David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1368 (2025-09-28)

Notes (S1368)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S1369)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2025-09-28  >>
	Current/Latest Session >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-09-28)

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. 30/30 planned targets were completed. Some targets may need to be rejected later due to poor sky quality and possible occuluded sky view..
• CCD Camera.  No issues with CCD Camera during session.
•  Dome. There were no issues opening/closing the shutter during the session, and tome was closed ok at end of session however it wasn't parked correctly at end of session (due to dome azimuth discrepency of 16°) and may have been operating in a state that sky views were partially occluded by the dome's roof.  Issue has been subsequently fixed (2025-10-22, see notes-2025-10-20.htm#Major_Issues)

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 20:15:18 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 20:15 & 05:22 20:15:19   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 20:45:38 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (20:45) 20:45:51   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 20:46:05 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-09-28 S01368, ImageSaveNum: 1368001) 20:46:12   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 20:48:00   Services Started Observatory Services started 20:48:10 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 20:48:12   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 20:48:14 Session Pending Session pending (2025-09-28) 20:48:16 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-09-28) 20:48:35   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 20:48:37   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14) 20:49:10   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1155) 20:49:50   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 20:50:14 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 20:50:59   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 20:51:39 Session Running Session running 20:51:42   Queue Started Observing Queue started (30 targets selected) 20:51:46     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 20, HIP 99625) 20:52:00       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 20:54:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:57:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 20:59:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 20:59:32       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:01:27       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:03:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:03:22     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 20, HIP 99625) 21:05:05     Target Started (1/30) Target started (1/30, HIP 87937) 21:07:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:09:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 21:12:57     Target Completed Target completed (1/30, HIP 87937) 21:13:28     Target Started (2/30) Target started (2/30, AT2024wzq (CV)) 21:17:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:19:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 21:26:25     Target Completed Target completed (2/30, AT2024wzq (CV)) 21:26:29     Target Started (3/30) Target started (3/30, AT2023hxd (CV)) 21:30:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:32:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:38:32     Target Completed Target completed (3/30, AT2023hxd (CV)) 21:38:36     Target Started (4/30) Target started (4/30, GCVS SS Cyg) 21:41:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:43:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:46:24     Target Completed Target completed (4/30, GCVS SS Cyg) 21:48:31     Target Started (5/30) Target started (5/30, GCVS EV Lac) 21:51:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:53:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:56:32     Target Completed Target completed (5/30, GCVS EV Lac) 21:57:33     Target Started (6/30) Target started (6/30, T CrB) 22:01:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:04:26       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - RmsE) 22:09:25     Target Completed Target completed (6/30, T CrB) 22:09:29     Target Started (7/30) Target started (7/30, Nova Ser 2025) 22:14:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 22:20:14     Target Completed Target completed (7/30, Nova Ser 2025) 22:20:49     Target Started (8/30) Target started (8/30, AT2024zvz) 22:24:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:26:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 22:42:39     Target Completed Target completed (8/30, AT2024zvz) 22:42:43     Target Started (9/30) Target started (9/30, AT2022uha) 22:49:58       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:06:11     Target Completed Target completed (9/30, AT2022uha) 23:06:15     Target Started (10/30) Target started (10/30, AT2024ges) 23:09:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:11:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:27:28     Target Completed Target completed (10/30, AT2024ges) 23:27:32     Target Started (11/30) Target started (11/30, NGC 7626) 23:30:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:33:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 23:49:24     Target Completed Target completed (11/30, NGC 7626) 23:49:49     Target Started (12/30) Target started (12/30, GCVS TT Ari) 23:53:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:55:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:01:52     Target Completed Target completed (12/30, GCVS TT Ari) 00:02:45     Target Started (13/30) Target started (13/30, AT2023ugt (CV)) 00:07:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:09:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:15:42     Target Completed Target completed (13/30, AT2023ugt (CV)) 00:15:46     Target Started (14/30) Target started (14/30, AT2025ran) 00:20:03       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:36:05     