David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1364 (2025-09-17)

Notes (S1363)

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Notes (S1365)

	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 (1)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2025-09-17  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-09-17)

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.

 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 3.78,  AstroPlan 1.43.14, AstroShCap 1.3.16, AstroGuard 1.12  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.9, AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.16.2
  AstroWeather 1.28, AstroAllSky 3.25,  AstroObsCam 1.11.7, AstroNorthCam 1.6.1, AstroLaunch 1.13.6

Highlights

• Targets. 12/19 planned targets were completed with 2 targets partially completed. 4 ToO targets were acquired in order to make an observation of T CrB which hadn't made it onto the night's Observing Plan and to acquire images of targets that lay in clear regions of the sky after seeing that the planned targets in low to the south, se, sw horizon were lying in areas of cloud. Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension or were missed in order to acquire ToO targets.
• CCD Camera.  No issues with CCD Camera during session.
•  Dome. There were no significant 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 22:51:44 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:51 & 04:57 22:51:46 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:51) 22:51:59   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:52:13 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-09-17 S01364, ImageSaveNum: 1364001) 22:52:20   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 22:54:03   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:54:13 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 22:54:17 Session Pending Session pending (2025-09-17) 22:54:19 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-09-17) 22:54:38   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 22:54:40   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14) 22:55:10   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1151) 22:55:52   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:56:16 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:57:02   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 46s, Zigbee 40s) 22:57:42 Session Running Session running 22:57:44   Queue Started Observing Queue started (19 targets selected) 22:57:46     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 22:58:00       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:02:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:04:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:07:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:07:13       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:08:49       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:10:25       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:10:44     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 22, HIP 108888) 23:11:08     Target Started (1/19) Target started (1/19, GCVS CY Lyr) 23:13:29     Target Aborted (1/19) Target aborted (1/19, GCVS CY Lyr) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 23:13:33     Target Started (2/20) Target started (2/20, T CrB, ToO) 23:17:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:19:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:23:40     Target Completed Target completed (2/20, T CrB, ToO) 23:23:44     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, GCVS BL Lac) 23:27:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:29:37       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:33:22     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, GCVS BL Lac) 23:33:26     Target Started (4/20) Target started (4/20, Nova Ser 2025) 23:39:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 23:45:52     Target Completed Target completed (4/20, Nova Ser 2025) 23:45:57     Target Started (5/20) Target started (5/20, AT2025xdz) 23:50:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:00:52     Target Aborted (5/20) Target aborted (5/20, AT2025xdz) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 00:00:56     Target Started (6/21) Target started (6/21, GCVS CI Cyg, ToO) 00:04:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:06:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:09:50     Target Completed Target completed (6/21, GCVS CI Cyg, ToO) 00:09:54     Target Started (7/22) Target started (7/22, GCVS GK Per, ToO) 00:13:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:16:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:19:03     Target Completed Target completed (7/22, GCVS GK Per, ToO) 00:19:07     Target Started (8/23) Target started (8/23, GCVS SS Cyg, ToO) 00:22:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:25:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:28:16     Target Completed Target completed (8/23, GCVS SS Cyg, ToO) 00:28:18     Target Missed (9/23) Target's time slot was missed (9/23, AT2025xea) 00:28:44     Target Started (10/23) Target started (10/23, LEDA 1104425 w/SN2025nou) 00:33:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:49:59     Target Completed Target completed (10/23, LEDA 1104425 w/SN2025nou) 00:50:44     Target Started (11/23) Target started (11/23, UGCA 10) 00:51:58       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 00:53:43     Target Failed (11/23) Target failed due to cloud (11/23, UGCA 10) 00:53:45   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:53:48 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:54:38   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 00:54:39 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:10:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/23, UGCA 10) due to cloud 01:38:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/23, UGCA 15) due to cloud 02:00:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/23, UGC 1206 w/SN2025pao) due to too few stars 02:00:39 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:01:24   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 02:01:27 Session Running Session running 02:01:29   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:01:31     Target Started (14/23) Target started (14/23, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) 02:02:49       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:03:04       SoftSuspend Cancelled Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions 02:03:34       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 02:06:29       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 02:08:29   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:08:31   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:08:33     Target Aborted (14/23) Target aborted (14/23, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) due to cloud 02:08:35   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:08:37 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:09:20   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 02:09:21 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:22:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/23, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) due to cloud 02:28:21 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:29:07   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 02:29:09 Session Running Session running 02:29:11   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:29:14     Target Started (15/23) Target started (15/23, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2025wwe) 02:32:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:34:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:50:43     Target Completed Target completed (15/23, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2025wwe) 02:50:47     Target Started (16/23) Target started (16/23, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 02:54:50       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:03:09     Target Completed Target completed (16/23, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 03:03:13     Target Started (17/23) Target started (17/23, GCVS RX And) 03:06:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:08:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 03:11:15     Target Completed Target completed (17/23, GCVS RX And) 03:11:48     Target Started (18/23) Target started (18/23, UGC 1814 w/SN2025oas) 03:15:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 03:31:29     Target Completed Target completed (18/23, UGC 1814 w/SN2025oas) 03:34:08     Target Started (19/23) Target started (19/23, LEDA 3092696 w/AT2025nzh) 03:37:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:40:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 03:42:31     Target Completed Target completed (19/23, LEDA 3092696 w/AT2025nzh) 03:56:08     Target Started (20/23) Target started (20/23, AT2022vdr (CV)) 04:00:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 04:06:16     Target Completed Target completed (20/23, AT2022vdr (CV)) 04:08:29     Target Started (21/23) Target started (21/23, AT2024sje) 04:11:55       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 04:28:35     Target Completed Target completed (21/23, AT2024sje) 04:30:28     Target Started (22/23) Target started (22/23, LEDA 213320 w/SN2025tji) 04:34:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:36:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 04:52:32     Target Completed Target completed (22/23, LEDA 213320 w/SN2025tji) 04:52:36     Target Started (23/23) Target started (23/23, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) 04:55:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:58:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 05:16:43     Target Completed Target completed (23/23, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) 05:16:45   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:16:47 Session Closing Session closing 05:17:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 05:17:54   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:18:42   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 43s total) 05:19:11   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:19:33   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:21:01   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:21:04 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:21:31     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:22:17     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 89.9°) 05:22:23     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: +0.1°) 05:22:25   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:24:39   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (19mA) 05:24:41 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:24:39 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (19mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-09-17 S1364)

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

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Images of Target 19/23 were not taken with the specified exposure time & filter (03:40).  Target 19/23 (LEDA 3092696 w/AT2025nzh, Target ID 3583) was specified in AstroPlan to take 5 x 180s using C Filter. Instead of this exposure time/filter,  3x30s frames were taken using B Filter.  Its unclear how or why this happened, and it is put down as a unexplained glitch of some kind.  The session table records that target was taken with C Filter, and the Report Log clearly records the planned filters as being 'C' . FITs image themselves record that images were taken with the B Filter and of 30s exposure time. Why there ToO target insertions earlier in the session, none were made at the time of the target. The proceeding and succeeding targets were acquired correctly.  Ticket closed 2025-09-18 as a unexplained glitch but session will be monitored for any further cases..
  Closed as unexplained  2025-09-19 (AstroMain, AstroPlan)