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CCDAutoPilotVersion5

BasicandProfessionalEditions

SoftwareDocumentation

©2003-2019,JohnC.Smith,AllrightsreservedCCDAutoPilotistechnicallyan"executive"programthatissuescommandstootherprograms,suchasthatforyourcamera,focuser,telescope,rotator,dome,etc.thatyouwouldroutinelyusetocollectdataduringthecourseofanevening'sobservingsession.Ifyouwereoperatingthesystemmanually,youwouldhavetotakecertainactionswithoneormoreprogramsatcertaintimestoachieveasuccessfulimagingrun.WithCCDAutoPilot,youcansetuptheactivitiesduringthedayorwheneverconvenientandCCDAutoPilotwillexecutethoseactivitiesattheappropriatetimeandtakeappropriatecorrectiveactionifthingsdon'tgoasplanned.CCDAutoPilotcurrentlyworkswithCCDSoft,MaxImDL,TheSky6,TheSkyX,ASCOMtelescopes,focusers,rotatorsanddomes,TAKometer,RCOSPIR,OptecPyxis,BoltwoodCloudSensorI,IIandcompatibles,DigitalDomeWorks,AutomadomeandFlipFlat/FlatManartificialflatsources.PlatesolvingcanbeviaCCDSoft/TheSky6,TheSkyXandPinPoint.Entrypointsareprovidedatkeypointsduringthecourseofasessiontointroduceexternalprogramsforspecificneeds.Thus,theentireobservatory,regardlessofsizeorcomplexity,canbeautomatedfromsunsettosunrise.Assumingyouhaveconfiguredthoseprogramsyouuseinyourobservatoryandarepresentlyoperatingthemsuccessfully,youwillneedtoInitializeCCDAutoPilot.ThisisthekeyprocessbywhichCCDAutoPilotlearnsaboutyoursysteminordertoachievefullautomation.Onceinitialized,youcanselectoneormoretargetsanywhereintheskyandCCDAutoPilotwillslewyourmounttothatlocationwithinafewarc-sec.,regardlessofyourmount'spointingaccuracy,moveyourrotator(ifyouuseone)tothecorrectposition,automaticallycalibrateyourguiderandguideexposureandtakewhateverdatayouwantforeachtarget.Itwilldoinprocessdataassessmentandmoveanydatathatdoesn'tmeetyourqualityassessmenttoanotherfolder.Itwilltakeanydarkand/orbiasframesyouwanteitherbeforeorafteryourdataframes,andtakeduskanddawnflatsifdesired.Ifappropriateforyoursystem,itwillmonitorweatherconditions,openandcloseyourdomeendevensendemailortextmessagesconcerningsignificantevents.CCDAutoPilotcaninter-operatewithotherobservatorycontrolsystems,eithercommercialorofyourdesign,byapowerfulcontrolfilefacility.(SomeoftheabovefeaturesarenotavailableintheBasicEdition.)Newinversion5iscomplete,on-the-flyeditingofasessioninprogress.DuetotheTargetDatabasestructureasarelationaldatabasewithreferentialintegrity,coupledwithanalmostcompleterewriteforflexibleperformance,youcanchangealmostanythingwhilethesessionisrunning.Theonlyrealexceptionisthecurrentexposureinprogress.Let'ssayyouareintheprocessoftakingaseriesof5redexposuresofatarget.Exposurenumber3isunderwayandyoudecideyouwantonly4.Thensimplyselect4onthesessionpageandyouwillgetonly4.ThisflexibilityextendsthroughoutCCDAutoPilotandincludessessionoptions,calibrationframes,focusingandguidingoptions.CCDAutoPilotprovidesanumberoftoolsandwizardstotuneandoptimizeyourimagingsystem,establishandmeasureprogressagainstgoalsandevaluatedatatakenduringthesession.Giventhelevelofcomplexityofthesesystems,initializationandconfigurationsetupisessentialforsuccessfuloperation.Throughthishelpfileandotherinstructionalmaterial,Ihopetomakethetransitionfrommanualtoautomaticimagingaspainlessandenjoyableaspossible.BesuretoreadtheIntroductiontoAutomationaswellastherestoftheImagingStrategiestopictogetthemostoutofautomatedimaging.Onceyousuccessfullymakethistransition,youwillhavearepeatableandreliabledataacquisitionprotocoltooperateyoursystemtoitsgreatestcapabilityandgettosleepwhileallthisisgoingonasabonus!IfyouarepleasedwithCCDAutoPilot5andwouldlikeagraphictoincludeonyourwebsitewithyourimages,thebelowimage(ap5_credit.gif)islocatedintheCCDAutoPilot5programfolder:

VersionHistory5.10.7April7,2019

Change:AddTheSkyXCameraAddOnasacceptableconditionforusingTheSkyXforplatesolvingChange:PreventendofsessionactionsfromrunningwhenusingFocusNowirotherNowbuttons.Change:Makeupdatingtrackingratesatruntimeoptionalfornon-siderealobjects.Change:UpdateEnhancedAutomationtoclarifywhenCCDNavigatorsessionplanwillbeimported.Change:Attempttocloseshutterevenifshutterstatusreportsanerror.Bugfix:Fixsupportfor@Focus3manualsub-frameBugfix:Add@Focus3forFocusOffsetMeasurementBugfix:Preventmultiplenotificationswhenweatherabortistriggered.Bugfix:Donottrytoaligndomeafterweatherabort.Bugfix:CorrectFocusOffsetMeasurementCFZwarningtextBugfix:PreventFO:Tc1errorwhennotemperaturesourcespecifiedwhenusingTemperatureDependentRefocus.

5.10.6September30,2018Change:ImproveddomeshutterpositionreportingifhardwaresupportsitChange:Addednumberofsamplesoptionfor@Focus3.Change:AddedtimeoutoptionsforRunxapplicationsspecifiedontheOptionspage,alltabs.Change:AddedFindHomeoptionontheOptionspage,Startuptab.Change:Possiblefixforsome"GuideStarFade(nm)"errorswithMaxim.Bugfix:AddedhandlingofunknownequinoxforsomeASCOMtelescopes,notablyEQMOD,topreventslewto0,0coordinates.Bugfix:ReportTheSkyXCAOversionwhennotusingASCOM/TheSkyfortelescopecontrol.

5.10.5August24,2018Change:Newreductionoptionsaddedtoplatesolvingandfocusing.Change:Addedsomediagnosticcode.Change:Filterwheelswithupto25slotsnowsupported.Bugfix:Tracenowworks.Bugfix:CorrectinternalinitializationforFlatLightSource.Bugfix:Coolerwarmupnowmorereliable.

5.10.4June12,2018NewFeature:AddedsupportforTheSkyXCustomSettings(inCCDAutoPilot-ReadoutModes).Change:AddPrivacyPolicytoHelpChange:Duringweatherabort,don'twarmupcoolerifSkyisnottheflatlightsource.Change:AddedInitializationnoteaboutMaximbinningrequirementwhithAO.

Bugfix:ifchecked,warmupguidercoolerduringweatherabortBugfix:PreventRun8fromrunningifcheckedwhenabortingasessionmanually.Bugfix:focusstarmagnituderangenotbeingenabledwith@Focus2.bugfix:Improvesessiontimeestimateswhennoditheringisused.

5.10.3March20,2018Change:AddbuttontoclearfailedfocusstardatabasewhenusingSkyStarChange:Separateoptionsforimagerandguiderwarmup.Change:AddUnlinkSoftwareoptiontoShutdownChange:If0isspecifiedforinitialexposureof@Focus3ontheFocusingpage,adefaultof1sec.willbesentto@Focus3'sinitialexposure.Bugfix:Filteroffsetsnotbeingappliedtosessionwhenusing@Focus3Bugfix:Wasn'treturningtotargetinallcaseswhenusing@Focus3Bugfix:Add5.10.2asenabledfeaturetologBugfix:File/Exitnowbehavessameas'X'out-wasresultinginlossofsomesettings.

5.10.2January6,2018NewFeature:Addedsupportfor@Focus3Change:RunPHD2appsbeforeandafterrealigntotarget.Change:AddloggingforTheSkyXrotatoroffset.Change:AddbuffertimeforDDWCPopenandcloseshuttertoallowtimetorespond.Change:PlateSolvenotificationisnowPlateSolve/RotatorErrornotification.Bugfix:GuiderdelayinTheSkyXCAOwasnotbeingmaintainedthroughallCCDAutoPilotoperations.

5.10.1February6,2017NewFeature:AddedfocuserBacklashCompensationwhenchangingfilteroffsets.Change:Temporarilyremoveguiderexposuredelay(TheSkyXCAOonly)duringguideerrorrecovery.Seehere.Change:AttemptstounparkamountthatwasparkedbeforethesessionstartedwithTheSkyXChange:SystemProfileNewandLoadmenuitemsarenowactivefromSetuppageonly.Change:File/ExitfrommenunowbehavesthesameashiittingtheRedXtocloseCCDAutoPilotBugfix:Keyinitializationparameterwasnotbeingsavedtosystemprofileforsomeguideconfigurations,e.g.SX-AOwithMaxim.Bugfix:ASCOMdifferentialtrackingratesnotbeingsetinitially.OKforlaterupdates.Bugfix:GuiderAutoExposureTargetADUmaximumnowproperfor8-and12-bitguiders.Addedwarningiftargetistoohigh.

5.10.0October24,2016Change:DonotoverwrtitetargetdatabasewithdefaultnameandindefaultlocationwhenupdatingfromCCDAutoPilotversionspriorto5.08.8.

Bugfix:ProperlysupportnativeTAKometerdriverwhenusingRotatorsettingsforflatsandtherotationisnegative.(NativeTAKometerrunsfrom-180to+179.9.)

5.09.9October9,2016NewFeature:IgnorefailedfocusstarsonsubsequenttriesChange:Registrynolongerusedforsettingsstorage.IMPORTANT:SeethisnoteBugfix:Correctlightsessionendtimecalculationifmultipletargetswithagapbetweenonetargetendtimeandthenextone'sstarttime.Bugfix:Turnofftrackingwhilewaitingfortargettoclearmount'smax.altitudesettings.Bugfix:DonotrunPost-slewAppaftermeridianflip(causesPHD2guidingtoturnonprematurely).

5.09.8June12,2016NewFeature:SupportforPHD2.RequiresPHD2brokerapplicationChange:ASASlewTrainingnamechanged.Change:Saturatedpixelrejectionnowworksproperlywith8-bitguidersChange:ExpandautomationerrormessagewhenconnectingtoTheSkyXinsomecases.

5.09.7November13,2015Bugfix:Eliminatespuriousmessageinfocustemperaturesummaryatendoflog.Bugfix:Correctsunrisingabortcode.Seehere.

5.09.6November9,2015Change:Speedupsunrisingcheckroutine.Change:AddfulltemperaturerecordingforPlaneWaveAutoFocusBugfix:AddPlaneWaveAutoFocusfocustimetoestimatesBugfix:ProperlyincludeandtestrotatordirectionforTheSkyXrotatorcontrol.

5.09.5November5,2015NewFeature:PlaneWaveAutoFocussupported.Seerequirementsandsettings.NewFeature:RotatorcontrolviaTheSkyXsupported.Seerequirementsandsettings.Change:AddedspecificsettingsrequirementsforTheSkyXChange:Addnotificationatendoflightframesacquisitionoption.Change:Abortsessionifweathereventoccurswhilewaitingfortargetstarttime.Change:Increasemaximrangeoftemperaturecoefficientto9999.Change:PreventloadingasystemprofileatotherthantheSettingspageandnotlinkedtosoftwware.Change:AddnotificationofdomecommandfailureforTheSkyXdomecontrolChange:AddeddiagnosticinfoincaseofPlateSolveCurrentLocationofInitializationfailure.Bugfix:Properlyinitializestartingdithercoordinateswhenprecisionslewisnotused.Bugfix:Preventunguidedditheringfromoffsettingtargetwhendithering.

5.09.4August28,2015Change:Reportrotatorpositionaftermovetopark.

Change:Reducewaittimebetweenskyflatattemptsto30sec.Bugfix:Bugintroducedin5.09.3wherebymountwouldslewawayfromflatspotwithditheredduskordawnskyflats.

5.09.3August16,2015Bugfix:CorrectunguidedditheringsothattargetisnotmovedoffitsprecisionslewlocationBugfix:ResolvedUnabletoFindFocusStarsmessageinSkyStar.

5.09.2July28,2015NewFeature:RunaprogramorscriptattheendofaLightorCalibrationframeexposure.Bugfix:WeatherconditionsnotbeingproperlyupdatedontheRunpage,Conditionswindow.

5.09.1July20,2015Change:Allowcameracontrolprogramtosetanon-zeroexposuredelay.CCDAutoPilotwillnotchangeanydelayyousetthere.Change:SkyStarroutinetofindfocusstarshasbeenenhanced.SkyStardbqfilesareenhanced.Also,seehere.Bugfix:CloudSensorIwasnotproperlyabortingasessionduetoaweatherevent.Bugfix:SkyconditionssetbytheweathersourcewillnotimpactasubsequentsessionaftertheWeathersourceissettonone.Bugfix:Multipleemailnotificationsonuponweathereventeliminated.

5.09.0May30,2015Change:Accommodatefilterlesscamerasbetter.Change:IncreasedfocusstarsearchradiusforSkyStarChange:Raiseskyflathardlimittoaccommodatehighlinearitycameras.Change:Sub-framingstepschangedtobetteraccommodateTheSkyXCAO.Change:Someadditionalwarningsforimpropersettingsadded.Bugfix:Resolvedinabilitytoproperlysettargetstarttimeswithsomecultures(e.g.IT-it).Bugfix:Preventmultipleemailsduringweatherabort.

5.08.9February22,2015Change:EliminateredundantcoolersettinguponweatherabortChange:Ifrainsensoriswetbutskyisclear,sessionwillabortChange:Trapcorruptedtargetdatabaseonstartup.Bugfix:Donotsetdarkframewhenusing@Focus2Bugfix:CorrecterrorinSkyStar,findfocusstars,topreventcrossingthemeridianimproperly.

5.08.8February7,2015Change:ImprovedlinkingtoFocusMaxwhenhardwareisnotconnectedtoFocusMax.Bugfix:FixAutoRunbugintroducedin5.08.7.(Couldn'tcancelAutoRunbyuncheckiing.)

5.08.7February3,2015NewFeature:Movetoupdatedcoordinatesoptionfornon-siderealobjects.NewFeature:Adjustableresponsedelaytimeforslowdomes.Change:SkyStarfocusstarselectionaccuracyimproved.Allowfocusingifatleastonesuitablestarisfound.

Change:ImprovedflipabortandMaxEAltitudeaborthandling.Bugfix:ResolvedJan1sessionstartinitiatedonDec.31.(yearwrapproblem)Bugfix:Logheadernotbeingincludedinlogwhenautorunisselected.

5.08.6December21,2014Change:EnhancedIntroductiontoAutomationtohelpnewusers.Bugfix:Eliminateoccasional"excessiverotatorcorrection"error.

5.08.5November15,2014NewFeature:MinimumEastAltitudeskipNewFeature:WeatherFITSKeywordsChange:EnableTheSkyXautoguidertobeconnectedwhenlaunchingTheSkyXfromCCDAutoPilot.Change:Enhancedhelppop-upduringanApplicationError.Bugfix:WaitforCivilDusknowworks.ImprovedAbortFramesatDawn.Bugfix:Preventspuriouspark,trackingoff,etc.onweatherabortBugfix:Eliminatespurious"WaitforClearing"messageinlog.

5.08.4October25,2014Bugfix:MissedRCOSTCCfixforrotatoratmeridianflip.Fixed.

5.08.3October24,2014Change:guiderFLnowchangeswithimagerFLwhenself-guidedoroff-axisguidedChange:TrapablankentryforFocusingatX,YwhenXorYareblank.Bugfix:RCOSTCCrotatorpositionnotfullyASCOM-compliant.ChangedtoaccommodateTCC.

5.08.2September11,2014Change:ImprovedaccuracyonLSTandHAcalculation.Change:AttempttopreventvariousCCDSofterrors.Change:Parkdome(ifchecked)duringaweatherabort.Change:ImprovedPinPointv6AllSkysolving.Bugfix:Re-enableAOcenteringwithCCDSoftBugfix:Removespurious"Waitforclearing"messageinlog.

5.08.1August18,2014Change:AddwarningaboutunnecessaryRealignToTargetFrequencysettingwhenguiding.Bugfix:Creatinganewtargetcausedadatabaseerrorwhenfirstimageissaved.

5.08.0August14,2014Change:Prevent.fitbeingenteredastargetnamewhenusingtheFromFITbutton.Change:Showplatesolvetimeinlogandstatusbar.Change:Addlogentryindicatingemailnotificationatstartofsession(whenselected).Change:AddPauseforCloudsandAbort(whenselected)forSkyStarfocusing.Change:RemoveautomaticmaximumFocusMaxexposuresetting.Also,seehere.Change:Reduceminimumseparationbetweenfocusstarsandtargetfrom3to2degrees.Change:Addtimestamptoweatherfileread.

Bugfix:Allowsessionabortwhenwaitingforcloudstoclearatstartofsession.Bugfix:PreventoccasionalJETdatabaseerror.Bugfix:PreventerrorwhenimportingCCDNavigatorsessionplanwithinactivetargetshid.

5.07.9July27,2014Change:PreventfalseGNSalertwhilewaitingforcloudstoclearChange:TheSkyXdomeopen/closewaitchangedfrom2.5sec.to5sec.forsomeslowdomesChange:AddwarningabouttoohighahotpixelfiltersettingChange:Restorefiletemplatevariable(%g)forsessionstartingdate.Change:Addsiteinformationtolog.Change:ParkrotatoronweatherabortonlyifitischeckedontheSettingspage,ShutdowntabBugfix:Highhumidity(andhighwind)conditionwasnotproperlyabortingthesession.Bugfix:TAKometerrotatorpositionbeingincorrectlycalculatedundersomeconditions.

5.07.8June19,2014NewFeature:Customizabledate/timeforfilenames/folders.NewFeature:AutomaticbumpcalibrationwithMaximPulseGuideandSX-AONewFeature:Run1aaddedtocontrolartificialflatlightsourceforduskflats.Change:AddAtParkdetectionforASCOMtelescopedriverstowaitformounttoparkbeforeCCDAutoPilotmoveson.Change:ImprovedguidecalibrationwithMaximPulseGuide.Change:IncreasedfocusstarsearchradiusforSkyStar.Change:AOCenteringinTheSkyXCAOusesnewTheSkyXcommandasofTSXbuild7973orlater.Bugfix:FromFITbuttonwasn'tgettingimagebinningcorrectly.Fixed.Bugfix:CorrectPinPointAllSkyonlocalsolvefailureoptiontoallowlocalsolvefirst.Bugfix:CorrectTAKrotatormovenear±180.Bugfix:PreventlaunchofTheSkyXwhen@Focus2isusedwithCCDSoft.Bugfix:Eliminateunnecessaryforcefilterchangewhenself-guidedwithMaxim.

5.07.7May19,2014Bugfix:CorrectsessionerrorifPrecisionSlewontheSetuppage,Mountboxisnotchecked..

5.07.6May5,2014Change:ClarifyWeatherAbortmessageswhenwaitingtobeginsessionChange:ResetWeatherAbortiftriggeredwhilewaitingtobeginandweathersubsequentlyclearsChange:DisableFocusCenteringandTolerancecontrolunlessusingSkyStarChange:Greatlyimprovedresponsivenesswhenimportingatexttargetlistordeletingalltargets.Change:RemovespuriousWaitingtoStartmessage.Change:AddhardwaredescriptionstothelogforTheSkyXbuild7903orlater.Change:AllowReverseYonFliptobeactiveforMaximTelescopeorASCOMDirectguidingmethodBugfix:CorrectwarningmessageabouttargetsstartingafterastronomicaldawnifAbortLightand

DarkFramesatDawnisnotchecked.Bugfix:Correcttruncatedtargetnamewhenusing%t\%t%nfiletemplate.

5.07.5March15,2014Bugfix:TargetcoordinatesnotbeingenteredinTargetListwhenusingFromFITSBugfix:Platesolvecoordinatepop-upshowingtoomuch.

5.07.4March11,2014Change:AddedlognotificationwhenwaitingtostartskyflatsChange:ReportplatesolvedetailswhenusingFromFITorPlateSolveCurrentLocationbuttonuponsuccessfulplatesolve.Change:Unlinkdomebeforeparkingdomeifmountisnotparked.Bugfix:Exitwhensunrisingwhentargetloopgreaterthanone.Bugfix:Donotslewandattemptduskflatswhenwaitingforclearingtimeexpiresatstartofsession.Bugfix:PreventinfiniteloopwhenusingAllSkyRetryandsolutionfails.AlsoseehereformoreinfoonAllSkysolving.

5.07.3February17,2014Change:EnableReverseYonFlipforMaximonly.DoesnotapplytoCCDSoftorTheSkyXCAO.Change:Run4willstilloccurifcheckedafteraweather-drivenrunabort.SeehereBugfix:CorrectedSlewErrormessagebeingsentonallcorrectedslews.Fixed.Bugfix:Platesolveusingcurrentfilternowworksproperly.

5.07.2January23,2014Change:Guidingwillbestoppedduringapauseforclouds.Change:ImprovealtitudefilteringforSkyStarfocusstars.Bugfix:Newinstallationwascrashinginsomeinstances-fixed.

5.07.1January18,2014NewFeature:AddAllSkyRetryplatesolvingwithPinPointv6.Change:UsedifferentmethodsinTheSky6formorereliablesolaraltitudereporting.Bugfix:PreventspuriouserrorreportingonwhenInsertingWCSduringarunningsession.

5.07.0January3,2014Bugfix:Correctyearenddatechangecausingdelayonmulti-targetorlooptargetsession.Bugfix:UnabletoproperlysavePinPointUCAC4catalogselectioninsystemprofile.

5.06.9December30,2013Change:AdddelaybeforecheckingfordomeslewingcompleteforslowlyrespondingdomesChange:Delete.SRCfileswheninsertingWCSviaTheSkyXBugfix:Saveimagefailurewasnotabortingsessionproperly.Bugfix:Multiplesyncimageswerebeingopenedbutnotclosed.Bugfix:Crashoninitializationfixed.

5.06.8December18,2013NewFeature:AddoptiontoplatesolvewithcurrentfilterNewFeature:AddsupportforPinPointv6includingUCAC4andAllSkysolvingviaAstrometry.Net.

NewFeature:AddoptiontosavesuccessfullysolvedSync_ImagesNewFeature:AddoptiontoNotifyatSessionStartwithSystemReview.Change:AddedsupportforInsertWCSviaTheSkyXChange:Someimprovementsinplatesolverobustness.Change:AddednotesforAObumpingwithMaximhere.Bugfix:KnownImageScaleoptionwasnotworkingproperly.Bugfix:MaximguidingwithASCOMDirect/Telescopenowworksproperly.Seealsohere,

5.06.7December11,2013Bugfix:Correctlicensedatedisplayerror.

5.06.6December10,2013Change:OneYearLicenseRenewalcomingfornewfeatures.Change:YoumustchecktheAOboxifusingananyAOguiderChange:AllowatargettostartafterastronomicaldawnifAbortLightandDarkframesisunchecked.Change:Prevent'('and')'frombeingusedinafilenameifinputtedintheGetfunction.Change:InitialexposureforG2Vmeasurementincreasedto2sec.Change:StopguiderforsafetysyncafterfirstexposureaftermeridianfliptopreventSXAOlockup.Bugfix:Properlyhandlefilteroffsetswithtemperature-compensatedfocusing.Bugfix:CorrectG2Vmeasuresub-framepositioningerror.Bugfix:Preventexceptionifcamerahasonlyonebinningmode,e.g.DSLR.Bugfix:UseKnownImageScalewasbeingignored.

5.06.5November10,2013Change:AdderrorcheckingtomanualtargetPAentryfield.Change:Referencetargetdatabaseinprogramdirectoryisnowinzipformat.Donotsaveanewtargetdatabasetotheprogramfolder.Change:G2Vwizardstartingbinningisthesameasthatspecifiedforplatesolving.Change:Addwarningifmultipletargetsessionextendsintonextdayandautodatecorrectischecked.Change:FocusTimeoutvalueisnowshowninthelog.Bugfix:IncorporatePrecisionSlewWithSync(ifchecked)duringAGSR.Bugfix:MaximfocusernowrespectstheFocusTimeout.Bugfix:Sessionnowabortsatstartifpauseforcloudtimeisexceeded.Bugfix:PreventRun8fromrunningtwiceduringaRunAbort.Bugfix:Don'twaitforcivilduskifprecededbyaRunAbort.

5.06.4October25,2013Bugfix:DataAssessmentthresholdswerebeingchangedfromusersettings.Fixed.

Bugfix:Emailwasnotbeingsentwhenaweatherabortconditionwastriggered.Fixed.5.06.3October23,2013

NewFeature:AddedGoodNightSystemsupport.SeeNotificationsandRunOnErrorScriptsChange:Increasereliabilityofsunaltitudereportingbylessfrequentqueries.Change:Addoptiontoabortsessionifdomefailstoopen.Change:UsedifferentcalltoTheSkyXforimprovedAzAltreliabilityChange:Editingasessionwhileimagingispausedallowsstarttimeadjustmentmanuallyorbycontextmenu.Change:GuideralarmwillnotsoundifsessionispausedforcloudsChange:Accommodateversions1and2ofSQMreader.Bugfix:AllowrotatoranglecorrectionwhenWithSyncischecked.Bugfix:Restrictforcedfilterchangetonon-Maximcameraprograms.Bugfix:Eliminatelogstoppingbutsessioncontinuestorunwithsomesystems.

5.06.2September15,2013Change:IfCCDN3importduringarunningsessionfails,thesessionwillbeabortedandRunAbortconditionswillbetriggered.Change:IfControlFiletimestampisenabledandupdatefails,thesessionwillbeabortedandRunAbortconditionswillbetriggered.Change:IfaweatherabortoccursduringtheStartupphase,thesessionwillbeabortedandRunAbortconditionswillbetriggered.Change:IfTakeImagefails,theimagewillnotbesaved.Bugfix:CorrectbinningimportfromCCDNavigatorwithsomecameras,suchasQSI,whichsupportnxmbinningwherendoesnotequalm.Bugfix:Correcttooltipmessageforlogfoldernavigationbutton.Bugfix:Attempttofixlogfromstoppingwhilesessionisrunningproperly.

5.06.1August4,2013NewFeature:Sessionstarthowhasanoptiontostartatagivensunaltitude.SeeStartupNewFeature:Addedtheabilitytoselectknown/unknownimagescalewhenplatesolvingusingTheSkyX.SeePlateSolvingChange:Moonrise/setdatanowavailableonsessionpagewhenusingASCOM(only)fortelescopecontrol.RequiresASCOM6SP2.Change:UsingdifferentmethodsinTheSkyXformorereliablesolaraltitudereporting.Change:Forcefilterchangewhenusingself-guidedcameras.Somecameraprogramsonlychangethefilterwhentheimagerexposes.Change:Trapmissingdomepropertywhenusingsomeroll-offroofASCOMdrivers.Change:Pauseforcloudsclearingwillnowcheckforclearingonceperminute.Change:WhenusingMaxim,syncexposuresover10sec.willapplykernelfilterstoreducenoise.Bugfix:Minorbugsincontrolfilethreadfixed.Reportingfunctionalityimprovedtoincludelossofupdatefromcontrolfile(character8).

Bugfix:TakeImage/SaveImagefailurenowproperlyabortssession.5.06.0June20,2013

NewFeature:Usercannowspecifythefolderforthelogfile.Seehere.Change:AddworkaroundforplatesolvingwhenFITSfilehasmissingXBINNINGkeyword,e.g.DSSimages.Change:AddFW8G-STXLsettingsinCameraNotes.Change:AddedaComputerNotessectiontotheHardwaretopic.Pleasereview.Change:Increasedallowablefocusfilteroffsetrangeto±99999.Bugfix:ExceptionwhenSkyStarisusedwithMaxim'sfocusingroutine.Bugfix:ExceptionwhenusingFW8-STG/AOcombinationatPA'sbetween135°and225°.

5.05.9May5,2013Change:IfbinningkeywordsarenotintheFITSfileusedbyFromFITS,binningisassumedunbinnedBugfix:Looptargetnowworksproperly.Bugfix:ImprovedaccuracyforlightframetimeestimatesBugfix:CorrectguidingwhenusingMaximAutoGuiderControlbyTelescopeorASCOMDirect.

5.05.8April23,2013NewFeature:Sessionfocusactivityissummarizedinthelogafterthelightframessummary.NewFeature:Addedup/downbuttonsformovingtargetsinthetargetlist.Change:DeletetargetwhosenamematchestheCCDNavigatorSessionImporttargetname.Change:SupportpredictivebumpingwithMaximandSBIGFW8-STG/AO/ExternalGuider.SeealsoCameraNoteswhenusingFW8-STGwithnon-AOguiding.Change:Enhancednon-siderealtrackinghandlingtoincludeASCOMmounts.Change:Preventexcessiverotatormovementthatoccursinsomecases.Change:Preventusersessionabortfromcausingacompleteobservatoryinsomecases.Change:Physicalmemoryused/totalreportedinlog.Bugfix:Ifselected,coolerwarmupwillbeexecutedduringaweatherabort.Bugfix:TargetloopcountwasnotbeingsavedwhenUpdatebuttonwashit.

