David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1403 (2026-03-08)

Notes (S1402)

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Notes (S1404)

	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 (3)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-03-08  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-03-08)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. ShCap Imaging/Processing.   Continue testing of AstroMain/AstroShCap routines and workflow including Siril scripts

 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 3.80.23,  AstroPlan 1.46.2, 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 3.27.6, AstroWeather 1.30.1,   AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.1, AstroLaunch 1.14.6 / 1.14.8

Highlights

• Targets.18/31 planned targets were completed with 1 target partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspension.   (Note: there two consecutive plans were created & executed during session: V1 plan (25 targets), V2 plan (6 targets)
• ShCap Imaging/Processing.   Images collected from 4 ShCap targets (Berkeley 17, Berkeley 19, Berkeley 69 and Berkeley 71)
•  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 19:10:40 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:10 & 04:54 19:10:42   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 19:10:52 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:10) 19:10:58 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-03-08 S01403) 19:11:01   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:11:20   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 19:13:07   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:13:17 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:13:19   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 19:13:22 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-08) 19:13:24 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-08) 19:13:46   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:13:49   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2) 19:14:48   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1200) 19:15:31   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:15:55 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:16:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 19:16:51 Session Running Session running 19:16:53   Queue Started Observing Queue started (25 targets selected) 19:17:00     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 6, HIP 28634) 19:17:14       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:21:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:23:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:25:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:25:25       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:27:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:28:34       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:28:51     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 6, HIP 28634) 19:30:17     Target Started (1/25) Target started (1/25, GCVS BL Lac) 19:34:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:36:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:40:37     Target Completed Target completed (1/25, GCVS BL Lac) 19:40:41     Target Started (2/25) Target started (2/25, UGC 525 w/SN2025ahxd) 19:44:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:46:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:02:51     Target Completed Target completed (2/25, UGC 525 w/SN2025ahxd) 20:02:55     Target Started (3/25) Target started (3/25, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 20:06:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:08:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:24:49     Target Completed Target completed (3/25, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 20:24:53     Target Started (4/25) Target started (4/25, AT2026evo (CV)) 20:28:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:30:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:46:39     Target Completed Target completed (4/25, AT2026evo (CV)) 20:47:16     Target Started (5/25) Target started (5/25, 240P/NEAT) 20:50:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:53:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:03:35     Target Completed Target completed (5/25, 240P/NEAT) 21:03:59     Target Started (6/25) Target started (6/25, Berkeley 69). Using SharpCap 21:06:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:08:33       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:17:41       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:17:44     Target Completed Target completed (6/25, Berkeley 69) 21:18:49     Target Started (7/25) Target started (7/25, Berkeley 71). Using SharpCap 21:22:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:25:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:34:33       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:34:35     Target Completed Target completed (7/25, Berkeley 71) 21:36:24     Target Started (8/25) Target started (8/25, Berkeley 17). Using SharpCap 21:39:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:41:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 21:49:38       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:49:40     Target Completed Target completed (8/25, Berkeley 17) 21:51:14     Target Started (9/25) Target started (9/25, Berkeley 19). Using SharpCap 21:54:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:57:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 22:05:33       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 22:05:35     Target Completed Target completed (9/25, Berkeley 19) 22:06:04     Target Started (10/25) Target started (10/25, NGC 744) 22:11:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:13:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 22:18:22     Target Completed Target completed (10/25, NGC 744) 22:18:26     Target Started (11/25) Target started (11/25, GCVS FU Ori) 22:21:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:24:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 22:26:53     Target Completed Target completed (11/25, GCVS FU Ori) 22:26:58     Target Started (12/25) Target started (12/25, AT2026eva) 22:30:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:32:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 22:49:19     Target Completed Target completed (12/25, AT2026eva) 22:49:23     Target Started (13/25) Target started (13/25, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:53:41       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:06:05     Target Completed Target completed (13/25, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:06:48     Target Started (14/25) Target started (14/25, UGCA 200) 23:11:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:13:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 23:36:02     Target Completed Target completed (14/25, UGCA 200) 23:36:06     Target Started (15/25) Target started (15/25, UGCA 277) 23:42:39       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 23:53:00   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:53:02   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:53:04     Target Aborted (15/25) Target aborted (15/25, UGCA 277) due to cloud 23:53:06   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:53:08 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:53:55   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 23:53:58 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:16:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/25, UGCA 285) due to cloud 00:45:28     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/25, UGCA 292) due to cloud 01:07:48     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/25, M63) due to cloud 01:21:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/25, T CrB) due to cloud 01:41:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/25, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) due to cloud 01:55:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/25, AT2026cqc (CV)) due to cloud 02:15:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (22/25, Z 160-45 w/SN2025abwt) due to cloud 02:32:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (23/25, 24P/Schaumasse) due to cloud 02:45:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/25, GCVS RR Leo) due to cloud 02:54:41 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:55:26   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 02:55:28 Session Running Session running 02:55:30   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:55:33     Target Started (25/25) Target started (25/25, IC 700 w/SN2025aico) 03:01:47   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:01:49   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:01:52     Target Aborted (25/25) Target aborted (25/25, IC 700 w/SN2025aico) due to cloud 03:01:54   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:01:57 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:02:47   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 03:02:50 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:14:13 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:14:53     Target Failed (25/25) Target failed (25/25, IC 700 w/SN2025aico) due to occluded view 03:14:55   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:14:58   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 03:15:00 Session Continuing Session continuing 03:15:11   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2) 03:15:31   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1201) 03:15:34 Session Running Session running 03:15:37   Queue Started Observing Queue started (6 targets selected) 03:15:48     Target Started (1/6) Target started (1/6, IC 700 w/SN2025aico) 03:19:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 03:35:30     Target Completed Target completed (1/6, IC 700 w/SN2025aico) 03:36:15     Target Started (2/6) Target started (2/6, T CrB) 03:41:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:43:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:48:19     Target Completed Target completed (2/6, T CrB) 03:48:23     Target Started (3/6) Target started (3/6, AT2026cqc (CV)) 03:49:42   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:49:44   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:49:46     Target Aborted (3/6) Target aborted (3/6, AT2026cqc (CV)) due to cloud 03:49:48   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:49:50 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:50:32   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:50:35 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:58:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/6, AT2026cqc (CV)) due to cloud 04:18:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/6, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) due to too few stars 04:21:15 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:22:00   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 04:22:02 Session Running Session running 04:22:04   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:22:07     Target Started (5/6) Target started (5/6, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)) 04:26:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 04:52:53     Target Completed Target completed (5/6, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)) 04:52:57     Target Started (6/6) Target started (6/6, AT2023vzm) 04:56:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:58:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 05:15:18     Target Completed Target completed (6/6, AT2023vzm) 05:15:20   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:15:22 Session Closing Session closing 05:16:10   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 05:16:29   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 12s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:17:14   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 41s total) 05:17:38   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:18:34   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:19:57   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:20:00 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:20:42     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:21:27     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.5°) 05:21:33     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.5°) 05:21:35   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:21:40   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (12mA) 05:21:42 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:21:40 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (12mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-03-08 S1403)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• AstroMain's 'Create Dome Log' routine misses out large part of S1402 session (post-session).  When retrospectively running 'Create Dome Log' for the S1402 Session (2026-03-07), the dome log creates output for 15:00 to 19:57:31.38 but misses out the remainder of the session. Running in debugger shows that 19:57:59.310 the routine believes that the calendar date has progressed by a day and finding that TimeRecord > 2026-03-08 09:00 it exits the loop. Bug was due to record not proceeding exactly in time stamp order. Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.24 . The triggering condition to progress calender date was changed from
    TimeRecord <  LastTimeRecord.Hour
  to
    TimeRecord.Hour = 0 And LastTimeRecord.Hour = 23
  Done  2026-03-09 (AstroMain 3.80.24)

