Meridian flip - how to debug

General
21

Jared,

Thank you for the script. I will give it a shot. Another night of issues but this time somewhat different. I tried slewing to NGC 3187 when it was about 10min past the meridian. The plate solve and nudge was interesting. The nudge would cause the mount to flip pier sides often, which told me that I must keep a large margin on the west side of the meridian to enable a flip. I did encounter a post by another sgp user astrovienna who mentioned that by setting the Paramount’s Flip Hour Angle to 0.1 and in SGP minutes past meridian to 20min worked for him. But I have a large moment arm on my scope with a TEC180FL and FLI16803+CFW which may complicate things a bit and cause extra time to settle after a slew. Also the long moment arm means I am more likely to hit the pier if I do not flip correctly.

I will keep trying and work with your script next. Thanks, Jared.

Shailesh

22

Hi Jared,

I tried your script with modifications noted. The scope did not move at all. Do I need to run SGP first?

Shailesh

23

No, it should control the mount completely separate from SGP. What did it do?

Jared

24

I changed the scope varialble to ASCOM.SoftwareBIsque.Telescope, and I got the menu like you mentioned but the scope did not slew at all.

Shailesh

25

I should add, I tried it from the Paramount MX’s home position where the scope is on east side of the pier pointing west past the meridian. Maybe I should try from the parked position which for me is the scope pointing north towards Polaris with counterweights pointing down.

Or perhaps something else?

26

I see the meridian flip process begin but for some reason the slew ends up on the same side (West) and the meridian flip fails. This is befuddling since i have tried sgp meridian delay of 10 and 20 minutes. The meridian flip process begins but fails.

Here is a VERY brief snippet of SGP and the asom driver for The Sky X at the specific time the meridian flip fails. It seems there is something more fundamental which I am missing - unrelated to Paramount MX settings in The Sky X.

----------------Sequence Generator Pro log file snippet ---------------------

[04/08/21 22:17:46.403][DEBUG][Pier Flip Thread][SQ;MF;] Meridian Flip: Sending Telescope command to execute meridian flip

[04/08/21 22:17:46.417][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] ASCOM Telescope: Pier side is West

[04/08/21 22:17:46.417][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] ASCOM Telescope: attempting pier flip using slew

[04/08/21 22:17:46.440][INFO][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope: Using “OFFSET” sync option, updating slew cooridnates with offsets:

[04/08/21 22:17:46.440][INFO][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] RA: 0.695613378889688 hours

[04/08/21 22:17:46.440][INFO][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] DEC: 72.889414560264 degrees

[04/08/21 22:17:46.440][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope: Slewing to J2000 RA: 10.4342006833453 (10h26m03.12s) Dec: 72.889414560264 (72°53’21.89")

[04/08/21 22:17:46.440][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope: Slew received J2000 coordinates, mount requires JNOW, converting…

[04/08/21 22:17:46.441][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope: Slewing to JNOW RA: 10.4630622887931 Dec: 72.7855193296347

[04/08/21 22:17:53.519][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Scope reports it is done with synchronous slew, verifying…

[04/08/21 22:17:53.521][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope: Slewing has completed

[04/08/21 22:17:53.521][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope: Settling for 20 seconds

[04/08/21 22:18:13.522][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope: Settling has completed

[04/08/21 22:18:14.022][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] ASCOM Telescope: Failed to flip because starting pier side and ending pier side are the same!

[04/08/21 22:18:16.024][DEBUG][Telescope Thread][SQ;MF;] Telescope thread is IDLE…

[04/08/21 22:18:16.042][DEBUG][Pier Flip Thread][SQ;MF;] Meridian Flip: Telescope command to meridian flip has completed

[04/08/21 22:18:16.055][DEBUG][Pier Flip Thread][SQ;MF;] Meridian Flip: Telescope failed to perform meridian flip

[04/08/21 22:18:20.530][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;] Adding sequence level notification: Failed to complete automatic meridian flip, aborting sequence!

