David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1301 (2025-03-14)

Notes (S1300)

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Notes (S1302)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (5),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2025-03-14 >>
	New Master Flats (2025-03-15)

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-03-14)

Main aims

1. LX200 Focus.  Refocus LX200 Primary Mirror to bring telescope focus back to middle of TCF-S Focuser range
2. Camera Orientation.  Check/rotate camera to 180 deg position following prior camera removal to clean filters
3. Resync Telescope. Perform a telescope resync & short mapping job, following camera reorientation & telescope refocusing
4. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
5. Flats.  Acquire new camera flats following cleaning of camera filters and camera reorientation.

 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 3.73.13,  AstroPlan 1.43,  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 1.27.5, AstroAllSky 3.23.1,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroColorCam 1.2.2, AstroLaunch 1.11.14

Highlights

• Targets. 20/29 planned targets observations were completed, with 1 target partially completed. Other targets failed due to Cloud/Session Suspension.
•   LX200 Focus.  The Telescope's primary mirror was adjusted to take the telescope's best focus position to the middle the TCF-S Focuser's focusing range.
•   Resync Telescope.  Telescope was resynced and a short mapping job conducted  (involving 14 points). After which the telescope was parked and then restarted as per standard procedure following a short mapping job. Average Slew Error during the following session involving 26 telescope slews was an acceptable 2.87 arc mins with little bias.
•   Flats.  Flats Frames were taken the following day (2025-03-15), following camera filter cleaning and telescope changes in order to build new master flats for each filter/bin set. The process was delayed in order to resolve a problem in which the UPB Powerbox connection would be lost each time the light board was turned on,  and by the renewal of camera's CCD dessicator due to frost/frost slugs when running the camera's cooling.
•   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 19:07:46   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:07:59 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-03-14 S01301, ImageSaveNum: 1301001) 19:08:20   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 19:09:47   Observatory Door Observatory Door has opened 19:10:07   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:10:40   Observatory Door Observatory Door has closed (open time 53s) 19:11:14   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:11:52   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:14:28       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:14:31   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 47s, Zigbee 41s) 19:33:26     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:35:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:38:49       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Range) 19:38:51     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:43:40     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:52:05     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:55:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:57:05       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 19:57:07     Target Aborted (NrZen) Target aborted (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) due to User Intervention 20:03:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:06:57       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 20:14:03     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 20:14:51   CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 20:14:53   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue) 20:15:00   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 20:15:53   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 20:18:14   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 20:18:21   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 20:19:14   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 20:20:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:24:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:26:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:30:14   Automapping Started Automapping started (12 points planned) 20:31:04   Observatory Door Observatory Door has opened 20:31:10   Observatory Door Observatory Door has closed (open time 6s) 20:43:04   Automapping Completed Automapping completed (11 points mapped out of 12 points) 20:44:51   Automapping Started Automapping started (12 points planned) 20:48:13   Automapping Aborted Automapping aborted (3 points mapped out of 12 points) 20:48:40   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 10s total) 20:49:04   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 20:50:01   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 20:50:59 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:50 & 04:19 20:51:01 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 20:51:04 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:51) 20:51:12   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 20:52:46   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:52:54 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:52:58 Session Pending Session pending (2025-03-14) 20:53:00 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-03-14) 20:53:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 20:53:16   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43) 20:54:03   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1085) 20:54:12   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:55:19 Session Running Session running 20:55:22   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 20:55:25     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 20:57:31       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:59:42       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 21:01:31       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:01:49     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 21:01:54     Target Started (1/29) Target started (1/29, WDS GRB 34) 21:06:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:09:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:11:18     Target Completed Target completed (1/29, WDS GRB 34) 21:11:22     Target Started (2/29) Target started (2/29, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 21:15:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:18:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:26:52     Target Completed Target completed (2/29, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 21:26:56     Target Started (3/29) Target started (3/29, NGC 1275 w/SN2024xav) 21:30:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:33:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:49:04     Target Completed Target completed (3/29, NGC 1275 w/SN2024xav) 21:49:08     Target Started (4/29) Target started (4/29, AT2023cuz) 21:52:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:55:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:03:39     Target Completed Target completed (4/29, AT2023cuz) 22:03:43     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, GCVS RR Tau) 22:06:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:09:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:16:21     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, GCVS RR Tau) 22:16:25     Target Started (6/29) Target started (6/29, AT2024aeey) 22:18:39       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 22:20:37     Target Failed (6/29) Target failed due to cloud (6/29, AT2024aeey) 22:20:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:20:41 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:21:40   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 60s, Zigbee 44s) 22:21:41 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:32:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/29, AT2024aeey) due to cloud 22:44:22 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:45:07   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 22:45:10 Session Running Session running 22:45:12   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:45:15     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, IC 