Dome slewing not as expected - another angle (pun intended)!

Sequence Generator
1

Continuing the discussion from Dome slewing by 45deg during 'Center Here' routine:

    As I was searching through last nights logs I pulled this out:

[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Slew received J2000 coordinates, mount requires JNOW, converting…
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Slewing to JNOW RA: 8.91754362858313 Dec: 8.8519727973596
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Calling Observatory Slave Slew
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 227.19493631041
Altitude: 39.3823847133224
Hour Angle: 34.5635424677966
Pier Side: East
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Observatory: Telescope position not valid or sent, calculating new Alt/Az
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.360956393896
Altitude: 42.5237418429973
Hour Angle: 232.373926233901
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:36:46] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Observatory: Adjustment needed, slewing to Azimuth: 116.238025132686
[29/02/2016 19:36:58] [DEBUG] [Main Thread] PopulateDataModel: Transferring view to the data model…
[29/02/2016 19:36:58] [DEBUG] [MF Update Thread] Performing serialize…
[29/02/2016
19:37:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 - No messages received
from PHD2 for 1 minute, checking socket with status…
[29/02/2016 19:37:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Checking PHD2 state…
[29/02/2016 19:37:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Pre-Wait : Stopped
[29/02/2016 19:37:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Sending to PHD2:
{“method”: “get_app_state”, “id”: 1001}

[29/02/2016 19:37:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Post-Wait: Stopped
[29/02/2016
19:38:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 - No messages received
from PHD2 for 1 minute, checking socket with status…
[29/02/2016 19:38:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Checking PHD2 state…
[29/02/2016 19:38:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Pre-Wait : Stopped
[29/02/2016 19:38:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] Sending to PHD2:
{“method”: “get_app_state”, “id”: 1001}

[29/02/2016 19:38:01] [DEBUG] [PHD2 Listener Thread] PHD2 GetPhdStatus - Post-Wait: Stopped
[29/02/2016 19:38:20] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Scope reports it is done with synchronous slew, verifying…
[29/02/2016 19:38:20] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Observatory is reporting slewing
[29/02/2016 19:38:21] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Slewing has completed
[29/02/2016 19:38:21] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Settling for 5 seconds
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Telescope: Settling has completed
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Auto center slew complete…
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Performing auto center step 4…
[29/02/2016
19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Telescope Thread] Created full file name (file does
not exist):
C:\Users\Kinch\AppData\Local\SequenceGenerator\Temp\plate_solve_image.fit
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Camera Thread] SGM_CAMERA_PLATE_SOLVER_CAPTURE message received…
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Alnitak Flat Box - Getting shutter status
[29/02/2016
19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Alnitak Flat Box - Updating Device
Variables - Model: 99 Motor Status: 0 Light Status: 0
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Collecting FITs headers for plate solve frame…
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Camera Thread] Collecting FITs headers for plate solve frame…
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Camera Thread] ASCOM (QSI) Camera: setting gain to LOW…
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Camera Thread] ASCOM (QSI) camera: setting high speed readout…
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.898746084813
Altitude: 43.0237326307307
Hour Angle: -41.2871535850302
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Adjustment needed, slewing to Azimuth: 129.555123255881
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.899191603646
Altitude: 43.0240646136222
Hour Angle: -41.2866839219081
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Adjustment needed, slewing to Azimuth: 129.555752763261
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.899631203206
Altitude: 43.0243936266187
Hour Angle: -41.2862184507059
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Adjustment needed, slewing to Azimuth: 129.556374303406
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.900026079863
Altitude: 43.0246906411619
Hour Angle: -41.2858003434704
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:26] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Adjustment needed, slewing to Azimuth: 129.556932982928
[29/02/2016 19:38:27] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:27] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:27] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.900480295475
Altitude: 43.0250305828875
Hour Angle: -41.2853173192604
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:27] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Adjustment needed, slewing to Azimuth: 129.557575226322
[29/02/2016
19:38:27] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Dome: Caught exception in MoveAsync -
DomeTracker Error : Dome shall not be rotating to perform this operation
![29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if
slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.92191884132
Altitude: 43.0410688873035
Hour Angle: -41.2626227930317
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.922722658031
Altitude: 43.0416700797474
Hour Angle: -41.2617711136333
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.92337086667
Altitude: 43.0421519219367
Hour Angle: -41.2610819000214
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.
[29/02/2016 19:38:32] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.923825252937
Altitude: 43.0424961905589
Hour Angle: -41.2606072937958
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.924235972937
Altitude: 43.0428033575552
Hour Angle: -41.2601705356687
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.924621781026
Altitude: 43.0430898759699
Hour Angle: -41.2597643186721
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking if slew is needed based on telescope position.
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Checking to see if position needs updating
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: Calculating new position using:
Azimuth: 116.925032815806
Altitude: 43.0433978185158
Hour Angle: -41.2593293465761
Pier Side: West
[29/02/2016 19:38:33] [DEBUG] [Dome Thread] Observatory: No adjustment needed.

Am I reading this right…

Scope is synced and instructed to move to new location…dome is instructed to follow at 19 36 46…go to 116.238°
Dome
goes to 116° but then ‘realizes’ when the scope settles at 19 38 26
that the offsets need to be applied…and at that stage then slews to
Az 129°…I think?

129° is not mentioned in log after what you see above. I am unsure if
116° is the scope or the dome angle. If it is the scope (and indeed the
dome is at 129° because of the offset required)… then can that
offset be calculated before the dome moves - so that it is not
stopping/starting/stopping during a single move.

2

@kinch can you upload the entire log. Reading it in a compressed format here in the forum is more horrible than normal. Plus there is other info in the log that is useful

Thanks,
Jared

3

Sorry about that Jared - I know full well that you guys want the full log.

It was a knee jerk reaction, to reply on the “Dome slewing by 45deg during ‘Center Here’ routine” thread firstly, then make this a linked topic.

I will do a specific run - probably can do tonight - note the times and save relevant (full) logs. What I am looking to capture is that on a change of scope position (not just normal tracking) the dome has a bit of a knee jerk reaction itself. Whether or not it is SGP, I don’t really know - but it comes for sure when a plate solve is involved.

4

No worries. It’s likely 1 of 2 things:

  1. We’re sending it to the wrong AZ during a slew. This seems to be the case elsewhere so it’s likely that is your problem.
  2. The dome over/under shoots the requested position (mine actually does this as there is some play in the encoders)

I’m guessing it’s 1 and there is a potential fix for that coming out in the next beta. But it’s still a guess.

Jared

5

Thanks for the info Jared. It is not likely to be #2. Yes, from time to time I check the dome and there can be a degree or two slippage noted - but nothing more than that. This movement is much greater - but then again not as great as I was having before we got the updated Temma driver.

I’ll post something more for you on this - hopefully before morning.

6

I did a small test tonight - logs on DropBox:

Have a look around 19:18:38…

I thought I had a handle on what was happening - but the more I look at the logs the more confused I get. I am still of the opinion though, that perhaps the dome is instructed to go where the scope will stop. Then on second check (after plate solve) the dome is instructed elsewhere (from c157° to c177°). Is this to allow for the offsets or perhaps it is some bad maths within SPG…?

I’ll have to leave it with you…all I know for sure is that the dome moves several times for the mount moving once and I am hoping that that can be nipped in the bud! (I take long PS frames now to try avoid ONLY getting the inside of the dome).
I have included the spg log, and the Ascom access log (Scope) as well as the Dome Tracker Log.

7

I did not get a chance to do much testing but a couple of moves to new targets (including pier flip) did not produce the extra dome moves that I had previously seen. I think you have nailed that particular problem in .17…thanks!