Continuous Improvement

• Consider using '&#32;' literal spaces in Report and Htm Log versions instead of  '&nbsp;' .  This allows lines to break at spaces and not move as entire block when browser width is reduced.  The string is also 1 character shorter, reducing files sizes slightly. To work the following needs to be placed in <head> section of page
     <style>
     body {
       white-space: pre-wrap;
       font-family: "Courier New", monospace;
       }
   </style>
  Implemented in AstroMain 3.80.24 for Observatory (error).htm file. File size reduced from 28kb to 26kb.
  Done  2026-03-09 (AstroMain 3.80.24)
   
• Need to improve the post-session processing of ImageSets taken through the TS80 telescope using the ZWO 178MC camera.  At present images are taken through the TS80 (secondary scope) with the ZWO 178MC camera using SharpCap under the direction of AstroMain's Job Executor and the ShCap server. Files are registered and stacked using Siril. An attempt is made to make realtime .png picture files, but these are generally not suitable as the source of published pictures as they are too dark (at least for the recent images taken of Berkely Open Clusters are.  Gain used (375) is too high and needs to be redone with a gain of 75.  This review should also to account a separate Continuous Improvement ticket to facilitate publishing of 178MC picture using AstroMain's PageBuilder.
  Done  2026-03-09 (AstroMain 3.80.24+, SharpCap, Siril, PixInsight ? (future) )
   
• Need to integrate publishing of pictures/observations made using TS80/ZWO178MC into AstroMain's Page Builder. PageBuilder has now become the standard way of compiling images and metadata data in the format of a Session Web Page, however it currently only operates with the ImageSets created from FITS files taken with LX200/ST-10XME  and organised in folders using Excel FitsSummary, CCDSoft and AstroMain.  Currently the folder/files used by Page Building reside in a folders like
   C:\Data\CCD Imaging\Sessions\2026-03-07 S01402\UGC_622 3x3 180s C
  whist folder/files created by the current TS80/178MC (Sharcap) process reside in folders like :
    C:\Data\ZWO Imaging\SharpCap\2026-03-07 S01402\Berkeley 49
  The SharpCap's 178MC images (typically 3096x2080 at 1x1 binning, 12580 KB) are much larger than the CCDSoft images,(typically 728x490 at 3x3 binning, 712 KB)
  Being Implemented in AstroMain 3.80.25, a new button routine 'Create Proxy ImageSets' has been added to AstroMain's SharpCap tab, which creates ImageSet folder in the Sessions Main Folder  with a name like 'Berkeley_69 1x1 ShCap',  where ShCap is a critcal keyword. In the folder a file 'ImageSet.dat' is written containing Target Name (1st line) and TargetID (2nd line).  TargetID is determined from the TargetName using a new function 'ObservingDB.GetTargetIdFromName(TargetName, Session.SessionID)'.  The listboxObjectFolders_SelectedIndexChanged() routine has been modified to look for 'ShCap' keyword, read TargetID from the 'ImageSet.dat' file and derive Target details using a new setup routine 'GetObjectTargetDetailsShCap()' equivalent to the standard 'GetObjectTargetDetails()' routine. Furtherr work is required to handle multiple ShCap sets of same Target and to compile and pass image details (number of frames, exposure, gain,  binning etc). Implemented in AstroMain 3.80.28.
  Done  2026-03-18 (AstroMain 3.80.28 )

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