David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1107 (2023-03-14)

Notes (S1106)

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Notes (S1108)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (4),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2023-03-14 >>
	Investigation - Problem linking one particular image (post-session)

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-03-14)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions
2. Sessions. Make live session test using new AstroMain (3.62), AstroMove (1.12) & Fits Summary (Excel) software using relocating Session Folders, which have been moved ahead of session from ../Analysis to ../Sessions directory paths.

 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  2.6.11dev4, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.62, AstroPlan 1.36.5,   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12
  (AstroWeather 1.20, AstroAllSky 3.18,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.10.9 / 1.11

Highlights

• Targets.  29 out of 29 planned targets were completed.  Some targets were affected by moving cloud (with impact on sky transparency & guiding)
• Session.  There were no problems with new versions of AstroMain and AstroMove program before, during or immediately after the session.  A small issue was found later with AstroPlan, which had to be updated to achieve some post-session functionality. No problems encountered in this session  
• Dome Slews.  No problems encountered in this session  (Hold Up Stats: 0/31 slews affected, 0%, 0.2 minutes total hold-up time). 
• Aurora.  Session was accompanied by aurora activity, initially rather hidden by cloud but more visible from 23:30 to 03:45 UT

Notes:

• Aurora recorded from the Observatory on night 2023-03-14 / 2023-03-15 over an 8.5 hour period
   (see Aurora Images/Video from 2023-03-14)
  
  

