David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1405 (2026-03-12)

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Notes (S1406)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (3),  Small Defects (7),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-03-12  >>
	OSC Image Acquistion, Stacking and Processing

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-03-12)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. ShCap Imaging/Processing.   Continue testing of AstroMain/AstroShCap routines and workflow including Siril scripts

 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 1.4.1, deCONZ 1.18.2, ASCOM 7.1.0.4707
• [ DomeLink 1.0 / 1.1 - not used ]
   
• AstroMain 3.80.25,  AstroPlan 1.46.2, AstroShCap 1.3.18 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 3.27.6, AstroWeather 1.30.1,   AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.1, AstroLaunch 1.14.6 / 1.14.8

Highlights

• Targets. 15/32 planned targets were completed with 2 targets partially completed. Other targets failed due to cloud / wind /  session suspension or were replaced by  4 ToO targets injected into the job queue (Berkeley 6, Berkeley 49, M37 and M44)
• ShCap Imaging/Processing.   Images collected from 7 ShCap targets (Berkeley 1, Berkeley 6, Berkeley 17, Berkeley 49, Berkeley 71, M37, M44)
•  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 19:05:06 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:05 & 04:43 19:05:06   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to rain 19:15:17 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:15) 19:15:23 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-03-12 S01405) 19:15:26   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:15:45   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 19:17:50   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:18:01 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:18:03   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to rain 19:18:05 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-12) 19:18:07 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-12) 19:18:26   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:18:29   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2) 19:19:11   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1203) 19:19:51   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:20:16 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:21:31   Wait On Weather Waiting for acceptable conditions 19:21:33 Session Suspending Session suspending 19:21:35   Dome Closed Dome already closed 19:21:37 Session Suspended Session suspended 19:22:11   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected) 19:26:36 User Intervention User Intervention to abort job queue & switch back to Manual Mode 19:26:39   Queue Aborted Job Queue aborted 19:26:41 Observatory (Manual) Observatory placed in Manual Mode 19:27:05 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:27 & 04:43 19:27:08 Observatory (AutoStart) Observatory placed in Auto-Start Mode 19:27:10   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to wind 19:38:37 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:38) 19:38:44 Session Resumed Session Resumed (Live, 2026-03-12 S01405) 19:38:53   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:39:00 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:39:02 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-12) 19:39:04 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-12) 19:39:17   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:39:26   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1203) 19:40:06   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:40:31 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:41:16   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 19:41:18 Session Running Session running 19:41:20   Queue Started Observing Queue started (32 targets selected) 19:41:26     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 19:41:41       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:45:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:47:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:50:07       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:50:27       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:52:15       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 19:53:42       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 19:53:59     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 9, HIP 44139) 19:54:01     Target Missed (1/32) Target's time slot was missed (1/32, UGC 5381 w/SN2025ahep) 19:56:58     Target Started (2/32) Target started (2/32, PCG 1013+2831) 20:00:45       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:03:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:19:34     Target Completed Target completed (2/32, PCG 1013+2831) 20:19:39     Target Started (3/32) Target started (3/32, SHK 54) 20:23:50       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:26:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:44:57     Target Completed Target completed (3/32, SHK 54) 20:45:01     Target Started (4/32) Target started (4/32, PCG 1045+1758) 20:46:01   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 20:46:03   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 20:46:05     Target Aborted (4/32) Target aborted (4/32, PCG 1045+1758) due to cloud 20:46:07   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 20:46:09 Session Suspending Session suspending 20:46:51   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s) 20:46:54 Session Suspended Session suspended 21:00:54     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/32, PCG 1045+1758) due to too few stars 