5.05.7April6,2013NewFeature:AddedshuttertimeoutwithoptionalnotificationChange:@Focus2autodarkfollowsPlateSolveautodarkselection.Change:Allowcloudsensortoreportunknownskyconditionforsessionstartonly.Change:AdditionallogentryaddedforCCDNavigator3databasemaintenance.Change:PreventtryingtouseFocusMaxv3.xwithTheSkyXCameraAddOn-itwon'twork.Change:Minimumflatfieldexposurenow.01sec.Bugfix:Correctdustdonutcalculator.Bugfix:Correctcustomflatstarttimeinsessionsummary.

5.05.6March25,2013

NewFeature:TheSkyXCameraAddOnisnowsupportedasacameracontrolprogram(ProfessionalEditionfeature).TheSkyXBuild6822orgreaterrequired.NewFeature:SelectedfocusingstarscannowbecustomizedusingTheSky.Seeherefordetails.NewFeature:Usercannowspecifythedesiredwarmuptemperatureforthecameracooler(s).Change:IfyouneedASCOM,ASCOMPlatformVersion6SP1orlaterisrequired.InstallationonearlierASCOMplatformsisnotrecommended.Change:Dec.Releaseandmountsettingtimedisabledduringditheredskyflatacquisition.Change:IncreasedpausesforTheSkyXdomecontroltoaccommodateslowlyrespondingdomes.Bugfix:AllfilterswerebeingskippedwhenrunningFocusOffsetWizard.Fixed.Bugfix:Abortdarksbeforelightframecheckboxbeingignored.Fixed.Bugfix:Duskflatswererunningon,despitebeingtoodark.Fixed.

5.05.5February17,2013Bugfix:Importedtargetorderincorrect.

5.05.4February15,2013Change:FocusOffsetWizardwillnotuseanyfilternamed"dark"or"shutter".Change:WeatherAbortwillnowoccurduringAGSR.Bugfix:ChangingnumberofexposuresontheflyisproperlysupportedBugfix:RunFirstpathandargumentsarenowsavedproperly.Bugfix:CorrectASCOMJ2000tocurrentequinoxconversion.Bugfix:CorrecterrorwhenusingCCDSoft/TheSky6forplatesolving.Bugfix:FocusatSeriesStartwasbypassedifFocusatTargetStartwasselected.Bugfix:Focusoffsetsnotproperlymanagedduringoff-targetfocusingreturntotargetviaprecisionslew.

5.05.3February3,2013AddFeature:Optiontoparkthemountwhilewaitingforclearing.Change:moredetailederrorreportingwhensettingupemailnotificationsBugfix:EliminateTrackingOnafterweatherabort

5.05.2January25,2013Bugfix:FixederrorwhenusingDarksBeforeorDarksNowfromtheDarksBeforepageBugfix:AutoDateCorrectnowworkswithmultipletargetsthatareaftermidnight.

5.05.1January22,2013Bugfix:Addtargetmanually,brokenin5.05.0,nowworks

5.05.0January21,2013AddFeature:TrackingratesareacceptedfromTheSkyandusedfornon-siderealrateobjects(comets,satellites,etc.)Change:Targetstarttimeswillnowbethetimethefirstexposurestarts,notwhenslewingandfocusingstart.Change:Improvedresponsivenesswheneditingasession.Change:CCDNavigatorSessionImportmenuwillopenfiledialogifnopathtoplanornoplanavailableforthecurrentdate.

Change:AllowTheSkyXtostartproperlywithslowcomputerswhenlaunchedbyLinktoSoftware.Change:ActiveandinactivetargetsnowshownwhenDeleteAllTargetsisselected.Change:Preventunrealisticdownloadtimesbeingaddedifalongexposureisaborted.Change:ClarifiedlogforequinoxusedforASCOMtelescopeslews.Bugfix:CheckforupdatetogglenowworksproperlyBugfix:RunFirstnowproperlyimplementedBugfix:EmailtoandUseraddressescannowbedifferent.Bugfix:Eliminatebogusguidercoolerraisetemperaturereport.Bugfix:Showexposurecountinstatusbarforcalibrationframes.

NOTE:Inthenearfuture,CCDAutoPilotwillrequireASCOMplatformversion6.5.04.9December4,2012

Bugfix:SkyStarcrossingthemeridianforafocusstarwhenitshouldn't.Bugfix:Latetargetbeingrescheduleduntilthenextday.

5.04.8December2,2012AddEnhancedAutomationFeaturesAddFeature:CCDNavigator3integration.RequiresCCDNavigator3.0.14orlater.Change:IncreasedSkyStarchosenfocusstarmeridianmargintopreventmeridianfliptofocusstar.Bugfix:ParkproperlyforWeatherAbortactions

5.04.7November12,2012AddFeature:AddedhardwaresectiontoTroubleshootinghelptopic.AddFeature:InitialsupportforCCDNavigator3.Change:Increaserotatortimeoutto8min.forslowrotatorsChange:EnhancedweatherreportingduringaweatherabortChange:Cloudydelay/sessionabortoperatesatstartofsessionandFocusbeforeTargetStartBugfix:Properabortafterwaitforcloudclearingtimeoutorworseningweather.Bugfix:Rotatetofirsttargetbeforeprecisionslew.Bugfix:Summaryreportsnowcompleteswitheitherweatheroruserabort.Bugfix:Eliminateexceptioncausedbysomecameraswithmanybinningoptions.

5.04.6October18,2012AddFeature:OptiontorunWeatherAbortuponslewfailurewithTheSky6orTheSkyX.Seehere.AddFeature:EnhancedCCDNavigatorsupport.Change:Improveweatherabortlogging.Bugfix:Re-enablePausebuttonafterabortingasession.Bugfix:Pendingfocusatmeridianwillbeexecutedaftermeridianflip.Bugfix:Speed/gainsettings(Maxim)nowpreservedinsystemprofile.Bugfix:Verycloudyconditionnotalwaysresultinginsessionabort.

5.04.5September19,2012Bugfix:Completelydisablesoftwareversionchecking

5.04.4September18,2012AddFeature:PathtoSkyQualityMonitorcannowbechosenbyuser.AddFeature:SQMmag.persquarearc-sec.valuenowaddedtoFITSheaderasMPSASChange:IncreasedprobabilityofsuccessfullaunchofunopenedserverprogramswhenLinkingtoSoftware.Change:traperrorifRunAppischeckedwithanemptyentry.Change:Eliminatepseudo-darksinceMaximpassesacalibratedguiderarrayifsetinMaximChange:ImproveplatesolvewithTheSkyXChange:EliminateserversoftwareversioncheckingChange:PlatesolveinInitializationroutinenowfollowsAutoDarkselectioninSettings/PlateSolveChange:AddedinformationforusingAOdeviceswithMaxim.Seehere.Bugfix:Weatherabortdoesn'tpreventacquisitionofcalibrationframesandstopsguiderifrunningBugfix:Imagertemperatureraisedby30°whenspecified.Bugfix:Allowfocusingnearmeridianwhensufficienttimeisavailablebeforetransit.Bugfix:Correctguidingwhentargetisnearmeridianandmustwaitforflipforfirstexposuretostart.

5.04.3August7,2012Bugfix:Enableflatbiascontrol.

5.04.2August3,2012AddFeature:Changedtargetcontextmenus.AddedInvertActiveSelectionsandDuplicateTargetfunctions.More...AddFeature:Canenteraverageflatbiastoimproveexposureconvergenceundercertainconditions.More...Change:Aweatherabortwillonlyabortflatsistheskyisusedasalightsource.Change:MinimizespuriousweatherabortemailsChange:AddedwarningifaRunAppischeckedbuttheapplicationisnotfound.Change:DonotcloseFlipFlatwhenabortingasession.Change:Don'tconnecttotelescopeuntilafterobservatoryisopen.

5.04.1June23,2012AddFeature:MinimizeprobabilityofdoublestarsbeingchosenforSkyStarfocusingAddFeature:AddedRun0toOptionspage,Startupuptab.AddFeature:EnhancedsessionreviewontheRunpagetoincludeexposuresummariesandtheabilitytopastetonotepad.Change:Preventeditingofcurrenttargetduringarunningsession.Change:Cannowhandleupto20filtersinafilterwheel.Bugfix:PreservepanelsizingonSessionPage,LightFramestab.Documentation:Clarified%dasPositionAngle,notRotatorpositiononSettingpage,FileSettingstab.

5.04.0May18,2012

AddFeature:Run0addedonstartupoptionstab.AddFeature:SupportforPinPointUSNOBandUSNOB(net)addedAddFeature:SupportforISOspeed(QSIgain)programmingwithMaxim.SeeCameraOptionsChange:disabledmenusandfeaturesthatrequiresoftwaretobelinkedfromtheSetuppageChange:Decreasemin.sunanglefordawnflatsto-20.Change:WeatherwillabortflatsphaseifflatsareskyflatsonlyChange:WaitforMaximtoturnoncooler(s)beforequeryingcoolertemperature(s)Change:AllowtestingrainsensorduringclearskybyapplyingwaterdropstosensorChange:Improvedweatherabortduringvariousportionsofsession.Bugfix:CorrectsAOMaximAObumpingSomeminorbugfixesonclipboardcallsandinitialization.

5.03.9April4,2012Change:ImprovedhotpixelfilterChange:Downloadestimatesarenowbasedonlightframesonly.Change:LinktoSoftwarerequiredfortargetediting.Bugfix::MoveonifcooleriscolderthansetpointtemperatureatsessionStartupBugfix:Resolvedate/timeerrorwithIt(Italy)regionsettingBugfix:PreventerrorwithshortexposuresandInsertWCSand/orDataAssessment

5.03.8March22,2012Change:Targetstarfocusingbehaviorchange.SeehereChange:Waitforcloudstoclearactiveonlyduringlightframeacquisition.SeehereChange:Ifcloudyduringmeridianflip,waitforcloudstoclear(ifchecked)beforedoingprecisionslew.Change:Improvedflatacquisitionefficiency.Change:Exp.timeincrementdecreasedto0.1sec.forplanetaryimaging.Bugfix:"norowatposition1error"resolvedBugfix:Unabletosettargetstarttimeearlierthantheendtimeofaninactivetarget.Bugfix:NegativeADUreportduringflatacquisitionBugfix:CorrectguidingwhenusingMaxim/Telescope

5.03.7March14,2012AddFeature:Hideinactivetargets.SeehereAddFeature:Specifyatargetstarforfocusing.SeehereChange:CoolernolongerturnedonwhenCCDAutoPilotlinkstoMaxim.Change:Dither/Guidingtimefactoredintotimeestimates.Change:FocusernotneededforG2Vmeasurements.Bugfix:TargetADUforskyflatsnotbeingmetinsomecases.Bugfix:Rotatoradjustmentafterprecisionslewnotbeingmadeinsomecases.Bugfix:Italian/Swissculturetargetadderrorcorrected.Bugfix:CorrectedoccasionalerrorinG2Vmeasurementwizard

5.03.6February21,2012

AddFeature:PostFlipDelayadded.SeehereChange:FocusOffsetWizardenhanced.SeehereChange:LinearityWizardenhancedanduser-specifiedtoleranceadded.SeehereBugfix:UseAutodarkstateforplatesolvingwasbeingignored.Bugfix:Eliminate"CommandinProgress"errorfromTheSkyXBugfix:Wrongseriesinfobeingdisplayedforupdatedtargetafterupdate.Bugfix:Inactivetargetswerebeinghiddenduringasort.

5.03.5January6,2012Bugfix:PreventerrorwhenaddinganewtargetviatheGetbutton

5.03.4January4,2012AddFeature:Targetlistcannowbesortedinadditiontodrag/drop.SeehereAddFeature:Thelightexposuremid-pointisnowshowntoaidinmeridiancrossingplanning.SeehereChange:Defaultfailedfolderisnowasub-folderunderthetargetname'sfolderChange:DuplicateFOVIcheckismorerobust.Change:Allcomboboxesarereadonlytopreventproblemswithuser-entereddataChange:TAKometertargetrotationanglenowdisplaysproperlyinstatuslineChange:PreventprogramerrorifaclipboardmanagerisusedChange:Parkwhilewaiting/trackingoffwhilewaitingareoperationalattheverystartofasession.Bugfix:Sessionwindowsplitterbarpositionisnowproperlyremembered.Bugfix:EliminateoccasionaldelayingettingSessionEventswhenchangingtoRunpage.Bugfix:Keeprotatortargetpositioninacceptablerange.

5.03.3November27,2011AddFeature:NewwizardtomeasurecameralinearityChange:ImprovedlightserieseditingresponsivenessChange:StayonthetargetbeingeditedwhenupdatingBugfix:Correcttargetadderrorsthatsometimesoccur

5.03.2November13,2011AddFeature:SkyQualityMeterinfoisnowenteredintotheccdautopilotlog.SeeSoftware.Change:TheTargetname,whenavailable,isappendedtothedefaultlightframefoldername.SeeFileSettings.Change:Themaximumflatframeexposuretimeisincreasedto999sec.Change:Runappfolderscanbeclearedbyhittingcancelafternavigatingtotheexistingfile.Bugfix:Unabletonavigatetomountslewprogram.

5.03.1November11,2011Bugfix:Preventerroriflastcharacterafter'%'isdeletedinfilenametemplateBugfix:PreventseriesbecominguncheckedwheneditingBugfix:Modifydomeparklogictopreventerror.AddFeature:Domehomingtomoveshutterisnowoptional.SeeControlSettingsAddFeature:CansetMaximreadoutmodesforbiasanddarkframesindependently.SeeCamera

OptionsAddFeature:Runanapplicationafterslewingtoatargetandcrossingthemeridian.SeeControlSettings

5.03.0October25,2011Bugfix:SkyStarchosenfocusstarwillnotexceedMax.Eand/orMax.WmountaltitudelimitsBugfix:SplitterDistanceprogramerrorfixed.Change:FocusbeforeTargetRunStartwillslewtovicinityoftargetbeforefocusing.Change:PrecisionslewwilloccurevenifFocusbeforeTargetRunStartandfocusatseriesstartarebothchecked.Change:DefaultPinPointexpansionsetto0.3

5.02.9October12,2011Bugfix:Telescope(PulseGuide)inMaximBugfix:SpuriousDec.FormaterrormessageAdd:CCDAutoPilot5creditgraphic.Change:Thefilternamelearningfromthecameracontrolprogramisterminatedbyeitherthedefaultfiltername,e.g.filter6,orablankname.

5.02.8September27,2011Bugfix:Lognotbeingwritten.Bugfix:Stopguiderifrunningtoallowguidestardetection

5.02.7September25,2011AddFeature:DetectTooLightconditionfromCloudSensorII.Seedescription.Change:AddworkaroundforCCDSoftAOdetectionbug.Seedescription.Bugfix:Correctedpauseforcloudyconditionabortprocessing.Bugfix:Initialfocusbeforetargetrunwasinsertinganoffsetrelativetothefirstfilterinerrorafterfocusing.

5.02.6September21,2011Bugfix:CompliationerrorpreventedautoguidestarexposurefromworkingwithMaxim.

5.20.5September20,2011AddFeature:Biaslevelforflatsnowdoneautomaticallyforcameraswithandwithoutshutters.Change:InitializationwarningmovedfromaseparatedialogboxtotheWarningssectionoftheRunpage.Bugfix:Guidestarnotbeingdetectedatseriesstartwhenself-guidedBugfix:CorrectflatacquisitionwhenusingcustomlightsourceBugfix:Validtargetsometimesincorrectlyskippedduetoaltitude.Bugfix:Manualdataassessmentsometimesincorrectlyflaggedframesasfailed.

5.20.4September17,2011Bugfix:ExcessiveCPUusage

5.02.3September16,2011Change:TestCCDNavigatorinputformat.WarnifincorrectChange:EnableDarksNowwithoutatelescopeconnectionbeingrequiredAddFeature:Guidestardetectionnowhappensonlywhennecessarywithoff-axisguidedand

guidescopeoperation.Change:AddReverseYoptionformeridianflipwithguidescopes.Change:Improvedfocusertemperaturedetectioncode.Change:AddedtemperaturereadoutforMaximfocusingifsupportedinMaxim.Change:DonotrepeatFocusertemperaturewarningiftemperaturenotavailable.Change:PreventablankentryforGuiderorImagerplatescale.Change:PreventRA/DecformaterrorwhenusingASCOM(only)fortelescopecontrol.Change:Addwarningofdomeactivityplannedbutnodomelinked.Change:Skiptargetsthathaven'trisenattargetstarttime.Bugfix:Weatherabortfixed,improved.DetailsBugfix:AOrecenteringoneveryexposurefixedBugfix:RealigntotargetisnowscheduledproperlyBugfix:LasttargetinlistisnowexportedcorrectlyBugFix:LasttargettimegapnotbeingclosedwhenselectingResetTimeGapbetweenActiveTargets.Bugfix:NextFocusTimeisnowproperlyinitialized.Bugfix:CorrectstartingexposureforCustomFlatLightSource.Bugfix:Domeisunlinkedwhenweatherabortistriggered.Bugfix:Controlfilethrowingerrorincorrectly.Bugfix:Allowcometstobeadded,e.g.C/2009P1Bugfix:PreventautostarselectforG2VwhennotusingTheSkyBugfix:PreventerrorifPCclockchangesmassivelyduringasession.

5.02.2June23,2011AddFeature:HotPixelFilterAddFeature:DomecontrolsupportforTheSkyX(X2).RequiresTheSkyXProfessionalBuild4568orlater.Change:SupportASCOMDomeParkChange:DDWCPimproved.Nowwaitsfordometostopslewingbeforeproceeding.Change:SetCCDSoftguiderseriesto1onconnectChange:PreventAOcenteringifnoAOconnectedBugfix:PermitsyncoptiononreturnprecisionslewwhenFocusProgramPicksStarfocusingmethodisused.Bugfix:Eliminate"SplitterDistance"programerror.

5.02.1June11,2011Bugfix:ClosetimegapforactivetargetsfixedBugfix:Eliminatespurious"waitforastronomicaldawn"forduskflatsBugfix:Correctdarksessiontimewhenbiasframesselected

5.02.0June8,2011Change:Alwaysshownextfocustimeinsessionwindow

Change:PerformanceimprovementinlargetargetdatabasesChange:PreventinvalidcoordinatedatafrombeingenteredBugfix:Correctsessiontimeestimates.Bugfix:CorrectephemeridesdatesBugfix:PreventerrorwhennoastronomicaltwilightBugfix:PreventupdateerroronSessionpage

5.01.9June2,2011AddFeature:Addedabilitytomoverotatortoaspecificlocationattheendofasession.Change:Addtargetcoordinateformatchecking/warning.Improvedhelptopic.Change:AddwarningiftoofewstarsinaplatesolveChange:AddautomadomesupportforTheSkyXBugfix:CorrectAOinitializationerror(Maxim)Bugfix:Removespuriousduskwarningmessage

5.01.8May19,2011Bugfix:UpdatesunephemeridesasneededforsessionplanningandwarningsBugfix:Reflect@Focus2requirementinstartupmessageforfilteroffsetwizardBugfix:3x3binningnotshowingupasaplatesolvealternativeinsomecases.Bugfix:ASCOMtelescopecoordinatesnotbeingproperlyreportedforInitializationChange:CCDSoftSeriescountisresetto1uponLinktoSoftware.

5.01.7May11,2011Bugfix:Double-clickingonanemptytargetlistBugfix:EndofsessionUPDATEerrorBugfix:Ensurepropermeridianflip/abortlabelinsessionwindow

5.01.6May8,2011Change:Addtargetloopcountindextofilenametemplateandshowonsessionwindowifgreaterthan1Change:AddworkaroundforMaximversions<5.08,whichcausedProgramErrorwheninitializingBugfix:Errorwhenloadingaprofilewithreadoutmodeotherthan0selected.

5.01.5May6,2011Bugfix:ProperlyhandlenegativeTAKometervalues

5.01.4May5,2011Bugfix:CorrectTAKometerfaultChange:EnhancedsomewarningsmessagesChange:Unhandledexceptionreportinganddisplay

5.01.3May4,2011Bugfix:Preventerroratendofsessionwithsingletarget

5.01.2May4,2011Change:MinimumTCCapplicationis1.5.23Change:AccommodatebothCCDAP4andCCDAP5controlfilesChange:Addguidemethodtosessionreview

Change:AddfocuserslipwarninginFocusOffsetWizardMeasurementtopic.change:IncreasedecimalplacesforfocusexposureandcalibrationmagnitudeBugfix:RotatordirectiontestnoworksproperlyatallanglesBugfix:Preventerrorwithone-shotcolorcamerasBugfix:CorrectdataassessmentwhenusingplatesolvingBugfix:Filteroffsetmeasurementnowworkswith@Focus2

5.01.1April24,2011Change:SupporthigherdpidisplaysettingsChange:StabilityimprovementsBugfix:AddserialnumbertofilenamewhenDescriptionfieldisused.

5.01.0April14,2011Bugfix:PreventerrorwhenleavingFocusingpageChange:ImprovePrecisionSlewaccuracywithTheSkyX

5.00.9April13,2011Bugfix:PreventerroratendofseriesforsomeregionsBugfix:Preventerrorwhenrunningasessionwithnotargetsselected

5.00.8April11,2011Change:Increasedresolutionofmin.andmax.guideexposureandmaxguideerror.Bugfix:TemperaturecompensationnotworkingproperlyBugfix:Preventnegativegoalsachieved.

5.00.7April8,2011Bugfix:eliminate"moonerror"Bugfix:donotassessdatawhenonlyInsertWCSisenabled.Change:AddwarningwhenexposuretimeistooshortforeitherdataassessmentorWCSinsertion.Change:EliminatednativeOptecdrivercode.YoumayhavetoreselectyourrotatorontheSetuppage.

5.00.6April7,2011Bugfix:correctdateerroratstartupforsomeregionsBugfix:preventditherwanderwithover24exposurespertarget

5.00.5April6,2011Bugfix:Targetstarttimebeingchangedinerrorundersomecircumstances.Change:UseASCOMdriverforOptecrotators,availablehere.

5.00.4April5,2011Bugfix:TheSky6/Xloadingwithnon-usregionsBugfix:Maximcameradriverswith0readoutmodesBugfix:Exceptionwithover48exposuresonthesametargetBugfix:DataassessmentachievementcountBugfix:Staircaserenamecausedaproblem.Bugfix:Someminorlogdetails

5.00.3April3,2011

Bugfix:VersionchecktoworkwithcommaasdecimalseparatorBugfix:CCDNavigatorimportEnhancement:"Stairstep"changedto"Staircase"forconsistencywithCCDNavigator.Thiswillbereflectedinthedefaulttemplatesonlyifanewdefaultdatabaseisselected.SeeNewDatabase

5.00.2April2,2011Bugfix:unabletoupdate

5.00.1April1,2011Bugfix:CCDAPterminatesifInitializeselectedwithoutafilterwheel.

5.00.0April1,2011InitialRelease

EditionDifferences

ProfessionalEdition

TheProfessionalEditionprovidesallthefeatures,functionsandtoolsdescribedinthishelpfile.

BasicEditionTheBasicEditionisintendedforbeginningimagers.Itislimitedtoonetargetpersessionanddoesnotprovidethecontrolfileforcustomization.Email/textmessagenotification,filteroffsetandG2Vratiowizardsarealsonotavailable.

ApplicationRequirementsCertainminimalrevisionlevelsarerequiredfortheapplicationsCCDAutoPilotwillcommand.CCDAutoPilotwillsimplynotworkwithearlierversions.Versioncheckingisincorporatedtopreventoperationwithapplicationsthatdonotmeettheseminimumversions.Inmostcases,updatesarefreelyavailablefromthesoftwarepublisherandmustbeimplementedforsuccessfulCCDAutoPilotoperation.

WindowsXP,Vista32-bitor64-bit,Windows7/832-bitor64-bitaslongas.NET4.0(Extended)Frameworkisloaded..NETFrameWork4.0Theextendededitionisrequired.

Oneofthefollowingcameracontrolprograms:CCDSoftversion5.00.205orlater,5.00.215recommended.MaxImDLversion4.62orlater.5.08orlaterrecommended,requirestheASCOMplatformspecifiedbelow.TheSkyXProfessionalEdition10.2.0,Build7032orlaterwithCameraAddOn.Thelatestdailybuild,availablefromtheSoftwareBisquewebsite,isalwaysrecommendedforbestfunctionality.Build9240otlaterisrequiredtoTheSkyXrotatorcontrol

Oneofthefollowingtelescopecontrolprograms/environmentsASCOMplatform6.0SP1orlaterTheSky6ProfessionalEdition6.00.65orlaterTheSkyXProfessionalEdition10.2.0orlater

FocusingFocusMax3.4.40orlater.FocusMaxrequirestheASCOMplatform,identifiedabove.TheSky6orTheSkyXforSkyStarfocusing.PlaneWavecontrolprogramsv2.2.0.12orlaterorV3.3.2orlater.

PlateSolvingCCDSoftandTheSky6asspecifiedabovePinPointv5.xorlaterTheSkyXasspecifiedabove.

OneofthefollowingrotatorcontrolprogramsASCOM-compliantdriverandtheASCOMplatformasspecifiedaboveAstroDonTAKometerControlv0.0.1orlaterRCOSTCCSoftware,version1.5.23orlaterTheSkyXProfessionalEditionversion10.3.0,build9240orlater

OneofthefollowingdomecontrolprogramsASCOM-compliantdriveandtheASCOMplatformasspecifiedaboveAutomaDomeversion1.00.014orlaterTechnicalInnovationsDigitalDomeWorks

WeatherBoltwoodCloudSensorI,II,TI/AAGCloudSensorandcompatiblecloudsensorsthatprovidethesinglelinedatafileinafolderaccessibletoCCDAutoPilot

GettingUpdatesCCDAutoPilotoffersbothaManualandAutomaticmethodofgettingupdates.

UsingthemenutoselectHelp/GetUpdatesfromWeb/Nowwillimmediatelycheckforavailableupdates.

ClickingonEveryDaywillsetorclearacheckmark.Ifthecheckmarkispresent,CCDAutoPilotwillcheckforupdatesonceadayatthefirstexecutionoftheday.IfyouhavearemoteobservatorywithoutInternetaccess,firstupdateCCDAutoPilotonaPCthatdoeshaveInternetaccess.Theupdateinstallerfilesarealwayslocatedin(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Updates\.SimplycopythosefilestoaflashdriveandinstallthemonyourobservatoryPC.Don'tforgettocopyyourlicensefileaswell.

