David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1321 (2025-05-07)

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	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (4)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2025-05-07)

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 3.74.8,  AstroPlan 1.43.5,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.6   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.4, AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.15.12
  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. 6/12 planned target observations were completed with 1 target partially completed.  One additional ToO target (NGC 5957 w/ SN2025fvw) was also successfully completed.  Other targets failed due to missed start/replacement by ToO or due to cloud or a TheSky6 software issue towards end of session.
•   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 23:53:52 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:53 & 02:31 23:53:54 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:53) 23:54:15   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 23:54:43   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 23:54:45 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-05-07 S01321, ImageSaveNum: 1321001) 23:54:50   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 23:56:37   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:56:46 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:56:50 Session Pending Session pending (2025-05-07) 23:56:52 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-05-07) 23:57:01   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 23:57:08   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.5) 23:57:28   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1105) 23:58:18   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:58:46 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:59:31   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 00:00:11 Session Running Session running 00:00:14   Queue Started Observing Queue started (12 targets selected) 00:00:17     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 00:00:31       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:05:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:10:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:12:48       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - RmsE) 00:12:51       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:15:14       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:17:09       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:17:31     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 00:17:38     Target Started (1/12) Target started (1/12, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:24:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:28:34       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 00:39:32     Target Completed Target partially completed (1/12, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:39:36     Target Started (2/13) Target started (2/13, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw, ToO) 00:44:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:48:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 00:51:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 01:08:25     Target Completed Target completed (2/13, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw, ToO) 01:08:28     Target Missed (3/13) Target's time slot was missed (3/13, LEDA 2155454 w/SN2025erh) 01:08:30     Target Missed (4/13) Target's time slot was missed (4/13, GCVS ER UMa) 01:08:31     Target Started (5/13) Target started (5/13, AT2025img (CV)) 01:13:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:16:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:23:07     Target Completed Target completed (5/13, AT2025img (CV)) 01:23:13     Target Started (6/13) Target started (6/13, 144P/Kushida) 01:39:22     Target Completed Target completed (6/13, 144P/Kushida) 01:39:26     Target Started (7/13) Target started (7/13, T CrB) 01:43:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:45:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:50:51     Target Completed Target completed (7/13, T CrB) 01:50:58     Target Started (8/13) Target started (8/13, GCVS U Her) 01:54:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:57:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 02:07:35     Target Completed Target completed (8/13, GCVS U Her) 02:07:42     Target Started (9/13) Target started (9/13, AT2023apa (CV)) 02:17:54     Target Completed Target completed (9/13, AT2023apa (CV)) 02:17:59     Target Started (10/13) Target started (10/13, AT2025jpj (CV)) 02:32:24   ScopeMonitor Frozen ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen at around 02:32 02:38:09     Target Completed Target completed (10/13, AT2025jpj (CV)) 02:38:14     Target Started (11/13) Target started (11/13, AT2025fwb) 02:38:18     Target Failed (11/13) Target failed due to target not found (11/13, AT2025fwb) 02:38:24   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to un-responsive TheSky6 program 02:38:26   Queue Paused Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension 02:38:29 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:39:20   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 51s, Zigbee 44s) 02:39:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:06:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/13, (2) Pallas) due to software 03:25:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/13, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 03:25:51   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:25:54 Session Closing Session closing 03:25:59   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:39, closing time 51s, zigbee 44s) 03:26:34   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 23s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:26:43   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 3s total) 03:27:10   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:27:33   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:28:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:29:00 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:29:27     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:30:12     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 03:30:18     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 03:30:21   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:30:50   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (20mA) 03:30:52 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 02:34:05 Red Alert ScopeMonitor ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 02:32:24) 02:34:08 Red Alert TheSky6 Alert TheSky6 program isn't responding 03:30:50 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (20mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-05-07, S1321)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroMain's ScopeMonitor froze and TheSky6 program became unresponsive (02:32). Whilst acquiring Target 10/13 (AT2025jpj) AstroMain's ObsOverseer raised a 'ScopeMonitor' red alert at 02:34:05 with the message "ScopeMonitor appears to be frozen (last cycle at 02:32:24) " followed immediately by a 'TheSky6' red alerts at 02:34:08 with the message "TheSky6 program isn't responding". The target was completed ok, but the following target (Target 11/13, AT2025fwb) failed due 'target not found' with the log message "Object (Explicit Coords not recognised. Aborting target" The ObsOverseer eventually warned of and raised a bHardSupend that caused the session to move to suspending state at 02:38:29 with the closure of the Observatory Shutter.  No more targets were acquired. Target 12/13 (Pallas) was reported as failed due to "other -software" . Target 13/13 (BL Lac) was reported to be on hold 'session suspended due to TheSky6 not responding' , but finally reported as failed due to "Cloud". The  Telescope and ASCOM Telescope object both remained functional throughout. Only the TheSky6 program, TheSky6.Telescope and the ScopeMonitor were affected.  Telescope was parked ok at the end of session using direct Scope.Park command without going through the normal Pre-Park Slew using TheSky6 first.  Remote connection in the morning confirmed that TheSky6 was unresponsive and still held an open/locked telescope client in DeviceHub.   Backdoor function to Restart TheSky6 was successful. It is unclear why this function wasn't used by ObsOverseer/ObsManager once the Session had suspended in an attempt to restore full telescope operations should weather conditions have improved.
    To investiage  2025-05-09+ (Session, TheSky6, Telescope, AstroMain ScopeMonitor & ObsOverseer)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Develop a means for AstroMag to fetch and store Observatory Temperature data.  Recent work (2025-05-08) has established that temperature changes in the Observatory where the SAM III box resides are directly affecting the magnetometer readings presented by the SAM III system.  Based on data from 2025-05-04 / 2025-05-05, the temperature coefficient for the Y Axis component is -12 nT/°C.  Observatory Temperature needs to be made available for and read by AstroMag, which should then use a running average to correct magnetometer readings using temperature coefficients from new Settings fields, likely one for each axis. Temperature data that is mostly readily available on the Observatory Computer is the ObsEnv. Temperature from the UPB Powerbox, but the Obs. Temperatue from Weather Station/AllSky Weather Computer is also available.  Just need to work out the best means of providing it. The format of the mag_data.dat files should be changed in order to store the Observatory Temperature for retrospective charting. Should this store the raw Observatory Temperature or a smoothed version ?.  Routine to write Observatory Temperature (as average of ObsEnv.ObsEnvTemperature and WeatherStation.ObservatoryTemperature) to "C:\Data\CCD Imaging\ObsEnv\ObsTemp.dat", called from ObsWorkerLoop is added to AstroMain 3.74.9.  AstroMag 1.4.1 updated  with routine GetObservatoryTemperature to read ObsTemp.dat and write observatory temperature to form fields and to global variable ObsTemp (see Fig 1)
   Done 2025-05-08 (AstroMag 1.4.1, AstroMain 3.74.9)
   