21:01:28 Session Resuming Session resuming 21:02:13   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 21:02:15 Session Running Session running 21:02:17   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 21:02:20     Target Started (5/32) Target started (5/32, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 21:08:18       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 21:10:13     Target Aborted (5/32) Target aborted (5/32, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 21:10:17     Target Started (6/33) Target started (6/33, Berkeley 6, ToO). Using SharpCap 21:13:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:15:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:28:30       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:28:32     Target Completed Target completed (6/33, Berkeley 6, ToO) 21:28:35     Target Started (7/33) Target started (7/33, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 21:46:47     Target Completed Target partially completed (7/33, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 21:46:51     Target Started (8/33) Target started (8/33, AT2026evo (CV)) 21:49:28   Telescope Slew Telescope slew has timed out after 2.5 minutes 22:08:52     Target Completed Target completed (8/33, AT2026evo (CV)) 22:08:57     Target Started (9/33) Target started (9/33, Berkeley 1). Using SharpCap 22:11:13       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:13:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 22:27:54       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 22:27:56     Target Completed Target completed (9/33, Berkeley 1) 22:27:58     Target Started (10/33) Target started (10/33, Berkeley 6). Using SharpCap 22:32:21       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:34:32       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:45:51       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 22:45:53     Target Completed Target completed (10/33, Berkeley 6) 22:45:55     Target Started (11/33) Target started (11/33, 240P/NEAT) 23:01:52     Target Completed Target completed (11/33, 240P/NEAT) 23:01:56     Target Started (12/33) Target started (12/33, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 23:05:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:07:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 23:15:58     Target Completed Target completed (12/33, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS)) 23:16:02     Target Started (13/33) Target started (13/33, GCVS GK Per) 23:19:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:21:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:24:42     Target Completed Target completed (13/33, GCVS GK Per) 23:24:46     Target Started (14/33) Target started (14/33, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 23:29:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:31:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:47:37     Target Completed Target completed (14/33, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 23:47:41     Target Started (15/33) Target started (15/33, Berkeley 17). Using SharpCap 23:49:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:52:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 00:04:07       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 00:04:09     Target Completed Target completed (15/33, Berkeley 17) 00:04:11     Target Started (16/33) Target started (16/33, Berkeley 71). Using SharpCap 00:09:08       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:11:38       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 00:23:00       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 00:23:02     Target Completed Target completed (16/33, Berkeley 71) 00:24:12     Target Started (17/33) Target started (17/33, Berkeley 49). Using SharpCap 00:28:33       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:30:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 00:42:40       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 00:42:42     Target Completed Target completed (17/33, Berkeley 49) 00:42:45     Target Started (18/33) Target started (18/33, AT2026cpv) 00:48:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:50:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 01:23:57     Target Aborted (18/33) Target aborted (18/33, AT2026cpv) due to Priority 1 ToO Target 01:24:01     Target Started (19/34) Target started (19/34, Berkeley 49, ToO). Using SharpCap 01:26:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:28:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 01:41:17       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 01:41:19     Target Completed Target completed (19/34, Berkeley 49, ToO) 01:44:23     Target Started (20/34) Target started (20/34, Nova Per 2020) 01:48:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:50:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 02:06:56     Target Completed Target completed (20/34, Nova Per 2020) 02:07:00     Target Started (21/35) Target started (21/35, M37, ToO). Using SharpCap 02:09:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:11:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 02:31:15       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 02:31:17     Target Completed Target completed (21/35, M37, ToO) 02:31:19     Target Started (22/36) Target started (22/36, M44, ToO). Using SharpCap 02:36:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:37:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 02:57:04       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 02:57:06     Target Completed Target completed (22/36, M44, ToO) 02:57:08     Target Missed (23/36) Target's time slot was missed (23/36, M37) 02:57:10     Target Missed (24/36) Target's time slot was missed (24/36, T CrB) 02:57:12     Target Missed (25/36) Target's time slot was missed (25/36, NGC 6070 w/SN2026ejy) 03:00:08     Target Started (26/36) Target started (26/36, HIP 87937) 03:03:25       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:05:36       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:08:46     Target Completed Target completed (26/36, HIP 87937) 03:08:50     Target Started (27/36) Target started (27/36, GCVS CI Cyg) 03:12:47       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:14:54       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 03:18:05     Target Completed Target completed (27/36, GCVS CI Cyg) 03:18:53     Target Started (28/36) Target started (28/36, Nova Cas 2021 (Nova)) 03:22:48   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:22:50   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:22:52     Target Aborted (28/36) Target aborted (28/36, Nova Cas 2021 (Nova)) due to cloud 03:22:54   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:22:56 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:23:44   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s) 03:23:46 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:29:09     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (28/36, Nova Cas 2021 (Nova)) due to cloud 03:39:12     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (29/36, GCVS CY Lyr) due to cloud 03:57:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (30/36, Berkeley 50) due to wind 04:06:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (31/36, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 04:16:02     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (32/36, GCVS HH And) due to wind 04:24:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (33/36, WDS GRB 34) due to wind 04:31:49     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (34/36, 61 Cyg) due to wind 04:42:05     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (35/36, GCVS Z And) due to wind 05:11:40     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (36/36, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) due to wind 05:11:44   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 05:11:49 Session Closing Session closing 05:11:51   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 03:23, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s) 05:12:32   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 32s), Az: 90.1 deg 05:13:02       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 05:13:10       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 05:13:30   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 53s total) 05:13:54   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 05:14:50   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 05:16:16   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 05:16:19 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 05:16:56     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.2 to 92.2°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 05:17:40     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.6°) 05:17:46     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.7°) 05:17:48   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:18:04   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (11mA) 05:18:06 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 19:18:02 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (49.14 GB) is less than 50 GB 19:39:02 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (49.11 GB) is less than 50 GB 21:49:28 Yellow Alert Telescope Slew Telescope slew has timed out after 2.5 minutes 21:49:35 Green Clear Telescope Slew Telescope slew has been successfully aborted following timeout 05:16:51 Yellow Alert Disk Space Free Space on C:\ Drive (38.37 GB) is less than 50 GB 05:18:04 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (11mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-03-12 S1405)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (3)
• Small Defects (7)
• Continuous Improvement (3)
• Figures (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Realtime Jpg pictures for ShCap Targets and post-session processed image, like Berkeley 6, appear in black/white with no indication of any colour. Following issues with dark/featureless jpg pictures for Berkeley Open Clusters in last 3 sessions, the Siril script used to stack ASI178MC fits and generate Png files was modified prior to the S1405 session to resolves this. This was in part successful and the resulting pictures from Berkeley 6 show stars against a black background, but there was no indication of colour in the stars - they all appeared white (no red/orange of blue/white stars).  That the image is a colour file as shown by a few hot pixels which do show colour. Various things were hypothesised and tried out with no success.  Further investigation involving comparsion of Siril logs from processing runs in Mar 2023 with recent runs show  that the recent images have been created frame RAW16 frames using an incorrect Bayer Color Pattern during debayer operations.  The fundamental issue is that the Raw16 frames captured in SharpCap from the ZWO ASI178MC camera have a BAYERPAT  keword in FITS header with value "GBRG". However the correct pattern for these files is actually "RGGB".  After 1.4.1 was installed the option "(Use) Bayer Information from file's header if available" was ticked, and caused all debayering operations to use the incorrect pattern rather than the correct pattern. The option was unticked and bayer/mosaic pattern set to "RGGB" to force it's use. This was applied to both Observatory and Development Computers.
  Fixed  2026-03-14 (Session, SiriL)
   
