David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1398 (2026-03-02)

Notes (S1397)

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Notes (S1399)

	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 2026-03-02  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-03-02)

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, 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 3.80.19, ,  AstroPlan 1.46.1, 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 1.17.7
  AstroAllSky 3.27.5, AstroWeather 1.29.5,   AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.1, AstroLaunch 1.14.6 / 1.14.8

Highlights

• Targets. 25/38 planned targets were completed with 1 target partially completed. Other planned targets failed due to cloud / wind/ threat of rain / session suspension or by replacement by ToO Target (AT2026cpv).  Images from one Target (29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) were later rejected due to bright moonlit sky.
• AstroMain. No significant issues with AstroMain 3.80.19
•  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 18:51:00 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:50 & 05:10 18:51:02 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:51) 18:51:09 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-03-02 S01398) 18:51:11   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:51:31   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 18:53:17   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:53:27 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:53:33 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-02) 18:53:35 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-02) 18:53:56   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 18:54:00   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.1) 18:55:06   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1194) 18:55:47   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:56:11 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:57:01   Wait On Weather Waiting for acceptable conditions 18:57:04 Session Suspending Session suspending 18:57:06   Dome Closed Dome already closed 18:57:08 Session Suspended Session suspended 18:57:41   Queue Started Observing Queue started (38 targets selected) 19:29:24     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (1/38, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) due to cloud 19:36:35 Session Resuming Session resuming 19:37:20   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 19:37:22 Session Running Session running 19:37:24   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 19:37:26     Target Started (2/38) Target started (2/38, GCVS RX And) 19:37:34       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:41:22       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:43:26       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:45:15       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:47:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:50:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:52:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:52:24     Target Failed (2/38) Target failed due to exceeded time slot (2/38, GCVS RX And) 19:52:27     Target Started (3/38) Target started (3/38, MCG +7-4-9 w/SN2026bss) 20:06:27     Target Completed Target partially completed (3/38, MCG +7-4-9 w/SN2026bss) 20:06:32     Target Started (4/38) Target started (4/38, GCVS Z And) 20:10:16       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:12:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:16:05     Target Completed Target completed (4/38, GCVS Z And) 20:16:09     Target Started (5/38) Target started (5/38, GCVS TV Cas) 20:19:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:21:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:23:53     Target Completed Target completed (5/38, GCVS TV Cas) 20:23:57     Target Started (6/38) Target started (6/38, M31 w/AT2026gs) 20:27:25       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 20:43:31     Target Completed Target completed (6/38, M31 w/AT2026gs) 20:45:04     Target Started (7/38) Target started (7/38, UGC 117 w/SN2026cbh) 20:48:58     Target Aborted (7/38) Target aborted (7/38, UGC 117 w/SN2026cbh) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 20:49:03     Target Started (8/39) Target started (8/39, Jupiter, ToO) 20:50:21   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 20:50:23   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 20:50:25     Target Aborted (8/39) Target aborted (8/39, Jupiter, ToO) due to cloud 20:50:27   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 20:50:29 Session Suspending Session suspending 20:51:12   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 20:51:14 Session Suspended Session suspended 20:59:52     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/39, Jupiter, ToO) due to cloud 21:16:18     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/39, GCVS ER UMa) due to wind 21:32:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/39, 43P/Wolf-Harrington) due to wind 21:53:38     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/39, AT2025acrt) due to wind 21:54:33 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:55:18   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 21:55:20 Session Running Session running 21:55:22   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:55:25     Target Started (12/39) Target started (12/39, AT2026dfh) 21:58:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:01:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 22:17:44     Target Completed Target completed (12/39, AT2026dfh) 22:18:43     Target Started (13/39) Target started (13/39, GCVS U Gem) 22:25:28       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:27:59       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:31:03     Target Completed Target completed (13/39, GCVS U Gem) 22:31:07     Target Started (14/39) Target started (14/39, GCVS U Mon) 22:34:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:37:01       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:42:14     Target Completed Target completed (14/39, GCVS U Mon) 22:42:18     Target Started (15/39) Target started (15/39, GCVS RR Leo) 22:46:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:48:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:54:12     Target Completed Target completed (15/39, GCVS RR Leo) 22:54:16     Target Started (16/39) Target started (16/39, GCVS AM Her) 22:55:00       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 22:59:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:01:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:07:25     Target Completed Target completed (16/39, GCVS AM Her) 23:07:30     Target Started (17/39) Target started (17/39, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:24:32     Target Completed Target completed (17/39, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:24:36     