David's Astronomy - Notes 2025-08-15 (S1349A)

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Notes - Session 1349 Attempt (2025-08-15)

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(S1348)

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Notes
(S1350)


	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result - Night Summary Plot - Session Event Log

	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0), Major Issues (0), Minor Issues (0), Small Defects (1), Continuous Improvement (1)
	- Figures (1)

	No Images from Session >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-08-15)

Main aims

Targets. Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions and the relatively short night.
T CrB & Nova Ser 2025. Acquire images of T CrB and the recently discovered Nova Ser 2025

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 3.77.8, AstroPlan 1.43.12, AstroShCap 1.3.15, AstroGuard 1.11 (any new items or versions in bold)
AstroMag 1.5.8, AstroVOE 1.15.1, AstroSN 1.14, AstroProtect 1.10.6, AstroMove 1.16.2
AstroWeather 1.27.10, AstroAllSky 3.24.4, AstroObsCam 1.11.4 (not 1.11.5), AstroNorthCam 1.5.4, AstroLaunch 1.13.6

Highlights

Targets. 13/13 planned targets failed due to cloud / session suspension.
T CrB & Nova Ser 2025. Neither target was acquired due to cloud/session suspension.
AstroNorthCam / Stars. A solution to earlier problems with false star-detection from NorthCam images was successfully implemented in AstroNorthCam 1.5.4 and results from first night of operation are shown on the NightSummary Plot below (from 23:50 onwards). Implemented just in-time to see the clouds roll in and the star count to correspondingly drop off ! (see Fig 1)
CCD Camera. No issues with CCD Camera during session.
Dome. There was no issues opening/closing the shutter during the session. Dome closed and parked at end of session ok.

Notes

Session was initiated when it was noticed that the sky was clear on AllSky Images, and prospect of semi-clear skies n the post-midnight hours last till dawn.
However after beginning session and focusing both telescope, cloud rolled in and the session was suspended. Cloud remained throughtout the remainder of the night and no observing could be conducted.

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
23:57:36	Session Monitoring	AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:57 & 03:41
23:57:39	Session AutoStarting	Session autostarting (23:57)
23:57:51	CCDSoft Restarting	CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
23:58:06	Session Created	Session Created (Live, 2025-08-15 S01349, ImageSaveNum: 1349001)
23:58:13	Scope Switched On	Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch
23:59:55	Services Started	Observatory Services started
00:00:05	Observatory (Auto)	Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
00:00:09	Session Pending	Session pending (2025-08-15)
00:00:11	Session Initiating	Session initiating (2025-08-15)
00:00:31	Camera1 Connected	SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C)
00:00:38	Plan Requested	Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.43.14)
00:01:23	Plan Loaded	Observing Plan loaded to queue (Plan ID: 1135)
00:02:05	Telescope Connected	Telescope connected (TheSky6)
00:02:29	Session Equilibration	Session ready to Open Dome
00:03:14	Dome Opened	Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s)
00:03:40	Session Running	Session running
00:03:42	Queue Started	Observing Queue started (13 targets selected)
00:03:45	Target Started (NrZen)	Target started (Focus Field 20, HIP 99625)
00:04:00	Dome Unparked	Dome unparked
00:06:15	Focusing Started-Foc1	Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:09:16	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
00:11:19	Focusing Completed	Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
00:11:21	Focusing Started-Foc2	Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
00:12:58	Focusing Completed	Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
00:14:34	Focusing Completed	Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
00:14:54	Target Completed (NrZen)	Target completed (Focus Field 20, HIP 99625)
00:15:21	Critical Cloud Alert	Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
00:15:23	HardSuspend Called	Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
00:15:25	Queue Paused	Observing Queue pausing for Session Suspension
00:15:26	Session Suspending	Session suspending
00:16:16	Dome Closed	Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s)
00:16:19	Session Suspended	Session suspended
00:28:22	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (1/13, Nova Ser 2025) due to cloud
00:48:42	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (2/13, IC 4408 w/SN2025kfm) due to cloud
01:02:08	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (3/13, T CrB) due to cloud
01:11:56	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (4/13, GCVS CY Lyr) due to cloud
01:32:16	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (5/13, SN 2025taz) due to cloud
01:46:16	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (6/13, AT2023ehg (CV)) due to cloud
01:58:00	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (7/13, GCVS V Sge) due to cloud
02:17:15	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (8/13, AT2025rcf) due to cloud
02:29:33	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (9/13, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud
02:49:33	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (10/13, NGC 7331 w/SN2025rbs) due to cloud
03:11:33	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (11/13, NGC 7753 w/SN2025kyg) due to cloud
03:33:53	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (12/13, SN 2025jtq) due to cloud
04:05:53	Target Cancelled	Target cancelled (13/13, IC 1529 w/SN2025kjo) due to cloud
04:05:57	Queue Completed	Job Queue completed
04:05:59	Session Closing	Session closing
04:06:05	Dome Closed	Dome already closed (closed at 00:16, closing time 50s, zigbee 43s)
04:07:12	Dome Parked	Dome parked (parking time 59s), Az: 90.0 deg
04:07:57	Telescope Parked	Telescope parked (parking time 42s total)
04:08:21	Telescope State	Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
04:09:18	Telescope Switched Off	Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
04:10:42	Services Stopped	Night Services stopped
04:10:45	Session Finishing	Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
04:10:52	Dome (Find Park)	Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow)
04:11:35	Dome	Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°)
04:11:41	Dome	Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°)
04:11:43	Dome Parked	Dome parked
04:12:35	Dome Charging	Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (47mA)
04:12:37	Session Finished	Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time		Type			Name	Detail
04:12:35		Green	Clear		Dome Charging	Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (47mA)

