David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1435 (2026-06-13)

Notes (S1434)

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Notes (S1435)

	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 (6)
	- Figures (0)
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Session Aims & Highlights (2026-06-13)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. AstroMain. Check new AstroMain xx.xx  version for any issues or problems following introduction of a number of changes.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6 6.0.0.65, CCDSoft5 5.0.201, DeviceHub 7.1.0.4707, MeadeGeneric 1.3.12.522, UPB 3, PulsarDome 6.4.0.0
• Peg-Unity 2.12, Peg-Focuser 2.12, Peg-Switch 2.12, TCF-LSI 3.3.5
• SharpCap 3.2.6482, PHD2 2.6.14, Siril 1.4.2, deCONZ 2.18.2, ASCOM 7.1.0.4707
   
• AstroMain 3.82.7, AstroPlan 1.47, AstroShCap 0.0, AstroGuard 1.13.2
  AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 2.0.1, AstroSN 1.16, AstroProtect 1.7, AstroMove 1.18.1
  AstroAllSky 3.27.10, AstroWeather 1.30.3, AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.2, AstroLaunch 1.14.9

Highlights

• Targets. 6/6 planned targets were completed.
•  Dome. No issues open/closing shutter. Dome was successfully parked at the end of the session.

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 00:09:24 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:09 & 01:17 00:09:27 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:09) 00:09:33 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-06-13 S01435) 00:09:35   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:09:58   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 00:11:46   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:11:56 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:11:57 Session Pending Session pending (2026-06-13) 00:11:59 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-06-13) 00:12:21   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:12:24   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.47) 00:15:02   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1236) 00:15:41   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:16:06 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 00:16:51   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 00:16:56 Session Running Session running 00:16:59   Queue Started Observing Queue started (6 targets selected) 00:17:06     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 17, HIP 83575) 00:17:21       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:22:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:24:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 00:26:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 00:26:57       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 00:28:51       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 00:30:36       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 00:30:58     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 17, HIP 83575) 00:31:02     Target Started (1/6) Target started (1/6, T CrB) 00:34:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:37:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:41:23     Target Completed Target completed (1/6, T CrB) 00:41:27     Target Started (2/6) Target started (2/6, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 00:45:03       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:47:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 01:03:18     Target Completed Target completed (2/6, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 01:03:22     Target Started (3/6) Target started (3/6, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:07:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:09:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:13:15     Target Completed Target completed (3/6, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:13:19     Target Started (4/6) Target started (4/6, AT2026iul (CV)) 01:16:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:19:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:25:24     Target Completed Target completed (4/6, AT2026iul (CV)) 01:25:28     Target Started (5/6) Target started (5/6, AT2026juw (CV)) 01:28:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:31:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:36:59     Target Completed Target completed (5/6, AT2026juw (CV)) 01:37:03     Target Started (6/6) Target started (6/6, GCVS AM Her) 01:44:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:46:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:51:11     Target Completed Target completed (6/6, GCVS AM Her) 01:51:13   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 01:51:16 Session Closing Session closing 01:52:04   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 01:52:58   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 42s), Az: 90.0 deg 01:53:48   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 43s total) 01:54:12   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 01:55:09   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 01:56:36   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 01:56:39 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 01:57:01     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 01:57:46     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 01:57:52     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 01:57:54   Dome Parked Dome parked 02:00:54   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (98%, 15.0v) 02:00:56 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 02:00:54 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (98%, 15.0v)

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Operational Issues (2026-06-13 S1435)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (6)
• Figures (0)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Windows Update caused problems to both AllSkyWeather and Observatory Computers (2026-06-19).  At around 2026-05-19 00:20 Windows attempted a Windows Update (for Security Update to Windows Defender) on the AllSky/Weather Computer but it seems to have caused multiple problems including AstroNorthCam, CloudSensor and TheSky6 (see Fig 1). After computer restart the Starlight XPress Oculus camera couldn't be connected to , but this was resolved by disconnecting/reconnecting camera USB using Pegasus UCH Switch. In the morning it was noted that Observatory Computer Computed has restarted, and had problems with Windows Explorer.   Eventually resolved problem on ObservatoryComputer by installing the latest version of ExplorerPatcher (26100.8457.70.2).  Resolved issues with both computers 2026-06-19.
  Resolved 2026-06-19 (Observatory Computer, ExplorerPatcher, AllSky/Weather Computer, Oculus AllSky Camera)