1231 w/SN2024aeds) 23:01:41     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/29, IC 1231 w/SN2024aeds) 23:01:45     Target Started (8/29) Target started (8/29, AT2024accj) 23:25:18     Target Completed Target completed (8/29, AT2024accj) 23:25:22     Target Started (9/29) Target started (9/29, NGC 2744 w/SN2025oq) 23:44:13     Target Completed Target completed (9/29, NGC 2744 w/SN2025oq) 23:44:17     Target Started (10/29) Target started (10/29, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:48:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:04:07     Target Completed Target completed (10/29, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:04:11     Target Started (11/29) Target started (11/29, UGC 8239 w/SN2025N) 00:08:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 00:24:42     Target Completed Target completed (11/29, UGC 8239 w/SN2025N) 00:26:31     Target Started (12/29) Target started (12/29, T CrB) 00:30:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:32:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:37:35     Target Completed Target completed (12/29, T CrB) 00:37:39     Target Started (13/29) Target started (13/29, AT2023acib) 00:37:55       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:41:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:53:14     Target Completed Target completed (13/29, AT2023acib) 00:53:18     Target Started (14/29) Target started (14/29, NGC 5876 w/SN2024igg) 00:56:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:57:56       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 01:14:33     Target Completed Target completed (14/29, NGC 5876 w/SN2024igg) 01:15:00     Target Started (15/29) Target started (15/29, CGCG 224-064 w/SN2023aiw) 01:18:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:21:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:37:07     Target Completed Target completed (15/29, CGCG 224-064 w/SN2023aiw) 01:37:11     Target Started (16/29) Target started (16/29, AT2025md (CV)) 01:40:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:43:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:49:02     Target Completed Target completed (16/29, AT2025md (CV)) 01:49:20     Target Started (17/29) Target started (17/29, AT2025lc (CV)) 01:52:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:55:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:01:06     Target Completed Target completed (17/29, AT2025lc (CV)) 02:01:40     Target Started (18/29) Target started (18/29, AT2023dwm (CV)) 02:04:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:07:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:14:05     Target Completed Target completed (18/29, AT2023dwm (CV)) 02:14:09     Target Started (19/29) Target started (19/29, GCVS R CrB) 02:17:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:19:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 02:23:21     Target Completed Target completed (19/29, GCVS R CrB) 02:23:25     Target Started (20/29) Target started (20/29, AT2024xpy) 02:27:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:30:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 02:47:12     Target Completed Target completed (20/29, AT2024xpy) 02:47:16     Target Started (21/29) Target started (21/29, AT2025oj (CV)) 02:50:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:51:01       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:53:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 02:59:11     Target Completed Target completed (21/29, AT2025oj (CV)) 02:59:13   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:59:15 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:00:02   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 03:00:05 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:16:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/29, LEDA 2243580 w/AT2025gp) due to cloud 03:28:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/29, HIP 87937) due to cloud 03:47:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/29, AT2024dyj) due to cloud 03:59:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/29, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 04:20:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/29, AT2025la) due to too few stars 04:21:01 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:21:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 04:21:49 Session Running Session running 04:21:51   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:21:53     Target Started (27/29) Target started (27/29, 61 Cyg) 04:24:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:27:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:29:03     Target Completed Target completed (27/29, 61 Cyg) 04:30:38     Target Started (28/29) Target started (28/29, AT2024wzq (CV)) 04:32:07       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (reducing clarity) 04:34:58   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:35:00   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:35:03     Target Aborted (28/29) Target aborted (28/29, AT2024wzq (CV)) due to cloud 04:35:05   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:35:07 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:35:53   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s) 04:35:55 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:41:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/29, AT2024wzq (CV)) due to cloud 05:05:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/29, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) due to cloud 05:05:18   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:05:21 Session Closing Session closing 05:05:26   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 04:35, closing time 49s, zigbee 44s) 05:06:05   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 31s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:06:44   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 30s total) 05:07:14   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:07:36   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:08:58   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:09:01 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:09:29     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:10:16     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 05:10:22     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°) 05:10:24   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:12:12   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (22mA) 05:12:14 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 20:14:51 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 20:31:02 Green Clear CCDSoft Image file has been saved to disk following CCDSoft Restart 20:52:58 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (49.47 GB) is less than 50 GB 05:09:24 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (47.78 GB) is less than 50 GB 05:12:12 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (22mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-03-14, S1301)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (5)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Whilst aborting a Near Zenith Focusing Operation, CCDSoft/SBIG Camera were unexpectedly restarted (20:14).  After manually initiating a Near Zenith Focusing Task, it was decided that the telescope primary mirror would need further adjustment and the Abort Job button clicked and confirmed by the user. An imaging task to take a Locate Frame in progress was duly aborted and the expectation was that the job would be fully aborted without consequence, however it led to a CCDSoft Red Alert with message "Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue" and CCDSoft & SBIG being restarted, with message "CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue)".  The CCDCamera TakeImage task that taking the 10s Locate Frame, needs to understand that when a Camera Abort action has occured it should expect an image to necessarily be finished/downloaded and therefore not raise a 'Restart CCDSoft (incl SBIG Camera)' action in this situation.  Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.73.14.  A new flag "bAbortCameraRaised" created that is set to True when Camera.Abort  is called, and is used to determine if an image is likely to be missing and to avoid calling the SignalUnsavedImageFile() routine and call to RestartCCDSoft().
  Fix attempted 2025-03-16 (AstroMain 3.73.14)
   
