David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1431 (2026-05-20)

Notes (S1430)

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Notes (S1432)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (1),  Continuous Improvement (4)
	- Figures (2)
	Images from 2026-05-20  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-05-20)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. AstroPlan. Check new AstroPlan 1.46.3 .xversion for any issues or problems following introduction of a a change to Create Session Plan GA.

 Equipment & Software

• 12" LX200 and ST-10XME
• 80mm APO and ZWO ASI 178MC
• TheSky6 6.0.0.65, CCDSoft5 5.0.201, DeviceHub 7.1.0.4707, MeadeGeneric 1.3.12.522, UPB 3, PulsarDome 6.4.0.0
• Peg-Unity 2.12, Peg-Focuser 2.12, Peg-Switch 2.12, TCF-LSI 3.3.5
• SharpCap 3.2.6482, PHD2 2.6.14, Siril 1.4.2, deCONZ 2.18.2, ASCOM 7.1.0.4707
   
• AstroMain 3.82.2, AstroPlan 1.46.3, AstroShCap 0.0, AstroGuard 1.13.2
  AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 1.16, AstroSN 1.16, AstroProtect 1.7, AstroMove 1.18.1
  AstroAllSky 3.27.10, AstroWeather 1.30.3, AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.2, AstroLaunch 1.14.9

Highlights

• Targets.10/12 planned targets were completed. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspensiion
•  AstroPlan.  New AstroPlan version (3.46.3) operated without any issues.
•  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 22:04:28 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 22:58 & 02:09 22:04:31   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 22:58 22:58:32 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (22:58) 22:58:38 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-05-20 S01431) 22:58:40   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 22:59:02   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 22:59:05   Telescope Power Telescope Power has turned off (external to AstroMain) 23:00:54   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:01:05 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:01:07 Session Pending Session pending (2026-05-20) 23:01:09 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-05-20) 23:01:33   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -15°C) 23:01:39   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.46.3) 23:03:26   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1232) 23:04:11   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:04:36 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:05:21   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee --) 23:05:23   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 23:05:25   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (0.0 mins total) 23:05:27 Session Running Session running 23:05:29   Queue Started Observing Queue started (12 targets selected) 23:05:32     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 23:05:46       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:09:41       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:11:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:13:55       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:14:06       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:15:52       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:17:26       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:17:44     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 14, HIP 69068) 23:23:07     Target Started (1/12) Target started (1/12, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:28:07       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:30:20       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 23:36:15     Target Completed Target completed (1/12, GCVS RZ LMi) 23:36:20     Target Started (2/12) Target started (2/12, NGC 3437 w/SN2026kie) 23:40:12       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 23:56:19     Target Completed Target completed (2/12, NGC 3437 w/SN2026kie) 23:57:05     Target Started (3/12) Target started (3/12, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:02:01       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:14:12     Target Completed Target completed (3/12, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann) 00:15:07     Target Started (4/12) Target started (4/12, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx) 00:18:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 00:35:12     Target Completed Target completed (4/12, NGC 3689 w/SN2026gwx) 00:37:27     Target Started (5/12) Target started (5/12, AT2025lc (CV)) 00:41:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:43:49       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 4) 00:49:51     Target Completed Target completed (5/12, AT2025lc (CV)) 00:49:56     Target Started (6/12) Target started (6/12, GCVS BL Lac) 00:53:20       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:55:39       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 00:59:43     Target Completed Target completed (6/12, GCVS BL Lac) 01:00:06     Target Started (7/12) Target started (7/12, IC 5191 w/SN2026myp) 01:03:55       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:06:16       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 6) 01:22:33     Target Completed Target completed (7/12, IC 5191 w/SN2026myp) 01:22:37     Target Started (8/12) Target started (8/12, NGC 5907 w/SN2026kid) 01:26:54       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is too dim (TCF-LSI) 01:43:05     Target Completed Target completed (8/12, NGC 5907 w/SN2026kid) 01:44:45     Target Started (9/12) Target started (9/12, T CrB) 01:48:35       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:50:48       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 7) 01:54:57     Target Completed Target completed (9/12, T CrB) 01:55:41     Target Started (10/12) Target started (10/12, AT2026jyw) 02:00:31       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 02:16:54     Target Completed Target completed (10/12, AT2026jyw) 02:18:01     Target Started (11/12) Target started (11/12, AT2026lck) 02:22:43       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 02:24:55   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 02:24:57   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 02:24:59     Target Aborted (11/12) Target aborted (11/12, AT2026lck) due to cloud 02:25:01   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 02:25:03 Session Suspending Session suspending 02:25:50   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 0s) 02:25:53 Session Suspended Session suspended 02:37:17     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/12, AT2026lck) due to cloud 03:00:25     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/12, GCVS CI Cyg) due to cloud 03:00:29   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 03:00:33 Session Closing Session closing 03:00:35   Dome Closed Dome already closed (closed at 02:25, closing time 50s, zigbee 0s) 03:01:20   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 35s), Az: 90.0 deg 03:01:59   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 34s total) 03:02:23   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 03:03:02   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 03:04:26   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 03:04:28 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 03:04:55     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 03:05:39     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.6°) 03:05:45     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.6°) 03:05:47   Dome Parked Dome parked 03:08:49   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (97%, 15.0v) 03:08:51 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 03:08:49 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (97%, 15.0v)

