David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1344 (2025-07-29)

Notes (S1343)

Notes Main

Home Page

Notes (S1345)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (4),  Small Defects (3),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	- Figures (2)
	Images from 2025-07-29  >>
	New Master Flats (2025-07-30)

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-07-29)

Main aims

1. Cam1 Camera Angle.   Rotate main scope camera to 180.0° position (currently sits at a camera angle  of 180.6°, at Az 180°)
2. Telescope Resync & Short Mapping.  Resync telescope and perform short mapping job, following equipment changes & Camera Angle change
3. 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.
4. T CrB & NGC 5959 w/SN2025fvw  . Take images of these two targets (either as Planned Targets or ToO Targets)
5. Foc1 Focusing.  Check that Foc1 Focus Profile is now optimised to use 'In' Direction following code change in AstroMain 3.77.4.
6. Cam2 Camera Angle & TS80 alignment. Rotate guidescope camera to 0.0° position. Align TS80 guide scope pointing with that of the LX200 main scope.
7. CCD Camera. Check that camera / ccdsoft continue to function Ok following fixes in AstroMain 3.77.2 and that the perfect record during S1343 session wasn't a fluke
8. Guiding. Check that guiding is working ok following poor guiding results (most likely cloud related) in last session (S1343)

 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 3.77.4,  AstroPlan 1.43.4, AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.11  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.7, AstroVOE 1.15.1,  AstroSN 1.14,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.16.2
  AstroWeather 1.27.9, AstroAllSky 3.24.4,  AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroNorthCam 1.5.3, AstroLaunch 1.13.6

Highlights

• Targets.  11/12 planned  targets were completed. One target was missed due to an inserted ToO Target (NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw) which was successfully completed.
• T CrB & NGC 5959 w/SN2025fvw  . Both targets were successfully acquired
• Foc1 Focusing. Foc1 Focus Profiles are now optimal using 'In' Focus Direction l.
• Cam1 Camera Angles  Cam1 (which was sitting with camera angle  of 180.6°, at Az 180°) was successfully rotated clockwise to a camera angle of 179.9° which was deemed acceptably close to the target camera angle of 180°.
• Telescope Resync & Short Mapping.  Telescope resync was performed, but there were issues getting image linking to work during short mapping run.  Points manually mapped, Scope parked and restarted.  Image linking was still not working, but was solved by restarting AstroMain, CCDSoft &  TheSky.
• Cam2 Camera Angle & TS80 Alignment .  There was no time to rotate the ZWO 178MC cameras to the target correct angles (0.0°),  The camera angles during S1343 was previously measured to be around 358.0° (ie -2.0°) which is tolerable in the short-term, TS80 alignment was measured and  the total offset determined to be 1.61'  (Offset W -1.60', Offset N: -0.17') . Similarily there was no time to improvement the alignment. These two objectives will roll forward to the next session.
• CCD Camera.  No significant issues with CCD Camera during session. An unhandled exception occurred in CCDSoft (following a manual operation on CCDSoft) and was fixed by a RestartCCDSoftOnly operation.
• Guiding.  Guiding was normal,
•  Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during the session. Dome closed and parked at end of session ok.

Notes

• Set of Flat fields and supporting bias/dark fields was collected the day after the session (ie 2025-05-30) from which new master flat fields were created.
  

