David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1332 (2025-06-03)

Notes (S1331)

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Notes (S1332)

	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 (3)
	- Figures (1)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2025-06-03)

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 3.75.1,  AstroPlan 1.43.11, AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.11   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.4.22, AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.16
  AstroWeather 1.27.9, AstroAllSky 3.24.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroNorthCam 1.4.7, AstroLaunch 1.13.1

Highlights

• Targets.  2/7 planned target observations were completed with 2 targets partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud.  Some images may be rejected due to cloud.
• Cloud.  Conditions were cloudier than hoped for or expected based on initially clear sky.
• CCD Camera. There were no issues with the CCDSoft / CCDCamera, which may be good fortune or may actually be due to positive changes made to code in AstroMain 3.75.1
•  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 Plan not created for this session

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) Note:  The NorthCam Star Count line is unreliable and should be ignored (The AstroNorthCam 'Find' Star method is producing many false positives from clouds)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 00:05:34 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:05 & 00:55 00:05:36   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 00:05 00:05:46 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:05) 00:06:07   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:06:35   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:06:37 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-06-03 S01332, ImageSaveNum: 1332001) 00:06:42   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 00:08:33   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:08:40 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:08:42 Session Pending Session pending (2025-06-03) 00:08:44 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-06-03) 00:08:54   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:09:00   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.11) 00:10:25   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1117) 00:11:07   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:11:32 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:12:17   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 00:12:19   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 00:17:03   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (4.8 mins total) 00:17:05 Session Running Session running 00:17:08   Queue Started Observing Queue started (7 targets selected) 00:17:10     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 00:17:24       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:21:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:24:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:27:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:27:07       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:29:08       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:30:49       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:31:06     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 00:31:10     Target Started (1/7) Target started (1/7, GCVS BL Lac) 00:36:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:38:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:43:21     Target Completed Target completed (1/7, GCVS BL Lac) 00:43:26     Target Started (2/7) Target started (2/7, AT2025kej (CV)) 00:45:06   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:45:08   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:45:10     Target Aborted (2/7) Target aborted (2/7, AT2025kej (CV)) due to cloud 00:45:12   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:45:14 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:46:02   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 00:46:05 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:54:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/7, AT2025kej (CV)) due to cloud 01:14:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/7, NGC 6685 w/SN2023ndu) due to cloud 01:26:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/7, KIC 8462852) due to cloud 01:32:07 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:32:52   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 01:32:55 Session Running Session running 01:32:57   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:32:59     Target Started (5/7) Target started (5/7, 61 Cyg) 01:37:12     Target Completed Target completed (5/7, 61 Cyg) 01:37:16     Target Started (6/7) Target started (6/7, GCVS CI Cyg) 01:41:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:43:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:45:13   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:45:15   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:45:18     Target Aborted (6/7) Target aborted (6/7, GCVS CI Cyg) due to cloud 01:45:20   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:45:22 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:46:08   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 01:46:11 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:56:45 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:56:55   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:56:57   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:56:59     Target Aborted (7/7) Target aborted (7/7, AT2024hr (CV)) due to cloud 01:57:01   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:57:30   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 01:57:32 Session Running Session running 01:57:34   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:57:37     Target Started (7/7) Target started (7/7, AT2024hr (CV)) 01:59:45   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:59:47   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:59:49     Target Aborted (7/7) Target aborted (7/7, AT2024hr (CV)) due to cloud 01:59:51   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:59:53 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:00:40   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 02:00:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:02:45 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:03:31   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 02:03:33 Session Running Session running 02:03:35   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:03:36     Target Started (7/7) Target started (7/7, AT2024hr (CV)) 02:09:41   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:09:43   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:09:45     Target Aborted (7/7) Target aborted (7/7, AT2024hr (CV)) due to cloud 02:09:47   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:09:49 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:10:36   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 02:10:39 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:11:07   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 02:11:11 Session Closing Session closing 02:11:16   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:10, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 02:11:45   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 20s), Az: 90.0 deg 02:12:27   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 39s total) 02:12:51   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 02:13:13   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 02:14:39   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:14:41 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:14:49     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 02:15:09     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 80.5°) 02:15:15     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 78.4 to 82.4°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 02:15:57     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 80.6°) 02:16:03     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: +9.4°) 02:16:05   Dome Parked Dome parked 02:17:32   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (20mA) 02:17:34 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 00:08:42 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (49.51 GB) is less than 50 GB 02:17:32 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (20mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-06-03, S1332)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (3)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Ticks marks on top of AstroMag's AnnualTempChart are incorrect.  Tick marks along the top axis of the AnnualTempChart are incorrect and don't match the monthly tick marks drawn along bottom of chart. Fixed in AstroMag 1.4.24.
   Fixed 2025-06-05 (AstroMag 1.4.24)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroMag to be able to create an additional Difference Charts showing differences for X, Y and Z on a single chart .  AstroMag 1.4.21 and earlier versions have been able to make separate charts for X, Y & Z showing difference between readings from Clair Observatory and those from 3 comparison stations (typically roe/bfe, kar & sol). For the new GA tool to determine the best parameters for temperature correction and extra chart show the difference between readings from Clair Observatory and the roe/bfe station for all 3 axes (X, Y & Z) on a single chart. Implemented in AstroMag 1.4.23 which produces 24h and 5d versions of new chart ('Latest.MagnetogramDifference_XYZ.png' and 'Latest.MagnetogramDifference_XYZ_5d.png'), (see Fig 1). The version also includes generation of a 5-day Activity Chart2  ('Latest.MagnetometerActivityChart2_5d.png').
   Done 2025-06-04 (AstroMag 1.4.23, AstroPlan 1.43.12, Website)
   
