David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1314 (2025-04-10)

Notes (S1313)

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Notes (S1315)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	Images from 2025-04-10 >>
	Geomagnetic Station - Final Assembly (2025-04-10 to 2025-04-11)

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-04-10)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. C/2025 F2 (SWAN). Acquire images of new comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN)

 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 3.74.5,  AstroPlan 1.43,  AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.10.6   (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.15.6
  AstroWeather 1.27.7, AstroAllSky 3.23.2,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroColorCam 1.2.2, AstroLaunch 1.12.2

Highlights

• Targets. 18/22 x planned target observations were completed along  with 1 target that was partially completed. 3 targets failed due to cloud (including C/2025 F2 (SWAN)
  C/2025 F2 (SWAN). No images of C/2025 F2 (SWAN) were acquired due to cloud
•   Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during the session. Dome closed and parked at end of session Ok.

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)

Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast

Session Event Log

Time     Event Detail 21:53:30 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:53 & 03:55 21:53:33   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:54:33 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:54) 21:54:46   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:55:14   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:55:16 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-04-10 S01314, ImageSaveNum: 1314001) 21:55:22   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 21:57:08   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:57:16 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:57:18   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 21:57:21 Session Pending Session pending (2025-04-10) 21:57:23 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-04-10) 21:57:30   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 21:57:37   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43) 21:58:04   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1098) 21:58:44   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:59:08 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 22:00:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 22:00:38 Session Running Session running 22:00:41   Queue Started Observing Queue started (22 targets selected) 22:00:44     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253) 22:00:59       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:05:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:07:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:10:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:10:17       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:12:27       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:14:19       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:14:39     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253) 22:14:43     Target Started (1/22) Target started (1/22, ESO 565-G19 w/SN2025efc) 22:19:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:22:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:39:53     Target Completed Target completed (1/22, ESO 565-G19 w/SN2025efc) 22:39:57     Target Started (2/22) Target started (2/22, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:59:50     Target Completed Target completed (2/22, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:59:54     Target Started (3/22) Target started (3/22, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:03:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:06:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:11:40     Target Completed Target completed (3/22, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:11:45     Target Started (4/22) Target started (4/22, AT2025yl (CV)) 23:15:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:18:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:24:59     Target Completed Target completed (4/22, AT2025yl (CV)) 23:25:03     Target Started (5/22) Target started (5/22, AT2025ghv) 23:45:27     Target Completed Target completed (5/22, AT2025ghv) 23:45:31     Target Started (6/22) Target started (6/22, NGC 2565 w/AT2025ccz) 23:49:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:51:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:08:12     Target Completed Target completed (6/22, NGC 2565 w/AT2025ccz) 00:08:17     Target Started (7/22) Target started (7/22, GCVS RR Leo) 00:12:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:15:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:21:13     Target Completed Target completed (7/22, GCVS RR Leo) 00:21:17     Target Started (8/22) Target started (8/22, GCVS CN Leo) 00:25:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:27:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:36:33     Target Completed Target completed (8/22, GCVS CN Leo) 00:36:37     Target Started (9/22) Target started (9/22, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw) 00:56:10     Target Completed Target completed (9/22, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw) 00:56:14     Target Started (10/22) Target started (10/22, AT2023df (CV)) 01:00:09       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 01:06:48     Target Completed Target completed (10/22, AT2023df (CV)) 01:06:52     Target Started (11/22) Target started (11/22, UGC 10058 w/SN2025gvs) 01:10:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:13:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:29:41     Target Completed Target completed (11/22, UGC 10058 w/SN2025gvs) 01:29:45     Target Started (12/22) Target started (12/22, T CrB) 01:35:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:38:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:43:50     Target Completed Target completed (12/22, T CrB) 01:43:54     Target Started (13/22) Target started (13/22, 2023iwy) 02:04:34     Target Completed Target partially completed (13/22, 2023iwy) 02:04:38     Target Started (14/22) Target started (14/22, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 02:08:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-S) 02:15:55     Target Completed Target completed (14/22, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)) 02:15:59     Target Started (15/22) Target started (15/22, AT2025fma) 02:20:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:22:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:38:45     Target Completed Target completed (15/22, AT2025fma) 02:38:49     Target Started (16/22) Target started (16/22, UGC 11097 w/AT2024ajp) 02:42:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:45:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 03:01:09     Target Completed Target completed (16/22, UGC 11097 w/AT2024ajp) 03:01:13     Target Started (17/22) Target started (17/22, AT2023coi) 03:05:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:07:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 03:24:40     Target Completed Target completed (17/22, AT2023coi) 03:24:44     Target Started (18/22) Target started (18/22, GCVS CY Lyr) 03:31:35     Target Completed Target completed (18/22, GCVS CY Lyr) 03:31:39     Target Started (19/22) Target started (19/22, GCVS CI Cyg) 03:32:54       SoftSuspend Called Soft Suspend called due to Deteriorating Conditions (too few stars) 03:34:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:37:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 03:42:05     Target Completed Target completed (19/22, GCVS CI Cyg) 03:42:08   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:42:11 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:43:00   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:43:03 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:50:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/22, GCVS BL Lac) due to too few stars 04:10:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/22, UGC 12293 w/AT2025gyi) due to cloud 04:45:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/22, C/2025 F2 (SWAN)) due to cloud 04:45:56   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:46:01 Session Closing Session closing 04:46:06   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:43, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s) 04:46:24   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:47:07   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 39s total) 04:47:31   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:47:53   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:49:18   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:49:21 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:49:43     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:50:28     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 04:50:34     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°) 04:50:36   Dome Parked Dome parked 04:52:47   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA) 04:52:49 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 04:52:47 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-04-10, S1314)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (1)
• Small Defects (2)
• Continuous Improvement (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroAllSky's NightSummary & DaySummary Plots are not posting Weather Station's Wind Data.  It's been noticed on NightSummary logs from S1314/S1315 that the NIghtSummary6 plot isn't drawing a detailed/smoothed Wind Data Curve from the Observatory Weather Station (pink fill) but is drawing a blocky Wind Data from OpenWeather's API (violet fill) instead. Looking back the problem began with logs made for S1307A (2025-03-30) and has continued since then. Problem didn't effect logs made of S1306 (2025-03-28).  The same issue affects the DaySummary Plot as well.   Looking back at version history there were no documented changes to AstroAllSky between 2023-03-08 (vn 3.23.1) & 2025-04-10 (vn 3.23.2).   There was however a change to AstroWeather on 2025-03-30 (vn 1.27.6, at around 14:00) which is consistent with the point that changed behaviour in NightSummaryPlot took place. Examining the issues that lead to AstroWeather 1.27.6 suggests that the problem to NightSummary6 Plot is specifically any introduced bug in AstroWeather, but is more likely a DST issue that became exposed in AstroAllSky when the clocks went forward on 2025-03-30.  Wind Data is also missing from AstroAllSky's AllSky Image Annotations  and from 'Weather at hh:mm:ss' Report Lines e.g.
      Weather at 05:55:27   Info      Light 26, Clarity 20, Rain  1, Wind  -  , Temp  7.5, DPD  0.6
  Fixed in AstroAllSky 3.23.3.   Now().Subtract had to be changed to DataTime.UtcNow() in two lines in CalculateAverageWindSpeed () routine.
  Fixed 2025-04-18 (AstroAllSky 3.23.3, DST Issue ) -  to monitor 

