David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1067 (2022-12-08)

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Notes (S1068)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (4),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	Images from 2022-12-08 >>        [ Local Files >> ]

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-12-08)

Main aims

1. 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann. Acquire further images of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, as followup to images taken in last four sessions (S1061 - S1064) . Continue to look out for expanding coma following recent 4 mag outburst.
2. Booked / TimeLapse Observations. Conduct first live test creating and executing an observing plan conducted booked observations (target observations made at a specific date & time) & including time-lapse observation (a set of observations repeated for a specified number of times at a specified interval time)
3. AstroMain.  Check new AstroMain version (3.59.1) for any issues introduced by several recent changes, bug fixes and additions.
4. 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
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.5.414, UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.6
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.11dev2, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.59.1 & 3.59.2, AstroPlan 1.35,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.10.1
  AstroVOE 1.12.0  AstroSN 1.8.6,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.7
  (AstroWeather 1.19.6, AstroAllSky 3.17.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.1, AstroLaunch 1.10.5

Highlights

• 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann.  Some images acquired but low quality due to poor sky transparency, passing cloud and bright moonlit sky background.
• Booked / TimeLapse Observations. Two targets (Jupiter and 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) were successfully acquired as booked observations including time-lapse recordings..
• Targets. 7 out of 32 planned targets were completed. Other targets were cancelled when session was ended early due to deteriorating conditions and threat of snow showers through the remainder of the night.
• AstroMain. AstroMain 3.59.1 had a show-stopping issue, but was quickly fixed in-session with AstroMain 3.59.2.
• Dome Slews. No significant hold-ups encountered (0/12 slew affected, 0%, 0.4 minutes total hold-up time).

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 19:38:04 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:38 & 06:19 19:38:06   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 19:38:26 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:38) 19:38:46   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:39:01 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-12-08 S01067, ImageSaveNum: 1067001) 19:39:27   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:41:11   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:41:18 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:41:21 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-08) 19:41:23 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-08) 19:41:25   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35) 19:47:47 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 19:48:43 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:48 & 06:19 19:48:45 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 19:48:47 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:48) 19:49:17   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:49:21 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:49:24 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-08) 19:49:26 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-08) 19:49:29 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 19:51:33 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:51 & 06:19 19:51:35 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 19:51:37 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:51) 19:51:59   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:52:03 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:52:07 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-08) 19:52:09 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-08) 19:52:11   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35) 20:00:58 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 20:02:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 43s) 20:02:29     Target Started (1/1) Target started (1/1, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 20:02:42       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:05:24   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 20:06:05       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:06:14   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:08:30       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 20:09:53     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/1, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 20:11:05 User Intervention User Intervention to restart AstroMain program using new version (3.59.2) 20:11:08   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 20:11:11 Session Closed Session closed by User 20:11:15 Program Closed Program closed by User 20:13:14 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.59.2) 20:13:16   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:13:29 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2022-12-08 S01067, ImageSaveNum: 1067006) 20:13:51   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:13:53   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:14:00   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:15:20   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:15:36   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:16:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 20:16:52   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 43s) 20:17:22     Target Started (1/1) Target started (1/1, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 20:21:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:23:02   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 20:23:10       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 20:23:52   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 20:24:55     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/1, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 20:25:32 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:25 & 06:19 20:25:34 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 20:25:36   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to threat of rain 20:26:31   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 20:28:42 Program Hung AstroMain Start Services hung starting Focuser1 service or Monitor Focuser1 20:35:00 User Intervention User Interventionto kill and restart AstroMain & other Observatory Programs 20:35:44 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.59.2) 20:35:46   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:35:59 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2022-12-08 S01067, ImageSaveNum: 1067012) 20:36:30   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:36:32   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:36:38   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:36:44   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:37:53   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:38:08   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:38:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 20:40:30   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 46s) 20:41:09     Target Started (1/1) Target started (1/1, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 20:43:26     Target Failed (1/1) Target failed due to centering error (1/1, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 20:43:53 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:43 & 06:19 20:43:55 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 20:43:57   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 20:45:20 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:45) 20:45:42   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:45:46 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:45:50 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-08) 20:45:53 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-08) 20:45:55   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35) 20:51:25   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 838) 20:51:37   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 20:52:03   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:52:22 Session Running Session running 20:52:24   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected) 20:52:27     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 20:55:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:57:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:59:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:59:40       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:01:31       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 21:03:13       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:03:31     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 21:03:35     Target Started (1/32) Target started (1/32, AT2022wgv (CV)) 21:07:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:09:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:15:52     Target Completed Target completed (1/32, AT2022wgv (CV)) 21:15:56     Target Started (2/32) Target started (2/32, GCVS RX And) 21:19:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:21:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:24:28     Target Completed Target completed (2/32, GCVS RX And) 21:25:04     Target Started (3/32) Target started (3/32, Jupiter) 21:32:54       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 1 completed 21:38:54       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 2 completed 21:44:50       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 3 completed 21:44:53     Target Completed Target completed (3/32, Jupiter) 21:49:04     Target Started (4/32) Target started (4/32, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 21:53:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:55:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:00:58       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 1 completed 22:11:29       TL Frame Completed Time-lapse frame 2 completed 22:11:37     Target Completed Target completed (4/32, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:15:24     Target Started (5/32) Target started (5/32, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 22:20:09       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:36:02     Target Completed Target completed (5/32, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 22:37:24     Target Started (6/32) Target started (6/32, UGC 1514 w/SN2022ovq) 22:40:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:56:38     Target Completed Target completed (6/32, UGC 1514 w/SN2022ovq) 22:59:24     Target Started (7/32) Target started (7/32, AT2022snz (CV)) 23:03:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:18:30     Target Completed Target completed (7/32, AT2022snz (CV)) 23:18:32   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 23:18:46 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 23:18:48 Session Closing Session closing 23:19:36   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 23:20:43   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 60s), Az: 90.0 deg 23:21:56   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 69s) 23:22:11   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 23:22:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 23:23:49   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 23:23:52 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 23:24:12 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 21:34:16 Red Alert Dome Alert Shutter Data is being refreshed 21:34:19 Yellow Alert Dome Shutter Pulsar Shutter appears to be asleep (last fresh data was at 21:14:15) 21:34:39 Green Alert Dome Shutter Pulsar Shutter has woken up (fresh data started at 21:14:15, outage 20.4 min) 21:34:41 Green Alert Dome Alert Shutter Data has resumed updating 22:37:32 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 185.2° (T+3.1s)

