David's Astronomy Pages Notes - Session 1447 (2026-09-04)

Notes (S1446)

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Notes (S1448)

	Session Aims & Highlights
	- Observing Result  - Night Summary Plot  - Session Event Log
	Operational Issues
	- Critical Issues (0),  Major Issues (0),  Minor Issues (0),  Small Defects (5),  Continuous Improvement (3)
	- Figures (0)
	Images from 2026-09-04  >>

Session Aims & Highlights (2026-09-04)

Main aims

1. Targets.  Acquire images of a selection of variable stars, nearby stars, comets & deep sky targets as allowed by sky conditions.
2. AstroMain. Check new AstroMain xx.xx  version for any issues or problems following introduction of a number of changes.

 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 3.83.10, AstroPlan 1.47.1, AstroShCap 1.3.23, AstroGuard 1.13.2
  AstroMag 1.5.12, AstroVOE 2.0.1, AstroSN 1.16.1, AstroProtect 1.7, AstroMove 1.18.3
  AstroAllSky 3.28.3, AstroWeather 1.30.4, AstroObsCam 1.14, AstroNorthCam 1.12.8, AstroLaunch 1.14.9

Highlights

• Targets. 1/18 planned targets were completed with 6 targets partially completely. Other targets failed due to cloud / session suspension
•  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 21:37:50 Session Monitoring AutoStart monitoring for Live Session opportunity between 21:37 & 04:44 21:37:51 Session AutoStarting Session autostarting (21:37) 21:37:57 Session Created Session Created (Live, 2026-09-04 S01447) 21:37:59   CCDSoft Restarting CCDSoft being restarted (to set AutoSave No.) 21:38:21   Scope Switched On Telescope Power has been switched on via UPB Switch 21:40:08   Services Started Observatory Services started 21:40:18 Observatory (Auto) Observatory placed in Fully-Automated Mode 21:40:21 Session Pending Session pending (2026-09-04) 21:40:23 Session Initiating Session initiating (2026-09-04) 21:40:45   Camera1 Connected SBIG Camera connected (Set point -10°C) 21:40:48   Plan Requested Observing Plan requested from AstroPlan (1.47.1) 21:41:56   Plan Loaded Observing Plan loaded to queue (PlanID: 1248) 21:42:35   Telescope Connected Telescope connected (TheSky6) 21:43:00 Session Equilibration Session ready to Open Dome 21:43:46   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 21:43:51 Session Running Session running 21:43:54   Queue Started Observing Queue started (18 targets selected) 21:44:00     Target Started (NrZen) Target started (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 21:44:15       Dome Unparked Dome unparked 21:47:42       Focusing Started-Foc1 Foc1 Focusing Started (TCF-S) 21:49:52       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1, wide) 21:52:00       Focusing Completed Foc1 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 1) 21:52:08       Focusing Started-Foc2 Foc2 Focusing Started (Secondary Scope, using ShCap) 21:54:04       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2, wide) 21:55:49       Focusing Completed Foc2 AutoFocus Completed (Profile No 2) 21:56:11     Target Completed (NrZen) Target completed (Focus Field 21, HIP 103850) 21:57:16     Target Started (1/18) Target started (1/18, Nova Aql 2026 (Nova)) 22:02:13       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - star is lost (TCF-LSI) 22:17:11     Target Completed Target completed (1/18, Nova Aql 2026 (Nova)) 22:17:53     Target Started (2/18) Target started (2/18, GCVS BL Lac) 22:22:10       Focusing Skipped Foc1 focusing skipped - unable to find a star (TCF-LSI) 22:22:37   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 22:22:39   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 22:22:42     Target Aborted (2/18) Target aborted (2/18, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 22:22:44   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 22:22:46 Session Suspending Session suspending 22:23:33   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 22:23:38 Session Suspended Session suspended 22:27:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (2/18, GCVS BL Lac) due to cloud 22:47:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (3/18, NGC 7331 w/SN2026aaiv) due to cloud 23:09:47     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (4/18, UGC 242 w/SN2026yum) due to cloud 00:10:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (5/18, NGC 7293) due to cloud 00:18:04 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:18:49   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 00:18:54 Session Running Session running 00:18:56   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:18:58     Target Started (6/18) Target started (6/18, UGC 12613) 00:29:30   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:29:32   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:29:37     Target Aborted (6/18) Target aborted (6/18, UGC 12613) due to cloud 00:29:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:29:41 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:30:31   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 00:30:36 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:31:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (6/18, UGC 12613) due to cloud 00:37:57 Session Resuming Session resuming 00:38:42   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 00:38:44 Session Running Session running 00:38:46   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 00:38:49     Target Started (7/18) Target started (7/18, M31 w/AT2026aaom) 00:56:33   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 00:56:35   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 00:56:37     Target Aborted (7/18) Target aborted (7/18, M31 w/AT2026aaom) due to cloud 00:56:39   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 00:56:41 Session Suspending Session suspending 00:57:24   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 45s, Zigbee 43s) 00:57:29 Session Suspended Session suspended 00:59:49 Session Resuming Session resuming 01:00:35   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 