David's Astronomy - Notes 2025-12-16 (S1386)

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Notes - Session 1386 (2025-12-16)

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	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result - Night Summary Plot - Session Event Log

	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0), Major Issues (0), Minor Issues (0), Small Defects (3), Continuous Improvement (2)
	- Figures (0)

	Images from 2025-12-16 >>

	Current/Latest Session >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-12-16)

Main aims

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

Equipment & Software

12" LX200 and ST-10XME
80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
TheSky6 6.0.0.65, CCDSoft 5.00.201, DeviceHub 7.1.0.4707, MeadeGeneric 1.3.12.522, UPB 3, Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
Pegasus-UI 2.10, Peg-Focuser 2.10, Peg-Switch 2.10, TCF-LSI 3.3.5
SharpCap 3.2, PHD2 2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 7.1.0.4707
[ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
AstroMain 3.79.6 , AstroPlan 1.45.5, AstroShCap 1.3.16, AstroGuard 1.12.3 (any new items or versions in bold)
AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 1.16, AstroSN 1.15.1, AstroProtect 1.10.6, AstroMove 1.17.2
AstroWeather 1.29.5, AstroAllSky 3.26.4, AstroObsCam 1.12.2, AstroNorthCam 1.7.4, AstroLaunch 1.14.5

Highlights

Targets. 27/30 planned targets were completed with 1 targets partially completed. Remaining 2 targets failed due to Cloud
Comets. Images acquired of x comets : 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann,198P/ODAS, 240/NEAT (ToO), C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) & C/2025 R2 (SWAN)
CCD Camera. No issues
Dome. No issues open/closing shutter. Dome was successfully parked at the end of the session

