David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1399 (2026-03-03)

Notes (S1398)

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Notes (S1400)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (2),  Continuous Improvement (0)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-03-03  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-03-03)

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 1.46.2, 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. 38/38 planned targets were completed. Image Sets from some targets may need to be rejected due to proximity to moon or cloud near horizon.
•  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 18:43:58 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:43 & 05:08 18:44:02   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:47:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:47) 18:47:23 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-03-03 S01399) 18:47:26   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 18:47:45   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 18:49:30   Services Started Observatory Services started 18:49:41 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 18:49:43   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars 18:49:45 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-03) 18:49:47 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-03) 18:49:49   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 18:49:58   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 18:50:05   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.1) 18:50:54   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1195) 18:51:36   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 18:52:01 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 18:52:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 18:53:07 Session Running Session running 18:53:10   Queue Started Observing Queue started (38 targets selected) 18:53:16     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 18:53:27       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 18:56:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 18:58:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:00:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:01:15       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:03:10       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:04:58       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:05:20     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 5, HIP 23569) 19:06:33     Target Started (1/38) Target started (1/38, C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)) 19:12:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 19:21:08     Target Completed Target completed (1/38, C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)) 19:21:13     Target Started (2/38) Target started (2/38, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 19:25:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:27:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 19:43:50     Target Completed Target completed (2/38, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 19:43:54     Target Started (3/38) Target started (3/38, MCG +7-4-9 w/SN2026bss) 19:47:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:49:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:05:50     Target Completed Target completed (3/38, MCG +7-4-9 w/SN2026bss) 20:05:54     Target Started (4/38) Target started (4/38, GSC 1224:29) 20:11:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 20:17:40     Target Completed Target completed (4/38, GSC 1224:29) 20:17:44     Target Started (5/38) Target started (5/38, GCVS TT Ari) 20:22:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:25:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 20:31:37     Target Completed Target completed (5/38, GCVS TT Ari) 20:31:41     Target Started (6/38) Target started (6/38, UGC 2885 w/SN2025aant) 20:35:12       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:37:27       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 20:54:01     Target Completed Target completed (6/38, UGC 2885 w/SN2025aant) 20:54:05     Target Started (7/38) Target started (7/38, 240P/NEAT) 20:57:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:59:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 21:10:27     Target Completed Target completed (7/38, 240P/NEAT) 21:10:31     Target Started (8/38) Target started (8/38, GCVS FU Ori) 21:14:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:16:25       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 21:18:56     Target Completed Target completed (8/38, GCVS FU Ori) 21:19:00     Target Started (9/38) Target started (9/38, GCVS RX And) 21:23:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:25:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 21:27:55     Target Completed Target completed (9/38, GCVS RX And) 21:27:59     Target Started (10/38) Target started (10/38, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 21:31:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:34:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 21:42:23     Target Completed Target completed (10/38, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 21:42:27     Target Started (11/38) Target started (11/38, GCVS CN Ori) 21:46:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:48:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 21:55:42     Target Completed Target completed (11/38, GCVS CN Ori) 21:56:05     Target Started (12/38) Target started (12/38, AT2022vdr (CV)) 21:59:39       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:02:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 22:08:24     Target Completed Target completed (12/38, AT2022vdr (CV)) 22:08:29     Target Started (13/38) Target started (13/38, AT2026coj (CV)) 22:12:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:14:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 22:30:58     Target Completed Target completed (13/38, AT2026coj (CV)) 22:31:02     Target Started (14/38) Target started (14/38, AT2025afsx) 22:34:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:36:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 22:53:03     Target Completed Target completed (14/38, AT2025afsx) 22:53:07     Target Started (15/38) Target started (15/38, AT2025acrt) 22:56:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:58:46       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 23:14:47     Target Completed Target completed (15/38, AT2025acrt) 23:14:52     Target Started (16/38) Target started (16/38, GCVS RR Leo) 23:18:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:20:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 23:25:44     Target Completed Target completed (16/38, GCVS RR Leo) 23:26:36     Target Started (17/38) Target started (17/38, M31 w/M31N 2026-02a) 23:32:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:48:11     Target Completed Target completed (17/38, M31 w/M31N 2026-02a) 23:48:37     Target Started (18/38) Target started (18/38, GCVS ER UMa) 23:52:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:55:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 23:59:09     Target Completed Target completed (18/38, GCVS ER UMa) 23:59:14     Target Started (19/38) Target started (19/38, GCVS RZ LMi) 00:02:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:04:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 00:09:58     Target Completed Target completed (19/38, GCVS RZ LMi) 00:10:32     Target Started (20/38) Target started (20/38, 43P/Wolf-Harrington) 00:14:32       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:16:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 00:27:43     Target Completed Target completed (20/38, 43P/Wolf-Harrington) 00:27:47     Target Started (21/38) Target started (21/38, 24P/Schaumasse) 00:32:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:34:12       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 00:43:50     Target Completed Target completed (21/38, 