David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1417 (2026-04-05)

Notes (S1416)

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Notes (S1418)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (1),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	- Figures (1)
	Images from 2026-04-05  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-04-05)

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 (Reinstall), 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 1.4.1, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 7.1.0.4707
   
• AstroMain 3.81.5  AstroPlan 1.46.2, AstroShCap 1.3.23, AstroGuard 1.13.2  (any new items or versions in bold)
  AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 1.16,  AstroSN 1.16,  AstroProtect 1.10.6,  AstroMove 1.18.1
  AstroAllSky 3.27.7, AstroWeather 1.30.2,   AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.1, AstroLaunch 1.14.9

Highlights

• Targets. 18/23 planned targets were completed with 3 targets partially completed. 2 planned targets were missed due to injection of 2 ShCap targets into the job queue.
•  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 21:31:05 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:31 & 04:31 21:31:06 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:31) 21:31:12 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-04-05 S01417) 21:31:15   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:31:34   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 21:33:22   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:33:32 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:33:36 Session Pending Session pending (2026-04-05) 21:33:38 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-04-05) 21:34:02   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:34:08   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2) 21:35:38   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1217) 21:36:20   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:36:45 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:37:30   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 21:37:32 Session Running Session running 21:37:34   Queue Started Observing Queue started (23 targets selected) 21:37:39     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 21:37:54       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:40:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:43:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:45:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:45:15       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:47:10       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:49:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:49:22     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 21:50:36     Target Started (1/23) Target started (1/23, NGC 4205 w/SN2026fvx) 21:51:00       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:54:42       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 22:11:18     Target Completed Target completed (1/23, NGC 4205 w/SN2026fvx) 22:12:56     Target Started (2/23) Target started (2/23, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:17:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:20:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:25:39     Target Completed Target completed (2/23, GCVS RZ LMi) 22:25:44     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, M53, ToO). Using SharpCap 22:31:17       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 22:57:58       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 22:58:00     Target Completed Target completed (3/24, M53, ToO) 22:58:02     Target Missed (4/24) Target's time slot was missed (4/24, PCG 1013-0055) 22:58:05     Target Started (5/24) Target started (5/24, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:08:38     Target Completed Target partially completed (5/24, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:08:42     Target Started (6/24) Target started (6/24, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 23:29:24     Target Completed Target completed (6/24, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 23:29:28     Target Started (7/24) Target started (7/24, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx) 23:34:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:36:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 23:52:45     Target Completed Target completed (7/24, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx) 23:52:49     Target Started (8/25) Target started (8/25, NGC 5466, ToO). Using SharpCap 23:55:21       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:22:05       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 00:22:07     Target Completed Target completed (8/25, NGC 5466, ToO) 00:22:09     Target Missed (9/25) Target's time slot was missed (9/25, NGC 3861 w/AT2026ihi) 00:22:11     Target Started (10/25) Target started (10/25, PCG 1212+2235) 00:37:16     Target Completed Target partially completed (10/25, PCG 1212+2235) 00:37:20     Target Started (11/25) Target started (11/25, PCG 1151+2738) 00:40:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:56:59     Target Completed Target completed (11/25, PCG 1151+2738) 00:57:03     Target Started (12/25) Target started (12/25, PCG 1352+1234) 01:01:33       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 01:17:44     Target Completed Target completed (12/25, PCG 1352+1234) 01:18:36     Target Started (13/25) Target started (13/25, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc) 01:21:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:24:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:41:55     Target Completed Target completed (13/25, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc) 01:41:59     Target Started (14/25) Target started (14/25, 24P/Schaumasse) 01:42:54   Telescope Slew Telescope slew appears to have stalled 01:47:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:49:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:59:39     Target Completed Target completed (14/25, 24P/Schaumasse) 01:59:43     Target Started (15/25) Target started (15/25, 24P/Schaumasse) 02:13:20     Target Completed Target completed (15/25, 24P/Schaumasse) 02:13:25     Target Started (16/25) Target started (16/25, GCVS BL Lac) 02:17:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:19:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 02:24:27     Target Completed Target completed (16/25, GCVS BL Lac) 02:24:31     Target Started (17/25) Target started (17/25, T CrB) 02:25:01       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 02:28:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:30:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:35:01     Target Completed Target completed (17/25, T CrB) 02:35:05     Target Started (18/25) Target started (18/25, AT2026cqc (CV)) 02:39:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:42:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:48:04     Target Completed Target completed (18/25, AT2026cqc (CV)) 02:48:09     Target Started (19/25) Target started (19/25, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:51:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:53:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:57:06     Target Completed Target completed (19/25, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:57:10     Target Started (20/25) Target started (20/25, M31 w/M31N 2025-10a?) 03:00:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:17:03     Target Completed Target completed (20/25, M31 w/M31N 2025-10a?) 03:18:09     Target Started (21/25) Target started (21/25, NGC 7292 w/SN2026fov) 03:22:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:25:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 03:41:28     Target Completed Target completed (21/25, NGC 7292 w/SN2026fov) 03:41:33     Target Started (22/25) Target started (22/25, AT2026hur) 03:46:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 04:02:24     Target Completed Target completed (22/25, AT2026hur) 04:02:28     Target Started (23/25) Target started (23/25, KIC 8462852) 04:06:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 04:10:16     Target Completed Target completed (23/25, KIC 8462852) 04:12:47     Target Started (24/25) Target started (24/25, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 04:16:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:19:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 04:26:52   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:26:54   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:26:57     Target Aborted (24/25) Target aborted (24/25, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) due to cloud 04:26:59   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:27:02 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:27:52   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 04:27:55 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:32:03     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/25, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) due to cloud 04:32:37 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:33:22   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 04:33:25 Session Running Session running 04:33:27   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:33:29     Target Started (25/25) Target started (25/25, C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS)) 04:38:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:41:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 04:51:31     Target Completed Target completed (25/25, C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS)) 04:51:33   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:51:36 Session Closing Session closing 04:52:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s) 04:52:42   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 10s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:53:30   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 45s total) 04:53:54   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:54:16   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:55:41   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:55:44 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:56:36     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 04:57:31     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 04:57:37     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:58:22     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.8°) 04:58:28     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.8°) 04:58:30   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:01:30   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (95%, 14.9v) 05:01:32 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 22:06:12 Yellow Alert Dome Dome has been stationary for more than 15 mins 22:13:08 Green Alarm Dome Dome Movements have begun again (outage 21.9 mins) 01:42:54 Yellow Alert Telescope Slew Telescope slew appears to have stalled 01:43:00 Green Clear Telescope Slew Telescope slew has been successfully aborted following stall 05:01:30 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (95%, 14.9v)

