David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1360 (2025-09-09)

Notes (S1359)

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Notes (S1361)

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

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-09-09)

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 relatively short night.
2. Cam2 Imaging. Check that automated Cam2 imaging is still functioning. It has been sometime since Cam2 imaging has been used and there is a risk of issues due to changes made to SBIG Camera Monitoring since then.  It will also be an opportunity to collect CMOS OSC image of NGC 6802 for which SBIG images were recently captured at different exposure times.

 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 3.77.12,  AstroPlan 1.43.12, AstroShCap 1.3.16, 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 1.27.10, AstroAllSky 3.24.6,  AstroObsCam 1.11.7, AstroNorthCam 1.6.1, AstroLaunch 1.13.6

Highlights

• Targets. 12/24 planned targets were successfully completed with 4 targets partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspension. One of the failed planned targets (M31 w/AT) was acquired as a ToO target at the beginning of the session.  Another target (NGC 6802) was acquired as a ToO target to support an objective of the session to test Cam2 imaging.
• Cam2 Imaging. Cam2 (TS80/ ZWO178MC)  imaging of NGC 6802 was successfully complete,  though the realtime generated png/jpg pictures files were far too dark to be useful.
• 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 21:27:43 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:27 & 04:38 21:27:44 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:27) 21:27:56   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:28:11 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-09-09 S01360, ImageSaveNum: 1360001) 21:28:18   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 21:30:01   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:30:11 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:30:14 Session Pending Session pending (2025-09-09) 21:30:16 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-09-09) 21:30:35   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 21:30:38   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14) 21:31:08   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1146) 21:31:50   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:32:14 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:32:59   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 21:33:39 Session Running Session running 21:33:42   Queue Started Observing Queue started (24 targets selected) 21:33:45     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 18, HIP 88232) 21:33:59       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:36:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:38:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:40:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:40:54       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:42:31       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:44:00       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:44:18     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 18, HIP 88232) 21:44:56     Target Aborted (1/24) Target aborted (1/24, SN 2022vek) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 21:45:00     Target Started (2/25) Target started (2/25, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2025wwe, ToO) 21:49:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:51:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:07:57     Target Completed Target completed (2/25, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2025wwe, ToO) 22:09:26     Target Started (3/25) Target started (3/25, GCVS AM Her) 22:13:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:16:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:21:06     Target Completed Target completed (3/25, GCVS AM Her) 22:21:11     Target Started (4/25) Target started (4/25, T CrB) 22:24:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:27:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:31:28     Target Completed Target completed (4/25, T CrB) 22:32:03     Target Started (5/25) Target started (5/25, SN 2023eoc) 22:36:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 22:42:48       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 22:45:34   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:45:36   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:45:37     Target Aborted (5/25) Target aborted (5/25, SN 2023eoc) due to cloud 22:45:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:45:41 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:46:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 42s) 22:46:26 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:50:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/26, SN 2023eoc) due to cloud 22:59:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/26, NGC 6802, ToO) due to too few stars 23:06:26 Session Resuming Session resuming 23:07:11   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 23:07:14 Session Running Session running 23:07:16   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 23:07:18     Target Started (7/26) Target started (7/26, AT2023cn) 23:19:56     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/26, AT2023cn) 23:20:00     Target Started (8/27) Target started (8/27, NGC 6802, ToO). Using SharpCap 23:21:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:24:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:33:28       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 23:33:30     Target Completed Target completed (8/27, NGC 6802, ToO) 23:33:33     Target Started (9/27) Target started (9/27, AT2025nda) 23:42:11     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/27, AT2025nda) 23:42:15     Target Started (10/27) Target started (10/27, AT2025fbb) 23:45:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:47:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:03:37     Target Completed Target completed (10/27, AT2025fbb) 00:03:41     Target Started (11/27) Target started (11/27, AT2023hxd (CV)) 00:07:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 00:13:55     Target Completed Target completed (11/27, AT2023hxd (CV)) 00:13:59     Target Started (12/27) Target started (12/27, Nova Ser 2025) 00:18:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:25:05     Target Completed Target completed (12/27, Nova Ser 2025) 00:25:09     Target Started (13/27) Target started (13/27, AT2021aggw (CV)) 00:28:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:34:45     Target Completed Target completed (13/27, AT2021aggw (CV)) 00:37:23     Target Started (14/27) Target started (14/27, GCVS CI Cyg) 00:40:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:42:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:45:50     Target Completed Target completed (14/27, GCVS CI Cyg) 00:47:46     Target Started (15/27) Target started (15/27, AT2022bvc (CV)) 00:51:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:57:44     Target Completed Target completed (15/27, AT2022bvc (CV)) 01:00:06     Target Started (16/27) Target started (16/27, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:03:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:05:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:08:42     Target Completed Target completed (16/27, GCVS SS Cyg) 01:10:29     Target Started (17/27) Target started (17/27, AT2022wut) 01:14:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:16:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:32:47     Target Completed Target completed (17/27, AT2022wut) 01:32:51     Target Started (18/27) Target started (18/27, AT2023qqq) 01:35:47       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 01:51:53     Target Completed Target completed (18/27, AT2023qqq) 01:54:49     Target Started (19/27) Target started (19/27, AT2025rcf) 01:58:16       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 02:14:20     Target Completed Target completed (19/27, AT2025rcf) 02:16:49     Target Started (20/27) Target started (20/27, GCVS BL Lac) 02:19:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:22:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:23:32       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:24:42       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 02:25:37   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:25:39   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:25:41     Target Aborted (20/27) Target aborted (20/27, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 02:25:43   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:25:45       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:25:47 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:26:27   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 02:26:30 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:36:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/27, KIC 8462852) due to cloud 02:56:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/27, AT2022wxa) due to cloud 03:18:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/27, LEDA 1104425 w/SN2025nou) due to cloud 03:40:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/27, 2025imr) due to too few stars 04:03:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/27, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2025wwe) due to cloud 04:28:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/27, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) due to too few stars 04:58:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/27, NGC 2744 w/SN2025oq) due to cloud 04:58:45   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:58:48 Session Closing Session closing 04:58:53   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:26, closing time 45s, zigbee 43s) 05:00:16   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 74s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:01:02   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 42s total) 05:01:26   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:02:23   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:03:45   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:03:48 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:04:10     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 05:05:01     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 05:05:07     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:05:53     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 05:05:59     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.0°) 05:06:01   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:06:19   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA) 05:06:21 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:06:19 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-09-09 S1360)

