David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1395 (2026-02-26)

Notes (S1394)

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Notes (S1396)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (5),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (2)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-02-26  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-02-26)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. AstroMain. Check overall stability and capability of AstroMain 3.80.17 following continued refactoring of program.

 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 3.80.17, ,  AstroPlan 1.46, 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 1.17.4
  AstroAllSky 3.27.3, AstroWeather 1.29.5,   AstroObsCam 1.13, AstroNorthCam 1.7.4, AstroLaunch 1.14.6 / 1.14.8

Highlights

• Targets. 24/41 planned targets were completed with 1 target partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud/session suspension, images from at least 1 target were later rejected due to wind shake.
• AstroMain. AstroMain 3.80.17 operated ok during session except for issue with CCD Temperature & Cooler Power in EnvMonitor / CCDTemp Graph
•  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 18:22:40 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:22 & 05:20 18:22:42   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:48:10 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:48) 18:48:16 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-02-26 S01395) 18:48:18   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:48:39   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 18:50:27   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:50:38 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:50:40   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:50:42 Session Pending Session pending (2026-02-26) 18:50:44 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-02-26) 18:51:04   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 18:51:07   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46) 18:51:46   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1191) 18:52:29   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:52:59 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:53:45   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 18:54:10 Session Running Session running 18:54:13   Queue Started Observing Queue started (41 targets selected) 18:54:19     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 18:54:34       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:58:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:00:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:03:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:03:11       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:05:07       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:06:55       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:07:17     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 7, HIP 34070) 19:07:35     Target Started (1/41) Target started (1/41, GCVS BL Lac) 19:12:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:15:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:19:08     Target Completed Target completed (1/41, GCVS BL Lac) 19:19:13     Target Started (2/41) Target started (2/41, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 19:24:11       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:27:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 19:36:25     Target Completed Target completed (2/41, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 19:36:29     Target Started (3/41) Target started (3/41, GCVS RX And) 19:42:44     Target Completed Target completed (3/41, GCVS RX And) 19:42:48     Target Started (4/41) Target started (4/41, 240P/NEAT) 19:47:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:51:09       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Quadratic) 20:03:41     Target Completed Target completed (4/41, 240P/NEAT) 20:03:45     Target Started (5/41) Target started (5/41, GCVS NV Ori) 20:11:26     Target Completed Target completed (5/41, GCVS NV Ori) 20:11:30     Target Started (6/41) Target started (6/41, NGC 1588 w/AT2025ajvt) 20:15:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 20:32:12     Target Completed Target completed (6/41, NGC 1588 w/AT2025ajvt) 20:32:16     Target Started (7/41) Target started (7/41, GCVS CN Ori) 20:36:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:38:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:45:26     Target Completed Target completed (7/41, GCVS CN Ori) 20:45:31     Target Started (8/41) Target started (8/41, UGC 525 w/SN2025ahxd) 20:50:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 21:06:20     Target Completed Target completed (8/41, UGC 525 w/SN2025ahxd) 21:07:02     Target Started (9/41) Target started (9/41, WDS GRB 34) 21:10:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:12:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:14:34     Target Completed Target completed (9/41, WDS GRB 34) 21:15:30     Target Started (10/41) Target started (10/41, GCVS U And) 21:18:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:20:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:29:50     Target Completed Target completed (10/41, GCVS U And) 21:31:56     Target Started (11/41) Target started (11/41, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 21:35:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:37:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:46:10     Target Completed Target completed (11/41, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 21:46:28     Target Started (12/41) Target started (12/41, GCVS DY Per) 21:49:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:52:04       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 21:56:21     Target Completed Target completed (12/41, GCVS DY Per) 21:57:33     Target Started (13/41) Target started (13/41, GCVS HH And) 22:01:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:03:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 22:05:29     Target Completed Target completed (13/41, GCVS HH And) 22:05:50     Target Started (14/41) Target started (14/41, M31 w/AT2025agmm) 22:09:40       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 22:26:04     Target Completed Target completed (14/41, M31 w/AT2025agmm) 22:27:50     Target Started (15/41) Target started (15/41, GCVS SY Cnc) 22:32:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 22:35:49     Target Completed Target completed (15/41, GCVS SY Cnc) 22:37:27     Target Started (16/41) Target started (16/41, GCVS DX Cnc) 22:40:53       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 22:46:20     Target Completed Target completed (16/41, GCVS DX Cnc) 22:48:40     Target Started (17/41) Target started (17/41, GCVS RR Leo) 22:52:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:54:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 23:00:19     Target Completed Target completed (17/41, GCVS RR Leo) 23:00:51     