David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1297 (2025-01-18)

Notes (S1296)

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Notes (S1298)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (0)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2025-01-18)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6, CCDSoft5, DeviceHub 7.0.3 RC3.4694, MeadeGeneric 1.3.12.522 , UPB 1.5,  Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
• Pegasus UPB & Motor Focus, TCF-S 6.0.6
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 7.0.3 RC3
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.73.10,  AstroPlan 1.42.5  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.6   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.14   
  AstroWeather 1.27.3, AstroAllSky 3.22.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroColorCam 1.2.2, AstroLaunch 1.11.14

Highlights

• Targets. 46/48 planned targets observations were completed with 1 targets partially completed. One target failed due to a target specification error.
•   Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during session. Dome closed and parked at end of session Ok

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 17:13:49 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 17:13 & 06:16 17:13:52   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 17:25:29 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (17:25) 17:25:53   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 17:26:20   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 17:26:23 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-01-18 S01297, ImageSaveNum: 1297001) 17:26:28   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 17:28:16   Services Started Observatory Services started 17:28:25 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 17:28:27   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 17:28:29 Session Pending Session pending (2025-01-18) 17:28:32 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-01-18) 17:28:41   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 17:28:44   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.42.5) 17:29:47   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1080) 17:30:31   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 17:31:01 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 17:31:47   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 46s, Zigbee 40s) 17:31:50 Session Running Session running 17:31:54   Queue Started Observing Queue started (48 targets selected) 17:31:57     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911) 17:32:11       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 17:36:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 17:39:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 17:41:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 17:41:57       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 17:44:15       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 17:46:13       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 17:46:33     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 1, HIP 4911) 17:46:37     Target Started (1/48) Target started (1/48, IC 1496 w/SN2025X) 17:51:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 18:08:47     Target Completed Target completed (1/48, IC 1496 w/SN2025X) 18:08:52     Target Started (2/48) Target started (2/48, 49P/Arend-Rigaux) 18:12:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 18:13:30     Target Failed (2/48) Target failed due to (2/48, 49P/Arend-Rigaux) 18:13:34     Target Started (3/48) Target started (3/48, PGC 4728) 18:18:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 18:34:59     Target Completed Target completed (3/48, PGC 4728) 18:35:52     Target Started (4/48) Target started (4/48, AT2025il (CV)) 18:39:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:42:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 18:48:57     Target Completed Target completed (4/48, AT2025il (CV)) 18:49:01     Target Started (5/48) Target started (5/48, GCVS RX And) 18:52:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:55:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 18:58:57     Target Completed Target completed (5/48, GCVS RX And) 18:59:01     Target Started (6/48) Target started (6/48, 43P/Wolf-Harrington) 19:03:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:06:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 19:18:18     Target Completed Target completed (6/48, 43P/Wolf-Harrington) 19:18:22     Target Started (7/48) Target started (7/48, UGCA 67) 19:39:29     Target Completed Target completed (7/48, UGCA 67) 19:39:36     Target Started (8/48) Target started (8/48, NGC 681 w/SN2024abup) 19:44:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 20:00:54     Target Completed Target completed (8/48, NGC 681 w/SN2024abup) 20:01:00     Target Started (9/48) Target started (9/48, AT2025lc (CV)) 20:06:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:09:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:15:30     Target Completed Target completed (9/48, AT2025lc (CV)) 20:15:34     Target Started (10/48) Target started (10/48, GCVS BL Lac) 20:23:10     Target Completed Target completed (10/48, GCVS BL Lac) 20:23:14     Target Started (11/48) Target started (11/48, AT2025la) 20:27:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:30:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 20:46:41     Target Completed Target completed (11/48, AT2025la) 20:46:45     Target Started (12/48) Target started (12/48, UGCA 52) 21:08:20     Target Completed Target completed (12/48, UGCA 52) 21:08:24     Target Started (13/48) Target started (13/48, GCVS NV Ori) 21:18:42     Target Completed Target completed (13/48, GCVS NV Ori) 21:18:47     Target Started (14/48) Target started (14/48, GCVS GW Ori) 21:22:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:25:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:40:05     Target Completed Target completed (14/48, GCVS GW Ori) 21:40:09     Target Started (15/48) Target started (15/48, CGCG 116-017 w/SN2024aegm) 21:43:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:46:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:03:23     Target Completed Target completed (15/48, CGCG 116-017 w/SN2024aegm) 22:03:27     Target Started (16/48) Target started (16/48, AT2024jfs) 22:25:43     Target Completed Target completed (16/48, AT2024jfs) 22:25:47     Target Started (17/48) Target started (17/48, GCVS U Gem) 22:34:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (17/48, GCVS U Gem) 22:34:42     Target Started (18/48) Target started (18/48, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:54:57     Target Completed Target completed (18/48, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:55:01     Target Started (19/48) Target started (19/48, GCVS FU Ori) 23:03:08     Target Completed Target completed (19/48, GCVS FU Ori) 23:03:13     Target Started (20/48) Target started (20/48, GCVS CN Ori) 23:16:32     Target Completed Target completed (20/48, GCVS CN Ori) 23:16:36     Target Started (21/48) Target started (21/48, GCVS GK Per) 23:20:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:23:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:27:25     Target Completed Target completed (21/48, GCVS GK Per) 23:27:29     Target Started (22/48) Target started (22/48, AT2023wfq) 23:31:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:34:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:51:09     Target Completed Target completed (22/48, AT2023wfq) 23:51:13     Target Started (23/48) Target started (23/48, AT2023vqz) 00:12:11     Target Completed Target completed (23/48, AT2023vqz) 00:12:15     Target Started (24/48) Target started (24/48, GCVS ER UMa) 00:21:39     Target Completed Target completed (24/48, GCVS ER UMa) 00:21:45     Target Started (25/48) Target started (25/48, AT2024aelh (CV)) 00:32:44     Target Completed Target completed (25/48, AT2024aelh (CV)) 00:32:49     Target Started (26/48) Target started (26/48, GCVS RR Leo) 00:38:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:40:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:47:00     Target Completed Target completed (26/48, GCVS RR Leo) 00:47:05     Target Started (27/48) Target started (27/48, GCVS AM CVn) 00:54:01     Target Completed Target completed (27/48, GCVS AM CVn) 00:54:05     Target Started (28/48) Target started (28/48, Capella) 01:00:42     Target Completed Target completed (28/48, Capella) 01:00:47     Target Started (29/48) Target started (29/48, GCVS RZ LMi) 01:07:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:11:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:16:25     Target Completed Target completed (29/48, GCVS RZ LMi) 01:16:30     Target Started (30/48) Target started (30/48, SBS 1301+594 w/SN2024flj) 01:36:58     Target Completed Target completed (30/48, SBS 1301+594 w/SN2024flj) 01:37:02     Target Started (31/48) Target started (31/48, UGC 10984 w/SN2022yqv) 01:57:55     Target Completed Target completed (31/48, UGC 10984 w/SN2022yqv) 01:58:02     Target Started (32/48) Target started (32/48, GCVS SY Cnc) 02:04:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:07:58     Target Completed Target completed (32/48, GCVS SY Cnc) 02:08:04     Target Started (33/48) Target started (33/48, AT2025md (CV)) 02:13:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:19:31     Target Completed Target completed (33/48, AT2025md (CV)) 02:19:35     Target Started (34/48) Target started (34/48, SN 2023eoc) 02:25:11       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:42:11     Target Completed Target completed (34/48, SN 2023eoc) 02:42:15     Target Started (35/48) Target started (35/48, CGCG 227-024 w/SN2024enu) 02:47:58       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 03:05:07     Target Completed Target completed (35/48, CGCG 227-024 w/SN2024enu) 03:05:12     Target Started (36/48) Target started (36/48, SN 2022vek) 03:26:40     Target Completed Target completed (36/48, SN 2022vek) 03:26:45     Target Started (37/48) Target started (37/48, UGC 9911 w/SN2023abq) 03:30:24       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 03:40:58   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 03:41:00   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix locked thread) 03:41:07   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 03:42:04   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 03:42:20   SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 03:48:48     Target Completed Target completed (37/48, UGC 9911 w/SN2023abq) 