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 17:50:40 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:57 & 04:25 17:50:42   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 18:57 18:57:55   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 19:15:32 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:15) 19:15:52   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:16:05 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-03-14 S01107, ImageSaveNum: 1107001) 19:16:32   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:18:16   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:18:23 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:18:27 Session Pending Session pending (2023-03-14) 19:18:29 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-03-14) 19:18:31   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.36.5) 19:19:49   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 879) 19:20:12   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 19:20:49   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:21:13 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:21:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 19:22:00 Session Running Session running 19:22:03   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 19:22:04     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:22:16       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:26:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:28:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:30:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:30:51       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:32:43       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:34:26       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:34:43     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:34:59     Target Started (1/29) Target started (1/29, NGC 2283 w/SN2023axu) 19:38:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:40:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:56:50     Target Completed Target completed (1/29, NGC 2283 w/SN2023axu) 19:56:54     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, AT2023cts) 19:59:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:01:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:18:13     Target Completed Target completed (2/29, AT2023cts) 20:19:19     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, NGC 2175). Using SharpCap 20:21:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:23:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:46:30   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -25°C) 20:46:32     Target Completed Target completed (3/29, NGC 2175) 20:53:49     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, C/2022 U2 (ATLAS)) 20:56:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:58:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:16:06     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, C/2022 U2 (ATLAS)) 21:16:39     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, AT2023cub (CV)) 21:19:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:21:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:26:56     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, AT2023cub (CV)) 21:28:39     Target Started (6/29) Target started (6/29, NGC 2708 w/SN2023bee) 21:31:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:49:46     Target Completed Target completed (6/29, NGC 2708 w/SN2023bee) 21:50:59     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, UGC 4025 w/SN2023boc) 21:54:06       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:09:57     Target Completed Target completed (7/29, UGC 4025 w/SN2023boc) 22:12:59     Target Started (8/29) Target started (8/29, UGC 5276 w/AT2023cxk) 22:17:30       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 22:33:50     Target Completed Target completed (8/29, UGC 5276 w/AT2023cxk) 22:34:59     Target Started (9/29) Target started (9/29, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 22:37:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:40:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:56:12     Target Completed Target completed (9/29, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) 22:57:19     Target Started (10/29) Target started (10/29, AT2022aavm (CV)) 23:00:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:02:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:18:24     Target Completed Target completed (10/29, AT2022aavm (CV)) 23:19:39     Target Started (11/29) Target started (11/29, NGC 3799 w/AT2023clx) 23:22:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:24:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:40:32     Target Completed Target completed (11/29, NGC 3799 w/AT2023clx) 23:41:39     Target Started (12/29) Target started (12/29, LEDA 104161 w/AT2022qvr) 23:44:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:47:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:03:09     Target Completed Target completed (12/29, LEDA 104161 w/AT2022qvr) 00:03:59     Target Started (13/29) Target started (13/29, UGC 6674 w/SN2023bvi) 00:06:52       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:22:47     Target Completed Target completed (13/29, UGC 6674 w/SN2023bvi) 00:25:59     Target Started (14/29) Target started (14/29, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 00:29:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 00:45:36     Target Completed Target completed (14/29, UGC 8046 w/SN2022zxr) 00:48:19     Target Started (15/29) Target started (15/29, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 00:51:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:01:56     Target Completed Target completed (15/29, C/2019 U5 (PANSTARRS)) 01:05:03     Target Started (16/29) Target started (16/29, NGC 3862 w/SN2023bqk) 01:07:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:10:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:26:22     Target Completed Target completed (16/29, NGC 3862 w/SN2023bqk) 01:27:03     Target Started (17/29) Target started (17/29, SN 2023bhb) 01:30:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:32:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 01:48:10     Target Completed Target completed (17/29, SN 2023bhb) 01:49:03     Target Started (18/29) Target started (18/29, UGC 11225 w/SN2023bqh) 01:52:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:55:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:12:00     Target Completed Target completed (18/29, UGC 11225 w/SN2023bqh) 02:12:05     Target Started (19/29) Target started (19/29, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:15:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:17:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 02:21:25     Target Completed Target completed (19/29, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:28:49     Target Started (20/29) Target started (20/29, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:32:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:46:38     Target Completed Target completed (20/29, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko) 02:48:24     Target Started (21/29) Target started (21/29, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 02:51:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:53:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:09:16     Target Completed Target completed (21/29, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) 03:10:44     Target Started (22/29) Target started (22/29, NGC 5915 w/SN2023cpt) 03:14:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:30:35     Target Completed Target completed (22/29, NGC 5915 w/SN2023cpt) 03:32:44     Target Started (23/29) Target started (23/29, AT2023ctx (CV)) 03:36:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:38:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:54:04     Target Completed Target completed (23/29, AT2023ctx (CV)) 03:54:44     Target Started (24/29) Target started (24/29, AT2023cvz (CV)) 03:58:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:00:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:06:22     Target Completed Target completed (24/29, AT2023cvz (CV)) 04:06:44     Target Started (25/29) Target started (25/29, GCVS BL Lac) 04:10:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:12:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 04:16:35     Target Completed Target completed (25/29, GCVS BL Lac) 04:17:02     Target Started (26/29) Target started (26/29, GCVS HH And) 04:20:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:22:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 04:24:55     Target Completed Target completed (26/29, GCVS HH And) 04:25:29     Target Started (27/29) Target started (27/29, WDS GRB 34) 04:28:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:30:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 04:32:31     Target Completed Target completed (27/29, WDS GRB 34) 04:33:57     Target Started (28/29) Target started (28/29, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:37:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:39:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 04:46:12     Target Completed Target completed (28/29, C/2022 A2 (PANSTARRS)) 04:46:16     Target Started (29/29) Target started (29/29, HIP 87937) 04:49:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:52:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 04:54:30     Target Completed Target completed (29/29, HIP 87937) 04:54:33   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:54:35 Session Closing Session closing 04:55:30   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 04:56:08   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 31s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:57:21   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 71s) 04:57:36   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:57:58   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:59:23   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:59:26 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:00:01 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail --             No Alerts                --

