Haltom City Observatory
Robotic Operation - Full Script Control
ACP, MaximDL, AP1200GTO, STL11K and 253mm f/6 Newtonian
NGC 2264: 253mm f/6 Newtonian, AP1200, and STL11K
Data Collected Robotically
Session Plan
; NGC2264 Cone Nebula
; Written by William R. Mattil
;
; == NGC 2264 Offset to center Image on the Cone itself==
#AFINTERVAL 30
#INTERVAL 1800
#REPEAT 4
#BINNING 1
#FILTER Ha
CONE-Ha 06:41:08 09:27:40 ; RA and Dec of Image Center
Session Log
08-Jan-2007@031604.Log
ACP console log opened 08-Jan-2007 03:16:04 UTC
This is ACP version 4.2 (build 7, Production Release)
Licensed to William R. Mattil
03:16:05 Initializing AcquireSupport V4.2.7 (Bill Mattil Test)
03:16:05 Telescope is ACP->AstroPhysics, driver V1
03:16:08 Imager is SBIG Universal
03:16:08 Guider is SBIG Universal(internal)
03:16:08 Calculated unbinned plate scales (arcsec/pix): H = 1.09 V = 1.09
03:16:08 Calculated field of view (arcmin): H = 72.6 V = 48.4
03:16:08 This is AcquireImages V4.2.12
03:16:08 Starting run for plan NGC2264-Offset-Ha.txt...
03:16:08 Pointing exposures:
03:16:08 Exposure Interval = 30
03:16:08 Min brightness = 0
03:16:08 Sigma = 3
03:16:08 Cat max mag = 14
03:16:08 Final exposure:
03:16:08 Default interval = 30
03:16:08 (plate solving is disabled)
03:16:08 Starting observing run.
03:16:08 File set-numbers start with 2
03:16:08 (scheduled initial pointing update)
03:16:08 ; NGC2264 Cone Nebula
03:16:08 ; Written by William R. Mattil
03:16:08 ;
03:16:08 ; == NGC 2264 ==
03:16:08 Start slew to CONE-Ha...
03:16:09 Auto-Focus will be done every 30 minutes
03:16:09 Doing CONE-Ha (# 1 of 1 in set 1)
03:16:09 CONE-Ha will be repeated 5 times.
03:16:09 (wait for slew to complete)
03:17:08 (slew complete)
03:17:08 Using Ha filter for imaging
03:17:08 Updating pointing...
03:17:08 (taking 30 sec. exposure, Clear filter, binning = 3)
03:18:03 (HFD = 8.93)
03:18:03 Calibrating image...
03:18:03 (avg HFD = 5.80)
03:18:03 Plate-solve pointing image.
03:18:04 629 image stars found
03:18:05 792 catalog stars found
03:18:05 Solved! 216 stars matched.
03:18:05 Average residual is 0.55 arcsec.
03:18:05 Pointing error is 18.339 arcmin @ angle 276.77
03:18:05 True focal length is 175.4 cm.
03:18:05 True image center (J2000): 06h 39m 54.1s 09° 29' 49.27"
03:18:05 Imager sky position angle is 272.8 deg.
03:18:06 [sync] pointing model updated
03:18:06 Internal guider, always re-slew
03:18:06 Re-slew to target.
03:18:06 Start slew to CONE-Ha...
03:18:07 (wait for slew to complete)
03:18:22 (slew complete)
03:18:22 Camera is aimed at the target.
03:18:22 (long exp(s), no orbital tracking, trying to autoguide)
03:18:33 (guide star SNR=3.8 X=60 Y=196)
03:18:37 (autoguiding at 2.00 sec.)
03:18:37 Imaging to CONE-Ha-S002-R001-Ha
03:18:37 (taking 1800 sec. exposure, Ha filter, binning = 1)
03:49:19 (HFD = 0.00)
03:49:20 (avg HFD = 6.15)
03:49:23 Do periodic auto-focus...
03:49:24 (autoguider stopped)
03:49:26 Starting FocusMax AcquireStar autofocus...