• Whilst trying to setup to take Flat Frames, the UPB Powerbox disconnected each time the light board is turned on (2025-03-15). Each time the light board was turned on the UPB Powerbox disconnects (which interrupts communication to the CCD Camera. Attempting to reconnect in the UPB Powerbox software produced the message "No UPB Controller can be found" whilst the light board remained on.  The issue would happen whatever power port the power lead to the light board's controller was plugged into in the Observatory Computing Bay.  This was a showstopper for taking flat frames in the manner intended (which has worked on previous occassions.  The issue was not resolved by either, power resetting the powerbox , restarting the Lindy USB Hub or restarting the Observatory Computer. The light board control has a low hum when light board in on and it was hypothised that EM / power fluctuations due to the light board's controller is causing an effect on the power supply and/or USB comms to the Pegasus Powerbox, causing it to diconnect from the UPB Software running on the computer. Issue eventually resolved by powering the Light Board's Controller from a plug in the AllSky/Weather Bay which is sufficiently isolated from the Observatory Bay so that the light board could be lit with out it affecting the UPB Powerbox Connection.
  Resolved by user 2025-03-15 (Observatory, Light Board,  UPB Powerbox, User Awareness)
   
• Frost / frost slugs is showing up on trial light / flat frames (2025-03-15). Frost & Frost slugs are showing up on trial flat frames taken with the SBIG Camera.  The problem was initially improved by dropping CCD Temperature back to 10°C to allow frost to dissipate but wouild come back again when the Camera CCD was cooled to -15°C.  Camera's desicator removed and was renewed in oven at 160°C. Issue delayed the task of taking new Flat Frames following Filter Cleaning and Telescope Changes by several hours.
  Fixed 2025-03-15 (CCD Camera)
   
