David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1407 (2026-03-15)

Notes (S1406)

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Notes (S1408)

	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 (1)
	- Figures (1)
	Images from 2026-03-15  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-03-15)

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.   Test revised script for producing realtime picture of TS80 ShCap targets

 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 3.80.27,  AstroPlan 1.46.2, AstroShCap 1.3.19 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. 26/28 planned targets were completed. One target was artially completed and another one missed its starts due to injection of 2 ToO targets (M37 and Jupiter).
• ShCap Imaging/Processing.   Images collected from 1 ShCap target (M37)
•  Dome. No issues open/closing shutter. Dome was successfully parked at the end of the session.

Notes

• There was a minor display of aurora during the evening.

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 19:19:04 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 19:19 & 04:35 19:19:05 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (19:19) 19:19:12 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-03-15 S01407) 19:19:14   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 19:19:33   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 19:21:23   Services Started Observatory Services started 19:21:34 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 19:21:36 Session Pending Session pending (2026-03-15) 19:21:38 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-03-15) 19:22:00   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 19:22:03   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2) 19:22:40   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1205) 19:23:20   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 19:23:45 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 19:24:30   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 41s) 19:25:05 Session Running Session running 19:25:08   Queue Started Observing Queue started (28 targets selected) 19:25:14     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 19:25:30       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 19:29:23       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:31:26       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 19:33:21       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 19:33:29       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 19:35:29       Focusing Failed Foc2 focusing failed (failed QC check - Range) 19:35:33     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 8, HIP 39357) 19:38:31     Target Started (1/28) Target started (1/28, SHK 98) 19:42:44       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 19:45:22       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 20:01:37     Target Completed Target completed (1/28, SHK 98) 20:01:41     Target Started (2/28) Target started (2/28, UGC 5381 w/SN2025ahep) 20:05:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:08:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 20:24:07     Target Completed Target completed (2/28, UGC 5381 w/SN2025ahep) 20:24:11     Target Started (3/28) Target started (3/28, SHK 53) 20:27:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 20:29:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 20:45:55     Target Completed Target completed (3/28, SHK 53) 20:45:59     Target Started (4/28) Target started (4/28, C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)) 20:50:22       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 20:59:01     Target Completed Target completed (4/28, C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)) 20:59:05     Target Started (5/29) Target started (5/29, M37, ToO). Using SharpCap 21:01:04       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:03:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 21:19:39       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C) 21:19:42     Target Completed Target completed (5/29, M37, ToO) 21:19:44     Target Missed (6/29) Target's time slot was missed (6/29, AT2026eva) 21:22:03     Target Started (7/29) Target started (7/29, GCVS ER UMa) 21:26:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:28:23       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 21:32:25     Target Completed Target completed (7/29, GCVS ER UMa) 21:32:29     Target Started (8/30) Target started (8/30, Jupiter, ToO) 21:42:36     Target Completed Target completed (8/30, Jupiter, ToO) 21:42:40     Target Started (9/30) Target started (9/30, GCVS RR Leo) 21:49:34     Target Completed Target partially completed (9/30, GCVS RR Leo) 21:49:38     Target Started (10/30) Target started (10/30, PCG 1021+3713) 22:08:40     Target Completed Target completed (10/30, PCG 1021+3713) 22:08:44     Target Started (11/30) Target started (11/30, PCG 1044+3536) 22:11:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:14:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 22:30:50     Target Completed Target completed (11/30, PCG 1044+3536) 22:30:54     Target Started (12/30) Target started (12/30, SHK 348) 22:34:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:37:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8) 22:53:10     Target Completed Target completed (12/30, SHK 348) 22:53:14     Target Started (13/30) Target started (13/30, PCG 1011+0841) 22:56:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 22:59:14       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9) 23:15:59     Target Completed Target completed (13/30, PCG 1011+0841) 23:16:04     Target Started (14/30) Target started (14/30, PCG 1054+1133) 23:38:26     Target Completed Target completed (14/30, PCG 1054+1133) 23:38:30     Target Started (15/30) Target started (15/30, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:42:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:45:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10) 23:56:58     Target Completed Target completed (15/30, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 23:57:02     Target Started (16/30) Target started (16/30, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc) 00:00:59       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:17:05     Target Completed Target completed (16/30, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc) 00:17:09     Target Started (17/30) Target started (17/30, PCG 1044+0248) 00:20:28       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 00:36:36     Target Completed Target completed (17/30, PCG 1044+0248) 00:38:54     Target Started (18/30) Target started (18/30, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 00:42:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:44:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11) 01:00:41     Target Completed Target completed (18/30, NGC 3660 w/SN2026cff) 01:01:14     Target Started (19/30) Target started (19/30, UGC 3028 w/SN2026gm) 01:05:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:07:57       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12) 01:23:55     Target Completed Target completed (19/30, UGC 3028 w/SN2026gm) 01:23:59     Target Started (20/30) Target started (20/30, M37). Using SharpCap 01:26:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:28:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13) 01:45:12       Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -25°C) 01:45:14     Target Completed Target completed (20/30, M37) 01:45:24     Target Started (21/30) Target started (21/30, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc) 01:50:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:53:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14) 02:09:49     Target Completed Target completed (21/30, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc) 02:09:53     Target Started (22/30) Target started (22/30, PCG 1026+3906) 02:14:01       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:16:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15) 02:32:45     Target Completed Target completed (22/30, PCG 1026+3906) 02:32:49     Target Started (23/30) Target started (23/30, M63) 02:36:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 02:38:15       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 16) 02:54:14     Target Completed Target completed (23/30, M63) 02:54:19     Target Started (24/30) Target started (24/30, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)) 02:58:56       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 03:12:18     Target Completed Target completed (24/30, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)) 03:12:22     Target Started (25/30) Target started (25/30, T CrB) 03:16:29       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:18:41       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 17) 03:22:45     Target Completed Target completed (25/30, T CrB) 03:22:50     Target Started (26/30) Target started (26/30, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 03:26:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:28:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 18) 03:44:48     Target Completed Target completed (26/30, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 03:44:52     Target Started (27/30) Target started (27/30, KIC 8462852) 03:48:34       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 03:50:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 19) 03:54:53     Target Completed Target completed (27/30, KIC 8462852) 03:54:57     Target Started (28/30) Target started (28/30, GCVS BL Lac) 03:58:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:00:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 20) 04:04:19     Target Completed Target completed (28/30, GCVS BL Lac) 04:05:06     Target Started (29/30) Target started (29/30, NGC 7292 w/AT2026fov) 04:09:05       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:11:29       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 21) 04:28:05     Target Completed Target completed (29/30, NGC 7292 w/AT2026fov) 04:28:09     Target Started (30/30) Target started (30/30, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 04:32:00       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 04:34:08       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 22) 04:50:07     Target Completed Target completed (30/30, UGC 622 w/AT2026epv) 04:50:09   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:50:12 Session Closing Session closing 04:51:00   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s) 04:51:37   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 29s), Az: 90.1 deg 04:52:33   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 51s total) 04:52:56   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:53:53   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:55:18   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:55:21 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:56:23     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 80.0 to 100.0°, Step 1.0°, Wide) 04:57:25     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.0°) 04:57:32     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 89.0 to 93.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:58:17     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 91.4°) 04:58:23     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -1.4°) 04:58:25   Dome Parked Dome parked 05:00:11   Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA) 05:00:13 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 05:00:11 Green Clear Dome Charging Dome is parked and re-charging Ok (17mA)

