guiding : Black /Purple points - None Red point (4) - Poor seeing/cloud associated with low alitude target close to horizon Orange points - None

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 22:46:01 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:45 & 05:40 22:46:04 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:46) 22:46:33 Session Created Live Session Created (2022-02-10 S00969, ImageSaveNum: 969001) 22:46:35   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:48:17   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:48:24 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:48:27 Session Pending Session pending (2022-02-10) 22:48:29 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-02-10) 22:48:31   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.29.9) 22:49:05   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 727) 22:49:29   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -25°C) 22:49:36   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 22:50:01 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 22:50:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 22:51:31 Session Running Session running 22:51:33   Queue Started Observing Queue started (26 targets selected) 22:51:36     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 22:53:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:56:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:58:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:58:08       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:00:20       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:02:06       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:02:25     Target Completed Target completed (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 23:03:33     Target Started (1/26) Target started (1/26, NGC 2922 w/SN2022bdu) 23:06:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:09:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:10:53 Critical Rain Alert Critical Rain Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:10:55   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (rain) 23:10:57     Target Aborted (1/26) Target aborted (1/26, NGC 2922 w/SN2022bdu) due to rain 23:10:59   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:11:01 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:11:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 55s) 23:22:29     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/26, NGC 2922 w/SN2022bdu) due to cloud 23:32:55 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:33:40   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 23:33:43 Session Running Session running 23:33:45   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:33:48     Target Started (2/26) Target started (2/26, GCVS ER UMa) 23:39:37     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/26, GCVS ER UMa) 23:39:41     Target Started (3/26) Target started (3/26, GCVS GK Per) 23:48:42     Target Completed Target completed (3/26, GCVS GK Per) 23:48:47     Target Started (4/27) Target started (4/27, 104P/Kowal, ToO) 23:58:30     Target Aborted (4/27) Target aborted (4/27, 104P/Kowal, ToO) due to User Intervention 23:58:34     Target Started (5/28) Target started (5/28, 70P/Kojima, ToO) 00:11:21     Target Completed Target completed (5/28, 70P/Kojima, ToO) 00:11:23     Target Missed (6/28) Target's time slot was missed (6/28, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:11:25     Target Missed (7/28) Target's time slot was missed (7/28, Nova Per 2020) 00:11:28     Target Started (8/28) Target started (8/28, UGC 522 w/SN2022bqt) 00:17:25       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:33:44     Target Completed Target completed (8/28, UGC 522 w/SN2022bqt) 00:33:49     Target Started (9/28) Target started (9/28, SN 2022bnf) 00:38:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:41:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:57:01     Target Completed Target completed (9/28, SN 2022bnf) 00:57:05     Target Started (10/28) Target started (10/28, NGC 3628 w/AT2022brm) 01:00:21       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:16:17     Target Completed Target completed (10/28, NGC 3628 w/AT2022brm) 01:17:26     Target Started (11/28) Target started (11/28, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 01:20:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:20:50       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 01:36:55     Target Completed Target completed (11/28, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 01:39:26     Target Started (12/28) Target started (12/28, GCVS CN Leo) 01:42:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:44:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:51:47     Target Completed Target completed (12/28, GCVS CN Leo) 01:52:16     Target Started (13/28) Target started (13/28, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 01:55:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:11:39     Target Completed Target completed (13/28, UGC 4671 w/SN2021afsj) 02:14:16     Target Started (14/28) Target started (14/28, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 02:17:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:19:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:28:11     Target Completed Target completed (14/28, C/2019 L3 (ATLAS)) 02:28:15     Target Started (15/28) Target started (15/28, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:31:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:33:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:46:17     Target Completed Target completed (15/28, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:46:44     Target Started (16/28) Target started (16/28, IC 635 w/AT2022bqu) 02:49:27       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:05:48     Target Completed Target completed (16/28, IC 635 w/AT2022bqu) 03:08:45     Target Started (17/28) Target started (17/28, UGC 6014 w/AT2022bil) 03:11:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:13:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:29:26     Target Completed Target completed (17/28, UGC 6014 w/AT2022bil) 03:30:45     Target Started (18/28) Target started (18/28, UGCA 258 w/SN2022mm) 03:33:52       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:50:06     Target Completed Target completed (18/28, UGCA 258 w/SN2022mm) 03:52:44     Target Started (19/28) Target started (19/28, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 03:55:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:57:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 04:14:10     Target Completed Target completed (19/28, NGC 4348 w/SN2022fw) 04:14:44     Target Started (20/28) Target started (20/28, GCVS BL Lac) 04:18:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:20:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 04:24:45     Target Completed Target completed (20/28, GCVS BL Lac) 04:24:49     Target Started (21/28) Target started (21/28, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:27:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:29:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 04:34:34     Target Completed Target completed (21/28, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:41:05     Target Started (22/28) Target started (22/28, Nova Cas 2021) 04:44:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:46:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 04:54:11     Target Completed Target completed (22/28, Nova Cas 2021) 04:54:50     Target Started (23/28) Target started (23/28, AT2022jw (CV)) 04:58:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:00:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 05:06:37     Target Completed Target completed (23/28, AT2022jw (CV)) 05:06:51     Target Started (24/28) Target started (24/28, GCVS U Her) 05:09:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:11:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 05:20:08     Target Completed Target completed (24/28, GCVS U Her) 05:20:12     Target Started (25/28) Target started (25/28, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 05:23:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:25:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 05:34:18     Target Completed Target completed (25/28, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 05:34:22     Target Started (26/28) Target started (26/28, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) 05:37:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 05:53:33     Target Completed Target completed (26/28, NGC 5117 w/SN2022abq) 05:55:41     Target Started (27/28) Target started (27/28, GCVS R CrB) 05:58:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:00:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 06:03:49     Target Completed Target completed (27/28, GCVS R CrB) 06:04:59     Target Started (28/28) Target started (28/28, HIP 87937) 06:07:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:09:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 06:12:19     Target Completed Target completed (28/28, HIP 87937) 06:12:22   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:12:25 Session Closing Session closing 06:13:18   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 06:13:50   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 25s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:14:59   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 65s) 06:15:14   Telescope State Scope parked Turn scope off. (Handbox) 06:15:36   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:16:30   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:16:32 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:16:53 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail -- No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2022-02-10, S969)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (3)