Small Defects

• A closing bracket is missing from 'Dome Charging' report/alert message.   A yellow dome charging information alert was raised at 2025-04-09 04:06:52 with the message "Dome is parked and well charged (97%, 15.0v". A closing bracket is missing and needs to be added. Fixed in AstroMain 3.74.6.
  Fixed 2025-04-11 (AstroMain 3.74.6)
   
• AstroLaunch isn't auto-refreshing AllSky Program Status & Versions when running on AllSky/Weather Computer.  AstroLaunch is designed to Auto-Refresh Program Status & Versions when Windows focus moves to the AstroLaunch Window. This works fine when using AstroLaunch on the Observatory Computer and Development/Analysis Computer, but the auto-refresh facility isn't working when the same AstroLaunch Version (1.12.2) is being used on the AllSky/Weather Computer.  The ForegroundWindow ID label changes ok when the WIndows Focus moves to and from AstroLaunch program window, and AstroLaunch reports "Running AutoRefresh due to Program Selection"  ok, however the program status and versions just aren't getting updated on the AllSky tab. The issue seems to be that lambda expressions used by for DisplayProgramStatus (which pass flag etc)  aren't working on the AllSky/Weather Computer when call by the Autofor some reason (operating system or security difference ?). Fixed in AstroLaunch 1.12.3 by calling thr routine to Update Program Status & Versions using 'objConsole.Invoke'.
  Fixed  2025-04-18 (AstroLaunch 1.12.3)

Continuous Improvement

• AstroMain's Image Page Contents Utility should remove 'Type 1c' string from the Contents Summary. Existing 'Process'  function on ImageSets/Utility tab remove 'Type Ia', 'Type II' Supernova etc. It needs to also remove 'Type Ic'.  Fixed AstroMain 3.74.6.
  Fixed 2025-04-17 (AstroMain 3.74.6)

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Geomagnetic Station - Final Assembly (2025-04-09 to 2025-04-11)

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