[04/08/21 22:18:20.565][DEBUG][Sequence Thread][SQ;] Sending Notification: Error - Failed to complete automatic meridian flip, aborting sequence!

[04/08/21 22:18:20.643][DEBUG][Pier Flip Thread][SQ;] Meridian Flip: Procedure complete

[04/08/21 22:18:26.643][DEBUG][Sequence Thread][SQ;] Blocking Pier Flip: Failed to meridian flip, aborting sequence (True)

[04/08/21 22:18:26.644][DEBUG][Sequence Thread][SQ;] Aborting sequence: Failed to meridian flip

[04/08/21 22:18:26.644][DEBUG][Sequence Thread][SQ;] Set sequence abort

[04/08/21 22:18:26.649][DEBUG][Main Thread][SQ;] Adding sequence level notification: Failed to meridian flip, aborting sequence.

[04/08/21 22:18:26.686][DEBUG][Sequence Thread][SQ;] Sending Notification: Error - Failed to meridian flip, aborting sequence.

-------------------------- ASCOM driver for TSX snippet ------------------------------

22:17:45.970 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:17:46.187 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:17:46.189 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.2285355379941, Dec 71.0076917098785

22:17:46.189 RightAscension Get - 10.2285355379941

22:17:46.189 Declination Get - 71.0076917098785

22:17:46.191 Altitude get - 57.6441017005067

22:17:46.192 Azimuth Get - 358.472228265324

22:17:46.215 SiderealTime Get - 10.3960694694438

22:17:46.217 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:17:46.412 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:17:46.417 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:17:46.417 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:17:46.419 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.228536105935, Dec 71.0076906587426

22:17:46.419 RightAscension Get - 10.228536105935

22:17:46.419 Declination Get - 71.0076906587426

22:17:46.421 Altitude get - 57.6440810061473

22:17:46.422 Azimuth Get - 358.47159431566

22:17:46.437 SiderealTime Get - 10.3961307464294

22:17:46.437 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:17:46.439 Connected Get - True

22:17:46.440 CanSlew Get - True

22:17:46.442 SlewToCoordinates set - 10.4630622887931, 72.7855193296347

22:17:46.442 SlewToTarget set - 10.4630622887931, 72.7855193296347

22:17:51.289 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:17:53.521 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.4607695568667, Dec 72.7842008667967

22:17:53.521 RightAscension Get - 10.4607695568667

22:17:53.521 Slewing IsSlewComplete 1, slewing False, slewState idle

22:17:53.521 Declination Get - 72.7842008667967

22:17:53.523 Altitude get - 55.8905802887112

22:17:53.524 Azimuth Get - 0.496107226606057

22:17:53.547 SiderealTime Get - 10.3981117026342

22:17:53.547 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:17:55.731 Connected Get - True

22:17:55.977 Connected Get - True

22:17:55.980 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:17:55.980 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:17:55.982 AtPark IsParked = False

22:17:56.002 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:17:56.340 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:17:56.343 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.4607702942176, Dec 72.7841892424416

22:17:56.343 RightAscension Get - 10.4607702942176

22:17:56.343 Declination Get - 72.7841892424416

22:17:56.345 Altitude get - 55.8906715922038

22:17:56.346 Azimuth Get - 0.489848140589118

22:17:56.372 SiderealTime Get - 10.3988943959979

22:17:56.373 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:18:01.420 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:01.422 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.4607702526059, Dec 72.7841984522472

22:18:01.422 RightAscension Get - 10.4607702526059

22:18:01.422 Declination Get - 72.7841984522472

22:18:01.424 Altitude get - 55.8908019647369

22:18:01.425 Azimuth Get - 0.478685478947426

22:18:01.445 SiderealTime Get - 10.4003135495719

22:18:01.446 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:05.734 Connected Get - True

22:18:06.007 Connected Get - True

22:18:06.010 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:06.010 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:06.012 AtPark IsParked = False

22:18:06.034 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:18:06.477 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:06.478 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.460772273426, Dec 72.7841777282691