03:49:26
03:49:26 ** Starting Acquire Star Sequence **
03:49:26 Catalog: USNO-A2.0
03:49:27 ** Taking pointing exposure **
03:49:50 PinPoint.Plate Error -2147220457: The image field is so big that we reached the limit of stars from the USNO A/SA catalog.
modPinPoint Sub SolvePlate
03:49:51
03:49:51 Plate not solved - starting spiral search
03:49:51 Doing a spiral search to solve this pointing exposure.
03:49:51 ** Begining Spiral search **
03:49:52 74 plate image stars found
03:49:53 SpiralSolve failed to solve the pointing exposure.
03:49:53 Current telescope position not plate solved!
03:49:53 Current pointing: RA 06:42:39.1 Dec 09° 28' 13.5"
03:49:54
03:49:54 ** Getting catalog stars between mag 3 & 7 **
03:49:54 Looking for target star > 60 deg altitude
03:49:54
03:49:54 Field search = 2.0 x 2.0 (degrees)
03:49:55 2 potential target stars found
03:49:55 Current target stars = 2
03:49:56
03:49:56 Field search = 4.0 x 4.0 (degrees)
03:49:57 2 potential target stars found
03:49:57 Current target stars = 2
03:49:58
03:49:58 Field search = 6.0 x 6.0 (degrees)
03:50:01 11 potential target stars found
03:50:13 Target stars = 3
03:50:13 Identified target stars:
03:50:13 Star 1 mag 6.60 RA 06:26:09.8 Dec 21° 38' 33.5" (Topo)
03:50:13 Star 2 mag 6.10 RA 06:26:00.4 Dec 23° 19' 29.4" (Topo)
03:50:13 Star 3 mag 7.00 RA 06:19:49.9 Dec 23° 16' 23.8" (Topo)
03:50:13 Using 6.60 mag star at RA 06:26:09.8 Dec 21° 38' 33.5" (Topo)
03:50:13 Slewing 12.8007 degrees to target star
03:50:39 No star centering desired
03:50:40
03:50:40 System: 253mmf6-STL-1
03:50:40 ** Beginning Focus run **
03:50:40 LS: -0.160176 RS: 0.160139 PID: 3.34 NFHFD: 10
03:50:41 Move direction: Out
03:50:41 Temperature = 579.0
03:50:41 Filter number = 4
03:50:41 Focus Start: 1660
03:50:56 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
03:50:57 Try star search again with cropped border
03:50:58 Target star found at X = 1973, Y = 1935
03:50:58 Focus exposures will be 2.00 sec
03:51:05 Position , HFD , Mean Best Focus , X , Y , Flux
03:51:06 1660 , 32.58 , 0 , 1976 , 1931 , 30907
03:51:15 1730 , 21.60 , 0 , 1976 , 1935 , 30304
03:51:16 On correct side of focus
03:51:16 Move to Near Focus HFD
03:51:24 1766 , 16.55 , 0 , 1977 , 1937 , 29042
03:51:33 1807 , 9.71 , 0 , 1977 , 1937 , 29770
03:51:33 ** Starting Near Focus **
03:51:33 Position , HFD , Mean Best Focus , X , Y , Flux
03:51:33 1807 , 9.71 , 1866 , 1977 , 1937 , 29770
03:51:40 1807 , 9.38 , 1865 , 1977 , 1939 , 29271
03:51:47 1807 , 9.44 , 1865 , 1977 , 1940 , 28410
03:51:54 1807 , 9.46 , 1865 , 1977 , 1941 , 29639
03:52:01 1807 , 9.55 , 1865 , 1978 , 1942 , 27509
03:52:01 Best Focus is: 1865
03:52:10 1865 , 3.00 , 1865 , 1978 , 1946 , 29733
03:52:11 Focusing Completed
03:52:12 Focus time = 91 sec
03:52:12 Performing return slew of 12.8031 degrees
03:52:12 Slewing to: 06:42:39.1 Dec: 09° 28' 13.5"
03:52:39 Acquire Star completed
03:52:40 FocusMax auto-focus successful!
