David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 889 (2021-04-21)

Notes (S888)

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Notes (S890)

	2021-04-21 (Session 889)
	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (3),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2021-04-21 >>      [ Local Files >> ]
	2021-04-23
	Telescope Drivers - Daytime Testing (2021-04-22 / 23)
	Telescope Rebalancing (2021-04-23)

Session Aims & Highlights (2021-04-21)

Main aims

1. MeadeGeneric. Test out Meade Generic Driver for second time in a live session with workarounds in AstroMain 3.39.1
2. Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by conditions

Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• CCDApp2, TheSky6, CCDSoft5, PHD2,  DeviceHub 4.5.1,  MeadeGeneric 1.0.0.296 , UPB 1.5, ASCOM 6.5 SP1
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.9Dev4
   
• AstroMain 3.39.1,  AstroPlan 1.21.6,  AstroShCap 1.3.11, AstroGuard 1.6,   AstroVOE 1.7, AstroSN 1.5,  AstroProtect 1.6
  (AstroWeather 1.12.4, AstroAllSky 3.10.3, AstroObsCam 1.5.5 )

Highlights

•   MeadeGeneric.  Meade Generic Driver was used in live session for second time.
  (This following show-stopping issue with MeadeLX200GPS/R driver in session attempt on 2021-04-17 where it found impossible to get a connection to the scope using this driver although it has worked ok for the past 5 years. This is an issue that hasn't yet been resolved)

Lowlights

•   Centering.  JobQueue held up by "Unable to start the direct slew!!!" messages in TheSky6/ASCOM..

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 23:11:44 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity starting between 23:11 & 03:28 23:11:48 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:11) 23:12:32   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 23:12:34 Session Created Live Session Created (2021-04-21 S00889, ImageSaveNum: 889001) 23:12:36   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:12:38 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:12:43 Session Pending Session pending (2021-04-21) 23:12:45 Session Initiating Session initiating (2021-04-21) 23:12:47   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.21.6) 23:13:59   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (, Plan ID: 628) 23:14:06   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera Connected (set point -20°C) 23:14:12   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 23:14:22 Session Equilibration Session ready for dome & camera equilibration 23:14:43 Session Running Session running 23:14:45   Queue Started Observing Queue started (18 targets selected) 23:15:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:18:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:20:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:20:49       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:23:13       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:25:08       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:25:25       Focusing Checked Foc2 Focusing Check Succeeded 23:26:43     Target Started (1/18) Target started (1/18, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) 23:36:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:38:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:50:58     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/18, NGC 3310 w/SN2021gmj) 23:51:00     Target Started (2/18) Target started (2/18, AT2021hut) 00:12:57     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/18, AT2021hut) 00:12:59     Target Started (3/18) Target started (3/18, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 00:20:09   Telescope Disconnected Telescope Disconected (TheSky6) 00:20:16   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 00:36:22     Target Completed Target partially completed (3/18, NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy) 00:36:24     Target Started (4/18) Target started (4/18, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 00:57:34     Target Completed Target partially completed (4/18, Nova Per 2020 (CV)) 00:57:37     Target Started (5/18) Target started (5/18, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 01:11:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/18, NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno) 01:11:40     Target Started (6/18) Target started (6/18, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 01:15:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:17:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:33:09     Target Completed Target completed (6/18, NGC 4227 w/SN2021biz) 01:33:11     Target Started (7/18) Target started (7/18, IC 992 w/SN2021dwg) 01:35:02 Job Queue Frozen Job Queue appears to have frozen at around 01:34 - 01:35 01:40:06   Telescope Disconnected Telescope Disconected (TheSky6) 01:40:13   Telescope Connected Telescope Connected (TheSky6) 01:45:07 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:45:57   Dome Closed Dome closed (closing time 50s) 01:52:47     Target Failed Target failed due To centering error (7/18, IC 992 w/SN2021dwg) 01:52:49   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 01:53:12 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 01:53:14 Session Closing Session closing 01:53:16   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 01:45, closing time 50s) 01:54:05   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 44s), Az: 90.0 deg 01:55:25   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 74s) 01:55:55   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 01:56:45   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 01:56:47 Session Housekeeping Housekeeping Started (Cleanup FITS, Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 01:56:58 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts