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 22:41:37   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:41:51 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2025-07-29 S01344, ImageSaveNum: 1344001) 22:42:35   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 22:44:22   Services Started Observatory Services started 22:45:34   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 22:46:18   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 22:47:48   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 42s, Zigbee 40s) 22:48:04       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:49:38     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 18, HIP 88232) 22:52:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:54:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:57:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:57:06       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:58:43       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:00:20       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:00:39     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 18, HIP 88232) 23:08:31     CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action (CCDSoft Only)) 23:08:44     CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (user action (CCDSoft Only)) 23:09:47     Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 23:15:04   Observatory Door Observatory Door has opened 23:27:51   Automapping Started Automapping started (12 points planned) 23:29:11   Automapping Aborted Automapping aborted (0 points mapped out of 12 points) 23:32:28   Automapping Started Automapping started (12 points planned) 23:33:06   Observatory Door Observatory Door has closed (open time 18.0 min) 23:41:10   Automapping Aborted Automapping aborted (0 points mapped out of 12 points) 23:58:40   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 34s total) 23:59:03   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 00:00:00   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 00:00:35   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 00:02:16   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:14:50   Services Stopped Observatory Services stopped 00:15:12 Session Closed Session closed by User 00:15:15 Program Closed Program closed by User 00:17:04 Program Opened Program Opened (AstroMain 3.77.4) 00:17:06 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2025-07-29 S01344, ImageSaveNum: 1344009) 00:17:10   Obs.Overseer Started Obs.Overseer started 00:18:52   Obs.Manager Started Obs.Manager started 00:18:57   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:19:16   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:19:58   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:24:31 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 00:24 & 02:47 00:24:33 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 00:24:35 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (00:24) 00:24:52   Services Started Observatory Services started 00:25:00 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 00:25:03 Session Pending Session pending (2025-07-29) 00:25:05 Session Initiating Session initiating (2025-07-29) 00:25:15   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 00:25:21   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14) 00:26:35   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1129) 00:26:47   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 00:27:24 Session Running Session running 00:27:27   Queue Started Observing Queue started (11 targets selected) 00:27:33     Target Started (1/11) Target started (1/11, T CrB) 00:36:39     Target Completed Target completed (1/11, T CrB) 00:36:44     Target Started (2/12) Target started (2/12, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw, ToO) 00:40:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:43:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 00:59:17     Target Completed Target completed (2/12, NGC 5957 w/SN2025fvw, ToO) 00:59:19     Target Missed (3/12) Target's time slot was missed (3/12, 2MFGC 13744 w/SN2024afyu) 00:59:21     Target Started (4/12) Target started (4/12, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:02:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:04:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:08:39     Target Completed Target completed (4/12, GCVS CY Lyr) 01:08:43     Target Started (5/12) Target started (5/12, AT2024xpy) 01:11:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:14:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 01:30:23     Target Completed Target completed (5/12, AT2024xpy) 01:30:27     Target Started (6/12) Target started (6/12, AT2025md (CV)) 01:36:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 01:36:15   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:36:17   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:36:19     Target Aborted (6/12) Target aborted (6/12, AT2025md (CV)) due to cloud 01:36:21   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:36:23 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:37:08   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 01:37:10 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:39:08 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:39:53   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 01:39:56 Session Running Session running 01:39:58   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:40:00     Target Started (6/12) Target started (6/12, AT2025md (CV)) 01:47:32     Target Completed Target completed (6/12, AT2025md (CV)) 01:47:36     Target Started (7/12) Target started (7/12, AT2025lc (CV)) 01:56:27     Target Completed Target completed (7/12, AT2025lc (CV)) 01:56:31     Target Started (8/12) Target started (8/12, GCVS BL Lac) 01:59:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:02:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:06:26     Target Completed Target completed (8/12, GCVS BL Lac) 02:06:30     Target Started (9/12) Target started (9/12, IC 1496 w/SN2025X) 02:10:00       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 02:26:21     Target Completed Target completed (9/12, IC 1496 w/SN2025X) 02:27:37     Target Started (10/12) Target started (10/12, UGC 12793 w/AT2025kjx) 02:30:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:33:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:50:00     Target Completed Target completed (10/12, UGC 12793 w/AT2025kjx) 02:50:04     Target Started (11/12) Target started (11/12, AT2025kej (CV)) 02:54:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:57:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:05:40     Target Completed Target completed (11/12, AT2025kej (CV)) 03:05:44     Target Started (12/12) Target started (12/12, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:09:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:11:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 03:14:50     Target Completed Target completed (12/12, GCVS SS Cyg) 03:14:52   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:14:55 Session Closing Session closing 03:15:51   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:16:55   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 57s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:17:38   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 40s total) 03:18:02   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:18:24   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:19:48   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:19:51 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:20:08     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:20:51     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 03:20:57     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 03:20:59   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:22:36   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (51mA) 03:22:38 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 23:51:18 Red Alert Unexpected Scope Movement Scope appears to be tracking even though Tracking=False 03:22:36 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (51mA)

