David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1350 (2025-08-16)

Notes (S1349A)

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Notes (S1351)

	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 (1)
	Images from 2025-08-16  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-08-16)

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 relatively short night.
2. T CrB & Nova Ser 2025.  Acquire images of T CrB and the recently discovered  Nova Ser 2025

 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 3.77.8,  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 1.6, AstroLaunch 1.13.6

Highlights

• Targets. 15/16 planned  targets were successfully completed with one target missed due to replacement by a ToO target (Nova Ser 2025) which was added to secure its acquisition at a higher altitude than planned.
• T CrB & Nova Ser 2025. Both targets was successfully acquired.
• AstroNorthCam / Stars.  Star Count from NorthCam showed good data and a good correspondance with the star count from AllSky Camera.
• CCD Camera.  No issues with CCD Camera during 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 22:46:27 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:46 & 03:44 22:46:31 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:46) 22:46:43   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:46:57 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-08-16 S01350, ImageSaveNum: 1350001) 22:47:04   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 22:48:49   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:48:59 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:49:01 Session Pending Session pending (2025-08-16) 22:49:03 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-08-16) 22:49:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 22:49:29   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14) 22:50:14   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1136) 22:50:56   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:51:21 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:52:06   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 46s, Zigbee 40s) 22:52:31 Session Running Session running 22:52:34   Queue Started Observing Queue started (15 targets selected) 22:52:36     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 22:52:50       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:55:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:57:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:59:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:59:38       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:01:32       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:03:08       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:03:28     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 23:05:57     Target Started (1/15) Target started (1/15, IC 4408 w/SN2025kfm) 23:09:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:11:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:28:06     Target Completed Target completed (1/15, IC 4408 w/SN2025kfm) 23:28:17     Target Started (2/15) Target started (2/15, NGC 4395 w/AT2025lwi) 23:33:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:50:13     Target Completed Target completed (2/15, NGC 4395 w/AT2025lwi) 23:50:37     Target Started (3/15) Target started (3/15, T CrB) 23:53:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:56:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:00:14     Target Completed Target completed (3/15, T CrB) 00:00:18     Target Started (4/16) Target started (4/16, Nova Ser 2025, ToO) 00:03:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:06:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:12:17     Target Completed Target completed (4/16, Nova Ser 2025, ToO) 00:12:20     Target Missed (5/16) Target's time slot was missed (5/16, GCVS CY Lyr) 00:12:22     Target Started (6/16) Target started (6/16, PN G054.2-03.4) 00:16:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:18:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:30:50     Target Completed Target completed (6/16, PN G054.2-03.4) 00:30:54     Target Started (7/16) Target started (7/16, AT2025ld) 00:33:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:36:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:52:44     Target Completed Target completed (7/16, AT2025ld) 00:52:48     Target Started (8/16) Target started (8/16, GCVS BL Lac) 00:58:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:00:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:04:37     Target Completed Target completed (8/16, GCVS BL Lac) 01:04:41     Target Started (9/16) Target started (9/16, Nova Ser 2025) 01:08:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:11:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:17:46     Target Completed Target completed (9/16, Nova Ser 2025) 01:17:50     Target Started (10/16) Target started (10/16, SN 2025taz) 01:20:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:22:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:38:53     Target Completed Target completed (10/16, SN 2025taz) 01:38:58     Target Started (11/16) Target started (11/16, AT2024uvv (CV)) 01:42:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:44:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:00:51     Target Completed Target completed (11/16, AT2024uvv (CV)) 02:00:55     Target Started (12/16) Target started (12/16, NGC 7331 w/SN2025rbs) 02:03:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:06:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:22:08     Target Completed Target completed (12/16, NGC 7331 w/SN2025rbs) 02:22:12     Target Started (13/16) Target started (13/16, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) 02:25:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:27:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:43:51     Target Completed Target completed (13/16, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) 02:43:55     Target Started (14/16) Target started (14/16, SN 2025jtq) 02:48:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:04:59     Target Completed Target completed (14/16, SN 2025jtq) 03:05:17     Target Started (15/16) Target started (15/16, NGC 681 w/SN2024abup) 03:09:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:26:00     Target Completed Target completed (15/16, NGC 681 w/SN2024abup) 03:27:37     Target Started (16/16) Target started (16/16, UGC 1206 w/SN2025pao) 03:30:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:33:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 03:49:24     Target Completed Target completed (16/16, UGC 1206 w/SN2025pao) 03:49:26   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:49:28 Session Closing Session closing 03:50:21   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:51:01   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 31s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:51:44   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 36s total) 03:52:08   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:52:59   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:54:46   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:54:49 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:55:09     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:55:52     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 03:55:58     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°) 03:56:00   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:57:27   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (49mA) 03:57:29 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:57:27 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (49mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-08-16 S1350)

• 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

• AstroMag crashes with unhandled exception when starting Temperature Monitor with a deactivated Ardunio Temperature Sensor (2025-08-24). As part of  trying to diagnose issues with the Geomagnetic Station the Ardunio Temperature Sensor was deactivated on 2025-08-23, meaning there is no COM Port 8.  In oder to still have observatory temperature data available to correct magnetometer measurements the Temperature Monitor needs to be running.  However when the Temperature Monitor is started the AstroMag program immediately crashes with an unhandled System.IO.IOException with the message 'The port COM8 does not exist'.  This happens even though there are existing Try..Catch..EndTry blocks.   Fixed in AstroMag  1.5.9.  The fix also required the relocation of the code that calls the routine to import of Observatory Temperature (in the initial fix the ObservatoryTemperature Import was being bypassed by the execution of a Continue Do in  a COM Port exception catch section).
  Fixed 2025-08-24 (AstroMag 1.5.9)
   
• Disk Space on AllSky/Weather Computer filled up (2025-08-24).  AstroAllSky didn't refresh NightSummaryPlot and eventually crashed. AstroObsCam also stopped producing fresh NorthCam images. Fixed by deleting unnecessary file. C Drive Free Space increased from 0 to 62 GB. G Drive free space increased from 5 GB to 92 GB.  .
  Resolved 2025-08-24 (AllSky/Weather Computer)

Small Defects

• None