David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1396 (2026-02-27)

Notes (S1395)

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Notes (S1397)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (2),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-02-27  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-02-27)

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 fix to EnvMonitor in AstroMain 3.80.18 that is intended to resolve issue with CCD Temperrture graph

 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 3.80.18, ,  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 3.27.4, AstroWeather 1.29.5,   AstroObsCam 1.13, AstroNorthCam 1.8.1, AstroLaunch 1.14.6 / 1.14.8

Highlights

• Targets. 28/43 planned targets were completed with 3 targets partially completed. Other planned targets failed due to cloud/session suspension. 3 ToO targets (3I/ATLAS, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Guo) & C/2024 J3 (ATLAS) were successfully completed, but a 2 other ToO targets (C/2026 A1 (MAPS) & 88P/Howell) failed due to cloud and due to horizon limit respectively.
• AstroMain. Fix to EnvMonitor is working AstroMain 3.80.18 operated ok during session except for reporting issue with CCD Temperature & Cooler Power.
•  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 18:53:13 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:53 & 05:18 18:53:14 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:53) 18:53:20 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-02-27 S01396) 18:53:22   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:54:01   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 18:55:49   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:56:00 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:56:04 Session Pending Session pending (2026-02-27) 18:56:06 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-02-27) 18:56:28   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 18:56:31   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46) 18:57:09   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1192) 18:57:53   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:58:17 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:59:03   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 18:59:33 Session Running Session running 18:59:36   Queue Started Observing Queue started (43 targets selected) 18:59:43     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 18:59:54       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:03:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:06:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:08:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:08:24       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:10:18       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:12:05       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:12:26     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 19:12:59     Target Started (1/43) Target started (1/43, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 19:17:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:20:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:28:49     Target Completed Target completed (1/43, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)) 19:28:54     Target Started (2/44) Target started (2/44, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), ToO) 19:32:28     Target Aborted (2/44) Target aborted (2/44, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), ToO) due to User Intervention 19:32:32     Target Started (3/44) Target started (3/44, UGC 3028 w/SN2026gm) 19:47:47   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 19:47:49   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 19:47:51     Target Aborted (3/44) Target aborted (3/44, UGC 3028 w/SN2026gm) due to cloud 19:47:53   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 19:47:55 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:48:42   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 19:48:45 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:59:15     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/44, GCVS FU Ori) due to cloud 20:09:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/44, GCVS RZ LMi) due to cloud 20:20:21     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/44, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 20:30:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/44, GCVS GK Per) due to cloud 20:46:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/44, 240P/NEAT) due to cloud 20:58:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/44, GCVS FO Ori) due to cloud 21:09:58     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/44, GCVS U Mon) due to cloud 21:15:00 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:15:45   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 21:15:47 Session Running Session running 21:15:49   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:15:52     Target Started (11/44) Target started (11/44, GCVS SU Tau) 21:25:33     Target Completed Target completed (11/44, GCVS SU Tau) 21:25:37     Target Started (12/44) Target started (12/44, GCVS TV Cas) 21:28:22   Telescope Slew Telescope slew has timed out after 2.5 minutes 21:33:15     Target Completed Target completed (12/44, GCVS TV Cas) 21:33:19     Target Started (13/44) Target started (13/44, M31 w/AT2025ahzx) 21:37:21       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 21:53:27     Target Completed Target completed (13/44, M31 w/AT2025ahzx) 21:53:32     Target Started (14/44) Target started (14/44, SN 2022vek) 21:57:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:59:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 22:16:11     Target Completed Target completed (14/44, SN 2022vek) 22:16:15     Target Started (15/44) Target started (15/44, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:37:44     Target Completed Target completed (15/44, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 22:37:48     Target Started (16/44) Target started (16/44, AT2026ciw) 23:00:42     Target Completed Target completed (16/44, AT2026ciw) 23:00:46     Target Started (17/44) Target started (17/44, UGC 2885 w/SN2025aant) 23:04:45   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 23:04:47   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 23:04:49     Target Aborted (17/44) Target aborted (17/44, UGC 2885 w/SN2025aant) due to cloud 23:04:51   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 23:04:53 Session Suspending Session suspending 23:05:40   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 23:05:43 Session Suspended Session suspended 23:17:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (17/44, UGC 2885 w/SN2025aant) due to cloud 23:39:00     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (18/44, SN 2025aedz) due to cloud 23:51:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (19/44, GCVS ER UMa) due to cloud 00:00:30 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:01:15   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 00:01:17 Session Running Session running 00:01:19   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:01:22     Target Started (20/44) Target started (20/44, GCVS RR Leo) 00:09:28     Target Completed Target partially completed (20/44, GCVS RR Leo) 00:09:32     Target Started (21/44) Target started (21/44, GCVS AM CVn) 00:18:00     Target Completed Target completed (21/44, GCVS AM CVn) 