David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1338 Attempt (2025-07-02)

Notes (S1337)

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Notes (S1339)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (6)
	- Figures (0)
	No Images from Session  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-07-02)

Main aims

1. CCD Camera. Test if major CCD Camera issues during Last Session have been resolved or not
2. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions and the short summer night.

 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 3.75.10,  AstroPlan 1.43.12, AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.11  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.2, AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.16.1
  AstroWeather 1.27.9, AstroAllSky 3.24.4,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroNorthCam 1.5.3, AstroLaunch 1.13.1

Highlights

• Targets.  No targets were imaged during session due to Camera Issues
• CCD Camera. There were again multiple issues with the CCDSoft / CCDCamera during the session., and prevented imaging of any targets. Some extra information about the issues was collected and helped to provide a subsequent fix to AstroMain
•  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

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 00:54:35 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:54 & 01:34 00:54:36   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 00:55:01 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:55) 00:55:15   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 00:55:42   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:55:45 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-07-02 S01338, ImageSaveNum: 1338001) 00:55:50   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 00:57:43   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:59:24 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:59:26   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 00:59:29 Session Pending Session pending (2025-07-02) 00:59:31 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-07-02) 00:59:39   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:59:45   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.13) 01:02:40   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1123) 01:03:23   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 01:03:47 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 01:04:34   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 47s, Zigbee 40s) 01:04:37 Session Running Session running 01:04:40   Queue Started Observing Queue started (4 targets selected) 01:04:43     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 01:04:56       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 01:05:13   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 01:09:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:10:06         SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:10:09         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix Camera Exception) 01:10:17         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:11:08         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:12:10         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix Camera Exception) 01:12:17         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:13:08         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:13:54         SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:14:28         SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:14:30         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix Camera Exception) 01:14:38         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:15:29         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:15:40         SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:16:26         SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:16:29         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix Camera Exception) 01:16:36         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:17:28         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:17:37         SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:17:58         SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:18:00         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 01:18:07         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:19:00         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:19:08         SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:19:50         SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:19:52         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 01:19:59         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:20:51         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:20:54         CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 01:20 in section 'GetCameraProperties / Status' 01:21:31         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 01:21:38         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:22:29         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:22:32         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unspecified problem) 01:22:39         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:23:31         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:24:04         SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:24:17         SBIG Camera Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:24:19         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix Camera Exception) 01:24:26         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:25:17         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:25:25         CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 01:25 in section 'GetCameraProperties / State' 01:26:01         CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 01:26:09         SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:27:04         Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:33:54       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost 01:33:57       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 01:43:00       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 01:52:48       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 01:54:56     