Back to Top

Operational Issues (2025-07-29, S1344)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (4)
• Small Defects (3)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
• Figures (2)
  

[ Prev | Next ]

Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Image Linking / Automated Mapping was possible after Resyncing Telescope. Whilst images were able to be 'simple linked',  'linking / Insert WCS couldn't be achieved for some unknown reason Point were manually mapped during simple link / map point.  Unclear why ASTAP was reported as being  associated with the  link result.  For each failed attempted there was an exception in MakeAutoMappingRun /  TheSky.AutoMap with the message "Image Link failed, no pattern matching found. Check image coordinates and image scale.".
  Resolved in-session  2025-07-30 (session, AstroMain , CCDSoft, TheSky)
   
• When first Short Mapping Run was started Telescope slewed to an unexpected position.  After resyncing the telescope to position based on 'Simple Link' position a 0.5deg Short Mapping Run was commenced.  When telescope slewed to first point it was expected that movement of telescope would be around 0.5 deg or so, but instead the telescope moved at least 30-40 deg. Telescope was slewed back to a position under manual/TheSky6 control, telescope resynced again and new Short Mapping started which this time slewed the telescope by the expected amount.
  To investigate 2025-07-30 (Session, AstroMain , CCDSoft, TheSky)
   
• Continuing issue with SAM System with spike / shifts in Y & Z Axis readings, some with corresponding shift in value read from colocated Temperature Sensor. After This is a continuation of ongoing issues with the Geomagnetic Station even after grounding unused wires through 3 different resistors and turning off the system for over an hour.  Proposal is to use the system for a period of 2 weeks with the Y axis disabled. Ticket was closed after adding a separate Continuous Improvement ticket to begin a test with the Y axis disabled (test begun 2025-07-30)
  Closed after review 2025-07-30 (SAM III)
   
• Flat/Dark Frame corrected images from the S1344 session are showing a vignetting pattern (post-session). Flat/Dark Frame corrected images from the S1343 session, particularly longer exposure frames, show a vignetting related pattern (see Fig 2). Frames captured during the S1343 (2025-07-29) and S1344 session (2025-07-29) after installation of the new TCF-LSI focuser show different vignetting to that in frames from earlier sessions that used the previous TCF-S focuser. Existing master flat fields are unsuitable for flat-field correcting frames that have been captured since installation of new TCF-LSI focuser   A new set of master flat fields needs to be acquired and used to reprocess frames from the S1344 session. Flat frames (and associated Dark frames to corrrect the flat frames) were acquired 2025-07-30.
  Resolved 2025-07-30 (Session, Master Flat Frames, TCF-LSI focuser)

Small Defects

• AstroMag is showing Y Axis corrected value of -999999 or other large number Y axis raw value is null.  When an axis is disconnected or otherwise not functional and AstroMag is getting a null raw value from the data file produced by the 'SAM View' program the value in AstroMag Corrected Field on Main Tab is not appropriate / misleading.   AstroMag should show '--' in the Corrected data field (txtCalY.text) for the that axis like the Raw value field (txtSamY.Text) shows. Fixed in AstroMag 1.5.8.  Raw value was being tested against vcNull (-99) instead of vcLargeNull (-999999).
  Fixed 2025-07-30 (AstroMag 1.5.8)
   