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Operational Issues (2026-03-15 S1407)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (2)
• Small Defects (0)
• Continuous Improvement (1)
• Figures (1)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• Exceptions during Capture of Manager and Observatory Tabs and panels (21:43 to 21:55). During a 12 minute interval between 21:43 and 21:55 there were 7 sets of 'Parameter is not valid' exceptions from ObsWorker thread whilst trying to capture AstroMain's Manager Tab, Observatory Tab and Panel.   The error sets were logged like this:
  21:43:44.65 | (error) Capture Manager     | Exception whilst trying to capture Manager ( FileName)
  21:43:44.65 | (error) Capture Manager     | Parameter is not valid.
  21:43:44.67 | (error) Capture Observatory | Exception whilst trying to capture Observatory ( FileName)    
  21:43:44.67 | (error) Capture Observatory | Parameter is not valid.
  21:43:44.68 | (error) Capture             | Exception whilst trying to capture ( FileName)
  21:43:44.68 | (error) Capture             | targetBounds
  The failure sets seemed to be an random or at least there was no logical connection to the activities of the Job Executor. The might relate to time interval when user was interacting with the form, but this is uncertain.  The call to 'Control.DrawToBitmap(bmTabShot, TabManager.ClientRectangle)' within the CaptureControl () routine is not thread safe when called from a background thread. Therefore the 3 calls to CaptureControl() should be marshalled onto the UI Thread. e.g
     objConsole.Invoke(Sub() objConsole.CaptureControl(TabManager, "Session.ObsManagerTab.png"))
  Fix attempted in AstroMain 3.80.28
  Fix attempted 2026-03-16 (AstroMain 3.80.28)
   