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 19, HIP 93376) 01:55:02     Target Missed (1/4) Target's time slot was missed (1/4, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:55:12     Target Missed (2/4) Target's time slot was missed (2/4, Vega) 01:55:22     Target Missed (3/4) Target's time slot was missed (3/4, GCVS RR Lyr) 01:55:38     Target Started (4/4) Target started (4/4, Vega) 01:56:15       CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action) 01:56:22       SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:57:14       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:57:23       CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 01:57 in section 'GetCameraProperties / State' 01:57:59       CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 01:58:06       SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:58:58       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 01:59:01       CCDSoft Issue CCDSoft has encountered an image save issue [0000] 01:59:03       CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix unsaved file issue) 01:59:08       SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 01:59:12 User Intervention User Intervention to abort job queue & switch back to Manual Mode 02:00:01       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 02:00:10     Target Failed (4/4) Target failed due to aborted (4/4, Vega) 02:00:12   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 02:00:26 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 02:00:44 User Intervention User request to close and finish session 02:00:46 Session Closing Session closing 02:01:30   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 02:02:37   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 57s), Az: 90.0 deg 02:02:49   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 3s total) 02:03:18   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 02:03:35   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 02:03 in section 'GetCameraProperties / FilterIndexZeroBased' 02:04:10   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 02:04:17   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 02:04:21   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 02:04:39   UPB Connection Powerbox Connection appears to have failed 02:04:55   TCF-S Switched Off TCF-S Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 02:04:59   TCF-S Switched On TCF-S Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 02:05:02   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:05:04 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:05:11   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 02:05:13     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 02:05:28 Obs.Monitor Frozen Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen at around 02:05 in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Refresh panelDome' 02:05:28   CcdCamera Frozen CcdCamera appears to be frozen at around 02:05 in section 'GetCameraProperties / Disconnect/Direct' 02:05:57     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.0°) 02:06:55   UPB Connection Powerbox Connection appears to have failed 02:07:09   TCF-S Switched Off TCF-S Power has been switched off via UPB Powerbox. 02:07:14   TCF-S Switched On TCF-S Power has been switched on via UPB Powerbox. 02:07:38   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (attempt to fix frozen CcdCamera) 02:07:42   SBIG Camera Reset SBIG Camera being power-cycled 02:08:34   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 02:08:40   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (15mA) 02:08:42 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 01:10:07 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:13:54 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:14:28 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:15:40 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:16:26 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:17:37 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:17:58 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:19:08 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:19:50 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:21:28 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 01:20:54) in section 'GetCameraProperties / Status' 01:22:30 Green Clear CcdCamera SBIG Camera has been successfully restarted 01:24:04 Green Clear SBIG Camera Take Image successfully completed (earlier flags are reset) 01:24:17 Red Alert SBIG Camera Alert Take Image failed (Command timed-out) 01:25:59 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 01:25:25) in section 'GetCameraProperties / State' 01:27:05 Green Clear CcdCamera SBIG Camera has been successfully restarted 01:57:57 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 01:57:23) in section 'GetCameraProperties / State' 01:58:58 Green Clear CcdCamera SBIG Camera has been successfully restarted 01:59:01 Red Alert CCDSoft Image file [0000] hasn't been saved to disk, possible CCDSoft issue 02:04:08 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 02:03:35) in section 'GetCameraProperties / FilterIndexZeroBased' 02:04:30 Red Alert Telescope Port Telescope Port (COM6) closed at 02:04:30 02:04:35 Yellow Alert Telescope Port Telescope Port (COM6) has re-opened at 02:04:35 02:04:42 Yellow Alert UPB.Switch Restarting UPB Powerbox Software 02:04:50 Green Clear UPB.Switch UPB.Switch service has been restored 02:05:11 Green Clear CcdCamera SBIG Camera has been successfully restarted 02:05:38 Red Alert Program Hung AstroMain UI appears to have stopped responding at 02:05:33 02:05:58 Red Alert Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor appears to be frozen in section 'Refresh Dome Picture/Refresh panelDome' (last cycle at 02:05:28) 02:06:00 Red Alert CcdCamera CcdCamera appears to be frozen (last cycle at 02:05:28) in section 'GetCameraProperties / Disconnect/Direct' 02:06:57 Yellow Alert UPB.Switch Restarting UPB Powerbox Software 02:07:05 Green Clear UPB.Switch UPB.Switch service has been restored 02:07:41 Green Clear Program Resumed AstroMain UI has resumed again after 128s 02:07:43 Green Clear Obs.Monitor Obs.Monitor has resumed again (02:07) after 2.1 mins 02:08:34 Green Clear CcdCamera SBIG Camera has been successfully restarted 02:08:40 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (15mA)