License

IMPORTANT-READCAREFULLY

CCDAutoPilot5iscopyright(c)2003-2014JohnC.Smith.Allrightsreserved."CCDAutoPilot5","CCDAutoPilot4","CCDAutoPilot3,"CCDAutoPilot2"and"CCDAutoPilot"aretrademarksofJohnC.Smith.Thislicensestatementandlimitedwarrantyconstitutesalegalagreement("LicenseAgreement")betweenyou("Licensee",eitherasanindividualorasingleentity)andJohnC.Smith("Licensor"),ownerofthe"CCDAutoPilot"seriesofsoftware("Software")ofwhichJohnC.Smithisthecopyrightholder.BYDOWNLOADING,INSTALLING,COPYING,OROTHERWISEUSINGTHESOFTWARE,YOUAGREETOBEBOUNDBYALLOFTHETERMSANDCONDITIONSOFTHELICENSEAGREEMENT.UponyouracceptanceofthetermsandconditionsoftheLicenseagreement,grantsyoutherighttousetheSoftwareinthemannerprovidedbelow.IfyoudonotacceptthetermsandconditionsoftheLicenseAgreement,youaretopromptlydeleteeachandanycopyoftheSoftwarefromyourcomputer(s).ThislicenseagreementonlyappliestothesoftwareproductCCDAutoPilotandnottoanyotherproductevenifthatproductissimilartoCCDAutoPilotandhasasimilarname.TheLicensorreservestherighttolicensethesameSoftwaretootherindividualsorentitiesunderadifferentlicenseagreement.Afteracceptingthislicenseagreement,theLicenseeispermittedtousetheSoftwareunderthetermsofthisagreementfornomorethansixty(60)days,andforevaluationpurposesonly,withoutpaymenttotheLicensor.Forthispurpose,theLicensorprovidesaspecialfreetrialversionoftheSoftwarethatcanbefreelydownloadedfromthewebsite.IftheLicenseewishestousethesoftwareformorethansixty(60)daysand/orforpurposesotherthanevaluatingtheSoftware,theLicenseemustpurchaseasingleuserlicensefromtheLicensor.IftheSoftwarewillbeusedbymorethanoneuser,pleasecontacttheLicensorforpricing.Thislicensebearstheemailaddressandotherinformationofthelicensedpersonorentityandisnottransferabletoanyotherparty.Pricingandavailabilityissubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice.TheLicenseecanconsultthemostrecentpricinginformationat<www.ccdware.com/buy>ASingleUserLicensemeansthesoftwareisinstalledononeandonlyoneObservatoryComputer.AnObservatoryComputerisdefinedasonebeingusedforastronomicalimageacquisitionwhereanycombinationofimagingcameras,telescope,focuser,rotators,domesorotherancillarycomponentsarebeingcontrolled.Forpurposesofthislicense,anObservatoryComputerisconsideredtohaveasingleinstanceofaMicrosoftWindows®OperatingSystemonacomputer.IfmorethanoneinstanceofMicrosoftWindows®OperatingSystemisusedonasinglecomputer,thenadditionallicensestoCCDAutoPilotarerequiredforeachinstancethatfunctionsasanObservatoryComputer.OneadditionalcopyofCCDAutoPilotmaybeinstalledononeadditionalcomputerforimageacquisitionplanning.IftheObservatoryComputerisusedbymorethanoneuserfornon-profituse,supportwillbeprovidedonlytothelicensee;ifusedinbusinessventure,pleasecontacttheauthoratccdware@me.comforcommerciallicensepricing.TheLicenseehasrighttoplaceanadditionalcopyoftheSoftwareonaremovablemediumforbackuppurposes.Technicalsupportisavailabledirectlyfromourproductsupportforumathttp://ccdware.infopop.cc/eveThisforumislinkeddirectlyfromtheCCDAutoPilotmenuunder"SupportForum".TheSoftwareisprovided"asis".InnoeventshalltheLicensororanyofhisaffiliatesbeliablefor

anyconsequential,special,incidentalorindirectdamagesofanykindarisingoutofthedelivery,performanceoruseofthisSoftware,tothemaximumextentpermittedbyapplicablelaw.WhiletheSoftwarehasbeendevelopedwithgreatcare,itisnotpossibletowarrantthattheSoftwareiserrorfree.TheSoftwareisnotdesignedorintendedtobeusedinanyactivitythatmaycausepersonalinjury,deathoranyotherseveredamageorloss.WhenerrorsarefoundintheSoftware,theLicensorwillreleaseanewversionoftheSoftwarethatnolongercontainsthoseerrorsareasonableamountoftimeaftertheLicensorisgivenanaccuratedescriptionofthoseerrors.Whatamountoftimeisreasonablewilldependonthecomplexityandseverityoftheerrors.TheLicensorwillmentionthereleaseontheWebSiteand,attheLicensor'soption,directlycontacttheLicenseetoannouncethenewrelease.TheLicenseecanthen,attheiroption,upgradetothelatestversionortocontinuetousetheolderversiontheLicenseealreadyhas.Ineithercase,nopaymenttotheLicensorisrequired.Inthelattercase,theLicenseewillnolongerbeentitledtotechnicalsupportuntiltheLicenseehasupgradedtothelatestversion.TheLicensorreservestherighttochargeanupgradefeeinthecaseofmajornewenhancementsoradditionstotheSoftware.Thismajornewversionwillthenstartanewversionlinethatwilluseversionnumbersclearlydistinguishablefromtheoldversionline.TheLicenseehasnoobligationtoupgradetothenewversionlineandtheLicensorwillcontinuetomakethelatestversionofthepreviousversionlineavailablefordownloadtoLicensee.Youmustnotattempttoreversecompile,modify,translateordisassembletheSoftwareinwholeorinpart.YoumustnotruntheSoftwareunderadebuggerorsimilartoolallowingyoutoinspecttheinnerworkingsoftheSoftware.Youmustnotcircumventorotherwisebypasstheproductlicensingrequirement.Doingsoorattemptingtodosowillconstituteaviolationofthislicense.TheSoftwareremainstheexclusivepropertyoftheLicensor.AnyLicenseewhofullycomplieswiththetermsinthislicenseagreementmayuseitaccordingtothetermsofthislicenseagreement.YoumustnotgivecopiesoftheSoftwareoryourlicensekeytootherpersonsorentities.YoumustnottransfertheSoftwareoryourlicensekeytoanotherpersonorentity.Youmustalsotakereasonablestepstopreventanythirdpartyfromcopyingthesoftwarefromoneofyourmachineswithoutyourpermission.THEREISNOWARRANTYFORTHESOFTWAREPRODUCT,TOTHEEXTENTPERMITTEDBYAPPLICABLELAW.EXCEPTWHENOTHERWISESTATEDINWRITINGTHECOPYRIGHTHOLDERSAND/OROTHERPARTIESPROVIDETHESOFTWAREPRODUCT"ASIS"WITHOUTWARRANTYOFANYKIND,EITHEREXPRESSEDORIMPLIED,INCLUDING,BUTNOTLIMITEDTO,THEIMPLIEDWARRANTIESOFMERCHANTABILITYANDFITNESSFORAPARTICULARPURPOSE.THEENTIRERISKASTOTHEQUALITYANDPERFORMANCEOFTHESOFTWAREPRODUCTISWITHYOU.SHOULDTHESOFTWAREPRODUCTPROVEDEFECTIVE,YOUASSUMETHECOSTOFALLNECESSARYSERVICING,REPAIRORCORRECTION.TheLicensorreservestherighttorevokeyourlicenseifyouviolateanyorallofthetermsofthislicenseagreement,withoutpriornotice.

OneYearLicenseRenewalSinceCCDAutoPilotversion5wasreleasedinApril2010,featureshavebeenaddeduponrequest.Inordertofundthefuturedevelopmentandadditionofnewfeatures,CCDAutoPilotlicensingwillbemovingtoalicenserenewalbasis.Thisisthesameapproachusedbyothermajorastronomysoftwaresupplierswhocontinuetoenhancetheirproduct.TherearethreetypesofentriesinVersionHistory:NewFeatures,ChangesandBugFixes.ThefunctioningofNewFeatureswilldependontheissuedateoftheuserlicenseandthereleasedateofthenewfeature.ThefeaturereleasedatewillbethedatethefeatureisfirstannouncedintheVersionHistorypageofCCDAutoPilotHelp;yourlicenseissuedateisshownintheHelp/Aboutwindow.Anewlicensepurchasewillhaveaccesstoallfeaturesthatatthetimeofpurchaseandforoneyearintothefuture.Ifthelicenseissuedateislessthanoneyearpriortothefeaturereleasedate,thefeaturewillbeenabled;ifthelicenseisoveroneyearpriortothefeaturereleasedate,thefeaturewillbevisiblebutnotenabled(grayedout)unlessasubscriptionrenewalispurchased.Changes(minorchangesinthewayanexistingfeatureworks)andbugfixeswillcontinuetobemadeavailabletoall,regardlessofthelicenseissuedate.AndofcourseCCDAutoPilotwillcontinuetobefullyfunctionalwithoutanylicenserenewal.OnlythefunctioningofNewFeatureswillbeimpactedbythelicensedateasdescribedabove.Theoneyearlicenserenewalcostis$75USDandcanbeorderedfromwww.ccdware.comForfastestresults,usetheemailaddressyouusedtooriginallyorderthelicensewhenyouorderalicenserenewal.Foryourconvenience,thislicenseemailisshownintheCCDAutoPilotHelp/Aboutwindow.Ifthatemailisnolongeravailable,amanualrenewallicensewillbeissuedbutmaytake24-48hours.Whenyourenewyourlicense,youwillreceiveanewlicensefileviaemail,thesameasyoudidwhenyoufirstlicensedCCDAutoPilot.Theemailwillcontaininstructionsonhowtoinstallthenewlicensefile.Afterinstallation,yourlicensewillbeforthesameeditionasyouroriginallicensebutthelicenseissuedatewillnowbethelongerof12monthsfromyourrenewalpurchasedateor12monthsaddedtoyourcurrentlicensedate.Therenewallicensewillenableanynewfeaturesuptooneyearfromthelicensedateandanyfeaturesearlierthanthelicensedate.

ImagingStrategiesCCDAutoPilotisdesignedtomakeyourimagingdatacollectioneasierandmorerepeatable.Inadditionto"pushingbuttons"foryou,italsohasanumberoftools,wizards,featuresandoptionsthatcanmakethequalityofyouracquireddatabetterandtheentireacquisitionworkflowmorerepeatable.Infact,onceyouhaveanoptimalapproachworkedout,youcansimplydetermineyourtargetandgo.TouseCCDAutoPilottomaximumadvantage,itisbesttoreviewsomeunderlyingconceptssurroundingdataacquisition.Thenextfewsectionsareintendedtogiveyousomebackgroundontheseconcepts.ThereisasignificantamountoftechnologyinimageacquisitionwithCCDcamerasbutwithanunderstandingofsomeoftheunderlyingconcepts,bestusecanbemadeoftheavailabletime.Thissectionwillhopefullyprovidesome"gettingstarted"concepts.Asyourskillsandunderstandingdevelop,youmaydelvemoreintotheunderlyingdetailstofurtheroptimizeyourdataacquisition.Oneofthefirstquestionsaskedishowlongshouldmysub-exposuresbe?Thissimplequestioncantakean"urbanlegend"kindofanswer-aslongaspossible,godeep,"10minutesiswhatIuse",etc.Butthereissomeunderlyingsciencethatcanbeappliedtomakesenseofallthisanddeterminewhatisbestforyourtelescope,cameraandskyconditionsImagingisallaboutSignal-to-Noise-Ratio(SNR).Noiseisthatgrainybackgroundthatweseeinthefaintareasofthetargetafterourexposureiscomplete.Therearemultiplesourcesofnoise-thecameraelectronicsandthecamerasensor(readnoise)andevennoisefromtheskyitself,intheformofskyglow.Thegoalistominimizetheimpactofthethingswecancontrol.Howwedealwiththeseissuesisafunctionofwhetherwearedoingnarrowbandimagine(Halphaisoneexample,alongwithSulfurIIandOxygenIII)andbroadband(LuminanceorclearfilteralongwithRGBtypically)isanother.

BroadBandimagingWithbroadbandimaging,theskyglowformsanappreciableilluminationcomponent.Likemostlightsources,thereisanoisecomponent,technicallycalledPoissonarrivalstatistics,thatcontributesuncertainty(noise)tothevalue(signal)oftheskyglow.Sinceskyglowisauniformcomponentofthesignal,itcanbeeffectivelysubtractedfromthedatabutthenoisecannotbesubtracted.NoisesourcescombinelikethePythagoreantheorem-thesquarerootofthesumofthesquares.So,giventhenoiseinskyglow,wemakeoursub-exposureslongenoughsothattheskyglownoiseisthemajornoisecomponentandoverwhelmsreadnoise.Atypicalstrategyistomakethesub-exposuretimelongenoughsothatreadnoisecontributes5%ofthetotalnoise.Thesub-exposurecalculatorprovidesaconvenientwaytomeasurecameragain,readnoiseandskyglowforpopularcamerasensorssothatyoucanarriveatasuitableminimumsub-exposuretime.Itshouldbenotedthattheluminancecomponentcarriestheresolutionandcolorinformationisgenerallyblurredsothenoiseinthecolorchannelsisnotasimportantasthereadnoise.Oncewehaveasub-exposuretimedetermined,wecanlookatdarkcurrent.Everysensorhasdarkcurrent,whichisanothersignalthatcanbesubtractedfromthedatabutagainithasanoisecomponentthatcannotbesubtracted.Here,coolingthesensorreducesthedarkcurrenttypicallybyone-halfforevery6degreesC.Wecanuseasimilarstrategytodeterminehowmuchwewanttoallowthedarkcurrenttocontributetothetotalnoise.Sincedarkframesareeasytocomebyoncloudynights,wecansetexperimentwiththesub-exposurecalculatortodeterminecameraoperatingtemperatureandnumberofdarkframesweneed.Inmanycases,asurprisingcameraoperatingtemperatureforagivendarknoisecontributionresults.Forexample,withaKAF16803sensorandmysuburbanskies,a600sec.sub-exposureissufficientsothatreadnoisecontributes2.5%tothetotalnoiseandtohavethedarkcurrentcontribute0.5%tothetotal,Ineedonly6darkframesandcanrunthesensorat-15degreesC.Again,onceyourgain,readnoiseandskyglowisknown,youcanexperimentwithsub-exposurecalculatorsettingstoseetheeffectofcoolertemperaturesonthedarknoisecontributionandnumberofdarkframesneeded.(Itshouldbementionedthatthereisanotherquasi-noisesourcecalledpatternnoise.Thisispixel-to-pixeldifferencesindarkcurrentforeachsensor.Technically,thisalsorepresentsnoisebutditheringandsubsequentregistrationandstatisticalrejectioncombiningminimizesthiscontributionforaestheticimaging.Theorderofmagnitudeofthispatternnoiseisapproximatelyequaltothedarksignal.Forprecisionphotometry,thetemperatureshouldbereducedapproximatelyanother7degreesCfromthatcalculatedabovetoreducethepatternnoise.Thenumberofdarkframescalculatedaboveshouldalsobedoubled.)

NarrowBandImagingWithHa,OII,SIIIandsimilarnarrowbandfilters,theskyglowisessentiallynegligible.Here,thenoisesourcesareprimarilyreadnoiseandsecondarilydarksignalnoise.Readnoiseisrelativelyinsensitivetotemperature.Sinceexposuretimesaregenerallylong,thenumberofdarkframesshouldbecalculatedafterinputtingyourexposuretimeandcameraoperatingtemperature.Ifyourimagingscaleissufficient,binningcanreducetheeffectivereadnoise.Forexample,binning2x2means4pixelsarereadwithonereadcycle.Ifyourreadnoiseis10eforexample,thenthatwillbeappliedto4pixelsandyoureffectiveSNRwillbeincreasedbyapproximately4.Thismaynothappeninallcaseswithallsensorsandcameras.Tobesure,takeadvantageofCCDAutoPilot'sSub-Exposurecalculatortooltoactuallymeasurereadnoiseforunbinnedandbinnedconditions.TheabovediscussionbarelyscratchesthesurfaceofSNR.Interestedreadersarereferredtoavailabletextsonthisissue.Subsequentsectionsinthistopicwillexplorekeycontributorstooveralldataquality.

FocusingTechniquesKeepingyoursysteminfocusis,asmightbeexpected,ofcriticalimportanceinachievinghighdataquality.Notonlydoesexcellentfocusgivesmalleststarsandhighestresolutionbutitalsogiveshighersignal.Sofocusingandmaintainingfocusisveryimportant.

FocusingProgramsTherearethreefocusingmethodologiessupportedinCCDAutoPilot-FocusMax,@Focus2andMaxim'sownfocusingroutine.Whenproperlyinitializedorcalibrated,bothwilldoanexcellentjobofachievingcriticalfocus.FocusMaxisafreeprogramputinthepublicdomainbySteveBradyandLarryWeber.Itsupportsawiderangeoffocusersandiswidelyusedandrespected.ItworkswithbothCCDsoftandMaxim.Itrequiresaninitialcalibrationroutinethatmighttake30minutesorsobutoncedone,willneverneedtoberevisitedunlessyouchangecamerasortheimagingtelescope'sfocallength,byafocalreducerforexample.ConsulttheFocusMaxhelpfileformoredetails.@Focus2isauniquetechnologytoSoftwareBisqueandisincorporatedinCCDSoft.Itsupportsmostpopularfocusers.Initialcalibrationrequiresdeterminingtheexposuretimeforagivenmagnitudestarthatresultsinapeakcountof25,000.Thismustbedoneforeachfilterandcantake10-15minutesorsofor5filters.Oncedone,itwillnotneedchangingunlessthecameraorimagingtelescope'sfocallengthischanged.ConsulttheCCDSofthelpfileformoreinformation.MaximFocuserusesasimilarapproachasFocusMaxbymeasuringthehalf-fluxdensityofanout-of-focusstar.ItdoesnotrequirethecalibrationthatFocusMaxand,asaconsequence,individualfocussessionswilltakeabitlonger,perhaps20-30%longer.Iffocusoffsetsarerequired,thentheMaximFocusermustconnecttoanASCOMhubsothatbothCCDAutoPilotandMaximcanaccessthefocusersimultaneously.

TheProblemForeachopticalsystem,focusingmustbemaintainedwithintheCriticalFocusZone(CFZ).Classicalopticaltheoryasthebestfocus,limitedtothewavelengthoftheincominglightandthesizeoftheAirydisk,whichisprimarilyafunctionoftheimagingtelescope'saperture.Recentworksuggeststhatwithautomatedfocusingprograms,focusingshouldbetargetedatbeingapproximatelyone-thirdoftheclassicalCFZandthisiswhatCCDAutoPilot'sCFZcalculatorgives.Evenassuminganaccurateinitialfocus,thefocuscanchangeoverthecourseoftheimagingrunduetoanumberofsources.

Filters:Differentfiltersmayhavedifferentopticalthicknesses,resultinginachangeinfocusasdifferentfiltersareused.Evenparfocalfilters,filterswhichhavethesameopticalthickness,maynotresultinthesamefocuspointiftheimagingtelescopehassignificantrefractiveelements.ThebestcorrectedAPOrefractorswillstillshowafocusdifferencebetweenredandbluefiltersforexample.Reflectivetelescopestypicallydonotshowthisproblem.Temperature:Aluminumisacomponentinmosttelescopesandissubjecttocontractionastemperaturedecreases.Thisusuallyresultsinafocuschange,unlessmechanicallycompensated.Andsomelowercosttelescopesmighthaveopticalelementsmadefromnon-zerotemperaturecoefficientglass,leadingtoapotentialchangeinfocus.MirrorFlop:ThisisanissueprimarilywithlowercostSCT's,wherethemirrormovesduetochangeinOTAattitude.Thisissuemayalsobeexacerbatedbythemeridiancrossing"flip"withanequatorialmount.Inflippingfromeasttowest,theOTAeffectivelyrotatesby180degrees!

SolutionsFromtheaboveitisclearthatthereisaneedtofocusduringthecourseoftheevening.CCDAutoPilotprovidesanumberoftechniquestofocusandhastheabilitytocharacterizeyoursystem.Youcancharacterizeyoursystemduringmoontimebyacoupleoftechniques.FilterEffect:CCDAutoPilotincludesaFocusOffsetMeasurementWizardthatautomaticallydeterminesthefocusoffsetarisingforeachfilterinconcertwiththecharacteristicsofyourOTA.Thisrequiresatrueabsolutefocuserwhosepositioniscompletelyrepeatable.Ifyourfocusermeetsthatrequirement,youcanusethewizardtodeterminetheoffsetsforfocusing.Simplycenterthescopeonasuitablefocusstar,saymagnitude4-5,setyourstartingfocusexposuresappropriatelyontheFocusingpage,selectareferencefilter(Greenissuggestedasamid-bandfilterrange)andthenumberofmeasurements/Filter(minimum5recommended,moreisbetter),andhittheMeasurebutton.Thewizardwillmakethespecifiednumberoffocusrunsperfilter,calculatethemedianforeachfilter,calculatethenecessaryoffsetsandenterthemontheFocusingpage.IftheenteredoffsetsarewithintheCFZ(UsethecalculatorintheleftpaneofthefocuspagetodetermineCFZ),thenyoucanusethesamefilterforfocusingwithoutworryingabouttheoffsetsEveniftherearesignificantoffsets,youcanprograminthoseoffsetsontheFocuspagesothattheywillbeaddedorsubtractedasnecessarytoachieveexcellentfocus.Whenusingfocusoffsets,besurethesystemisinfocusatthestartofthesession.AgoodwaytodothisistouseCCDAutoPilot'sFocusBeforeTargetRunStartasdescribedhere.TemperatureEffect:Thiswillprobablytakeafullevening'srunagainduringmoontime.Youwillneedamethodofrecordingtemperatureovertheevening.CCDAutoPilotcanacquiretemperaturefromanumberofsources.Setupanumberoffocusstarsthatwillbewithin20-30degreesofthemeridianoverthecourseoftheevening.(ThisrequirestheProfessionaledition,sinceeachfocusstarisatarget.Forthebasicedition,youwillhavetosetupindividualsessions.)Unlessyouknowyoudon'thaveamirrorflopissue,youshouldkeeptoonesideofthemeridian.SetupSkyStarwithCenterFocusStarchecked.Do5seriesofashortexposurewiththesamefilter.Attheconclusionoftheevening'srun,youcanassesshowmuchfocuschangeswithtemperatureandhowmuchtemperaturechangecausesyoutoexceedtheCFZ.YoucanthenprogramCCDAutoPilottofocusonatemperaturechangethatcorrespondsto1/3oftheCFZforexample.MirrorFlop:Setupanumberofserieswiththesamefilterandselectfocusatseriesstart.Chooseasuitablevalueforthenumberofsetstoinsuretheimagingtimecarriesthroughameridianflip.SelectFocusAtStarCenterwithCenterFocusStarchecked.Formeridianflipsettings,checkFocusOnFlipasanadditionaldatapoint.Attheendofthesession,examinethelogtoseehowmuchthefocuspointchangesacrossthemeridianflip.Ifyouseeasignificantchange,besuretoalwaysusethefocusaftermeridianflipoption.Unknowns:Theabovecoverswhatweknowbutotherthingscanhappenthatwedon'tknowabout.Forexample,apassingcloudcanobscurethefocusstarandyoumaygetabadfocusreference.Periodicfocusing,focusatseriesstartevenwithfocusoffsetssetup,canhelpcatchandcorrectforthoseevents.SeetheFocusingtopicintheCommandSummaryfordetailsonthemanyfocusingtoolsprovidedinCCDAutoPilot.

GuidingandTrackingTechniques

GuidedImaging

Longexposuresgenerallyconsistofanumberofshortersub-exposuresandbecauseofthat,thetelescopemustbekeptaccuratelypointingtothetargetduringthecourseofthesub-exposures.Averyprecisemountmaybeabletotrackaccuratelyenoughforthesub-exposuredurationbutmostdonot.Thatiswhereguidedimagingcomesin.Aguidestarisselectedanditscentroidcalculatedwitheveryexposure.Asthecentroidmovesfromthestartingposition,commandsaresenttothetelescopetobringthecentroidbacktoitsoriginalposition.However,theguidingroutineisalwaysactingaftertheerrorhasoccurredsothereisaninherentdelayinthiscorrection.Bythetimethecorrectionhasbeensenttothetelescopehasbeensent,theremightbeadifferentandevenoppositecorrectionrequired.Anumberofguideparameterscanbeadjustedtominimizethiseffect.However,recallthediscussionaboutpatternnoise.Thatcanbeminimizedbydithering(intentionallymovingtheguidestarpositionbetweensub-exposures).Whentheresultantsub-exposuresarealigned,anypatternnoisewillnotbereinforcedbyalignmentbutskydetailswill.Ifasubsequentstatisticalcombiningmethodisappliedtothealigned,ditheredimages,thepatternnoisewillbegreatlyreduced.OfcourseditheringmustbesuchthatthesamelocationisnotduplicatedandCCDAutoPilotprovidessuchacapabilitywithitsEnhancedDitheringoption.Thereareanumberofparametersthatmustbeproperlysettoachievesuccessfulguiding.

MinimumMoveTime:Thisisthetime(ormovement)thatmustbeexceededbytheguidingalgorithmtocausethetelescopetomove.Thismustbesettoavoid"chasingtheseeing"andcausingfrequentbutunnecessarymovementofthetelescope.Inotherwords,setthisvaluesothatonlythosecorrectionsthatwillimpacttheimagewillbesenttothetelescope.MaximumMoveTime:Thisisthemaximumtime(ormovement)thatwillbesentbytheguidingalgorithmtothetelescope.Itmustbesethighenoughtohaveareasonablecorrectionresponsetimebutnotsolongthatanoccasionalcosmicrayorothereffectcancausethetelescopetomovetoofarsothatithastocomebackonthenextcorrection.Aggressiveness:Thisisameasureofhowmuchofthecalculatedcorrectionisactuallysenttothetelescope.Atfirstblush,onemightbetemptedtosendthecompletecorrectionbutrecallthereisalagfromthetimetheerroriscalculateduntilthetelescopeismoved.Somysendinglessthan100%ofthecorrection,thetendencytoovershootisminimized.Ontheotherhand,settingittoolowmaymeanthetelescopenevercatchesuptothestartingguidestarposition.GuideExposure:Duringtheguidestarexposure,theguidestarpositionisessentiallybeingaveragedforthedurationoftheguideexposure.Iftheguideexposureissettooshort,thetelescopewon'thavetimetorespond,therewillalwaysbealagandwewillbechasingtheseeingagain.Setittoolongandthecorrectionswillbedelayedtoomuchtoproperlycorrectformounttrackingandelongatedstarswillresult.Ontheotherhand,theguideexposurehastobelongenoughtogetanadequateSNRfortheguideroutinetobeabletoaccuratelycalculatethestar'scentroid.(Note:thereisatypeofguidingcalledAOforAdaptiveOptics,inwhichamirrororpieceofglassismoved.Assuchitcanbemovedmorequicklyduetoitslowermass,comparedtoatelescope.In

thiscase,shorterexposuresaredesirablesincethelagisgreatlyreducedbecauseofthislowermass.)Dithering:Howmuchditheringisenough?Toolittleandthepatternnoisewillnotbeshiftedenoughfromframetoframesothatitwon'tberemovedinstacking;toomuchandtheguiderwillspendalotoftimerecoveringfromthedither,reducingdatagatheringefficiency.GuideStarSelectionAlgorithm:Normallyforguidedimaging,youwantthebrightestguidestaryoucanfindforbestguidingperformance.Withnarrowfieldimagingandguiding,gettingasufficientlybrightguidestarisgenerallyachallenge.However,whenusingawide-fieldguidescope,youmayaccidentallyfindaguidestarintheFOVthatistoobright(saturated).Asyoumightexpect,guidingaccuracyisimpactedifthissaturatedstar,beingthebrightestintheFOV,werechosentoguideon.CCDAutoPilotwillrejectanyguidestarwhosepeakvalueexceeds55,000ADUtoavoidthisproblem.Itwillchooseastarwhosepeakvalueislessthan55,000ADUautomatically.

CCDAutoPilothastoolstoenableefficientstartingpointsettingsforthesevariables.TheGuideCalculatorontheToolspagesuggestsminimumandmaximummoves.TheSuggestbuttonontheTracking&GuidingpagerecommendsaMaximumDitherthatisappropriateforyoursystem,basedonyourentriesintheSettingspage.Fornon-AOoperation,Isuggestaminimumguideexposureof3sec.Themaximumguideexposuredependsonhowwellyourmounttracks.Longergivesmoreaveragingoftheguidestar'sposition.ThereisanAutoGuideExposurefacilitythatallowsyoutosettheminimumandmaximumguideexposuresothatyourTargetGuideADUcanbeachievedbyautomaticallysettingtheguideexposurebetweenthosetwolimits.Finally,CCDAutoPilothasanumberofrecoveryoptionsincasetheguidestaristemporarilylost.SeetheGuidingtopicformoredetails.GuidingwithAdaptiveOptics(AO)AOguidingconsistsofusinganadditionalopticalelement,eitheramirrororapieceofglass,intheopticalpath.Thiselementisdriventocorrectforpositionalerrorsintheguidestarduetoseeing(toafirstorder),mountandothersourcesoferror.Insteadofmovingtheentiretelescope,asisthecasewithconventionalguiding,onlytheopticalelement,whichisamuchlowermassthanthemountismoved.Thishasthebenefitofbeingabletomovemuchfasterthanispossiblewithamountandcancorrectforsomeseeingissues.Theopticalelementhaslimitedtravelandatsomepoint,itwillrunoutofrange.ThislimitationisresolvedbymovingthemountwhentheAOgetsnearitsmaximummovement.Thisiscauses"bumping"themount.ThemountismovedwhiletheAOisguidingsotheAOeffectivelycorrectsforanydisturbanceinducedbythemountbumping.Therearethereforetwocalibrationsthatarerequired-mountbumpingandAO.AOcalibrationisdoneonce(manually)andmountbumpingnormallyhastobedoneateveryskylocation.CCDAutoPilotwillproperlyprovidethecalibrationformountbumpingonceinitialized.Thus,allyouneedtodoiscalibratetheAOusingyourcameracontrolprogram,initializeCCDAutoPilotandyouwon'teverhavetoworryaboutanycalibrationforyourAOsystemunlessyouchangesomethinginyourphysicalcameraarrangement.

UnguidedImagingIfamounttrackswellenoughforasub-exposureduration,thenunguidedimagingisamuchsimpleroperation.Ofcourse,oneshouldditherforthesamereasonsoneditherswithguidedimaging.tomitigatepatternnoise.However,eventhebestmountswillslowlydriftofftargetoveratimeifasubstantialnumberofsub-exposuresaretaken.CCDAutoPilothastheabilitytocorrectpointingtothetargetperiodically.UsetheRealignToTargetFrequencyfeatureandsettheperiodtowhatevervalueyoufindyouneed.30minutesmightbeagoodstartingpoint.Non-siderealObjectsWhenimagingobjectsthatmoveatanon-siderealrate,suchasasteroidsandcomets,unguidedimagingisthebestwaytogo.CCDAutoPilot,inconcertwithTheSky,canmakethisjobaloteasier.WhenanobjectisenteredintoCcdautoPilotviatheGetfunctionontheSessionpage,therelevantdifferentialtrackingrateinformationisenteredintothetargetdatabase.Additionally,whenthetimecomestoimagethatobject,theobject'scoordinateswillbeupdatedfromTheSkysothatthemountcanslewtothecorrectcoordinatesatthetimeoftargetimaging,andnotwhenthesessionplanwasset-uporindeedwhenthesessionwasstarted.Forfastermovingnon-siderealobjects,themountcanbeoptionallycommandedtoslewtotheupdatedcoordinatesbeforeeachexposurebycheckingMovetoupdatedcoordinatesontheOptionspage.Assumingyourmountisuptothetask,thiscanmakesubsequentalignmentforstackingofcometsmucheasier.WithTheSkyX,thenativeprecisioncanapproach1arc-sec.,dependingonhowheavilythemountisloaded.Thus,notonlyarethetrackingratesupdatedbutalsothetargetcoordinatesareupdatedandoptionallythemountismovedtothoseupdatedcoordinatesbeforeeachexposure.Forcomets,agoodchoiceistousetheShuffletemplateincombinationwithasuitableLoop_seriessetting,toinsureadequatestellarmovementbetweenexposuressothatthebackgroundstarscanbeeasilyremovedinprocessing.Forexample,ifyouaredoingLRGBimagingwith60sec.exposures,therewillbemorethan3minutesofRGBbetweenoneLandthenext.ThesameholdstrueforR,GandB.Loop_seriesdeterminesthenumberofLRGBsetsyoutake.