01:00:37 Session Running Session running 01:00:39   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 01:00:41     Target Started (8/18) Target started (8/18, UGC 12856) 01:04:50   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 01:04:52   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 01:04:54     Target Aborted (8/18) Target aborted (8/18, UGC 12856) due to cloud 01:04:56   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 01:04:58 Session Suspending Session suspending 01:05:45   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 01:05:50 Session Suspended Session suspended 01:16:07     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (8/18, UGC 12856) due to cloud 01:38:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (9/18, UGC 279 w/SN2026zyf) due to cloud 02:00:27     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (10/18, M31 w/AT2026aabo) due to cloud 02:12:37     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (11/18, GCVS RX And) due to wind 02:38:19     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (12/18, NGC 7741) due to cloud 03:00:39     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (13/18, SHK 38) due to cloud 03:22:59     Target Cancelled Target cancelled (14/18, NGC 470) due to cloud 03:33:04 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:33:49   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 03:33:54 Session Running Session running 03:33:56   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:33:58     Target Started (15/18) Target started (15/18, NGC 1247 w/SN2026xqu) 03:40:55   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:40:57   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:40:59     Target Aborted (15/18) Target aborted (15/18, NGC 1247 w/SN2026xqu) due to cloud 03:41:01   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:41:03 Session Suspending Session suspending 03:41:50   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 03:41:56 Session Suspended Session suspended 03:43:56 Session Resuming Session resuming 03:44:41   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 03:44:46 Session Running Session running 03:44:49   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 03:44:51     Target Started (15/18) Target started (15/18, NGC 1247 w/SN2026xqu) 03:52:58     Target Completed Target partially completed (15/18, NGC 1247 w/SN2026xqu) 03:53:02     Target Started (16/18) Target started (16/18, Gliese 65) 03:59:13   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 03:59:15   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 03:59:19     Target Aborted (16/18) Target aborted (16/18, Gliese 65) due to cloud 03:59:21   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 03:59:24 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:00:14   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 04:00:19 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:02:19 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:03:04   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 04:03:09 Session Running Session running 04:03:11   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:03:14     Target Started (17/18) Target started (17/18, GSC 1224:29) 04:06:30   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:06:32   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:06:34     Target Aborted (17/18) Target aborted (17/18, GSC 1224:29) due to cloud 04:06:36   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:06:38 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:07:25   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 04:07:31 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:09:31 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:10:16   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 04:10:21 Session Running Session running 04:10:23   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:10:25     Target Started (17/18) Target started (17/18, GSC 1224:29) 04:18:48     Target Completed Target partially completed (17/18, GSC 1224:29) 04:18:52     Target Started (18/18) Target started (18/18, NGC 3310 w/SN2026sqf) 04:19:02   Critical Cloud Alert Critical Cloud Alert (Obs.Manager will close the Dome) 04:19:04   HardSuspend Called Hard Suspend called due to Critical Conditions (cloud) 04:20:12     Target Failed (18/18) Target failed due to aborted (18/18, NGC 3310 w/SN2026sqf) 04:20:14   Queue Paused Queue paused for Session Suspension 04:20:16 Session Suspending Session suspending 04:21:04   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 50s, Zigbee 43s) 04:21:09 Session Suspended Session suspended 04:34:50 Session Resuming Session resuming 04:35:36   Dome Opened Dome opened (Opening time 45s, Zigbee 40s) 04:35:41 Session Running Session running 04:35:43   Queue Resumed Observing Queue resumed 04:35:45     Target Started (18/18) Target started (18/18, NGC 3310 w/SN2026sqf) 04:48:17     Target Completed Target partially completed (18/18, NGC 3310 w/SN2026sqf) 04:48:20   Queue Completed Job Queue completed 04:48:22 Session Closing Session closing 04:49:12   Dome Closed Dome closed (Closing time 49s, Zigbee 43s) 04:49:52   Dome Parked Dome parked (parking time 27s), Az: 90.0 deg 04:50:51   Telescope Parked Telescope parked (parking time 52s total) 04:51:15   Telescope State Handbox reads 'Scope parked Turn scope off.' 04:52:11   Telescope Switched Off Telescope Power has been switched off via UPB Switch. 04:53:35   Services Stopped Night Services stopped 04:53:38 Session Finishing Session Finishing started (Create Fits Summary, Transfer Files) 04:54:00     Dome (Find Park) Find Park started (Search Az 88.0 to 92.0°, Step 0.2°, Narrow) 04:54:44     Dome Find Park found (Best Park Az 90.2°) 04:54:50     Dome Dome has been synced at park position (Az 90.0°, Adjustment: -0.2°) 04:54:52   Dome Parked Dome parked 04:57:53   Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.1 minutes 04:57:55 Session Finished Session Finished