NotesNotes

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
16:32:02	Session Monitoring	AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 16:32 & 06:41
16:32:03	AutoStart Delayed	Session delayed due to too few stars
16:44:19	Session AutoStarting	Session autostarting (16:44)
16:44:32	CCDSoft Restarting	CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
16:44:46	Session Created	Session Created (Live, 2025-12-16 S01386, ImageSaveNum: 1386001)
16:44:54	Scope Switched On	Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch
16:46:42	Services Started	Observatory Services started
16:46:53	Observatory (Auto)	Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
16:46:55	AutoStart Delayed	Session delayed due to too few stars
16:46:57	Session Pending	Session pending (2025-12-16)
16:46:59	Session Initiating	Session initiating (2025-12-16)
16:47:16	Camera1 Connected	SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C)
16:47:23	Plan Requested	Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.45.5)
16:48:19	Plan Loaded	Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1176)
16:49:00	Telescope Connected	Telescope connected (TheSky6)
16:49:24	Session Equilibration	Session ready to Open Dome
16:50:24	Wait On Weather	Waiting for acceptable conditions
16:50:26	Session Suspending	Session suspending
16:50:28	Dome Closed	Dome already closed
16:50:30	Session Suspended	Session suspended
16:51:06	Queue Started	Observing Queue started (30 targets selected)
16:57:40	Session Resuming	Session resuming
16:58:25	Dome Opened	Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s)
16:58:27	Session Running	Session running
16:58:29	Queue Resumed	Observing Queue resumed
16:58:32	Target Started (1/30)	Target started (1/30, GCVS CY Lyr)
16:58:44	Dome Unparked	Dome unparked
17:01:45	Focusing Started-Foc2	Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
17:03:41	Focusing Completed	Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
17:05:33	Focusing Completed	Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
17:07:29	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:10:43	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
17:13:13	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
17:17:02	Target Completed	Target completed (1/30, GCVS CY Lyr)
17:17:06	Target Started (2/30)	Target started (2/30, 61 Cyg)
17:19:44	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:22:02	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
17:24:02	Target Completed	Target completed (2/30, 61 Cyg)
17:24:06	Target Started (3/30)	Target started (3/30, UGC 10809 w/SN2025vaw)
17:28:11	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
17:30:54	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
17:46:57	Target Completed	Target completed (3/30, UGC 10809 w/SN2025vaw)
17:47:02	Target Started (4/30)	Target started (4/30, M31 w/AT2025agmm)
18:07:58	Target Completed	Target completed (4/30, M31 w/AT2025agmm)
18:08:02	Target Started (5/30)	Target started (5/30, M31 w/AT2025agwf)
18:11:09	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:13:49	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
18:30:24	Target Completed	Target completed (5/30, M31 w/AT2025agwf)
18:30:29	Target Started (6/30)	Target started (6/30, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS))
18:33:42	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
18:36:20	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
18:50:25	Target Completed	Target completed (6/30, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS))
18:50:29	Target Started (7/30)	Target started (7/30, PGC 143)
19:11:14	Target Completed	Target completed (7/30, PGC 143)
19:11:18	Target Started (8/30)	Target started (8/30, M31 w/M31N 2025-10a?)
19:14:43	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:17:25	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
19:34:02	Target Completed	Target completed (8/30, M31 w/M31N 2025-10a?)
19:34:06	Target Started (9/30)	Target started (9/30, GCVS DY Per)
19:37:37	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:39:58	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
19:45:08	Target Completed	Target completed (9/30, GCVS DY Per)
19:45:12	Target Started (10/30)	Target started (10/30, GCVS RX And)
19:49:01	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:51:22	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
19:53:58	Target Completed	Target completed (10/30, GCVS RX And)
19:54:02	Target Started (11/30)	Target started (11/30, GCVS Z And)
19:57:38	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:00:05	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
20:03:49	Target Completed	Target completed (11/30, GCVS Z And)
20:03:54	Target Started (12/30)	Target started (12/30, C/2025 R2 (SWAN))
20:08:55	Focusing Skipped	Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI)
20:18:28	Target Completed	Target completed (12/30, C/2025 R2 (SWAN))
20:18:32	Target Started (13/30)	Target started (13/30, WHL0137-08)
20:23:50	Focusing Skipped	Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
20:53:35	Target Completed	Target completed (13/30, WHL0137-08)
20:53:40	Target Started (14/30)	Target started (14/30, Gliese 65)
20:58:02	Focusing Skipped	Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
21:05:25	Target Completed	Target completed (14/30, Gliese 65)
21:05:49	Target Started (15/30)	Target started (15/30, UGCA 27)
21:12:01	Focusing Skipped	Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
21:28:42	Target Completed	Target completed (15/30, UGCA 27)
21:28:46	Target Started (16/30)	Target started (16/30, 240P/NEAT)
21:32:15	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:35:14	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
21:46:07	Target Completed	Target completed (16/30, 240P/NEAT)