Operational Issues (2025-08-15 S1349A)

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

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Critical Issues

None

Major Issues

None

Minor Issues

None

Small Defects

None

Continuous Improvement

Incorporate the NorthCam star count within automated Observatory Management processes to further ensure safe operation of the Observatory. AstroMain includes a number of indicators for determining the need to close the Dome, which include data from Eurotech Cloud/Rain Sensor, a Star Count derived from AllSky Camera Images, and a Rain Threat data from online RainRadar/Weather data. The Cloud Sensor box (Aurora Eurotech) is tilted at around 10-20 deg to enable heavy water to drain off the ceramic rain detector as recommended by the Cloud Sensor user manual. The tilt is a southward direction, and a negative result of this is that the sensor is less suited for picking up cloud approaching from the north. This is a particular hazard during wintertime, when snow showers can approach rapidly from the north, with snow carried by the wind ahead of the main shower, and the possibility that snow is not immediately picked up by rain sensor. The star count from AllSky Camera Image is used to indicate deteriorating weather conditions but this ability can be impaired on occasions by dew / condensation within the camera perspex hemisphere, following previous rain (in last 24-48 hours). To help fill this gap it was previously proposed to develop a realtime analysis routine in AstroNorthCam that can calculate Cloud Cover or Proxy from NorthCam Images, and make that data available to AstroMain. This may not be so easy due to the difficult of distinguishing cloud during the changing light condition during the dawn/dusk/twilight period (and during Aurora ?). A more promising route is the recognition of stars and the transfer of number of stars (NorthCam StarCount) through to AstroAllSky & AstroMain. Attempts to do this in May 2025 encountered issues in creating algorithums that were sufficientally sensitive to stars without having a lot of false-detections (see S1330, 2025-05-27). This has now finally been resolved in AstroNorthCam 1.5.4 (2025-08-15) by implementing a neural net solution and successfully trained it to distinguish between stars and non-stars in 21 x 21 pixel patches surrounding candidate stars objects (see Fig 1). Finally the NorthSky Star Count can be shown visually on the NightSummaryPlot and on AstroMain's Observatory Tab in 'Stars (NorthCam)' data field. Working out the best way to utilise the NorthCam Star Count within automated Observatory Management now need to be analysed and implemented. Finally implemented in AstroMain 3.78.12.
Done 2025-11-30 (AstroMain 3.78.12)

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Fig 1. NorthCam Star Detection Results using new Neural Net solution.

Fig 1a) NorthCam image with stars (without false detections) - 00:01:54

FIg 1b) NorthCam image with clouds and few stars (without false detections)

Fig 1c) NightSummaryPlot

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This Web Page:	Notes - Session 1349 Attempt (2025-08-15)
Last Updated :	2025-12-05
Site Owner :	David Richards
Home Page :	David's Astronomy Web Site

David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1349 Attempt (2025-08-15)

Session Aims & Highlights (2025-08-15)

Operational Issues (2025-08-15 S1349A)

David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 1349 Attempt (2025-08-15)