David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1160 (2023-11-05)

Notes (S1159)

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Notes (S1161)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2023-11-05 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-11-05)

Main aims

1. AstroMain. Check new AstroMain version (3.64) following major changes to several worker threads and the introduction of a new CCDCamera object.
2. Dome Slewing.  Check Dome Slewing after application of Anti-Slip Tape to inner roof flange and bush-fix to Drive Wheel Connector
3. 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  2.6.11dev4, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
   
• AstroMain 3.64, AstroPlan 1.38.8   AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.7
  (AstroWeather 1.22.2, AstroAllSky 3.19.6,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• AstroMain. No significant new issues with AstroMain version (3.64).
•  Dome Slews. No dome slews encountered any hold-ups or delays. 
   (Hold Up Stats:0/17 slews affected, 0%, 0.0 minutes total hold-up time).  Dome parked ok at end of session.
• Targets. 6/36 planned targets observations were completed with 5 further targets partially completed.  Other targets failed due cloud, or low star count due to condensation on the AllSky Camera's fish-eye lens. One target (Nova M31 AT2023trk) that initially failed due to cloud was imaged later as a ToO target after clouds had cleared.

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 18:24:30 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:24 & 05:21 18:24:33 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:24) 18:24:44   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:25:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -15°C) 18:25:11 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-11-05 S01160, ImageSaveNum: 1160001) 18:25:15   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 18:27:04   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:27:11 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:27:14 Session Pending Session pending (2023-11-05) 18:27:16 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-11-05) 18:27:18   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.38.8) 18:29:24   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 934) 18:29:40   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 18:30:16   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:30:40 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:31:25   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 18:31:27 Session Running Session running 18:31:29   Queue Started Observing Queue started (36 targets selected) 18:31:31     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 18:31:45       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:37:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:37:59       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 18:39:55       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 18:41:42       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 18:42:00     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 18:43:46     Target Started (1/36) Target started (1/36, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 18:49:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 19:01:01     Target Completed Target completed (1/36, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 19:01:48     Target Started (2/36) Target started (2/36, AT2023tow) 19:05:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 19:13:39       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 19:22:05     Target Completed Target completed (2/36, AT2023tow) 19:22:07   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:22:09 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:22:55   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 19:22:58 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:42:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/36, C/2023 H2 (Lemmon)) due to cloud 19:54:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/36, AT2023hxd (CV)) due to cloud 19:59:23 User Intervention User Intervention to return to manual and redo Near Zenith Focusing (Foc1) 19:59:24   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 20:00:45   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 48s) 20:01:37     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 20:04:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:06:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:09:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:09:10     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 23, HIP 113729) 20:10:13 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:10 & 05:21 20:10:15 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 20:10:18   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to cloud 20:11:49 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 20:11:58 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:12:01 Session Pending Session pending (2023-11-05) 20:12:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-11-05) 20:12:14   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 934) 20:12:27   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (set point -20°C) 20:12:33   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:12:57 Session Running Session running 20:12:59   Queue Started Observing Queue started (31 targets selected) 20:13:57     Target Aborted (6/36) Target aborted (6/36, AT2023tvi (CV)) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 20:14:02     Target Started (7/37) Target started (7/37, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023trk, ToO) 20:18:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:20:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:38:54     Target Completed Target completed (7/37, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023trk, ToO) 20:38:58     Target Started (8/37) Target started (8/37, AT2023tdi) 20:54:54     Target Completed Target partially completed (8/37, AT2023tdi) 20:54:58     Target Started (9/37) Target started (9/37, UGC 831 w/AT2023wdd) 20:59:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:01:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:06:17   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 21:06:19   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 21:06:21     Target Aborted (9/37) Target aborted (9/37, UGC 831 w/AT2023wdd) due to cloud 21:06:23   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 21:06:25 Session Suspending Session suspending 21:07:13   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 21:07:15 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:10:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/37, UGC 831 w/AT2023wdd) due to cloud 21:33:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/37, AT2023iw (CV)) due to cloud 21:55:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/37, NGC 6745 w/SN2023ucy) due to cloud 22:05:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/37, 61 Cyg) due to