Target Started (18/41) Target started (18/41, AT2025agtl) 23:04:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:20:44     Target Completed Target completed (18/41, AT2025agtl) 23:22:51     Target Started (19/41) Target started (19/41, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc) 23:28:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 23:44:09     Target Completed Target completed (19/41, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc) 23:45:11     Target Started (20/41) Target started (20/41, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 23:49:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:52:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:08:21     Target Completed Target completed (20/41, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 00:08:26     Target Started (21/41) Target started (21/41, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:30:23     Target Completed Target completed (21/41, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:30:27     Target Started (22/41) Target started (22/41, UGC 5381 w/SN2025ahep) 00:33:55       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:50:16     Target Completed Target completed (22/41, UGC 5381 w/SN2025ahep) 00:50:45     Target Started (23/41) Target started (23/41, IC 700 w/SN2025aico) 00:54:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:57:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 01:13:04     Target Completed Target completed (23/41, IC 700 w/SN2025aico) 01:13:09     Target Started (24/41) Target started (24/41, LEDA 2048051 w/SN2025lzw) 01:16:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 01:33:15     Target Completed Target completed (24/41, LEDA 2048051 w/SN2025lzw) 01:34:45     Target Started (25/41) Target started (25/41, AT2026ciw) 01:37:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:40:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:55:16   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:55:18   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:55:20     Target Aborted (25/41) Target aborted (25/41, AT2026ciw) due to cloud 01:55:22   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:55:24 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:56:11   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 01:56:14 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:16:01     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (26/41, CGCG 073-009 w/SN2024kbl) due to cloud 02:33:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (27/41, 24P/Schaumasse) due to cloud 02:44:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/41, GCVS R CrB) due to cloud 02:54:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/41, T CrB) due to cloud 03:14:36     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/41, AT2025nda) due to cloud 03:28:56     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/41, AT2025lc (CV)) due to cloud 03:37:23     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/41, Vega) due to cloud 03:51:20     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/41, GCVS RR Lyr) due to cloud 03:59:31     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/41, Vega) due to cloud 04:18:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/41, SN 2022vek) due to cloud 04:32:51     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/41, AT2025sdf (CV)) due to cloud 04:42:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (37/41, HIP 87937) due to cloud 05:01:14     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (38/41, AT2026ceu) due to cloud 05:15:34     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (39/41, Nova Ser 2025 (Nova)) due to cloud 05:25:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (40/41, GCVS CY Lyr) due to cloud 05:44:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (41/41, 61 Cyg) due to too few stars 05:44:11   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:44:13 Session Closing Session closing 05:44:15   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 01:56, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s) 05:44:55   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 30s), Az: 90.1 deg 05:45:41   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 39s total) 05:46:05   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:46:44   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:48:10   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:48:13 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:49:31     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:50:16     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 05:50:23     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.3°) 05:50:25   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:52:49   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (15mA) 05:52:51 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:52:49 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (15mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-02-26 S1395)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (5)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (2)
• Figures (0)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Session's CCD Temperature graph show temperature line jumping between expected values and zero.. Throughout the session all lines of the CCD Temperature graph kept jumping between their expected number and zero (or derivation thereof. Same issue in the session's 'Observatory (monitor).dat' file. Change was happening so quickly that this seems to be a data bug and not due to ccd cooling being turned on/off.   The ccd cooling & temperatures don't suggests alternating cooling ./ rewarming cycles. The localisation of the issue was confirmed by the FitsSummary File which shows normal CCD Temperatures of -15° and -20°C, through the session. Issue is associated with the EnvMonitor's ExecuteWorker() routine.  During times when unexpected values are drawn on chart, the monitor shows values 0.0 and 0.0 for CCD Temperature and CCD Cooling Power ('CCDtemp' and 'CoolerPower'  respectively) Code shows that values must have been 0.0 and not vcNull otherwise a blank field would have been written), When IsCamera1Accessible() = True the variables are assigned from CCDCamera.Temperature and CCDCamera.CoolerPower respectively.  If these variable are not assigned because gCameraConnected  = False or Flag.bRestartingCCDSoft = True or CCDCamera.CycleIsPending = True or IsCamera1Accessible() = false the ExecuteWorker's 0.0 default values for CCDTemp and CoolerPower are used (0.0).  Logs show no indication of the CCDCamera's CycleIsPending being true.    Issue could be related to new usage for Flag.bCamera1Connected  vs gCameraConnected.  Most likely issue is caused by IsCamera1Accessible() being due to raised flag 'Flag.bCamera1TakingImage' . Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.80.18 using LastCCDTemp and LastCoolerPower values when bCamera1TakingImage is true ( IsCamera1Accessible() = false)
  Fixed 2026-02-27 (Session, AstroMain)
   
