David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1343 Attempt (2025-07-23)

Notes (S1342)

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Notes (S1343)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (2),  Minor Issues (4),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (6)
	- Figures (2)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2025-07-23)

Main aims

1. CCD Camera. Test if major CCD Camera issues during recent have been resolved or not.
2. TCF-LSI Focuser. Run first live session using new OptecLynx TCF-LSI Focuser  (which has replaced the TCF-S focuser that was previously being used). Check for any issues and opportunities for improvement.
3. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions and the short summer night.

 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 3.77.1,  AstroPlan 1.43.14, AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.11  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.6, AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.16.2
  AstroWeather 1.27.9, AstroAllSky 3.24.4,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroNorthCam 1.5.3, AstroLaunch 1.13.6

Highlights

• CCD Camera.  There were major issues trying to use the SBIG USB Camera.
• Targets.  No target were attempted due to camera issues (and later cloud)
• TCF-LSI Focuser. There was little opportunity to use the TCF-LSI Fcouser due to camera issues
•  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) 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 23:47:07   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 23:47:21 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-07-23 S01343, ImageSaveNum: 1343001) 23:48:00   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 23:48:15 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 23:48 in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Refresh panelDome' 23:50:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 23:50:40   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 23:52:28   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:54:10   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 43s, Zigbee 40s) 23:54:30       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:55:48   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:56:41     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 23:57:59       SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 23:58:02       CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 23:58:04       CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 23:58:10       SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 23:59:28       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 23:59:33       CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix Camera Exception) 23:59:42       SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:01:35       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:01:37       CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 00:01:39       CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue) 00:01:45       SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:03:02       CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue) 00:03:10       SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 00:05:22   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:05:38 Session Closed Session closed by User 00:05:41 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:07:29 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.77.1) 00:07:31   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:07:45 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2025-07-23 S01343, ImageSaveNum: 1343001) 00:07:51   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:08:12   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:08:17   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:09:33   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:09:48   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:10:35   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:11:48   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:12:38   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 00:14:46   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 45s total) 00:15:09   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 00:16:12   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 00:17:08   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 45s) 00:17:10   Dome Parked Dome parked 00:18:12   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:19:49   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:25:29   SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:26:47   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:29:44   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action (CCDSoft Only)) 00:32:52   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:34:45   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:35:29   SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 00:38:55   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:47:51   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:47:58 Session Closed Session closed by User 00:48:01 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:54:37 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.77.1) 00:54:39   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:55:04 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2025-07-23 S01343, ImageSaveNum: 1343001) 00:55:10   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:55:37   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:55:42   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:56:17 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 00:56:19 Session Closing Session closing 00:56:21   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 00:12, closing time 50s, zigbee 0s) 00:56:23   Dome Parked Dome already parked 00:56:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 00:57:02 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 00:57:09     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 00:57:55     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 00:58:01     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 00:58:03   Dome Parked Dome parked 01:00:02   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (15mA) 01:00:04 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 23:48:48 Red Alert Program Hung AstroMain UI appears to have stopped responding at 23:48:14 23:48:50 Red Alert Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Refresh panelDome' (last cycle at 23:48:15) 23:48:53 Green Clear Program Resumed AstroMain UI has resumed again after 39s 23:48:55 Green Clear Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor has resumed again (23:48) after 0.5 mins 23:58:00 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 23:58:02 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 00:01:35 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 00:25:29 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 00:35:29 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:00:02 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (15mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-07-23, S1343 Attempt)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (2)
• Minor Issues (4)
• Small Defects (3)
• Continuous Improvement (5)
• Figures (2)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Multiple issues with CCDCamera freezing, CCDSoft becoming non-responsive & not being connected to SBIG USB Camera (). Issues prevented centering target on Near Zenith Focus Field, and prevented Focusing the LX200 using the new TCF-LSi focuser, and prevented the adjustment of the Camera Angle and update of Telescope Pointing which would have both been affected by the swapping out the Focuser.   After Dome was closed due to cloud,   further period of testing was conducted.  Although the Camera would take small focus box frames, as soon as a Full Frame was attempt the camera connection would freeze as soon as the image started to download.  This happened several times and would happen whether the camera was connected or not (in the latter case this was using CCDSoft alone).  At the moment this is a showstopping issue. Propose to make trials using i) the USB 3 Port 2 on the UPB V3 box (switch , and ii) using a USB 2 cable back to the Lindy Hub (by-passing the UPB V3 box).  Issue has potentially been fixed in AstroMain 3.77.2.   Camera moved to USB 3.0 Port (Port 2) (though early use of USB 2 port  (Port 7) may not have been the problem) and modification made to SubFrame is reset between frames. Other changes made to make the Camera operations more robust and be be more streamlined. Daytime Camera tests on 2025-07-27 suggest issue is fixed or at least under control.
  Potentially fixed 2025-07-27 (CCDSoft/SBIG Camera , AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• Telescope Power was unexpectedly turned on during daytime test (2025-07-24 08:35). During an early morning daytime test to understand if the principal problem seen during the S1343 Session Attempt could be replicated, the session was run without turning on the ObsManager. After successfully connecting to the SBIG camera at 08:34, ObsOverseer reported that the CcdCamera was pending in GetProperty / CoolerPower. After 30s the ObsOverseer reported that the CcdCamera was frozen and actioned a RestartCCDSoft operation. As part of the Restart SBIG camera phase the SBIG USB turned off and turned on again at 08:35:29.  It came as a total surprise that the Telescope (Monitor) then reported  "Telescope Power has turned on (08:35:31 external to AstroMain)".  The Scope Power field/flag on the Observatory Tab and on the ObsViewer/ObsPics , and the Power Tab in the Unity Platform UI confirmed that Telescope Power had gone on.  Shortly after the SBIG USB Port was toggled as part of the Check Camera Device operation (at (08:36:53 and again at 08:37:23) and it was noticed that Telescope Power seemed to go off and then back on again around this time.  Concerned there was a possibilty that the scope had been turned off with the telescope being first parked (causing an issue/delay at start of net session), the telescope was connected to.   Fortunately the telescope reported that it was sitting at around Az 180° / Alt 3° which showed the camera must have initiated from a Parked state.  Whilst the telescope was evidently turned off a couple off a couple of times, in each case the scope had been on for a short enough time, that telescope initiation hadn't been completed,  so that when the scope was started up again it thought that is was again starting up from a Parked state. An accidental click on the Power Output 1 button in Unity Platform UI was considered a possible explanation for the unexpectedly turning on of the telescope but has been dismissed.    Instead it is inferred that the Telescope was turned on by a ASCOM call to SetSwitch (0,  True) on the UPB V3 powerbox as Switch Device Number 0 corresponds to 12V output 1 which is output connected to the Telescope Power input.  And that this had happened due to a call to SetSwitch (cSbigUsbPort, True) with cSbigUsbPort having the the standard initialised value of 0, rather than the expected value of 18 (=USB Port 7), which is set in the routine PowerBox.AssignSwitchNumbers().  It would seem that on this occasion the routine wasn't called.  Currently in AstroMain 3.77.1 the AssignSwitchNumbers() routine is called in StartObservatoryServices() ahead of calling PowerBox.Connect() and also from the RestartSwitch() routine and
  Issue fixed in AstroMain 3.77.3,  the PowerBox.AssignSwitchNumbers()is called during OnLoad routine and ahead of calling Powerbox.Connect to guarentee that Switch variables are correctly assigned.  A possible additional safeguard would be to move the Telescope Power Cable to use one of the other outputs which is free and prevent a SetSwitch (0, True) situation from accidentally turning on the Telescope.
  Fixed 2025-07-24 (AstroMain 3.77.2)