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Operational Issues (2025-07-02, S1338A)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (1)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (6)
• Figures (0)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• Multiple failures taking CCD Images using SBIG Camera/CcdCamera. Throughout the session there were multiple instance of failed image (timeout), or failed image (CcdCamera frozen). Issue being investigated (see Investigation - CCDSoft / CCD Camera Issues (S1337) ).  The 'Test CCDCamera/Focus Frames' button routine (located on Main Scope / TCF-S Focuser tab) was used on 2025-07-02 to see if the issue can be replicated at all. This showed multiple image failures (TakeImageAsync Timed-Out).  In one case witnessed it seemed that Camera is taking longer to start taking the image and the expected duration used to set TimeOutPoint is too short and a longer time should be used.  This specific sub-issue was fixed in AstroMain 3.75.10,  but it doesn't fix the the more general issue. Running tests and examining log files showed a correspondance between Image Failures / CCDCamera freezes and periods when the ScopeMonitor was logged as Pending.  However disabling calls to Telescope.IsConnected so that ScopeMonitor can not become Pending or Freeze didn't resolve the issue. Eventually determined that issue was very likely due to calls to CCDCamera.State and CCDCamera.Status from the DrawObservatoryPicture() routine whilst an Image was being taken.   Fixed in AstroMain 3.75.11.   Get_State and Get_Status operations in CCDcamera, GetProperties () routine save results to CCDCamera.LastState and CCDCamera.LastStatus when triggered by property calls from TakeImageAsync() and these are used by DrawObservatoryPicture() when an image is being taken.  If event of continued issues a new checkbox on the More/Cam1 tab can be used to disable all calls to CCDCamera  when an image is being taken. or updating the camera display on the ObsViewer window (captured as ObsPic pictures).
   Fix attempted 2025-07-03 (AstroMain 3.75.11)

Minor Issues

• Subframe Coords are not re-applied to CcdCamera after before next RunTakeQuickFocusShot after RestartCCDSoft operation. Currently in AstroMain 3.57.10 and earlier versions, updated Subframe specifications are set after taking & analysing a Focus Frame,  is applied. The new Subframe specification (or existing one if it wasn't updated) is then utililised  by CCDSoft/SBIG Camera during the next Focus Frame.  However if a RestartCCDSoft operation has to be run, the Subframe details are lost and the following Focus Subframe is acquired as a Full Frame Image rather than a smaller Box image.  Subframe details should be set before each Focus Frame. Fixed attempted in AstroMain 3.75.11.
  - Added Structure TSubframe
  - Add gSubframe  as TSubframe
  - Added code to set gSubframe to RunAutoPickFocusStar, ModifyImageBoxPosition() & PerformTestCcdCamera()
  - Added new routine 'CCDCamera.SetSubframe(Subframe as TSubFrame)'
  - Added new routine 'CCDCamera.ClearSubframe(Subframe as TSubFrame)'
  - Added code line 'CCDCamera.SetSubframe(gSubFrame)' to RunTakeQuickFocusShot()
  The nature of the change mean that changes might have certain issues or sideffects.
   Fix attempted 2025-067-03 (AstroMain 3.75.11)
   
• Camera was inappropriately reconnected as part of a RestartCCDSoft operation during Closing Stage.  Whilst Session was Closing the Obs.Overseer chose to RestartCCDSoft (likely due to a frozen CCDCamera), and the process reconnected the Camera.  This is inappropriate at this stage of the session. The bCameraConnected should be turned off and Camera not reconnected.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.75.11, by adding a SessionState condition check in RestartCCDSoft().
   Fixed 2025-07-03 (AstroMain 3.75.11)
   