22:18:06.479 RightAscension Get - 10.460772273426

22:18:06.479 Declination Get - 72.7841777282691

22:18:06.481 Altitude get - 55.8909589823685

22:18:06.481 Azimuth Get - 0.467529142395477

22:18:06.528 SiderealTime Get - 10.4017251835462

22:18:06.535 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:18:11.578 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:11.580 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.4607703348753, Dec 72.7841867089277

22:18:11.580 RightAscension Get - 10.4607703348753

22:18:11.580 Declination Get - 72.7841867089277

22:18:11.582 Altitude get - 55.8910845223523

22:18:11.582 Azimuth Get - 0.456249766542015

22:18:11.611 SiderealTime Get - 10.403139327815

22:18:11.611 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:14.022 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:15.736 Connected Get - True

22:18:16.101 Connected Get - True

22:18:16.107 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:16.108 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:16.109 AtPark IsParked = False

22:18:16.129 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:18:16.591 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:16.593 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.460770163363, Dec 72.784196166004

22:18:16.593 RightAscension Get - 10.460770163363

22:18:16.593 Declination Get - 72.784196166004

22:18:16.595 Altitude get - 55.8912033776185

22:18:16.596 Azimuth Get - 0.445224599695649

22:18:16.621 SiderealTime Get - 10.4045414811508

22:18:16.622 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:18:21.668 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:21.670 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.46077218196, Dec 72.7841754380318

22:18:21.670 RightAscension Get - 10.46077218196

22:18:21.670 Declination Get - 72.7841754380318

22:18:21.677 Altitude get - 55.8913507107016

22:18:21.677 Azimuth Get - 0.43407214721995

22:18:21.699 SiderealTime Get - 10.4059520057198

22:18:21.699 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:25.739 Connected Get - True

22:18:26.183 Connected Get - True

22:18:26.184 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:26.185 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:26.186 AtPark IsParked = False

22:18:26.220 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:18:26.696 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:26.699 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.4607700838807, Dec 72.7841847461456

22:18:26.699 RightAscension Get - 10.4607700838807

22:18:26.702 Declination Get - 72.7841847461456

22:18:26.704 Altitude get - 55.891465111768

22:18:26.704 Azimuth Get - 0.422901879151027

22:18:26.717 SiderealTime Get - 10.407352220306

22:18:26.718 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:18:27.038 Connected Get - True

22:18:27.039 AtPark IsParked = False

22:18:27.045 Park start

22:18:27.129 Connected Get - True

22:18:27.132 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:27.133 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:31.697 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:31.699 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 10.7129319205533, Dec 76.7026290119135

22:18:31.699 RightAscension Get - 10.7129319205533

22:18:31.700 Declination Get - 76.7026290119135

22:18:31.707 Altitude get - 51.9224257993362

22:18:31.707 Azimuth Get - 1.70019164213659

22:18:31.723 SiderealTime Get - 10.4087454644923

22:18:31.724 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:35.742 Connected Get - True

22:18:36.286 Connected Get - True

22:18:36.292 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:36.292 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:36.294 AtPark IsParked = False

22:18:36.308 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:18:36.743 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:36.745 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 11.4422904907584, Dec 87.3836610318576

22:18:36.745 RightAscension Get - 11.4422904907584

22:18:36.746 Declination Get - 87.3836610318576

22:18:36.748 Altitude get - 41.1957609081759

22:18:36.748 Azimuth Get - 0.927870921054932

22:18:36.774 SiderealTime Get - 10.410154027939

22:18:36.775 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:18:41.753 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:41.755 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 1.55389916093684, Dec 89.4962314208232

22:18:41.755 RightAscension Get - 1.55389916093684

22:18:41.756 Declination Get - 89.4962314208232

22:18:41.758 Altitude get - 38.3343151879597

22:18:41.763 Azimuth Get - 359.529269445381

22:18:41.806 SiderealTime Get - 10.4115556321583

22:18:41.806 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:45.749 Connected Get - True

22:18:46.355 Connected Get - True

22:18:46.358 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:46.359 AtPark IsParked = False

22:18:46.373 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:18:46.815 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:46.822 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 2.99394371806279, Dec 89.5135614899108