MeridianCrossingwithaGermanEquatorialMountForbestqualityimaging,itisalwaysdesirabletocollectdatathroughtheleastamountofatmosphereandthismeansaroundthemeridian.UnfortunatelymostGermanequatorialmounts(GEM)can'ttrackindefinitelythroughthemeridian.CCDAutoPilotprovidesautomaticmeridiancrossingdetectionandsupportsanumberofsetupoptionstomaximizeimagingnearandthroughthemeridiansothataslittletimeislostaspossible.Thereisalsoanoptiontoterminateimagingatthemeridianifthatisyourdesire.

TargetSelectionviaTheSkyIfyouareimagingasingletargetpernight,itisbesttotimeyourdatasothatimportantdataoccursnearthemeridiansinceyoulookthroughthelowestairmassandatmosphericstabilitywillhavetheleastimpactonresolution.Onewaytoassessseeing,thestabilityoftheatmosphereistovisuallylookatstarsfromthezenithtolowerinaltitude.Ifyouhaveareasonablygoodnight,youwillseeminimaltwinklingatthezenithbutasyougolowerinaltitude,thetwinklingwillbegintoappear.Agoodnightmightshowtwinklingat45°orso.Ifyouseetwinklingatthezenith,youhaveapoornightandthatmightmakeagoodnightforacquiringbinneddata.

MultipleTargetsOnewaytominimizeatmosphericsistotakemultipletargetswithdifferingtransittimesovermultiplenights.Usingthisapproach,youcantimeeachtarget'sdatatobeclosetothemeridiancrossing.Ofcourse,thisrequiresareasonablerunofclearnightsandmaynotbeappropriateforalllocations.

TargetLocationUltimately,targetlocationhastoconsistofRightAscension(RA),Declination(Dec)andPositionAngle(PA).Thisdefinesapositionintheskyandarotationofthecamera.RAandDecaretobegiveninJ2000equinoxdataforconsistency.AnyprecessiontothecurrentequinoxishandledbyCCDAutoPilot.Oncethetargetcoordinatesaredefined,theycanbeenteredintoCCDAutoPilotviaanumberoftechniques.SeetheTargetspagecommandsummaryfordetails.IfyouhaveTheSky6orTheSkyX,anicewaytoentertargetcoordinatesisviatheFieldofViewIndicator(FOVI).Herearethestepstodothat.TheSkyXisbeingusedforthescreenshotsbutthetechniqueisapplicabletobothTheSky6andTheSkyX.

TargetSelectionviaTheSkyBycombiningthepowerofCCDAutoPilotandTheSky6,targetplanninganacquisitionbecomesimmenselyeasier.Nomoreimagelinksorplatesolvingortrialanderror.AllthatisrequiredisTheSkyandanaccurateFieldOfViewIndicator(FOVI).AllthatisneededistoorienttheFOVIappropriatetoyoursituationanduseaprecisionslewtotargetaspartofyoursession.Thecoordinateswillbepreciselyarrivedatbythemountand,ifyouhavearotator,itwillrotatetotheappropriatepositionangle(PA)automatically.Hereisanexample.AssumeyouwanttoimageM33.HereiswhatyoumightseeinTheSkyX:

NoteM33islocatedtheleftedgeoftheFOVI.NotethetwosquaresthatarepartoftheFOVI.ClickinganddraggingonthecenteronetranslatestheFOVI;clickinganddraggingtheloweroneinacirclerotatestheFOVI.FirstIwilltranslatetheFOVItoapositionthatincludesM57andaguidestarissomewherebetweenthetwocircles.

IhavemovedtheFOVIoff-centertoframeM33.andthereisasuitableguidestaratthe11o'clockposition.I'llclickontheuppersquaretorotatetheFOVIuntiltheguidestarfallsontheguiderFOVI.

TheguiderFOVInowincludestheguidestar.TheSkyindicatesapositionangleof220.13degrees.Byhoveringthecursorovertheguidestar,Iseeinformationaboutthemagnitudeoftheguidestar.Thisguidestarismorethansuitableforthisimage.ThenextstepistousethisinformationasatargetforCCDAutoPilot.WithCCDAutoPIlotlinkedtoTheSky,allthatisrequiredistohittheGetbuttonontheTargetspagewithnoentryinthefield.TheRAandDecofthecenteroftheFOVIanditspositionanglewillbeautomaticallytransferredtotheTargetsListasshownbelow.

NotethecoordinateinformationisnowintheTargetlistwiththenon-uniquename"FOVCenter".Double-clickingontheboxwith"FOVCenter"bringsupaneditwindowsoyoucanchangethetargetnametosomethingmoredescriptive-likeM33!AfterhittingOKontheRenameTargetwindow,thetargetrownowbecomes:

IhavenowcompletelydescribedthepositionofthetargetforCCDAutoPilot.Whenthistargetisselectedforrunning,thetelescopewillslewtothetarget,rotatetherotatorasneededtomatchthePAof220.1,platesolveandadjustthetelescopepointingsothatitiswithinafewarc-sec.ofthedesiredtarget.SinceguidercalibrationisnolongernecessarywiththeautomaticcalibrationalgorithmofCCDAutoPilot,guidedimagingcannowbeginatthislocation.Thissametechniquecanberepeatedasmanytimesasrequiredforanevening'simagingsession.Youdonotneedtobeconnectedtotheactualtelescopeorcamerahardware,justbeconnectedtoTheSky.Youcanplananentireevening'simagingawayfromthetelescopeand,whenyouarelaterconnectedtoyourtelescopeandcamera,focuserandrotatorifused,beginimaging.Youcanbesureimagingwillproceedasplanned.

Forthosewithoutarotator...Youcanusemuchofthesametechniquedescribedabovebutwithsomemodification.Ifyoudonothavearotator,therearetwochoices.EitherframethetargetasbestyoucanwithtranslationonlyormanuallyrotatethecameratothedesiredPA,220.1intheaboveexample.Aslongasyouhaveinitializedthesystematanyrotationangle,CCDAutoPilotwillautomaticallydeterminetheneededcalibrationvectorsforyourautoguider.

LightFrames

Lightframesarethemaingoalofeverythingwearedoing-thisisour"data".Assumingcolordataisdesired,weneedtotakedatathroughappropriatefiltersifusingamonochromecamera,makesurefocusismaintainedforeachfilter,beawareofthedifferingatmosphericextinctionforeachfilterandproperlycombinethecolordataappropriatelyforthegivenfiltersandsensorquantumefficiency.CCDAutoPilotcanhelpwithalloftheserequirementsbutyoumustmakesometacticaldecisions.OneofthefirstiswhethertouseStaircaseorShuffleforimageacquisition

StaircaseAcquisitionHereyouacquiredatathatisleastimpactedbyatmosphericextinctionatloweraltitudesandthatwhichismoreimpactedathigheraltitudes.RedandGreendataisleastimpacted(thatiswhythesettingsunisyellow)andBlueandLuminanceismostimpacted.InatypicalLRGBimagingapproach,theLdataprovidestheresolutioninformationandtheRGBprovidesthecolorinformation.UsingthelettersR,G,B,Ltorepresentthecolororclearframes,Staircaseacquisitionwouldbesomethinglike:RRRGGGBBBLLLLLLLLLBBBGGGRRRThegoalwouldbetocentertheLframesonthemeridiancrossingtooptimizethecriticalluminancedata.Ifthemeridiancrossingdoesnotoccurinthemiddleofyouravailabledarktime,youcoulddosomethinglikethis:BBBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBGGGGGGRRRRRROnedisadvantageofStaircaseisofcloudsrollinatsomepointintheevening,youmightnothaveacompletedatasetfromwhichtoassemblethedata.Theadvantageisyouhaveanoptimallyacquireddatasetbyminimizingtheeffectoftheatmosphereasmuchaspossible.

ShuffleAcquisitionHere,thedataisacquiredsequentiallysothatyoualwayshaveenoughdatatoassembleanimage.Itwouldlooklikethis:LRGBLRGBLRGBLRGBetc.Hereyouhavedataafterthefirstsetandthelongeryougo,themoredata,andpresumablythebetterSNRyouget.ThedisadvantagehereisthatyourcriticalLdataisatvaryingaltitudesandthereforesubjecttovaryingatmosphericeffectsduetoseeingandairmass.AsecondaryconsiderationisthatwhenyoudetermineyourRGBcombineratios,theRGBdatawastakenatvaryingaltitudessoatmosphericextinctioncorrectionbecomestedious.

ColorCombineRatioAssumingyouhaveanaccuratecolorcombineratiomeasurementforyourOTA/Filters/Camera,youwillneedtocorrectyourdataforatmosphericextinctionimpactoneachdataframe.CCDAutoPilot,ProfessionalEdition(only),keepstrackofeachcolorframe'saltitudeforyou.IfyouhavepreviouslyobtainedyourcolorcombineratioeitherautomaticallyviaCCDAutoPilotormanuallyenterit,CCDAutoPilotwillprovidetheextinctioncorrectedcolorcombineratioforeachtarget,whetheryouusedStaircaseorShuffleAcquisition.

CalibrationFramesCalibrationframesconsistofdark,biasandflatframesthatareusedtoremovevarioussensorandOTAdefectsfromthedata.Thebetterjobwedowithcalibration,thebetterourdataisandthemorewecanstretchitinpost-processingtorevealfaintdetails.First,somedefinitionsofthecalibrationframes:

Dark:Thisisaframethatisexposedwiththeshutterclosedforthesamedurationandatthesamecameratemperatureasthelightframetowhichitwillbeapplied.Needlesstosay,thisalsomeansforthesamecamera.Bias:Thisisaframethatisexposedwiththeshutterclosedatthesametemperatureasanylightframestowhichitwillbeapplied.Theexposuredurationis0sec.ThusaBiasframeisa0sec.exposuredurationdarkframe.Flat:Thisisalightframethatisexposedtocapturethepixel-to-pixelsensitivityvariationforagivensensorandtheoveralllightfall-offoftheOTA.Itmustbetakenatalowenoughsignalleveltoinsurelinearoperation.

UsageDarkframesaresubtractedfromthelightframes.Thissubtractionremovespatternnoise,afixedartifactofagivensensoranddarksignal,afalsesignalthatincreaseslinearlywithexposuretime.Toavoidaddingnoisetothedata,anappropriatenumberofdarkframesmustbecombinedtomakeamasterdarkframe.Thistypicallyreducedthenoisebythesquarerootofthenumberofframesbeingcombined.Basedonthesensor,thecameraoperatingtemperatureandexposureduration,itispossibletocalculatethenumberofdarkstobecombinedtoreachadesirednoisecontributionasapercentageoftotalnoise.CCDAutoPilotprovidessuchacalculatorontheSettingspage,Toolstab.Biasframesarehandledlikedarkframes-theyaresubtractedfromthelightframewearetryingtocorrect.Ifexposuretimesareshortenough,time-matcheddarkframesarenotrequiredforcorrectionsincelittledarksignalwillaccrue.Thusforshortexposures,azero-time-exposuredarkframe,i.e.abiasframe,canbesubtractedtoremovepatternnoisefromtheshort-exposurelightframe.Theprincipalnoisecomponentofabiasframeisreadnoise.Thenoisecontributionfromreadnoiseisreducedbythesquarerootofthenumberofframesbeingcombined.Flatframesaredividedintothelightframes.Notethattheyarenotsubtracted.Mathematically,ifSisthesignal,Frepresentstheloss/changeingoingthroughthesensorandOTAandListheresultantacquiredlightframe,thenL=F*S.sincewhatwewantistheunmodifiedsignalS,thenS=L/F.Thatiswhytheflatframeisdividedintothelightframe.Noisefromthisdivisionbehavesdifferentlythansubtraction.Noisefromdivisioncombinesasthereciprocalasthesumofthereciprocals.(Forelectricalengineers,thisislikeresistorsinparallel.)Anexamplemaymakethismoreclear.Let'sassumewehaveacamerawithagain(g)of1.4andhaveexposedanumberofflatstoalevelof20,000ADU.Eachflatwillhaveasignalof1.4*20,000or28,000e.TheSNRofsuchaflatisthesquarerootofthesignal,28,000inthiscase,or167.Now,let'sassumewehavealightframethathasafaintareaSNRof3,generallyconsideredaminimumlevelofSNRforaveryfaintregion.1/167+1/3=0.339.1/0.339=2.95.Thus,ouroriginalfaintareaSNRwasveryminimallydegraded-infactonewouldbehard-pressedtomeasurethedegradation!Ifwecombine4flats,wegetaSNRof334.TheresultantimpactonourfaintareaSNRistoreduceitto2.97.WhereflatSNRbecomesimportantisonhighSNRareas,areasofbrightsignal.Assumewehaveagalaxycorethatis8000ADU.ItsSNR,usingtheabovediscussion,is106.Our4flatswouldreducethisSNRto80.Thisisamoresignificantissuebutmayormaynotimpacttheappearanceoftheresultantprocessedimage.Oneoccasionallyhearsyouneed"amillionelectrons"offlats.Let'sseewhatthatmeans.Intheaboveflatexample,thiswouldcorrespondto1,000,000/28,000or36flats.Properlycombined,ourmasterflatwouldhaveanSNRof167*6or1000.TheimpactonourfaintareaSNRis2.99andourgalaxycoreis95.8.Clearlymoreflatsarebetterbuthowmuchisenough?Thatislefttoyoutodetermine.Isuspectforaestheticimaging,4flatsaremorethansufficientbutforscientificpurposes,i.e.milli-magphotometry,morearerequired.Tomaximizeflatframesignal-to-noiseratio,thetargetADUexposureshouldbeashighaspossiblewhilestayingwithinthelinearrangeoftheCCD.CCDAutoPilothasawizardtohelpyoudeterminethattargetADU.

AcquisitionA"suitablenumber"ofdarkandbiasframesmaybetakenatanytime,assumingtheambientlightlevelislowenough.TypicalCCDcamerasareverysensitiveandnotverylight-tightsoifcareisnottaken,thedarkframesmighthaveagradientfromlightleakage.Flatframeacquisitionisasubjectofmuchdebate,discussionandopinion,whichisbeyondthescopeofthisdiscussion.Therearebasicallytwotypesofflats-skyflatsandartificialflats.Skyflatsaretakenattwilightwiththetelescopepointingtoaspecificareaintheskythathasaminimumlightgradient.ThegradientisafunctionoftheFOVoftheimagingsystem,thelargertheFOV,thelargerthegradient.Also,duringtwilight,theskybrightnessisconstantlychangingsoexposuretimesmustbeadjustedtomaintainadesiredsignallevel.Lastly,sincethereisalimitedamountoftwilightavailable,boththenumberofflatsandthefiltersequencemustbeoptimizedtogettheneededflats.Further,ifyouusearotatortoacquiredataonbothsidesofthemeridian,youneedtodeterminewhetheryourOTA'slightfall-offorvignettingissufficientlysymmetricalafterrotationornot.Ifnot,you'llneedtotakeflatsatbothrotations,i.e.PA's.Thenumberofflatsisgenerallylimitedbyexposureanddownloadtimesaswell.Sothereisalotthatneedstobeconsidered.Whileexperimentationonthenumberofflatsthatcanbeacquiredduringtwilightisrequired,alloftheotherconsiderationsareprovidedautomaticallybyCCDAutoPilot.Artificialflatsaretakenwiththetelescopepointingtoauniformlyilluminatedlightsource.Thedesignandperformanceofsuchanartificialsourceischallenging.Suchflatscanbetakenattheendoftheeveningwhiletheenvironmentisstilldark.Herethereislessofalimitationonthenumberofflatstobeacquiredsincethelightsourcecanbeonaslongasnecessary.

ReferencesFormoredetails,backgroundandanalysis,theinterestedreadermaywanttoreviewmypapersonvariousimageacquisitiontopics.

IntroductiontoAutomationObservatoryautomationistheprocessofallowinganexecutiveprogramtocontrolthevariousprogramsthatthemselvesinteractwithyourhardware.Forexample,whenusingyourcameracontrolprogramtotakeanimage,yousetexposureparameterssuchaswhatfiltertouse,whatbinningtouse,howlongtoexposeandclickonanExposebutton.Thecameracontrolprogramistheinterfacebetweenyouandthehardware.Theremaybedifferentlayersofsoftwarebetweenthecameracontrolprogramandthephysicalcamera.Thereistypicallyasoftwarelayerprovidedbythecameracontrolprogram,anothersoftwarelayerordriverbetweenthatandthephysicalhardwareandperhapsevenfirmwareinthecameraitself.AlloftheselayersmustbeworkingproperlyforyourclickingontheExposebuttontowork.SoitiswithCCDAutoPilot.ItcommunicateswiththevariousprogramsthroughtheMicrosoftCommonObjectModel(COM)interface.ThisisaMicrosoftstandardmethodofinter-programcommunicationsthathasbeenbasictoWindowsfordecades.Inthisenvironment,yourcameracontrolprogrammightbecalleda"server"andyoupushingthebuttonisa"client".WhenCCDAutoPilottakesover,itistheclient.Now,justastwoastronomerspushingbuttonsonthesamecameracontrolprogramwouldnotexpectgoodresults,sotoowhenCCDAutoPilotiscontrollinganapplication,itisbesttonotdisturbtheserverapplication.Eventhoughyoumightnotseeanythingattheuserinterface(UI)level,thereismostlikelythingsgoingonunderthehood.Extendthisconceptfromcameraserverstoincludetelescopesservers,focusservers,rotatorservers,platesolveservers,domeserversandweatherserversandyoucanquicklyseethereisalotofcomplexsequencingthatisgoingon.Thusthebestthingtodowhenanautomatedsessionisunderway,istonotdisturbthePC.DependingontheprocessingcapabilityofthePCcontrollingtheobservatory,thiswouldincludeusingotherapplicationssuchaswebbrowsing.IfyourPCisadualprocessorPCorbetterandyouhavemorethan1GBofRAM,youcanprobablyuseotherapplicationswithoutincident-thekeywordbeing"probably".Whenindoubt,leaveitalone.So,keystosuccessfulautomationisinsuringstable,reliableoperationofallthehardwareviatheappropriateserverprogramwithyouastheclient.Oncethatisassured,youarewellonyourwaytosuccessfulautomation.CCDAutoPilotexpectstobetheonlyprogramcontrollingyourservers.Someserverprograms,notablyMaximandTheSkyX,haveinternal"smarts"tohelpamanualoperator.This"help"isnotneededbyCCDAutoPilotandcaninfactinterferewithsuccessfuloperation.Besureyourserverprogramsareconfiguredtobe"dumb",asindicatedintheSoftwaretopic.Onemoreessentialingredienttoautomation-platesolving.Platesolvingisatermfortakinganimageofabunchofstarsanddeterminingthecoordinatesofthatimage,coordinatesbeingRightAscension,DeclinationandPositionAngle.AplatesolvingroutinemayormaynotneedastartingsetofRAandDeccoordinatestosuccessfullydeterminethecentercoordinates.Thestarsintheimageareidentifiedbythesoftwareandcomparedtoadefinedstarcatalog.Knowingthe"platescale"(generallytheunbinnedimagescalemultipliedbythebinning)andstartingcoordinates,theplatesolvingsoftwaredeterminesthecenteroftheimagerelativelyquickly.SinceCCDAutoPilotwillbemovingthetelescopearoundthesky,itmustknowwherethetelescopeispointingverypreciselyandthisiswhereplatesolvingcomesin.UsingPrecisionSlew,CCDAutoPilottellsthetelescopetoslewtoyourspecifiedtargetlocationandtakesanimage.Aplatesolveisperformed,calculatingthecenteroftheimage.Thedifferencebetweenwherethetelescope"thinks"itispointingandwheretheplatesolvedeterminesitactuallyispointingisthepointingerror.CCDAutoPilotcalculatesthiserrorandmovesthetelescopeaccordingly.Sinceanumberofmountissuescanconspiretomakethatpointingcorrectionimprecise,anotherplatesolvecanbetakentoseewherethemountcorrectionwoundupandmakeasubsequentcorrectionifnecessary.Auser-specifiedtolerancedetermineshowclosetobe.Thekeystosuccessfulandreliableplatesolvingisproperchoicesofexposure,binningandstartcatalogs.SeePlateSolvingNotesformoreinformationonthisveryessentialrequirementforautomatedimaging.Anotherkeyaspectofsuccessfulautomationisproperlyconfiguredandreliablywiredhardware.You

shouldreviewtheTroubleshootingtopicandthevarioussub-topicsforrecommendationsonhardwareconfigurationthatmightapplytoyoursystem.BesuretoreviewtheHardwaretopicforspecifichintsthatmayapplytoyourequipment.Withyour"server"softwareworkingproperlyandreliablywithyouas"client"andplatesolvingworkingreliably,youarereadytohandoffthedetailedworkingsoftheobservatorytoCCDAutoPilot,soyoucandootherthings.

DataOrganizationAlargenumberoffilescanbeexpectedoverthecourseofanevening'simagingsession.Inadditiontoyourlightframes,youwillhaveflatframesandmostlikelydarkandbiasframes.CCDAutoPilotprovidesanumberofwaysofdealingwiththesefilenamesandlocations.Typicallymasterdarkframesareusedandmatchthedataframesinexposureduration,binningandcoolertemperature.Masterbiasframesarealsodevelopedasneeded.Flatframes,whethertakenfromtheskyofanartificiallightsource,aregenerallygroupedbyfilter,binningandperhapsthecamerarotation.CCDAutoPilotcanbecustomizedtomeetyourworkflowanddesiresinanumberofways.

FoldersFolderscanbedefinedontheSettingspage/FileSettingstab.Ifallthefoldernamesareblank,thedefaultbasefolderwillbe:(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Images\Ifthefoldersfortheotherfourframetypesareblank,correspondingframeswillbestoredin:Lightframes:(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Images\yyyymmdd\DataFiles\Dark,biasandflatframes:(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Images\yyyymmdd\CalibrationFiles\whereyyyy=year,mm=monthanddd=day.Now,supposeIwantadifferentbasefolder,sayC:\AstrobutIleavealltheothersblank.Thenthecorrespondingfolderswouldbe:LightFrames:C:\Astro\yyyymmdd\DataFiles\Dark,biasandflatframes:C:\Astro\yyyymmdd\CalibrationFiles\SupposeIwantthedarkframesinoneplaceandtheflatandbiasframesinanothersincebiasframesareusedmostoftentocalibrateflatframes.Then,Ileavethelightframesfolderblankandnavigatetosuitablefoldersforthecalibrationframes,suchas:Darkframes:C:\Astro\DarkFrames\Biasframes:C:\Astro\FlatFrames\Flatframes:C:\Astro\FlatFrames\Anotherscenario:supposeIwantallcalibrationframesinonefolderandalllightframes(dataframes)inthesamefolder.ThenIwouldset:Lightframes:C:\Astro\Data\Darkframes:C:\Astro\Calibration\Biasframes:C:\Astro\Calibration\Flatframes:C:\Astro\Calibration\LogfilesarealwayswritteninafoldercalledCCDAutoPilot_Logsinthebasefolder.

FileNamesByenteringsuitablefilenamesinthedescriptionfieldforeachseriesineachsessionphase,youcanpreciselycustomizethosefilenames.Thiscangettedious.Thereisaneasierwaybytakingadvantageoffilenamingtemplates.ThesearedescribedontheSettingpage/FileSettingstab,Byusingthesetemplates,youcangetautomaticfilenamingveryeasily.Anycharacterimmediatelyfollowinga'%'characterdefinestheelementthatreplacesthecombinationofthe'%'characterandthatletter.ThesedefinitionsareshownintheboximmediatelytotherightoftheFileNamesbox.Forexample,supposeyouwantedthelightframefilenamestohavethetargetname,filename,binning,exposuretimeinsecondsandsideofthemeridiantheexposuretookplaceaspartofthefilename.Enteringatemplate%t&f&b%e%swouldresultinafilenameof:M33Red1X1600E.00004.fitButmaybeyou'dliketomakethatalittleclearer.Entering%t_%f%b_%eSec_EwouldresultinM33_Red1x1_600Sec_E.fitMaybeyou'dlikeallthelightframestobeinafolderoftheirtargetname.Entering%t\%t\_%f%b_%eSec_EwouldresultinexposuresforM33goingintoanM33folderwithfilenameslikeM33_Red1x1_600Sec_E.fitandexposuresforM32goingintoanM32folderwithfilenameslikeM32_Red1x1_600sec_E.fit.NotethattheproperfolderdelimiterforWindowsisthebackslash,'\'.Youcanexperimentwiththesefiletemplatesandseewhatthenamewouldlooklikesimplybyhoveringthemouseoverthefilenametemplatebox.Thestartingsequenceisanarbitraryserialnumberforeachexposureandisindexedbyoneaseachexposureissaved.Incertainrareconditions,youmaywanttoavoidtheserialnumber.Entering%ninthetemplatestructurewilldothatbutyouwilloverwriteeachfilewiththesubsequentone.Youwillbewarnedinthisinstance.Lastly,youcansettheextensiontobefit,FIT,fitsoranyvariantthatiscompatiblewithyourprocessingsystem.Bywayofexample,assumingthefoldersaredefinedasabove.HereiswhatsomefullfilenameswouldbeLightframes:%t\%f%b_%m%dM_%e:C:\Astro\M33\Red1x1_10m_235E.0001.fitDarkFrames:%mM\%c%i%b_%mMwouldbeC:\Astro\DarkFrames\10M\-35Dark1x1_10M.0002.fit(allmydarkframesofagivenexposureareinthesamefolder.)BiasFrames:%c%e%bwouldbeC:\Astro\FlatFrames\-35Bias1x1.003.fitFlatFrames:%f%b_%d%rwouldbeC:\Astro\FlatFrames\Red1x1_235PAEast.fit(ThiswayIcanmatchuptheflatswiththelightframesforpositionangleandsideofmeridian.Byexperimentingwithvarioustemplatesandfolders,youcancustomizeyourfilenamesprettymuchanywayyouwouldlikewithminimaleffort.

GoalsandMeasurements

Wenormallyplananimagingsessionwithanideaofthenumberofsub-exposureswewantthrougheachfilterforagiventarget.Attheendofthesession,thesub-framesareexaminedandthosewithpoorguiding,excessivestarsizes(FullWidthHalfMaximumorFWHM)arerejected.Wethennotehowmanygoodoneswehaveandhowmanyweneedtopickupthenextnight.CCDAutoPilot,workinginconcertwithotherprograms,canhelpestablishgoals,measuresub-exposuresontheflyastheyaretakenandeitherrecordthemassuccessfulframesormovethemtoaspecifiedfolderforlaterevaluation.Whensettingupasessionforagiventargetforthefirsttime,youcanenterthenumberofexposuresasyourgoal.Asthesessionrunsandeachframeisevaluated,thenumberofframesmeetingyourgoalismaintained.Attheendofthesession,youcantransferthedifferencebetweenthegoalcountandthegoodcountasthegoalforthenextsession.

