David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1397 (2026-02-28)

Notes (S1396)

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Notes (S1398)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (1),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-02-28  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-02-28)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6 6.0.0.65, CCDSoft 5.00.201, DeviceHub 7.1.0.4707, MeadeGeneric 1.3.12.522, UPB 3,  Pulsar Dome Firmware 1.51 & Driver 6.3.10
• Pegasus-UI 2.10, Peg-Focuser 2.10, Peg-Switch 2.10, TCF-LSI 3.3.5
• SharpCap 3.2, PHD2  2.6.13, Siril 1.0.6, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 7.1.0.4707
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.80.18, ,  AstroPlan 1.46.1, AstroShCap 1.3.16, AstroGuard 1.13.1  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 1.16,  AstroSN 1.16,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.17.7
  AstroAllSky 3.27.4, AstroWeather 1.29.5,   AstroObsCam 1.13, AstroNorthCam 1.8.1, AstroLaunch 1.14.6 / 1.14.8

Highlights

• Targets. 8/40 planned targets were completed with 1 target partially completed. Other planned targets failed due to cloud/session suspension or replacement by ToO Targets.  (Two ToO targets (29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann & 43P/Wolf-Harrington) were successfully completed.
• AstroMain. No significant issues with AstroMain 3.80.18
•  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 18:52:19 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-02-28 S01397) 18:52:21   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:53:19   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:54:35   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 18:56:09   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:57:05   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:58:54   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 18:59:03       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:59:23   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:02:35 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:02 & 05:15 19:02:37 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 19:02:39 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:02) 19:02:46 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2026-02-28 S01397) 19:02:55   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:03:02 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:03:04 Session Pending Session pending (2026-02-28) 19:03:06 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-02-28) 19:03:19   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:03:26   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.1) 19:04:06   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1193) 19:04:18   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:05:28 Session Running Session running 19:05:30   Queue Started Observing Queue started (40 targets selected) 19:05:37     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 19:08:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:10:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:13:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:13:03       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:14:56       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:16:48       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:17:10     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 19:18:54     Target Started (1/40) Target started (1/40, GCVS BL Lac) 19:26:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 19:30:08     Target Completed Target completed (1/40, GCVS BL Lac) 19:30:12     Target Started (2/40) Target started (2/40, UGC 117 w/SN2026cbh) 19:34:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:36:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:42:51   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 19:42:53   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 19:42:56     Target Aborted (2/40) Target aborted (2/40, UGC 117 w/SN2026cbh) due to cloud 19:42:58   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:43:00 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:43:46   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 19:43:49 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:48:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/40, UGC 117 w/SN2026cbh) due to cloud 20:03:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/40, GCVS TT Ari) due to cloud 20:13:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/40, GCVS RX And) due to cloud 20:32:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/40, UGC 2885 w/SN2025aant) due to cloud 20:51:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/40, 240P/NEAT) due to cloud 21:04:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/40, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud 21:13:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/40, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 21:22:44     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/40, GCVS U Gem) due to cloud 21:35:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/40, GCVS U Mon) due to cloud 21:47:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/40, GCVS RR Leo) due to cloud 22:01:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/40, GCVS CN Leo) due to cloud 22:18:13     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/40, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud 22:29:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/40, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 22:29:07 Session Resuming Session resuming 22:29:52   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 22:29:53 Session Running Session running 22:29:56   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 22:29:58     Target Started (15/40) Target started (15/40, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:34:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:36:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:42:13     Target Completed Target completed (15/40, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:42:17     Target Started (16/40) Target started (16/40, GCVS GK Per) 22:46:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:48:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:51:20     Target Completed Target completed (16/40, GCVS GK Per) 22:51:24     Target Started (17/40) Target started (17/40, GCVS FO Ori) 22:56:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:58:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:02:25     Target Completed Target completed (17/40, GCVS FO Ori) 23:02:29     Target Started (18/40) Target started (18/40, UGC 3028 w/SN2026gm) 23:06:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:08:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 23:24:16     Target Completed Target completed (18/40, UGC 3028 w/SN2026gm) 23:24:20     Target Started (19/40) Target started (19/40, SN 2025aedz) 23:27:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:30:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:46:24     Target Completed Target completed (19/40, SN 2025aedz) 23:46:28     Target Started (20/40) Target started (20/40, AT2025ahek) 23:50:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:53:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 00:09:13     Target Completed Target completed (20/40, AT2025ahek) 00:09:17     Target Started (21/41) Target started (21/41, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 00:13:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:16:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:28:18     Target Completed Target completed (21/41, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, ToO) 00:28:20     Target Missed (22/41) Target's time slot was missed (22/41, MCG +7-28-15 w/SN2025adje) 00:30:42     Target Started (23/41) Target started (23/41, T CrB) 00:35:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:38:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 00:43:21     Target Completed Target completed (23/41, T CrB) 00:43:25     Target Started (24/42) Target started (24/42, 43P/Wolf-Harrington, ToO) 00:56:25   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:56:27   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:56:30     Target Aborted (24/42) Target aborted (24/42, 43P/Wolf-Harrington, ToO) due to cloud 00:56:32   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:56:34 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:57:20   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 00:57:23 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:06:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (25/43, AT2026cpv, ToO) due to cloud 01:06:05     Target Missed (26/43) Target's time slot was missed (26/43, Vega) 01:06:07     Target Missed (27/43) Target's time slot was missed (27/43, Vega) 01:07:26 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:08:11   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 01:08:13 Session Running Session running 01:08:15   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:08:17     Target Started (28/43) Target started (28/43, GCVS RR Lyr) 01:13:36   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:13:39   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:13:41     Target Aborted (28/43) Target aborted (28/43, GCVS RR Lyr) due to cloud 01:13:43   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:13:45 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:14:32   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 01:14:33 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:18:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/43, Vega) due to cloud 01:33:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/43, 24P/Schaumasse) due to cloud 01:43:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/43, KIC 8462852) due to cloud 02:03:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/43, AT2025acse (CV)) due to cloud 02:25:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/43, AT2025acsf) due to cloud 02:47:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/43, AT2026cpv) due to cloud 03:09:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/43, AT2023xfi) due to cloud 03:23:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/43, AT2025lc (CV)) due to cloud 03:44:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/43, AT2025nda) due to cloud 04:06:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/43, AT2023sze (CV)) due to cloud 04:19:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/43, GCVS SS Cyg) due to cloud 04:38:35     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/43, AT2023twq) due to cloud 04:52:55     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/43, AT2022csa (CV)) due to cloud 05:23:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (42/43, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)) due to cloud 05:44:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (43/43, GCVS Z And) due to cloud 05:45:03   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:45:06 Session Closing Session closing 05:45:08   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 01:14, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s) 05:45:41   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 23s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:46:39   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 50s total) 05:47:02   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:48:05   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:49:29   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:49:32 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:49:59     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 05:50:56     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 05:51:03     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:51:48     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 05:51:54     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.0°) 05:51:56   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:53:47   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA) 05:53:49 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:53:47 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-02-28 S1397)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• AstroAllSky failed to roll over to 2026-02-28 , incorrectly naming files, and overwriting some files from 2026-02-27. When attempting to move session files from AllSky/Weather Computer to Development/Analysis Computer using AstroMove, certain source files couldn't be found.  Investigating show the absence of a 2026-02-28 folder on the AllSky G Drive and a deminitive folder for 2028-02-28 on the AllSky C Drive.  Image folders in 2026-02-27 folder included images from both 2026-02-27 & 2026-02-28.   NightSummaryPlots from 2026-02-28 where incorrectly labelled 2026-02-27 and had overwritten the correct equivalent files from 2026-02-27. Quite a mess to disentangle. Even after restarting AstroAllSky (prior to 09:00) still showed it was using a night date of 2026-02-27.   Issue would seem to be with the GetNightDate() function ?. Computer date was checked and was fine. No NightDate issues noted on Observatory Computer. Fix attemped in AstroAllSky  3.27.5 beta.  The cause of the issue couldn't initially be found (supporting the already noted need for refactoring AstroAllSky). In GetNightDateNow() routine, the existing code line
      dd = CStr(Microsoft.VisualBasic.Day(T)) '  Day(T) can't be used due to clash with an enum of same name.
was changed to
      dd = CStr(DateAndTime.Day(T))
  Problem still occured on 2026-03-01. The session didn't roll forward to 2026-03-02 following reentry to Daytime Mode.  Fixed in AstroAllSky  3.27.5. Night date is reset at bottom of main loop at the end of night / entry to daytime mode.  SunAlt is also used when setting NightDate when entering the AllSkyTakeFrames() routine.
  Fixed 2026-03-02 (AstroAllSky 3.27.5)