22:18:46.822 RightAscension Get - 2.99394371806279

22:18:46.823 Declination Get - 89.5135614899108

22:18:46.824 Altitude get - 38.499946504248

22:18:46.825 Azimuth Get - 359.420836309835

22:18:46.841 SiderealTime Get - 10.4129558467722

22:18:46.842 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:18:51.856 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:51.857 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 3.94859989686526, Dec 89.5332185326153

22:18:51.857 RightAscension Get - 3.94859989686526

22:18:51.857 Declination Get - 89.5332185326153

22:18:51.862 Altitude get - 38.6196842945226

22:18:51.862 Azimuth Get - 359.406994292321

22:18:51.872 SiderealTime Get - 10.4143599612026

22:18:51.873 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:55.774 Connected Get - True

22:18:56.401 Connected Get - True

22:18:56.405 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:18:56.436 AtPark IsParked = False

22:18:56.480 Tracking Get - 1 = True

22:18:56.907 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:18:56.969 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 4.34354103045509, Dec 89.5459208041631

22:18:56.969 RightAscension Get - 4.34354103045509

22:18:56.971 Declination Get - 89.5459208041631

22:18:57.006 Altitude get - 38.6681938736802

22:18:57.036 Azimuth Get - 359.418619989847

22:18:57.179 SiderealTime Get - 10.4158231225519

22:18:57.217 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:18:58.233 Park done

22:18:58.270 AtPark IsParked = True

22:18:58.305 Slewing IsSlewComplete 1, slewing False, slewState idle

22:19:01.965 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:19:01.976 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 4.35127988554729, Dec 89.5461472029341

22:19:01.976 RightAscension Get - 4.35127988554729

22:19:01.977 Declination Get - 89.5461472029341

22:19:01.979 Altitude get - 38.668690809133

22:19:01.980 Azimuth Get - 359.418795001069

22:19:01.996 SiderealTime Get - 10.4171768190961

22:19:01.997 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:19:05.776 Connected Get - True

22:19:06.433 Connected Get - True

22:19:06.436 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:19:06.437 AtPark IsParked = True

22:19:06.983 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:19:06.985 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 4.35268180488787, Dec 89.5461472288821

22:19:06.985 RightAscension Get - 4.35268180488787

22:19:06.986 Declination Get - 89.5461472288821

22:19:06.988 Altitude get - 38.6686919443518

22:19:06.988 Azimuth Get - 359.418795337352

22:19:07.038 SiderealTime Get - 10.4185856627149

22:19:07.038 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:19:12.034 CanSlewAsync Get - True

22:19:12.038 m_SkyTele.GetRaDec Ra 4.35408305702199, Dec 89.5461469219664

22:19:12.038 RightAscension Get - 4.35408305702199

22:19:12.038 Declination Get - 89.5461469219664

22:19:12.040 Altitude get - 38.6686907704683

22:19:12.041 Azimuth Get - 359.418794979623

22:19:12.069 SiderealTime Get - 10.4199791870735

22:19:12.070 SideOfPier Get - pierWest, sop 1

22:19:15.780 Connected Get - True

22:19:16.499 Connected Get - True

22:19:16.532 SideOfPier Get - pierWest

22:19:16.565 AtPark IsParked = True

================== END SNIPPETS =============

27

Reporting back.

I had an older Ascom platform version 6.4 SP1. I updated to the latest platform 6.5 SP1. For the sake of posterity, I removed the old The Sky X Ascom driver and reinstalled it. I enabled the TCP server from The Sky X and ran it once with administrative privileges.

I am not sure which one of the above changes worked, but now I am able to do meridian flips with my Software Bisque Paramount MX. Thanks to Buzz (Chris Woodhouse), Jared, and several others for providing hints on how to solve the Paramount MX meridian flip failure with SGP.

Also for the sake of completeness, in TSX I set the Flip Hour Angle to zero, and software meridian limits to +/-1.0 which is 1 hour past the meridian. From within SGP, I set the meridian delay to 20 minutes.

1 Like