David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1366 (2025-09-25)

Notes (S1365)

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Notes (S1367)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2025-09-25  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-09-25)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

 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 3.78.1,  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. 23/30 planned targets were completed with 4 targets partially completed. 3 targets failed due to cloud.
• CCD Camera.  No issues with CCD Camera during session.
•  Dome. There were no issues opening/closing the shutter during the session. Dome was closed ok at end of session but wasn't parked correctly (azimuth discrepency of 17°

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 20:13:30 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:13 & 05:15 20:13:32 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:13) 20:13:45   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:13:59 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-09-25 S01366, ImageSaveNum: 1366001) 20:14:07   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 20:15:51   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:16:02 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:16:05 Session Pending Session pending (2025-09-25) 20:16:07 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-09-25) 20:16:24   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 20:16:31   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14) 20:17:18   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1153) 20:17:58   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:18:23 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:19:08   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 20:19:33 Session Running Session running 20:19:36   Queue Started Observing Queue started (30 targets selected) 20:19:39     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 20:19:54       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:24:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:27:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:29:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:29:15       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 20:31:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 20:32:41       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:33:00     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 20:33:04     Target Started (1/30) Target started (1/30, AT2024aane) 20:37:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:40:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:56:14     Target Completed Target completed (1/30, AT2024aane) 20:56:16   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 20:56:42   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 20:56:57 Session Closed Session closed by User 20:57:00 Program Closed Program closed by User 20:58:13 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.78.1) 20:58:15 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2025-09-25 S01366, ImageSaveNum: 1366011) 20:58:19   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 20:58:46   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 20:58:51   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:59:11 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:59 & 05:15 20:59:13 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 20:59:36 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:59) 21:00:24   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:00:34 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:00:36 Session Pending Session pending (2025-09-25) 21:00:39 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-09-25) 21:00:57   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 21:01:02   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1153) 21:01:10   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:01:37 Session Running Session running 21:01:40   Queue Started Observing Queue started (29 targets selected) 21:01:47     Target Started (2/30) Target started (2/30, Nova Ser 2025) 21:11:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (2/30, Nova Ser 2025) 21:11:42     Target Started (3/30) Target started (3/30, GCVS CY Lyr) 21:14:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:17:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:20:48     Target Completed Target completed (3/30, GCVS CY Lyr) 21:20:52     Target Started (4/30) Target started (4/30, C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)) 21:23:48       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 21:32:09     Target Completed Target completed (4/30, C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)) 21:32:29     Target Started (5/30) Target started (5/30, T CrB) 21:35:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:38:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:42:25     Target Completed Target completed (5/30, T CrB) 21:43:25     Target Started (6/30) Target started (6/30, UGC 10058 w/SN2025gvs) 21:46:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 22:03:01     Target Completed Target completed (6/30, UGC 10058 w/SN2025gvs) 22:05:45     Target Started (7/30) Target started (7/30, AT2024xpy) 22:09:06       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 22:25:09     Target Completed Target completed (7/30, AT2024xpy) 22:28:05     Target Started (8/30) Target started (8/30, AT2025xdz) 22:32:11       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 22:48:18     Target Completed Target completed (8/30, AT2025xdz) 22:50:25     Target Started (9/30) Target started (9/30, AT2025xea) 22:53:41       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:09:44     Target Completed Target completed (9/30, AT2025xea) 23:12:45     Target Started (10/30) Target started (10/30, AT2024vk) 23:15:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:32:18     Target Completed Target completed (10/30, AT2024vk) 23:34:45     Target Started (11/30) Target started (11/30, AT2023cqw) 23:37:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:40:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:56:30     Target Completed Target completed (11/30, AT2023cqw) 23:56:45     Target Started (12/30) Target started (12/30, 61 Cyg) 23:58:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:00:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:02:36     Target Completed Target completed (12/30, 61 Cyg) 00:04:02     Target Started (13/30) Target started (13/30, UGC 10809 w/SN2025vaw) 00:07:54       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:24:28     Target Completed Target completed (13/30, UGC 10809 w/SN2025vaw) 00:26:22     Target Started (14/30) Target started (14/30, AT2023xvp) 00:29:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:32:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:49:06     Target Completed Target completed (14/30, AT2023xvp) 00:49:10     Target Started (15/30) Target started (15/30, AT2023eu (CV)) 00:52:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:58:22     Target Completed Target completed (15/30, AT2023eu (CV)) 01:00:22     Target Started (16/30) Target started (16/30, GCVS BL Lac) 01:03:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:06:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:10:02     Target Completed Target completed (16/30, GCVS BL Lac) 01:10:40     Target Started (17/30) Target started (17/30, UGC 3458 w/SN2025yao) 01:16:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 01:32:45     Target Completed Target completed (17/30, UGC 3458 w/SN2025yao) 01:32:49     Target Started (18/30) Target started (18/30, AT2023uqd) 01:43:58   TheSky6 Restarting TheSky6 being restarted (resolve unresponsive TheSky6) 01:44:06   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to un-responsive TheSky6 program 01:44:08     Target Aborted (18/30) Target aborted (18/30, AT2023uqd) due to Obs.Manager Request 01:44:10   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:44:12 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:44:22   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 01:45:02   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 01:45:03 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:47:07 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:47:52   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 01:47:55 Session Running Session running 01:47:58   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:48:00     Target Started (18/30) Target started (18/30, AT2023uqd) 01:56:37     Target Completed Target partially completed (18/30, AT2023uqd) 01:56:41     Target Started (19/30) Target started (19/30, NGC 7331 w/SN2025rbs) 01:59:52       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 02:15:57     Target Completed Target completed (19/30, NGC 7331 w/SN2025rbs) 02:17:00     Target Started (20/30) Target started (20/30, AT2025ygh) 02:17:05     Target Failed (20/30) Target failed due to dec limit (20/30, AT2025ygh) 02:39:00     Target Started (21/30) Target started (21/30, AT2025wxe) 02:43:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:46:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 03:02:31     Target Completed Target completed (21/30, AT2025wxe) 03:02:35     Target Started (22/30) Target started (22/30, GCVS HH And) 03:05:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 03:07:52     Target Completed Target completed (22/30, GCVS HH And) 03:09:17     Target Started (23/30) Target started (23/30, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) 03:12:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 03:29:32     Target Completed Target completed (23/30, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) 03:31:17     Target Started (24/30) Target started (24/30, NGC 7619). Using SharpCap 03:34:36       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:43:33   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:43:35   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:44:03       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 03:44:05     Target Aborted (24/30) Target aborted (24/30, NGC 7619) due to cloud 03:44:07   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:44:09 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:44:53   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:44:57 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:47:09 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:47:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 03:47:56 Session Running Session running 03:47:59   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:48:01     Target Started (24/30) Target started (24/30, NGC 7619). Using SharpCap 03:48:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:56:43       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 03:56:46     Target Completed Target completed (24/30, NGC 7619) 03:56:48     Target Started (25/30) Target started (25/30, NGC 7623) 04:17:37     Target Completed Target partially completed (25/30, NGC 7623) 04:17:41     Target Started (26/30) Target started (26/30, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2025wwe) 04:20:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:23:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 04:39:13     Target Completed Target completed (26/30, M31 w/Nova M31 AT2025wwe) 04:39:17     Target Started (27/30) Target started (27/30, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) 04:42:34   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:42:36   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:42:38     Target Aborted (27/30) Target aborted (27/30, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) due to cloud 04:42:40   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:42:42 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:43:29   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 42s) 04:43:33 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:58:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/30, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) due to cloud 05:08:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/30, GCVS ER UMa) due to too few stars 05:08:52 Session Resuming Session resuming 05:09:37   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 05:09:40 Session Running Session running 05:09:42   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 05:09:45     Target Started (29/30) Target started (29/30, M33 w/AT2025yal) 05:13:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:16:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 05:22:47     Target Completed Target completed (29/30, M33 w/AT2025yal) 05:22:51     Target Started (30/30) Target started (30/30, GCVS DY Per) 05:26:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:29:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 05:33:33     Target Completed Target completed (30/30, GCVS DY Per) 05:33:35   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:33:37 Session Closing Session closing 05:34:29   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 05:35:58   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 79s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:36:51   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 45s total) 05:37:15   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:38:24   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:39:47   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:39:50 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:40:22     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 05:41:34     Dome Find Park failed (Unable to detect Park Sensor in the range searched) 05:41:35 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 01:44:01 Red Alert TheSky6 Alert TheSky6 program isn't responding 02:25:50 Red Alert Dome Alert Shutter Data isn't being refreshed 02:26:05 Yellow Alert Dome Shutter Pulsar Shutter appears to be asleep (last fresh data was at 02:05:50) 02:30:45 Green Clear Dome Shutter Pulsar Shutter has woken up (fresh data at 02:30:37, outage 24.9 min) 02:30:48 Green Clear Dome Alert Shutter Data has resumed updating