• Problems were encounted logging onto Observatory Computer following Windows Update (2025-07-04).  Windows Updates were installed on the Observatory Computer  (Windows 11) on 2025-07-04.  After computer was restarted and attempt made to login using Main User account, windows gave the message that the Pin login was not available and the user password had to be used instead. The computer screen then went black Cntl-Alt-Del was used to switch user and the Admin account was used. Again the screen went black. At some point, after some delay (2-5 minutes) the Account home screen / icons appeared.  Switched back to Main Account but again screen went black.  Restarted the Computer, and again tried logging into Main User account. The screen went black again but after a while the Home Screen / program icons etc did appear.  The black screen seems to be a bad behaviour by the Windows System / Windows Update, but everything seems to be working fine now. There was no issue after installing the Windows Update on the AllSky/Weather Computer earlier in the day but that is running Windows 10.
   Resolved 2025-07-04 (Observatory Computer, Windows 11 Update)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Add a checkbox option to disable all CcdCamera calls during Imaging. As a diagnostic experimental a test of CcdCamera imaging needs to conducted where AstroMain doesn't make any calls to CCDSoft.Camera whilst the image is being acquired. It is proposed to add a checkbox 'Disable all Camera calls during imaging' and use its value in deciding whether to check Camera Status & State.  When set to True TakeImageAsync() routine should also limitied calls to Camera.IsExposureComplete, delaying call until after the Expected Imaging Duration. has passed.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.75.11.
  - Changes to TakeImageAsync() and
  - Changes to DrawObservatoryPicture()
  Diagnostic test was successful when running 'Test CCDCamera/Focus Frames' routine and this provides a useful backup in the event of further CCDCamera issues.  A subsequent fix to DrawObservatoryPicture which blocks direct calls to CCDCamera.State and CCDCamera.Status when a Cam1 Image is being taken (and access LastState and LastStatus instead) appears to resolve the underlying issue.
   Done 2025-07-03 (AstroMain 3.75.11)
   
• Reinstate TheSky6ScopeMonitor with active monitoring controlled by a checkbox setting. Due to concern that hold-ups in ScopeMonitor were somehow associated with or were causing Image Failures /CCD Camera Freezes the core part of the TheSky6ScopeMonitor loop (where it calls Telescope.IsConnected) was commented out during an earlier build of AstroMain 3.75.11 for the purposes of daytime testing of 'CCDCamera/FocusFrames' following a fix to CCDCamera/DrawObservatoryPicture() .  However the ScopeMonitor is designed to test the responsiveness of TheSky program and should be reinstated.  It is proposed to have add a checkbox 'cboxEnableTheSky6ScopeMonitor (default value .checked=True) to AstroMain's More/Observatory tab and use it to enable/disable the core part of the Monitor.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.75.11.
   Done 2025-07-05 (AstroMain 3.75.11)
   
• Upload Latest Session's (run_trace) file to website. The creation of 'Observatory (run_trace).htm' file for a session was added in AstroMain 3.75.5, with textual colouration added in AstroMain 3.75.11. It is proposed to upload the latest session's (run_trace)' file to the Observatory web site for viewing at end of session if required. This involves extensions  to AstroMain's WriteLatestSessionLogs() routine (to copy file to 'Live' folder as Session.ObservatoryLog_trace.htm), AstroPlan's WebUploader/AdvMainListener()  routine (to upload 'Session.ObservatoryLog_trace.htm' to website) and to Website's Latest_Session page (for new link to 'Session.ObservatoryLog_trace.htm' ).  It is also proposed to add 'Log File (trace)' links to 'Session Notes' pages when the page is viewed locally.
   Done 2025-07-05 (AstroMain 3.75.11, AstroPlan 1.43.14, Website)
   
• Add a "Finished RestartCCDSoft " report line. Proposed addition of a 'Finished CCDSoft' report line with detail of result (Ok or Fail) and the Camera Connection Status.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.75.11.
   Done 2025-07-06 (AstroMain 3.75.11)
   
• Add a report line to warn that CCDCamera is Pending . Implemented in AstroMain 3.75.11.
   Done 2025-07-06 (AstroMain 3.75.11)
   
• Consider sending Rain data to AstroMag for integration / charting.  Periods of heavy rain have been noted to affect the magnetometer readings from the Observatory's Geomagnetic Station.  It is proposed to send rain information to AstroMag from AstroMain,  and to integrate the data by creating rain charts with the same time scale and style as other AstroMag charts. 
   To consider 2025-07-04 (AstroMain, AstroMag)

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