Session Alerts & Alarms

Time     Type       Name Detail 04:10:32 Yellow Alert Dome Discrepency Difference between Dome Az and Slave Az is > 1 deg (GSC 1224:29) 04:57:53 Red Alert Dome Charging Dome hasn't started re-charging after 3.1 minutes

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Operational Issues (2026-09-04 S1447)

• Critical Issues (0)
• Major Issues (0)
• Minor Issues (0)
• Small Defects (5)
• Continuous Improvement (3)
• Figures (0)
  

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Critical Issues

• None

Major Issues

• None

Minor Issues

• None

Small Defects

• A conversion exception occurred in ObsOverseer.ExecuteWorker()'s Check Obs.Manager section (04:19). The S1447's session 's error file highlighed a handled exception had occured in ObsOverseer.ExecuteWorker()  (Check Obs.Manager  section) at 04:19:37 with the message "Conversion from type 'Date' to type 'Currency' is not valid." in method 'FormatNumber()'. It is conjectured that instead of passing SecondSince (timepoint)  (type Double) to FormatNumber() function, the timepoint (type Date) itself was passed. It  is likely that this occured in a relatively rarely used part of ObsOverseer code as the exception hasn't been noticed in logs before now. Fixed in AstroMain 3.83.11.  FormatNumber(W.SecsSinceLastCycle, ...) changed to FormatNumber(W.LastCycleTimePpoint,...)  with position of bug found using Visual Studio's regex search on "FormatNumber\(.*last".
   Fixed  2026-09-05 (AstroMain 3.83.11)
   
• AstroNorthCam's MultiPaneViewer is encountering an exception when 'Refresh' Session button is used. Issue is due to two calls to LoadSession() and thus BuildCatalogs() running concurrently, one from a specific command to LoadSession() and one from comboSession's SelectedItemChanged handler.  Fixed in AstroNorthCam 1.12.11 by using a flag to surpress the action of the SelectedItemChanged handler
   Fixed  2026-09-05 (AstroMain 3.83.11)
   
• AstroNorthCam's Object Detection & Object Box drawing routines are using fields in TObjectBox in inconistent manner.   Fixed in AstroNorthCam 1.12.12.  The X1,Y2,X2,Y2 coordinates are used solely for defining the raw object detection, whilst the BoxX1, BoxY1, BoxX2, BoxY2 coordinates define the padded box which is drawn on ObjectPics and Object frames. This affected several routines FindObjectsInImage(), GroupDayBoxes(), GroupNightBoxes(), BoxesOverlap(), DrawObjectBoxes() & BuildObjectFrame().
   Fixed  2026-09-05 (AstroMain 3.83.12)
   