• AutoMap results aren't being logged with correctly in .log or .htm log files (23:41). Log records for Automap results should be better formatted, including date/time and szTargetName ("Automap".
  Currently Automap results are currently logged as follows in .log file with a line return after the Auti
  23:41:10.10 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23:41:10.10 | Automapping  Finish AutoMapping Info | Finished AutoMappingRun
23:41:10.10 | Automapping  Report AutoMap.Results Info | 0 points mapped out of 12 points
23:41:10.12 | Automapping  Save FailedMapPoints Ok | 12 map points have been written to 'FailedMapPoints.dat' file
23:41:12.13 | Automapping  Write MapPoints  Ok | Writing table of mapped points to Report file
23:41:12.13 | Automapping  List MapPoints   Ok | Pt| Name    |Map| Image  | ImageNo  | Link   | P.Error|Stars| Rot'n | Scale | FWHM | Sky B |
23:41:12.13 | Automapping  List MapPoints   Ok | 1 | Point 1 | - | Imaged | 01344005 | Linked | 24.96" |  94 | 179.89 | 1.408 | 3.0" | 39.88 |
23:41:12.13 | Automapping  List MapPoints   Ok | 2 | Point 2 | - | Imaged | 01344006 | Linked | 26.71" | 125 | 179.89 | 1.407 | 3.0" | 36.16 |
23:41:12.13 | Automapping  List MapPoints   Ok | 3 | Point 3 | - | Imaged | 01344007 | Linked | 25.93" | 118 | 179.88 | 1.408 | 3.5" | 32.41 |
23:41:12.13 | Automapping  List MapPoints   Ok | 4 | Point 4 | - | Imaged | 01344008 | Linked | 24.04" |  72 | 179.88 | 1.407 | 2.5" | 30.87 |
23:41:12.13 | Automapping  List MapPoints   Ok | 5 | Aborted | - |        | -        | -      | -      | -   | -      | -     | -    | -     |
23:41:12.14 | Automapping  Set ShowScope  Info | TP.ShowScope (Scope)
23:41:12.24 | Automapping  Set ScopeMode(2) Info | Scope Mode : Waiting
23:41:12.25 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Which appear like the following in the .htm file
  23:41:10.10 | Map Point 5                            Start   MapPoint 5/12       Info    | Starting Map Point 5 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
 Finish  AutoMapping         Info    | Finished AutoMappingRun
 Report  AutoMap.Results     Info    | 0 points mapped out of 12 points
 Save    FailedMapPoints     Ok      | 12 map points have been written to 'FailedMapPoints.dat' file
 Write   MapPoints           Ok      | Writing table of mapped points to Report file
 List    MapPoints           Ok      | Point |      Name |    Map |  Image |   ImageNo |   Link | P.Error | Stars |  Rot'n | Scale |   FWHM |  Sky B |
 List    MapPoints           Ok      |     1 |   Point 1 | -      | Imaged |  01344005 | Linked |  24.96" |    94 | 179.89 | 1.408 |   3.0" |  39.88 |  
 List    MapPoints           Ok      |     2 |   Point 2 |      - | Imaged |  01344006 | Linked |  26.71" |   125 | 179.89 | 1.407 |   3.0" |  36.16 |
 List    MapPoints           Ok      |     3 |   Point 3 |      - | Imaged |  01344007 | Linked |  25.93" |   118 | 179.88 | 1.408 |   3.5" |  32.41 |
 List    MapPoints           Ok      |     4 |   Point 4 |      - | Imaged |  01344008 | Linked |  24.04" |    72 | 179.88 | 1.407 |   2.5" |  30.87 |
 List    MapPoints           Ok      |     5 |           | Aborted|      - |           |      - |       - |     - |      - |     - |      - |      - |                             
 Set     ShowScope           Info    | TP.ShowScope (Scope)
 Set     ScopeMode(2)        Info    | Scope Mode : Waiting
23:41:12.25 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Bug found (there was an error in the assignment    szTargetName = "Automapping                                                                                              "  )
  Fixed 2025-07-30 (AstroMain 3.77.5)
   
• Mouse movements & Keypress in AstroMain's StartFVApplication() routine aren't always working as per design.  Start FV button routines in AstroMain lead to running the StartFVApplication which opens FV program and required sub-windows and put them into specific screen positions. The first part of the operation always works, but later parts such as opening the image scale window is frquently not enacted. Routine modified in AstroMain 3.77.5 to allow breaks between steps (typically increasing breaks from 50ms to 200ms.
  Fix attempted 2025-07-31 (AstroMain 3.77.5)