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Extend AstroNorthCam to generate Metaframe style images. Inspired by Metaframe images produced by Erik Bard on 'Secrets of Skywalker Ranch' it is proposed to add a Metaframe facility to AstroNorthCam.  The concept is to take the 1s frames taken by Tapo W325B 'North Cam' camera using ISpy and are otherwise largely thrown away during daytime imaging (one frame per 15s) to create metaframes covered 2 minute, 10 min and 30 min window. The new module / UI tab were Implemented over the course of a few days using assistance of Copilot AI. Initial prototype using a rolling window, with deque lists was too slow by x20 , and it was reworked to work fixed window frames,  faster 1D arrays and LockBit methodology when reading raw frames and building metaframes.  This achieve a x20 to x30 improvement in speed. The implementation produces MIn, Max, Mean, Variance and Change Count metaframe images. Implemented in AstroNorthCam 1.9.
  Done  2026-06-18 (AstroNorthCam 1.9)
   
• Modify AstroNorthCam, AstroAllSky and web pages to support the upload and display of MetaFrame images on the Observatory Website. AstroNorthCam has been recently extended to build MIn, Max, Mean, Variance and Change Count metaframe images from NorthCam's 1s raw frames. It is proposed to add support for the uploading and display of selected metaframe to the observatory web site. Metaframes jpg file are copied to Server (Live) folder and uploaded as 'NorthCam.LatestMetaframe_Min.jpg', 'NorthCam.LatestMetaframe_Max.jpg' etc
  Done 2026-06-19 (AstroNorthCam 1.9.1, AstroAllSky 3.28, Web Site
   
• Extend AstroNorthCam's new Metaframe tool, to create 'Skew' and 'Wave' metaframe type. Two new bmpMode's ('Skew' and 'Wave') added to AstroNorthCam 1.9.3. Wave is a variance metaframe that uses blue colour band during daylight and civil twilight,  changing towards using a green colour band during astronomical twilight and night.
  Done 2026-06-21 (AstroNorthCam 1.9.3)
   
• Add title annotation to AstroNorthCam's new Metaframe images. As metaframes accumulate raw frames for 2 or 10 minutes, the minutes & seconds part of the timestamp added by iSpy becomes unreadable. It is proposed that BuildMetaFrame builder overwrites the image title by its own, including a timestamp that defines the time interval that the metaframe is specifically associated with. Implemented in AstroNorthCam 1.9.3.
  Done 2026-06-21 (AstroNorthCam 1.9.3)
   
• Standardise the naming of Metaframe image files and image titles. Filenames changed to use a NorthCam prefix, a timestamp based on local date/time (consistent with existing NorthCam imaging) and suffix that includes 'Metaframe', the metaframe type and the window duration (like '10m').
  Done 2026-06-22 (AstroNorthCam 1.9.4)
   
• Modify AstroNorthCam and AstroObsCam to support the automatic deletion of raw frames older than a set amount.  The AllSky/Weather Computer has a 0.5 TB 'C Drive' which has only 464 GB available and frequently gets close to becoming full, and on at least a couple of occasions the disk actually completely filled up the point that applications and windows stopped functioning.  AstroAllSky, AstroNorthCam and AstroObsCam are the main producers of large amounts of data (especially AstroNorthCam, which has multiple operation products which will double with the introduction of metaframes. AstroAllSky already has a procedure to automatically archive images to External Hard Disk (Drive G) each morning.   The frames produced by AstroNorthCam and AstroObsCam are not generally needed after 14 days, provided  key session files (Aurora nights, Meteors, Live Sessions) are copied to the Developement/Analysis Computer.  It is proposed to add auto-deletion of old files to the AstroNorthCam and AstroObsCam - this will resolve the disk space issue and force timely curation of files.  Implemented AstroNorthCam 1.9.1 (via PurgeOldSessions and PurgeSessionFolders) and, AstroObsCam 1.14 (via PurgeObsCamSessions() .
  Done 2026-06-19 (AstroNorthCam 1.9.1, AstroObsCam 1.14)

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