03:52:40 HFD = 3.00
03:52:40 Focus position = 1865
03:52:40 Autofocus finished.
03:52:40 Updating pointing...
03:52:40 (taking 30 sec. exposure, Clear filter, binning = 3)
03:53:34 (HFD = 5.12)
03:53:34 Calibrating image...
03:53:35 (avg HFD = 3.53)
03:53:35 Plate-solve pointing image.
03:53:36 480 image stars found
03:53:36 792 catalog stars found
03:53:37 Solved! 163 stars matched.
03:53:37 Average residual is 0.56 arcsec.
03:53:37 Pointing error is 0.953 arcmin @ angle 277.69
03:53:37 True focal length is 175.5 cm.
03:53:37 True image center (J2000): 06h 41m 04.2s 09° 27' 47.65"
03:53:37 Imager sky position angle is 272.8 deg.
03:53:37 [sync] pointing model updated
03:53:37 Internal guider, always re-slew
03:53:37 Re-slew to target.
03:53:37 Start slew to CONE-Ha...
03:53:39 (wait for slew to complete)
03:53:54 (slew complete)
03:53:54 Camera is aimed at the target.
03:54:05 (guide star SNR=4.9 X=57 Y=182)
03:54:08 (autoguiding at 2.00 sec.)
03:54:08 (waiting for guider to settle...)
03:54:13 Imaging to CONE-Ha-S002-R002-Ha
03:54:13 (taking 1800 sec. exposure, Ha filter, binning = 1)
04:24:54 (HFD = 0.00)
04:24:54 (avg HFD = 3.71)
04:24:57 Do periodic auto-focus...
04:24:58 (autoguider stopped)
04:25:00 Starting FocusMax AcquireStar autofocus...
04:25:00
04:25:00 ** Starting Acquire Star Sequence **
04:25:01 Catalog: USNO-A2.0
04:25:02 ** Taking pointing exposure **
04:25:25 PinPoint.Plate Error -2147220457: The image field is so big that we reached the limit of stars from the USNO A/SA catalog.
modPinPoint Sub SolvePlate
04:25:25
04:25:25 Plate not solved - starting spiral search
04:25:26 Doing a spiral search to solve this pointing exposure.
04:25:26 ** Begining Spiral search **
04:25:27 76 plate image stars found
04:25:28 SpiralSolve failed to solve the pointing exposure.
04:25:28 Current telescope position not plate solved!
04:25:28 Current pointing: RA 06:42:41.4 Dec 09° 30' 08.1"
04:25:28
04:25:28 ** Getting catalog stars between mag 3 & 7 **
04:25:28 Looking for target star > 60 deg altitude
04:25:29
04:25:29 Field search = 2.0 x 2.0 (degrees)
04:25:30 1 potential target stars found
04:25:30 Current target stars = 1
04:25:30
04:25:31 Field search = 4.0 x 4.0 (degrees)
04:25:32 3 potential target stars found
04:25:35 Current target stars = 2
04:25:35
04:25:35 Field search = 6.0 x 6.0 (degrees)
04:25:38 9 potential target stars found
04:25:48 Target stars = 3
04:25:48 Identified target stars:
04:25:48 Star 1 mag 7.00 RA 06:44:56.9 Dec 20° 41' 13.9" (Topo)
04:25:48 Star 2 mag 7.00 RA 06:48:14.6 Dec 21° 41' 06.5" (Topo)
04:25:48 Star 3 mag 7.00 RA 06:55:23.8 Dec 21° 33' 49.3" (Topo)
04:25:48 Using 7.00 mag star at RA 06:44:56.9 Dec 20° 41' 13.9" (Topo)
04:25:49 Slewing 11.1982 degrees to target star
04:26:16 No star centering desired
04:26:17
04:26:17 System: 253mmf6-STL-1
04:26:17 ** Beginning Focus run **
04:26:17 LS: -0.160176 RS: 0.160139 PID: 3.34 NFHFD: 10
04:26:17 Move direction: Out
04:26:17 Temperature = 579.0
04:26:17 Filter number = 4
04:26:18 Focus Start: 1660
04:26:32 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:26:33 Try star search again with cropped border
04:26:33 Starting exposures with Extended Time
04:26:33 Min flux setting = 10000
04:26:34 Total Flux = 7289 Next exposure = 2.00 sec
04:26:44 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:26:44 Try star search again with cropped border
04:26:45 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:26:45 Attempting brightest pixel method
04:26:46 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:26:46 Total Flux = 2300 Next exposure = 4.00 sec