• Extend AstroMag to create a new Plot Chart that show Observatory Temperature. With the identification that the Magnetometer readings are affected by the temperature environment in which the SAM III box resides, Observatory Temperature is supplied to AstroMag program and will in due course be used to correct magnetometer readings.  In the meantime it will be helpful to automatically create a chart to show Observatory Temperature across the latest or user defined 24 hour period. Chart should have a similar size to that of the Magnetometer Charts. Implemented in AstroMag 1.42.2 (See Fig 1).  AstroPlan 1.43.6 was modified to upload the ObsTemp Chart.
   Done 2025-05-08 (AstroMag 1.4.2, AstroPlan 1.43.6.)
   
• Develop a means to use Observatory Temperature data for correcting Magnetometer Readings.  Recent work (2025-05-08) has established that temperature changes in the Observatory where the SAM III box resides are directly affecting the magnetometer readings presented by the SAM III system.  Based on data from 2025-05-04 / 2025-05-05, the temperature coefficient for the Y Axis component is -12 nT/°C.  Observatory Temperature needs to be made available for and read by AstroMag, which should then use a running average to correct magnetometer readings using temperature coefficients from new Settings fields, likely one for each axis. Temperature data that is mostly readily available on the Observatory Computer is the ObsEnv. Temperature from the UPB Powerbox, but the Obs. Temperatue from Weather Station/AllSky Weather Computer is also available.  Just need to work out the best means of providing it. The format of the mag_data.dat files should be changed in order to store the Observatory Temperature for retrospective charting. Should this store the raw Observatory Temperature or a smoothed version ?.  Routine to write Observatory Temperature (as average of ObsEnv.ObsEnvTemperature and WeatherStation.ObservatoryTemperature) to "C:\Data\CCD Imaging\ObsEnv\ObsTemp.dat", called from ObsWorkerLoop is added to AstroMain 3.74.9.  AstroMag 1.4.1 updated  with routine GetObservatoryTemperature to read ObsTemp.dat and write observatory temperature to form fields and to global variable ObsTemp.  Implemented in AstroMag 1.4.3.  New fields added to AstroMag Settings for TempCoefficientX,  TempCoefficientY , TempCoefficientZ and Temperature Reference. plus a new checkbox 'cboxUseTemperatureCorrection.  New routines added to AstroMag called CalculateAverageTemperatures() and CalculateAverageTemperature() with create a 20 min moving average in order to smooth temperature corrections and not introduce peak/troughs in the final magnetometer readings ApplyCorrections() routine modified to use temperature correction.   The routines may need to be tweaked depandant on results over the course of a number of days, as will the Temperature Coefficients.   Results of  using Temperature Correction are shown in Fig 2.
    Done 2025-05-09 (AstroMag 1.4.3)
   
• Extend AstroMag to create a new Plot Chart that shows discrepency between Magnetometer Readings and those from Comparison Stations.  This is to support efforts to establish the temperatue coefficient of the each of the magnetometer axes, now that it has been established that Observatory Temperature appears to directly affects the SAM III unit and the readings it presents. Currently such a chart has to be created in Excel and takes quite a bit of work, so automating the task would be helpful.
    To Do  2025-05-09+ (AstroMag 1.4.1+)

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