David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1427 (2026-04-29)

Notes (S1426)

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Notes (S1428)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (1)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-04-29  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-04-29)

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 3.81.11  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 3.27.10, AstroWeather 1.30.3   AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.2, AstroLaunch 1.14.9

Highlights

• Targets. 20/20 planned targets were completed. .
•  Dome. No issues open/closing shutter. Dome was successfully parked at the end of the session.

Notes

• .Skies clear, but affected by bright moon.

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 21:38:43 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:47 & 03:23 21:38:48   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:47 21:47:54 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:47) 21:48:00 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-04-29 S01427) 21:48:02   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:48:22   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 21:50:09   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:50:20 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:50:24 Session Pending Session pending (2026-04-29) 21:50:26 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-04-29) 21:50:51   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 21:50:56   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2) 21:51:41   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1227) 21:52:23   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:52:47 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:53:33   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee --) 21:53:34   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 21:53:36   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (0.0 mins total) 21:53:38 Session Running Session running 21:53:40   Queue Started Observing Queue started (20 targets selected) 21:53:43     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 21:53:51       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:58:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:00:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 22:02:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 22:02:57       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 22:04:51       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 22:06:35       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 22:06:55     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 11, HIP 53798) 22:22:54     Target Started (1/20) Target started (1/20, T CrB) 22:28:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:30:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 22:34:42     Target Completed Target completed (1/20, T CrB) 22:34:46     Target Started (2/20) Target started (2/20, UGC 4316 w/SN2025advo) 22:39:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:42:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:58:19     Target Completed Target completed (2/20, UGC 4316 w/SN2025advo) 22:58:23     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:02:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:05:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 23:17:08     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:17:12     Target Started (4/20) Target started (4/20, CGCG 008-040 w/SN2026jsg) 23:38:18     Target Completed Target completed (4/20, CGCG 008-040 w/SN2026jsg) 23:38:22     Target Started (5/20) Target started (5/20, GCVS CN Leo) 23:43:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:45:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 23:53:14     Target Completed Target completed (5/20, GCVS CN Leo) 23:53:18     Target Started (6/20) Target started (6/20, NGC 3437 w/SN2026kie) 23:57:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:59:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 00:15:41     Target Completed Target completed (6/20, NGC 3437 w/SN2026kie) 00:15:46     Target Started (7/20) Target started (7/20, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx) 00:18:57       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:21:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 00:37:19     Target Completed Target completed (7/20, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx) 00:37:23     Target Started (8/20) Target started (8/20, NGC 5907 w/SN2026kid) 00:41:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 01:01:01     Target Completed Target completed (8/20, NGC 5907 w/SN2026kid) 01:01:05     Target Started (9/20) Target started (9/20, GCVS R CrB) 01:06:59     Target Completed Target completed (9/20, GCVS R CrB) 01:07:03     Target Started (10/20) Target started (10/20, AT2026juw (CV)) 01:10:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:12:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 01:19:09     Target Completed Target completed (10/20, AT2026juw (CV)) 01:19:13     Target Started (11/20) Target started (11/20, NGC 7292 w/SN2026fov) 01:23:26       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:26:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:42:25     Target Completed Target completed (11/20, NGC 7292 w/SN2026fov) 01:42:29     Target Started (12/20) Target started (12/20, M31 w/M31N 2026-04c?) 01:45:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 02:02:16     Target Completed Target completed (12/20, M31 w/M31N 2026-04c?) 02:02:36     Target Started (13/20) Target started (13/20, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:05:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:07:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:11:09     Target Completed Target completed (13/20, GCVS SS Cyg) 02:12:58     Target Started (14/20) Target started (14/20, GCVS BL Lac) 02:16:15       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:18:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 02:22:19     Target Completed Target completed (14/20, GCVS BL Lac) 02:23:17     Target Started (15/20) Target started (15/20, UGC 12040 w/AT2026kux) 02:27:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:29:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:46:22     Target Completed Target completed (15/20, UGC 12040 w/AT2026kux) 02:46:26     Target Started (16/20) Target started (16/20, WDS GRB 34) 02:50:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:52:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:54:45     Target Completed Target completed (16/20, WDS GRB 34) 02:54:50     Target Started (17/20) Target started (17/20, AT2026jcv (CV)) 02:59:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:02:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:08:28     Target Completed Target completed (17/20, AT2026jcv (CV)) 03:08:32     Target Started (18/20) Target started (18/20, 10P/Tempel) 03:12:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:15:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:24:48     Target Completed Target completed (18/20, 10P/Tempel) 03:24:52     Target Started (19/20) Target started (19/20, 61 Cyg) 03:27:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:29:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:31:17     Target Completed Target completed (19/20, 61 Cyg) 03:31:21     Target Started (20/20) Target started (20/20, GCVS EV Lac) 03:34:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:36:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:39:27     Target Completed Target completed (20/20, GCVS EV Lac) 03:39:29   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:39:31 Session Closing Session closing 03:40:19   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 0s) 03:40:42   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 15s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:41:29   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 44s total) 03:41:53   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:42:49   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:44:16   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:44:19 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:45:06     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:45:50     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.6°) 03:45:55     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.6°) 03:45:57   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:48:59   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v) 03:49:01 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:48:59 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v)