EnhancedAutomationBycheckingAbortDarksforLightFrames,thetimebetweencivilduskandthefirsttargetstarttimecanbeusedtoaccumulatedarkandbiasframes.Onepossiblewaytoacquiredarksisbyselectinganumberofserieswithoneormoredarkorbiasframes.Thatwayyouwillgetanumberofeachbeforethefirsttargetsstarttime.Youcandosomethingsimilarforthedarkandbiasphaseafterlightframes.WhenAbortLightandDarkFramesatDawnischecked,thedark/biasframeserieswillbeabortedwhenitistimefordawnflats.Thesetwooptionscantakeadvantageofallavailabletimetogetcalibrationframesifdesired.BycheckingAutoRun,CCDAutoPilotwillstartautomaticallyaftera5seconddelay,linktoallspecifiedsoftwareandimmediatelybegintorunasession.Forbestresults,theSessionStarttimeshouldbedefinedbycheckingBeginSessionRelativetoSunset.ThiscanleadtoatrueAutoStartoperationifyourhardwareandsoftwarerespondsproperly.Forexample,Maximwillloadandconnecttothecamera,FocusMaxwillloadandconnecttothefocuser,TheSkyXwillload(butnotconnecttothetelescopeuntilitneedstoslewthetelescope),andanyotherprogramswillloadandlinktotheirhardwareifpossible.AutoRuncanbeenabledbyeitherdouble-clickingontheCCDAutoPiloticonordouble-clickingonaCCDAutoPilotSystemProfileorshortcut.IfashortcuttoeitherCCDAutoPilotoraSystemProfileisplacedintheWindowsStartupfolder,thesessionwillstartwhenthePCispoweredup!ByincludingasuitablewindowscommandcalledshutdowneitherdirectlyorinacommandfilecalledbyRun8,thePCwillshutdownattheendofthesession.WhenAutoRunischeckedandCCDAutoPilotisstarted,theAutoRuncanbeabortedbyuncheckingAutoRunwithinthefirst5secondsofstarting.BycheckingLoopSession,CCDAutoPilotcanbeconfiguredtoruncontinuously.ItwillstartattheBeginSessionTimeyouspecify,runthroughallthesessionphasesofcalibrationframesbeforelightframes,lightframes,calibrationframesafterlightframesandhandleanydome/roofopenings,coolerwarm-up'sthatyouspecify.Ifadverseweatherconditionsoccur,thesessionwillconcludeforthatevening,andbereadytostartthenextnight.Seethewarningaboutweatherconditions.Thiscanbeusedinacoupleofways.WhenAutoDateCorrectischecked,thesametarget(s)willberunnightafternight,withthestartdate(s)adjustedifthedatesbeforeadjustmentareinthepast.Futuredateswillnotbeaffected.Beawarethatthestarttime(s)willnotbeadjustedsothateventuallyyourstartingaltitudewillgetlowerasthedaysprogress.Evenwhenrunningmanually,AutoDateCorrecteliminatesthetediumofhavingtocorrectstartingdatesinthetargetlist.CCDAutoPilotisnowmoretightlyintegratedwithCCDNavigator(version3.0.14orlater).WhenthepathtoaCCDNavigatorsessionplanisspecified,CCDAutoPilotwillcheckthatfolderforasessionplanwhosedatecorrespondstothecurrentdateapproximately2hoursbeforesunsetorsessionstarttime.Ifsuchaplanexists,itwillbeautomaticallyimportedandrunattheappropriatetime.TheplancanalsobeimportedusingtheTargetmenu,ImportfromCCDN.Ifanytargetsotherthanthosespecifiedinthesessionplanareactive,theywillbeautomaticallyunchecked.Ifanytargetshavethesamenameasthesessionplan,theircoordinates,sessionplans,etc.willbeupdatedautomaticallytoconformtotheCCDNavigatorsessionplan.Byenteringanumberofsessionplansfordifferentdates,multipletargetacquisitionplanscanbeenteredatonetimeandCCDAutoPilotwillchoosethesessionplanwiththecurrentdate.Note:Ifthereisnosessionplanwithadatethatcorrespondstothesessionstartdate,nooutputfilewillbegeneratedforCCDNavigatorconsumption,evenifoneisimportedmanually.IfyouimportasessionplanmanuallyusingtheTargetmenuandmakesubsequenteditsontheCCDAutoPilotsessionpage,thoseeditswillbeoverwrittenbytheautomaticimportoftheoriginalsessionplanifyouhavecheckedsessionstartbasedonatimeorsunset.Topreventthis,movethemanuallyimportedsessionplantoanotherfolderbeforestartingtheCCDAutoPilotsession.ThisisaverypowerfulpartnershipbetweenCCDNavigatorandCCDAutoPilotthatcanchangeyourimagingparadigmfromad-hoctargetselectiontoadvancedseasonalplanning.BypreviewingandchoosingtargetsofinterestinCCDNavigatoranddecidinghowyouwanttoimagethem,CCDAutoPilotwillbeinformedeacheveningwiththetargetsinyourseasonalplanthatareavailabletonightandinstructedtocaptureonlythenumberofimagesneededtoachieveyourgoalsforthesetargets.Thisletsyouoptimize

yourimagingopportunitiesandneverinadvertentlypassonachancetocapturedatafortargetsyouwant,regardlessoftheseasoninwhichyouareimaging.WhenaCCDNavigatorsessionplanissuccessfullyconcluded,thesessionresultsareplacedinaspecificfolder.WhenCCDNavigatorisnextstarted,theresultsareimportedintoCCDNavigatortoaidinplanningasubsequentsessiontomeetthedesiredgoals.SeeCCDNavigatorHelpfordetails.TheCCDNavigatorgoals/resultsdatabaseisseparatefromthatmaintainedinCCDAutoPilot.Ifthesessionpathisspecified,usingtheCCDAutoPilotmenuTarget/Import/FromCCDNavigatorwillautomaticallyimportthecurrentsessionplan.Ifthepathisempty,thenormalwindowsnavigationwindowwillbepresented.(Toclearthesessionpath,simplyclickonthenavigationbutton, andthenhitCancelonthewindowsnavigationwindow.)

UserInterfaceCCDAutoPilot'suserfriendlyinterfaceiscontinuedandenhancedinversion5.Thisoverviewwillgivethegeneralorganizationoftheinterface.Therestofthecommandsummarywillgivedetailsforeachcommandbypageormenu.Hereisaviewoftheopeningwindow.

TheMainPagehasthecontrolsusedforagivenMainButtonselection.Thelowerbuttonsmaybehiddenbyclickingonandmovingthebuttonsplittervertically.Forexample,oncetheFocusing,Guidingand

Preferencesettingsareestablishedforyoursystem,theycanbehiddeninthetrayatthebottomlikethis:

Thecontrolsarestillthere,justminimizedtothebuttontrayatthebottom.

Themainbuttonsatthelowerleftbringupthecorrespondingmainpageandinfowindow.Thereisastatuspanelatthebottomofthemainpagethathasfourpanes.Thefirstshowstheconnectionstatus,thesecondthetargetlistinuse,thethirdthesystemprofileinuseandthefourthshowsstatusofanyactivityinitiatedfromtheuserinterface.HoveringthemouseovertheTargetDatabaseorSystemProfilewillbringupthecompletepathtothefileinquestion.Forexample,hoveringthemouseovertheTargetDatabaseshowsthis:

Thereareanumberofaidstooperation.Withmostsettings,hoveringthemouseoveragivencontrol(checkbox,entryfield,button,etc.)willgivesometipsonitsuseandapplication.Fromanypage,hittingF1onthekeyboardwillbringupthecommandsummaryhelpfiletopicforthatpage.Whereagivenfieldentrymightbelong(statuspanelatthebottomofthewindow,paths,commandfiles,etc.,hoveringthemousewillshowthefullfield.Itemsthataregrayedoutarenotusable.Hoveringthemouseovermanyofthecontrolswilldisplaya"tip"givingsomehintsonthatcontrolsuse.Ittakesaroundahalf-secondwiththemousetillforthetiptoappear.Hereisanexample:

CCDAutoPilotusesanumberkeyfiles,thesystemprofile,thetargetdatabase,thesessionlogandthecontrolfile.

SystemProfileThesystemprofilerepresentsthesettingsyouwouldusefromnighttonightforconsistentoperationofyourimagingsystem.Thisincludesnotonlyallthesettingsonallthepagesbutincludestheselectedcontrolprogramsonthesettingspage.Youcanhavemultiplesystemprofilesifyouhavemultiplecamera/OTAsystems.Thesystemprofilesendin.ap5andareregisteredtoWindows.Double-clickingonasystemprofilewillstartCCDAutoPilotwiththatsystemprofileloaded.Anycontrolprogramsthatarenotloadedwillbestarted.

TargetDatabaseNewinversion5,thetargetdatabaseisarelationaldatabasethatmaintainsreferentialintegrity.Whatthismeansisitisveryunlikelythedatabasecanbecorrupted.Italsoallowson-the-flysessionediting.ThetargetdatabasestoresalltargetinformationandsessionexposureinformationasdescribedontheSessionpage.Thisallowsyoutoplanyoursessionsdays,weeks,monthsorforawholeyearatonetime.Youcaneitheraddtargetstothetargetdatabaseonyourplanningcomputer,ifdifferentfromyourobservatorycomputerornetworkintoyourobservatorycomputerandaddsessionplanninginformationdirectly.Asessionplanmusthaveatleastonetargettotakeanylightframes.Withthebasicedition,oneandonlyonetargetcanbeenteredandused.

SessionLogThesessionlogisadetailedlogwithtimestampingofnearlyeveryevent,commandandresponsebetweenCCDAutoPilotandthevariousservers.Itisessentialfortroubleshootingandcontainsmuchusefulinformationconcerningyoursession.ItiswrittentoaCCDAutoPilot_LogsfolderofftheBaseFolderdirectory.Ifyouhaven'tchangeditonthePreferences/FileSettingtab,thelogwillbelocatedin(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Images\CCDAutoPilot_Logs\ThefilenamewillbeccdapyyyyMMdd_HHmmss.logwhereyyyy=year,MM=month,dd=day,HH=hour,mm=minuteandss=secondsofthestartofthesession.

RunOnError.vbsIntheeventofaprogramerror,RunOnError.vbsisexecuted.ControlFile(ProfessionalEditionFeature)ThecontrolfileprovidesexternalcontrolandconfigurationofCCDAutoPilot.ByuseoftheControlFileEditor,variousnotificationconfigurationscanbedefined.Anexternalprogramcanwritetothecontrolfiletocontrolsessionexecution,notificationsand

SessionWindowTheSessionWindowcomesupthefirsttimeasessionisrun.

TheSessionInfoWindowshowskeyeventsforthesessioninprogress.TheLogWindowshowsdetailedinformationonthevariousactionstakingplace.TheStatusPanelshowsthehighlightsofcurrenteventsaswellastheprogressforagivenseries,theexposureetc.ClickingonanddraggingtheSplitterBarallowscustomizationofthesizeandcompositionoftheSessionWindow.Hereisanotherarrangementthatminimizesscreenrealestatebydraggingthesplitterbarandresizingthewindow:

HeretheSessionInfoWindowhasbeenminimizedbydraggingthesplitterbartotheleftandtheoverallwindowhasbeenreducedtoshowonlytheLogWindowandStatusPanel.YoucancustomizetheSessionwindowtofitthewayyouliketowork.

ConcurrentSessionEditingInthedesiretogetasessionstartedquickly,somecriticalsettingsforthelatterpartofthesessionmaybeforgottenorneededtobechanged.TheWarningareaontheRunpagehighlightsthemorecommonmissedsettingsthatcanimpactasessionbutgiventhemanysettingsandoptions,itisunderstandablethatsomecanbemissed.WiththenewstructureofCCDAutoPilotVersion5,thisiseasilyaccommodated.Ingeneralalmostanysettingonthemainwindowcanbechangedwhileasessionisrunning.OfcoursethisexcludesitemsontheSetuppage.Makingchangesshouldingeneralbewhileanexposureisinprocess.Thismightincludesettingsthatmightimpactanothersessionphase,suchasflatsettings,DataAssessmentcriteria,Notifications,etc.Ifyouaremakingchangesthatmayimpactthesessionexposures,suchaschangingthenumberofexposuresforaseriesoraddingatarget,youmustpausethesession,waitforthesessiontopause,makeyourchangesandthenresumethesession.MakesureyouusetheUpdatebuttonforwhateversessionphase(s)youchange.Thereisnoneedtoabortasessionandrestartit.TheTargetcontextmenuisactiveonlywhenthesessionispaused(ornotrunning).

EditsnotRecommendedOn-the-flyHereisabrieflistofeditsnottomakewhileasessionisrunning.Itisnotexhaustivebutshouldbeillustrativeofwhatnottodo.Ingeneral,iftheeditbeingcontemplatedisnotcurrentlyinprocess,youcanmakethechange.Whenindoubt,pausethesessionfirst.

Don'tchangeanythingontheSetuppage.Don'tchangetheorderoftargets.Changingseriessettingsforagiventargetisokwhilethesessionispaused.Don'tchangeFocusingsettingswhilefocusingisinprocess.Pausethesessionfirst.Don'tchangeFocusOffsetsettingsunlessthesessionispauseDon'tchangeanythingontheGuidingpagethatisactive,e.g.duringalightframeexposure.Pausethesessionfirst.

CommandSummaryThissectionisorganizedbyPagesselectedbytheMainButtonsontheleft.Followingarethemenuchoicesoffthemainwindow.

MenuChoices

File

Exitexitstheprogram.Thesizeandpositionofboththemainwindowandthesessionwindow,ifopen,aresaveduponexit.

SystemProfile

Savesavesthecurrentsystemprofilealongwithanychangesthathavebeenmadesincethelastsave.SaveAsallowssavingthecurrentsystemstateasanewsystemprofile.Youwillbepromptedforanewsystemprofilename.

ThefollowingmenuitemsareactiveonlywhentheSetuppageisselected,asessionisnotrunningandCCCDAutoPilotisnotlinkedtosoftware.

Loadprovidesnavigationtoloadanothersystemprofile.Newcreatesanewsystemprofilewithoriginaldefaults.

TargetsThefollowingmenuitemsareactiveonlywhentheSessionpageisselectedandasessionisnotrunning.

ImportFromCCDNavigatorSessionPlanimportstargetandseriesdatafromaCCDNavigatorsessionplanifnoSessionPlanPathissetandnosessionplanisinthepathforthecurrentdate.IfthetargetnamebeingimportedisalreadyintheTargetDatabase,itwillbedeletedfromthetargetdatabase.Anyotheractivetargetswillbecomeinactiveaftertheimport.ImportFromTargetListAsTextFileimportsalistoftargetsaseithercommadelimitedortabdelimitedtextfile.Seehereforformat.ImportFromStarryNightProObservingPlanimportsalistoftargetnamesandcoordinatesfromStarryNightProExportTargetstoTextFileexportsthecurrenttargetnameandcoordinatedatatoeitheracommadelimitedortabdelimitedtextfile.Seehereforformat.

ThefollowingmenuitemsareactiveonlywhentheSetuppageisselectedandasessionisnotrunning.LoadDatabaseloadsanewdatabase.SaveDatabaseAssavestheexistingdatabasetoanewdatabase.Youwillbepromptedforanewtargetdatabasename.Savingtotheprogramfolder(C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\)isnotrecommended.NewDatabaseloadsanewemptydatabase.Onlydefaultcustomizedtemplateswillbeavailableinanewtargetdatabase.Anytemplatesyouhaveaddedwillbelost..Savinganewtargetdatabassetotheprogramfolder(C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\)isnotrecommended.

Help

HelpTopicsloadsthishelpfileTroubleshootingInformationopensthehelpfiletotheTroubleshootingtopicwithsuggestionsonwheretobegin.Reset:IfCCDAutoPilotfailstoload,selectingCCDAP5ResetfromtheStartmenuresetsallkeydataasifCCDAutoPilotwereneverinstalled(exceptforthetrialperiodstatusofcourse).Yoursystemprofile(s)andtargetlist(s)arenotaffected.YoucanalsoaccessthisfunctionfromStart/CCDWare/CCDAutoPilot5/CCDAutoPilot5Reset.Trace:Whilethestatuswindowandtheattendantlogprovideeventloggingduringanactiverun,therearepossibleoccasionswhenthingsdon'tgoasexpectedbeforestartinganactualsession.Thetracefacilitycanbeusedwheneverthingsdon'tseemtobe"workingright"beforerunningasession.TheTracefacilityprovidesdiagnosticinformationforthiscondition.Whenthistopicisselected,CCDAutoPilot'stracefacilityisturnedonandCCDAutoPilotcloses.WhenCCDAutoPilotisnextstarted,thetracefacilityisengagedandatracefilewillbewrittento(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\.AnewfileiswritteneachtimeCCDAutoPilotisstarted.ThefilehasafilenameofTrace<yyyymmdd>_<HHmmss>.logandwillrecordanyerrormessages.WhenTraceisenabled,allplatesolvingimages("Sync_Image")aresaved,whethersuccessfulornot.TracebeingonisindicatedbyachecknexttotheHelpmenuselection.ToturnTraceoff,selectthistopicagain.CCDAutoPilotwillcloseandTracewillbedisabledwhenCCDAutoPilotisnextstarted.Contactsupportforinterpretationofanymessagesinthetracefile.GetUpdatesFromWebSeeGettingUpdatesAboutdisplaysversionandlicenseinformation.

SupportForumprovidesadirectlinktotheCCDWaresupportforum.Ifyoucan'tsolveaproblem,thisisthebestplacetocomeforsupport.

SetupCCDAutoPilotalwaysopensattheSetuppage.Thisiswhereyoudefineyourserversoftwareandhardwaretobecontrolled.Itisimportantthattheinformationonthispagebeaccurateandtheserversoftwarebefunctional.

TheSoftwareandEquipmentboxeswillbedescribedinsubsequenttopicsLinktoSoftware:Whenpressed,CCDAutoPilotlinkstotheserversoftwareasdefinedintheSoftwarebox.Thisactionwillattempttolaunchallspecifiedprograms.Ifthisdoesnothappen,seeTroubleshooting.LinkingtoSoftwareinPlanningmodeasaminimumisrequiredforsessionplanning.IfyouplantousetheFromFITfunctionontheSessionpage,asuitablePlateSolvechoiceisalsorequired.Thelinkingprogressisshownattheleftendofthestatuspanel.Whenlinkingiscomplete,thebuttontextwillchangetoDisconnectsothatyoucandisconnectfromthesoftware.Theinfowindowattheleftwillshowthesoftwareconnected,aswellasinfoaboutyourPCandWindowsenvironment.Ifyouseeaversionreportedas"9999",thismeansCCDAutoPilotwasunabletodeterminetheversionofthisparticularsoftwareonits

own.Makesuretheapplicationmeetstheminimumversionrequirementdescribedhere.Thisdataisreplicatedinyourlogwheneverasessionisrun.AutoRun:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillstartautomaticallyaftera5seconddelay,linktoallspecifiedsoftwareandimmediatelybegintorunasession.WhenAutoRunischeckedandCCDAutoPilotisstarted,theAutoRuncanbeabortedbyuncheckingAutoRunwithinthefirst5secondsofstarting.SeetheEnhancedAutomationtopicforsuggestedusage.

PlateSolveCurrentLocation:isaconvenientwaytotestplatesolving.CCDAutoPilotwillattempttoplatesolvethecurrenttelescopelocationanduponyourconfirmation,attemptaprecisionslewtothesolvedcoordinates.Sincenotelescopepointingisperfect,youshouldgenerallyseeaslightmovementofthetelescopeuponasuccessfulplatesolve.Ifplatesolvingfails,thentherewillbenocorrectingslewandthetelescopewon'tmove.Theprogressisdisplayedinthestatuspanel.Hint:Ifyouliketodoaninitialsyncatthestartofasession,checkWithSyncintheMountboxandasyncwillbeperformed.Don'tforgettouncheckWithSyncifyoudonotusethisoptionaspartofyourmountoperation.Initialize:ThisstartstheInitializationprocess.SeetheInitializationtopicformoredetails.TestRotatorDirection:Whenchecked,therotatorwillbemovedthreetimestoinsuretherotatormovesintheproperdirection,consistentwithPositionAngle.Onceyourrotatordirectionisconfirmed,thisboxcanbeuncheckedforfasterinitialization.

Software

Software

Camera:SelectfromNone,CCDSoft,MaximorTheSkyXAddOn.YouhaveyourcameraprogramconnectedtoyourcamerasystematleastonceforCCDAutoPilottolearnyourfilternamesandbinningoptions.Oncetheyareread,theyaresavedinthesystemprofileforplanningwithoutconnectingtothehardware.IfyouareusingCCDSoft,makesureinCCDSoft,Camera/ServerSettingsthat"AllowRemoteConnections"ischecked.IfMaximisselected,youcanelecttohavexandybinningbethesameviathex=ybincheckbox.Ifitisnotchecked,awindowwillappear,givingtheuserachancetoenterthedesiredverticalbinning.IfNoneisselected,noimagingispossible.

Maxim-specificrequirements:GototheCameraControlwindow,hittheSettingsbuttontobringupthe

GuiderSettingswindow.SelecttheAdvancedtab.UnderGuiderMotorControl,makesuretoselectDoNotChangeOnPierFlip.DonotcheckPierFlipontheCameraControlWindow/Guidetab.IfyouconnecttoyourtelescopeinMaxim'sObservatorywindow,besuretouncheckAutoScopeDec.,PierFlipandAutoPierFlip.CCDAutoPilotmanagesallnecessarymeridianflipissuesinternallyandallowingMaximtomakeflip-relatedchangeswillmostlikelycauseguidingproblems.Atelescopeconnectionisrequiredtousepulseguide,called"Telescope"inMaxim'sAutoguiderOutputControlViaselection.WhenusingtheTelescopeguideoption,ItmaybehelpfultocheckSafetySlewontheGuidingpage,MeridianFlipboxofCCDAutoPilot.SeealsoMountNotes.

TheSkyXAddOn(ProfessionalEditionfeature).MakesureyourcamerasandfilterwheelsareusablemanuallyinTheSkyX.Run@Focus2manuallyatleastoncetoconfirmfocusoperation.Seethe@Focus2documentationinTheSkyXandmakeappropriateentriesontheFocusingpageforexposuretimeandmagnitudeforeaachfilterused.DonotusetheASCOMdriverchoicesunderX2Drivers,iftheyexist.Therearedeprecatedandnotrecommended.UsetheASCOMselectiontowardthetopofthedriverselectiontree.Ifyouhavearotator,donotconnectittoTheSkyXbutconnectitonlytoCCDAutoPilottoavoidoperationalconflicts.DonotcheckAutoReverseXforGEMsincameraorguidersetup-thiswillconflictwithCCDAutoPilot'sguidingalgorithm.

Telescope:SelectfromNone,ASCOM,ASCOM/TheSky6,ASCOM/TheSkyX,TheSky6,TheSkyX.SelectingASCOM,TheSky6orTheSkyXmeansthosefunctionswillbeusedexclusivelyfortelescopecontrolandplanetariumfunctions(lookinguptargets,solarephemerides,etc.).WhenusingeitherversionofTheSkymakesureinTelescope/SetupneitherKeepCrosshairsonScreennorImposeSlewLimitsasthesewillinterferewithCCDAutoPilotoperations.WhenusingTheSky6,besureAllowRemoteConnectionsischeckedinTelescope/ServerSettings.WhenusingASCOM,youwillneedtoselectanappropriateASCOMdriverforyourtelescopethefirsttime.IfyouselectASCOM/TheSky6orASCOM/TheSkyX,ASCOMwillbeusedtotelescopemovementandTheSkywillbeusedforplanetariumfunctions.IfyouwanttochangetheASCOMdriverselection,checktheChangeDrivercheckboxbeforeyouLinktoSoftware.TheSkyX/Paramountusers,seehere.TheSkyX-specificsettings:,itisrecommendedthatSleeponMinimizedbesettooffandOpenGLbesettoNoOpenGL.SetKeepCursorOnScreentoNoanddonotcheckImposeSlewLimits.WhenusingaSBParamountmount,setFlipHAto0.0.PlateSolving:SelectfromNone,CCDSoft/TheSky,PinPoint,TheSkyX.Regardlessoftheselection,Maximcanstillbeusedasthecameraserver.DuetoPinPointlicensingrestrictions,thefulllicensedversionofPinPoint,nottheLEversionthataccompaniesMaxim,mustbeused.WithCCDSoft/TheSky,whicheverversionofTheSkyisselectedfortheTelescopeserverwillbeusedinconcertwithCCDSoft.TheSkyXhasaparticularlyrobustplatesolveroutine-seePlateSolvingNotesforsomesuggestions.PlatesolvingisessentialformostCCDAutoPilotfeaturesandunattendedoperation.Focuser:SelectfromNone,@Focus2,FocusMax,Maxim,PlaneWaveAutoFocus(ifenabledbylicense),@Focus3(ifenabledbylicense)..Focusroutinesspecifictoacameraserverrequirethatcameraserverbechosenforthecamera.IfyouareusingMaxim,youwillneedtosetupanASCOMhub.UsetheChangeDrivercheckboxtoselectanASCOMhub.ConfigurethehubtoconnecttoyourASCOMfocuserdriver.IntheMaximObservatorywindow,hittheOptionsbutton,thenChoose...toselectthesameASCOMhubasselectedabove.ThisarrangementisnecessarytoenableMaximtocontrolthefocuserforfocusingandCCDAutoPilottocontrolthe

focuserforfocusoffsetsandtemperaturecompensatedfocusing.Rotator:SelectfromNone,ASCOM,RCOSPIR,TheSkyX.WhenusingASCOM,youwillneedtoselectanappropriateASCOMdriverforyourrotatorthefirsttime.Ifyouwanttochangetheselection,checktheChangeDrivercheckboxbeforeyouLinktoSoftware.WhenusingRCOSPIR,itcanbeupandrunning.IfusingTheSkyXforrotatorcontrol,settheRotatortabforRotatorangles,notPositionangles.Also,startwithRotatorSetuphas"Positiveanglesrotatecounter-clockwise"selected.UsecheckRotatorDirectionduringInitialization.Reverseifnecessary.IfnotusingTheSkyXforrotatorcontrol,makesureTheSkyXdoesnotautomaticallyconnecttotherotator.Weather:Atpresent,theselectionsareNone,CloudSensor.WhenusingCloudSensor,CCDAutoPilotwillautomaticallydeterminewhichtheBoltwoodCloudSensorIorIITI/AAGCloudWatcherisused.Youwillneedtosetthepathtothecloudsensor'sSingleLineDataFile.Thisisnotthelogfile.Consultthecloudsensor'sdocumentationformoredetails.Dome:SelectfromASCOM,AutomaDomeorDDWCP(DigitalDomeWorksControlProgramorTheSkyXinterface(Build4568orlater).WhenusingASCOM,youwillneedtoselectanappropriateASCOMdriverforyourdomethefirsttime.Ifyouwanttochangetheselection,checktheChangeDrivercheckboxbeforeyouLinktoSoftware.WhenusingTheSkyX,selectandconfiguretheappropriatedriverinTheSkyX.SettheDomeUpdateIntervalto500ms.FlatLightSource:SelectfromSky,FlipFlat/FlatManorCustom.SelectingSkywillusethetwilightskyforflats.SelectingFlipFlat/FlatManwilluseAlnitakAstroSystems'artificiallightsource.ItiscompletelyintegratedintoCCDAutoPilotandyouwillonlyneedtospecifytheCOMportused.NootherprogramcanusethisCOMportatthesametime.Customallowsflatstobetakentowardtheendofthesessionwhenthescopeisattheparkposition,assumingtheparkpositionpointsthetelescopeatasuitableartificiallightsource.OntheOptionspage/DataAcquisitiontab,useRun5toexecuteascripttoturnontheartificiallightsourceandRun6toexecuteascripttoturnitoff.OntheSettingspage/FlatSettingstab,setthemin.andmax.exposurelimitssothatthetargetADUforeachflatfilter/binningcanbemet.UseControlFile:(ProfessionalEditionFeature)SeetheControlFileEditortopicformoreinformation.PlanningOnly:Whenchecked,onlytheplanetariumsideoftheTelescopeserverisused.Allotherchoicesaredisabled.ThismodeallowstargetplanningeitherindependentlywithTheSkyormanuallywithASCOM,orimportingCCDNavigatorplans.YouareabletoeditandadjustyourimageacquisitionplanontheSessionpagewithoutbeingconnectedtoyourobservatory.YouarenotifiedofthisconditioninCCDAutoPilot'stitlebarandstatuspanel.Toexittheplanningmode,DisconnectanduncheckthePlanOnlycheckboxSkyQualityMeter:CCDAutoPilotwillreadtheskyqualityfileoutoutbytheSQMReaderbywww.knightware.biz.SQMReadercanusetheUnihedronSQM.Thefilemustbeplacedin(My)DocumentsandthefilenamemustbeSQMReadings.txt.Anyotherfilenameorlocationwillbeignored.Whenproperlylocated,CCDAutoPilotwilllogthefileheaderandmostrecententryafter

everylightframethatissaved.

Equipment

PleasereviewtheHardwaretopicforanyspecialsettingsthatmayapplytoyourhardware.FocalLength(mm):EnterthefocallengthoftheimagerscopePixelSize(micron):Enterthepixelsizeofyourimagingcamera.Consulttheguiderdocumentationforthisvalue.UnbinnedImageScale:Automaticallycalculatedaftertheabovevaluesareentered.G2VFilters:SelectthefilternamescorrespondingtothefiltersyouwilluseforG2Vbalancecalculations.UseSub-Frame:Ifyouwishtouseaportionofyourimagingsensorforallyourimaging,CCDAutoPilotwillmaintainyourdesiredsensorcroppingforlightframesandallcalibrationframes,includingflats.WhentheSub-frameboxischecked,theGetbuttonwillbecomeactiveandyouwillbepromptedthroughthestepstodefineyoursub-frame.Thatdefinitionwillbemaintainedinyoursystemprofile.

SelecttheGuiderMethodfromthefollowing:Self-Guided:UsedprimarilywithSBIGcamerashavingabuilt-inguidesensor.Off-AxisGuided:Selectifyouareusinganoff-axisguidersuchastheAstroDonMOAGseriesGuideScope:Selectifyouareusinganexternalguidescope.Unguided:Selectifyouarenotguiding.

Dependingonwhichoftheaboveselectionsaremade,youwillneedtoentersomeorallofthefollowing:FocalLength(mm):Enterthefocallengthoftheguidescope.Ifself-guidedoroff-axisguided,theguider'sfocallengthisautomaticallysetthesameastheimager'sfocallength.PixelSize(micron):Enterthepixelsizeofyourguidecamera.Consulttheguiderdocumentationforthisvalue.UnbinnedGuideScale:Automaticallycalculatedaftertheabovevaluesareentered.A/DBits/Pixel:Enteravalueappropriateforyourguidecamera.Consulttheguiderdocumentationforthisvalue.AO:CheckwhenusinganSBIGAOguider.Donotcheckwhenusingaconventionalguider.Binning:Entertheguiderbinningyouwanttouse.Formostusers,binningof2or3ismostsuccessful.

