David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1346 (2025-08-09)

Notes (S1345)

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Notes (S1347)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2025-08-09  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-08-09)

Main aims

1. 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.
2. Cam2 Camera Angle & TS80 alignment. Rotate guidescope camera to 0.0° position. Align TS80 guide scope pointing with that of the LX200 main scope.

 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 3.77.7,  AstroPlan 1.43.12, AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.11  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.8, 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

• Targets. 12/12 planned  targets were completed.
• CCD Camera.  No issues with CCD Camera during session.
• Slewing/Centering. Slewing and centering performance was excellent (Av Error after slew 0.90', Av Error after centering.0.12')
• Cam2 Camera Angle & TS80 Alignment .  There was no opportunity to rotate the ZWO 178MC cameras to the appropriate camera angle (0.0°) before the session began. The camera angles during S1343 was previously measured to be around 358.0° (ie -2.0°) which is tolerable in the short-term. The total TS80 alignment error was previously determined to be 1.61'  (Offset W -1.60', Offset N: -0.17') . Similarily there was no opportunity to improve the alignment. These two objectives will roll forward to the next 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) 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 00:16:54 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:16 & 03:23 00:16:55 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:16) 00:17:07   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:17:21 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-08-09 S01346, ImageSaveNum: 1346001) 00:17:28   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 00:19:14   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:19:24 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:19:27 Session Pending Session pending (2025-08-09) 00:19:29 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-08-09) 00:19:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 00:19:49   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14) 00:20:44   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1131) 00:21:25   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:21:50 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:22:35   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 00:22:50 Session Running Session running 00:22:53   Queue Started Observing Queue started (12 targets selected) 00:22:56     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 20, HIP 99625) 00:23:11       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:25:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:27:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:29:28       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - RmsE) 00:29:30       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:31:03       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:32:40       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:32:59     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 20, HIP 99625) 00:36:17     Target Started (1/12) Target started (1/12, T CrB) 00:39:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:42:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3, wide) 00:44:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:49:07     Target Completed Target completed (1/12, T CrB) 00:49:11     Target Started (2/12) Target started (2/12, TCP J18385851-0351482) 01:11:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/12, TCP J18385851-0351482) 01:12:01     Target Started (3/12) Target started (3/12, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:14:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:16:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:20:26     Target Completed Target completed (3/12, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:20:30     Target Started (4/12) Target started (4/12, GCVS BL Lac) 01:24:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:26:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:29:53     Target Completed Target completed (4/12, GCVS BL Lac) 01:29:57     Target Started (5/12) Target started (5/12, UGC 386 w/SN2025kno) 01:33:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:36:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:52:33     Target Completed Target completed (5/12, UGC 386 w/SN2025kno) 01:52:37     Target Started (6/12) Target started (6/12, M31 w/AT2025kvc) 01:56:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:58:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:15:20     Target Completed Target completed (6/12, M31 w/AT2025kvc) 02:15:24     Target Started (7/12) Target started (7/12, WDS GRB 34) 02:18:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:20:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:23:04     Target Completed Target completed (7/12, WDS GRB 34) 02:23:08     Target Started (8/12) Target started (8/12, UGC 1179 w/AT2025kuz) 02:26:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:28:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:45:02     Target Completed Target completed (8/12, UGC 1179 w/AT2025kuz) 02:45:06     Target Started (9/12) Target started (9/12, GCVS HH And) 02:48:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:50:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:52:36     Target Completed Target completed (9/12, GCVS HH And) 02:52:53     Target Started (10/12) Target started (10/12, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 02:56:52       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:05:50     Target Completed Target completed (10/12, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 03:07:44     Target Started (11/12) Target started (11/12, UGC 1814 w/SN2025oas) 03:11:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 03:27:20     Target Completed Target completed (11/12, UGC 1814 w/SN2025oas) 03:30:03     Target Started (12/12) Target started (12/12, 61 Cyg) 03:32:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:34:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:36:29     Target Completed Target completed (12/12, 61 Cyg) 03:36:31   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:36:33 Session Closing Session closing 03:37:21   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 03:38:39   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 70s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:39:23   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s total) 03:39:47   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:40:09   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:41:34   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:41:37 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:41:54     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:42:38     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°) 03:42:44     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.5°) 03:42:46   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:44:22   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (48mA) 03:44:24 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:44:22 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (48mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-08-09 S1346)

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

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• ObsCam Pictures weren't active during the S1346 session. This was a repeat of the issue that occured in the previous S1345 session. Again the issue was due to the ObsCam being turned off by the user whilst taking a series of support frames prior to the session (to prevent possiibility of the infrared light from WebCam affecting the darks) and forgetting to turn the ObsCam back on again afterward.  AstroMain should be modified turnoff the ObsCam via AstroObsCam program when taking a sequence of Support Frames. A separate Continuous Improvement ticket has been raised to make the modification.
  Closed after review 2025-08-13 (AstroObsCam, User Awareness)
   
• Image Frames taken through C Filter show a new & significant dust motte after reduction using prior master flat frame. Flat frames were acquired for all filters on 2025-07-30 after installing the new TCF-LSI focuser and Master Flats created.   Images from the S1346 session show presence of a newly appeared dust motte that is being corrected for, leaving a noticable artefact in C Filter images particularly the longer 60s and 180s frames and when taking images against bright moonlit sky background.  Fixed on 2025-08-13 - new C Filter flat frames were acquired for 3x3, 2x2 & 1x1 bining and Av Median master frames created using Sigma Beta (see notes New Master Flats - C Filter (2025-08-13)).
  Fixed 2025-08-13 (SBIG Camera  / Master Flats)

Small Defects

• None