David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1069 (2022-12-12)

Notes (S1068)

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Notes (S1070)

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

Session Aims & Highlights (2022-12-12)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann. Acquire further images of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, as followup to images taken in previous sessions (S1061 - S1067) . Continue to look out for expanding coma following 4 mag outburst on Nov 22nd 2022.
3. AstroMain.  Check new AstroMain version (3.59.4) for any issues introduced by several recent changes, bug fixes and additions.

 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 3.59.4, AstroPlan 1.35.1,   AstroShCap 1.3.12, AstroGuard 1.10.1
  AstroVOE 1.12.0  AstroSN 1.8.6,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.9.8
  (AstroWeather 1.19.6, AstroAllSky 3.17.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.1, AstroLaunch 1.10.5

Highlights

• Targets. 47 out of 48 planned targets were completed. The other target was partially completed.
• 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann.  Images acquired.
• AstroMain. No significant issues with AstroMain 3.59.4
• Dome Slews.  Session was totally free of any slew holdups.  (0/47 slew affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time).

Notes:

• Cold conditions, reaching minimum of -7.5°C. 

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 16:16:38 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 16:30 & 06:23 16:16:43   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 16:30 16:30:44   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 16:46:31 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (16:46) 16:46:51   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 16:47:05 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2022-12-12 S01069, ImageSaveNum: 1069001) 16:47:32   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 16:49:18   Services Started Observatory Services started 16:49:24 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 16:49:26 Session Pending Session pending (2022-12-12) 16:49:28 Session Initiating Session initiating (2022-12-12) 16:49:30   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.35.1) 16:58:49   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 840) 16:59:12   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -30°C) 16:59:39   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 17:00:03 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 17:00:48   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 17:00:50 Session Running Session running 17:00:52   Queue Started Observing Queue started (48 targets selected) 17:00:54     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 17:01:06       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 17:06:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:08:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:10:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:10:48       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:12:54       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:14:37       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:14:54     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 17:14:59     Target Started (1/48) Target started (1/48, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 17:20:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 17:30:51     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/48, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 17:30:55     Target Started (2/48) Target started (2/48, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-11d?) 17:50:08     Target Completed Target completed (2/48, M31 w/ATNova M31 2022-11d?) 17:50:12     Target Started (3/48) Target started (3/48, M33 w/ATNova M33 2022-11a?) 17:53:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:56:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:12:32     Target Completed Target completed (3/48, M33 w/ATNova M33 2022-11a?) 18:12:36     Target Started (4/48) Target started (4/48, M31 w/Nova2022zzj) 18:15:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:17:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:33:37     Target Completed Target completed (4/48, M31 w/Nova2022zzj) 18:33:41     Target Started (5/48) Target started (5/48, AT2022csa (CV)) 18:36:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:39:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 18:45:03     Target Completed Target completed (5/48, AT2022csa (CV)) 18:45:07     Target Started (6/48) Target started (6/48, AT2022tru (CV)) 18:48:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 19:04:32     Target Completed Target completed (6/48, AT2022tru (CV)) 19:06:12     Target Started (7/48) Target started (7/48, 61 Cyg) 19:09:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:11:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 19:12:43     Target Completed Target completed (7/48, 61 Cyg) 19:13:04     Target Started (8/48) Target started (8/48, GCVS SS Cyg) 19:15:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:17:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 19:21:56     Target Completed Target completed (8/48, GCVS SS Cyg) 19:29:21     Target Started (9/48) Target started (9/48, WDS GRB 34) 19:32:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:34:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 19:36:05     Target Completed Target completed (9/48, WDS GRB 34) 19:37:23     Target Started (10/48) Target started (10/48, WDS GRB 34) 19:39:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:41:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 19:43:36     Target Completed Target completed (10/48, WDS GRB 34) 19:45:26     Target Started (11/48) Target started (11/48, GCVS RX And) 19:48:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:50:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 19:53:19     Target Completed Target completed (11/48, GCVS RX And) 19:54:22     Target Started (12/48) Target started (12/48, NGC 1363 w/AT2022ackv) 19:58:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:00:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 20:16:24     Target Completed Target completed (12/48, NGC 1363 w/AT2022ackv) 20:16:28     Target Started (13/48) Target started (13/48, UGC 11698 w/SN2022abik) 20:20:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:21:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 20:37:45     Target Completed Target completed (13/48, UGC 11698 w/SN2022abik) 20:38:22     Target Started (14/48) Target started (14/48, Jupiter) 20:44:37     Target Completed Target completed (14/48, Jupiter) 20:49:47     Target Started (15/48) Target started (15/48, MPL 532 Herculina) 20:56:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:59:58     Target Completed Target completed (15/48, MPL 532 Herculina) 21:00:03     Target Started (16/48) Target started (16/48, GSC 1224:29) 21:03:55       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 21:08:48     Target Completed Target completed (16/48, GSC 1224:29) 21:09:37     Target Started (17/48) Target started (17/48, Mars) 21:15:06     Target Completed Target completed (17/48, Mars) 21:21:06     Target Started (18/48) Target started (18/48, NGC 7780) 21:25:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 21:41:26     Target Completed Target completed (18/48, NGC 7780) 21:43:06     Target Started (19/48) Target started (19/48, IC 62 w/AT2022wvj) 21:46:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:01:58     Target Completed Target completed (19/48, IC 62 w/AT2022wvj) 22:05:06     Target Started (20/48) Target started (20/48, GCVS BL Lac) 22:08:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:10:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 22:14:23     Target Completed Target completed (20/48, GCVS BL Lac) 22:15:12     Target Started (21/48) Target started (21/48, GCVS TT Ari) 22:18:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:21:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 22:27:54     Target Completed Target completed (21/48, GCVS TT Ari) 22:27:58     Target Started (22/48) Target started (22/48, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 22:31:29       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:47:48     Target Completed Target completed (22/48, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 22:49:44     Target Started (23/48) Target started (23/48, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 22:52:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:08:25     Target Completed Target completed (23/48, NGC 1300 w/SN2022acko) 23:11:45     Target Started (24/48) Target started (24/48, AT2022absk (CV)) 23:15:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:17:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 23:23:19     Target Completed Target completed (24/48, AT2022absk (CV)) 23:23:44     Target Started (25/48) Target started (25/48, SN 2022mww) 23:26:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:28:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 23:45:01     Target Completed Target completed (25/48, SN 2022mww) 23:45:44     Target Started (26/48) Target started (26/48, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:48:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 23:57:09     Target Completed Target completed (26/48, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:57:22     Target Started (27/48) Target started (27/48, AT2022tos (CV)) 00:00:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:02:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 00:18:30     Target Completed Target completed (27/48, AT2022tos (CV)) 00:19:22     Target Started (28/48) Target started (28/48, GCVS ER UMa) 00:22:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:26:39     Target Completed Target completed (28/48, GCVS ER UMa) 00:29:28     Target Started (29/48) Target started (29/48, GCVS HH And) 00:34:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:36:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 00:38:24     Target Completed Target completed (29/48, GCVS HH And) 00:38:28     Target Started (30/48) Target started (30/48, AT2022tqu) 00:41:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:43:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 00:59:47     Target Completed Target completed (30/48, AT2022tqu) 00:59:52     Target Started (31/48) Target started (31/48, AT2022tqu) 01:01:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:04:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 01:20:44     Target Completed Target completed (31/48, AT2022tqu) 01:21:31     Target Started (32/48) Target started (32/48, Uranus) 01:24:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:26:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 01:34:54     Target Completed Target completed (32/48, Uranus) 01:35:40     Target Started (33/48) Target started (33/48, AT2022yok (CV)) 01:38:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:41:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 01:57:15     Target Completed Target completed (33/48, AT2022yok (CV)) 01:57:40     Target Started (34/48) Target started (34/48, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) 02:02:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 02:10:55     Target Completed Target completed (34/48, C/2021 Y1 (ATLAS)) 02:11:44     Target Started (35/48) Target started (35/48, AT2022tos (CV)) 02:14:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:16:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 02:32:56     Target Completed Target completed (35/48, AT2022tos (CV)) 02:33:44     Target Started (36/48) Target started (36/48, AT2022qcs) 02:36:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:52:53     Target Completed Target completed (36/48, AT2022qcs) 02:55:44     Target Started (37/48) Target started (37/48, GCVS DX Cnc) 02:58:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:01:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25) 