Type:SelectfromEquatorialandFork.Equatorialshouldbechosenifthemounthastoflipwhencrossingthemeridian.Thistypicallyresultsinarotationoftheimageplaneby180°.Ifthisisnotthecase,chooseFork.Ifyourmountsupportsanyautomaticmeridiancrossinglogictocontrolguiderdirectionsorpolarities,pleasedisableittopreventinterferingwithCCDAutoPilot'sPredictiveGuiding.GuideRate:Entertheguiderateasafractionofsiderealrate.DoubleSlew:Whenchecked,themountwillslewtothesamecoordinatestwice.Withsomemountsthiscanrelievebelttensionandmayresultinbetterguiding.Dec.AxisRelease:Whenchecked,themountwillperformaseriesofdec.axisslewstorelieveanystictionorbindingandmayimproveguidingwithlargepayloads.PrecisionSlew:Whenchecked,themountwillslewtothespecifiedtarget,platesolvethelocation,comparetothedesiredcoordinateandmakeanotherslewtocorrecttheposition.ToWithin:Whenchecked,themountwillperformaPrecisionSlewand,aftermakingthecorrectingslew,takeanotherplatesolveandseeifitiswithinthespecifiedtolerance.Ifitisnot,uptotwoadditionalcorrectingslewswillbeperformedinanattempttogetwithintolerance.The

slewtoleranceshouldbechosenasareasonablevaluerelatedtotheUnbinnedImageScale.IftheUnbinnedimagescaleis.65arc-sec./pixelandyouwanttolosenomorethan30pixelsonyourimagingsensor,thenchooseascaleof.65x30or20arc-sec.WithSync:Whenchecked,themountwillsynctothefirstplatesolveandthenslewtothedesiredcoordinates.Thisshouldgetthemountveryclosetothedesiredcoordinates.DonotuseWithSyncifyouareusingaTpointmodelasrepeatedsyncsintotheTpointmodelwillpollutethemodelandactuallymakepointingworse.SettlingTime:Chooseanamountappropriateforyourmounttosettle.Forhighendmountswithmodestloads,thiscanbeaslittleas3seconds;withheavierloadsorlessprecisemounts,itcantakeaslongas30sec.forthesystemtosettle.

AltitudeLimitsThesesettingslimitmountmovementasdescribedbelow.

Min.WAlt:Thisisthealtitudeatwhichimagingwillbeterminatedforagiventargetonceitsaltitudeinthewestfallsbelowthespecifiedvalue.MinE.Alt:Atargetwhosealtitudeislessthanthespecifiedvaluewillbeskipped.IfLooptargetsisenabledandthetargetrisesabovethespecifiedaltitudebeforethenexttimeitischecked,thenitwillbeacquired.Max.EAlt&MaxW.Alt:Youcansetaltitudelimitsforyourmount,dependingonyourOTAandcamerageometryandobservatorywalls.SettingaMin.WAltitudelimitwillinsureyourmountstopstrackingbeforethatlimit.Thisisanicefallbackincaseyoumiscalculateyourruntime.IfMin.Altissetto0,therewillbenominimumaltitudelimitapplied.Ifthislimitisexceededduringatargetrun,thelightframeacquisitionwillceaseforthistarget.Eitherthenexttargetwillbeselectedandacquiredorthenextprogrammedtaskwillbeexecuted.Max.EandMaxW.AltitudelimitscanpreventyourOTAfromcomingtooclosetoyourpierortripod.

Initialization

InitializationistheprocessbywhichCCDAutoPilotlearnsabouttherelationshipsbetweenyourimager,guiderandrotatorifused.ItcanalsocheckyourrotatordirectiontoseeifitsrotationdirectionisconsistentwithCCDAutoPilotrequirements.Inorderforinitializationtobesuccessful,theEquipmentdatamustbeaccuratelyenteredandplatesolvingmustbefunctional.Initializationmustbeperformedunderthestarswiththetelescope,cameraandifusedrotatorfunctionalandlinkedtoCCDAutoPilot.Forunguidedimaging,CCDAutoPilotwillconfirmyourimagescaleanddeterminethedifferencebetweenyourimagingcameraandthePositionAngleinTheSky.Ifyouareusingarotator,itwillcalibrateanyrotatoroffsetsothatitcanpreciselymovetoadesiredPAautomatically.Forguidedimaging,additionaldatawillbetakenonyourguider'sorientationandsensitivitybydoingaguidercalibration.Thenecessaryinformationfromthisprocesswillbesavedinthesystemprofile.PleasereviewtheHardwaretopicforanyspecialsettingsthatmayapplytoyourhardware.

UnguidedInitializationSimplypointthetelescopetoapointintheskyabove60°altitudeandhittheinitializebutton.CCDAutoPilotwilltakeanimageandplatesolveit.Youwillbegivenanopportunitytosavethedatatoasystemprofile.Pleasedo.

GuidedInitializationPointyourtelescopetoapointintheskyabove60°altitude.Adjustthetelescopepositionsothatareasonablybrightguidestarislocatedintheguider'sFOV.Withyourcameracontrolprogram,chooseaguidestarexposuretogetagoodsignal.Againusingyourcameracontrolprogram,calibrateyourguider,makingsuretheguidestarstaysontheguidechipthroughoutthecalibration.Onceasuccessfulcalibrationiscompleted,youarereadytoInitialize.Donotdeletetheremainingguiderimageinyourcameracontrolprogram.NowhittheInitializebutton.CCDAutoPilotwilltakeanimageandplatesolveit.Itwillthenperformasecondguidecalibration.Uponsuccessfulcompletion,youwillbegivenanopportunitytosavethedatatoasystemprofile.Pleasedo.Note:RecentversionsofMaxim6willnotallowinitializationwithabinningofotherthan1x1withanAOinuse.Thisisthecasewithversion6.15-6.17atleastbutmaychangeinthefuture.BesuretoinitializewiththebinninginCCDAutoPilotsetat1x1forinitialization.Onceinitializationiscomplete,youcanchangethebinningtowhateveryouwish.MaximandCCDAutoPilotcanhandlethechangewithoutrequiringadditionalinitialization.

HintsChoosemeaningfulnamesforyourprofile.SomeexamplesareMX080526RY,whichwouldmeantomeMaxim,May26,2008,camerarelaysused.AnothermightFSQCS0526DG,whichwouldmeanFSQ-106telescope,CCDSoft,May26,2008,DirectGuide.Anythingthathelpsyouidentifytheprofileafterward.RememberyoucandoubleclicktheprofiletolaunchCCDAutoPilotsomeaningfulnamesarehelpful.Aslongasyoudon'tdisturbtherelationshipbetweenyourimager,guiderandthesky,youdon'tneedtoinitializeagain.Nomatterwhereintheskyyouimage,anyRA,DecorPA,eithersideofthemeridian,CCDAutoPilotwillprovideoptimizedcalibrationvectorstoyourcameracontrolprogram.(Thesearenotsimpletransformedguidevectorsfromapossiblymarginalcalibration;thesearederivedfromproprietaryalgorithmstooptimizeguidingperformance.)WhenToRe-initialize

ImagingtelescopeFLchange,eitherdifferenttelescopeorfocalreducerGuidetelescopeFLchangeDifferentimagerorguiderIfusingapoweredrotator,changetotherelationshipbetweentheimagingcameraand/orguidingcameratotherotatorChangeinguidemethod,e.g.fromself-guidedtoOff-axisguidedChangeinguidecontrol,e.g.fromcamerarelaystoDirectGuideorMicroGuideChangeinguiderbinningChangeincameracontrolprogram,e.g.fromMaximtoCCDSoftLoseyourhomesettingwiththeRCOSPIR

EasyMethodforInitializingThismethodrequiresTheSky6andsavesyoufromhuntingthetelescopepositiontogetaguidestarcenteredintheguiderFOV.ReadtheabovesectionsonUnguidedandGuidedInitialization.1.Performanunguidedinitialization.Savetheprofile.2.Usingthetechniquesoutlinedhere,positionTheSky'sFOVIsothatasuitableguidestarisintheguider'sFOV.3.SlewtotheFOV_Centertargetwithprecisionslewchecked.Oncetheprocesscompletes,youshouldhavetheguidestarontheguidechip.4.Runaguidercalibrationwithyourcameracontrolprogramtoinsuretheguidestarstaysonthechipforallmovements5.Setyourguidemethodasdesiredandinitializeagain.

SessionTheSessionpageisaconvenientall-in-onepagetoplanyoursession'sdataacquisitionforlightframesandcalibrationframes.Thereisalothappeningonthispagesopleasereviewthisandthefollowingtopicscarefully.Sinceyouareinteractingwithadatabase,itisimportanttohittheUpdatebuttonbeforeleavingatargettomovetoanotherorbeforechangefromonetabtoanother.Failuretodothismayresultinlossofpartofyoursessionplan.

Acrossthetopofthepage,yousee5tabsrepresentingpossibledataacquisitionfromdusktodawn,withdark/biasopportunitiesoneithersideofthelightframes.Whenmovingfromonesessionphasetotheother,youwillseethevariouselapsedtimesupdatedintheSessioninfowindow.WhenontheLightFramessession,referenceinformationispresentedfortheselectedtarget,sunandmoonephemerides.ThetophalfofthepageistheTargetWindow.Here,thetargetsdatabaseisshown.Allentriescanbeeditedbysimplyclickingonthem,enteringthenewdataandhittingtheupdatebuttonbeforemovingontothenexttarget.Becausethetargetnameisaprimarykeyinthedatabase,itcanonlybeeditedbydouble-clickingonthetargetnameandbeingupaneditwindow.Duplicatetargetnamesarenotallowed.TargetsareselectedbyclickingontheRowHeaderforthetarget.Right-clickinganywhereintheTargetWindowbringsupacontextmenuasshown.Thefunctionofthesemenuitemsisdescribedinthecommandsummary,TheSeriesWindowallowsenteringtheseriesdatafortheselectedtarget.Thereisalsoatwo-stagecontextmenu,availablebyright-clickinganywhereintheSeriesWindow.Thesearethetwomenus:

Again,thefunctionofthesecontextmenusarediscussedinthecommandsummary.TheSplitterbarcanbemovedverticallybyclickingonitanddraggingitdown.Thisisusefulifyouaredealingwithalargenumberoftargetsandwanttominimizescrolling.

SessionPhases:LightFramesWhentheLightFramestabisselectedatthetopofthepage,thedataportionofthesessionplanisdisplayed.Theupperhalfisconcernedwithtargetsandthelowerhalfwiththeexposureseriestakenforagiventarget.ThistopicisconcernedwiththeTargethalf.

LightFrames

Thegridshowsthetargetinformation.Columnheadingsare:Target:Auniquetargetname.Duplicatenamesinthedatabasearenotallowed.Active:Whenchecked,thetargetisactiveandwillbeapartofthesessionplan.R.A.:Therightascensionofthetarget,formattedinhours,minutesandseconds.Dec.:Thedeclinationofthetarget,formattedinsigneddegrees,minutesandseconds.PA:Thepositionangleofthetarget,formattedindegrees.Loop_Series:DefineshowmanytimesthesetofserieswillberepeatedorloopedGuide_Factor:Definesadelaythatwillbeintroducedafterstartingtheguiderandbeforetheexposurestarts.ThisdelayisequaltotheGuide_FactortimestheGuideTimeenteredintheseries.NormallythisisnotneededwiththeAutomaticGuideStarRecovery.FirstStartTime:Thisisthetimeanddatethatdataacquisitionforthetargetwillstart.Thisistheactualexposurestarttime.Ifschedulingbetweenmultipletargetsallows,themountwillslewtothetarget,performprecisionslewand/orfocusupto10minutesbeforestartingthefirstexposure.Ifthereismoretimebetweentargets,themountwilleitherstayonthepriortargetwithtrackingofforparkthemount,dependingontheMountOptionsselectedontheOptionspage/Themountwillwaitonstationuntiltheuserspecifiedstarttimeandwillstartthefirstexposurepreciselyatthatstarttime.FirstEndTime:Thisisthetimeanddatathatdataacquisitionforthetargetisforecasttoend.RARate:TheRAtrackingrateinarc-sec./sec.Defaultvalueis0.DecRate:TheDectrackingrateinarc-sec./sec.Defaultvalueis0.

Note:RARateandDecRatearemadevisiblebyslewingthehorizontalscrollbarinthetargetgrid.TheseratesareaddedautomaticallywhenusingtheGetfunctionfornon-siderealobjectssuchascomets,asteroidsandsatellites.Forexample,Ifyouenter"ISON"intheGetboxandpressGetandthecometdatabaseisloadedinTheSky,thecoordinatedataandtrackingratesforISONwillbeloadedintothetargetlist.Thesevaluescanalsobeaddedmanuallybyeditingtheappropriatecellsinthetargetgrid.

:Movestheselectedtargetupinthetargetlist.:Movestheselectedtargetdowninthetargetlist.

Update:Updatesthetargetdatabase.Thisshouldbehitwhenevereditingiscompletedwithone

targetanditsassociatedseriesandbeforechangingtoanothertargetortheeditsmaybelost.FromFIT:AllowsenteringthecoordinatesofanexistingFITfilebyplatesolvingit.Uponsuccessfulsolution,thesolutionisshowninthestatusbaralongwiththetimetosolveinsecondsinparentheses.Afterselectinganappropriatetemplate,theFileNameandcoordinateinformationisenteredintothetargetdatabase.Thetargetnamecanbeeditedasneeded.Oncethetemplateisentered,theExposureSerieswillbepopulated.BesuretohittheUpdatebuttontoenterthetargetandseriesintothedatabase.Get:GetisonlyfunctionalwhenTheSkyisusedastheplanetariumserver.EnteratargettosearchforbyenteringitsnameinthespaceprovidedandhittheGetbutton.IfitexistsinTheSky6'sdatabase,thecoordinateswillbetransferredintotheTargetlist.IfGetishitwithnoentry,theRAandDecoftheFOVI'scenterinTheSky6willbeentered.ThePAoftheFOVIwillalsobeentered.ItistheFOVIcenterthatdeterminesthetransferredcoordinates,notanyselectedstarorobject.IfyouwanttogetaselectedstarinTheSky'swindow,movetheFOVIoverthatobject.Thisisapowerfultargetframingfeaturethatisdescribedinmoredetailhere.Whenusedinconjunctionwitharotator,youcanselectasuitableguidestarusingtheFOVIandCCDAutoPilotwillmovethescopeandtherotatortothoseprecisecoordinates.Whenaddingatarget,youareaskedforatemplate.PleaseseetheTemplatestopic.Oncethetemplateisentered,theExposureSerieswillbepopulated.BesuretohittheUpdatebuttontoenterthetargetandseriesintothedatabase.Mosaic:UsedtocreateatargetlistfromthemosaicfunctioninTheSky(ProfessionalEditiononly).WiththedesiredmosaicsetupinTheSky,pressingtheMosaicbuttonwillbringthemintotheTargetList.EachmosaicelementmaythenbeeditedbyusingtheEditFunctionorEditButton.Ifyouaredoingguidedimaging,thenyoucanmovetheFOVindicatorasneededtolocateaguidestarandreplaceeachMosaicentryinthetargetlistwithanadjustedFOVCenter,viatheGetbutton.Whenaddingmosaicelements,youareaskedforatemplate.PleaseseetheTemplatestopic.Oncethetemplateisentered,theExposureSerieswillbepopulated.BesuretohittheUpdatebuttontoenterthetargetandseriesintothedatabase.LoopTargets:Defineshowmanytimesthelistoftargetswillberepeatedintheordergiven.SkipFirstTargetSlew:Ifchecked,noprecisionslewismadetothefirsttargetthefirsttime.

Context(Right-Click)MenuRightclickinganywhereinthissectionoftheSessionpagebringsupthiscontextmenu:

SlewtoTarget:Causesthetelescopetoslewtothecoordinatesofthehighlightedtarget.Theslew

canbechosentobeeitheraprecisionslew,asdefinedontheSetuppageorasimple,uncorrectedslew.CenterTheSky:WhenTheSkyisusedastheplanetariumprogram,thiswillcauseTheSky'sstarcharttobecenteredonthetargetcoordinates.SetFirstTargetStartTimetoCurrentTime:Setsthefirsttargetstarttimetothecurrenttime,leavingallothertimesunchanged.ResetTimeGapsBetweenActiveTargets:Removesanytimegapsbetweenactivetargetssothatthenexttargetstartsrightaftertheprecedingactivetarget.EnterTargetCoordinatesManually:Thiswillopenawindowinwhichyoucanenterthetargetnameandcoordinatesmanually.

Thetargetnamemustbeunique.RA,Dec.andPAmustbeintheproperformatandcannotbeblank:RA:hh<space>mm<space>ss<decimal>s,eg.123456.7Dec:<sign>dd<space>mm<space>ss,eg-123456PA:dd<decimal<d>,e.g.12.3Whenyouenteronefield,usetheTabkeytomovetothenext.YoucanexitthetargetentrymodeatanytimebyhittingtheESCapekeyonthekeyboard.AfterthePAisproperlyentered,theTaborReturnkeywillcompletethetargetentry.Whenaddingatarget,youareaskedforatemplate.PleaseseetheTemplatestopic.Oncethetemplateisentered,theExposureSerieswillbepopulated.BesuretohittheUpdatebuttontoenterthetargetandseriesintothedatabase.

EditTargetListbringsupasub-menuwiththefollowingoptions:

DeleteSelectedTarget:Deletesthehighlightedtarget.ThetargetcanalsobedeletedbyhittingtheDeletekeyonthekeyboard.DeleteAllTargets:Deletesalltargetsinthedatabase.HideInactiveTargets:Toggleswhetherornottohideinactivetargets.Whenchecked,inactivetargetsarehidden;whennotchecked,inactivetargetsarevisible.InvertActiveSelections:Itatargetisactive,itismadeinactive;ifatargetisinactive,itismadeactive.DuplicateSelectedTarget:Thisduplicatesthehighlightedtarget.Youmustrenametheduplicateandthenselecttheappropriatetemplatetocompletetheduplicatetargetaddition.

EditingTargetsTheTargetnamecanbeeditedbydouble-clickingonthetargetnamefield.Thiswillbringupthetargeteditwindow.

Enterthedesiredtargetname.CCDAutoPilotwillcheckthedatabaseincasethatnamealreadyexists.Allotherfieldscanbeeditedbyclickingonthemandsimplytypingthedesiredchange.Forthefirststarttimefield,clickingonitandthendouble-clickingwillbringupacalendarsothatyoumayadjustthestartingdateaswellastime.Whenfinishededitingthetargetrow,besuretohittheUpdatebutton.

InfoWindow

TheSessioninfowindowishelpfulinplanningyoursession.Intheaboveexample,youcanseetheephemeridesinfofortheselectedtarget,M65.TheEastandWesttimescorrespondingtothetimeatwhichthetargetisatthealtitudeshowntotheleft.Soifyouhaveanobstructedviewtotheeastthatlimitsyourlowestaltitudeto55°,setthisvalueandyouwillseethetimeatwhichtheM65risesabovethataltitude.Ifyouhaveacleareastandwesthorizonsbutdon'twanttoimagebelowacertainaltitude,checktheEqualboxandyoucansimplyscrolltheupper(E)box.The(W)inputboxwilltrackit.Theeastandwesttimeswilltrackthescrolledaltitudelimits.Note:Hoveringthemouseoveranactivetarget'snamewillshowthemid-pointofthelightexposuretimeasatooltip.Thisishandyifyouaretryingtocenterastaircaseexposuresequenceintimesuchthatthedataacquisitionstraddlesthemeridian.Comparethislightexposuremid-pointtothetargettransittimeshownintheInfowindow(Seebelow)atleftforagiventarget.Sunandmoonriseandsettimesarealsolisted.Also,Civil,NauticalandAstronomicaltwilighttimesareavailable.Sincemostastronomicalcamerasarenotparticularlylighttightfordaylightoperation,itisgenerallybesttonottakedarksbeforecivilduskoraftercivildawn.Astronomicaltwilightisaguideforsufficientlydarkskiestolightframes.Itisgenerallybesttonottakelightframesbeforeastronomicalduskorafterastronomicaldawn.Thereareexceptionsofcoursebutthesearereasonableguidelines.

TargetOrderManagement(ProfessionalVersion)CCDAutoPilothastheabilitytochangetheorderoftargetsinamultipletargetdatabasebyacombinationofdragginganddroppingthetargetroworsortingbasedonacolumnheader.Targetordercanalsobechangedbyusingtheup/downbuttonsmentionedabove.Agiventargetrowcanbemovedupordowninthetargetlistfirstbyclickingandreleasingontherowheadertoselectit.Makesureoneandonlyonerowishighlightedandthatthefullrowishighlighted.Clickandreleaseonthedesiredrowagainifnecessarytohighlightit.Thenclickontherowheaderagainuntilthedrag/dropsymbolappears.Whileholdingtheleftmousebuttondown,dragthemouseupordownasappropriatetorelocatethetargetrowatthedesiredorder.Someexperimentationmayberequiredtogeta

feelforthemovement.Oncetheorderisasdesired,hittheUpdatebutton.ThetargetlistcanalsobesortedbyclickingontheColumnheaderforTarget,Active,RA,DecandPA.Clickoncetosortinascendingorder.Clickagaintosortindescendingorder.Oncetheorderisasdesired,hittheUpdatebutton.Afteranychangetothetargetorder,thetargetstarttimeswillneedtoberesetasdesiredforthenewtargetorder.

LightFramesExposureSeriesOnthelowerhalfoftheLightsFrametab,thereare8seriestodefinetheexposuresthatwillbetakenforagiventarget.Anyorallseriescanbeenabled.Exposuresaretakeninseriesorderfrom1to8.

Series:Whenchecked,theseriesisenabled.Whennotchecked,theseriesisskippedandtheremainderofthefieldsfortheseriesaregrayedoutasavisualreminder.Focus:Whenchecked,thefocusmethodandsettingsdefinedontheFocusingpageareexecutedatthestartoftheserieswiththechosenfilter.Number:Thisisthenumberofexposuresthatwillbetakenforagivenseries.Filter:Whenusingafilterwheel,thisdefinesthefiltertobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Whenafilterwheelisnotpresent,thisentrywillnotbepresent.Binning:Thisisthebinningtobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).ExpTime:Thisistheexposuretimeinsecondstobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Whentheexposuretimeissetto0andFocusischecked,onlyafocusoperationwillbeperformed.Thisisusefulifyouwanttouseaspecificstartofocusonbeforeorduringatargetsession.Youcansetatargettobethatfocusstar,selectoneserieswithFocuscheckedandexposuresetto0andthatstarwillbeusedforfocus.Byinterspersingthefocusstartargetamongmultipleinstancesofthesametarget,youcanspecifythefocusstartobeused.Whenfocusingwiththisarrangement,theFocusMethodchosenontheFocusingpagewillbemaintainedandrestored.Whatthismeansisthis.AssumeyouhavechosenSkyStarasyourfocusingmethod.Ifyouintroduceatarget(presumablya

focusstar)andhavebothcheckedFocusandsetExp.Timeto0,thesystemwillslewtothatpoint,focususingtheBrightestStarinFOVmethodandthenmoveontothenexttargetusingSkyStarasspecifiedforanyfocusingwithnon-zeroExp.Time.GuideTime:Thisistheguideexposuretimeinsecondsfortheseries.IfGuiderAutoExposureischeckedontheGuidingpage,thisentrywillbeignored.However,ifanon-zeroGuide_Factorisenteredforthetarget,thisentrytimestheGuide_Factorwillbethenumberofsecondsthestartoftheimagerexposurewillbedelayed.IfGuiderAutoExposureisnotcheckedanda0isenteredforthisvalue,thisserieswillbeunguided,regardlessoftheguiderselection.DelayTime:Thisisthetimeinsecondsthestartofthenextexposurewillbedelayed.Description:Youcanenteracustomdescriptionhere.IfthedescriptionfieldonanyseriesontheSessionpageisnotblank,thenthefilenamewillbedefinedbythatDescription,followedbya5digitsequencenumber,followedbyafiletypeextension,typically.fit.Ifthedescriptionfieldisblank,thedefaultfilenamingconventiondefinedontheSettingspage,FileSettingstabwilltakeeffect.SeetheFileSettingtopicforadditionalinformation.

RunningaprogramorscriptaftereachexposureItispossibletorunaprogramorscriptaftereachexposure.Thisisenabledbyappending'@'followeddirectly(nospaces)bytheprogramorscriptfilenametotheDescriptionentry(ifany).Theprogramorscriptfile(notshortcut)mustbelocatedin(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Scripts\.Thisisasynchronousevent.Inotherwords,thesessionwillnotproceeduntiltheprogramorscriptcompletesandreturnscontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Theprogramorscriptnameshouldbeattheendofanyotherdescription,ifpresent,orbyitselfifnootherdescriptionisentered,butalwaysprecededbythe'@'symbol.Notethe'@'symbolshouldnotbepartoftheprogramorscriptnameasthisisaninvalidcharacterforawindowsfile.TheprogramorscripttoberunwillbeshownintheSessionSummaryontheRunpageandtheexecutionoftheprogramorscriptwillbelogged.Thedittobutton ,isaconvenientwaytoreplicatethesettingofagivencolumninthefirstseriestoalltheseriesbelow.

Context(Right-click)MenuRight-clickinganywhereintheSeriessectionofthepagewillbringupthecontextmenu.

TheleftboxdescribesTemplatemanagementandisdiscussedintheTemplatestopic.Thelastentry,ShowGoals,changestotheGoalsTemplate,whichisshowedontheright.

GoalOrientedImagingInsomecases,anumberofexposuresisdesiredforeachfilterorseries.Unfortunatelyclouds,guidingandotherfactorscanintervenetomakesomeexposuresunsuitable.ThroughCCDAutoPilot'sdataassessmentcapability,thenumberofusableexposurescanbeidentifiedattheendoftheevening.Evenifmoreexposuresperfilteradesiredthancanbeobtainedinagiveneveningaredesired,thisfeaturecanbeusedwithorwithoutdataassessment.HereiswhatisdisplayedwhenShowGoalsisselected:

NotethenewAchievedandGoalcolumns.Achievedisthenumberofexposuresthatwereachievedthepreviousnight.Thiswillbe0forthefirsttimetheexposureistakenbutwillbepopulatedaftersomeexposureshavebeenachieved.Goalisthedesirednumberofexposures.So,forthefirstnight,selectGoal=Numberfromthemenu.Thissetsthegoalsasshownbelow:

Withthegoalsset,thesessioncanberun.Afterthesessionisrunanddataassessmentwasdoneoneachexposure,wemightseesomethinglikethis:

3Rframesand4Gframeswereachieved.AfterselectingNumber=Goal-Achieved:

Wecanseethat3Rframesand2Gframesarereadytobetakentonight.

SessionPhases:CalibrationFrames

DuskFlatsandDawnFlatsSkyasFlatLightSource(twilightorskyflats)

Theleftboxwillhavesuggestionsfortakingflats.ThehintsforSkyflatsareshown.Therightboxshowstheactivetargetsandtheircorrespondingpositionangle.Ifyouareusingarotator,thisisahandyreferenceforwhatRotationAngletoenterintheSeriessection..TheoptimalTargetADUcanbemeasuredforyourcamerausingtheLinearityMeasurementWizard.Whenacquiringdawnflats,beawarethatCCDAutoPilot'sautomaticexposureroutineisreactive,notpredictive.Theexposureforaflatisdeterminedbymeasuringthepreviousoneandadjustingtheexposuretime.Sincetheskyisbrighteninganddependingonthecameradownloadtime,thenextflat'sADUwillbeabithigher.SoitisbesttochooseasomewhatlowerTargetADUthantheLinearityMeasurementWizardrecommends.Thiswillpreventrunningdawnflatsintothenon-linearregion.Youwillneedtoexperimentallydeterminethatbrightnesslevel.Theoppositeeffectoccursforduskflats.ThefirstexposurewillbeclosetotheTargetADUandsubsequentoneswillhaveaslightlylowerADU.

Update:updatesthedatabasewiththecurrentSeriessettingsandupdatesthetimesintheSessionWindowattheleft.FlatFramesNow:willimmediatelybegintakingtheflatframesasspecifiedintheSeriessection.

FlipFlat/FlatManasLightSource

Inadditiontotheabovecontrols,thisaddsaTargetADUforflats.ThisistargetADUlevelCCDAutoPilotwilltrytoachievebyadjustingtheexposurebetweenminimumandmaximumexposuresettingsfromthe

Preferencepage,FlatSettingstab.TheoptimalTargetADUcanbemeasuredforyourcamerausingtheLinearityMeasurementWizard.

CustomLightSource

Ifyouhaveanunsupportedartificiallightsource,youcanstilltakeflatsautomatically.YouwillneedtoturntheartificialsourceonandoffbyrunningprogramsattheappropriatepointsontheOptionspageandyouwillhavetoinsureyourmin.andmax.flatexposuretimesaresufficienttomeetthetargetADUforallfilters.TargetADUshouldbesetasneeded.ThisistargetADUlevelCCDAutoPilotwilltrytoachievebyadjustingtheexposurebetweenminimumandmaximumexposuresettingsfromthePreferencepage,FlatSettingstab.TheoptimalTargetADUcanbemeasuredforyourcamerausingtheLinearityMeasurementWizard.

