David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1318 (2025-04-30)

Notes (S1317)

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Notes (S1319)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	Images from 2025-05-01  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-05-01)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. Scope Path. Continue to test new Scope Path plotting routine and check that it is producing smoother/less angular paths

 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 3.74.8,  AstroPlan 1.43.4,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.6   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.3.12, AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.15.10
  AstroWeather 1.27.8, AstroAllSky 3.23.5,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroColorCam 1.2.13, AstroLaunch 1.13

Highlights

• Targets. x/x planned target observations were completed with x targets partially completely. The last x targets failed due to cloud/session suspension.
•   Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during the 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 22:22:31 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:22 & 02:44 22:22:32   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 22:27:32 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:27) 22:27:53   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:28:20   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 22:28:23 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-04-30 S01318, ImageSaveNum: 1318001) 22:28:28   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 22:30:15   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:30:23 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:30:25   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 22:30:28 Session Pending Session pending (2025-04-30) 22:30:30 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-04-30) 22:30:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 22:30:46   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.4) 22:31:26   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1102) 22:32:07   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:32:32 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:33:17   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 22:33:47 Session Running Session running 22:33:50   Queue Started Observing Queue started (18 targets selected) 22:33:52     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 12, HIP 58514) 22:34:06       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:38:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:41:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:43:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:43:38       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:43:54     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 12, HIP 58514) 22:47:14     Target Started (1/18) Target started (1/18, VV 410 w/SN2025hjz) 22:53:30       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-S) 23:10:06     Target Completed Target completed (1/18, VV 410 w/SN2025hjz) 23:10:10     Target Started (2/18) Target started (2/18, AT2024accj) 23:15:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 23:26:47       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 23:28:38       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 23:31:05     Target Completed Target completed (2/18, AT2024accj) 23:31:54     Target Started (3/18) Target started (3/18, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:35:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:38:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:43:49     Target Completed Target completed (3/18, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:43:54     Target Started (4/18) Target started (4/18, NGC 2407 w/SN2025gmc) 23:48:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:08:12     Target Completed Target completed (4/18, NGC 2407 w/SN2025gmc) 00:08:16     Target Started (5/18) Target started (5/18, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:11:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:14:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:29:53     Target Completed Target completed (5/18, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:29:57     Target Started (6/18) Target started (6/18, AT2025img (CV)) 00:34:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:36:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:44:07     Target Completed Target completed (6/18, AT2025img (CV)) 00:44:11     Target Started (7/18) Target started (7/18, UGC 5695 w/SN2025cfc) 01:05:10     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/18, UGC 5695 w/SN2025cfc) 01:05:14     Target Started (8/18) Target started (8/18, T CrB) 01:09:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:11:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:16:02     Target Completed Target completed (8/18, T CrB) 01:16:07     Target Started (9/18) Target started (9/18, HIP 87937) 01:18:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:21:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:24:53     Target Completed Target completed (9/18, HIP 87937) 01:24:57     Target Started (10/18) Target started (10/18, AT2025fma) 01:44:27     Target Completed Target completed (10/18, AT2025fma) 01:44:31     Target Started (11/18) Target started (11/18, 61 Cyg) 01:46:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:48:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:50:56     Target Completed Target completed (11/18, 61 Cyg) 01:51:00     Target Started (12/18) Target started (12/18, GCVS BL Lac) 01:54:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:56:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:01:15     Target Completed Target completed (12/18, GCVS BL Lac) 02:01:19     Target Started (13/18) Target started (13/18, WDS GRB 34) 02:05:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:08:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:10:24     Target Completed Target completed (13/18, WDS GRB 34) 02:10:28     Target Started (14/18) Target started (14/18, M31 w/Nova M31 2025-04c?) 02:13:45       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:30:14     Target Completed Target completed (14/18, M31 w/Nova M31 2025-04c?) 02:31:26     Target Started (15/18) Target started (15/18, UGC 12293 w/AT2025gyi) 02:35:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:51:58   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:52:00   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:52:03     Target Aborted (15/18) Target aborted (15/18, UGC 12293 w/AT2025gyi) due to cloud 02:52:05   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:52:07 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:52:54   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 02:52:55 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:55:08 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:55:53     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 16, HIP 78946) 02:55:56   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 02:55:57 Session Running Session running 02:55:59   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:00:14   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:00:16   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:00:18     Target Aborted (NrZen) Target aborted (Focus Field 16, HIP 78946) due to cloud 03:00:20     Target Aborted (16/18) Target aborted (16/18, AT2024wqf) due to cloud 03:00:22   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:00:24 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:01:09   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:01:12 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:13:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/18, AT2024wqf) due to cloud 03:24:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/18, GCVS HH And) due to cloud 03:43:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/18, GCVS EV Lac) due to cloud 03:43:15   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:43:19 Session Closing Session closing 03:43:23   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:01, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 03:44:30   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 56s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:45:17   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s total) 03:45:40   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:46:37   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:48:01   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:48:04 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:48:26     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:49:10     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 03:49:16     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°) 03:49:18   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:49:39   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (13mA) 03:49:41 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:49:39 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (13mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-04-30, S1318)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Small Defects (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Continuous Improvement (2)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• AstroMag's SamMonitor Notes field isn't being reset after restarting SamMonitor (2025-05-01). After SamMonitor was stopped and then restarted, the Notes field still showed as 'Stopped'.  The field should be reset to 'blank' when the SamMonitor is restarted. Fixed in Astro Mag 1.3.12.
    Fixed 2025-05-01 (AstroMag 1.3.12)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroMag's Settings Tab to show Latest Readings & Latest Differences. After resetting SAM III box or making other hardware changes the magnetometer readings may change and require a different offsets to be used to bring readings in line with expected values for the site, and to appear at roughly the appropriate positions on Magnetometer chart. To make the task of setting appropriate offets and avoid the need to resort to sheet of paper and a calculator, it is propose to present latest, x, y, z reading in new boxes on the Settings tab, and have the Differences X, Y, Z boxes (difference between Expected & Latest readings) to be automatically updated each time a new set of reading is available.  This makes the task of updating the Offset X, Y, Z fields much easier. Implemented in Astro Mag 1.3.12.
    Done 2025-05-01 (AstroMag 1.3.12)
   
• Modify AstroMag to use a 'Min Temperature' field when creating the Downhole Temperature Chart. Implemented in AstroMag 1.3.13. A new Min Chart Temperature field added to Charts tab, whose value is saved to program settings file when the program is closed and read again when the program is restarted.
    Done 2025-05-02 (AstroMag 1.3.13)

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