David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1246 (2024-09-17)

Notes (S1245)

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Notes (S1247)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	- Figures (3)
	Images from 2024-09-17 >>
	Review - Improving Operational Efficiency

Session Aims & Highlights (2024-09-17)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. AstroMain.  Continue to check new 3.69.8 version of AstroMain to ensure new code in ObsManager for handling JobQueue/TheSky6 freezes has no negative effects or problems
3. ImageLink/TheSky6.  Monitor session for any further incidents of the issue where the ImageLink process freezes for 5 minutes leading to Target Abort & Session Suspension.  Tracing was further extended in AstroMain 3.69.8. The new version also contains some statements tha might potentially resolve the ongoing issue.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 6.6.1.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.3.9, 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  2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 6.6 SP1
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.69.8,  AstroPlan 1.40.9,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.5   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.13.2,  AstroSN 1.12,  AstroProtect 1.7,  AstroMove 1.13   
  AstroWeather 1.25, AstroAllSky 3.20.5,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroLaunch 1.11.3

Highlights-

• Targets. 21/31 planned targets observations were completed, with 1 other target partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspension.
• AstroMain.  There were no issues with the new version (AstroMain 3.69.8) however new code sections for tracing/reacting to Job Queue/TheSky6 freezes wasn't tested as no freezes occurred.
• ImageLink/TheSky6.  There were 0 incidents of the issue where the ImageLink process freezes for 5 minutes, leading to Target Abort and Session Suspension. 
  (is this because of the small changes made to Plate Solution routines or that the random occuring issue simply didn't occur during the session.
• Dome. No issues opening/closing shutter during session.  Dome closed and parked ok at end of session.