• Modify AstroMag Charts to draw rotated vertical Y Axis labels.   AstroMag 1.4.23 and earlier versions have drawn Y axis using StringFormatFlags.DirectionVertical but this produces a text which faces outwards from the graph when the requirement is to have text that faces inwards, ie to have vertical text that is rotated 180°. Implemented in AstroMag 1.4.24 by using a new DrawRotatedVerticalLabel() routine
    Sub DrawRotatedVerticalLabel(ByRef bmp As Bitmap, S As String, drawFont As Font, Brush As Brush, x As Integer, y As Integer)
  The new routine is used by Temperature Graphs, Activity Charts
   Done 2025-06-05 (AstroMag 1.4.24)
   
• Modify AstroMag to enter, save, load and use (B) Temperature Coefficients (B) for temperature correction of magnetometer readings using Subsurface Temperature .  AstroMag 1.4.24 and earlier versions can be used to enter, save, load and use (A) Temperature Coefficients for temperature correction of magnetometer readings using Observatory Temperature or Outdoor Temperature.  Although Subsurface Temperature variations are small (often only 0.2°C per day) overtime the temperature change can amount to around 1°C every two weeks or so, and given the magnetometer's relatively high temperature coefficient they need to be included in temperature correction.   Implemented in AstroMag 1.4.25.   AverageSubsurfaceTemp added to TMagRecord Structure.
  Code to create AverageSubsurfaceTemp added to CalculateAverageTemperature() routine using a 40 minute moving average.
   Done 2025-06-05 (AstroMag 1.4.25)
   
• Develop a GA Tool in AstroMag to find and understand best parameter values for Temperature Correction.  Magnetometer readings from the Observatory's SAM III / Geomagnetic Station are affected by temperature (subsurface & surface) in a subtle yet complex way that needs to be corrected for to achieve best results from the stations.  However it is difficult to find the correct coefficients and temperature effect delays to optimise the necessary temperature correction.  It is proposed to add a GA (Genetic Algorithm) Tool to AstroMag program to be able to find and understand best parameter values for the various parameters for temperature.  It is proposed to run the GA tool against 5 days worth of data, and AstroMag has been recently upgraded to work with 5 days worth of Clair and Comparison Station data. A station (either roe or bfe) located around 2 degs south of the Clair Observatory will be used as the primary data for calculating match quality,more northerly stations showing more variation due to the close proximity to the main aurora belt.  A new Difference Chart showing differences for X, Y and Z and the associated difference errors has been added in AstroMag 1.4.23 to visually and numerically show the quality of the current temperature correction, and provide the algorithm for the Objective Function that will be used in the GA Tool.     Tool is being developed in AstroMag 1.4.24+ and when working will be released as AstroMag 1.5.  
   In Progress 2025-06-04+ (AstroMag 1.5+)

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