• AstroNorthCam's Object Boxes drawn on Object Frames and ObjectPics are not being padded (2026-09-06). After refactoring FindObjectInImages() and BuildObjectFrame() routines in AstroNorthCam 3.83.12  the object boxes are now longer being padded, they appear as tiny boxes only. This is due to the way that  changes to members inside 'For Each Box in Boxes' blocks are not carried outside the block when TObjectBox is a Structure.   Fixed in AstroMain 3.83.13 by changing ObjectBox into a Class'.
   Fixed  2026-09-06 (AstroMain 3.83.13)
   
• AstroSN's 'Get Active SN List' failed (2026-09-05). AstroSN's 'Get Active SN List' failed with the dialog error "Source Page : http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/snname.html either not found (404) or has an unexpected structure". Trying the url direct confirmed that there was an issue retrieving data. .   However the mirror site's page (http://supernova.rasny.org/snimages/snname.html) seems to have data. A 'Use Mirror Site' checkbox is added to / used by AstroSN 1.16, but the snname.html page seems to be significantly out of date (last data is 2024), and the AstroSN only uses recent data. AstroSN reports:
    0 supernovae/transients of potential interest in last 45 days
  Most recent transient found in source file was 678.0 days ago
  The routine operated ok the following day suggesting that problem was just a temporary glicth of the supernova server.
    Resolved  2026-09-05 (AstroSN 1.16.2 )

Continuous Improvement

• Modify AstroNorthCam's FindStarsInImage() routine to increase consistency with FIndObjectsInImage() routine. It is proposed to increase the consistency between the older FindStarsInImage() routine and the FindObjectsInImage() routine, by making FindStarsInImage() create a StarBoxes list (Of tObjectBox) so that it can use a unified PadBoxes() routine and a unified DrawObjectBoxes() routine.  Implemented in AstroNorthCam 1.12.14..
   Done 2026-09-06 (AstroNorthCam 1.12.14)
   
• Modify AstroNorthCam to generate Clean15s Frames for each window interval. Previously in AstroNorthCam 1.12.10 to 1.12-13 a 'Clean15s' frame (15s Min or 15s Max dependant on Detection Mode) was only generated for window intervals which has one or more Detected Objects (ie when an Objects Frame was generated).  However the frame is of general use and it is proposed to modiify the BuildObjectsFrame() routine in order to save a 15s Min/Max Frame for every window interval. It is further proposed to extend the SaveClean15s() routine to save a 'NorthCam.LatestClear15s.jpg' file to the .\Server folder for upload to website Implemented in AstroNorthCam 1.12.14. AstroAllSky 3.28.4 modified to upload the Clean15s file.  Required a minor fix to AstroNorthCam's Objects Viewer.
   Done 2026-09-06 (AstroNorthCam 1.12.14, AstroAllSky 3.28.4 )
   
• Modify AstroNorthCam's BuildObjectsFrame() routine to include temporal grouping. AstroNorthCam new Unified Object Detection routines finds all objects in each raw Frame and stores each Object Box in WindowObjectsManager.Boxes.  At the end of each 15s interval a bitmap is produced from either a Mi or Max accumulator based of Detection Mode (/Day or .Night), and is annotated with each Object Box.   When a object like a satellite or plane passed through the camera view it creates several object boxes one for each raw frame (subject to detection thresholds). These have a tendancy to hide the actual object track.  It is proposed to introduce Temporal Grouping so that moving objects are tracked and drawn as single grouped boxes instead of individual boxes. These involves redefining how/when box padding occurs. Currently ths box padding is performed in FindObjectsInImage() after spatial grouping occurs, but this is no longer compatible with the temporal grouping which only occurs at the end of each 15s interval (window). Prototype included in AstroNorthCam 1.12.15 using a call to new routine 'ApplyTemporalObjectGrouping()' and modification to 'NewSaveObjectPicture()'.
   Done   2026-09-06 (AstroNorthCam 1.12.15)

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