24P/Schaumasse) 00:43:54     Target Started (22/38) Target started (22/38, GCVS YZ Cnc) 00:47:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:49:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 00:56:08     Target Completed Target completed (22/38, GCVS YZ Cnc) 00:56:30     Target Started (23/38) Target started (23/38, UGC 4316 w/SN2025advo) 00:59:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:02:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 01:18:31     Target Completed Target completed (23/38, UGC 4316 w/SN2025advo) 01:18:35     Target Started (24/38) Target started (24/38, AT2025abul) 01:22:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:25:13       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 23) 01:41:28     Target Completed Target completed (24/38, AT2025abul) 01:41:32     Target Started (25/38) Target started (25/38, AT2026cqc (CV)) 01:44:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:47:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 24) 01:53:42     Target Completed Target completed (25/38, AT2026cqc (CV)) 01:53:46     Target Started (26/38) Target started (26/38, T CrB) 01:57:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:59:42       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 25) 02:03:49     Target Completed Target completed (26/38, T CrB) 02:03:53     Target Started (27/38) Target started (27/38, AT2026ceu) 02:07:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 02:24:39     Target Completed Target completed (27/38, AT2026ceu) 02:25:26     Target Started (28/38) Target started (28/38, GCVS CY Lyr) 02:28:54       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:31:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 26) 02:34:53     Target Completed Target completed (28/38, GCVS CY Lyr) 02:35:44     Target Started (29/38) Target started (29/38, AT2024emc (CV)) 02:39:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:41:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 27) 02:47:42     Target Completed Target completed (29/38, AT2024emc (CV)) 02:47:46     Target Started (30/38) Target started (30/38, GCVS CY Lyr) 02:51:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 02:55:19     Target Completed Target completed (30/38, GCVS CY Lyr) 02:58:02     Target Started (31/38) Target started (31/38, AT2022csa (CV)) 03:02:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:04:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 28) 03:10:48     Target Completed Target completed (31/38, AT2022csa (CV)) 03:10:52     Target Started (32/38) Target started (32/38, LEDA 68428 w/SN2025acqv) 03:14:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:17:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 29) 03:33:22     Target Completed Target completed (32/38, LEDA 68428 w/SN2025acqv) 03:33:26     Target Started (33/38) Target started (33/38, AT2025adxd) 03:37:05       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:53:52     Target Completed Target completed (33/38, AT2025adxd) 03:54:22     Target Started (34/38) Target started (34/38, GCVS BL Lac) 03:57:37       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 04:01:32     Target Completed Target completed (34/38, GCVS BL Lac) 04:04:40     Target Started (35/38) Target started (35/38, AT2023twq) 04:08:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:10:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 30) 04:27:07     Target Completed Target completed (35/38, AT2023twq) 04:27:11     Target Started (36/38) Target started (36/38, AT2023sze (CV)) 04:31:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:33:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 31) 04:49:33     Target Completed Target completed (36/38, AT2023sze (CV)) 04:49:37     Target Started (37/38) Target started (37/38, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)) 04:53:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:55:58       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 32) 05:22:03     Target Completed Target completed (37/38, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao)) 05:22:07     Target Started (38/38) Target started (38/38, GCVS EV Lac) 05:25:14       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 05:27:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 33) 05:30:18     Target Completed Target completed (38/38, GCVS EV Lac) 05:30:20   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:30:22 Session Closing Session closing 05:31:10   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s) 05:31:36   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 18s), Az: 90.0 deg 05:32:28   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 46s total) 05:32:52   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:33:49   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:35:12   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:35:15 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:37:02     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 05:38:01     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.5°) 05:38:07     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.6 to 93.6°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:38:53     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.4°) 05:38:59     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.4°) 05:39:01   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:40:10   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA) 05:40:13 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:40:11 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-03-03 S1399)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Next Forecast Rain unexpectedly showing 'Rain Current Data (20% 0.2'  (21:13). Although sky was totally clear with no sign of any threat of rain  the 'Next Forecast Rain' text box (txtNextRain) on the AstroMain's Manager tab showed 'Rain Current Data (20% 0.2'.   There was no sign of any rain or precipitation on the Weather Forecast chart created from API data from OpenWeatherMap.org. Similarly there was no sign of any rain on the Precipitation Forecast chart for Next 60mins, based on Radar Data. Investigating suggests that "Current Data" is being injected into displayed string by a call to FormatDataAge(time) where time is < 2 minutes old. However it doesn't appear to be happening in AstroMain, so prehaps it happens in AstroWeather.  Debugging shows that the following comes from across in the WeatherForecastData record "rain Current Data (20% 0.2mm/hr)"  'rain' is capitalised to "Rain" in AstroMain, and the "mm/hr)" is lost by a label width issue on the form (fixed). In AstroWeather NextRain is reported as "Rain in 26hr (20% 0.2mmhr)".  Debugging AstroWeather shows that GetER_NextRain()  which uses 'NextRainAge = GetDataAgeStr(ER.precipStartDateTime, DataAgeMins)' produces the expected value 'rain in 26hr (20% 0.2mmhr)' .  The NextAge field comes to AstroMain from AstroAllSky Synopsis.  Found issue with differences between how GetDataAgeStr() work and how GetDataAge() work.  Fixed by modifiying AstroAllSky 3.27.6 to use GetDataAgeStr() to get NextRain. Also fixed AstroWeather so it can send Forecast data to Laptop11.
  Fixed 2026-03-04 (AstroMain 3.80.20, AstroAllSky 3.27.6, AstroWeather 1.30.1)
   
• Safari still has issues displaying Report File with correct text size & alignment of underlined text. Safari has a persistent problem displaying the Report File as expected.  The text size of underlined text (using <u> & </u> tags) treats the text has having semantic meaning and makes it larger that it should be with the consequence that the text appears wider and causes following text to not be correctly aligned.  Any earlier workaround attempt doesn't solve the issue. Revisiting the issue using CoPilot showed that replace "<u>" by "<span class=""uline"">",   </u> by </span> and injecting a ".uline" ss block  to the page header. Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.20.
  Fixed 2026-03-04 (AstroMain 3.80.20)

Continuous Improvement

• None

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