• Foc2 Aufofocusing at Near Zenith failed to focus the secondary scope (19:33). During AutoFocusing at Near Zenith Focus Field 8, all 16 guide frames where devoid of any star and no focus profile could be determined, leaving the Secondary Scope without a confirmed focus. Fortunately the focus on the TS80 secondary scope was adequate for guiding and imaging. Investigations showed that the determination of suitable guide star coordinates based on SharpCap's Locate frame, had chosen an inappropriate guide star coordinates, due to a rogue star inventory record which didn't reflect an actual star, causing all guide framesto be devoid of a star, let alone the expected star.  After acquiring Locate Frame in SharpCap, the frame is brought into CCDSoft , where the brightest star object is selected.  This normally works fine, but on this occasion a rogue non-star object was selected from the inventory at position 1561, 2070.  The brightest star and the one expected to be chosen was at position 1530, 994. (see Fig 1a)
      X       Y      Mag_Aper FWHM   Flags    Elong           A    B   Theta
 1561.201 2070.126  -6.8185 429.10 136 0.03 155.893 0.994 892.41 5.72  -0.0
 1778.491   51.093  -5.9876   3.34 000 0.13   1.755 0.430   1.13 0.65 -11.2
  280.662  314.558  -5.8570   6.48 000 0.14   1.669 0.401   1.40 0.84  10.2
  257.742  302.875  -5.8394   5.30 000 0.95   2.040 0.510   1.27 0.62  51.4
  329.294 1642.046  -5.8300   3.55 000 0.13   1.880 0.468   1.20 0.64  61.4
  545.482 1109.486  -5.8179   1.72 000 1.00   1.362 0.266   0.92 0.67 -67.8
The Inventory didn't contain the expected entry (later extracted uisng different StarThreshold)
 1530.905  994.468 -13.4787   3.21 000 0.02   1.039 0.038   2.73 2.63  -4.4
The object that was selected at 1561, 2070 simply shouldn't have been selected, it is a FWHM, Elong and Flag values that clearly indicate that object is not a star (guards need to be added to GetBrightestObject() routine). The selection process should have selected the first brightest star, in this case the one at 1778, 51.  However the inventory list doesn't contain the actual brightest star in image which is at 1530,994.  It would seem that the CCDSoft's SExtractor was using a 'Set Detection Threshold' of 2 or less instead of the default value of 8.0 or 15.0. The ZWO ASI Camera driver was updated from v3.25 to v3.37 earlier in the day but this shouldn't have caused any difference to the fits file being analysed. There were notable differences when the same image was displayed with a star inventory on the Development Computer (See Fig 1b / Fig 1c).  AstroMain 3.80.28 was modified to prevent the selection of a rogue object as the guide star. This fix to brightest star selection would still not have allowed the 'correct'  brightest star to be detected, based on this particular image.  Foc2 focusing should be monitored in the next session to see if the issue was just a glitch or whether it persists. There were no issues with Foc2 autofocusing during the following 3 sessions (S1408-S1410) and the issue is therefore closed after review 2026-03-23
  Closed after review 2026-03-23 (Session AstroMain 3.80.28)

Small Defects

• None

Continuous Improvement

• Session's (error.log) should be made to display better in Safari.  Currently when the Session.Error file (created by the FinaliseLogs() routine), is viewed in Safari/IPad it is shown with line breaks in log records on relative normal length records which don't promote the best understanding of the page content Safari if the record line is wider than a certain amount.  An improvement would allow Safari to view page with a wider width so that lines don't breaks.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.80.28 by the addition of the following line within the 'head' section of the file.
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=1600">
This is achieved using the following code that builds the file.
  writer_error.WriteLine(" <meta name=""viewport"" content=""width=1600"">") ' makes page 1600 px wide.
  Done 2026-03-16 (AstroMain 3.80.28)

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