David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1174 (2023-12-17)

Notes (S1173)

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Notes (S1175)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2023-12-17 >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2023-12-16)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. Afterglow. Attempt to image afterglow from GRB 231215A (AT 2023aaiv), in Cassiopeia
3. 12P/Pons-Brooks. Acquire images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks which has been undergoing an outburst.

 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,  Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
• 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 3.65.6 AstroPlan 1.39.4,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.2
  AstroVOE 1.13  AstroSN 1.10.2,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.12.10
  (AstroWeather 1.23.7, AstroAllSky 3.19.10,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4, AstroLaunch 1.11.1

Highlights

• Observatory Software. AstroMain, AstroPlan & AstroAllSky all functioned correctly.  Improvements and fixes in AstroMain broadly worked ok, but a few further tweaks can usefully made.
  Targets. 14/44 planned targets observations were completed, with 5 other targets partially completed images from which were later rejected due to cloud.. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspension or were replaced by 3 ToO targets
• 12P/Pons-Brooks. Images of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks were acquired
• Afterglow. Images of starfield at location of AT 2023aaiva transient GRB 231215A afterglow) were acquired at T+2.5d
•  Dome slewing. Dome Slewing was ok with none of the 16 slews affected by any delay or hold-up,
•  Dome Parking.  Dome Parked ok in correct position, allowing Shutter Battery to automatically recharge.
•  FIndPark.  FindPark operated ok by automated call during Finishing Stage and found Park Position ok (profile run at 0.5° steps, rather than 0.2° steps would have been better).

NotesNotes:

• .
  

