David's Astronomy Pages
 Notes - Session 1424 (2026-04-19)

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Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
Bullet Operational Issues
- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (1)
- Figures (1)
   
Bullet Images from 2026-04-19  >>           
   
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-04-19)

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

Highlights

Notes

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
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Observing Result
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Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
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Slew/Centering Performance
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Guiding Performance
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Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
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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)
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Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast
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Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
21:21:57 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:21 & 03:56
21:22:02   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars
21:39:19 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:39)
21:39:25 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-04-19 S01424)
21:39:27   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
21:39:46   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch
21:41:31   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:41:42 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:41:44   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars
21:41:46 Session Pending Session pending (2026-04-19)
21:41:48 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-04-19)
21:42:09   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C)
21:42:16   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2)
21:42:52   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1224)
21:43:33   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
21:43:57 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
21:44:43   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s)
21:44:46 Session Running Session running
21:44:48   Queue Started Observing Queue started (24 targets selected)
21:44:53     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253)
21:45:06       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
21:49:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:52:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
21:54:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
21:54:34       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
21:56:26       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
21:58:14       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
21:58:35     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253)
21:58:39     Target Started (1/24) Target started (1/24, GCVS SY Cnc)
22:02:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:05:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
22:08:29     Target Completed Target completed (1/24, GCVS SY Cnc)
22:08:34     Target Started (2/24) Target started (2/24, PCG 0939+1240)
22:12:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI)
22:28:44     Target Completed Target completed (2/24, PCG 0939+1240)
22:30:41     Target Started (3/24) Target started (3/24, PCG 1120+0744)
22:34:02   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
22:34:04   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
22:34:06     Target Aborted (3/24) Target aborted (3/24, PCG 1120+0744) due to cloud
22:34:08   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
22:34:10 Session Suspending Session suspending
22:34:57   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s)
22:34:58 Session Suspended Session suspended
22:49:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/24, PCG 1120+0744) due to cloud
23:11:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/24, NGC 3861 w/SN2026ihi) due to cloud
23:25:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/24, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud
23:39:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/24, GCVS YZ Cnc) due to cloud
23:56:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/24, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to cloud
00:16:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/24, LEDA 1284544 w/AT2026jol) due to cloud
00:38:57     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/24, PCG 1123+3559) due to cloud
00:51:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/24, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud
01:03:41     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/24, GCVS RR Leo) due to rain
01:23:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/24, AT2026idg) due to cloud
01:37:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/24, AT2026iul (CV)) due to cloud
01:49:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/24, AT2026juw (CV)) due to cloud
02:00:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/24, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud
02:10:42 Session Resuming Session resuming
02:11:27   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s)
02:11:29 Session Running Session running
02:11:31   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
02:11:33     Target Started (16/24) Target started (16/24, T CrB)
02:11:38     Target Failed (16/24) Target failed due to missed start time (16/24, T CrB)
02:12:04     Target Started (17/24) Target started (17/24, AT2026fkw (CV))
02:17:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI)
02:24:16     Target Completed Target completed (17/24, AT2026fkw (CV))
02:24:20     Target Started (18/24) Target started (18/24, M107)
02:29:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:31:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
02:42:14     Target Completed Target completed (18/24, M107)
02:42:18     Target Started (19/24) Target started (19/24, AT2026jcv (CV))
02:46:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:49:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
02:52:10   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
02:52:12   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
02:52:16     Target Aborted (19/24) Target aborted (19/24, AT2026jcv (CV)) due to cloud
02:52:18   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
02:52:20 Session Suspending Session suspending
02:53:11   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s)
02:53:12 Session Suspended Session suspended
03:12:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (20/24, M31 w/AT2026jnl) due to cloud
03:26:04     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (21/24, AT2026cqc (CV)) due to cloud
03:32:54 Session Resuming Session resuming
03:33:40   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s)
03:33:42 Session Running Session running
03:33:44   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed
03:33:46     Target Started (22/24) Target started (22/24, KIC 8462852)
03:41:25     Target Completed Target completed (22/24, KIC 8462852)
03:41:29     Target Started (23/24) Target started (23/24, AT2026jyw)
03:55:21   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
03:55:23   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
03:55:26     Target Aborted (23/24) Target aborted (23/24, AT2026jyw) due to cloud
03:55:28   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
03:55:30 Session Suspending Session suspending
03:56:17   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s)
03:56:18 Session Suspended Session suspended
04:20:42     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (24/24, AT2026iqe (CV)) due to too few stars
04:20:47   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
04:20:49 Session Closing Session closing
04:20:51   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:56, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s)
04:21:44   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 43s), Az: 90.0 deg
04:22:18   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 28s total)
04:22:42   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
04:23:39   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
04:25:01   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
04:25:04 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
04:25:21     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow)
04:26:07     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°)
04:26:13     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°)
04:26:15   Dome Parked Dome parked
04:29:14   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (95%, 14.9v)
04:29:16 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts & Alarms
Time     Type       Name Detail
04:29:14 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (95%, 14.9v)
 

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Operational Issues (2026-04-19 S1424)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

Continuous Improvement

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Fig 1.  Page Builder Tabs (NGC 4205 w/SN2026fvx), including new Graph tab

 Fig 1a. Image tab
Image
 
 Fig 1b. New Graph tab
Image

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This Web Page Notes - Session 1424 (2026-04-19)
Last Updated : 2026-04-23
Site Owner : David Richards
Home Page : David's Astronomy Web Site