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Operational Issues (2022-12-08, S1067)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (4)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Unable able to retrieve Observing Plan into AstroMain. This is a showstopping issue (due to an error in SQL statement / BookingID field) related to code modifications made in AstroMain 3.59 for retrieving plan from database including BookigID reference for Booked Observations.  Fixed in-session & the program was restarted to pick up the new version (AstroMain 3.59.2) at 20:13. 
  Fixed in-session 2022-12-08 (AstroMain 3.59.2).

Minor Issues

• When returning to General Session at end of live session, duplicated report/log/event messages are bing produce (23:24).  A new routine 'AssignGeneralObservatorySessionByThread()' called from 'FinishedSessionStage1' was added to AstroMain 3.59.1 to get around an issue whereby ObsManager was appearing to hang for 44s at the end of the live session.  Somehow AssignObservatorySession() is being called twice with 1 or 2s difference in timing lead to the appearance of duplicate actions & messages.
  Fixed 2022-12-09 (AstroMain 3.59.3).
   
• Creation of Observing Plan is considerably slower with new AstroPlan 1.35 version. This is directly related to extra processing time for plan timings checks and and their adjustment during GA manipulation of planned target observations around actual and potential Booked Observations, that has been added in .  Look into ways of improving GA performance.  The plans are taking so long that there might be in danger of AstroMain's wait for new plan to timeout ?  AstroMain's Plan submission changed to allow 6 minutes for making plan instead of 2 minutes as a stop-gap whilst ObsManager is tracking 'If PlanStatus = PlanState.WaitingForNewPlan' there seems to be no timeout threshold in current code. Investtigation following continuation issue which saw Plan for S1071 taking 15 minutes to create identified a bug in ChooseTarget() routine that was causing the excessive overruns (nAttempts > 1000)
  Fixed 2022-12-16 (AstroPlan 1.35.12).
   
• Starting Night Services locked up (20:28).  After selecting Night Services and clicking 'Start Services' button at 20:26:31 the starting services operation stalled at 20:28:42 after it had started the ShCap Service but before starting the Focuser1 service, and further progress was blocked. There was no way to backout of the operation, couldn't be aborted?. Services couldn't be closed (because the services thread was still busy) and the program couldn't be closed because services were still running.  Eventually it was decided at 20:35 that there was no other option but to kill and restart AstroMain, including restarting other Observatory Programes (CCDSoft, TheSky, Device Hub etc).  AstroMain was sucessfully restarted and Starting Night Services gave no problem. Unclear what the glitch was caused by.  This would have been a major (show-stopping) issue if this had happened during middle of the night, but as this happened during remote monitoring it could be resolved by user and the session restarted.   To investigate and review.  Should ObsOverseer be monitoring the Start Services  operation and making appropriate interventions. ? 
  To investigate & reviw  2022-12-09 (AstroMain 3.59.4).