03:05:49     Target Completed Target completed (37/48, GCVS DX Cnc) 03:06:04     Target Started (38/48) Target started (38/48, NGC 5631 w/AT2022acsj) 03:10:08       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:26:47     Target Completed Target completed (38/48, NGC 5631 w/AT2022acsj) 03:28:04     Target Started (39/48) Target started (39/48, NGC 3479 w/AT2022abgf) 03:32:27       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 03:48:19     Target Completed Target completed (39/48, NGC 3479 w/AT2022abgf) 03:50:04     Target Started (40/48) Target started (40/48, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 03:54:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:10:48     Target Completed Target completed (40/48, NGC 4340 w/SN2022zzz) 04:12:04     Target Started (41/48) Target started (41/48, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 04:15:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:32:14     Target Completed Target completed (41/48, NGC 5631 w/SN2022aaiq) 04:34:04     Target Started (42/48) Target started (42/48, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 04:36:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:53:09     Target Completed Target completed (42/48, NGC 3938 w/SN2022xlp) 04:56:04     Target Started (43/48) Target started (43/48, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 05:00:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 05:17:04     Target Completed Target completed (43/48, NGC 5548 w/AT2022abcs) 05:18:04     Target Started (44/48) Target started (44/48, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 05:23:08       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:34:48     Target Completed Target completed (44/48, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)) 05:35:38     Target Started (45/48) Target started (45/48, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 05:40:51       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:57:18     Target Completed Target completed (45/48, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 05:57:39     Target Started (46/48) Target started (46/48, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 06:01:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:11:54     Target Completed Target completed (46/48, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 06:13:46     Target Started (47/48) Target started (47/48, NGC 4714 w/AT2022rrp) 06:17:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 06:33:47     Target Completed Target completed (47/48, NGC 4714 w/AT2022rrp) 06:35:46     Target Started (48/48) Target started (48/48, 81P/Wild) 06:40:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:42:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26) 07:00:37     Target Completed Target completed (48/48, 81P/Wild) 07:00:40   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:00:42 Session Closing Session closing 07:01:35   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 07:02:18   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 36s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:03:28   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 66s) 07:03:43   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:04:05   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:05:17   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:05:20 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:06:25 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail --             No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2022-12-12, S1069)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Large Pointing Errors reported for AT2022tqu (second visit) but centering ok (01:00) . Post-session Processing of Session's Reduced Folder reported large pointing errors of around 5423' [N: 2344', W: -5041'] from second set of images from AT2022tqu (im1069317-22 ) despite linking successfully. The immediately preceding set for AT2022tqu (im1069310-16) had pointing errors of less than 0.5'  (ie normal).  There was no slew between the two sets (which might be significant).   -5041' W corresponds to -84.016 deg (or 65.23 deg in rotational angle) which might correspond to RA 5h 36m (or RA 4h 21m)     2344' corresponds to 39.066 deg, which could correspond to Dec 39d 04m.   Now the target coordinates for AT2022tqu were RA 06 01 57.310, Dec  +39 03 52.70. Whilst the RA doesn't match, the Dec value does -this can't be a coincidence.   Image #1069317 was a Locate Frame for the second set, and a pointing error of  5423' (W: -5,041.21', N: 2,343.92' with a Scope Discrepancy of 12.54' were reported. Following this a 'Review Pointing Error'  was reported as being just 0.11' (W -0.10', N 0.05') which passed the tolerance and centering was deemed acceptable. Reviewing the Fits Header from Image #1069317 it is evident that the TAG coordinates haven't been assigned correct coordinates and contain zero values (TAG-RA = '00 00 00.000 ' TAG-DEC = '+00 00 00.00 ' ) rather than the values that images in the first set had (TAG-RA = '06 01 57.310 ' TAG-DEC = '+39 03 52.70 ').  This explains the defect and shows that even if if a target isn't slewed to it's TAG coordinates (T.TagRa2000 & T.TagDec2000) still need to be set. Fixed in AstroMain 3.59.5 (a new routine 'ComputeTagCoordinates()' is called when a Slew isn't made).
  Fixed 2022-12-13  (AstroMain 3.59.5).

• Ellipse for M31 not to be drawn on JPG Pictures. Add custom handling to ConvertFitsToJpg()  for M31 not to be drawn on JPG pictues from Cam1. As only a small segment of the ellipse can be drawn on the FOV of Cam1 image they end up looking like curved satellite or aircraft  tracks, causing confusion.  Custom handling can be based on ellipse size cutoff if that is easier to implement. Implemented in AstroMain 3.59.5 by testing szTargetName <> "M31".   Custom handling also extended to M33 in AstroMain 3.59.6 (2022-12-14).
  Done  2022-12-13  (AstroMain 3.59.5).

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