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 21:41:42 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:41 & 06:23 21:41:43 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:41) 21:41:53   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:42:07 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2023-12-17 S01174, ImageSaveNum: 1174001) 21:42:13   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:43:59   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:44:06 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:44:08 Session Pending Session pending (2023-12-17) 21:44:10 Session Initiating Session initiating (2023-12-17) 21:44:12   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.39.4) 21:45:08   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 948) 21:45:28   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 21:46:05   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:46:29 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:47:50   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 80s, Zigbee 40s) 21:47:52 Session Running Session running 21:47:54   Queue Started Observing Queue started (27 targets selected) 21:47:55     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 21:48:11       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:50:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:53:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:55:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:55:26       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:57:22       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:59:04       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:59:21     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 3, HIP 14181) 22:00:40     Target Started (1/27) Target started (1/27, NGC 1232) 22:04:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:07:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:23:41     Target Completed Target completed (1/27, NGC 1232) 22:23:45     Target Started (2/27) Target started (2/27, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023yij) 22:40:14     Target Aborted (2/27) Target aborted (2/27, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023yij) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 22:40:18     Target Started (3/28) Target started (3/28, GCVS BL Lac, ToO) 22:43:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:45:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:49:09     Target Completed Target completed (3/28, GCVS BL Lac, ToO) 22:49:14     Target Started (4/28) Target started (4/28, AT2023aaiv) 22:52:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:54:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:10:00     Target Completed Target completed (4/28, AT2023aaiv) 23:10:04     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, M101 w/SN2023ixf, ToO) 23:14:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:30:57     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, M101 w/SN2023ixf, ToO) 23:30:59     Target Missed (6/29) Target's time slot was missed (6/29, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2023yqt) 23:31:01     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, UGC 68 w/SN2023xqn) 23:35:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:37:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:53:40     Target Completed Target completed (7/29, UGC 68 w/SN2023xqn) 23:53:44     Target Started (8/29) Target started (8/29, AT2023zzs (CV)) 23:56:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:58:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:04:32     Target Completed Target completed (8/29, AT2023zzs (CV)) 00:04:36     Target Started (9/30) Target started (9/30, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS), ToO) 00:08:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:11:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:20:24     Target Completed Target completed (9/30, C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS), ToO) 00:20:28     Target Started (10/30) Target started (10/30, AT2023yyz) 00:30:28     Target Completed Target partially completed (10/30, AT2023yyz) 00:30:32     Target Started (11/30) Target started (11/30, Nova Cas 2021) 00:33:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:35:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:47:28     Target Completed Target completed (11/30, Nova Cas 2021) 00:47:32     Target Started (12/30) Target started (12/30, UGC 6265 w/SN2023wcw) 00:51:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:53:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:09:59     Target Completed Target completed (12/30, UGC 6265 w/SN2023wcw) 01:10:03     Target Started (13/30) Target started (13/30, AT2023tjz) 01:30:13     Target Completed Target completed (13/30, AT2023tjz) 01:30:18     Target Started (14/30) Target started (14/30, GCVS DX Cnc) 01:33:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:36:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:40:40     Target Completed Target completed (14/30, GCVS DX Cnc) 01:40:44     Target Started (15/30) Target started (15/30, 103P/Hartley) 01:44:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:47:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:57:22     Target Completed Target completed (15/30, 103P/Hartley) 01:57:26     Target Started (16/30) Target started (16/30, AT2023ttx (CV)) 02:01:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:03:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:09:12     Target Completed Target completed (16/30, AT2023ttx (CV)) 02:09:16     Target Started (17/30) Target started (17/30, NGC 2642 w/SN2023aaby) 02:12:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:14:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:31:07     Target Completed Target completed (17/30, NGC 2642 w/SN2023aaby) 02:31:11     Target Started (18/30) Target started (18/30, UGC 4582 w/SN2023twg) 02:34:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:36:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:53:00     Target Completed Target completed (18/30, UGC 4582 w/SN2023twg) 02:53:04     Target Started (19/30) Target started (19/30, NGC 3690 w/SN2023wrk) 02:56:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:58:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:14:41     Target Completed Target completed (19/30, NGC 3690 w/SN2023wrk) 03:14:45     Target Started (20/30) Target started (20/30, AT2023twu) 03:18:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:27:52   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:27:54   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:27:55     Target Aborted (20/30) Target aborted (20/30, AT2023twu) due to cloud 03:27:57   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:27:59 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:29:57   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 120s, Zigbee 43s) 03:29:59 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:34:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/30, AT2023twu) due to cloud 03:34:12 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:34:17   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:34:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 10s, Zigbee 384s) 03:35:53 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:37:53 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:38:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 65s, Zigbee 40s) 03:39:00 Session Running Session running 03:39:02   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:39:05     Target Started (21/30) Target started (21/30, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 03:39:07       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 03:40:43       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 03:42:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:42:38       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 03:44:04       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 03:44:09       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 03:45:19   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:45:21   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:45:24     Target Aborted (21/30) Target aborted (21/30, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 03:45:26   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:45:28 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:46:14   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:46:16 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:48:19 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:48:24   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:48:34   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 10s, Zigbee 184s) 03:50:00 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:54:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/30, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 04:11:47 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:13:17   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 90s, Zigbee 40s) 04:13:19 Session Running Session running 04:13:21   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:13:24     Target Started (22/30) Target started (22/30, NGC 2848 w/SN2023usp) 04:13:27       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 04:13:52       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 04:15:28   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:15:30   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:15:32     Target Aborted (22/30) Target aborted (22/30, NGC 2848 w/SN2023usp) due to cloud 04:15:34   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:15:36 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:17:38 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:17:48   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 135s, Zigbee 43s) 04:37:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/30, NGC 3021 w/SN2023bvj) due to cloud 04:59:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/30, NGC 4490) due to cloud 04:59:58 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:00:03   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 05:00:38   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 35s, Zigbee 2,673s) 05:01:38 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:03:38 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:05:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 90s, Zigbee 40s) 05:05:11 Session Running Session running 05:05:13   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:05:15     Target Started (25/30) Target started (25/30, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 05:08:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:10:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 05:22:27     Target Completed Target completed (25/30, 12P/Pons-Brooks) 05:22:32     Target Started (26/30) Target started (26/30, UGC 9002 w/SN2023pls) 05:24:56   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 05:24:58   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 05:24:59     Target Aborted (26/30) Target aborted (26/30, UGC 9002 w/SN2023pls) due to cloud 05:25:01   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 05:25:03 Session Suspending Session suspending 05:25:51   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 05:25:54 Session Suspended Session suspended 05:39:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/30, UGC 9002 w/SN2023pls) due to cloud 06:02:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/30, NGC 5468 w/SN2023cj) due to cloud 06:24:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/30, SN 2023zvq) due to cloud 06:28:34 Session Resuming Session resuming 06:29:19   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 06:29:21 Session Running Session running 06:29:23   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 06:29:25     Target Started (29/30) Target started (29/30, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 06:37:20       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend is called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 06:38:00   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 06:38:02   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend is called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 06:38:05     Target Aborted (29/30) Target aborted (29/30, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) due to cloud 06:38:07   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 06:38:09 Session Suspending Session suspending 06:38:55   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 06:38:57 Session Suspended Session suspended 06:46:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/30, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) due to cloud 07:08:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/30, GCVS R CrB) due to rain 07:08:51   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:08:54 Session Closing Session closing 07:08:59   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 06:38, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 07:09:34   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 27s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:10:50   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 69s) 07:11:05   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:11:27   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:12:49   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging ok 07:12:51   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:12:54 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:13:15     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°) 07:14:18     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°) 07:14:23     Dome Find Park completed (Dome at Az: 90.5°) 07:14:26     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 87.5 to 93.5°, Step 0.2°) 07:15:47     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°) 07:15:52     Dome Find Park completed (Dome at Az: 90.5°) 07:15:54 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 21:44:08 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (35.90 GB) is less than 50 GB 06:58:42 Red Alert Cloud Sensor Cloud Sensor data has been inactive for more than 5 min 07:13:11 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (33.79 GB) is less than 50 GB 07:13:44 Red Alarm Cloud Sensor Cloud Sensor data has been inactive for more than 20 min