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Operational Issues (2026-04-05 S1417)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Annotated AllSky Image are showing incorrect 'next 3' targets (23:50). When looking at the Annotated AllSky Image at around 23:50 it was noticed that whilst current target displayed in yellow (NGC 3689 w/SN) was correct,  the 'next-3' targets coloured cyan on the plot were not the next 3 targets in the job queue,  but were the previous 3 targets (already acquired).  Is this a one-ff glitch or has it being going on for some time. Is it related to recent start of DST.  A short while later the correct targets were being displayed. Subsequent review of all the AllSky Scope Pics confirmed the anomaly. Although there appears to have been an assoicated with the insertion of M53 target into the job queue this is not clear. To investigate further.  Seems to be several issues : a) AstroAllSky is plotting a cyan target 1-3 with same name as yellow target 0 - Fixed in AstroAllSky 1.27.8,,  b) AstroAllSky is plotting an old yellow target 0, even though operations have progressed to a new target.  ExecuteQueue calls UpdateTpnNextTargets(0). Examination of AllSky Scope' Images from S1418 session confirm that issue isn't related to insretion of ToO targets but is a general issue. It is unclear if the issue lies in AstroMain or in AstroAllSky. The requirements are as follows (note the next 3 targets should always be shown and labelled). The issue seems to relate to Scope.TargetName and NextTarget(0).TargetName
   If scope is waiting to slew to a target, 
  - the current scope position should be shown and labelled 'Scope'.
  - the active target should be shown and labelled  '0 (target name)
 If the scope is slewing to a target
  - the scope position shouldn't be shown
  - the active target should be shown and labelled  '0 (target name)
 If scope has reached target and is active in anyway
  - the active target should be shown and labelled 'target name'
 If scope is 'suspending' or 'suspended'
  - the scope poition should be shown and laballed 'suspending', 'suspending', 'resuming'
  - the active target shouldn't be shown, unless offset is > 20 deg.
  Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.81.7/AstroAllSky 1.27.9, and used in Session S1419, whilst it resolved one matter it had an unntended side effect in removing the current scope poistion. This was investigated. Bug found in recently modified 'PlotScope()' code was duly fixed in AstroAllSky 1.27.10.  Also fixed a bug in AstroMain 3.81.8 that was causing an exception and prevented logging of trace messages.
  Fixed  2026-04-12 (AstroMain 3.81.8,  AstroAllSky 1.27.10)
   
• Regular JPG pictures weren't being moved to Live Folder for upload to Web Site (21:58 to 04:42). Following successful modifications to ConvertZwoPngToJpg() routine to create detail JPG pictures for ShCap Targets a subsequent modication to ConvertFitsToJpg() routine unfortunatey introduced a bug that caused 'regular' JPG images from CCD Targets from the session to not be moved to the Live Folder and thus to be not uploaded to the Observatory website. Bug was found and fixed in AstroMain 3.81.6.
  Fixed  2026-04-06 (AstroMain 3.81.6)

Small Defects

• Telescope slew appeared to stall during slew to Target 14/25 (01:42). A yellow 'Telescope Slew' alert was raised during slew to Target 14/25 (24P/Schaumasse) at 01:42:54:with the message "Telescope slew appears to have stalled". A few seconds later a green all-clear was raised with the message "Telescope slew has been successfully aborted following stall". The logged slew path shows last significant movement was at T+17.6, after which the telescope stayed with an extended 'settling' state until the slew was aborted at T+47.2s.   Dome ended its slew after T+22.8s.  AstroMain correctlly implemented new slew monitoring procedures to abort the slew once 'stall' issue had been recognised  and ended the slew operation rather than wait to the 150s timeout, saving around 100s (See Fig 1).  Locate frame shows that telescope was 7.2' from target which is acceptable, as centering operation with reduce error to under 0.5' with 1 or 2 locate frames.
  Closed after review 2026-04-06 (Session, LX200, AstroMain)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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