There is a problem with the scheduling of multiple targets in the Scheduler that had worked fine previously.

I had scheduled three targets for last night, M42, M81 and M87. All were scheduled to be executed ASAP with a lead time of 3 min between them and an altitude cut-off that would terminate the exposure sequences before they were completed.

That has never been a problem, but this time the altitude cut-off activated on M42 when it crossed 35 degrees and instead of switching to M81 and continuing, the scheduler scheduled M42 for the next night and M81 to start AFTER sequence completion. M87 was then scheduled AFTER M81 as well, so although there were two valid targets left in the schedule, those were not executed but rescheduled for the next night.

Scheduler .esl file is attached. (I had to change the file ending from .esl to .txt to be able to attach the file. .esl is not an allowed file type)

Can that be fixed, or is the only workaround to program fixed end and start dates for the various jobs?

Jo


[2020-02-16T23:03:52.365 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' current altitude (35.00 degrees) crossed minimum constraint altitude (35.00 degrees), marking idle."
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.378 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - Job ' "M 42" ' is stopping current action... 13
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.381 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' is stopping guiding..."
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.382 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.capture] - Guiding state changed from "Guiding" to "Aborted"
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.382 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.capture] - "Autoguiding stopped. Aborting..."
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.386 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.capture] - "CCD capture aborted"
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.389 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.capture] - setMeridianFlipStage: 2
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.390 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.guide] - "Autoguiding aborted."
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.393 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.guide] - Aborting "Guiding"
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.393 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - Find next job...
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.394 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - ZWO CCD ASI120MM-S : "[DEBUG] Uploading file. Ext: fits, Size: 313920, sendImage? Yes, saveImage? No "
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.394 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - ZWO CCD ASI120MM-S : "[DEBUG] BLOB transfer took 0.00759221 seconds "
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.394 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - ZWO CCD ASI120MM-S : "[DEBUG] Upload complete "
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.396 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.fits] - Reading FITS file buffer
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.424 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.guide] - Received guide frame.
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.430 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.capture] - setMeridianFlipStage: 2
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.434 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - iOptron CEM60 : "[DEBUG] RES <-0209076720118250#> "
[2020-02-16T23:03:52.491 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - ZWO CCD ASI1600MC Pro : "[DEBUG] Aborting camera exposure... "
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.368 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - Checking Park Wait State...
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.390 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' 100x60\" requires a dither procedure."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.393 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' estimated to take 01h 57m 11s to complete."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.397 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - Option to sort jobs based on priority and altitude is true
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.401 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Schedule attempt #1 for 7031-second job 'M 42' on row #1 starting at 16/02 23:03, completing at 17/02 01:01."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.457 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' is scheduled to start at 17/02 17:26, in compliance with altitude and Moon separation requirements."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.457 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Schedule attempt #2 for 7031-second job 'M 42' on row #1 starting at 17/02 17:26, completing at 17/02 19:24."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.460 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' is scheduled to start at 17/02 19:39, in compliance with night time requirement."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.460 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Schedule attempt #3 for 7031-second job 'M 42' on row #1 starting at 17/02 19:39, completing at 17/02 21:36."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.460 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' dark sky score is +0 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.460 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' altitude score is -1000 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.460 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' has a total score of -1000 at 16/02 23:03."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.464 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' on row #1 passed all checks after 3 attempts, will proceed at 17/02 19:39 for approximately 7031 seconds, marking scheduled"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.464 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Schedule attempt #1 for 7051-second job 'M 81' on row #2 starting at 16/02 23:22, completing at 17/02 01:19."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.466 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 81' is scheduled to start at 17/02 21:39, 180 seconds after 17/02 21:36, in compliance with previous job completion requirement."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.466 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Schedule attempt #2 for 7051-second job 'M 81' on row #2 starting at 17/02 21:39, completing at 17/02 23:36."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.468 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 81' dark sky score is +0 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.468 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 81' altitude score is +28 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.469 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 81' Moon separation score is +20 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.469 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 81' has a total score of +48 at 16/02 23:03."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.473 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 81' on row #2 passed all checks after 2 attempts, will proceed at 17/02 21:39 for approximately 7051 seconds, marking scheduled"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.473 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Schedule attempt #1 for 13951-second job 'M 87' on row #3 starting at 17/02 01:22, completing at 17/02 05:15."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.475 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 87' is scheduled to start at 17/02 23:39, 180 seconds after 17/02 23:36, in compliance with previous job completion requirement."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.475 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Schedule attempt #2 for 13951-second job 'M 87' on row #3 starting at 17/02 23:39, completing at 18/02 03:32."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.476 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 87' dark sky score is +0 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.477 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 87' altitude score is -1000 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.477 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 87' has a total score of -1000 at 16/02 23:03."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.480 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 87' on row #3 passed all checks after 2 attempts, will proceed at 17/02 23:39 for approximately 13951 seconds, marking scheduled"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.480 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' dark sky score is +0 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.480 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' altitude score is -1000 at 16/02 23:03"
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.480 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' has a total score of -1000 at 16/02 23:03."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.480 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Job 'M 42' is selected for next observation with priority #1 and score -1000."
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.481 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - iOptron CEM60 : "[DEBUG] CMD <:GLS#> "
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.481 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - iOptron CEM60 : "[DEBUG] RES <-348454442028010801#> "
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.482 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - iOptron CEM60 : "[DEBUG] CMD <:GEC#> "
[2020-02-16T23:03:53.482 CST DEBG ][ org.kde.kstars.indi] - iOptron CEM60 : "[DEBUG] RES <-0209076720118210#> "
[2020-02-16T23:03:54.369 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Sleeping until observation job M 42 is ready at Mon Feb 17 19:39:00 2020..."
[2020-02-16T23:03:54.371 CST INFO ][ org.kde.kstars.ekos.scheduler] - "Warning: Job 'M 42' is 20h 35m 06s away from now, you may want to enable Preemptive Shutdown."

This is related to the introduction of error management. You now have three options at the bottom of the Scheduler screen, controlling how aborted and failed jobs are re-queued: no action, queue and immediate retry. I admit I don't remember clearly what happens exactly for each, so I'll have to review that more thoroughly.

Additionally, by default, Scheduler will keep the targets in the order they were inserted in the list. The flag "Sort jobs by altitude" in the Scheduler options is supposed to reorder those targets to optimize imaging time. One issue of this option is that it will always use the startup time of the first schedulable job as base for ordering, so that's good when you plan, but not so bright when Scheduler reschedules after errors. But here again, I'm not very sure anymore about the functionality, sorry for having been pushed out of development last year.

-Eric

Thanks, Eric!

I can work around it by programming end dates for each ASAP job, but that is not immediately obvious to people who are just getting used to using the scheduler.

That's why I brought that up.

It may be too complicated to implement, but only you guys would know.

Thanks for all your work with this fantastic resource. I really appreciate it and most other (silent) users surely do as well.

Best

Jo

Sometimes I tend to think Ekos is more and more similar to Pixinsight in its UI, except Pixinsight has so much better tooltips...

-Eric