04:27:00 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:27:00 Try star search again with cropped border
04:27:01 Total Flux = 11335
04:27:01 Target star found at X = 1308, Y = 2403
04:27:02 Focus exposures will be 4.00 sec
04:27:13 Position , HFD , Mean Best Focus , X , Y , Flux
04:27:14 1660 , 0.00 , 0 , 1242 , 2337 , 498
04:27:23 Error in modHFR Sub StarIntersectsFrameEdge
04:27:23 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:27:23 Increasing frame width
04:27:33 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:27:48 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:27:48 Increasing Subframe Width, attempt 1
04:27:58 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:27:58 Increasing Subframe Width, attempt 2
04:28:08 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:28:08 Increasing Subframe Width, attempt 3
04:28:20 1660 , 6.64 , 0 , 1250 , 2387 , 1254
04:28:20 On the wrong side of focus
04:28:33 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:28:33 Increasing frame width
04:28:43 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:28:58 1494 , 0.80 , 0 , 1251 , 2387 , 426
04:28:59 HFD < NearFocus HFD
04:29:10 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak; increasing frame size
04:29:11 Increasing frame width
04:29:22 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:29:23 Increasing frame width
04:29:35 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:29:52 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:29:52 Increasing Subframe Width, attempt 1
04:30:05 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:30:05 Increasing Subframe Width, attempt 2
04:30:20 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:30:20 Increasing Subframe Width, attempt 3
04:30:36 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:30:58 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:31:19 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:31:19 Can not measure HFD for this image
04:31:25 Moving to previous focus position of 1865
04:31:34 Focus not achieved with star 1 of 3 - trying next target star
04:31:34 Using 7.00 mag star at RA 06:48:14.6 Dec 21° 41' 06.5" (Topo)
04:31:35 Slewing 1.2592 degrees to target star
04:31:57 No star centering desired
04:31:57
04:31:57 System: 253mmf6-STL-1
04:31:57 ** Beginning Focus run **
04:31:57 LS: -0.160176 RS: 0.160139 PID: 3.34 NFHFD: 10
04:31:58 Move direction: Out
04:31:58 Temperature = 579.0
04:31:58 Filter number = 4
04:31:58 Focus Start: 1660
04:32:13 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
04:32:13 Try star search again with cropped border
04:32:14 Target star found at X = 1884, Y = 2117
04:32:14 Focus exposures will be 2.00 sec
04:32:21 Position , HFD , Mean Best Focus , X , Y , Flux
04:32:22 1660 , 33.53 , 0 , 1916 , 2120 , 18290
04:32:31 1733 , 22.04 , 0 , 1917 , 2123 , 32479
04:32:32 On correct side of focus
04:32:32 Move to Near Focus HFD
04:32:41 1771 , 16.20 , 0 , 1917 , 2125 , 33844
04:32:50 1810 , 10.03 , 0 , 1917 , 2126 , 33951
04:32:51 ** Starting Near Focus **
04:32:51 Position , HFD , Mean Best Focus , X , Y , Flux
04:32:51 1810 , 10.03 , 1871 , 1917 , 2126 , 33951
04:32:58 1810 , 9.91 , 1871 , 1917 , 2126 , 34244
04:33:05 1810 , 10.91 , 1873 , 1916 , 2128 , 33090
04:33:12 1810 , 9.52 , 1871 , 1917 , 2129 , 33356
04:33:20 1810 , 9.79 , 1871 , 1916 , 2130 , 34725
04:33:20 Best Focus is: 1871
04:33:30 1871 , 3.01 , 1871 , 1917 , 2133 , 33875
04:33:31 Focusing Completed
04:33:31 Focus time = 94 sec
04:33:32 Performing return slew of 12.2569 degrees
04:33:32 Slewing to: 06:42:41.4 Dec: 09° 30' 08.1"
04:33:59 Acquire Star completed
04:33:59 FocusMax auto-focus successful!