Target Started (18/39) Target started (18/39, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:29:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 23:41:48     Target Completed Target completed (18/39, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:41:52     Target Started (19/39) Target started (19/39, MCG +7-28-15 w/SN2025adje) 23:45:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:47:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 00:04:25     Target Completed Target completed (19/39, MCG +7-28-15 w/SN2025adje) 00:04:29     Target Started (20/40) Target started (20/40, AT2026cpv, ToO) 00:04:47       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 00:08:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:10:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:09:23     Target Completed Target completed (20/40, AT2026cpv, ToO) 01:09:25     Target Missed (21/40) Target's time slot was missed (21/40, AT2026cqc (CV)) 01:09:27     Target Missed (22/40) Target's time slot was missed (22/40, Vega) 01:09:29     Target Missed (23/40) Target's time slot was missed (23/40, GCVS RR Lyr) 01:09:31     Target Missed (24/40) Target's time slot was missed (24/40, Vega) 01:09:33     Target Missed (25/40) Target's time slot was missed (25/40, Vega) 01:09:35     Target Missed (26/40) Target's time slot was missed (26/40, 240P/NEAT) 01:09:37     Target Started (27/40) Target started (27/40, MCG -3-34-59 w/SN2023gb) 01:32:45     Target Completed Target completed (27/40, MCG -3-34-59 w/SN2023gb) 01:32:49     Target Started (28/40) Target started (28/40, 24P/Schaumasse) 01:36:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:39:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:48:50     Target Completed Target completed (28/40, 24P/Schaumasse) 01:48:54     Target Started (29/40) Target started (29/40, T CrB) 01:52:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:54:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:59:07     Target Completed Target completed (29/40, T CrB) 01:59:11     Target Started (30/40) Target started (30/40, AT2025acse (CV)) 02:04:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:06:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:22:45     Target Completed Target completed (30/40, AT2025acse (CV)) 02:22:49     Target Started (31/40) Target started (31/40, KIC 8462852) 02:26:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:28:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:32:34     Target Completed Target completed (31/40, KIC 8462852) 02:32:38     Target Started (32/40) Target started (32/40, AT2026cpv) 02:36:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:38:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 03:04:00     Target Completed Target completed (32/40, AT2026cpv) 03:04:04     Target Started (33/40) Target started (33/40, AT2023xfi) 03:24:45     Target Completed Target completed (33/40, AT2023xfi) 03:24:49     Target Started (34/40) Target started (34/40, AT2025nda) 03:29:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:31:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:48:08     Target Completed Target completed (34/40, AT2025nda) 03:48:12     Target Started (35/40) Target started (35/40, AT2025lc (CV)) 03:51:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:53:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:59:35     Target Completed Target completed (35/40, AT2025lc (CV)) 03:59:39     Target Started (36/40) Target started (36/40, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)) 04:03:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:05:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 04:30:47     Target Completed Target completed (36/40, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)) 04:30:51     Target Started (37/40) Target started (37/40, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:34:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:36:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 04:39:20     Target Completed Target completed (37/40, GCVS SS Cyg) 04:39:24     Target Started (38/40) Target started (38/40, GCVS BL Lac) 04:42:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:44:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 04:49:30     Target Completed Target completed (38/40, GCVS BL Lac) 04:49:34     Target Started (39/40) Target started (39/40, AT2025acsf) 04:53:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 05:09:43     Target Completed Target completed (39/40, AT2025acsf) 05:10:28     Target Started (40/40) Target started (40/40, AT2023tki) 05:14:20       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 05:30:43     Target Completed Target completed (40/40, AT2023tki) 05:30:45   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:30:47 Session Closing Session closing 05:31:34   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 48s, Zigbee 44s) 05:32:09   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 28s), Az: 90.1 deg 05:32:52   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 36s total) 05:33:16   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:34:13   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:35:37   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:35:39 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:36:57     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:37:44     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°) 05:37:50     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.5°) 05:37:52   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:38:00   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (18mA) 05:38:02 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:38:00 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (18mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-03-02 S1398)

• 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

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Extend AstroMain's FinaliseLogFile() routine to create a summary of exceptions, errors, warnings. It is proposed to create a new session file 'Observatory (error).htm)' which contains a summary of exceptions, errors, warnings by extracting rows from the Log File which are marked by "(alert)", "(error)", "(fail)", "(warn)" and "(ok)".  The file should contain hyperlinks to the 'Observatory (log).htm' file so that context of a specific error or exception can be explored. The 'Observatory (log).htm' file should be extended to include appropriate bookmark locations. WriteLatestSessionLogs() routine should be extended to copy the new (error) file to 'Live/Session.ObservatoryError.htm'  and AstroPlan should be extended to upload the file from the Live folder to the Observatory WebSite. Implemented in AstroMain 3.80.20 and AstroPlan 1.46.2.  Rows marked by "(user)" were added to the file on 2026-03-05.
  Fixed 2026-03-03 (AstroMain 3.80.20, AstroPlan 1.46.2, WebSite)

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