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• List of Raw Folders on Reduction tab showing folders from an earlier session (post-session).  After using AstroMain for a while including reduction of S1386 session and then analysis of S1385 & S1386 sessions, the ObsConsole form was closed and Reduction chosen from the Main Form, and the S1387 session opened.  After creating the session workbook, and grouping raw FITS files, the reduction tab was clicked. This opened the reduction tab with a list of raw folders that were from the S1386 session.  The list of folders from S1387 session were only shown after click refresh button.  Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.80.19. Extra calls to GetRawFoldersList()  added when opening passive Reduction Session, when clicking on 'Image Reduction' button, and when jumping to Reduced Mode.
  Fixed 2026-03-01 (AstroMain 3.80.19)
   
• Image Snippets pasted into Gallery Web Pages don't show a blank row between Image blocks.  AstroMain's PageBuilder has a facility for pasting an image block or pair of image blocks (comets) into clipboard as a html snippet, that can be pasted into a Gallery, SN, Transient or Comet web page in ExpressionWeb4.  But when viewed in a browser rows above/below image block are collapsed and don't provide the expected white space between Image blocks. White space is ok in the compiled Session Page.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.19, the necessary " " characters have been added to the 'empty' rows in above/below image block in btnBuildImageBlockSnippet_Click() routine.
  Fixed 2026-03-02 (AstroMain 3.80.19)
   
• Unable to create 'observatory (dome).log'  using AstroMain's 'Create Dome Log'. A new routine 'CreateDomeLog()' was recently introduced to AstroMain to create a simplied dome log based on Pulsar Dome ASCOM logs.  The initial implementation is unable to work if there was no Pulsar Log created on the night of a session, because the pulsar log was still open from a previous date. This was the case with S1397 session (2026-02-28) as the Pulsar log from 2026-02-27 was still open.  The CreateDomeLog routine needs to look back until it finds a date containing a Pulsar Log.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.19.
  Fixed 2026-03-02 (AstroMain 3.80.19)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroObsCam to roll-forward its session date at 09:00.  Currently AstroObsCam rolls its session date forward at 11:00.  To be consistent with AstroMain, the roll forward time should be changed to 09:00. Implemented in AstroObsCam 1.13.1.
  Fixed 2026-03-02 (AstroObsCam 1.13.1)

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