04:33:59 HFD = 3.01
04:33:59 Focus position = 1871
04:33:59 Autofocus finished.
04:33:59 Updating pointing...
04:33:59 (taking 30 sec. exposure, Clear filter, binning = 3)
04:34:54 (HFD = 8.94)
04:34:54 Calibrating image...
04:34:54 (avg HFD = 4.50)
04:34:54 Plate-solve pointing image.
04:34:55 549 image stars found
04:34:56 792 catalog stars found
04:34:56 Solved! 163 stars matched.
04:34:56 Average residual is 0.8 arcsec.
04:34:56 Pointing error is 0.788 arcmin @ angle 251.08
04:34:56 True focal length is 175.5 cm.
04:34:56 True image center (J2000): 06h 41m 05.0s 09° 27' 24.67"
04:34:56 Imager sky position angle is 272.8 deg.
04:34:57 [sync] pointing model updated
04:34:57 Internal guider, always re-slew
04:34:57 Re-slew to target.
04:34:57 Start slew to CONE-Ha...
04:34:58 (wait for slew to complete)
04:35:13 (slew complete)
04:35:13 Camera is aimed at the target.
04:35:24 (guide star SNR=4.2 X=54 Y=181)
04:35:27 (autoguiding at 2.00 sec.)
04:35:27 (waiting for guider to settle...)
04:35:32 Imaging to CONE-Ha-S002-R003-Ha
04:35:32 (taking 1800 sec. exposure, Ha filter, binning = 1)
05:06:12 (HFD = 0.00)
05:06:13 (avg HFD = 4.99)
05:06:16 Do periodic auto-focus...
05:06:17 (autoguider stopped)
05:06:19 Starting FocusMax AcquireStar autofocus...
05:06:19
05:06:19 ** Starting Acquire Star Sequence **
05:06:19 Catalog: USNO-A2.0
05:06:20 ** Taking pointing exposure **
05:06:44 PinPoint.Plate Error -2147220457: The image field is so big that we reached the limit of stars from the USNO A/SA catalog.
modPinPoint Sub SolvePlate
05:06:44
05:06:44 Plate not solved - starting spiral search
05:06:44 Doing a spiral search to solve this pointing exposure.
05:06:44 ** Begining Spiral search **
05:06:45 85 plate image stars found
05:06:46 SpiralSolve failed to solve the pointing exposure.
05:06:46 Current telescope position not plate solved!
