David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1408 (2026-03-17)

Notes (S1407)

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Notes (S1409)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (7)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-03-17  >>
	GraXpert 3.0.2

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-03-17)

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 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 1.4.1, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 7.1.0.4707
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.80.27,  AstroPlan 1.46.2, AstroShCap 1.3.19 AstroGuard 1.13.1  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 1.16,  AstroSN 1.16,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.17.7
  AstroAllSky 3.27.6, AstroWeather 1.30.1,   AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.1, AstroLaunch 1.14.6 / 1.14.8

Highlights

• Targets. 7/7 planned targets were completed.
•  Dome. No issues open/closing shutter. Dome was successfully parked at the end of the session.

Notes

• Early morning session.

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 02:22:41 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 02:22 & 04:29 02:22:45 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (02:22) 02:22:51 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-03-17 S01408) 02:22:54   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 02:23:12   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 02:24:56   Services Started Observatory Services started 02:25:05 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 02:25:07 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-17) 02:25:09 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-17) 02:25:30   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 02:25:33   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2) 02:25:55   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1206) 02:26:39   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 02:27:03 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 02:27:49   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 02:28:34 Session Running Session running 02:28:36   Queue Started Observing Queue started (7 targets selected) 02:28:43     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 12, HIP 58514) 02:28:56       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 02:34:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:37:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 02:39:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 02:39:22       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 02:41:20       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 02:43:00       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 02:43:20     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 12, HIP 58514) 02:43:24     Target Started (1/7) Target started (1/7, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 02:48:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:50:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 03:02:31     Target Completed Target completed (1/7, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 03:02:35     Target Started (2/7) Target started (2/7, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc) 03:06:38       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:09:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 03:25:00     Target Completed Target completed (2/7, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc) 03:25:04     Target Started (3/7) Target started (3/7, T CrB) 03:29:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:31:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 03:35:51     Target Completed Target completed (3/7, T CrB) 03:35:55     Target Started (4/7) Target started (4/7, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 03:39:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:42:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 03:57:59     Target Completed Target completed (4/7, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 03:58:03     Target Started (5/7) Target started (5/7, GCVS CY Lyr) 04:01:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:03:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 04:07:44     Target Completed Target completed (5/7, GCVS CY Lyr) 04:07:48     Target Started (6/7) Target started (6/7, GCVS BL Lac) 04:11:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:13:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 04:17:18     Target Completed Target completed (6/7, GCVS BL Lac) 04:17:22     Target Started (7/7) Target started (7/7, NGC 7292 w/AT2026fov) 04:21:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:24:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 04:39:59     Target Completed Target completed (7/7, NGC 7292 w/AT2026fov) 04:40:01   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:40:03 Session Closing Session closing 04:40:51   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 04:41:12   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 12s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:42:01   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 44s total) 04:42:24   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:43:27   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:44:53   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:44:56 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:45:18     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:46:06     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 04:46:12     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 04:46:14   Dome Parked Dome parked 04:46:31   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (19mA) 04:46:33 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 04:46:31 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (19mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-03-17 S1408)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (7)
• Figures (0)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• AstroObsCam went down before or during the session. No proper ObsCam images of the Observatory Interior were taken at the start/end  of the  session.  AstroObsCam was examined and whilst running, the camera imaging part wasn't. Fixed post-session by restarting AstroObsCam.
  Fixed 2026-03-18 (Session, AstroObsCam)
   
• AllSky Camera dewed over during session. Stars detected by AllSky Camera reduced over the course of the session and last AllSky Images were visibly affected by dew /condensation. Camera's hemisphere was checked the following day and was clear of any condensation or dew. Ticket closed 2026-03-18. The same issue occurred in the next session (S1409, 2026-03-19) and going out to the camera shows that dew/condensation covered the exterior surface of the camera's perspex hemisphere.
  Closed 2026-03-18 (Session, AllSky Camera)

Continuous Improvement

• Add Siril to list of programs reported by AstroMain including version number.  Siril is used during some sessopm but it and it's version number are not reported in Program's Section the Report file when a session is started.  The Siril version number is not listed with the 'Siril' launch button on AstroLaunch's Support Apps tab.
  Done 2026-03-18 (AstroMain 3.80.28, AstroLaunch 1.4.9)
   