• 'Take Auto Flats' facility not working for  H, D, X, S, N Filters (2025-03-15).  Whilst attempting to take new Flat sets after cleaning Filters & Telescope changes it was found that it wasn't possible to use AstroMain's 'Take Auto Flats' for filters in the 6th-10th filter wheel positions; the following error "No filters have been selected. Aborting job" is given even though filters had been selected.  The alternate 'Take Flats' with a preselected exposure had to be used instead.
  Fix attempted 2025-03-15 (AstroMain 3.73.14)
   
• Settings in the Observatory's 'AstroMain_settings.dat' file was lost preventing AstroMain from being started up (2025-03-15).  Whilst trying to fix an issue where Take Auto Flats' facility wouldn't operate for filter wheel positions 6 to 10 the program settings weren't written to AstroMain_settings.dat due to a program crash and/or exception and left an empty file. which prevent AstroMain program from running at its next opening. The most recent copy of the settings file dated to Apr 2022 (S1003) , and there was some reluctance to use it, due to possible format changes. Fixed 2024-03-15 and 2024-03-15.  The settings file from Development/Analysis computer was used as a replacement (2025-03-15), and was updated by reference to the eatrlier Apr 2022 file and the best understanding of current values with regard to Cam1 Focus Settings (TCF-S), Cam2 Focus Settings (TS90) and Filter Offsets (incl Spectra Filter) (2025-03-16) . A separate Continuous Improvement ticket is raised to automatically create a backup copy of the Settings file that is opened at the start of each session.
  Fixed 2025-03-16 (AstroMain Settings, User Awareness)

Small Defects

• UPS Status Alert (State (-2) shown after connecting Observatory Services (2025-03-15 22:58).  The UPS Status is normally shown as "Ok        System is using Mains Power" but seeing "Alert   State(-2)"  is both abnormal and somewhat alarming. The ObsViewer shows "UPS Communication restored" with a yellow traffic light.  Examining the 'Eaton UPS Companion'  shows  "Communication with UPS has failed" at 10:28:43 followed 29s later by "Communication with UPS is restored" at 10:29:14.  These messages were due to Lindy USB Hub being restarted at this time as part of resolving a diagnosing why the UPB Powerbox connection was going down whilst setting up to acquire flat frames. The message reported by AstroMain should be improved.  Currently the State (-2)  is reported when the  UPS.SupplyState = PowerState.Reachable (this is where the PowerState is reachable but it is not known if system is using Mains or Battery.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.73.14, the report line will now read as follows in this situation.
     "Warning     Supply state is unknown  (Communication with UPS is restored)".
  Fixed 2025-03-16 (AstroMain 3.73.14)

Continuous Improvement

• AstroMain's Settings File should be backed up each time a session is started.   Whilst trying to fix an issue where Take Auto Flats' facility wouldn't operate for filter wheel positions 6 to 10 the program settings weren't written to AstroMain_settings.dat due to a program crash and/or exception. The backup copy of the settings file dated to Apr 2022 (S1003) is nearly 2 years old. The file should be copied to Session Logs folder each time settings file is saved. Implemented in AstroMain 3.73.14, the settings file is copied to session log folder as  "AstroMain_settings.#sessionname#".dat when running on Observatory Computer ( Laptop9), but it is always saved as a backup copy to a newly created 'C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Settings' folder.  When running AstroMain from VisualStudio the backup file is suffixed "_project" to distinguish the file from the backup file copied from "../More Programs/AstroMain/bin".
  Done 2025-03-16  (AstroMain 3.73.14)

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New Master Flats (2025-03-15)

Sets of New Flat Frames were acquired on 2025-03-15 using Light Board place in front of the LX200.  This was necessiatated by earlier cleaning of filters held in the SBIG CFW10 Filter Wheel and cleaning of outer window on the SBIG ST-10XE Camera, reattachment of the SBIG Camera onto the telescope with rotational adjustment , refocusing of the telescope.