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 19:47:51 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:15 & 04:40 19:47:54   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 20:15 20:15:37   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 20:35:58 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:35) 20:36:22   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:36:50   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 20:36:52 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2024-09-17 S01246, ImageSaveNum: 1246001) 20:36:57   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:38:54   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:39:01 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:39:03   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 20:39:06 Session Pending Session pending (2024-09-17) 20:39:08 Session Initiating Session initiating (2024-09-17) 20:39:15   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 20:39:22   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.40.9) 20:40:13   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1021) 20:40:54   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:41:18 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:42:03   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 39s) 20:42:23 Session Running Session running 20:42:25   Queue Started Observing Queue started (31 targets selected) 20:42:28     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 20:42:42       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:46:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:49:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:51:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:51:46       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:53:53       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:55:35       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:55:53     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 20:55:57     Target Started (1/31) Target started (1/31, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) 20:59:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:02:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:19:17     Target Completed Target completed (1/31, IC 1125 w/SN2024jz) 21:19:21     Target Started (2/31) Target started (2/31, GCVS T CrB) 21:22:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:25:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:31:06     Target Completed Target completed (2/31, GCVS T CrB) 21:31:10     Target Started (3/31) Target started (3/31, LEDA 1846725 w/SN2024iss) 21:35:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:37:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:54:25     Target Completed Target completed (3/31, LEDA 1846725 w/SN2024iss) 21:54:29     Target Started (4/31) Target started (4/31, SN 2023mpz) 21:57:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:00:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:16:26     Target Completed Target completed (4/31, SN 2023mpz) 22:16:31     Target Started (5/31) Target started (5/31, AT2022zks) 22:19:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:21:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:38:24     Target Completed Target completed (5/31, AT2022zks) 22:38:28     Target Started (6/31) Target started (6/31, Nova Vul 2024) 22:41:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:43:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:47:08     Target Completed Target completed (6/31, Nova Vul 2024) 22:47:12     Target Started (7/31) Target started (7/31, AT2023cti) 22:50:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:52:10       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:52:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:52:40       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 22:55:15       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:08:38     Target Completed Target completed (7/31, AT2023cti) 23:08:40   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:08:42 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:09:32   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 23:09:35 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:19:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/31, AT2024hr (CV)) due to cloud 23:31:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/31, AT2022aeet (CV)) due to cloud 23:32:34 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:33:19   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 23:33:22 Session Running Session running 23:33:24   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:33:27     Target Started (10/31) Target started (10/31, AT2024iwq) 23:36:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:39:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:55:10     Target Completed Target completed (10/31, AT2024iwq) 23:55:14     Target Started (11/31) Target started (11/31, AT2023uli (CV)) 23:58:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:00:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 00:06:56     Target Completed Target completed (11/31, AT2023uli (CV)) 00:07:01     Target Started (12/31) Target started (12/31, AT2023abiv (CV)) 00:09:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:11:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:17:46     Target Completed Target completed (12/31, AT2023abiv (CV)) 00:18:36     Target Started (13/31) Target started (13/31, GCVS EV Lac) 00:21:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:24:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:26:54     Target Completed Target completed (13/31, GCVS EV Lac) 00:27:38     Target Started (14/31) Target started (14/31, GCVS S Cyg) 00:31:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:33:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 00:44:26     Target Completed Target completed (14/31, GCVS S Cyg) 00:44:30     Target Started (15/31) Target started (15/31, AT2024vhz) 00:48:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:50:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:03:47       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:04:22       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:06:44     Target Completed Target completed (15/31, AT2024vhz) 01:06:48     Target Started (16/31) Target started (16/31, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) 01:06:58       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 01:07:28       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:08:23       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:08:33       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:11:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:12:28       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:14:08       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 01:18:14       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 01:28:20     Target Completed Target completed (16/31, NGC 3206 w/SN2024bch) 01:28:22   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:28:25 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:29:15   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 01:29:17 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:39:43     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/31, AT2023cmv (CV)) due to cloud 01:51:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/31, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud 02:10:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/31, AT2023wfq) due to cloud 02:33:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/31, AT2024ugc) due to cloud 02:47:16     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/31, AT2023uzs (CV)) due to cloud 02:57:26     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/31, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 03:16:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/31, AT2023iw (CV)) due to cloud 03:32:57 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:33:42   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 03:33:44 Session Running Session running 03:33:46   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:33:49     Target Started (24/31) Target started (24/31, UGC 2028 w/SN2022xkt) 03:46:48     Target Completed Target partially completed (24/31, UGC 2028 w/SN2022xkt) 03:46:53     Target Started (25/31) Target started (25/31, AT2022obq (CV)) 03:55:30     Target Completed Target completed (25/31, AT2022obq (CV)) 03:55:35     Target Started (26/31) Target started (26/31, AT2023rbs) 03:58:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:01:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 04:16:52     Target Completed Target completed (26/31, AT2023rbs) 04:16:56     Target Started (27/31) Target started (27/31, GCVS BL Lac) 04:20:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:22:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 04:26:48     Target Completed Target completed (27/31, GCVS BL Lac) 04:26:52     Target Started (28/31) Target started (28/31, AT2022weo) 04:31:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 04:37:16     Target Completed Target completed (28/31, AT2022weo) 04:38:58     Target Started (29/31) Target started (29/31, AT2024emn (CV)) 04:42:57   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 04:43:16   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 04:43:23   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 04:44:18   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 04:44:21   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 04:50:00     Target Completed Target completed (29/31, AT2024emn (CV)) 04:50:58     Target Started (30/31) Target started (30/31, AT2023srw (CV)) 04:54:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:56:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 05:02:42     Target Completed Target completed (30/31, AT2023srw (CV)) 05:02:58     Target Started (31/31) Target started (31/31, AT2024eja) 05:06:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:08:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 05:24:45     Target Completed Target completed (31/31, AT2024eja) 05:24:47   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:24:51 Session Closing Session closing 05:25:47   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 05:26:22   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 28s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:27:35   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 66s total) 05:27:50   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:28:12   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:29:39   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:29:42 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:30:14     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:31:15     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 89.8°) 05:31:22     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: +0.2°) 05:31:24   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:31:27   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (59mA) 05:31:29 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 01:07:49 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 1 deg (NGC 3206) 04:42:58 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 04:44:21 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 05:31:27 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (59mA)

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Operational Issues (2024-09-17 S1246)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Telescope Slewing Chart show telescope slewing beyond Az 360 on two occasions during session (01:06 & 03:33).  Telescope slewing section on right handside of session's 'DomeChart' picture shows telescope slewing through Az 0°/Az 360° line and entering the telescope's 'no-slew / az limit' area on two slews (see Fig 1). This involved a slew from Az 292.2° to Az13.0° (NGC 3206) at 01:06 and after an intervening session suspension from Az 18.6° to Az 173.0° (UGC 2028) at 03:33.  Such slews pose potential serious risk of damage to cables/equipment as cables become wrapped/strained around the pier / wedge. No particular adverse effect was noted however. Targets were imaged ok and telescope was returned to park position ok at end of session.  An ObsCam 'session-suspended' picture (whilst on Target 17/17, NGC 3729)  at 03:57 with telescope at Az shows cables wrapped around the telescope base  (see Fig 2), indicating that the telescope has slewed through the Az 0°/Az 360° line which is a serious event. however later ObsCam pictures show that the cable wrap but been taken-out and there were no cable hangs.  This is very similar to the incident in session S1232 (2024-08-25). An investigation has been carried out (Investigation - Telescope Slewed through 'No Go' region and past Az 360,  wrapping telescope cables, 2024-08-25) and concluded that the issue was likely caused by a random telescope software glitch that caused the telescope to slew to NGC 3630 target in the wrong direction, leading the telescope to proceed Az 360°. However the new case points to a systemic issue and more investigation / action needs to take place.  Safeguard added to AstroPlan 1.41.1 to not program a target which has Azimuth <= 20 and Alt < 65 until it can be established how precisely fix LX200 so that it doesn't slew past the Az 360 l(North) line. A similar safeguard has been added to AstroMain 3.70.1 to prevent a slew to location which has Azimuth <= 20 and Alt < 65.
  Temporary fix employed 2024-09-19 (Session, LX200 Telescope, AstroPlan 1.41.1,  AstroMain 3.70.1))