Target Completed Target completed (14/30, AT2025ran) 00:37:05     Target Started (15/30) Target started (15/30, UGCA 3) 00:42:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:58:25     Target Completed Target completed (15/30, UGCA 3) 00:59:25     Target Started (16/30) Target started (16/30, UGCA 9) 01:05:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 01:21:49     Target Completed Target completed (16/30, UGCA 9) 01:21:53     Target Started (17/30) Target started (17/30, NGC 7619). Using SharpCap 01:23:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:26:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 01:39:56       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 01:39:59     Target Completed Target completed (17/30, NGC 7619) 01:42:05     Target Started (18/30) Target started (18/30, UGCA 5) 01:49:25       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 02:06:01     Target Completed Target completed (18/30, UGCA 5) 02:06:06     Target Started (19/30) Target started (19/30, UGC 1206 w/SN2025pao) 02:09:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 02:25:29     Target Completed Target completed (19/30, UGC 1206 w/SN2025pao) 02:26:25     Target Started (20/30) Target started (20/30, AT2023ud) 02:29:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:32:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:48:37     Target Completed Target completed (20/30, AT2023ud) 02:48:41     Target Started (21/30) Target started (21/30, UGC 3458 w/SN2025yao) 02:53:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:56:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:13:41     Target Completed Target completed (21/30, UGC 3458 w/SN2025yao) 03:13:45     Target Started (22/30) Target started (22/30, GCVS BL Lac) 03:17:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:19:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:23:44     Target Completed Target completed (22/30, GCVS BL Lac) 03:23:48     Target Started (23/30) Target started (23/30, GCVS RX And) 03:27:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:29:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:32:03     Target Completed Target completed (23/30, GCVS RX And) 03:32:07     Target Started (24/30) Target started (24/30, GCVS Z And) 03:35:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:37:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:41:14     Target Completed Target completed (24/30, GCVS Z And) 03:41:18     Target Started (25/30) Target started (25/30, GCVS U And) 03:44:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:47:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 03:56:07     Target Completed Target completed (25/30, GCVS U And) 03:56:58     Target Started (26/30) Target started (26/30, NGC 7623) 04:00:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 04:16:44     Target Completed Target completed (26/30, NGC 7623) 04:19:18     Target Started (27/30) Target started (27/30, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) 04:24:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 04:41:27     Target Completed Target completed (27/30, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon)) 04:42:38     Target Started (28/30) Target started (28/30, IC 2567 w/SN2025kid) 04:48:55       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 05:06:10     Target Completed Target completed (28/30, IC 2567 w/SN2025kid) 05:06:15     Target Started (29/30) Target started (29/30, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 05:10:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 05:18:57     Target Completed Target completed (29/30, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 05:19:30     Target Started (30/30) Target started (30/30, UGCA 90) 05:25:05       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 05:41:44     Target Completed Target completed (30/30, UGCA 90) 05:41:46   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:41:48 Session Closing Session closing 05:42:43   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 05:43:38   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 48s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:44:13   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 29s total) 05:44:37   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:44:59   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:46:25   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:46:28 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:47:05     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 05:48:19     Dome Find Park failed (Unable to detect Park Sensor in the range searched) 05:48:23 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail --             No Alerts                --

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2025-09-28 S1368)

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

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• 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 116° (and implies that the park position was at 74° (an azimuth discrepency of 16°).  The dome calibration has clearly drifted at some point prior to S1365 & S1368 sessions and is reaching the point that park search routine looking at a +/-10° search window can not find the park position, and meaning that the shutter battery can not commence recharging without user interventation post-session. It is also probable that the telescope view of sky is beginning to be partially occluded by dome roof towards the end of the session. In view of thhis the ranking on the ticket has been increased from Minor to Major. Although Dome was recalibrated (2025-09-29 ?) the same issue happened at end of the S1369 session (2025-10-20).  Problem was eventually tracked down as being due to a weakly tensioned rotation sensor wheel and fixed on 2025-10-22.using a new tighter length of elastic banding.  The issue was confirmed to have been fixed during the following S1370 session (2025-10-27) with the dome being successfully parked at end of session , with a total net dome rotation discrepency of only 0.2 degs.
  Fixed 2025-10-22 (Pulsar Dome)

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• None