00:18:04     Target Started (22/44) Target started (22/44, CGCG 073-009 w/SN2024kbl) 00:38:28     Target Completed Target completed (22/44, CGCG 073-009 w/SN2024kbl) 00:38:32     Target Started (23/45) Target started (23/45, 3I/ATLAS, ToO) 00:42:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:56:31     Target Completed Target completed (23/45, 3I/ATLAS, ToO) 00:56:33     Target Missed (24/45) Target's time slot was missed (24/45, AT2025lc (CV)) 00:56:35     Target Started (25/45) Target started (25/45, AT2026cpv) 01:13:42     Target Completed Target partially completed (25/45, AT2026cpv) 01:13:46     Target Started (26/45) Target started (26/45, AT2026cqc (CV)) 01:16:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:18:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:25:41     Target Completed Target completed (26/45, AT2026cqc (CV)) 01:25:45     Target Started (27/45) Target started (27/45, UGC 9911 w/SN2023abq) 01:29:15       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 01:46:11     Target Completed Target completed (27/45, UGC 9911 w/SN2023abq) 01:46:15     Target Started (28/45) Target started (28/45, GCVS R CrB) 01:49:53       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:51:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:54:51     Target Completed Target completed (28/45, GCVS R CrB) 01:54:55     Target Started (29/45) Target started (29/45, GCVS U Her) 01:58:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:00:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 02:07:07     Target Completed Target completed (29/45, GCVS U Her) 02:08:30     Target Started (30/45) Target started (30/45, GCVS CY Lyr) 02:13:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:15:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 02:19:12     Target Completed Target completed (30/45, GCVS CY Lyr) 02:19:16     Target Started (31/45) Target started (31/45, GCVS CI Cyg) 02:23:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:25:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 02:28:42     Target Completed Target completed (31/45, GCVS CI Cyg) 02:29:11     Target Started (32/45) Target started (32/45, GCVS S Cyg) 02:32:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:34:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 02:44:13     Target Completed Target completed (32/45, GCVS S Cyg) 02:45:41     Target Started (33/45) Target started (33/45, GCVS AM Her) 02:50:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:52:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 02:57:15     Target Completed Target completed (33/45, GCVS AM Her) 02:57:19     Target Started (34/45) Target started (34/45, AT2025afuu) 03:01:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:04:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 03:21:07     Target Completed Target completed (34/45, AT2025afuu) 03:21:11     Target Started (35/45) Target started (35/45, AT2023ude (CV)) 03:24:44       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:30:55     Target Completed Target completed (35/45, AT2023ude (CV)) 03:31:21     Target Started (36/45) Target started (36/45, Vega) 03:36:50     Target Completed Target completed (36/45, Vega) 03:38:48     Target Started (37/45) Target started (37/45, AT2026ceu) 03:43:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:48:34       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed (failed QC check - Range) 04:04:51     Target Completed Target completed (37/45, AT2026ceu) 04:04:55     Target Started (38/45) Target started (38/45, 61 Cyg) 04:07:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:09:03       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 04:10:58     Target Completed Target completed (38/45, 61 Cyg) 04:11:02     Target Started (39/45) Target started (39/45, T CrB) 04:14:51       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:17:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 04:21:15     Target Completed Target completed (39/45, T CrB) 04:21:19     Target Started (40/45) Target started (40/45, CGCG 137-080 w/SN2025zpw) 04:24:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:27:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 04:43:21     Target Completed Target completed (40/45, CGCG 137-080 w/SN2025zpw) 04:43:26     Target Started (41/45) Target started (41/45, HIP 87937) 04:45:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:47:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 04:50:50     Target Completed Target completed (41/45, HIP 87937) 04:50:54     Target Started (42/45) Target started (42/45, Nova Ser 2025 (Nova)) 04:55:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:58:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 05:04:50     Target Completed Target completed (42/45, Nova Ser 2025 (Nova)) 05:04:54     Target Started (43/46) Target started (43/46, 88P/Howell, ToO) 05:04:59     Target Failed (43/46) Target failed due to horizon limit (43/46, 88P/Howell, ToO) 05:05:03     Target Started (44/46) Target started (44/46, AT2025sdf (CV)) 05:08:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 05:15:08     Target Completed Target completed (44/46, AT2025sdf (CV)) 05:15:12     Target Started (45/46) Target started (45/46, GCVS SS Her) 05:18:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:21:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 05:24:15     Target Completed Target completed (45/46, GCVS SS Her) 05:24:19     Target Started (46/47) Target started (46/47, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao), ToO) 05:28:24       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:30:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 05:42:08     Target Completed Target completed (46/47, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao), ToO) 05:42:13     Target Started (47/48) Target started (47/48, C/2024 J3 (ATLAS), ToO) 05:46:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:48:35       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 05:59:26     Target Completed Target completed (47/48, C/2024 J3 (ATLAS), ToO) 05:59:28     Target Missed (48/48) Target's time slot was missed (48/48, 24P/Schaumasse) 05:59:30   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:59:32 Session Closing Session closing 06:00:18   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 06:00:43   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 17s), Az: 90.0 deg 06:01:29   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 38s total) 06:01:53   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 06:02:50   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 06:04:15   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 06:04:18 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 06:05:50     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 06:06:48     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 06:06:55     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 06:07:42     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.3°) 06:07:48     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.3°) 06:07:50   Dome Parked Dome parked 06:10:49   Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.0 minutes 06:10:51 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 21:28:22 Green Clear Telescope Slew Telescope slew has been successfully aborted following timeout 21:28:24 Yellow Alert Telescope Slew Telescope slew has timed out after 2.5 minutes 06:10:49 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.0 minutes