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Operational Issues (2023-03-14, S1107)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (4)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Upload to website from Observatory & AllSky Computers both started to fail with "server errors - disk space full" (2023-03-23).   Beginning at 2023-03-23 11:36 FTP file upload routines in AstroPlan and AstroAllSky programs starting failing with the exception message "The remote server returned an error: (552) Exceeded storage allocation (for current directory or data set)".  Attempting to use "ftp://ftp.astro-richweb.net" to manually copy an single 8 MB video file gave an FTP folder error  552  "Disk Full - please upload later".  My Just Host CPanel shows server disk at 99% full under Server Information for the home4 disk. The  'Just Host ' Helpdesk said that the 99% figure can be ignored and that at 1.9 GB I'm still well with my 20 GB storage limit and there is plenty of disk space   Problem seems to be related to using FTP from both windows client and my VB.Net ftp upload  implementation and a likely 2 GB limit somewhere, as manual upload using WebDisk connection (WebDAV) works ok.  Potentially a 64 bit FTP client might and a reworked FTP implementation might overcome, but there is already a Continuous Improvement ticket, to improve security by introducing WebDAV (WebDisk) routines into AstroPlan and AstroAllSky.  Whilst working on a fix the issue seemed to resolved itself at 2023-03-24 at around 12:04 when files began to start uploading without exception on both computers.  It is unclear if this is a permanent resolution of a temporary resolution untill the next time total file sizes reaches 2 GB.  It is noted that this resolution at 12:04 didn't seem to correspond with restarting AstroPlan (including new test code) and  the Observatory Computer and setup of WebDisk / Credentials, at 11:24. Therefore the issue appears to have been something that was resolved at the server end.  Trial fix for potential future outage implemented 2023-03-24 by i) Adding  WebDisk access / credinentials added to Observatory & AllSky Computers.   ii ) Modified AstroPlan 1.38 so that UploadFileFTP2() routine calls new UploadFileViaWebDisk() routine, with older code moved to a legacy UploadFileFTP2_OriginalRoutine() routine.
  To investigate and quickly resolve (AstroPlan 1.38, AstroAllSky 3.19 tba)

Minor Issues

• Unable to create Session and Alert Html Files from AstroPlan (post-session). This was due to Session Folders having being relocated from "../Analysis" folder to a new "../Sessions Folder, and not recognising the requirement for a number of references in AstroPlan to be updated according.  Fixed in AstroPlan 1.37.
  Fixed 2023-03-15 (AstroPlan 1.37)
   
• AstroMain crashed whilst analysing image 142 of 240, 01107142 (post-session). AstroMain crashed whilst analysing  image 142 of 240 (01107142.REDUCED.FIT). Image was third 15s B filter frame for Target 19/29 (GCVS SS Cyg).  No error messages or exceptions recorded. Examining the log file shows  ImageCoords(Image) of  RA= 00 00 00.000 Dec= +00 00 00.00 for the image, which may be relevant to the problem. It may also of note that the Star Inventory for image was reported  as  'nObjects = 3628   (nStars = 50)'.   The nObjects value of 3628 is exceptional large and anomalous. In comparison the 1st and 2nd 15s B frames had nObjects values of only 256 & 147 respectively.  Rerunning the Analysis within Visual Studio Debugging environment, record a System.IndexOutOfRangeException (Index was outside the bounds of the array) at code line 'Star(StarNo) = i' in GetInventoryDetails() routine. Problem is the Star array is sized at 2000, and exception occurred when StarNo reached the value of 2001.  Visually and statistically the problem frame (1107142) and the prior 15s B frame (1107139) look very similar.  Regardless of the reason why Star Inventory finds a very high number of objects the AstroMain programme clearly shouldn't crash.  Fix implemented in AstroMain 3.62.1 to prevent exception.   The problem image remains very slow to link and fails to solve in CCDSoft/TheSky
  Fixed 2023-03-15 (AstroMain 3.62.1)
   
• Weather Forecast data not available to AstroWeather Graphs,  AstroAllSky and AstroMain (2023-03-24).  Weather Forecast adat started to be unavailable at around 08:00. This is most-likely due to DarkSky.Net 's weather forecast API being finally turned off by Apple who took over DarkSky.net some three years ago and who are developing their own (inferior) Weather API. Resolved by switching a setting in AstroWeather to access weather forcast data from OpenWeather.org instead.
  Fixed 2023-03-24 (AstroWeather)
   
