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 Notes - Session 1401 (2026-03-06)

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Bullet Session Aims & Highlights
 - Observing Result
 - Night Summary Plot
 - Session Event Log
Bullet Operational Issues
- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (0),  Continuous Improvement (4)
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Bullet Images from 2026-03-06  >>           
   
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-03-06)

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

Highlights

Notes

Summary Plots & Logs

Observing Plan
Image
  
Observing Result
Image
   
Image
 
Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
Image
  
Slew/Centering Performance
Image
  
Guiding Performance
Image
  
Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
Image 
  
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)
Image   
  
Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast
Image
Image
 
Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
18:54:35 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 18:54 & 05:00
18:54:37   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars
18:54:42 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (18:54)
18:54:48 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-03-06 S01401)
18:54:50   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
18:55:09   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch
18:56:56   Services Started Observatory Services started
18:57:06 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
18:57:08   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars
18:57:10 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-06)
18:57:12 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-06)
18:57:31   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C)
18:57:34   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2)
18:58:06   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1198)
18:58:46   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
18:59:10 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
18:59:55   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s)
19:00:35 Session Running Session running
19:00:38   Queue Started Observing Queue started (26 targets selected)
19:00:45     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 6, HIP 28634)
19:01:01       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
19:04:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:06:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
19:08:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
19:09:04       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
19:11:06       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
19:12:47       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
19:13:06     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 6, HIP 28634)
19:14:03     Target Started (1/26) Target started (1/26, AT2024wqf)
19:18:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI)
19:34:30     Target Completed Target completed (1/26, AT2024wqf)
19:36:22     Target Started (2/26) Target started (2/26, AT2026evo)
19:39:58       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
19:42:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
19:58:31     Target Completed Target completed (2/26, AT2026evo)
19:58:36     Target Started (3/26) Target started (3/26, 240P/NEAT)
20:01:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:04:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
20:14:50     Target Completed Target completed (3/26, 240P/NEAT)
20:15:26     Target Started (4/26) Target started (4/26, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv)
20:18:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:20:31       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
20:36:31     Target Completed Target completed (4/26, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv)
20:37:26     Target Started (5/26) Target started (5/26, AT2026eva)
20:41:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
20:43:53       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
20:59:50     Target Completed Target completed (5/26, AT2026eva)
20:59:54     Target Started (6/26) Target started (6/26, M88)
21:04:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:07:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
21:23:13     Target Completed Target completed (6/26, M88)
21:23:17     Target Started (7/26) Target started (7/26, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff)
21:27:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:29:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
21:45:37     Target Completed Target completed (7/26, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff)
21:45:41     Target Started (8/26) Target started (8/26, M87)
21:48:04       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
22:04:32     Target Completed Target completed (8/26, M87)
22:06:46     Target Started (9/26) Target started (9/26, M89)
22:10:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
22:26:33     Target Completed Target completed (9/26, M89)
22:29:06     Target Started (10/26) Target started (10/26, GCVS RR Leo)
22:32:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:34:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
22:40:00     Target Completed Target completed (10/26, GCVS RR Leo)
22:41:17     Target Started (11/26) Target started (11/26, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
22:45:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
22:57:48     Target Completed Target completed (11/26, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
22:59:19     Target Started (12/26) Target started (12/26, GCVS CN Leo)
23:04:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:06:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
23:14:06     Target Completed Target completed (12/26, GCVS CN Leo)
23:14:10     Target Started (13/26) Target started (13/26, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc)
23:18:07       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
23:34:15     Target Completed Target completed (13/26, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc)
23:35:22     Target Started (14/26) Target started (14/26, GCVS U Gem)
23:38:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:41:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
23:44:06     Target Completed Target completed (14/26, GCVS U Gem)
23:44:55     Target Started (15/26) Target started (15/26, GCVS SY Cnc)
23:48:35       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
23:51:48     Target Completed Target completed (15/26, GCVS SY Cnc)
23:54:32     Target Started (16/26) Target started (16/26, M95)
23:58:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:00:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
00:44:42     Target Aborted (16/26) Target aborted (16/26, M95) due to Priority 1 ToO Target
00:44:46     Target Started (17/27) Target started (17/27, 43P/Wolf-Harrington, ToO)
00:49:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:51:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
01:02:18     Target Completed Target completed (17/27, 43P/Wolf-Harrington, ToO)
01:03:32     Target Started (18/27) Target started (18/27, T CrB)
01:07:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:09:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
01:13:20     Target Completed Target completed (18/27, T CrB)
01:14:28     Target Started (19/27) Target started (19/27, NGC 6166)
01:17:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:20:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
02:56:32     Target Completed Target completed (19/27, NGC 6166)
02:56:36     Target Started (20/27) Target started (20/27, NGC 6070 w/SN2026ejy)
03:19:01     Target Completed Target completed (20/27, NGC 6070 w/SN2026ejy)
03:19:05     Target Started (21/27) Target started (21/27, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd)
03:22:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:24:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16)
03:40:43     Target Completed Target completed (21/27, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd)
03:40:47     Target Started (22/27) Target started (22/27, KIC 8462852)
03:44:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:46:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17)
03:50:25     Target Completed Target completed (22/27, KIC 8462852)
03:50:29     Target Started (23/27) Target started (23/27, GCVS SS Cyg)
03:53:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:55:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18)
03:59:01     Target Completed Target completed (23/27, GCVS SS Cyg)
03:59:49     Target Started (24/27) Target started (24/27, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao))
04:04:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:06:18       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19)
04:31:56     Target Completed Target completed (24/27, C/2026 B2 (Sun-Gao))
04:32:00     Target Started (25/27) Target started (25/27, GCVS BL Lac)
04:35:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
04:38:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20)
04:41:48     Target Completed Target completed (25/27, GCVS BL Lac)
04:41:52     Target Started (26/27) Target started (26/27, M31 w/M31N 2025-10a?)
04:45:32       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
05:01:37     Target Completed Target completed (26/27, M31 w/M31N 2025-10a?)
05:03:17     Target Started (27/27) Target started (27/27, 24P/Schaumasse)
05:07:57       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
05:18:14     Target Completed Target completed (27/27, 24P/Schaumasse)
05:18:16   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
05:18:19 Session Closing Session closing
05:19:07   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s)
05:20:05   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 51s), Az: 90.0 deg
05:20:41   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 33s total)
05:21:04   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
05:22:01   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
05:23:24   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
05:23:27 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
05:24:29     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide)
05:25:34     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.5°)
05:25:41     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.6 to 93.6°, Step 0.2°, Narrow)
05:26:29     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.6°)
05:26:35     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.6°)
05:26:37   Dome Parked Dome parked
05:29:37   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (95%, 14.9v)
05:29:39 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts & Alarms
Time     Type       Name Detail
05:29:37 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (95%, 14.9v)
 

