David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1433 (2026-05-28)

Notes (S1432)

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Notes (S1434)

	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 (2)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-05-28  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-05-28)

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

• 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 3.82.5, AstroPlan 1.47, AstroShCap 0.0, AstroGuard 1.13.2
  AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 1.16, AstroSN 1.16, AstroProtect 1.7, AstroMove ?
  AstroAllSky 3.27.10, AstroWeather 1.30.3, AstroObsCam 1.13.1, AstroNorthCam 1.8.2, AstroLaunch 1.14.9

Highlights

• Targets. 4/9 planned targets were completed . Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspensiion. Images from 1 target (AM Her) were later rejected due to cloud
•  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 22:48:26 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 23:31 & 01:37 22:48:27   AutoStart Waiting AutoStart waiting till earliest start time at 23:31 23:31:56 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (23:31) 23:32:02 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-05-28 S01433) 23:32:04   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 23:32:26   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 23:34:13   Services Started Observatory Services started 23:34:23 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 23:34:26 Session Pending Session pending (2026-05-28) 23:34:28 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-05-28) 23:34:49   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 23:34:53   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.47) 23:36:32   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1234) 23:37:15   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 23:37:39 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 23:38:25   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 23:38:26   Equilibration Started Dome Equilibration started 23:38:28   Equilibration Ended Dome Equilibration ended (0.0 mins total) 23:38:30 Session Running Session running 23:38:32   Queue Started Observing Queue started (9 targets selected) 23:38:36     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 15, HIP 73454) 23:38:50       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 23:45:17       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 23:47:34       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 23:49:30       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 23:49:38       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 23:51:28       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 23:53:01       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 23:53:18     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 15, HIP 73454) 23:56:21     Target Started (1/9) Target started (1/9, T CrB) 00:00:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:02:51       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 3) 00:07:43     Target Completed Target completed (1/9, T CrB) 00:07:47     Target Started (2/9) Target started (2/9, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) 00:11:37       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 00:11:48   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:11:50   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:11:52       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 00:11:54     Target Aborted (2/9) Target aborted (2/9, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) due to cloud 00:11:56   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:11:58 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:12:43   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 00:12:46 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:26:33     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/9, UGC 11058 w/SN2026ewd) due to cloud 00:48:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/9, NGC 4205 w/SN2026fvx) due to cloud 00:50:27 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:51:12   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 00:51:14 Session Running Session running 00:51:16   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:51:18     Target Started (4/9) Target started (4/9, NGC 5907 w/SN2026kid) 00:56:38       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 01:12:36     Target Completed Target completed (4/9, NGC 5907 w/SN2026kid) 01:14:17     Target Started (5/9) Target started (5/9, AT2026iul (CV)) 01:18:56       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:21:11       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 5) 01:27:26     Target Completed Target completed (5/9, AT2026iul (CV)) 01:27:31     Target Started (6/9) Target started (6/9, IC 5191 w/SN2026myp) 01:31:25   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:31:27   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:31:29     Target Aborted (6/9) Target aborted (6/9, IC 5191 w/SN2026myp) due to cloud 01:31:31   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:31:33 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:32:16   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 01:32:18 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:36:46 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:37:31   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 01:37:33 Session Running Session running 01:37:35   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:37:38     Target Started (6/9) Target started (6/9, IC 5191 w/SN2026myp) 01:40:41   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:40:43   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:40:45     Target Aborted (6/9) Target aborted (6/9, IC 5191 w/SN2026myp) due to cloud 01:40:47   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:40:49 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:41:37   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 01:41:39 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:45:53     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/9, IC 5191 w/SN2026myp) due to cloud 01:48:32 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:49:17   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 01:49:19 Session Running Session running 01:49:21   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:49:24     Target Started (7/9) Target started (7/9, GCVS BL Lac) 01:52:46       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 01:53:42   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:53:44   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:53:46       Focusing Aborted Foc1 Focusing Aborted 01:53:48     Target Aborted (7/9) Target aborted (7/9, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 01:53:50   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:53:52 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:54:38   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 01:54:40 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:58:11     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (7/9, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 02:07:32     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/9, HIP 87937) due to cloud 02:20:30 Session Resuming Session resuming 02:21:15   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 02:21:17 Session Running Session running 02:21:19   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 02:21:22     Target Started (9/9) Target started (9/9, GCVS AM Her) 02:30:56     Target Completed Target completed (9/9, GCVS AM Her) 02:30:58   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 02:31:01 Session Closing Session closing 02:31:51   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 02:32:32   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 33s), Az: 90.0 deg 02:33:21   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 44s total) 02:33:45   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 02:34:08   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 02:35:33   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 02:35:36 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 02:35:58     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 02:36:41     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.3°) 02:36:47     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.3°) 02:36:49   Dome Parked Dome parked 02:39:51   Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v) 02:39:53 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 02:39:51 Yellow Alert Dome Charging Dome is parked and well charged (96%, 15.0v)

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Operational Issues (2026-05-28 S1433)

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

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• Circles and cross-hairs on AzAltResultChart were drawn with incorrect line width. In this session and the previous one the AzAltResultChart has circles and cross hairs drawn with standard gray line ( width 2) instead of the thin gray lines (width 1).  This is due to an error in the removal of references to global pens that is intended to prevent 'Objects being used elsewhere" exceptions at run time.  Fixed in  Implemented in AstroMain 3.82.6.
  Fixed  2026-05-29 (AstroMain 3.82.6)

Continuous Improvement

• Convert AstroMain Charts class/object to use its own Pen/Brush declarations. In recent AstroMain versions there has been work to replace references to global Pen/Brush objects with inline new Pen/new Brushes (Using Pen as new Pen(..), Using Brush as new SolidBrush(..).  This is a bit clumbsy and the better way of doing this is to make the relevant graph class use its own Pen/Brush objects that are declared in New() and disposed of in Dispose(). This may take time to retrofit.  Implemented in AstroMain 3.82.6.   Charts inherit from a new 'BaseGraph' class which contains definition of GDI objects (Pens, Brushes, Font, StringFormats etc). 'MagnitudePlotter' also uses 'BaseGraph.  Other charts (FWHM etc) are not yet objects. Implemented in AstroMain 3.82.6.
  Done  2026-05-29 (AstroMain 3.82.6)
   
• Replace ObsViewer's DrawObservatoryPicture() & DrawGreenhousePicture() routine by new derivatibes of BaseGraph().  ObsViewer.DrawObservatoryPicture() to be replaced by ObsCharts.ObservatoryPicture.Draw(domegx) and ObsCharts.GreenhousePicture.Draw(domegx) using two new chart classes (TObservtoryDomeChart & TGreenhouseChart), both inheriting from BaseGraph (BaseChart).  Implemented in AstroMain 3.82.6.
  Done  2026-05-29 (AstroMain 3.82.6)

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