• AstroNorthCam was running slowly, sometimes too slow to give a keogram line to AstroAllSky. After noticing occasional black line on the NorthCam Track on AstroAllSky's NightSummaryPlot, the AstroNorthCam program was monitored remotely and it is could be seen to be struggling and unable to read/use the exepcted number of iSpy frames in each 15s cycle. Performance seemed to be somewhat variable.   It is likely that the 100+ stars againist blue moonlit sky background was causing issues for AstroNorthCam's neural-net star detector. Fixed in AstroNorthCam 1.8.1 with assistance of Copilot.
  Fixed 2026-02-27 (Session, AstroNorthCam)
   
• Disk space on AllSky/Weather Computer is starting to get rather low.  Disk space on AllSky/Weather Computer has been falling over last two weeks and has reached just 19 GB.  Atttempt was made to regain disk space by deleting night folder in TapoCam/Objects folder, and Windows struggling to discover all the huge number of files (9,400,000).
  Fixed 2026-02-27 (Session, Explorer).
   
• AstroMove is unable to locate source for 5 aurora files when trying to transfer a session from observatory. For last few sessions is has been not that AstroMove has been unable to locate the source file for 5 out of 7 aurora files on the AllSky/Weather Computer.   Investigating shows that at some point the naming of files switched over from 'nightdate +1' to 'nightdate', presumably in AstroAllSky, but AstroMove wasn't modified accordingly. It is noted also that AstroMain's Create Local JPG files routine also hasn't been updated to work with the modified file name dates. .
  Fixed 2026-02-27 (AstroMove 1.17.7,  AstroMain 3.80.18)
   
• AllSky/Weater Computer ground to a halt due to insufficient resources / full memory (2026-02-27).   A number of issues struck the AllSky/Weather computer, AstroWeather crashed,  UltraVNC , Explorer, Mouse became non-responsive. Erro message indicted insufficient resources / full memory. The problem was most-likely a glitch associated with a Windows Explorer operation to delete 9,400,000 files from ../TapoCam/Objects. Resolved by restarting the computer.
  Fixed 2026-02-27 (AllSky/Weather Computer, Windows 11)

Small Defects

• Raw Rain Value is not being shown on AstroAllSky's More Tab. The 'RainSensor Correction' panel on program's More Tab has a 'Raw Rain' field, but it is not being filled in with a values but is filled by '--' instead..
  Done 2026-02-27 (AstroAllSky 3.27.4).

Continuous Improvement

• AstroNorthCam to be modified to not capture star object file by default. Whilst trying to regain disk space on the AllSky/Weather Computer an attempt was made to regain over 32 GB of space by deleting cropped images in a some 50 night folders in the ../TapoCam/Objects folder. Windows struggled in this task taking 8 hours to discover some 9,400,000 files. When a 10 hour night of clear sky with a  images taken every 15s, containing 100+ stars that corresponds to 240,000 stars.   It is unnecessary to retain these files and simply not saving them is the easiest way of achieving this.  It is proposed to have a setting's checkbox 'Save Star Images', with a default value unchecked.  The default will be to no longer save the small star pictures, but they would be saved if the checkbox is checked for diagnostics or other use. Checkbox added 2026-02-27 in AstroNorthCam 1.8.1.
  Done 2026-02-27 (AstroNorthCam 1.8.1)
   
• Add facility to AstroNorthCam that can retrospectively trim down folders and files in TapoCam/Objects folder.  Whilst trying to regain 30 GB disk space on AllSky/Weather Computer an attempt was made to delete files in a some 50 nightdate folders in the ../TapoCam/Objects folder. Windows struggled in this task taking 8 hours to discover some 9,000,000 files and still couning !). due to the numbers of small 'star' pics.  Is is hypothesed that the task would be quickly under vb.net that under Explorer.   The task could also be more selective.
  To do 2026-02-27 (Session,  AstroNorthCam)

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