05:06:46 Current pointing: RA 06:42:51.4 Dec 09° 32' 37.5"
05:06:47
05:06:47 ** Getting catalog stars between mag 3 & 7 **
05:06:47 Looking for target star > 60 deg altitude
05:06:47
05:06:47 Field search = 2.0 x 2.0 (degrees)
05:06:48 1 potential target stars found
05:06:49 Current target stars = 1
05:06:49
05:06:49 Field search = 4.0 x 4.0 (degrees)
05:06:52 6 potential target stars found
05:07:00 Target stars = 3
05:07:00 Identified target stars:
05:07:00 Star 1 mag 6.20 RA 07:04:16.9 Dec 12° 35' 05.8" (Topo)
05:07:00 Star 2 mag 6.80 RA 07:00:49.7 Dec 15° 16' 45.8" (Topo)
05:07:01 Star 3 mag 7.00 RA 07:06:00.3 Dec 14° 27' 48.7" (Topo)
05:07:01 Using 6.20 mag star at RA 07:04:16.9 Dec 12° 35' 05.8" (Topo)
05:07:01 Slewing 6.0726 degrees to target star
05:07:22 No star centering desired
05:07:23
05:07:23 System: 253mmf6-STL-1
05:07:23 ** Beginning Focus run **
05:07:23 LS: -0.160176 RS: 0.160139 PID: 3.34 NFHFD: 10
05:07:24 Move direction: Out
05:07:24 Temperature = 576.0
05:07:24 Filter number = 4
05:07:24 Focus Start: 1660
05:07:39 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
05:07:39 Try star search again with cropped border
05:07:40 Target star found at X = 1758, Y = 2441
05:07:40 Focus exposures will be 2.00 sec
05:07:48 Star is too close to frame edge or is too weak
05:07:48 Increasing frame width
05:07:58 Position , HFD , Mean Best Focus , X , Y , Flux
05:07:58 1660 , 32.01 , 0 , 1759 , 2447 , 61629
05:08:08 1729 , 21.28 , 0 , 1758 , 2453 , 60716
05:08:09 On correct side of focus
05:08:09 Move to Near Focus HFD
05:08:18 1764 , 16.13 , 0 , 1758 , 2454 , 61239
05:08:27 1802 , 10.82 , 0 , 1758 , 2457 , 61200
05:08:27 ** Starting Near Focus **
05:08:28 Position , HFD , Mean Best Focus , X , Y , Flux
05:08:28 1802 , 10.82 , 1868 , 1758 , 2457 , 61200
05:08:35 1802 , 10.68 , 1867 , 1758 , 2458 , 61939
05:08:43 1802 , 10.49 , 1867 , 1758 , 2459 , 61095
05:08:50 1802 , 10.71 , 1867 , 1758 , 2460 , 60323
05:08:58 1802 , 10.51 , 1867 , 1758 , 2459 , 61602
05:08:58 Best Focus is: 1867
05:09:08 1867 , 3.55 , 1867 , 1757 , 2463 , 61959
05:09:09 Focusing Completed
05:09:09 Focus time = 106 sec
05:09:10 Performing return slew of 6.0713 degrees
05:09:10 Slewing to: 06:42:51.4 Dec: 09° 32' 37.5"
05:09:31 Acquire Star completed
05:09:32 FocusMax auto-focus successful!
05:09:32 HFD = 3.55
05:09:32 Focus position = 1867
05:09:32 Autofocus finished.
05:09:32 Updating pointing...
05:09:32 (taking 30 sec. exposure, Clear filter, binning = 3)
05:10:27 (HFD = 7.17)
05:10:27 Calibrating image...
05:10:27 (avg HFD = 4.46)
05:10:27 Plate-solve pointing image.
05:10:28 526 image stars found
05:10:29 792 catalog stars found
05:10:29 Solved! 163 stars matched.
05:10:29 Average residual is 0.56 arcsec.
05:10:29 Pointing error is 0.591 arcmin @ angle 255.21
05:10:29 True focal length is 175.5 cm.
05:10:29 True image center (J2000): 06h 41m 05.7s 09° 27' 30.95"
05:10:29 Imager sky position angle is 272.8 deg.
05:10:30 [sync] pointing model updated
05:10:30 Internal guider, always re-slew
05:10:30 Re-slew to target.
05:10:30 Start slew to CONE-Ha...
05:10:31 (wait for slew to complete)
05:10:46 (slew complete)
05:10:46 Camera is aimed at the target.
05:10:57 (guide star SNR=5.4 X=56 Y=181)
05:11:00 (autoguiding at 2.00 sec.)
05:11:00 (waiting for guider to settle...)
05:11:05 Imaging to CONE-Ha-S002-R004-Ha
05:11:05 (taking 1800 sec. exposure, Ha filter, binning = 1)
05:41:46 (HFD = 0.00)
05:41:48 (avg HFD = 3.2)
05:41:51 (autoguider stopped)
05:41:53 Turning tracking 0ff
05:41:58 == End of run ==
ACP console log closed 08-Jan-2007 05:50:03 UTC