• Unable to remotely operate MS Edge running on Observatory Computer (2023-03-25). Whilst trying to use MS Edge on Observatory across a remote (VNC) connection from IPad a popup appeared asking to Allow / Disallow Paste or something like that.  The Disallow option was accidentally taken and after then it has been possible to operate MS Edge remotely from either IPad or Development Computer.  Visit to Observatory made on 2023-03-26 and it was found that MS Edge couldn't be operated from the Observatory Computer directly.  MS Edge (25) was killed and restarted, after which the problem disappearred.   MS Edge could be operated again either directly or remotely across a VNC connection.
  Fixed 2023-03-26 (MS Edge, Observatory Computer)

Small Defects

• Night Summary section overposting previous section on AllSky Aurora pages. On 'allsky_aurora_2023-03-14.htm' (and prior aurora pages) the Night Summary Plot section is partially overposting the Videos section.  Refreshing the page use MS Edge's "Inspect" tool doesn't highlight any particular issue to explain page behaviour, other than  <input id="seekslider1" type="range"  >  element doesn't have a label. (A label isn't needed but to remove error  trying out  aria-label="seeksliderlabel1" which creates an invisible text label for screen readers to read).  Investigation shows that pages allsky_aurora_2022-02-04.htm & before don't have the issue but pages allsky_aurora_2022-02-09.htm & after do have the issue. Examining html code show that 2022-02-09 & after have <div class="VideoWrapper" style="left: 0px; top: 0px; height: 63px"> whilst earlier pages just have <div class="VideoWrapper"> . Removing the style positioning resolves the problem. Problem fixed on all pages affected.
  Fixed 2023-03-15  (Website, Aurora Pages)
   
• Large Trianglular Shape appearing on AllSky Aurora pages. On allsky_aurora_night pages a large triangular shape ('play button') overposts the contents section.  Problem has appeared relatively recently (last 2 months), and presents itself on pages where problem didn't previously exist.  Fixed by setting visibility in following html code line from 'visible' to 'hidden'
     <div class="VideoOverlay" id="PlayPauseOverlay1" style="visibility:hidden">.
  Fixed 2023-03-29 (Website, AllSky Images/Videos & Aurora Pages)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroWeather so that the OpenWeather.Org is automatically set as the default source of Weather Forcast data for the observatory. Whilst AstroWeather was modified a while back to access weather forecast data from OpenWeather as an alternative to using forecast data from DarkSky.Net.  As DarkSky.Net becomes finally turned off (the absent forecast data on 2023-03-24 may have been this final turnoff point) it is appropriate to make OpenWeather the default source that is automatically chosen when AstroWeather program is opened.  This gets around the likelihood of user forgetting to change the data source when starting AstroWeather program.  Test showed that DarkSky.Net API was still available on 2023-03-26 18:40,  this doesn't invalidate the requirement for this improvement since DarkSky.Net will at some point be permanentally unavailable.
  Done 2023-03-26 (AstroWeather 1.20.1)

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Investigation - Problem linking one particular image (post-session)

Analysing image (01107142.REDUCED.FIT)
  Image/Object                REDUCED  GCVS SS Cyg
  - FileName                  Ok    01107142.REDUCED.FIT
  - Exposure                  15s   [01107142] (3x3 15s B -25.4°C)
  - Date/Time                 Ok    2023-03-15 02:20:15 UT
  - Star Inventory            Ok    nObjects = 3628 (nStars = 50)

  Linking image (UCA/USNO)... Fail  Unsolved in 58.0s (No Match Found)
  Linking image (GSC)...      Fail  Unsolved in 12.0s (No Match Found)
  Linking Image (ASTAP)..     Fail  Unsolved in 3.2s (No Match Found)
  Linking image (UCA/USNO*)...Ok    Solved in 0.4s (Stars 50, Scale 1.404, Angle 180.27°)
  - Checking WCS              Fail  Image doesn't contain keywords for WCS center (CRVAL1, CRVAL2)
  - Plate Coordinates (RA)    Ok    21 42 47.596 (RA J2000)
  - Plate Coordinates (Dec)   Ok    +43 35 17.40 (Dec J2000)
  - Pointing Error            Ok    0.21' [N: 0.11', W: 0.18']

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