DarkandBiasFrames

FlushImager:whenchecked,theseriesofexposuresasdefinedtotherightwillbetaken.Forsomesensors,thiscanreducetheresidualbulkimage(RBI)fromlightframes.Theframeswillbetakenandreadoutbutnotsaved.Number:NumberofflushexposuresFilter:FiltertouseforflushexposuresBinning:BinningtouseforflushexposuresExp.Time:ExposuretimeinsecondstouseforflushexposuresUpdate:updatesthedatabasewiththecurrentSeriessettingsandupdatesthetimesintheSessionWindowattheleft.LoopSeries:Thenumberoftimestheactiveserieswillberepeated.DarkFramesNow:immediatelybeginstakingthedarkand/orbiasframesspecifiedintheSeriessection.

CalibrationFramesExposureSeries

DuskFlatsandDawnFlats

TheSeriescolumnswillchange,dependingonwhatFlatLightSourceisused.SkyasFlatLightSource(twilightorskyflats)

Series:Whenchecked,theseriesisenabled.Whennotchecked,theseriesisskippedandtheremainderofthefieldsfortheseriesaregrayedoutasavisualreminder.Number:Thisisthenumberofexposuresthatwillbetakenforagivenseries.Filter:Whenusingafilterwheel,thisdefinesthefiltertobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Whenafilterwheelisnotpresent,thisentrywillnotbepresent.Binning:Thisisthebinningtobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).TargetADU:ThisistargetADUlevelCCDAutoPilotwilltrytoachievebyadjustingtheexposurebetweenminimumandmaximumexposuresettingsfromthePreferencepage,FlatSettingstab.RotationAngle:DependingontheRotationTypeselection,thiswillbeeitherapositionangleorarotatorpositionatwhichyouwanttotakeyourflats.RotationType:Ifyouaretryingtomatchlightframestakenoneachsideofthemeridianwithanequatorialmount,selecteitherPAEastorPAWesttomatchyourlightframes.SelectRotatortousetheabsoluterotatorposition.SelectNoneandtherotatorpositionwillbeignored.Description:Youcanenteracustomdescriptionhere.IfthedescriptionfieldonanyseriesontheSessionpageisnotblank,thenthefilenamewillbedefinedbythatDescription,followedbya5digitsequencenumber,followedbyafiletypeextension,typically.fit.Ifthedescriptionfieldisblank,thedefaultfilenamingconventiondefinedontheSettingspage,FileSettingstabwilltakeeffect.SeetheFileSettingtopicforadditionalinformation.

RunningaprogramorscriptaftereachexposureItispossibletorunaprogramorscriptaftereachexposure.Thisisenabledbyappending'@'followeddirectly(nospaces)bytheprogramorscriptfilenametotheDescriptionentry(ifany).Theprogramorscriptfile(notshortcut)mustbelocatedin(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Scripts\.Thisisasynchronousevent.Inotherwords,thesessionwillnotproceeduntiltheprogramorscriptcompletesandreturnscontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Theprogramorscriptnameshouldbeattheendofanyotherdescription,ifpresent,orbyitselfifnootherdescriptionisentered,butalwaysprecededbythe'@'symbol.ThisshouldbeattheendoftheDescriptionfield.Notethe'@'symbolshouldnotbepartoftheprogramorscriptnameasthisisaninvalidcharacterforawindowsfile.TheprogramorscripttoberunwillbeshownintheSessionSummaryontheRunpageandtheexecutionoftheprogramorscriptwillbelogged.

FlipFlat/FlatManasLightSource

Series:Whenchecked,theseriesisenabled.Whennotchecked,theseriesisskippedandtheremainderofthefieldsfortheseriesaregrayedoutasavisualreminder.Number:Thisisthenumberofexposuresthatwillbetakenforagivenseries.Filter:Whenusingafilterwheel,thisdefinesthefiltertobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Whenafilterwheelisnotpresent,thisentrywillnotbepresent.Binning:Thisisthebinningtobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).LightSourceBrightness:ThissetstheFlipFlat/FlatManbrightnesslevel.Thevalueshouldbebetween0and255.ItshouldbechosensothatanexposurebetweentheminimumandmaximumexposuresettingsfromthePreferencepage,FlatSettingstab,resultsintheTargetADU.Oncedetermined,savethesesettingsasaTemplatetomakefutureflatsettingseasier.RotationAngle:DependingontheRotationTypeselection,thiswillbeeitherapositionangleorarotatorpositionatwhichyouwanttotakeyourflats.RotationType:Ifyouaretryingtomatchlightframestakenoneachsideofthemeridianwithanequatorialmount,selecteitherPAEastorPAWesttomatchyourlightframes.SelectRotatortousetheabsoluterotatorposition.SelectNoneandtherotatorpositionwillbeignored.Description:Youcanenteracustomdescriptionhere.SeetheFileSettingtopicforadditionalinformation.

CustomLightSource

Series:Whenchecked,theseriesisenabled.Whennotchecked,theseriesisskippedandtheremainderofthefieldsfortheseriesaregrayedoutasavisualreminder.Number:Thisisthenumberofexposuresthatwillbetakenforagivenseries.Filter:Whenusingafilterwheel,thisdefinesthefiltertobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Whenafilterwheelisnotpresent,thisentrywillnotbepresent.Binning:Thisisthebinningtobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).RotationAngle:DependingontheRotationTypeselection,thiswillbeeitherapositionangleorarotatorpositionatwhichyouwanttotakeyourflats.RotationType:Ifyouaretryingtomatchlightframestakenoneachsideofthemeridianwithanequatorialmount,selecteitherPAEastorPAWesttomatchyourlightframes.SelectRotatortousetheabsoluterotatorposition.SelectNoneandtherotatorpositionwillbeignored.Description:Youcanenteracustomdescriptionhere.SeetheFileSettingtopicforadditionalinformation.

DarkandBiasFrames

Series:Whenchecked,theseriesisenabled.Whennotchecked,theseriesisskippedandtheremainderofthefieldsfortheseriesaregrayedoutasavisualreminder.Number:Thisisthenumberofexposuresthatwillbetakenforagivenseries.Filter:Whenusingafilterwheel,thisdefinesthefiltertobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Whenafilterwheelisnotpresent,thisentrywillnotbepresent.Binning:Thisisthebinningtobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Exp.Time:Thisistheexposuretimeinsecondstobeusedfortheseriesexposure(s).Dark/Bias:WhenBiasisselected,theexposuretimeisignoredandsetto0sinceabiasframeisa0exposurelengthdarkframe.Description:Youcanenteracustomdescriptionhere.SeetheFileSettingtopicforadditionalinformation.

TemplatesTemplatesareaconvenientwaytoenteranumberofseriessettingsthatarefrequentlyused.TherearetwodefaulttemplatesprovidedforShuffleandStaircase,asdescribedintheLightFramestopic.Forexample,hereistheseriessettingsforM65:

ThisisessentiallyaStaircasetemplate.WecanchangethistoaShuffleplanbyright-clickingandselectLoadTemplate

AfterselectingtheShuffletemplate,theseriesforM65nowlookslikethis:

Youcanalsodefineyourowntemplatesbysettingupaseriesasyoulikeandright-clickingandselectSaveTemplateAs.Youcanreviewtheexistingtemplatenamesbyusingthepulldownandthentypeinthepulldownboxtoenterthenameforyournewtemplate.Templatenamesnothavespaces.Ifthetemplatenamealreadyexists,youwillbeaskedifyouwanttooverwritetheexistingtemplate.(Thetemplatenameyoutypeoverwillnotbedeletedorrenamed.)Finally,youcanright-clickandselectDeleteTemplatetodeleteanytemplateyouwish.

ExamplesYoucanusetemplatesoncalibrationframesaswell.Assumeyouhavearotatorandneedbothdawnandduskflats.Sincetheflatsneedtobetakeninleasttomosttransmissiveorderatduskandtheoppositeorderatdawn,enteringtheseeachtimecanbestreamlinedbysettinguptemplates.Herearemyflatstemplates:

ByselectingSkyE,theseriesareallpopulatedandallIhavetoenteristheRotationAngle.IcandothisbysimplyenteringthedesiredRotationAngleinthefirstseriesandusingthedittobutton.Thusinthreeclicks,Ihavedefinedmyduskflats:

Icansetupsimilartemplatesforartificialflats,astakenwithaFlatManforexample.HereIselectedFlatManWformydawnflats:

MyFlatManbrightnesslevelsarealreadyenteredandagain,allIneedtodoisentertheRotationAngleandhitthedittobutton.Templatescanbeapowerfulaidinautomatedimaging.IhavetemplatesforGalaxyexposures,ClusterexposuresandNarrowBandexposures.Thereisnolimittothenumberoftemplatesyoucanenter.

OptionsOnthispage,youcansettheactivitiesandeventsduringthecourseofasession.Theoptionsaredividedinto3phasesasindicatedbythetabsatthetopofthepage.ActivityflowstoptobottomfromthefirstentryontheStartuptab,throughtheAcquisitionTabtothelastentryontheShutdownpage.Eachtabisdescribedinitsontopic.

MountOptionsYoucanselectTrackingOffWhileWaitingorParkWhileWaitingtodeterminewhatyourmountdoeswhilewaiting.Forexample,whenItakeduskflats,IselectTrackingOffWhileWaitingsothatthetelescopewillbepointednominallytothezenithtofacilitatecooling.OthersmaynotneedthisandcanselectParkWhileWaiting.

AssessData:IfyouhaveDataAssessmentcheckedonPreferences,AssessDatatab,thisbuttonwillbeactive.WithityoucanselectafoldercontainingFITSdataandCCDAutoPilotwillruntheassessmentcriteriaagainstallfilesinthatfolder,reportingtheresultsontheInfowindowtotheleftofthepage.

Abort:endstheassessmentactivityinprogress.

Movetoupdatedcoordinates:Whenchecked,themountwillmovetoupdatedcoordinates,i.e.coordinatesthathavechangedbetweensub-exposures,duetonon-siderealmovingobjects.Thisismostusefulforunguidedimagingofcomets,asteriodsandthelike.SeeGuidingandTrackingTechniquesformorediscussionofthiscapability.UpdateTrackingRates:Whenchecked,anytargetthathasanentryforRaRateand/orDecRateonthetargetspartoftheSessionpagewillhaveitscoordinatesandtrackingratesupdatedatruntime.Whenunchecked,onlythecoordinateswillbeupdatedatruntime.Thislatterconditionshouldbehelpfulforastrometryofnon-siderealobjects.

Startup

LoopSession:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillruncontinuously.ItwillstartattheBeginSessionTimeyouspecify,runthroughallthesessionphasesofcalibrationframesbeforelightframes,lightframes,calibrationframesafterlightframesandhandleanydome/roofopenings,coolerwarm-up'sthatyouspecify.Ifadverseweatherconditionsoccur,thesessionwillconcludeforthatevening,andbereadytostartthenextnight.Seethewarningaboutweatherconditions.SeetheEnhancedAutomationtopicforsuggestedusage.AutoDateCorrect:Whenchecked,thetargetstartingdateofallactivetargetsisadjustedtothecurrentdateiftheoriginaldateisinthepast.Futuredatesarenotaffected.Thestartingtimeisunchanged.Ifyoursessionhasmorethanonetargetandextendspastmidnight,donotcheckAutoDateCorrect.SeetheEnhancedAutomationtopicforsuggestedusage.

RunFirst:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredatthispointin

thesession.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyinthearg

space.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.BeginSession:Thesessioncanbeginatasspecifictimeanddateoratatimerelativetosunset.Theadvantageofthelatterisyoudon'thavetoworryaboutchangingthestarttimefromdaytoday.Byselectingtheappropriateradiobutton,MinutesorDegrees,youcanselectthesessionstartrelativetosunseteitherintermsofminutesbeforeoraftersunsetordegreesofsunaltitudeabove(+)orbelow(-)thehorizon.Thelattermaybeusefulatextemenorthernandsouthernlatitudes.However,ifstartingataspecifictimeanddateisneeded,theoptionisavailable.Ifyouuseaspecifictimeanddate,don'tforgettosetthedateasneededbyusingthecalendarpulldown.OpenDome:Checkthistoopenthedome.AbortSessiononOpenFailure:Ifchecked,thesessionwillbeabortedifthedomefailstoopenwithinthespecifiedtime.Setanon-zerovalueforShutterTimeout.Run0:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredatthispointinthe

session.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyintheargspace.

Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .FindHome:Checktosendthemounttoitshomeposition.Thisrequireshardwareanddriversupportforyourmount.AllSoftwareBisquemountssupportthisoptions.OtherASCOMmounsmayaswell.Checkmount/driverdocumentation.CoolerStartDelay:Checkifyouwantthedometobeopenawhilebeforehavingthecoolerstart.Insomesituations,thiscanrelieveanyheattrappedinthedomeduringthedayandallowthecoolertoreachalowertemperature.Setthedelaytimeyouwish.SetImagerCooler:Whenchecked,thissetstheimagercoolertothespecifiedtemperature.SetGuiderCooler:Whenchecked,thissetstoguidercoolertothespecifiedtemperature.Waitforcoolers:Whenchecked,thiswaitsthespecifiedtimebeforecontinuingtoallowthecoolerstoreachtheirspecifiedtemperatures.CCDAutoPilotwillwaitforthecooler(s)toreachtheirdesiredtemperatureforthespecifiedtime.Ifthetimeiselapsedandthecoolershaven'treachedtheirspecifiedtemperatures,thesessionwillcontinue.Run1:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredatthispointinthe

session.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyintheargspace.

Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesan

inordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.

DataAcquisition

(DuskFlats):Ifthereareactiveseries,flatframeswillbetakenatthispointinthesequence.Run1a:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredrightbeforethe

slewtothefirstactivetarget.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enter

themmanuallyintheargspace.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .Thisprovidessupporttocoontrolanartificialflatlightsourceatduskflats.UseappropriatescriptsinRun1toturnonthelightsourceandRun1atoturnitoff.TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.

WaitforCivilDusk:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillwaitforcivilduskbeforeproceeding.(Civilduskiswhenthesunis6°belowthehorizon.)(DarksbeforeLightFrames):Ifthereareactiveseries,darkand/orbiasframeswillbetakenatthispointinthesequence.AbortDarksforLightFrames:Whenchecked,anydark/biasframesinprocesswillbeterminatedatthefirstactivetargetstarttimetoallowthelightframestobeginonschedule.SeetheEnhancedAutomationtopicforsuggestedusage.Run2:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredrightbeforethe

slewtothefirstactivetarget.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enter

themmanuallyintheargspace.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.FocusbeforeTargetRunStart:Ifchecked,thetelescopewillslewtothecoordinatesofthefirsttargetandexecuteafocusrunusingtheparameterssetontheFocusingpage.(LightFrames):Lightframeswillbetakenfortheactivetarget(s)specifiedontheSessionpage.ParkTelescope:Whenchecked,thetelescopewillbeparkedattheparkpositionspecifiedinyourtelescopecontrolserver.TelescopeTrackingOff:Whenchecked,telescopetrackingwillbeturnedoffviayourtelescopecontrolserver.Run3:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredattheendofthe

LightFramesphase.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyin

theargspace..Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.CloseDomebeforeDarksandDawnFlats:Ifchecked,thedomewillbeclosedatthispointinthesequence.Run4:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredrightbeforethe

nextDarkFramesphase.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanually

intheargspace..Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.(DarksafterLightFrames):Ifthereareactiveseries,darkand/orbiasframeswillbetakenatthis

pointinthesequence.Run5:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredaftertheDark

FramesphaseandbeforetheDawnFlatsphase..Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyintheargspace..Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting

.TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.(DawnFlats):Ifthereareactiveseries,flatframeswillbetakenatthispointinthesequence.Run6:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredimmediatelyafter

theDawnFlatsphase..Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyin

theargspace.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.

Shutdown

AbortLightandDarkFramesatDawn:Whenchecked,lightframeacquisitionwillbeabortedafterastronomicaldawnanddarkframeacquisitionwillbeabortedaftercivildawn.SeetheEnhancedAutomationtopicforsuggestedusage.ParkTelescopeafterDawnFlats:Whenchecked,thetelescopewillbeparkedattheparkpositionspecifiedinyourtelescopecontrolserver.TelescopeTrackingOffafterDawnFlats:Whenchecked,telescopetrackingwillbeturnedoffviayourtelescopecontrolserver.Run7:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredafterthetelescope

isparkedortrackingisturnedoff.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enter

themmanuallyintheargspace.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.ParkRotatorat:Whenchecked,movestherotatortotherotatorpositionindicated.CloseDomeafterDawnFlats:Ifchecked,thedomewillbeclosedatthispointinthesequence.RaiseImagerCoolerSetPointto:Ifchecked,thesetpointsoftheimagercoolerwillberaisedtothetemperaturespecified.Thisistoallowthecoolersnottodrivetoohardwhensystemsareleftonaroundtheclock.Itcanalsobeusedtowarmupthecoolerbeforeshuttingdownifdesired.RaiseGuiderCoolerSetPointto:Ifchecked,thesetpointsoftheguidercoolerwillberaisedtothetemperaturespecified.Thisistoallowthecoolersnottodrivetoohardwhensystemsareleftonaroundtheclock.Itcanalsobeusedtowarmupthecoolerbeforeshuttingdownifdesired.UnlinkSoftwareWhenchecked,allsoftwareanddriverswillbelogicallydisconnectedfromCCDAutoPilot.ThiscanbeusefulwhenapowerdownorotherdisconnectoptioniscalledatRun8.Run8:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredattheendofthe

session.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyintheargspace.

Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .TimeoutsetshowlongtowaitforacalledapplicationtoreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilot.Thiscanbesetifthecalledapplicationtakesaninordinatetimetocomplete.Entering0meansCCDAutoPilotwillwaitforeverfortheapplicationtocomplete.

RunOnthispageyoucanreviewthesettingsforyourplannedsession.Warningsaregiventhatmayimpactthesuccessofyoursessionsothatyoucantakeappropriateactionbeforecontinuing.

TheupperwindowistheWarningswindow.CCDAutoPilotexaminesyoursettingsforanyconflictsorissuesthatmaymakeyoursessionlesssuccessful.Whilenoteverythingcanpossiblybechecked,thesewarningsaregleanedfromcustomerinputsovertheyearsinthehopeofmakingyoursessionsuccessmorelikely.Thelowerwindowshowsthereviewofyoursession.Asummaryofthesessionevents,plannedexposuresandtimingisshownforreview.Inaddition,yourequipmentsettingsandsettingsforallofthecontrolsarereplicatedhere,groupedbyfunction.Thecontentsofbothofthesewindowsareplacedatthestartofyoursessionlogforrecordingyoursettingsandtoaidindiagnosingasession.TheyarealsoplacedontheWindowsclipboardsothatitmaybeconvenientlypastedintoanotherapplication.TheSaveToNotepadbuttonwillopenWindows'notepadapplicationandpastethecontentsofbothwindowsthere.Thisisconvenientifyouwishtoprintandreviewthesessionplanbeforestarting.TheRunSessionbuttoninitiatesthesession.TheSessionwindowwillopenifitisnotalreadyopenanddisplaysessioninformation.

SessionRunningOncetheRunSessionbuttonishitontheRunpage,thesessionwindowopensandthesessionbegins.ChangescanbemadetoarunningsessionfornearlyeverysettingintheCCDAutoPilotwindow,exceptthecurrentexposureofcourse.ItisalwaysbesttousethePauseSessionbuttontomakechangeswhilethesessionispaused.

OnTop:Whenchecked,theSessionwindowismadethetopmostwindowonthedesktop.Thispreventsotherwindowsfromhidingcrucialsessioninformation.Whenitisnotchecked,thestatuswindow'sbehaviorisnormal,i.e.itcanbehiddenbyotherwindows.

PauseSession:ThePausebuttonallowsthesessiontobepausedatanappropriatepoint,usuallythecompletionoftheexposureinprocess.Oncepaused,thetitleofthisbuttonchangestoResumeandhittingitagainwillresumethesession.Thisisconvenientifyouhavetogoouttothetelescope,putalightonandadjustsomething.Thisisalsoagoodtimetomakeanychangestothe

sessionviatheMainCCDAutoPilotwindow.Whenyouaredone,youcanresumetherunsessionwhereyoupaused.

SessionWindowControlsThestateoftheSessionWindowControlslocatedintheupperrightcorneroftheSessionwindowandshownbelowareusedtoindicatesessionactivity.

SessionRunningSessionNotRunning

AbortSession:Thisisusedtototallyaborttherunningsession.WhenasessionisrunningtheSessionWindowControls(close,minimize,etc.)areremoved.WhenAbortSessionishit,thesessionabortroutineswillbeinitiatedandtheAbortSessionbuttonwillbegrayedout.WhentheSessionWindowControlsarerestoredandthelastlineintheSessionWindowis"Sessioncompleted"theAbortSessionroutineshavecompletedinanorderlyfashion..BesuretowaituntilCCDAutoPilothascompletelyabortedthesessioninprogressandisintheproperstatetorestartarun.Ifthereisanydoubt,closeandrestartCCDAutoPilot.Thestatuswindowcaneitherbeleftopenorclosedasdesired.Closingtheunderlyingserverapplications,suchasFocusMaxorMaxim,whileCCDAutoPilotisopenwillleavethesysteminanunstablestate.Ifthisisdonebeaccident,youshouldrebootyourcomputer.OnceCCDAutoPilotisclosed,nextcloseFocusMaxandfinallyCCDSoftorMaxim.

SessionInfoTab

SessionEvents

SessionStart:indicatesthesessionstarttime.ImagingStart:indicatesthetimethelightframeswillbegin.IftheuserhasspecifiedadelayedstartforthefirsttargetontheSessionpage,thiswillindicatethattime.Otherwise,itwillindicateASAP.ImagingEnd:indicatestheexpectedendingtimeoftherun,notincludinganydawnflatsNextFocus:indicateswhenthenextautomaticfocusingactivitywilltakeplace.MeridianFlip:Ifthetargetiseastofthemeridian,thisindicatestheexpectedtimeofthemeridianflip.Ifthetargetiswestofthemeridian,thisfieldwillsoindicate.Ifaforkmountisbeingused,n/awillbeindicatedsincethereisnomeridianflipwithaforkmount.Sunrise:indicatesthetimeoflocalsunrise

Target

Target:indicatesthetargetname,asdefinedontheSessionpage.IftheLoopTargetsissetgreaterthan1,thecurrentloopindexwillbedisplayedinparenthesesnexttothetargetnameAltitude:indicatesthealtitudeofthetarget.Transit:indicatesthetimethetargetwilltransit(cross)themeridian.End:Indicatestheendimagingtimeforthistarget.

FocusIfnofocusprogramisused,alltheseentrieswillindicate"n/a".Otherwise:

HFD:indicatestheHalf-FluxDensityofthefocusedstar,asreportedbyFocusMax.ThisisnotnecessarilythesameasFWHM(FullWidthHalfMaximum)asnormallyusedforstellarprofilemeasurements.HFDisagoodrelativeindicatoroffocushowever.Position:indicatesthefocuserposition,asreportedbyFocusMax,foryourfocusedposition.Temp:Reportstheambienttemperatureinwhateverunits(°F,°C,counts,etc.)thefocuserinusereportstemperature.Ifthefocuserdoesn'treporttemperature,then"n/a"isindicated.

StatusBarAstatusbarisprovidedatthebottomofthestatuswindowtoindicatevariousactivitiesincludingexposureprogress.

FocusingHereyousetthevariousparametersforfocusingduringyoursession.TherearemanyissuessurroundingfocusingandreadingtheFocusingTechniquestopicisrecommendedtoaidinyourFocusingchoices.CCDAutoPilotsupportsthreeautomatedfocusingsystems:FocusMaxwhichworkswithbothCCDSoftandMaxim,CCDSoft's@focus2,Maxim'sinternalfocusroutineandPlaneWaveAutoFocus(ifenabled).Whichonetouseisamatterofpersonalpreferenceandwhichworksbestforyoursystem.Thefocusingpagechangesslightly,dependingonthefocusingserverchoice.ThistopicwilldiscussFocusMaxindetailanddiscussthechangesfortheotherprograms.Forallfocusingservers,Whenanequatorial-mountedtelescopeispointedeastofthemeridian,anyfocusingactivityscheduledtooccurwithin10minutesofthemeridiancrossingwillbedeferreduntiltheaftertelescopehascrossedthemeridianandthemounthasflipped.Thisdeferraldoesnottakeplacewithfork-mountedtelescope.ThisfocusdeferralonlyoccurswhenMeridianFlipisselected.

FocusMax

Beforeproceeding,insurethatFocusMaxissetupproperlyforyoursystem.ConsultFocusMaxdocumentationforspecifics.OnceallthesoftwareislinkedtoCCDAutoPilot,youcanusetheFocusNowbuttontoverifyoperation.FocusNowusesthesettingsonthispagetolaunchamini-sessionthatonlyfocusesanddoeswhateverothertelescopemovingmightberequired.ItsactionsarerecordedasanormalloganddisplayedintheSessionwindow.

FocusMethodsWhenFocusMaxisconnected,thereareanumberofactivemethodsoffocusingavailable.Activemethodsdonotrelyonpredictingthefocuspositionbutactuallyfocusthesystematappropriatetimes.Assuch,thiswouldbeexpectedtogiveyouthemostoptimalfocusatanypointintime.Thetrade-offhereisthetimetodothefocusing.Dependingonthemethodchosen,activefocusingcanaddfrom30to300secondsormore,dependingonthemethodused,cameradownloadtimeetc.

None:Nofocusingisused.Thissettingmightbeusedifitisdesiredtouseonlyfilteroffsets.BrighteststarinFOV:FocusMaxwillchoosethebrightestobjectinthefieldofview.Thisisfineiftherearenobrightextendedobjectssuchasgalaxiesinthefieldbutifthereare,FocusMaxwillattempttofocusonthatandwillmostlikelybeunsuccessful.FocusatX,Y:Onewaytoavoidtheaboveproblemistoselectaspecificx,ycoordinateforatargetstar.Takeanunbinnedimageandnotethecoordinatesofthebrighteststar.EnterthosecoordinatesintheXandYboxes.FocusMaxwillusethatcoordinatewitha100x100pixelboxaroundittofocus.SkyStar:WiththistechniqueandTheSky,CCDAutoPilotwillplatesolvethecurrentlocation,slewthescopetoanearbystar,focusthereusingFocusMax,@Focus2orMaxim'sfocusroutine,andslewbacktotheoriginallocation.Ifguidingwasinprocess,itwillbestoppedforfocusingandrestartedautomaticallyoncethetelescopehasreturnedtothetargetcoordinates.ThistechniqueguaranteesasuitablestarforfocusingandusestheverypowerfuldataquerytechnologyofTheSkytoselectstarsofanappropriatemagnitudetobeusedforfocusing.SkyStarhassomeadditionaloptions:CenterFocusStarwithin:Whenchecked,aprecisionslewtothefocusstarwillbemade,insuringthefocusstarisinthecenteroftheFOVandallowsyoutospecifyhowclosethefocusstarwillbetothecenteroftheimager'sFOV.MagnitudeRange:4magnituderangesareprovidedforthefocusstar-4to7,5to8,6to9and7to10.Selecttherangethatisappropriateforyoursystem.Minimumfocusstaraltitude:Regardlessofwherethetelescopeispointing,focusingwillalwaysuseastarabovethisminimumaltitude.Asaminimum,youmusthavetheGuideStarCatalog(GSC)selectedasoneoftheStellarCoredatabasesinTheSky.Theselectedstars'magnituderangeandcatalogcanbecustomized.SeeAdvancedCustomization.FocusProgramPicksStar:ThisissimilartoSkyStarbutitisalldonewithinFocusMaxusingAcquireStarandrequiresthefullversionofPinPoint.UnlikeSkyStar,whateverfilteryouusetofocusonwillbethesamefilterusedforplatesolving.CCDAutoPilotwilluseprecisionslewtocorrectanyreturningslewerrorsfromthefocusprogram.Refocuseveryxxminutes:Whencheckedanddependingonthenumericentry,thechosenfocusmethodwillbeexecutedxxminutesafterthestartofthefirsttarget'simagingsession.Thenextexposurethatcomesalongthatisxxormoreminutesafterthelastfocuswillbeexecuted.Inotherwords,thetimeforanintervalfocusisdeterminedbeforeanexposurestarts.Ifxxminuteshaselapsedsincethelastfocus,afocusrunwillbeperformed;ifithasn'telapsed,thecheckingprocess

willrepeatbeforethenextexposurestarts.YoushouldsetupabriefseriesofexposurestoinsureFocusMaxcanfocussatisfactorilywithalloftheplannedfiltersinplace,adjustingthefocusexposuretobeappropriatetoagivenfilterasdescribedbelow.MakeanyadjustmentstotheFocusMaxsettingsrequired.FilterforFocusing:Ifyourfiltersaresufficientlyparfocal,i.e.theyallfocusatthesamepoint,youmaychoosetouseonespecificfilterforfocusing.Thatwayyoucanavoidhavingtodealwithdifferentfocusexposuresfordifferentfilters.Ifyourfiltersarenotparfocal,youshoulddetermineandusefilteroffsets.IgnoreFailedFocusStars:WhenCCDAutoPilotchoosesstarsforfocusingwithSkyStar,occasionalneardoublesorotherobjectsmaypreventsuccessfulfocusing.(StarsintheWDScatalogareautomaticallyexcluded.)Whenthisboxischecked,CCDAutoPilotlearnswhichstarsfailtosuccessfullyfocusandbuildsadatabasethatisstoredinthesystemprofile.Thereforeonsubsequentattemptstofocusatastarnearthesametarget,theproblemstarwillbeskippedonsubsequentfocusattemptsandnewstarswillbeused.Uncheckingthisboxwillclearthesaveddatabasesoifyouwishtooperatewithoutthisfeatureandstillkeepthedatabase,savethesystemprofiletoanewnamebeforeuncheckingthebox.Thenewlynamedsystemprofilewillstillhavethelearneddatabaseandthecurrentonewillnot.TheexcludedstarsarenotedinthePreviewpaneontheRunpage.Attheconclusionofthesession,anynewlydiscoveredfocusfailurestarsareaddedtothedatabaseandreportedinthelog.NotethisisaSkyStarfeatureonly.TheClearDatabasebuttondeletesallthefailedfocusstarsfromthedatabaseandcannotbeundone.Ifthereisanydoubt,makeabackupofyoursystemprofilebeforehittingtthisbutton.PostFocusOffset:ThissettingcanbeusedtominimizetheeffectsofOTAfieldcurvature.Theintentisto"splitthedifference"betweenperfectfocusatthecenterandfocusingattheedgeofthefieldofview.ForOTA'swithoutafieldflattenerand/oralargeimagingchip,therecanbeasignificantdifferenceinthefocuspositionbetweencenterandedge.First,determinethefocusatthecenterofyourOTAandthendetermineitatsomepointawayfromthecenter.Agoodstartingpointis60%ofthewaytothecorner.YoucanusetheFocusNowbuttontodeterminethesevalues.Averageanumberoffocusrunsateachlocation.CalculatetheoffsetandenteritinthePostFocusOffset.Forbestresults,theCenterFocusStaroptionandSkyStarfocusingshouldbeused.Afterachievingfocus,thepostfocusoffsetwillbeaddedorsubtractedtothefocusresults,accordingtothesignoftheentry.FocusTimeout:Occasionallyafocusroutinecanendupnevergettingtoafocuspositionthatmeetsitsrequirements.Bysettingthistimeout,yoursessionwillcontinueafterthespecifiedtimeout,abortingthefocusactivityinprogressandresettingthefocuserpositiontowhereitwasbeforethefocusroutinestarted.BacklashCompensation:Whenanon-zerovalue,positiveornegative,isenteredhereandanoffsetisrequiredforagivenfilter,thefocuserismovedpastthedesiredfilteroffsetbytheamountofbacklashcompensationenteredandthenitismovedagaintoremovetheoffset.Normalusecaseistoalwaysapproachthedesiredfocusoffsetfromthesamedirection,therebyminimiizing

backlash.Settingthisvalueto0disablesbacklashcompensation.Example.Assueatelescopewithadrawtubefocuersisbeinguses,suchthatincreasingcountsmovesthecamerafurtherawayfromthetelescope.Anybacklashwillbecomemoreofanissueasthetelescopeispointedmoretowardthezenith,leadingtoapossiblefocuserpositionalerrorduetobacklash.Ifapositivevalueisenteredforbacklashcompensation,andthedesiredpositionis3000foragivenfilter,thefocuserwillmovefirstto3050andthenback50to3000.Theadvantagehereisthepositionisalwaysarrivedatfromthesamedirection,i.e.againstgravityinthisexample,increasingoffsetrepeatability.Backlashcompensationisusedonlyduringseriesfilterchangesandnotduringfocusing.FocusingprogramslikeFocusMax,haveabacklashcompensationfacilityincluded.