03:48:52     Target Started (38/48) Target started (38/48, UGC 10717 w/SN2022ybd) 03:53:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:10:58     Target Completed Target completed (38/48, UGC 10717 w/SN2022ybd) 04:11:03     Target Started (39/48) Target started (39/48, ARK 479 w/SN2024agly) 04:15:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:31:52     Target Completed Target completed (39/48, ARK 479 w/SN2024agly) 04:31:56     Target Started (40/48) Target started (40/48, UGC 10216 w/AT2022xhg) 04:35:29       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 04:51:40     Target Completed Target completed (40/48, UGC 10216 w/AT2022xhg) 04:53:35     Target Started (41/48) Target started (41/48, AT2024aeey) 05:17:59     Target Completed Target completed (41/48, AT2024aeey) 05:18:03     Target Started (42/48) Target started (42/48, T CrB) 05:28:56     Target Completed Target completed (42/48, T CrB) 05:29:00     Target Started (43/48) Target started (43/48, AT2023ude (CV)) 05:34:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 05:40:40     Target Completed Target completed (43/48, AT2023ude (CV)) 05:40:44     Target Started (44/48) Target started (44/48, AT2023xfi) 06:03:12     Target Completed Target completed (44/48, AT2023xfi) 06:03:16     Target Started (45/48) Target started (45/48, AT2024rwq (CV)) 06:08:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:14:50     Target Completed Target completed (45/48, AT2024rwq (CV)) 06:14:54     Target Started (46/48) Target started (46/48, AT2025oj (CV)) 06:18:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 06:25:13     Target Completed Target completed (46/48, AT2025oj (CV)) 06:25:31     Target Started (47/48) Target started (47/48, AT2023jbu) 06:30:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 06:46:57     Target Completed Target completed (47/48, AT2023jbu) 06:47:31     Target Started (48/48) Target started (48/48, GCVS CI Cyg) 06:54:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 06:56:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 07:01:47     Target Completed Target completed (48/48, GCVS CI Cyg) 07:01:49   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 07:01:52 Session Closing Session closing 07:02:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 51s, Zigbee 43s) 07:03:06   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s), Az: 90.0 deg 07:04:28   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 65s total) 07:04:58   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 07:05:23   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 07:06:48   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 07:06:50 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 07:08:18     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 07:09:14     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 07:09:20     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 07:10:10     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 07:10:16     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.0°) 07:10:18   Dome Parked Dome parked 07:10:41   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (24mA) 07:10:43 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:40:58 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 03:42:20 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image command accepted (bSbigDriverException flag is reset) 07:10:41 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (24mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-01-18 S1297)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (0)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Target 2/48 failed without a stated reason (18:13). Target 2/48 (49P/Arend-Rigaux)  failed without any stated reason - the reason was 'blank'.  Log files show that the telescope slewed to and centred on the target okay, but didn't produce any main images.  Investigating showed that the Target didn't have any Frames specified in Targets Database.   Target was created by user in AstroPlan ahead of session and it shouldn't have been allowed to be saved  without any Frames being specified.  Target shouldn't have been allowed to get on the Observing Plan, and if it does Target should be failed and failure reason given.  Fixed in AstroPlan 1.42.6., and AstroMain 3.73.11 (new function CountExpectedImageFrames(T As classT) created to count number of frames that are specified for a target), new section created in ExecuteQueue to ensure that CountExpectedImageFrames(T) > 0 and fail target if Count is 0.
  Fixed 2025-01-19 (AstroPlan 1.42.6, AstroMain 3.73.11, User Awareness)
   
• SBIG Camera red alert / failed to capture image  (03:40). A 'SBIG Camera' red alert was raised at 03:40:58 with the message "Take Image failed (Command timed-out)" . This occurred during the 3rd main imaging frame for Target 37/48 (UGC 9911 w/SN2023abq).   Remedial code to restart CCDSoft & SBIG Camera was automatically run and successfully resolved the issue, enabling 4th & 5th frames to be successfully acquired. There were no further issues during the rest of the session.  This seems to be a one-off glitch, and follows a run of several sessions without any SBIG Camera issues.
  Resolved in-session 2025-01-18 (AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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