Minor Issues

• SBIG USB Device will sometimes appear in Device Manager as "SBIG ST Pro Camera Without Firmware".  After restarting the SBIG Camera (via a power supply Toggle using Zigbee Smart Plug)  a SBIG USB Device with sometimes appear in the Device Manager with the name "SBIG ST Pro Camera Without Firmware" (not working) instead of "SBIG USB Camera With Firmware".  The camera can't be connected to when Device Manager shows the 'SBIG ST Pro Camera'. The issue can be fixed by toggling the USB Port a couple of times. 'Uninstall Device' was used in DeviceManager, but the problem occured again at a later time.  Unclear why this should happen, but the workaround is by the RepairSbigUSBCamera() routine to toggle the USB Port for several more attempts until the DeviceManager shows the correct USB Camera Device.
  Mitigation added to 3.77.2.
  Resolved using workaround 2025-07-24 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• AstroMain's 'Disconnect' (camera) button routine is freezing the UI. An addition was made to the disconnect camera routine in AstroMain 3.77.1 to close the USB Port to the SBIG Camera and after 3s to call CCDCamera.Disconnect,  as these steps have been shown to be the quickest way to fix a 'CCDCamera is Pending 'condition'. However it seems to be causing the UI to hang or freeze. Proposal is make the routine into a threaded operation. Implemented in AstroMai 3.77.2.
  Fixed attempted  2025-07-25 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• AstroMain's 'RestartCCDSoftCamera' operation was unnecessarily duplicated (2025-07-26 23:05). Whilst performing daytime testing of new RestartCCDSoftCamera() routine in AstroMain 3.77.2 (beta), the new routine was correctly called by TakeImageAsync() routine after the CCDCamera became pending in GetProperty 'Status', and the Camera Connection was successfully restored.  Whilst 'Restore Focus Position' was being executed, there was an unexpected and unnecessary additonal call to RestartCCDSoftCamera().  Although the second call to RestartCCDSoftCamera() was also successful, it's report messages were interlaced with the report messages from the 'Restore Focus Position' task.   Fixed in AstroMain 3.77.2.   A new variable 'bTakeImageTimedOut (boolean)' added which is set to True if image times out in TakeImageAsync(). Action to fix Camera issue is placed back into the hands of the calling routine (TakeImageAsync(). TakeImage, TakeFocusFrame) as is no longer actioned by TakeImageAsync(boolean).  
  Fixed  2025-07-27 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
  