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

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Images taken with C Filter are showing a bright ring on lower left side.  Images taken with C filter show a 'dust mote'-like ring that would seemingly be due to the current master flat correcting for a dust-motte on the C Filter, than has has 'disappeared' since the last session and disappeared since the master flat frames was acquired.   New master flats were captured on 2025-08-12 (see New Master Flats - C Filter (2025-09-12) )
  Fixed 2025-09-12 (Session, SBIG Camera / Master Flat) 

Small Defects

• Realtime generated .png/.jpg pictures for Cam2 Imaged Target were too dark and misled the perception of the target result.  Automated Cam2 Imaging of NGC 6802, whilst successfully completed the realtime pictures of the target generated by Siril and AstroMain's ConvertPngFileToJpg generated very dark pictures (see Fig 1). These made it appear that the target was clouded over or otherwise failed to see the target, when this wasn't actually the case as shown by a later image display (see Fig 2).
  To investigate & fix 2025-09-10+ (AstroMain, Siril)
   
• Realtime generated .png/.jpg pictures for Cam2 Imaged Target was produced north-down rather than north-up.  Automated Cam2 Imaging of NGC 6802, whilst successfully completed the realtime pictures of the target generated by Siril and AstroMain's ConvertPngFileToJpg generated very dark picture, but from brightest star visible it is evident that the jpg picture is orientated north-down and should be rotated by 180 into a north-up orientation.
  To investigate & fix 2025-09-10+ (AstroMain, Siril)