Continuous Improvement

• Begin an extended SAM III test with the Y Axis deactivated.  Due to ongoing issues with the Y and Z axis magnetometer readings, even with grouding of the unused wires in the Ethernet Cables coming from the buried magnetometers, it is proposed to begin a 2 week test in which the Y axis magnetometer is disabled by disconnecting its wires from the SAM III box making the sensor not powered / not active. This will assess whether the Y axis magnetometer itself or the Y axis magnetometer position in relation to Z axis magnetometer or with the Temperature Sensor probe, might be causing the spike/shifts in Y & Z readings. One hypothesis is that the temperature sensor probe is touching the mini 'flux-gate' circuit board associated with the Y magnetometer.  This might show whether building a new Y axis magnetometer and putting it in it's own buried sensor assembly might be a viable fix to the ongoing issue.  Review made at 2025-11-18 concluded that after several months tested the magnetometer station still suffers from frequequent shitfs and jumps when using just the X, Z and Temp Channels, and isn't really any better than when Y magnetometer was also running.  Conclusion is that entire system needs to be dug up and redepolyed using Shielded Cabling. This will be a task for Spring 2026.
  Closed 2025-11-18 (SAM III)
   
• Test whether the new UPB V3 Powerbox disconnects each time the light board is turned on.  The last time Flat frames were taken (2025-03-13 S1301) it was found that each time the light board was turned on the UPB Powerbox disconnects (which interrupts communication to the CCD Camera). Attempting to reconnect in the UPB Powerbox software produced the message "No UPB Controller can be found" whilst the light board remained on.  The issue would happen whatever power port the power lead to the light board's controller was plugged into in the Observatory Computing Bay.  This was a showstopper for taking flat frames in the manner intended (which has incidentally worked on previous occassions).  The issue was not resolved by either, power resetting the powerbox , restarting the Lindy USB Hub or restarting the Observatory Computer. The light board control has a low hum when light board in on and it was hypothised that EM / power fluctuations due to the light board's controller is causing an effect on the power supply and/or USB comms to the Pegasus Powerbox, causing it to disconnect from the UPB Software running on the computer. At the time the issue was eventually resolved by powering the Light Board's Controller from a plug in the AllSky/Weather Bay which is sufficiently isolated from the Observatory Bay so that the light board could be lit without it affecting the UPB Powerbox Connection. a test is proposed to see if the issue still happens using the new UPB V3 powerbox. Test was performed 2025-07-30 and there were no associated problem with the UPB V3 Powerbox or connected devices.  It was noticed that the light board's controller box didn't making a humming sound like it did in Mar 2025 when the light board was last used.
  Done 2025-07-30 (UPB V3, Light Board/Flat fields )
   
• Add Last Session number to Image Builder window.  It would be useful to have the last session number ('Last S') shown on the Image Builder window as it can sometimes prevent the need to revert back to the main objconsole window / 'Reduced' sub Tab to see what the last session page is that needs to be opened for copying and adding the current target/image to the new session page.
  Done 2025-07-31 (AstroMain 3.77.5)
   
• Make AstroMain's Session List filled when first opening program so that + / - buttons can immediately go up/down list. Implemented in AstroMain 3.77.5. This was done by adding a call to UpdateSessionList() in objconsole.Load, and to then to prevent session 'Analysis' from automatically opening SU.OtherAnalysisSession,  the Main.btnAnalysisSupport_Click() routine was modfied to set objConsole.bSkipSelectSession to True/False  either side of setting 'objConsole.comboSessionList.Text = SU.OtherAnalysisSession'
     If SU.OtherAnalysisSession <> "" Then
    objConsole.bSkipSelectSession = True )
    objConsole.comboSessionList.Text = SU.OtherAnalysisSession
    objConsole.bSkipSelectSession = False
End If
bSkipSelectSession
  objConsole's bSkipSelectSession variable had to be changed to public to support this.
  Done 2025-07-31 (AstroMain 3.77.5)

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top Issue,  Back to Top

[ Prev | Next ]

Back to Top Issue,  Back to Top

New Master Flats (2025-07-30)

Sets of New Flat Frames were acquired on 2025-07-30 using Light Board place in front of the LX200.  This was necessiatated by installation of new TCF-LSI focuser and recognition that it leads to a different vignetting levels compared to those using the prveious TCF-S focuser. and recognition that flat field / vignetting artefacts are seen if new images are flat field corrected using older master flats.

