David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1319 (2025-05-01)

Notes (S1318)

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Notes (S1320)

	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 (7)
	Images from 2025-05-01  >>
	Geomagnetic Station - Remedial Work (2025-05-01 to 2025-05-07)

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. 10/10 planned target observations were completed .
•   Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during the session. Dome closed and parked at end of session ok.

Notes

• Aurora Images from 2025-05-01 / 2025-05-02  >>
  
  
  

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 00:20:51 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:20 & 02:40 00:20:53 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:20) 00:21:14   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:21:42   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:21:44 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-05-01 S01319, ImageSaveNum: 1319001) 00:21:49   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 00:23:33   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:23:41 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:23:44 Session Pending Session pending (2025-05-01) 00:23:46 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-05-01) 00:23:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 00:23:58   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.4) 00:24:42   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1103) 00:25:24   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:25:49 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:26:35   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 46s, Zigbee 41s) 00:26:59 Session Running Session running 00:27:03   Queue Started Observing Queue started (10 targets selected) 00:27:05     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 00:27:21       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:31:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:34:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:36:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:36:38       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:38:38       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:40:20       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:40:37     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 00:40:41     Target Started (1/10) Target started (1/10, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:47:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:49:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:04:56     Target Completed Target completed (1/10, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 01:05:00     Target Started (2/10) Target started (2/10, UGC 5695 w/SN2025cfc) 01:09:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 01:25:43     Target Completed Target completed (2/10, UGC 5695 w/SN2025cfc) 01:25:48     Target Started (3/10) Target started (3/10, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw) 01:30:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:33:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:50:27     Target Completed Target completed (3/10, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw) 01:50:32     Target Started (4/10) Target started (4/10, T CrB) 01:58:46     Target Completed Target completed (4/10, T CrB) 01:58:51     Target Started (5/10) Target started (5/10, AT2022req) 02:02:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:05:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 02:15:20     Target Completed Target completed (5/10, AT2022req) 02:15:24     Target Started (6/10) Target started (6/10, UGC 12293 w/AT2025gyi) 02:18:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:35:07     Target Completed Target completed (6/10, UGC 12293 w/AT2025gyi) 02:35:44     Target Started (7/10) Target started (7/10, AT2024wqf) 02:39:26       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-S) 02:55:39     Target Completed Target completed (7/10, AT2024wqf) 02:58:05     Target Started (8/10) Target started (8/10, GCVS BL Lac) 03:01:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:03:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 03:07:49     Target Completed Target completed (8/10, GCVS BL Lac) 03:08:22     Target Started (9/10) Target started (9/10, AT2025il (CV)) 03:12:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:15:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 03:21:15     Target Completed Target completed (9/10, AT2025il (CV)) 03:21:19     Target Started (10/10) Target started (10/10, GCVS SS Her) 03:25:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:28:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 03:32:35     Target Completed Target completed (10/10, GCVS SS Her) 03:32:37   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:32:38 Session Closing Session closing 03:33:33   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:34:30   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 47s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:35:12   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 36s total) 03:35:36   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:35:58   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:37:21   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:37:23 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:37:41     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:38:27     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 03:38:33     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 03:38:35   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:40:44   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA) 03:40:46 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:40:44 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-05-01, S1319)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Small Defects (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Continuous Improvement (7)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• The 'AstroVma' checkbox on AstroMove's 'To Observatory' tab isn't getting reset when using 'None' button. The 'None' button on the AstroMoves 'To Observatory' tab is designed to uncheck all the checkboxes on the tab, but it currently leaves the AstroVma checkbox in a checked state. Fixed in AstroMove 1.15.11.
   Fixed 2025-05-03 (AstroMove 1.15.11)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroMag's Magnetometer Charts to show vertical dashed grid lines. AstroMag 1.3.13 doesn't show vertical hour grid lines on Magnetometer plots (XYZ, DHZ & DIF). This is as per design of charts used on Tromso Observatory Site .  However it is useful to see hour lines to better judge the timing of particular features in the magnetomter data, like the SAM View charts do. Propose to also add dashed grid-line to Activity Chart2 and Downhole Temperature Chart.  Implemented in AstroMag 1.3.13.
    Done 2025-05-02 (AstroMag 1.3.13)
   
• Add DeltaX, DeltaY, DeltaZ fields to AstroMag's Main tab.  It would be helpful to see columns on Main Tab showing a numeric value for each axis   which is the calculated difference between the axis's current Calibrated Reading (Reading + Offset) and the axis's Reference Value. Implemented in AstroMag 1.3.14.
    Done 2025-05-03 (AstroMag 1.3.14)
   
• Add a field on AstroMag's Main Tab which shows the number of minutes until Charts are schedulued to be plotted.  Implemented in AstroMag 1.3.14.
    Done 2025-05-03 (AstroMag 1.3.14)
   
• Add Correction Factors to AstroMag to scale the Magnetometer data collected by the Geomagnetic Station. Comparison of magnetometer data with data from Scandinavian Stations (eg. Karmoy & Brorfelde) suggest that the Min-Max Range seen by the Clair Observatory magnetometers during a 24 hour period are some 150-200% of the range seen by Scandinavian Station and therefore need a 50-65% correction scaling to allow the Clair data to be sensibly plotted on the same Stackplot.   Correction fields have been added to Setting tab, and used during the CalibrateReadings operature
    Done 2025-05-05 (AstroMag 1.3.15)
   
• Create routines to fetch TGO / DTU and AuroraWatch magnetometer data for specific stations and import it into AstroMag. Data should be imported for stations like kar, bfe and sum and loaded into new data structures bfeData, karData & sumData.   A separate Continuous Improvement ticket has been added to utilise the data in these structures to creating a stackplot charts for each component (X, Y, Z H, D, I, F).  Implemented in AstroMag 1.3.16.
    Done 2025-05-07 (AstroMag 1.3.16)
   
• Create StackPlot charts showing Clair Observatory magnetometer traces along with selected stations such as kar, sum, bfe.  The aim is to allow a rapid comparison and identification of peaks, troughs & trends that are of geomagnetic origin, by means of a stackplots for the range of available components (X, Y, Z H, D, I, F).  A separate Continuous Improvement ticket is in progress for downloading and importting magetometer station data from TGO / DTU and UK.   X, Y & Z Stackplots have been implemented in AstroMag 1.3.16. AstroPlan 1.43.5 includes a modification to upload these stackplots to the Observatory Website.
    Done  2025-05-07 (AstroMag 1.3.16, AstroPlan 1.43.5 )
   
• Create a new dialog form in AstroMain/Analysis for entering and saving a Magnitude Record.  A new form 'MagRecord' has been created in AstroMain 3.74.9, which is accessed using 'Mag' button on Analysis/ImageSet/Reduced Tab.  The Save Button returns a MagResult string which is reported to Console and copied to clipboard for pasting in appropriate place on the Session Images page in WebExpression / web builder.
    In Progress 2025-05-03 (AstroMain 3.74.9)
   

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