• Extend AstroMain and AstroShCap to be able to take Dark Sets using SharpCap & ASI178MC Camera.  Continuing the project to maximise the use of the ZWO ASI178MC OSC colour camera for imaging with the secondary scope instead of soley for guiding the main scope, it is necessary to correct light frames using a suitable masterdark frame in order to remove the amp glow effects that are present in 3 of the 4 corners of full frame mages. Correction for hot pixels etc is an additional benefit. The first stage is to extend AstroMain Camera2 capability to direct the acquistion of Dark Frame sets, via the AstroShCap Python application running in the SharpCap scripting environment. Implementted in AstroMain 3.80.28 and AstroSharpCap 1.30.20 . A new sub-tab 'Darks;' has been created on AstroMain's 'Guide Scope' tab, with fields and buttons to make it easy to define each Dark Set, with a button that call's RunTask.TakeCam2_DarkSet() which leads through to ShCapOps.TakeCam2_DarkSet().   , which calls ShCap.TakeDarkSet. The latter make a 'take_dark_set' method request to AstroShCap along with the required parameters 'Name' Gain, Exposure and NumFrames. Inside AstroShCap the TakeDarkSet() routine is called to set camera properties and take the required number of frames in RAW16 / FIT format which are put into a data structure that begins with a session 'Target' folder such as "Darks_30s" which contains individual DarksSets for different gain settings (eg Set1, Set2 etc) each of which contains a /darks subfolder for holding the dark frames.
  Done 2026-03-18 (AstroMain 3.80.28, AstroSharpCap 1.30.20)
   
• Extend AstroMain and AstroShCap to be directly report camera temperature. Currently camera temperature is accessed my monitoring calls and later by reading CameraSettings.txt files, during ImageSet /DarkSet analysis and use. It would be handy to post the camera temperature for each frame as it is acquired. Currently each frame is reported like
      Frame 11/25 Ok Set3, 30s, g300
  It would be nice to report each frame like
      Frame 12/25 Ok Set3, 30s, g300,  22.5°C
    Frame 13/25 Ok Set3, 30s, g300,  22.4°C
  Implemented in AstroMain 3.80.28 by picking up Cam2.Temperature which is already being monitored
  Done 2026-03-18 (AstroMain 3.80.28)
   
• Take a selection of Dark Frame Sets for the ASI178MC Camera. Utililising the today's extension to AstroMain and AstroShCap take a selection of Dark Frame Sets, at 50/50 white balance and including the Exposure/Gain pairings used for recent Imaging with the TS80/178MC during sessions S1402 to S140. Set taken tdoay (2026-03-18) comprise 25 frames each at following Exposure/Gain settings
  Done 2026-03-18 (AstroMain, AstroShCap, SharpCap, ZWO ASI178MC camera)
   
• Extend AstroMain's TakeSecondaryScopeFrames to select and use the best MasterDark frame during realtime processing.  Dark Frame correction is needed in order to remove Amp glow from 178MC Camera Images. With the acqusition of dark frame sets, the recent extension to AstroMain to be able to create MasterDark frames and store them in a Dark Library, it is proposed to extend AstroMain's Job Execution routines to automatically select and apply the best MasterDark (or apply a Dummy MasterDark if there is no suitable candidate). Implemented in AstroMain 3.80.28 with introduction of new routine  ShCapOps.SelectBestMasterDark(), modifications to ObTakeSecondaryScopeFrames(). and changes to the Siril Script file 'OSC_stackframes.ssf'  to employ './calibration/masterdark'.
    cd lights
  convert light -out=../process
  cd ../process
  calibrate light -dark=../calibration/masterdark -debayer -prefix=pp_
  register pp_light
  stack r_pp_light rej 3 3 -norm=none -out=../stacked
  Done 2026-03-18 (AstroMain 3.80.28, AstroSharpCap 1.30.20)
   
• Introduce a process so that a change to Rain Trim in AstroMain can be cascaded to other Observatory application. Due to issue with the observatory's Eurotech CloudSensor, where rain sensor reading are subject to significant base level changes it is necessary to change the Trim Settings in 4 applications: AstroMain, AstroGuard, AstroAllSky, AstroWeather.   Instead of logging into 2 computer and going into 4 applications to make the change it is proposed that upon changing the rain trim in AstroMain, the new settings are communicated to other computers/applications using the Observatory Comms System and those other applications automatically pickup and apply the new rain trim settings.  Use new button 'Set Rain Zero' and ObsComm.SendLocalBroadcast("Command", "SetRainZero", CStr(MasterRainTrim)).  Implemented 2026-03-25 in AstroMain (broadcaster) and in AstroGuard (listener), AstroAllSky (listener).and AstroWeather (listener).
  Done 2026-03-25 (AstroMain 3.80.31, AstroGuard 1.13.2, AstroAllSky 3.27.7, AstroWeather 1.30.2)
   
• Explore the use of GraXpert, for improving images taken with both ASI178MC and ST-10XME cameras.  GraXpert is an astronomical image processing program for extracting and removing gradients from the background of your astrophotos. Propose to explore its benefits and how it could be intergrated into processing workflows and pipeline
  To Do 2026-03-18+ (Siril, GraXpert, CLI)

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