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Snow cover on AllSky Camera prevented the possible peak activity associated with aurora activity. Snow cover collected on the transparent perspex hemisphere cover to the AllSky Camera during a snow shower at 22:00 to 22:10 .  Since the snow shower came in from the north tha is the isde that collected most of the snow. This undoubtedly blocked the camera's view of aurora activity between 22:10 and 23:10 when issue was noticed and the snow/ice cleared away (using a jug of warm water).  The rest of the aurora display was recorderd ok.
  Resolved in-session 2022-02-11 (AllSky Camera)
   
• AllSky Star Count reading much lower than expectedly following return to clear skies after a snow shower at 21:00 to 21:10. Following snow shower at 22:10 the Clarity values from CloudSensor quickly rose, but the AllSky Star Count generated from image from the AllSky Camera didn't come back to expected values but remained relatively low.   Issue was determined to be due to snow covering part of the perspex hemisphere cover to the AllSky Camera, block the camera's view of some regions of the sky.  Resolved in short-term by lowering the threshold for minimun allowed star count and later by removing the snow from the top/north side of the AllSky camera. (unfortunately the latter had an unwelcome that led to 'false' environment readings from the Cloud/Rain Sensor).
  Resolved in-session 2022-02-11 (Session)
   
• Dome Automatically Closed at 23:10 due to 'rain' and stayed closed till 23:33 due to 'cloud'.  This proved to be due to a 'false-alarm' and was an unexpected but consequential result of user action that hadn't been thoroughly thought through. Following a snow shower at 22:00 to 22:10, snow cover collected on the transparent perspex hemisphere cover to the AllSky Camera . Once this was noticed to be blocking the camera's view of the northern sky and a potential aurora display in progress the observatory was visited and the snow/ice cleared away from the AllSky camera cover. This was done using a jug of warm water (this was considered easier as the snow was now likely in a form that it could be easily swept clear).  Water unfortunately spilled on the adjacent CloudSensor unit kicking off a rain sensor alert (leading to dome shutter immedately closing - a useful test ?). Clarity values also dramatically fell, and kicked off cloud alart that prevented the dome from being opening again for some 23 minutes.   Clarity values fell either because of warming affect of warm water or because the water turned to a layer of ice across the top of the sensor.  Either way it delayed continuation of the session until the Cloud Sensor unit returned to reading normal values again.
  Resolved in-session 2022-02-11 (CloudSensor/Session)

Small Defects

• Target Coordinates listed for comets (and other non-sidereal objects) on ImageSet/Targets tab and used for calculating positions of object in images using ImageBuilder tool are wrong. Coordinates listed are simply the 'static coordinates last saved with the target in AstroPlan. cusing failed due to 'Insufficient Time' when acquiring ToO target.  They need to be recalculated for the appropriate time point when retrieved from the database. Alternatively TagCoords stored in the FITS header should be used.
  Fixed 2022-02-12 (AstroMain 3.49.4)
   
• Focusing failed due to 'Insufficient Time' when acquiring ToO target.  Since the ToO was not a fast react target (like a GRB which would skip prior auto-focusing on the target) and is not explicitly limited to any specific slot time, unlike a regular target, the autofocusing on the target should not have failed due to 'insufficient time' .  When the ToO is entered into the queue it should be specified with a plan start time that makes its actual start as being 'ahead of plan' which will allow autofocusing to take place.
  Fixed 2022-02-12 (AstroMain 3.49.4)

• Right-Hand button menu options for new ImageBuilder tool.  Add mouseup handler to picture box on ImageBuilder form to put up a right hand button menu option with handling for special actions like moving Text Label1 and Text Label2 etc.  Initial handler added to AstroMain 3.49.4 for moving textt labels. Further coding requiring for specifying trim region and any other actions (this was added later in AstroMain 3.50.1, 2022-02-20).
  Done 2022-02-12 (AstroMain 3.49.4)
   
• Add automated facility to copy Spectra Chart into Object's Store Folder and optionally into Local Web Authoring Folders .
  Done 2022-02-13 (AstroMain 3.49.5)
   
• Preempt any issues that could occur when the session number eventually reaches 1000+  . Current session number is S969 (2022-02-10).  Make a full test to check for any unwanted effects or issues associated with the session number reaching S1000 some 30 sessions from now (i.e in 4 to 5 months time).  Tests completed on 2022-02-26, one issue was found and fixed (See 'Session 1000  Project' 2022-02-25 ).
  Done 2022-02-13 (AstroMain, AstroPlan)
  
  Update:  2022-04-20.    In the event the 1000th session (S1000) was reached some 2 month later on 2022-04-18 (this was somewhat earlier than originally forecast) Realtime observatory operations and image reduction for S1000 and S1001 sessions occurred without incident, but a couple of teething issues were uncovered during post-session analysis which were associated with small bugs in Fits Summary (excel) macros. These were quickly fixed (S1000 2022-04-18 , S1001 2022-04-19).

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