cloud 22:24:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/37, NGC 7625 w/SN2023vyl) due to cloud 22:36:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/37, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 22:54:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/37, Nova Cas 2021) due to cloud 23:15:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/37, M31 w/Nova M31 2023-10a?) due to cloud 23:37:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/37, M33 w/AT2023nou) due to cloud 23:59:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/37, AT2023ud) due to cloud 00:18:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/37, Nova Per 2020) due to cloud 00:22:44 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:23:29   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 00:23:32 Session Running Session running 00:23:34   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:23:36     Target Started (20/37) Target started (20/37, NGC 924 w/AT2023vss) 00:27:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:29:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:45:40     Target Completed Target partially completed (20/37, NGC 924 w/AT2023vss) 00:45:44     Target Started (21/37) Target started (21/37, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) 00:48:37       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 00:48:39   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:48:41   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:48:43     Target Aborted (21/37) Target aborted (21/37, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) due to cloud 00:48:45   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:48:47 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:49:32   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 00:49:34 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:01:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/37, UGC 3174 w/SN2023mut) due to cloud 01:23:45     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/37, 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 01:44:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/37, UGC 3274 w/AT2023fno) due to cloud 02:06:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/37, AT2023tjz) due to cloud 02:10:56 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:11:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 02:11:44 Session Running Session running 02:11:46   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:11:48     Target Started (25/37) Target started (25/37, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 02:15:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:17:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:25:49     Target Completed Target completed (25/37, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)) 02:25:53     Target Started (26/37) Target started (26/37, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 02:28:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:31:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:48:47     Target Completed Target completed (26/37, NGC 2326 w/SN2023pgb) 02:48:51     Target Started (27/37) Target started (27/37, AT2023rey (CV)) 02:51:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:53:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:56:51       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:58:21   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:58:23   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:58:25     Target Aborted (27/37) Target aborted (27/37, AT2023rey (CV)) due to cloud 02:58:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:58:29 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:59:17   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 02:59:19 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:04:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/37, AT2023rey (CV)) due to cloud 03:14:08 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:14:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 03:14:55 Session Running Session running 03:14:57   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:15:00     Target Started (28/37) Target started (28/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 03:31:30     Target Completed Target partially completed (28/37, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 03:31:35     Target Started (29/37) Target started (29/37, NGC 4490) 03:31:37       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:35:04     Target Failed (29/37) Target failed due to cloud (29/37, NGC 4490) 03:35:06   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:35:08 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:35:56   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 03:35:58 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:52:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/37, M101 w/SN2023ixf) due to cloud 04:14:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/37, AT2022xao) due to cloud 04:28:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/37, AT2023cub (CV)) due to cloud 04:40:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/37, AT2023ttx (CV)) due to cloud 04:57:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/37, 103P/Hartley) due to cloud 05:01:55 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:02:40   Dome Opened Dome opened (opening time 45s) 05:02:42 Session Running Session running 05:02:44   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:02:46     Target Started (35/37) Target started (35/37, AT2023twu) 05:25:14     Target Completed Target completed (35/37, AT2023twu) 05:25:18     Target Started (36/37) Target started (36/37, NGC 4611 w/SN2023dtz) 05:43:44       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 05:44:51     Target Completed Target completed (36/37, NGC 4611 w/SN2023dtz) 05:44:53   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:44:55 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:45:45   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 05:45:47 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:11:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/37, NGC 3893 w/AT2023uhx) due to cloud 06:11:30   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 06:11:33 Session Closing Session closing 06:11:38   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 05:45, closing time 50s) 06:12:02   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 16s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:13:14   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 70s) 06:13:29   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:13:51   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:14:23   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok 06:15:15   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:15:18 Session Housekeeping Session Housekeeping started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:15:28 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 18:43:53 Yellow Alert Anomalous Dome Slew Dome slew resumed at Az 205.1° (T+1.8s)