21:46:11	Target Started (17/30)	Target started (17/30, GCVS BL Lac)
21:50:00	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:52:28	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
21:56:17	Target Completed	Target completed (17/30, GCVS BL Lac)
21:56:21	Target Started (18/30)	Target started (18/30, SN 2025wld)
22:00:44	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:02:57	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
22:19:03	Target Completed	Target completed (18/30, SN 2025wld)
22:19:07	Target Started (19/30)	Target started (19/30, UGCA 75)
22:24:19	Focusing Skipped	Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI)
22:40:46	Target Completed	Target completed (19/30, UGCA 75)
22:40:50	Target Started (20/30)	Target started (20/30, 198P/ODAS)
22:45:15	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:47:48	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
22:56:42	Target Completed	Target completed (20/30, 198P/ODAS)
22:56:46	Target Started (21/30)	Target started (21/30, AT2025agqu)
23:00:44	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:03:13	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
23:19:17	Target Completed	Target completed (21/30, AT2025agqu)
23:19:21	Target Started (22/30)	Target started (22/30, GCVS GK Per)
23:23:01	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:25:43	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16)
23:28:44	Target Completed	Target completed (22/30, GCVS GK Per)
23:28:49	Target Started (23/30)	Target started (23/30, AT2022vdr (CV))
23:32:30	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:35:22	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17)
23:41:24	Target Completed	Target completed (23/30, AT2022vdr (CV))
23:41:28	Target Started (24/30)	Target started (24/30, GCVS NV Ori)
23:45:23	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:47:20	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18)
23:50:57	Target Completed	Target completed (24/30, GCVS NV Ori)
23:51:02	Target Started (25/30)	Target started (25/30, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS))
23:54:48	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:57:35	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19)
00:05:55	Target Completed	Target completed (25/30, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS))
00:05:59	Target Started (26/30)	Target started (26/30, IC 438)
00:10:23	Focusing Skipped	Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
00:26:49	Target Completed	Target completed (26/30, IC 438)
00:26:53	Target Started (27/30)	Target started (27/30, UGCA 120)
00:32:15	Focusing Skipped	Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
00:45:36	SoftSuspend Called	Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
00:46:36	SoftSuspend Cancelled	Soft Suspend is cancelled due to improved conditions
00:48:06	SoftSuspend Called	Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars)
00:48:51	Target Completed	Target completed (27/30, UGCA 120)
00:48:53	Queue Paused	Queue paused for Session Suspension
00:48:55	Session Suspending	Session suspending
00:49:42	Dome Closed	Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s)
00:49:44	Session Suspended	Session suspended
01:06:26	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (28/30, UGC 4316 w/SN2025advo) due to cloud
01:17:38	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (29/30, GCVS HH And) due to cloud
01:26:30	Session Resuming	Session resuming
01:27:15	Dome Opened	Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s)
01:27:18	Session Running	Session running
01:27:20	Queue Resumed	Observing Queue resumed
01:27:22	Target Started (30/30)	Target started (30/30, AT2022evv)
01:28:11	Dome Unparked	Dome unparked
02:37:22	Critical Cloud Alert	Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
02:37:24	HardSuspend Called	Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
02:37:26	Target Aborted (30/30)	Target aborted (30/30, AT2022evv) due to cloud
02:37:28	Queue Paused	Queue paused for Session Suspension
02:37:30	Session Suspending	Session suspending
02:38:18	Dome Closed	Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s)
02:38:20	Session Suspended	Session suspended
07:03:43	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (30/30, AT2022evv) due to cloud
07:03:47	Queue Completed	Job Queue completed
07:03:50	Session Closing	Session closing
07:03:54	Dome Closed	Dome already closed (closed at 02:38, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s)
07:04:22	Dome Parked	Dome parked (parking time 19s), Az: 90.0 deg
07:05:15	Telescope Parked	Telescope parked (parking time 49s total)
07:05:39	Telescope State	Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
07:06:01	Telescope Switched Off	Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
07:07:26	Services Stopped	Night Services stopped
07:07:29	Session Finishing	Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
07:09:02	Dome (Find Park)	Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide)
07:10:02	Dome	Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°)
07:10:08	Dome (Find Park)	Find Park started (Search Az 89.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow)
07:11:00	Dome	Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°)
07:11:06	Dome	Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.0°)
07:11:08	Dome Parked	Dome parked
07:11:25	Dome Charging	Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (4mA)
07:11:27	Session Finished	Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time	Type		Name	Detail
16:46:55	Yellow	Alert	Disk Space	Free Space on C:\ Drive (45.63 GB) is less than 50 GB
07:08:55	Yellow	Alert	Disk Space	Free Space on C:\ Drive (43.26 GB) is less than 50 GB
07:11:25	Green	Clear	Dome Charging	Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (4mA)