Flat Frames

Flat frames were acquired for each binning mode (3x3, 2x2 & 1x1) and for each of the 10 filters held in the Filter Wheel., with CCD Tempearture operating at -10°C per the following table

Filter	Filter				3x3					2x2					1x1
Position	Name		n		Exp(s).	Sheets		n		Exp(s)	Sheets		n		exp(s)	Sheets
1	C		21	x	1.6s	(2)		21	x	3.6s	(2)		19	x	2.5s	(1)
2	B		19	x	0.2s	-		19	x	0.4s	-		19	x	1.6s	-
3	V		19	x	0.7s	(1)		19	x	1.7s	(1)		19	x	0.8s	-
4	R		19	x	2s	(2)		19	x	4s	(2)		19	x	3.4s	(1)
5	I		19	x	5.8s	-		7	x	15s	-		7	x	60s	-
6	Ha		19	x	5.s	-		7	x	12s	-		13	x	30s	-
7	DB ?		19	x	0.3s	-		19	x	0.7s	-		19	x	2.5s	-
8	Xo		19	x	2s	(2)		19	x	3.5s	(2)		19	x	3s	(1)
9	S		19	x	2s	(2)		19	x	4.0s	(2)		19	x	3s	(1)
10	Nd		19	x	2.8s	-		7	x	6s	-		7	x	3s	-

Due to short exposures required (only 0.3s for 3x3 binning) it is questionable if the flat frames made for the 7th position in the filter wheel is truely from the DB Filter (Dual Band Optolong L-eNhance) rather than a Green Filter which formally occupied the filter wheel at this position..

Bias & Dark Frames

In order to create Master Bias & Master Dark Frames, sets of bias & dark frames were acquired with CCD Temperature operating at the same value of -10°C that the flat frames were acquired at.

Bin		Temp		n		Exp
3x3		-10		21	x	Bias
3x3		-10		21	x	0.12s
3x3		-10		21	x	15s
2x2		-10		21	x	Bias
2x2		-10		21	x	0.12s
2x2		-10		21	x	15s
1x1		-10		21	x	Bias
1x1		-10		21	x	0.12s
1x1		-10		17	x	60s

Master Frames

For each Bias & Dark Set the Dark Frames were stacked using AvMedian method in the Sigma Beta program. The Master Bias & Master Dark Frames generated were copied to the relevant subfolder (1x1 Masters, 2x2 Masters & 3x3 Masters) at 'C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Analysis\_Darks\-10c'

For each Flat Set the Flat Frames were reduced in CCDSoft using the Reduce Folder facility using the Flat Frame Reduction group and relevant master Dark and Master Bias Frames. Reduced flats from each set were then stacked using AvMedian method in Sigma Beta program. The Master Flats generated were copied to the relevant subfolder (1x1 Masters, 2x2 Masters & 3x3 Masters) at 'C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Analysis\_Flats'

Pictures below show the newly generated Master Flats for the C & R Filters, and are compared with the respective previous Master Flats.

Whilst the cleaniness of the filters & optical path in general are no particularly improved with the new cleaning, the new Flats are at least representative of the current state of optical pth.

New Master Flat, C filter (3x3) from S1301 (Average Median for 21 frames )		New Master Flat, R filter (3x3) from S1301 (Average Median for 19 frames )
C - Dust Motte on C Filter  W - Dust Motte on Camera Window		R - Dust Motte on R Filter  W - Dust Motte on Camera Window
Previous Master Flat, C filter (3x3) from S1220 (Average Median for 25 frames )		Previous Master Flat, R filter (3x3) from S739 (Average Median for 19 frames )
All Frames 50% original size, north down		All Frames 50% original size, north down

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