Time     Alert Detail 23:31:08 Dome Discrepency Difference between Telescope Az and Dome Az is > 8 deg (NGC 3310) 01:45:07 Job Queue Job Queue appears to be frozen (last IamAlive message at 01:34)

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Operational Issues (2021-04-21, S889)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (2)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Continuous Improvement (1)

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Critical Issues - None

Major Issues

• Target Centering Jogs producing "Unable to start the direct slew!!!" dialogs in TheSky6 holding up Job Execution.   During target centering TheSky6 frequently put up an 'ASCOM Device Hub' dialog box with the error message 'Unable to startthe direct slew!!!'   This holds up the execution of Job Queue in AstroMain until the dialog box is acknowledged. If the dailog is not seen/not acknowledged, AstroMain's Obs.Overseer eventually intervenes to make the observatory safe (turning off tracking and closing the dome shutter).   Session could only be kept going by remote monitoring and acknowledging the dialog box each time it appeared. Telescope Jogs appear to take place even though dialog box is shown ?. Earlier attempt to fix issue in AstroMain 3.39.1 didn't work
  Fixed 2021-04-24 (MeadeGeneric 1.0.1.327)
   
• MeadeGeneric Driver Properties are being blanked out (or set to zero)  after telescope connection is made.   This requires properties to be refilled-in before Driver can be used again.
  Fixed 2021-04-24 (MeadeGeneric 1.0.1.327)

Minor Issues

• A number of post-slew images are trailed (suggesting that the telescope hasn't settled) . This was noticed during short mapping job at start of session.  Initially the problem looks like PEC issue (due to unlocking the RA gear and swinging scope during start-up issue in S888A attempt).  Earlier attempt to fix issue in AstroMain 3.39.1 didn't work. It is now thought that the problem is somehow realted to an issue caused by MeadeGeneric driver continuously showing Slewing=False even when the scope is slewing which causes TheSky to misunderstand the status of the scope and returning execution to AstroMain before slew/jog has been completed.
  Fixed 2021-04-24 (MeadeGeneric 1.0.1.327)
   
• A number of post-jog images are trailed (suggesting that the telescope hasn't settled) . This was noticed in Locate 2 & Locate 3 images for Target 2/18 (AT2021hut),   Locate 3, Locate 4 & Guide Ref Images for Target 3/18 (NGC 5018 w/SN2021fxy), Locate 4 & Guide Ref images for Target 4/18 (Nova Per 2020),
  Locate 3 & Guide Ref image for Target 5/18 (NGC 4165 w/SN2021gno).  Problem is believed to be due to the preceeding Jog (slew) still being in progress when imaging commenced, an issue caused by MeadeGeneric driver continuously showing Slewing=False even when the scope is slewing which causes TheSky to misunderstand the status of the scope and prematurely returnexecution to AstroMain before slew/jog has been completed.
  Fixed 2021-04-24 (MeadeGeneric 1.0.1.327)
   
• Slew Paths on Slewing Chart are mainly drawn as straight line paths and not the expected curved paths.   Straight line paths have previously occured when using DeviceHub.Telescope with MeadeLX200GPS driver but had been fixed. Issue may be due to use of MeadeGeneric driver. Investigation made
  See Investigation - Straight Line ScopePaths when using Meade Generic Ascom Telescope Driver  Fix attempted 2021-04-21 (AstroMain 3.39.1 ) but failed to fix the issue. Problem is believed to be associated with the MeadeGeneric Driver not setting Telescope Slewing property to True when the scope is slewing.  Curved paths are now drawn following fix to MeadeGeneric's Slewing Property, but resolution appears rather poor.
  Fixed 2021-04-24 (MeadeGeneric 1.0.1.327)

Continuous Improvement

• 'Use MeadeGeneric' checkbox in AstroMain should show 'unchecked' as the default option. Until issues with MeadeGeneric telescope driver are fixed/resolved the plan is to to return to using MeadeLX200GPS driver (but without Auto Set Time).   It important that the AstroMain reflects this to prevent run time issues.
  2021-04-23 (AstroMain 3.39.2)

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2021-04-23

Telescope Drivers - Daytime Testing (2021-04-22 / 23)

A series of daytime tests using Telescope Drivers was conducted on 2021-04-22 & 2021-04-23.  The main conclusions were :

• MeadeLX200GPS driver was found to be capable of connection to the observatory's LX200 GPS/R scope but only if the 'Auto Set Time' option is turned off.
   