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Operational Issues (2026-05-20 S1431)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (1)
• Continuous Improvement (4)
• Figures (2)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• AstroMain PageBuilder is switching back to Unlocked Mode.  When accessing PageBuilder for a older sessions (specifically those before S1383, 2025-12-08)  the form correctly shows a 'Locked' status in order to prevent older manually-generated Session pages from being overwritten by a blank template page. However if a more recent Session is then subsequently opened, the PageBuilder Form retains the 'Locked' Status and gets in the way of updating the session page if needed. The behaviour of the PageBuilder Form was highly confusing until the issue was understood. Fixed in AstroMain 3.82.4.
  Fixed  2026-05-23 (AstroMain 3.82.3)

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroMain's PageBuilder/Graph tab to show the published state of the current graph.  It is proposed to enhance the Graph Tab with a textbox or label to indicate the published state of the currently shown graph.   This will be a field showing  'Auto-Published' (automtatically published when graph is created by MagnitudePlotter),  'Published' (published when user clicks the 'SaveGraph' button), or 'Unpublished' (graph is created and saved to Object's Store Folder, but not copied to web's image folder).  Implemented in AstroMain 3.82.3.
  Done 2026-05-21 (AstroMain 3.82.3)
   
• Re-analyse past images of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, measure & store comet's m2 magnitude and create a light curve.  Using existing processes for measuring magnitude from full-field comparison stars in CCDSof, storing the magnitude in phot_result table and graphing the data using AstroMain's new Magntitude Plotter it is proposed to move from purely image based documentation of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's 'explosive brightening' and subsequent dimming trends into graphical form.   It is not feasible or easy to measure the 'total magnitude' (m1) of the comet due to its varying shell diameter and varying star field .   Instead measurements will be made of the 'nuclear magnitude' (m2).  A VarStar entry has been created for 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann in AstroVma, with a 'MagGraph.C' graph to display Magnitude (C) vs Time. Reanalysis of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann's image from Nov 2025 to May 2026 completed on 2026-05-22.  Three outbursts occurred during this time (see Fig 1).
  Done 2026-05-22 (AstroMain, Web) 
   
• Re-analyse past images of transient AT2025lc, store transient's magnitude in photometric database and create a complete light curve.  Whilst older images of AT2025lc were analysed and magnitude recorded in text on the transient's web section at transients_2025.htm#AT2025lc the magnitudes weren't stored in the phot_resuly database, and can not be shown in the transient's light curve.  It it  proposed to go back and store magnitude measurements and completed a light curve graph for the the transient. Re-analysis of AT2025lc completed 2026-05-23, at least 3 outbursts visible (see Fig 2).
  Done  2026-05-23 (Transients 2025, WebSite) 
   
• Make small improvements to AstroMain's MagnitudePlotter to support production of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann light curve. Unlike variables where phot_measurements are compiled into phot_results or TDay's graphs which have customised symbol plotting,  29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann has phot_results produced by xxxx tool in Page Builder and has a number of non-detection limiting magnitude records, which are plotted as standard circle symbols and are joined by a line.  The Non-Detection LImiting Magnitude points need to be drawn with a ^ symbol and to be not be connection by a line.  Improvements implemented in AstroMain 3.82.3 (see Fig 1). .
  Done  2026-05-23 (AstroMain 3.82.3)

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