• White Balance for ASI178MC Camera as defined in SharpCap is being reset when PHD2 connects to the camera.  Up until Mid July 2025 SharpCap used as White Balance of 70 (R) and 90 (B), and genreated good colour image resuls, but from that point onwards SharpCap has being using a White Balance of 50 (R), 50 (B) and in last few sessions it is evident  that SharpCap images are produced pictures which are lacking in good colour.  Daytime tests shows that after setting White Balance to 70 (R), 90 (B) in SharapCap, a swap of camera to/from PHD2 causes the White Balance to be overwritten and change to 50 (R), 50 (B). A fix has been made so that each time AstroMain assigns the Camera to SharpCap the WhiteBlance values in SharpCap ae set to 70 (R), 90 (B) using a new ShCap method 'SetWhiteBalance' with parameters WhiteBalR and WhiteBalB. Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.26 and AstroShCap 1.3.19.  Further data (Berkeley 50 in S1406 session) showed that White Bal 70/90 produced images with a dominant green color, so 70/90 is likely not optimal (70/90 produced too much green, 50/50 doesn't produced enough green)
  Fixed  2026-03-13  (AstroMain 3.80.26, AstroShCap 1.3.19)
   
• Siril 'PlateSolveAndSpcc' script failed with cryptic error message "FITS error: failed to create new file (already exists?):" (post-session).  During later post-session work the image set from for Berkeley 1, the result stacked and final images came out with a very flat black background, with no definition / detail and some expected faint stars where not visible.  The histogram plot showed  left hand part of the expected regular was cutoff at the zero line. Whilst the 'raw' frames had a better shape, th values where unexpected close to the lefthand end of the historgram range.  Median value was 130. This is a lot lower than the MasterDark (496-970 dependant on channel) and the subtraction of the MasterDark from the Light frames woud explain why the histogram was bing cut off. Examining the Stats on the pp_light frames showed it to have median values of -1039 to -523 (dependant on channel).  Investigating showed that the TakeImageFrames routine in AstroShCap was specifiying the use of an AutoDark Frame.  This meant that two MasterDark subtractions were being appled (one in SharpCap and one in the Siril, 'StackLightFrames' script.   The legacy use of a MasterDark (AutoDark) in AstroShCap was removed shortly after this, but the subtraction of the AutoDarks for some ImageSets in S1405 session, can't be undone.  This is why dark subtraction is now move to post-acqusition operation (in Siril)  rather than a syn-acquistion operation (in SharpCap). Issue resolved for Berkerly 1 images set, by using a Dummy MasterDark during stacking.
  Fixed ~2026-03-23 (AstroShCap, User Awareness)

Small Defects

• Disk Space on Observatory Computer has fallen to below 50 GB. Disk space on Observatory computer has fallen to 45 GB out of a total capacity of 474 GB.  Need to free up some space, prehaps by deleting SharpCap Image files or some older session folders which go back as far as S1069, 2022-12-12, Also need to look at possible options to add a second internal drive to the computer or add an external drive. Space is needed to perform to archive a backup disk image of the C:Drive. (for security/operational continuity). By end of session disk space on the computer was down to 37.7 GB. The Observatory Computer (an ASUS ExpertBook P2451FA-EB1438R) has room for a second internal drive.  According to technical specifications and teardowns of the ExpertBook P2 (P2451) series, the laptop supports a dual-storage design:  Primary Slot: M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD (usually pre-installed). Secondary Bay: 2.5-inch SATA HDD/SSD bay for storage expansion.  After removing folders that are no longer needed (or at least not critical) disk space was increased to 100 GB (2026-03-13).
  Resolved  2026-03-13 (Observatory Computer)
   
• Report Messages made it appear that AstroMain had frozen (19:22). Shortly after session started weather conditions seemed to temporarily deteriote (due to spike in wind speed), and session suspended but before noticing this, attention was drawn to report message "Loading Focus Fields...     Ok        24 focus fields loaded" and it was expected that this would be promptly followed up by a report message "Selecting Focus Field       Ok        Focus Field .." but the message didn't appear. ObsManager or the Job Executor should have been clearer and not caused the confusion. To investigate 
  To investigate 2026-03-12+ (AstroMain 3.80.26)
   
• Frames from Target 2/32 didn't show target circle (19:57).  Locate frames and other frames from Target 2/32 (PCG 1013+2831) didn't show a target circle. It is was initially thought that the locate frames had failed to plate solve/image link, but that was not the case. Locate 1 linked with pointing error of 5.89', whilst Locate 2 linked and passed acceptance with pointing error or 0.21'.  Although a Target Circle wasn't drawn a green Target Cross was drawn on Locate Frame. Same issue occurred for Target 3/32 (Shk 54).  There hasn't been any change to TargetInfo or ConvertFitsToJpg() routines since the last session. It is hypothised that the issue relates to a missing target circle radius associated with these new target (PCG and Shk).  To investigate and if necessary replay the target on the Development Computer (PCG 1013+2831, Target ID: 3793, #1405004-10) . Tests show the missing circle was due to absence of a circle radius in the Target Database and the absence of a fallback circle radius for this object type or project in the AstroMain Code,. PCG and Shk targets have been updated to include a circle radius
  Resolved 2026-03-12+ (Session, AstroMain)
   