  (MeadeLX200GPS driver continues to be unable to connect to scope with the Auto Set Time option turned on.   This issue developed during the course of session S887 (2021-04-16) and meant that attempt at an observing session the following night (S888A, 2021-04-17) had to be abandoned. This driver dates from 2005-2007 and is no longer supported.   This has prompted an effort to see if the MeadeGeneric driver (written & supported by Colin Dawson) can already and can be made capable for filling into the role of the MeadeLX200GPS driver)
   
• LX200 Scope shown to reset TimeZone for CLAIR ABZ site from GMT +00 from GMT +01 after connection / after date/time entry.    Why it does this is unclear,  but it does.  It was concluded that there was no point it setting the timezone to the correct zone (GMT +00) because the  LX200 simply changes it back to +01 once scope is initialised.
   
• V1.0.1.312 of Meade Generic confirmed to have a working implementation of 'Auto Set Time' feature.
  This is a new feature in MeadeGeneric Driver that wasn't present in the earlier 1.0.0.296 version used in sessions S888 & S889.
   (V.1.0.1.310 was tested first but had a bug whereby setting of current date/time and skipping of Date Prompts was performed in the wrong order)
   
• MeadeGeneric (1.0.0.296 to  1.0.1.312) confirmed to have an issue whereby,  on my computer at least , most of its Driver Properties become blanked out or set to 0 after making a connection to the scope.   This means that properties have to be re-filled in each time the driver is used, making the driver in practical for regular use.
  (Colin Dawson has reported that he has been unable to replicate this problem)
  
• Trace data was collected that confirned that MeadeGeneric wasn't passing Slewing=True back to DeviceHub.Telescope (or other client) when the scope was slewing.
  
  Previously it was determined that the Meade.Generic.Telescope trace log was showing Slewing=False throughout S888 & S889 sessions and that the Slewing Property didn't ever seem to be set to True.   This is believed to behind a major new  issue in these sessions whereby TheSky6 would regularly to put up "Unable to start the direct slew!!" dialog box messages during Jog operations that held up AstroMain's automated job queue (requiring user intervention) and prevented the capture of curved slew path information in AstroMain.
   
• A fix to a) ‘Slewing Property not True whilst Slewing’ Issue and a resolution of b) ‘MeadeGeneric Properties become blanked’ issue are needed before it becomes practical to use MeadeGeneric for  live observing sessions.
   
• For the next session it is proposed is to drop back to the MeadeLX200GPS driver in order to avoid the ‘Unable to start the direct slew’ problem that badly affected/interrupted the last two session when using the MeadeGeneric 1.0.0.296 driver.
  
  This will be without MeadeLX200GPS’s ‘Auto Set Time’. and it will be necessary to present at the handbox at the start of the session in order to accept the Time/Date prompts. This will be relatively quick because AstroMain can preload current UtcTime onto the scope.

Actions:
  Create button function to Bypass handbox entry of daylight savings, time and date .

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Telescope Rebalancing (2021-04-23)

Opportunity was taken to rebalance the OTA on the observatory' LX200 telescope today (2021-04-23).  This was an overdue task since OTA became unbalanced when secondary scope was removed (see motor focus repair, 2020-10-02) and was re-attached in a different position on the dovetail. Since then louder than normal sounds began coming from the Dec drive when the scope was slewing at certain locations with greatest load.

Rebalancing was achieved by releasing the Declination clutch and adjusting the positions of the two weight sets suspended on the bottom of the OTA.  After this the scope was deemed to be very well balanced when the OTA was lying horizontal  and moderately well balanced when pointing vertically up.   As the RA position remained in the locked position,and scope repositioned close to the Park Position, the scope will be ok to resume from Park Position (subject to resync & short mapping run).

Driving the scope from the handbox showed that loud sounds from the Dec Drive when slewing have reduced  following the rebalancing but had not totally disappeared.
(sounds are overall much more normal)

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