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Operational Issues (2026-04-29 S1427)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Hyperlink to Session 'Error File not visible on Latest Session Web Page.  A hyperlink to Session's Error File ('live/Session.ObservatoryError.htm') prepared by javascript is normally displayed on the latest session page at the end of the session.   On this occasion (S1434) the page showed "Error File:   Document" with no hyperlink.   Later after uploading Session Notes and Session Image pages, hyperlinks links to these pages were also missing. Opening the web pages in MS Edge /Inspect revealed a couple of errors
  1) session_current.htm:215 HEAD
  https://www.astro-richweb.net/astro/live/Session.ObservatoryError.htm net::
  ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED 200 (OK)
2)session_current.htm:215 Uncaught NetworkError:
  Failed to execute 'send' on 'XMLHttpRequest': Failed to load 'https://www.astro-richweb.net/astro/live/Session.ObservatoryError.htm'.
  at doesFileExist (session_current.htm:215:9)
  at window.onload (session_current.htm:429:13)
 The Session,ObservatoryError.htm is confirmed to be present on website at correct location.. To investigate mplemented deemed finished in AstroMain 3.82.7
  Done 2026-04-28 (AstroMain 3.81.12 to 3.82)

Continuous Improvement

• Globally defined Fonts, Pens, Brushes should either not be used or cloned before use to prevent 'object currently in use' exceptions.  Graph drawing object/classes in AstroMain will occasionally encounter exceptions with messages like "Object is currently in use elsewhere". These are caught, but might limit the graphical information drawn on a particular chart in that Draw cycle.  The graph is drawn normally on the next draw cycle without the exception.  The issue doesn't cause a particular issue apart from being highlighted as Warnings in the Session's log file.  Problem occurs when two graph drawing threads happen to use the same pen, brush, font etc at the same moment.  The fix is to either a) clone the common object, e.g
    Using p = CType(blackPen.Clone(), Pen)
     g.DrawLine(p, ...)
  End Using
  b) use an inline new object, e.g
    Using p = New Pen (Color.Black, 2)
    g.DrawLine(p, ...)
  End Using
  c) use an equivalent set of pens, brushes, fonts etc created with each charts objects New() constructor.  This was gradually implemented over a period of time on a 'graph class' by 'graph class' basis. The task has reached the point that exceptions are no longer being encountered or only in the routines that remain to be translated.  Implemented deemed finished in AstroMain 3.82.7
  Done 2026-04-28 (AstroMain 3.81.12 to 3.82)

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