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Operational Issues (2026-03-06 S1401)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

Continuous Improvement

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Misc notes:

AnalyseVariable_vma2

AnalyseStars_vma3

 ' Compile General Data in VarMeasurement object ' added 2025-04-14 (CI S1315)
' ---------------------------------------------
VarMeasurement.SessionId = Session.SessionID
VarMeasurement.VarStarName = VariableStarName
VarMeasurement.MeasurementMethod = "vma2"

If Trim(szTargetName) = "T CrB" Then
    VarMeasurement.MeasurementMethod = "vma2_TCrB"
End If
VarMeasurement.ImageNum = IV.ImageNum
VarMeasurement.GroupSet = fits_groupset
VarMeasurement.DateMeasurement = DateTime.Parse(sDateTime)
VarMeasurement.Filter = fits_filter
VarMeasurement.Exposure = fits_exposure
VarMeasurement.Altitude = fits_centalt
VarMeasurement.Airmass = fits_airmass

 ' Write Var Data
' --------------
VarMeasurement.StarName = VarStarRef
VarMeasurement.StarType = "V"
VarMeasurement.InstMag = RawMagV
VarMeasurement.Mag = CalMagV
VarMeasurement.SNR = SN_V
InsertPhotMeasurement(VarMeasurement)

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This Web Page Notes - Session 1401 (2026-03-06)
Last Updated : 2026-03-16
Site Owner : David Richards
Home Page : David's Astronomy Web Site