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Operational Issues (2023-11-05, S1160)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Images from first 2-3 target were out of focus. This was due to a failure of Foc1 auto-focusing during initial automated Near Zenith Focusing. Report file shows that Foc1 focusing failing as focus star was too dim.  This happened as there had been a large focus shift since the last session, and the Initial Focus Frame at estimated best focus based on last session out of focus and had a very low maximum pixel value and the focus profile was aborted on the basis of perceiving the focus star as being too dim. Select Fous Star gave the report message: 
    Examining Focus Star...      Fail      The brightest star was too dim. Aborting re-focus
  As a consequence the images from first 2-3 targets were out of focus. Fortunately the focus issue was noticed and the session was moved to Manual mode and a new Near Zenith Focusing was conducted.  This was successful and showed that actual best focus position (5053) was some 1800 steps higher than the predicted best focus position (3254)  based on the best focus position at end of the previous session (S1159). Fixed in AstroMain 3.64.1 by removing the 'Star too dim' abort when the focus field is a near-zenith Focus Field.
  Fixed 2023-11-06 (Session, AstroMain 3.64.1)

Minor Issues

• AllSky 'Star Count suddenly dropped and AllSky Images looking very 'murky'. Going outside sbowed sky was relatively clear with some stars, which was not the impression from the AllSky Images. Problem is likely due to condensation suddenly forming on the AllSky Camera's fish-eye lens some 15 minutes after AllSky Camera hemisphere was removed in order to wipe out condensation (a task that was meant to have done earlier in the day).  Turned off 'Suspend When Few Star' option in an attempt to continue observing targets, but with just 1 or 2 stars this was not sufficiently above 0 for CanResume() to return True., leaving the session stalled. (This is a bug that has previously been recorded but not yet fixed (see separate ticket below). Manually opening shutter and restarting the observing plan using 'Fully Automated' had to be used (AutoStart wouldn't allow observing to start).
  Closed after review  2023-11-06 (Session,  User Awareness)
   
• Unable to begin AutoStart as sky incorrectly judged as being Cloud due to Too Few Stars (20:10).  Due to condensation forming on the AllSky Camera's fish-eye lens some 15 minutes after AllSky Camera hemisphere was removed in order to wipe out condensation, an attempt to start session in AutoStart mode. Autostart monitoring reported that Autostart couldn't begin immediately due to cloud.
  
    Delaying AutoStart...       Info      Unable to begin AutoStart at 20:10 due to cloud   
  Current Conditions:         Warning   Stars 2           (Clarity 35.1, Rain 0, Wind 0.4 mph, T 2.1°C)   
  Waiting...                  Info      Waiting till conditions are fully suitable for observing
  This appeared to be due to a very low AllSky Stars count of only 2 (but not unexpectedly low due to the fogged up AllSkyCamera lens), as Clarity value (35) was acceptable. This shouldn't have prevented AutoStart from beginning as the 'Suspend When Few Stars' option was turned off and the 'Too Few Stars threshold' was set to 0.   This is bug that has been recorded before and has still not been fixed. If reason for rejection was 'FailureState.TooFewStars' then the information message would have expected to have been
   " ... due to too few stars", but the information clearly mentions "... due to cloud", indicating 'FailureState.Cloud' was the 'Reason' returned by the call to CanResume(Reason) in the "Waiting (AutoStart)" section of the ObsManager MainLoop() routine.  This would be reason given in CanResume routine itself or in CanOpen() which it calls).  Examining code the most-likely reason for CanResume returns  'FailureState.Cloud' is the following condition check
   
    If SunAlt > -12 And Env.ObservingPotential < cObservingMarginal Then
    reason = FailureState.Cloud ' bad conditions
    Return False ' CAN NOT RESUME
  End If
  Examining AstroAllSky's Scorecard records from the night shows that at 20:10 the Observing Potential was 'Bad', which would be why the CanResume() routine returned false with FailureState.Cloud .  AstroAllSky generates 'Bad' ObservingPotential state when AllSky Star count is <= 5.  At 20:12 when star count jumped to 7, Observing Potential increased to 'Marginal' which would have allow CanResume() to pass, as
  Fixed 2023-11-06 (AstroMain 3.64.1)

Small Defects

• 'Checking CCD Temp' reported as Error, with message "(CCD Temperature, Exception whilst checking)" (20:12).  In the Equipment Status section, just after the beginning of 'Session Running' an error was reported whilst checking 'CCD Temp'. This is most probably a bug associated with or a side effect from the changes to various working threads, including TempMonitor, Foc1FieldsUpdater, and the adoption of a new object 'CCDCamera' for regulating access to CCDSoft Camera properties.
  
    Equipment Status                         
     Checking CCD Regulation ..    Ok        Regulation Is ON  (Setpoint: -20.0 °C)   
     Checking CCD Temp ..          Error     (CCD Temperature, Exception whilst checking)
  The typical normal message (eg S1159) might be something like 
      'Warning   -8.5°(100%)       (Temperature is 11.5°C above setpoint) ". 
  Log files indicate that reason for the error which was from the new routine, CheckCCDTemperature_Isolated() was an exception with message 
      "Exception: Public member 'CoolerPower' on type 'ICamera' not found".
  Fixed 2023-11-06 (AstroMain 3.64.1)

Continuous Improvement

• Move CCDCameraLoop() routine and associated helper routines & variables from CCDMonitor to CCDCamera. AstroMain 3.64 contained a new CCDCamera object but the new CCDCameraLoop and helper routines 'SetProperty' and local stored camera properties were still left associated with the CCDMonitor object due to lack of time ahead of the S1160 session. To complete the process CCDCameraLoop, SetProperty and associated variable need to moved across to the CCDCamera object. Implemented in AstroMain 3.64.2.  ObsOverseer modified to check the status of CCDCamera.CCDCameraLoop. 
  Done 2023-11-06 (AstroMain 3.64.2)
   
• When a Running or Suspended Session is placed back to Manual Mode or Job Queue is aborted, a 'User Intervention' event should be recorded in Session Events and if appropriate a 'Session has been placed back to manual event' should be added.
  Done  2023-11-07 (AstroMain 3.64.2)
  

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