• "Disconnect ShCap Camera" Report message was poorly formatted. The report message
   Disconnect ShCap Camera...  Ok        Disconnected                      (camera index: 0)
  has a minor defect "Disconnected" text should use a LPad18()  instead it seems to use a LPad28 or LPad30. and consequentlt does align well with adjacent records.
  Fixed 2026-03-13 (AstroMain 3.80.26)
   
• ObsOverseer produced a warning that TakeImageSet Task was taking a long time (21:26). ObsOverseer reported a warning at 21:26 with the message "TakeImageSet Task in TakeSecondaryScopeFrames/Imaging is taking a long time". Warning was given during the final part of the Stacking/Processing section.  Only this one ShCap Target  was given this warning.   It would seem the IAmAlive setup at start of TakeSecondaryScopeFrames() routine didn't allow sufficient time for the full operation.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.26 - a new IamAlive setup is placed at the beginning of the Stacking Section
    IamAlive(ThisRoutine(), "Stacking", "StackAndProcessShCapFrames", 5 * 60).
  Fixed 2026-03-13 (AstroMain 3.80.26)
   
• Telescope Slew Monitor timed out after 2.5 minutes and was aborted (21:46).  During the Slew Operation to Target 8/33 (AT2026evo) started at 21:46  a yellow 'Telescope Slew' alert was raised at 21:49:28 with the message "Telescope slew has timed out after 2.5 minutes" together with a green alert with message at "Telescope slew has been successfully aborted following timeout". This is an known occassional issue that was last seen during the previous S1404 session (see notes).  A partial solution was added to AstroMain 3.80.25 on 2026-03-10 that should spot the situation and abort the slew at a much earlier stage without waiting the full 2.5 minutes for the timeout.  Examining the Log file indicates that Telescope Slew began after 3.0s, and had more or less stopped slewing after 39.5s (acccording to angular changes, see Fig 1), but the Slewing Flag remained at 1 (True) for the remainder of the 2.5 minute monitoring.  Code examined and a bug found and fixed - 'LastSignificantAngularChange' wasn't been set correctly.  Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.26.
  Fixed 2026-03-13 (AstroMain 3.80.26)
   
• Contents section of finalised Session Report File has text size/spacing issues when viewed in Safari on IPad. This is the same issue that previously affected the main body of the report before it was fixed recently (2026-02-08 , AstroMain 3.80.9) . This fix (see notes) needs to be extended to include the Contents section. Fixed in AstroMain 3.80.26
  Fixed 2026-03-13 (AstroMain 3.80.26)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify contents part of finalised log file to show which targets failed due to cloud, missed start etc. The finalised Report File has a contents section which list the results of each target.   The finalised log file (htm version) shows a list of targets in session with hyperlinks, but it doesn't show the result of each target. It would be helpful if the finalised log file could similarly show the result. Its possible that the log file simply doesn't have the necessary information to allow this currently.  The contents has been modified to show session state which indicates which targets were executing when session was running and which were executing whilst session was suspended
  Done/Closed  2026-03-13+ (AstroMain 3.80.26)
   
• Add facility to AstroMove to display/report the size of remote folders. It would be useful to see/understand the size of remote folders. A low bandwidth/CPU method of accessing the size of remote folder has been developed via CoPilot and needs to be incorporated into AstroMove (see email) To be implemented in AstroMove 1.17.8.
  To do  2026-03-13+ (AstroMove 1.17.8)
   
• Perform detailed photometric analysis fo recent observing runs on transient AT2026cpv. A couple of hour long observations of AT2026cpv have been made in sessions S140x and S1405, which reported show brigtness variable of 0.3 mag over the course of an hour.  Star field needs to be setup to use vma2 analysis and datasets runs and analysed.
  To Do 2026-03-13+ (AstroMain Analysis/VMA)

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