David's Astronomy Pages
 Notes - Session 1421 (2026-04-13)

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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 (0)
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Bullet Images from 2026-04-13  >>           
   
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-04-13)

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
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Observing Result
Image
   
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Dome & Scope Slewing Performance
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Slew/Centering Performance
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Guiding Performance
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Sky Conditions (Locate Frames)
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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)
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Actual Weather vs Pre-Session Weather Forecast
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Session Event Log
Time     Event Detail
23:28:51 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:28 & 04:15
23:28:54 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:28)
23:29:00 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-04-13 S01421)
23:29:03   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
23:29:22   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch
23:31:06   Services Started Observatory Services started
23:31:17 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
23:31:20 Session Pending Session pending (2026-04-13)
23:31:22 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-04-13)
23:31:45   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C)
23:31:52   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2)
23:32:15   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1221)
23:32:58   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
23:33:23 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
23:34:09   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s)
23:34:11 Session Running Session running
23:34:13   Queue Started Observing Queue started (16 targets selected)
23:34:19     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 12, HIP 58514)
23:34:33       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
23:39:19       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:41:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
23:43:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
23:43:59       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
23:46:02       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
23:47:42       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
23:48:02     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 12, HIP 58514)
23:48:20     Target Started (1/16) Target started (1/16, GCVS ER UMa)
23:53:59       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:57:05       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
00:00:52     Target Completed Target completed (1/16, GCVS ER UMa)
00:00:56     Target Started (2/16) Target started (2/16, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
00:05:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:07:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
00:19:30     Target Completed Target completed (2/16, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
00:19:34     Target Started (3/16) Target started (3/16, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx)
00:23:09       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:25:28       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
00:41:24     Target Completed Target completed (3/16, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx)
00:41:28     Target Started (4/16) Target started (4/16, IC 700 w/SN2025aico)
00:44:52       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:46:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
01:02:50     Target Completed Target completed (4/16, IC 700 w/SN2025aico)
01:02:54     Target Started (5/16) Target started (5/16, PCG 1137+3234)
01:06:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:08:43       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
01:24:42     Target Completed Target completed (5/16, PCG 1137+3234)
01:24:46     Target Started (6/16) Target started (6/16, NGC 3861 w/SN2026ihi)
01:28:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:30:09       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
01:46:10     Target Completed Target completed (6/16, NGC 3861 w/SN2026ihi)
01:46:14     Target Started (7/16) Target started (7/16, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc)
01:50:31       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
01:53:02       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
02:09:03     Target Completed Target completed (7/16, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc)
02:09:07     Target Started (8/16) Target started (8/16, T CrB)
02:12:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:15:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
02:19:15     Target Completed Target completed (8/16, T CrB)
02:19:19     Target Started (9/16) Target started (9/16, NGC 4205 w/SN2026fvx)
02:23:54       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
02:39:56     Target Completed Target completed (9/16, NGC 4205 w/SN2026fvx)
02:40:56     Target Started (10/16) Target started (10/16, AT2026iul (CV))
02:45:06       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:45:49       Focusing Failed Foc1 focusing failed - star lost
02:52:30     Target Completed Target completed (10/16, AT2026iul (CV))
02:53:16     Target Started (11/16) Target started (11/16, GCVS BL Lac)
02:54:02   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome)
02:54:04   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud)
02:54:06     Target Aborted (11/16) Target aborted (11/16, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud
02:54:08   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension
02:54:10 Session Suspending Session suspending
02:54:57   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 44s)
02:55:00 Session Suspended Session suspended
03:02:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/16, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud
03:22:30     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/16, M31 w/M31N 2026-04a?) due to cloud
03:36:50     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/16, AT2026jcv (CV)) due to cloud
03:47:08     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/16, GCVS CY Lyr) due to cloud
04:02:46     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (15/16, 24P/Schaumasse) due to cloud
04:33:06     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (16/16, PCG 1513+1907) due to cloud
04:33:10   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
04:33:16 Session Closing Session closing
04:33:18   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:54, closing time 50s, zigbee 44s)
04:33:47   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 18s), Az: 90.0 deg
04:34:40   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 47s total)
04:35:04   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
04:36:01   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
04:37:23   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
04:37:26 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
04:37:48     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow)
04:38:31     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.6°)
04:38:38     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.6°)
04:38:40   Dome Parked Dome parked
04:41:41   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v)
04:41:43 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts & Alarms
Time     Type       Name Detail
02:35:40 Yellow Alert Dome Dome has been stationary for more than 15 mins
02:41:06 Green Alarm Dome Dome Movements have begun again (outage 20.5 mins)
04:41:41 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v)
 

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Operational Issues (2026-04-13 S1421)

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This Web Page Notes - Session 1421 (2026-04-13)
Last Updated : 2026-04-18
Site Owner : David Richards
Home Page : David's Astronomy Web Site