Operational Issues (2025-12-16 S1386)

Critical Issues (0)
Major Issues (0)
Minor Issues (0)
Small Defects (3)
Continuous Improvement (2)
Figures (0)

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Critical Issues

None

Major Issues

None

Minor Issues

None

Small Defects

Bookmarks added on session pages built by PageBuilder aren't restricted to Target name, but cover the whole heading. To be consistent with past manual procedures the process of adding Target Heading to Web Pages in PageBuilder needs to be modified. This involves expanding ImageDef structure & Build Heading routine and modifying PageBuilder form and Build TargetSnippet routine. Fixed in AstroMain 3.79.8, by breaking Target Heading into two parts: TargetHeadingA (the target name) and TargetHeadingB (the object type, optionally with transient/SN),
Fixed 2025-12-17 (AstroMain 3.79.8)
Target No's are unexpected showing as '0' when selecting ImageSets for which Page Snippets havealready been built . Problem seems to occur when Session/Contents Table wasn't saved after a new target was previously added. A fix has been added to PageBuilder.SetupTarget() routine, to check for presence of ImageSets's Target.xml and if present to set bNewTarget to false. Some workarounds including but the main problem was that tracked down to the LoadSessionFromXmlFile() routine incorrectly using nMaxImageBlocks instead of nMaxContents. Fixed in AstroMain 3.79.8,
Fixed 2025-12-17 (AstroMain 3.79.8)
Bookmarks created by PageBuilder don't follow the normal rules for UGCA, Hickson type objects. In new AstroMain versions 3.79.7 & 3.79.8 the PageBuilder too creates a bookmark "UGCA_75" for the object "UGCA 75" when the boomark should be "UGCA_075" for consistency with current manual procedures / current Themed Pages. Hickson, & ARP objects are similarly affected. Fixed in AstroMain 3.79.9, Analysis.BuildImageSetHeading() modified to call new function PadBookmark to get a 'corrected' bookmark if bookmark begins with "Hickson", "ARP" or "UGCA".
Fixed 2025-12-19 (AstroMain 3.79.9)

Continuous Improvement

Add new features to increase integration between AstroMain's new PageBuilder tool and existing ImageBuilder tool. PageBuilder is a new tool in AstroMain, that is intergrated into ImageSet Analysis for used for building a web page for the session being analysed. It is proposed to add new features that increase integration between PageBuilder and ImageBuilder - Create button to open last observation in a web page - Add a readonly a textbox field on ImageBuilder form to show PageBuilder's current ImageBlock No - Add a button in PageBuilder / Target Tab to advance the ImageSet on Analysis/ImageSet tab - Add a button on ImageBuilder form to advance the ImageBlock No in PageBuilder. - Modify BuildTargetSection()routine to use AltH3Header in snippet written to clipboard. - Add a 'Get Alt Row' button to Target tab to write 'Alt Content Row Snippet' to clipboard - Add a user confirmation dialog to 'Delete Image Block' button routine. - Add a 'Remove Section' button to Target Tab to delete TargetSnippet and remove Target from Contents list
Implemented in AstroMain 3.79.8. Subsequently added button on ImageBuilder form in AstroMain 3.80.5 to decrement the ImageBlock No in PageBuilder.
Done 2025-12-19 (AstroMain 3.79.8)
Modify ImageSet's smart sorting to separately identify Variable Star and Nearby Star sets. In AstroMain 3.79.7 and earlier versions 'Other Objects', 'Variable Stars' and 'Nearby Stars' are all given the same base sort code "10-" , which means that are sorted by Image Set name within the same group in the 'listboxObjectFolders' listbox on ImageSets tab. This necessiates extra work when manually building a list of 'Variable Stars' and Nearby Stars' acquired during session for posting on the Session Images page. WIth the introduction of new PageBuilder tool, there is extra impetus to modifying the GetObjectFoldersList(SortMode=3), so that it separate objects belonging to a 'Other Objects', 'Variable Stars' and 'Nearby Stars' . Implemented in AstroMain 3.79.8.
The routine uses a new routine in AstroMain, that is intergrated into ImageSet Analysis for used for building a web page for the session being analysed. It is proposed to add new features that increase integration between PageBuilder and ImageBuilder - GetObjectFoldersList(SortMode=3) now calls new function GetBaseSortCodeS(S, SortCodeName) - GetBaseSortCodeS() calls GetGroupNo() which is also call from listboxObjectFolders_SelectedIndexChanged() in order to supply sort code to PageBuilder. - New SortGroup (10 'Other Objects', 11 'Variable Stars' and 12 'Nearby Stars') are determined by new functions IsVariableStarListMember() and IsNearbyStarListMember() which looks up ImageSetObject in new arrays VariableStarList() and NearbyStarList() (populated from Reference files 'VariableStarList.dat' and 'NearbyStarList.dat' on program load).
Implemented in AstroMain 3.79.8.
Done 2025-12-19 (AstroMain 3.79.8)

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This Web Page:	Notes - Session 1386 (2025-12-16)
Last Updated :	2026-03-02
Site Owner :	David Richards
Home Page :	David's Astronomy Web Site

David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1386 (2025-12-16)

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-12-16)

Operational Issues (2025-12-16 S1386)

David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 1386 (2025-12-16)