David's Astronomy Pages
 Notes - Session 1423 (2026-04-18)

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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 (1),  Continuous Improvement (0)
- Figures (1)
   
Bullet Images from 2026-04-18  >>           
   
   

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-04-18)

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
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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
20:59:52 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:13 & 03:59
20:59:55   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 21:13
21:13:46   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars
21:38:48 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:38)
21:38:55 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-04-18 S01423)
21:38:57   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.)
21:39:16   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch
21:41:03   Services Started Observatory Services started
21:41:14 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode
21:41:16   AutoStart Delayed Session delayed due to too few stars
21:41:19 Session Pending Session pending (2026-04-18)
21:41:21 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-04-18)
21:41:45   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -20°C)
21:41:51   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.2)
21:42:21   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1223)
21:43:03   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6)
21:43:27 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome
21:44:12   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s)
21:44:14   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started
21:44:16   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (0.0 mins total)
21:44:18 Session Running Session running
21:44:20   Queue Started Observing Queue started (20 targets selected)
21:44:24     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253)
21:44:34       Dome Unparked Dome unparked
21:49:49       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
21:52:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide)
21:54:19       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1)
21:54:27       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap)
21:56:17       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide)
21:58:05       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2)
21:58:27     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 10, HIP 49253)
21:58:54     Target Started (1/20) Target started (1/20, AT2026eva)
22:04:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:06:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3)
22:23:07     Target Completed Target completed (1/20, AT2026eva)
22:23:12     Target Started (2/20) Target started (2/20, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS))
22:37:59     Target Completed Target completed (2/20, C/2022 N2 (PANSTARRS))
22:38:03     Target Started (3/20) Target started (3/20, AT2026hix)
22:43:22       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
22:45:40       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4)
23:01:59     Target Completed Target completed (3/20, AT2026hix)
23:02:04     Target Started (4/20) Target started (4/20, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc)
23:22:41     Target Completed Target completed (4/20, UGC 5607 w/SN2026kc)
23:22:45     Target Started (5/20) Target started (5/20, GCVS CN Leo)
23:26:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:28:47       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5)
23:36:32     Target Completed Target completed (5/20, GCVS CN Leo)
23:36:37     Target Started (6/20) Target started (6/20, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
23:40:19       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
23:52:12     Target Completed Target completed (6/20, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann)
23:52:16     Target Started (7/20) Target started (7/20, UGCA 338)
23:56:40       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
23:58:56       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6)
00:14:59     Target Completed Target completed (7/20, UGCA 338)
00:15:04     Target Started (8/20) Target started (8/20, 24P/Schaumasse)
00:19:10       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:21:24       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7)
00:31:06     Target Completed Target completed (8/20, 24P/Schaumasse)
00:31:10     Target Started (9/20) Target started (9/20, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc)
00:34:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:37:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 8)
00:53:38     Target Completed Target completed (9/20, NGC 4914 w/SN2026fjc)
00:53:43     Target Started (10/20) Target started (10/20, PCG 1221+5548)
00:57:18       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
00:59:44       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 9)
01:15:47     Target Completed Target completed (10/20, PCG 1221+5548)
01:15:52     Target Started (11/20) Target started (11/20, AT2026hzf)
01:20:02       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
01:36:08     Target Completed Target completed (11/20, AT2026hzf)
01:36:49     Target Started (12/20) Target started (12/20, PCG 1516+0257)
01:40:49       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
01:57:13     Target Completed Target completed (12/20, PCG 1516+0257)
01:59:09     Target Started (13/20) Target started (13/20, AT2026juw (CV))
02:02:48       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:05:06       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 10)
02:11:08     Target Completed Target completed (13/20, AT2026juw (CV))
02:11:12     Target Started (14/20) Target started (14/20, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS))
02:14:43       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:17:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 11)
02:34:02     Target Completed Target completed (14/20, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS))
02:34:07     Target Started (15/20) Target started (15/20, M31 w/M31N 2026-04a?)
02:54:07     Target Completed Target completed (15/20, M31 w/M31N 2026-04a?)
02:54:11     Target Started (16/20) Target started (16/20, GCVS BL Lac)
02:57:30       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
02:59:50       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 12)
03:03:39     Target Completed Target completed (16/20, GCVS BL Lac)
03:03:43     Target Started (17/20) Target started (17/20, T CrB)
03:08:02       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:10:17       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 13)
03:14:25     Target Completed Target completed (17/20, T CrB)
03:14:30     Target Started (18/20) Target started (18/20, AT2026jyw)
03:18:23       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI)
03:34:30     Target Completed Target completed (18/20, AT2026jyw)
03:35:33     Target Started (19/20) Target started (19/20, AT2026jcv (CV))
03:39:36       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:42:10       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 14)
03:48:59     Target Completed Target completed (19/20, AT2026jcv (CV))
03:49:03     Target Started (20/20) Target started (20/20, GCVS AM Her)
03:52:27       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S)
03:54:45       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 15)
04:01:12     Target Completed Target completed (20/20, GCVS AM Her)
04:01:14   Queue Completed Job Queue completed
04:01:16 Session Closing Session closing
04:02:06   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 44s)
04:02:29   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 15s), Az: 90.0 deg
04:03:15   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 43s total)
04:03:39   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.'
04:04:01   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch.
04:05:29   Services Stopped Night Services stopped
04:05:31 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files)
04:06:29     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow)
04:07:15     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.4°)
04:07:21     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.4°)
04:07:23   Dome Parked Dome parked
04:10:22   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v)
04:10:24 Session Finished Session Finished
 
Session Alerts & Alarms
Time     Type       Name Detail
04:10:22 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v)
 

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Operational Issues (2026-04-18 S1423)

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Critical Issues

Major Issues

Minor Issues

Small Defects

Continuous Improvement

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Fig 1.  Frost slugs in corners of CCD Images in first few frames (Focus Field 10)

Image

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This Web Page Notes - Session 1423 (2026-04-18)
Last Updated : 2026-05-15
Site Owner : David Richards
Home Page : David's Astronomy Web Site