Small Defects

• Booked Observations on AltitudePlan aren't being shown in Gold. AltitudePlan should be made consistent with the recently modified ObservingPlan by showing Booked Observations as a Gold coloured bar.   
  Fixed 2022-12-09 (AstroPlan 1.35.1).
   
• Booked Time-Lapse Observations are being shown with incorrect Duration values in the table on AstroMain's Job Queue tab.  Target 3/32 (Jupiter) and 4/32 (29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) with Booked Observation durations of 23.7 and 26.3 min respectively were shown to have durations of 11 and 12 min respectively on the Job Queue tab.   It is presumed that the values on the Job Queue are calculated based on regular times not including time lapse recording. The Job Queue tab should probably indicate queued targets that include Time Lapse observations  with a 'TL' suffix or similar.   Duration is taken from TIS.T(i) and converted to mins by dividing  by 60. Fixed in AstroMain 3.59.3, by taking T.Duration from booked_observation / objReader("Duration")
  Fixed 2022-12-09 (AstroMain 3.59.3).
   
• Report message associated with with the AddComment  'Waiting To Continue', for next time lapse start isn't being shown at start of wait period (22:00).  The report message like 'Wait till 22:05 (4.5 min)' is only getting posted to the report file/console screen after the wait period has finished. It should be shown before the wait period starts. It's for information for the user, and should be shown at the time that it is most useful.  Unable to see how this 'Waiting to Continue' report line isn't being shown.  Code in AstroMain 3.59.6 clearly shows that the associated AddComment() & ReportComment() routines are being called before execution enters the wait loop.  Daytime testing on Development Computer shows that the report message is appearing before that wait period begins. Closed 2022-12-15 (but monitor a future live session using Time Lapse recording).
  Closed  2022-12-15 (AstroMain 3.59.6).
   
• Unable to auto-capture FV image of narrow rotated spectra image (post-session analysis). Whilst analying Spectra Images of Nova Cas 2021 from earlier session S1065, it wasn't possible to correctly capture .ROT image. Like other rotated spectral images this has size 500x70 pixels. AutoCaputure image which depends on spotting a lime colour rectangle in a screen capture, is unable to find the 500x70 px rectangle due to the search algorithum used, which is optimised to find image rectangles of 728 x 490 px size. New routine added that is customised to extract a narrow FVI picture and to not mirror them.
  Fixed 2023-01-30 (AstroMain 3.60.15)

• When AdHoc target is submitted based on a TargetID the target's Program name should be reported.  An AdHoc's Program is currently reported as 'Ad-Hoc (Program ID: 0) during execution.  This might be find for completely free-format AdHoc Targets, but where AdHoc target is submitted based on the specification of a database Target its database Program Name and ID should be reported. It is still worth indicating that Target has been submitted as an AdHoc target in someway. .
  Done 2022-12-09 (AstroMain 3.59.3).
   
• Add a 'Close All PaintShop Pro Windows' button routine to AstroMove's Admin Tab.
  Done 2022-12-12 (AstroMove 1.9.8).
   
• Provide option for Autostart to be initiated immediately without waiting for weather conditions to be ready. Whilst Weather conditions will still be used to decide whether to Open Dome and begin Near Zenith Focusing & following targets, time can be saved by making the plan, and starting Observatory Services.   This option would be for use under User Monitoring in evening, rather than for initiating AutoStart for a session to begin in the middle of the night.   It is only feasible to do this by manually adjusting the thresholds and then revising them once the session has got going. Closed after review 2025-12-30.
  Closed after review 2025-12-30 (AstroMain 3.59.3).
   
• When trying to starting AdHoc target when Dome is still closed routine should offer to open the dome, subject to weather conditions of course. If dome is closed, attempting to start a AdHoc target will led to MsgBox saying that task can't be started as Dome is still closed.  It would be helpful in the program worked with & assisted the user on this matter. Deemed to have been done during a review in Dec 2025.
  Closed 2025-12-15 (AstroMain).

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