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Operational Issues (2025-09-25 S1366)

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

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Anomalous intermixed reporting on AstroMain Console Form (20:40). During Target 1/30 (AT2024aane) the reporting of already completed Focusing was intermixed with reporting of 5x180s main frames & guiding results. Whilst such a behaviour can happen (and has happened before) if two threads are running at the same time, that doesn't seem to be the problem in this case since Observatory Report File is entirely normal and shows that focusing was fully completed before the main frames were started.  Issue is presumed to be due to some glitch in the ReportQueue.
  Resolved in session 2025-09-25 (Session, AstroMain)
   
• There was a red 'TheSky6' alert with the message "TheSky6 program isn't responding" (01:44).  At 01:44:01 a red alert was raised with the message "TheSky6 program isn't responding".   Later in-session it was noted that the TheSky6 & Job Queue were both operating ok meaning that the issue had been resolved.   Investigating showed that there was hold-up of some kind was performing Image Linking on the second Locate Frame for Target 18/30 (AT2023uqd). The Obs.Overseer reported a warning message "Task in ImageAndLink/LinkImage is taking a long time? (01:37)", and reported that it was "Trying a TheSky6 Restart" .  This operation was then lauched and successfully restarted TheSky6. During the operation the Obs.Manager  reported that "TheSky6 program isn't responding" and raised the red alert,  and gave the warning message "Session will be suspended at 00:06:00 unless TheSky6 resumes".   The time (00:06:00) is not an appropriate one as it was some 90 minutes before the current time.  Upon restarting TheSky6 the job queue was released with the message "Linking image (UCA/USNO)  Fail  Unsolved in 539.1s (No Match Found) "
  To review code 2025-09-25 (Session, AstroMain, TheSky6)
   
• Dome wasn't parked corrrectly at end of session. Dome was slewed to Park Azimuth (90°) at end of session during Closing Stage and a search of Park Position was commenced during finishing stage which saw the dome make a wide search from 80° to 100°, but was able to find the Zigbee Park Sensor. The dome was left at 100°.  Dome was noticed to be lying at a physical position 117° (and implies that park position was at 73° (an azimuth discrepency of 17°).    and resulted in accurate dome rotation and successful dome parking in the following S1370 session (2025-09-28).
  Resolved post-session 2025-09-26 (Pulsar Dome)

Small Defects

• None