Flat Frames

Flat frames were acquired for each binning mode (3x3, 2x2 & 1x1) and for each of the 10 filters held in the Filter Wheel., with CCD Tempearture operating at 0°C per the following table

Filter	Filter				3x3					2x2					1x1
Position	Name		n		Exp(s).	Sheets		n		Exp(s)	Sheets		n		exp(s)	Sheets
1	C		21	x	1.5s	(2)		21	x	3.4s	(2)		21	x	2.3s	(1)
2	B		21	x	0.2s	-		21	x	0.5s	-		21	x	1.7s	-
3	V		21	x	0.7s	(1)		21	x	1.5s	(1)		21	x	0.7s	-
4	R		21	x	1.9s	(2)		21	x	4.2s	(2)		21	x	3.2s	(1)
5	I		13	x	10s	-		0	x	15s	-		0	x	60s	-	(2x2 & 1x1 not acquired)
6	Ha		21	x	5.2.s	-		13	x	11.3s	-		13	x	30s	-
7	DB ?		21	x	3.6s	(1)		19	x	0.7s	-		21	x	2.5s	-	1x1 not acquired)
8	Xo		21	x	1.6s	(2)		21	x	3.6s	(2)		21	x	2.6s	(1)
9	S		21	x	1.8s	(2)		21	x	4.0s	(2)		21	x	2.9s	(1)
10	Nd		21	x	2.6s	-		21	x	5.8s	-		13	x	19.9s	-

Due to short exposures required (only 0.3s for 3x3 binning) it is questionable if the flat frames made for the 7th position in the filter wheel is truely from the DB Filter (Dual Band Optolong L-eNhance) rather than a Green Filter which formerly occupied the filter wheel at this position.. Same issue noted for DB flat frames taken 2025-03-15 (S1301)

Bias & Dark Frames

In order to create Master Bias & Master Dark Frames, sets of bias & dark frames were acquired with CCD Temperature operating at the same value of 0°C that the flat frames were acquired at.

Bin		Temp		n		Exp
3x3		0		21	x	Bias
3x3		0		21	x	0.12s
3x3		0		21	x	5s
3x3		0		21	x	10s
2x2		0		21	x	Bias
2x2		0		21	x	0.12s
2x2		0		21	x	5s
2x2		0		21	x	20s
1x1		0		21	x	Bias
1x1		0		21	x	0.12s
1x1		0		21	x	5s
1x1		0		21	x	30s

Master Frames

For each Bias & Dark Set the Dark Frames were stacked using AvMedian method in the Sigma Beta program. The Master Bias & Master Dark Frames generated were copied to the relevant subfolder (1x1 Masters, 2x2 Masters & 3x3 Masters) at 'C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Analysis\_Darks\-10c'

For each Flat Set the Flat Frames were reduced in CCDSoft using the Reduce Folder facility using the Flat Frame Reduction group and relevant master Dark and Master Bias Frames. Reduced flats from each set were then stacked using AvMedian method in Sigma Beta program. The Master Flats generated were copied to the relevant subfolder (1x1 Masters, 2x2 Masters & 3x3 Masters) at 'C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Analysis\_Flats'

Pictures below show the newly generated Master Flats for the C & R Filters, and are compared with the respective previous Master Flats.

Previous Master Flat, C filter (3x3) from S1301 (Average Median for 21 frames )		New Master Flat, C filter (3x3) from S1344 (Average Median for 21 frames )
Previous Master Flat, R filter (3x3) from S1301 (Average Median for 19 frames )		New Master Flat, R filter (3x3) from S1344 (Average Median for 21 frames )
All Frames 50% original size, north down		All Frames 50% original size, north down

Back to Top