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• General Session Alerts can not be deleted from AstroPlan's Session Alerts & Alarms Form.  Attempting to remove 'Test' alerts from the Observatory's General Session (which are now stored in the Local Database (Local.sqlite) since AstroPlan 1.41).  Clear row doesn't work, and blanking the Time field and using Save Alerts button, causes the Alert to be added to the database as a new alert row rather than deleting the alert from the sessionalerts table.   Fixed in AstroPlan 1.41.1, The SaveSessionAlerts() routine works by deleting all alerts for the session from sessionalert table, before inserting all the valid alerts from the form.   The issue was being caused by a conditional clause in DeleteSessionAlerts() routine that wasn't deleting alert rows if session was general (-10) and the date/time of the alert was less than a cutoff (which was recently changed from 24 hours ago to 72 hours ago.   A separate Continuous Improvement ticket has been raised to make the Clear Row work correctly.
  Fixed 2024-09-19 (AstroPlan 1.41.1)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroPlan's Session Alerts & Session Events form to make Clear Row work correctly.   After 'Get Active SN List' operation has been run,  new targets should be listed in a Data Grid View,  with buttons to allow individual rows to be 'Open Target in AstroPlan', view TNS web page, view Gaia Web Page (if available) or view the Ra/Dec location and starfield in Aladin.   Implemented in AstroSN 1.13.  A new Tab called "Results" as been added to AstroSN, with a DataGridView that can show new and recent Transients & Supernovae, with buttons "Open in AstroPlan >>", "TNS", "Gaia" and "Aladin" to review the currently selected data row (see Fig 3)
  Done 2024-09-21 (AstroSN)
   
• Extend AstroSN to be able to review new transient & supernovae that have loaded to AstroPlan.   The 'Clear Row' button facility currently doesn't do anything, and is confusing to user. Modify behaviour so that it works as stated. ago to 72 hours ago.   A separate Continuous Improvement ticket has been raised to make the Clear Row work correctly. Implemented in AstroPlan 1.41.1.
  Done 2024-09-19 (AstroSN 1.14)
   
• Consider updating Sqlite Net Version used in various AstroSuite Projects to latest version.   Latest version of Sqlite give access to new commands "Alter table .. rename column .."  and "Alter table .. drop column .." which is useful functionality.   It may be easier to install the latest Command Line version of Sqlite in order to manually make changes to tables, as this just an occassional ad-hoc requirement, and reduces risk associate with updating sqlite across several projects (AstroPlan, AstroMain, AstroSN, AstroVOE).  SQLite 3.46.1 was downloaded and installed on Development/Analysis Computer on 2024-09-22 (see Notes - SQLite 3.46.1 (2024-09-22) ).
  Done 2024-09-22 (Sqlite 3.46.1)
   
• Conduct an efficiency review to see where improvements can be made to Observatory & Software Processes.
  Done  2024-09-28 (Observatory, AstroSuite)

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Fig 1.   Telescope Slewing Chart showing 2 slews cutting across Azimuth 0 line
Slews appear to enter/cross the telescope's 'no slew / az limit region'

                     Telescope Slew
Target Time       Az1  Az2   Alt1  Alt2  Slew  Angle Speed
        hh:mm     deg  deg    deg  deg   time  deg   deg/s

NGC 3206 01:06  292.2  13.0  71.7  24.8   49s  197.5  4.03
UGC 2028 03:33   18.6 173.0  26.1  54.6   61s  178.5  2.91


Fig 2.   ObsCamera showing telescope's main cable bundle wrapped around scope base

but cables are ok following slew following slew to UGC 2028 (which took out the prior cable wrap)


 
 
Fig 3.   AstroSN's  new DataGridView showing  New and Recent Transients & Supernovae

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Review - Improving Operational Efficiency

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