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Operational Issues (2026-02-27 S1396)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• AstroPlan's Submit ToO form routines are calculating incorrect Az/Alt positions. After earlier bad guiding for planned target 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann and attempt was re-submit the comet as a ToO target. Its position on the Az/Alt Plot unexpectedly lay close to that of the Moon, and its altiude 3° was less than the 8° altitude shown in TheSky6. As a consequence the target couldn't be submitted. The altitude shown for another comet target was also noted to be incorrect. It is suspected that issue is due to use of a new Common routine. ConvertRaDecToAzAlt(). that expects Longitude in +ve East format, rather than the +ve West format previously used across the AstroSuite programs and in TheSky6.  Investigating shows that correctly signed Longitude value (+ve East) is passed to ConvertRaDecToAzAlt(), but it did show that the routine  is being sent Ra2000/Dec2000 rather than current time  Ra/Dec. Routines including GetAzAlt() which is used by SubmitToO have been modified to calculate and use Ra/Dec coordinates that have been precessed from Ra2000/Dec2000 coordinates. This difference changes Az/Alt values by 1-2° at most, and can not explain the large error in 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's position. Issue was determined to be repeatable during tests on Development Computer.  Fixed attempted in AstroPlan 1.46.1.
  Fixed 2026-02-28 (AstroPlan 1.46.1, User Awareness)
   
• Unable to acquire final targets as hoped. Waking early a remote check on the Observatory showed that skies were clear and session was running.  After submitting ToO's for 2 comet targets (C/2026 B2 (Sun-Guo) & C/2024 J3 (ATLAS) ), it was hoped that a further comet target (C/2023 R1 (PANSTARRS) could be submitted as a ToO once the final planned target (24P/Schaumasse) had been acquired.  This strategy failed as the 24P/Schaumasse missed its planned time slot having been displaced by ToO C/2024 J3 (ATLAS), and there was absolutely no time to then submit C/2023 R1 (PANSTARRS), before execution of the job queue was terminated and the session moving to the 'Closing' stage. User should have submitted C/2023 R1 (PANSTARRS) and 24P/Schaumasse as ToO's, whilst C/2024 J3 (ATLAS) was being acquired. Alternatively AstroPlan could be modified so that final target in job queue can be allowed to proceed even though it has missed its time slot. To review
  Fixed 2026-02-28 (AstroPlan 1.46.1, User Awareness/ToO's )

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• None

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