Okay, downloaded a fresh copy of Extrasolar. Here's my GameData folder:
Valentine blocked by kerbin, sun in full view, panels are fine.
Sun blocked by Kerbin, Valentine in view. Panels orient towards Valentine
Valentine now blocked by Kerbin, Sun in full view. Panels stay oriented towards Valentine no matter how much time I give them to rotate. The only way to refresh it is to manually rotate the entire ship towards the sun, then they are mostly fine, though sometimes there's an odd panel that refuses to look away from Valentine (even if Kerbin is blocking it?). Until the Sun is blocked again.