• AstroMain's 'RestartCCDSoftCamera' operation was used without checking SBIG Camera State (2025-07-26 23:07). Whilst performing daytime testing of new RestartCCDSoftCamera() routine in AstroMain 3.77.2 (beta), a situation was examined where the SBIG Camera was deliberately turned off during FocusStep 1/8  of the 'Test Focus Profile' operations. It was found that RestartCCDSoftCamera() routine was called which reported "SBIG USB Camera is missing or not working".  The same happened for Focus Frame 2/8 and Focus Frame 3/8, with the same negative result.  SBIG Camera's power status should be checked and corrected before starting a new image. And if loss of SBIG Camera occurs during an image, then this should lead to a call to RestartCCDSoft() including SBIG Camera restart instead of call to RestartCCDSoftCamera().
  Fixed  2025-07-27 (AstroMain 3.77.2)

Small Defects

• CCD Monitor is freezing (2025-07-26 12:35).  Overseer reported that "CCDMonitor is Frozen in section 'Monitor Self' " at 12:35 and remained frozen until after 17:05.  This is a defect as the CCDMonitor shouldn't be allowed to freeze.  Investigating code shows that the section Monitor Self incorectly applies to the whole CCDMonitor loop and it is likely that the CCDMonitor froze outside of the specific 'Monitor Self' section and occured in code beyond this sectuon which accesses CCDCamera / CCDSoft.Camera in someway. AstroMain 3.77.2 modified on 2025-07-26 to include more named sections allowing the precise section of code causing the issue to be determined in event of future incidents. A further incident at 17:49 shows that CCDMonitor was Frozen in section 'Monitor Camera'.   This needs to be investigated further. Issues with CCDCamera / CCDSoft.Camera fixed on or just before 2025-07-27.  No camera related issues from during sessions S1343 to S1349A).
  Fixed 2025-07-27 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• Unexpected report message "Scope Port Check.. Port has opened (COM6 opened at 17:49:10)" whilst starting Observatory Services (2025-07-26). After restarting AstroMain at 17:44 following a version upgrade, the Report message "Port has opened (COM6 opened at 17:49:10)" was unexpectedly given whilst starting Observatory Service including Daytime Services.  List of COM Ports reported at 17:44:21  included "Telescope   COM6  (primary port)" as did a repeated List of COM Ports at 17:44:26 . CD Monitor is freezing (2025-07-26 12:35).  Log file show "Scope Port (COM6) opened at 17:49:10" in between 'Start ObsMonitor' and "Start PowerMonitor" This needs to be investigated further.  The message is produced when the following conditions apply
     Scope.Port <> "" And LastScopePort = "" And Scope.PortOpenedAtTime <> vcNullDate
  Propose to monitor.  Review on 2025-11-18 concluded that since there have been no further incidents in the following 30 sessions the issue should be closed.
  Closed after review 2025-11-18 (AstroMain 3.77.2 - AstroMain 3.78.5)
   