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Operational Issues (2023-12-17, S1174)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroMain stopped receiving fresh CloudSensor data (06:53).  Towards the end of the session, AstroMain stopped receiving fresh CloudSensor data, with a Red Alert 'Cloud Sensor data has been inactive for more than 5 min" at 06:58:42 indicating that fresh data stopped at around 06:53 . Checking in the morning showed that AstroWeather had crashed, which was rectified by restarting AstroWeather. Appropriate Try..Catch..EndTry blocks need to be placed around key loops to prevent AstroWeather from crashing due to an unhandled exception and to discover what is causing the program to crash. No further AstroWeather crashes occurred in the following 3 months and the issue might been resolved in AstroWeather 1.23.8 or so, however another check through the code and employ any additional Try..Catch..End Try block where there is a remaining potential for having an unhandled exception that could otherwise bring down the program.  Various fixes put in place in Dec 2023. Eventually code further reviewed in Mar 2024 and protected at all key points by Try..Catch..End Try blocks and released as AstroWeather 1.24.
  Fixed 2024-03-27 (AstroWeather 1.24)

Small Defects

• Date/Time Strings created for Last LAN Outage Time and Last Restart Loader dates in AstroPlan & AstroAllSky contain a small but significant format error.  LAN outage monitoring and Restart Loader have recently been added to AstroPlan & AstroAllSky.  Last LAN Outage Time and Last Restart Loader dates written to form fields and reported in logs contain an error on at leat the day (dd) element. eg 2023-12-04 16:11:39 , the 04 day number is incorrect and has to be 16 or 17,  the Hour value (16) is also queried.   Bug fixed 2023-12-18 (code was using format "yyyy-MM-hh HH:mm:ss" instead of "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss".
  Fixed  2023-12-18 (AstroPlan 1.39.5, AstroAllSky 3.19.11) 
   
• Zigbee Shutter Closed event was reported with closing times of 44.6 min and shown at 2673s during Closed Dome reporting (05:00:07).  After Session began resuming at  04:59 and after Dome was reported as 'Opening' conditions deteriorated (though no Zigbee Shutter opening event was reported) and the ObsManager intervened to close the Dome,  a Zigbee Shutter has closed event was reported at 05:00:07 with a closing time of 44.6 mins.  Once the Pulsar Dome indicated that shutter was closed a "Dome is closed    (Closing time 35s, Zigbee 2,673s)" message was reported. The duration 44.6 min (2673s) are 'unexpected' and likely dubious.   When a shutter opening/closing operation is reversed this should be acknowledged in some way by the associated reporting of Zigbee opening / closing times. Fixed in AstroMain 3.65.8 by adding code to Dome.ShutterOpenTask() and Dome.ShutterCloseTask() routines to reverse the status of Zigbee DomeShutter.
  Fixed2023-12-20 (AstroMain 3.65.8) 

Continuous Improvement

• When Conditions deteriorate during whilst session is 'Resuming' and the Shutter is Closed it would be helpful to formally change session state to 'Suspending'.  Twice during the S1174 session conditions deteriorated whilst the session was resuming due to Clarity values dropping back below 24. After issuing Critical Conditions alert the ObsManager call Dome.CloseShutter, and the Shutter was  closed with the Session still in Resuming State, after which the Session move to the Suspended State. It is more logical to consider the situation like a critical alert during Session Running state and issue a HardSuspend and whilst Job Queue has acknowledged with a bSuspendOk, the session is moved to Session Suspending State.  Change to ObsManager code implemented in AstroMain 3.65.7.
  Done  2023-12-18 (AstroMain 3.65.7) 
   
• Review Observing Potential column on NightSummary6 plot & relax the conditions for 'Good' when stars are clearly very abundant.  The NightSummaryPlot for 2023-12-17 contains sections with AllSkyStar counts of 55-60 but only have a Yellow Flag in Observing Potential track. With this many stars Observing Potential should be rated Good (Green).
  To do 2023-12-18 (AstroAllSky 3.19.11) 

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