• AstroMain's FocusProfile (test) didn't insert a blank report line before beginning 'Restore Focus Position' (2025-07-26 23:00). Whilst performing daytime testing of new RestartCCDSoftCamera() routine in AstroMain 3.77.2 (beta),  a situation was being examined where Take Focus box was not being acquired and/or analysed, leading to no result. Whilst a blank line should be inserted betwen the last focus frame and the 'Restore Focus Position' subtitle, it wasn't being done.  It would seem that after the AddComment (Tab2 + "Taking 0.7s box (C)  5/5"),  the normal ReportComment (result) wasn't executed, leaving the report line open.  So when the normal Blank line was written to Report File,  it closed out the final Focus Frame line instead of forcing a blank log line.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.77.2 (updated), by adding a catch-all Else statement with a ReportComment (Fail) to the post-imaging/analysis  section of the TakeFocusImage() routine.
  Fixed  2025-07-26+ (AstroMain 3.77.2)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroMain's 'TakeImageAsync()' routine so that JobAbort doesn't Abort the Current Image if exposure is <= 3s.  It is proposed to allow short exposures that are in the process of being taken to finish. and avoid unneccessary call to CCDCamera.Abort().   Implemented in AstroMain 3.77.2.
  Done  2025-07-25 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• Modify AstroMain Camera Connect & TakeImageASync routines so that CcdCamera.SubFrame is cleared. Following up a Daytime Test observaton that issues with CCDCamera/CCDSoft freezing when taking first full frame image after a focus frame might have some relationship to SubFrame settings, it is proposed that CCDCamera.ClearSubframe() is called after connecting the Camera, and after successfully finishing an image in TakeImageAsync.   Implemented in AstroMain 3.77.2.  CCDCamera.ClearSubframe() is updated to set to SubframeLeft & SubframeRight to 0 and to set SubframeRight & SubFrameBottom to FullFrameWidth-1 and FullFrameHeight-1 respectively. Even though this isn't technically required, it is possible that it might help resolve the issue.
  Done  2025-07-25 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• Create new RestartCCDSoftCamera() routine in AstroMain and convert calls to RestartCCDSoft() to use the new Restart routine. There is an ongoing issue that CCDSoft Camera freezes making CCDSoft to become non-responsive and causing AstroMain's CCDCamera Loop to freeze.  Up to now the automated fix for this is to RestartCCDSoft includin a restart of the SBIG Camera.  This takes some time (around 60s) and is now always successful. Based on observations from daytime Camera testing during the past week, the most efficient way of restoring CCDSoft Camera operation has been to close the USB Port to the SBIG Camera (which releases CCDSoft and AstroMain's CCDCamera) and then disconnect and reconnect the Camera.  A new routine, 'RestartCCDSoftCamera()' has been added to AstroMain 3.77.2 to perform these actions. Buttons 'Restart CCDSoft Camera', 'Repair & Restart CCDSoft Camera' and 'Restart' has been added to More/Backdoor,  More/Testing and  Observatory Tabs that call RestartCCDSoftCamera_Manual() to manually initiate the new routine.  TakeImageASync() and other TakeImage routines, and ObsOverseer has been modified to call the new routine instead of calling RestartCCDSoft, except when there is a camera exception (bSbigDriverException = True / RestartMode = RestartCCDSoftMode.CameraException) in which case RestartCCDSoftByThread(RestartCCDSoftMode.CameraException, vcNull) is called.
  Done  2025-07-25 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• Modify AstroMain's PowerBox.ReportPowerBoxSwitches() routine to report switches in a table format. In AstroMain 3.77.1 and earlier versions produced a long output of switch values.  AstroMain 3.77.2 modified to output the same data in a shorter table format (see Fig 2).
  Done  2025-07-25 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• Modify AstroMain's ConnectCamera() routine to Start/Check SBIG Camera when initiated by user.  Currently in AstroMain 3.77.1 and earlier versions the  ConnectCamera button routine will stop/exit if SBIG Camera is not connected.   Proposal is to allow routine to automatically start up the SBIG Camera if it was previously switched off.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.77.2.
  Done  2025-07-25 (AstroMain 3.77.2)
   
• Create routine to take and save a current screenshot.  Currently some issues during the course of a session might go uncaptured unless the user is remote connected to the Observatory Computer and elects to manually take and save a screenshot using PaintShopPro which is quite cumbersome.  It would be handy if AstroMain had a conventially placed button routine that could more easilycapture and save a screen shot to the session's Logs folder.  Partly implemented in AstroMain 3.77.2, using new routines .CaptureScreenShot() and TakeAndSaveScreenShot(filepath). Screen captures are saved to Session's log folder as a time stamped .png file.  Routines extended in AstroMain 3.79.2 to optionally hide the AstroMain's open windows whilst the screen capture is being made. 
  Done  2025-07-25 (AstroMain 3.77.2)

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