TemperatureDependentRefocusBycharacterizingyourimagingsystem'sperformance,itispossibletorefocusonlywhennecessary.Knowinghowmuchtemperatureimpactsyourfocus,youmayelecttorefocuseverytimethetemperaturechangeissuchthatyourfocusmovesoutoftheCriticalFocuszone.Thus,havingasourceoftemperaturemeasurementandknowinghowmuchofachangewilladverselyimpactyourfocus,youcancheckFocusonTempChangeof,enterasuitablechangeamount,selecttheTemperatureSource,andrefocusasneeded.DependingonwhatcontrolprogramsareconnectedtoCCDAutoPilot,theavailablechoiceswillbeselectableastemperaturesources.Makesureyouchooseoneifyouareusingthisoption.

TemperatureCompensationIfUseTemp.Slopeofischeckedandyourfocusersupportstemperaturecompensation,itwillbeenabled.Temperaturecompensationwillbedisabledautomaticallyduringthemainexposure.Attheconclusionofthemainexposure,temperaturecompensationwillbere-enabledanda5seconddelaywillbeinitiatedtoallowtimefortemperaturecompensation.Tousetemperaturecompensation,theusermustprovideaCompensationSlopethatappropriatelycharacterizesthesystem.Thisvalueshouldbecounts/temperatureneededtomaintainfocus.WhenTemperatureSourceischanged,thereportedtemperaturewillbeshowninthestatusbar.If"n/a"isshown,thesourceselecteddoesnotreporttemperatureandtemperaturecompensationcannotbeused.Therearemanywaystodeterminethecompensationslope.Thebasicprocessistomeasurethefocuspointatdifferenttemperaturesandcalculatetheslope.Animagingsessionwith10minuteexposuresandafocusbeforeeveryexposureduringaperiodoftemperaturechangeisagoodwaytogettherawdata.Aleastsquaresfitthengivesagoodslope.Thecompensationslopeshouldbeinunitsoffocusercountperunittemperature.Besurethetemperaturereported,°C,°ForcountsusedforthemeasurementisthesameasthatreportedasTemperatureSource.Thefocusstartingpointwillbedeterminedatthebeginningofasessionandthestartingtemperaturenoted.Ateachsubsequentfocusadjustment,thestartingpointandtemperaturewillberedefined.Betweenexposures,thefocuspointwillbeadjusted,basedonthecurrenttemperatureandtheuser-suppliedCompensationSlope.Note:Iffocusertemperaturecompensationisenabledineitheryourfocuserorfocuscontrolprogram,itmustbedisabledwhenCCDAutoPilotislinked.

TheSkyXCameraAddOnandCCDSoft@Focus2Differences

@Focus2hasalimitedchoicesofFocusMethodsasshownaboveandtheMagnitudeRangeisnotneededsinceitusesitsowndatabasequerytofindfocusstars.However,thestars'magnituderangeandcatalogcanbecustomized.SeeAdvancedCustomization.

Note:@Focus2willoptionallyuseanautodarkifanautodarkisspecifiedonthePlateSolvingtab.Ifthecameradoesnothaveashutter,theautodarkselectionshouldnotbechecked.

Maxim

Maxim'sinternalfocusroutinefewerFocusMethods,asshownabove.

PlaneWaveAutoFocusTheonlyfocusingoptionshownisPlaneWaveAutoFocus.Duringanautomatedsession,loggingissuspendedduringPWAutoFocusbutwillresumeoncetheAutoFocusroutinecompletesorisaborted.ConsultPlaneWavedocumentationfordetails.SeealsoFilterFactors.

@Focus3

@Focus3modesasshownabove.WhenTheSkyXbuild11117orlaterisconnectedandTheSkyXconnectstoafocuser,thesefocusmodesareavailble.

None:Nofocusingmodeisselectedsofocusingwillnothappen.AutomaticSub-frame:@Focus3willdeterminethestartofocusonandautomaticallysub-framearounditforoptimalfocusing.Thisistherecommendedmodeformostcases.FocusingwillproceedautomaticallyandreturncontroltoCCDAutoPilotwhencomplete.ManualSub-frame:Whateversub-frameismanuallyspecifiedinTheSkyXwillbeused.PleaseseeTheASkyXuserguideforsettingthisfeature.NumberofSamples:Setsthenumberofsamplesforeachfocusmeasurementduringan@Focus3session.SeeTheSkyXUserGuideformoredetails.

FilterFactorsTherearesomedifferencesbetweenthethreefocusprogramsthataredescribedhere.FocusMax,MaximandPlaneWaveFilterFactors

Therewillbeasmanyentrieshereasyouhavedefinedfiltersinyourcameraserverprogram.

FocusOffset:enterhowmanycountsyouwishyourfocusertomoveforagivenfilter.Normallyonefilterwouldbethereferenceandtheotherswouldmoveanamount,either+or-,relativetothatreference.Thereferencefiltershouldbethefilteryouselectforplatesolving-usuallyaclearorluminancefilter.Ifyourfiltersareparfocal,i.e.theyallfocusatthesamefocuserposition,youwouldenter0forallthefilteroffsets.The buttonatthetopsetsallfilteroffsetstothesamevalueasthatofthefirstfilterentry.Ifsomefilters,typicallysomeHalphafilters,aresufficientlynon-parfocal,youcanspeeduptheactivefocusingmethodconsiderablybyenteringtheoffset.Thatway,automaticfocusingwillstartclosertotheultimatefocusposition.FocusOffsetscanbemeasuredautomaticallyusingthewizarddescribedhere.Whenusingfocusoffsets,besurethesystemisinfocusatthestartofthesession.AgoodwaytodothisistouseCCDAutoPilot'sFocusBeforeTargetRunStartasdescribedhere.

FocusExposure:Asmentionedabove,thesefieldsprovideaconveniententrypointfortheFocusMaxandMaximstartingexposure.Withmostsystems,theshortestexposureissuitableforfocusingthroughtheclearfilterandtheexposuretimeshouldbeincreasedforlesstransparentfilters.Forexample,youmightseta1sec.exposureforcolorfiltersanda2-4secondexposure

fornarrowbandfilterssuchasHalphaorOIII.Iftheexposureissetto0,theFocusMaxbaseexposureortheAutoFocusexposurelengthspecifiedinthePlaneWavecontrolapplicationwillbeused.

CCDSoftandTheSkyXCameraAddOn@Focus2FilterFactors

Therewillbeasmanyentrieshereasyouhavedefinedfiltersinyourcameraserverprogram.FocusOffset:enterhowmanycountsyouwishyourfocusertomoveforagivenfilter.Normallyonefilterwouldbethereferenceandtheotherswouldmoveanamount,either+or-,relativetothatreference.Thereferencefiltershouldbethefilteryouselectforplatesolving-usuallyaclearorluminancefilter.Ifyourfiltersareparfocal,i.e.theyallfocusatthesamefocuserposition,youwouldenter0forallthefilteroffsets.The buttonatthetopsetsallfilteroffsetstothesamevalueasthatofthefirstfilterentry.Ifsomefilters,typicallysomeHalphafilters,aresufficientlynon-parfocal,youcanspeeduptheactivefocusingmethodconsiderablybyenteringtheoffset.Thatway,automaticfocusingwillstartclosertotheultimatefocusposition.FocusOffsetscanbemeasuredautomaticallyusingthewizarddescribedhere.Whenusingfocusoffsets,besurethesystemisinfocusatthestartofthesession.AgoodwaytodothisistouseCCDAutoPilot'sFocusBeforeTargetRunStartasdescribedhere.

CalibrationExposure:Thisistheexposuretimeinsecondsrequiredtoachieveapeakcountof20,000ADUforthecorrespondingstellarmagnitudebelow.Thesevaluesmustbesetforsuccessful@Focus2operation.SeeCCDSoft/TheSkyXCameraAddOndocumentationformoredetails.CalibrationMagnitude:Thisisthestellarmagnituderequiredtoachieveapeakcountof20,000ADUforthecorrespondingexposure.Thesevaluesmustbesetforsuccessful@Focus2operation.SeeCCDSoft/TheSkyXCameraAddOndocumentationformoredetails.

FocusingInfoWindow

TherearetwocalculatorsprovidedwithyourchoiceofEnglishorMetricunits.TheCriticalFocusZonecalculatorgivesthedepthoftheCFZasafunctionofthewavelengthoflightandtheFocalRatio(F/#)ofyoursystem.Thiscalculatorcanbeusefultodeterminehowoftenyouneedtorefocuswithtemperaturechangesorevenhowrepeatableyourfocusingis.ItnowusesthemoreaggressivecalculationbasedontheGoldman/Megdalarticle,InPerfectFocus,inSky&Telescope,August,2010.Theothercalculatorisusefulfordeterminingwhereadustparticleisbymeasuringitsresultantdustdonutdiameterinpixels.Simplymeasurethediameterofthedustdonutinpixelsanddefinethebinningused.BasedontheunbinnedplatescaleenteredontheSettingspage,thedistancefromtheimagingplanetothedustparticleiscalculated.

GuidingHereiswhereyousettheparametersforguidedorunguidedoperation.Clickonthetabattoptochangetotheselectthedesiredoperation.Theactionchoicesformeridiancrossingwithanequatorialmountarealsoenteredhere.

GuidedOperation

Aftersuccessfulinitialization,CCDAutoPilotautomatestheguidedoperationparametersforoptimalguiding.Regardlessofwhereyouarepointedintheskyandatwhatrotationyourcamerais,theoptimalguidevectorswillbedevelopedandappliedtoyourcameracontrolprogram.InitialguidestardetectionisaccomplishedinCCDAutoPilot.Itslocationisdeterminedthroughthreeexposurestoavoidselectingacosmicrayhitorotherartifactviaanoutlierrejectionroutine.Forautomaticguidestarexposure,threemeasurementsareaveragedtomoreaccuratelysettheguideexposuretime.Andiftheguidestarislostduetopassingclouds,theAutomaticGuideStarRecoveryroutine(seebelow)isinvokedtotrytorecovertheguidestarifatallpossible.

DitheringDitheringisaprocesswherebytheguidestarlocationontheguiderchipismovedbetweenimageexposuresineitherarandomoroptimizedmanner.Whentheguidercontrolrepositionstheguidestartothenewlocation,theimagewillbeslightlydisplacedontheimagerchip.Whentheresultantimagesarealignedandproperlycombined,hotandcoldpixels,cosmicrayhitsandothersensor-specificartifactsareremoved,muchbetterthananyhot/coldpixelroutinecaneverhopetoachieve.Theresultantimageissmootherandartifact-free.Ditheringcanbedoneeithertotallyrandomly,asdeterminedbyarandomnumbergenerator,orinacontrolledmannertomaximizeseparationbetweeneachsub-exposuresartifactswhileminimizingtheoverallguidestarmovement.Bothoptionsareprovided.Theamountoftheditherisuser-definable.ChoosingaDitherFactorManually:Max.PixelDitherisusedtosetthemaximummovementthatisadjustablefrom0to10inarc-sec.forunguidedimagingand0to10inguiderpixelsforguidedimaging.Inordertosetthemaximummovementmosteffectively,youneedtoknowsomevalues:G=Guiderimagescaleinarc-sec./pixel(asp)I=Imagerimagescaleinarc-sec./pixel(asp)Agoodstartingpointistoditheratleast4pixelsontheimager.Eventhoughahotpixelisonlyonepixel,currentlyavailablealignmentandcombiningtechniqueswillsmearoutthathotpixeloverasmanyas4pixels.Inordertoeffectivelyeliminatethehotpixel,thedithermustatleastbethatmuch.UnguidedExample:AssumeyouaretakingLRGBimageswiththeRGBbinnedat2x2andyourunbinnedimagescale,I,is0.5asp.Your2x2binnedsub-exposureswillbe1asp.Therefore,youshouldsetyourmaximumditherat5arc-sec.,whenusingversion2.06.Guidedexample:Now,let'sassumeyouareusinganST10XMEwithabuilt-inTC-237autoguider.Intheaboveexample,assumetheST10's6.8micronpixelcorrespondto0.5asp.Theguider'simagescalecanbecalculatedby:G=I*Guiderpixelsize/Imagerpixelsize=0.5*7.4/6.8=.54aspMostbintheguiderat2x2sotheequivalentimagescaleis1.08asp.Againusingcurrentalignandcombinetechniques,youwanttomoveatleast5pixelsontheimager.For2x2binnedpixels,youneedtomovethetelescope5arc-sec.So,thenumberofpixelsyouneedtomovetheguiderisgivenby:Movement=5*(Imagerbinning*I)/(guiderbinning*G)Assumingtheaboveimagescales,yourguiderisbinnedat2x2andyouaretakingbinnedcolorimages,thenyourmovementshouldbesetat:Movement=5*(2*0.5)/(2*0.54)=4.63.Souseaditherof5hereaswell.Now,assumeyouaretakingarunthatconsistssolelyofunbinnedsub-exposures.Thenyourmovementshouldbesetat:Movement=5*(0.5)/(2*0.54)=2.32.Here,aditherof3couldbeused.

Dithermethod:SelectEnhanced(preferred),RandomorNone.Max.PixelDither:Thisisthepeakdithervalueandcango+/-fromthestartingdirection.Asanexample,supposeEnhancedDitheringisselectedwithaMaxDitherof3pixels.Thefirstsub-exposurewillleavetheguidestarpositionundisturbed.ThesecondwillmovetheXpositionoftheguidestar+3pixels.ThethirdwillmovetheXpositionoftheguidestar-3pixelsfromthefirstexposure.Thusthetotalmovementbetweenthesecondandthirdexposureis6pixelsbutthemovementrelativetothefirstsub-exposureis±3pixels.Ifditherissetto0,guidingwillnotbestoppedbetweenexposuresexceptforanyspecifiedfocusingactions.

ChoosingaDitherFactorManually:Max.PixelDitherisusedtosetthemaximummovementthatisadjustablefrom0to10inarc-sec.for

unguidedimagingand0to10inguiderpixelsforguidedimaging.Inordertosetthemaximummovementmosteffectively,youneedtoknowsomevalues:G=Guiderimagescaleinarc-sec./pixel(asp)I=Imagerimagescaleinarc-sec./pixel(asp)Agoodstartingpointistoditheratleast4pixelsontheimager.Eventhoughahotpixelisonlyonepixel,currentlyavailablealignmentandcombiningtechniqueswillsmearoutthathotpixeloverasmanyas4pixels.Inordertoeffectivelyeliminatethehotpixel,thedithermustatleastbethatmuch.UnguidedExample:AssumeyouaretakingLRGBimageswiththeRGBbinnedat2x2andyourunbinnedimagescale,I,is0.5asp.Your2x2binnedsub-exposureswillbe1asp.Therefore,youshouldsetyourmaximumditherat5arc-sec.,whenusingversion2.06.Guidedexample:Now,let'sassumeyouareusinganST10XMEwithabuilt-inTC-237autoguider.Intheaboveexample,assumetheST10's6.8micronpixelcorrespondto0.5asp.Theguider'simagescalecanbecalculatedby:G=I*Guiderpixelsize/Imagerpixelsize=0.5*7.4/6.8=.54aspMostbintheguiderat2x2sotheequivalentimagescaleis1.08asp.Againusingcurrentalignandcombinetechniques,youwanttomoveatleast5pixelsontheimager.For2x2binnedpixels,youneedtomovethetelescope5arc-sec.So,thenumberofpixelsyouneedtomovetheguiderisgivenby:Movement=5*(Imagerbinning*I)/(guiderbinning*G)Assumingtheaboveimagescales,yourguiderisbinnedat2x2andyouaretakingbinnedcolorimages,thenyourmovementshouldbesetat:Movement=5*(2*0.5)/(2*0.54)=4.63.Souseaditherof5hereaswell.Now,assumeyouaretakingarunthatconsistssolelyofunbinnedsub-exposures.Thenyourmovementshouldbesetat:Movement=5*(0.5)/(2*0.54)=2.32.Here,aditherof3couldbeused.

Suggest:thisbuttonwillenteraMax.Dithervalue,basedontheparametersofyoursystementeredonthesettingspage.Thiscanbeastartingpointfromwhichyoucanexperimentifyoudesire.

AutomaticGuideStarRecovery(AGRS)Manytimeswhenaguidestarfades,theguiderdrivesthetelescopeoffthetargetinitsquesttofindtheguidestar.CCDAutoPilothasatechniquetopreventthisfromhappeninginanattempttominimizedataloss.Iftheguidestarpositionisnotrecoveredtotheuser-specifiedtoleranceinauser-specifiednumberofattempts,AGRSinstitutesanumberofproceduresinanattempttorecovertheguidestar.Ifallthoseattemptsfail,theimageisallowedtocontinueunguidedtopreventtheguidestarsearchfromdrivingthetelescopefromitsintendedtarget.AGRSisrepeatedatthestartofthenextsub-exposuresothat,ifthepassingcloudhaspassedforexample,theguidestarisrecoveredandguidingcontinuesontarget.AnoptionalAudibleAlarmcanbesoundedtoalertanearbyoperatorofthefailedguidestarrecoveryattempt.Thishasprovedinstrumentalforsomeusersinalertingthemtoanimpendingbadweathercondition,althoughthisshouldnotberelieduponforequipmentprotection.

Max.GuideError:Ifthemaximumerrorisspecifiedat0,AGRSisdisabled;ifitisanyothervalue,AGRSisenabled.Thisentryspecifiesthevaluetheguideerrorhastogetdowntoduringguiderrestartbeforetheexposureispermittedtocontinue.Max.ErrorCycles:ThisspecifieshowmanytriestheguiderhastogettheguidestarerrorbelowtheMaximumError.IftheguiderdoesnotgettheguideerrorbelowthespecifiedMaximErrorinthespecifiedMaximumErrorCycles.AGRSisactivated.

WhenusingTheSkyXCAO,itispossibletosetadelaybetweenguideexposures.DuringAGSR,thevaluespecifiedinTheSkyXCAOguiderissaved,temporarilysetto0untiltheguideerroriswithintolerancethentheoriginalexposuredelayisrestored.

AutomaticGuideExposureWhenAutoGuideExposureischecked,CCDAutoPilotwillsettheguideexposureautomaticallytoachievetheTargetGuideExposureyouhaveenteredwithintheMin.GuideExposuretimeandMax.GuideExposuretimeyouspecify.Thisautomaticsettingisdoneatthestarofeachseriesandafterameridianflip.Ifitcan'tgettoyourtargetlevelwithintherangeyouspecify,itwillgototheMin.GuideExposuretimeiftheGuideADUistoohighortotheMax.GuideExposuretimeiftheGuideADUistoolow.WhenusingAutoGuideExposure,theGuideExposuresettingsontheLightFramespageareignoredandgrayedoutasareminderexceptinonecase.IftheGuideExposureontheLightspageis0,thisisinterpretedasadesireforunguidedimagingfortheserieswithazerovalueGuideExposure.IfyouintendtouseAutomaticGuideExposureforguidedimaging,besuretoenternon-zerovalue(s)fortheseriesyouwishtobeguidedbeforeyouselectAutomaticGuideExposure,toavoidtheseriesbeingunguided.Onceyouhaveanon-zerovalueentered,1sec.willsuffice,selectAutoMaticGuideExposureandtheguideexposurewillbeintherangeyouspecify,betweenMin.andMax.GuideExposure.

UseMaximGuideStarDetection:Withsomeguiders,guidestardetectionmaybeproblematic.EventhougheveryeffortismadebyCCDAutoPilottoselectanappropriateguidestar,insomecasesitmaybeappropriatetouseMaxim'sguidestarselectionroutine.Checkingthisboxallowsthisoption.Notethatifthisoptionischecked,AutoGuideExposureisnotpossiblenoristheabilitytoignoresaturatedguidestars.(Itisgenerallyagreedthatbestguidingperformanceisobtainedwithunsaturatedstars.CCDAutoPilotusestechnologytoavoidsaturatedstarsforguiding.)

HotPixelFilter:Whenusingguiderswithoutashutter,itisnotpossibletotakeadark-subtractedguideexposure.Ahotpixelmaybeconfusedfortheguidestar.CCDAutoPilot'sproprietaryalgorithmprovidessomerejectionofhotpixelsthatreducesthisissue.Thestrengthofthefilterincreaseswithincreasingvalueswith0fullydisablingthefilter.TheHotPixelFilterisonlyeffectivewhenCCDAutoPilotdeterminestheguidestarlocation.Thisfiltershouldnotbenecessarywhenusingaguiderwithashutterthatallowsdark-subtractedimagesbutonecancertainlyexperimenttoseeifthereisanyadvantagetousingit.SeeTune,below,forhowtosetthefilterstrength.

Tune:Startwithahotpixelfilterstrengthof0.1.Movethetelescopeasneededtoplaceaguidestarintheguider'sFOV.AdjusttheguideexposuresothatthepeakADUisaround5,000.Notetheguidestarpositioninthecameracontrolprogram.Hitthetunebuttontoanalyzetheguiderimage.Thedetectedguidestarpositionwillbedisplayed.Ifthispositiondoesnotagreewiththepositionoftheguidestardeterminedabove,itislikelyahotpixelisbeingdetectedastheguidestar.IncreasethefilterstrengthandhitTuneagain.Repeatuntiltheguidestarpositionandnotthehotpixelpositionisdeterminedastheguidestar.Increaseanother0.1forasafetymargin.TrylowerguidestarADUvaluestodeterminehowbrightaguidestarisneededandstillnotdetectahot

pixelinerror.

AudibleAlarm:Whenchecked,asomewhatannoyingsoundisplayedthroughyourcomputer'sspeakerstoalertalocaloperatorofAGSRactivation.Youcanreplacethissoundfile,whichislocatedintheprogramdirectorywiththenamealarm.wavwithanotherfile.Justbesureyourotherfileisa.wavformatandnameitalarm.wav.

GuideThroughSeriesChanges:Whenchecked,theguiderisnotstoppedduringexposures.Theditheringmustbesetto0aswell.Thisisusefulformulti-filterphotometrywhendisruptionforditheringisundesirable.Automaticguidestarexposurecannotbeusedwhenthisoptionisselectedsincetheguidermustbestoppedtomeasuretheguidestar.Whenusingthisoption,besuretosettheGuideTimeappropriatelyforeachseriesontheSessionpage.

AOCenter:WhenanAdaptiveOpticcorrectorisusedforguiding,themirror/glasspositioncouldbeatsomepointotherthan50%whenslewingtoatarget.YoucanselectNonefornocentering,StartofEachSeriestocenterbeforethefirstexposureofaseriesorStartofEveryExposuretocentertheadaptiveopticatthestartofeveryexposure.SettoNonewhennotusingAO.

UnguidedOperation

Duringunguidedoperation,thesamebenefitsthataccrueduringGuidedOperationcanbeachieved.Here,themountismovedslightlybetweenexposures.Ditheringcanbedoneeithertotallyrandomly,asdeterminedbyarandomnumbergenerator,orinacontrolledmannertomaximizeseparationbetweeneachsub-exposuresartifactswhileminimizingtheoverallguidestarmovement.Bothoptionsareprovided.Theamountoftheditherisuser-definable.Hereisadiscussiononhowtosettheamountofdithering.

Dithermethod:SelectEnhanced(preferred),RandomorNone.Max.PixelDither:Thisisthepeakdithervalueandcango+/-fromthestartingdirection.Asanexample,supposeEnhancedDitheringisselectedwithaMaxDitherof3arc-sec.Thefirstsub-

exposurewillleavethemountpositionundisturbed.Thesecondwillmovethemount+3arc-sec.inRA.Thethirdwillmovethemount-3arc-sec.fromthefirstexposure.Thusthetotalmovementbetweenthesecondandthirdexposureis6arc-sec.butthemovementrelativetothefirstsub-exposureis±3arc-sec.Ifditherissetto0,themountwillnotbemovedbetweenexposures.Suggest:thisbuttonwillenteraMax.Dithervalue,basedontheparametersofyoursystementeredonthesettingspage.Thiscanbeastartingpointfromwhichyoucanexperimentifyoudesire.

PeriodicRealignmentWhenalongseriesofunguidedexposuresaretaken,themountwillgraduallytrackoffthetarget.Byusingthisfeature,thetelescopeisperiodicallyrealignedtothetargetcoordinates.IfanyperiodicfocusingusingSkyStarisimplemented,targetrealignmentwilloccurduringthatprocess.Ifthatisused,additionalperiodicrealignmentwilloccuronlyaslongasthetimebetweenSkyStarfocusrunshasexceededtherealignmentperiod.RealigntoTargetFrequency(min.):If0isentered,thisfunctionisdisabled.Ifanon-zerovalueisentered,thetelescopewillberealignedtothetargetcoordinatesviaaprecisionslewafterthecurrentexposurecompletesandafterthespecifiedintervalhaselapsed.Itcanbedisabled(setto0)whenguiding.

MeridianCrossing

Whentrackingatargetintheeastwithanequatorialmount,eventuallythemeridianisapproachedorevencrossed.Whilethisisofnoconcernwithaforkmount,adecisionisrequiredforequatorialmountusers.Therearebasicallytwochoices.MeridianAbort,wherebydataacquisitionforthistargetishaltedandCCDAutoPilotmovesontothenexttarget,orMeridianFlip,whereCCDAutoPilotmakesthechangesnecessarytopickupthetargetafterflippingthemountonthewestsideofthemeridian.Automaticmeridianflippingessentiallyusessoftwaretoturnanequatorialmountintothefunctionalequivalentofaforkmount.Thisisachievedbyallowingthetelescopetotrackatargetuptothemeridian,stoptheexposure,movethetelescopetotheothersideofthemeridianandthencontinuetracking.Ifarotatorisemployed,thecameraisrotatedby180°,theguidestarisreacquiredandguidecalibrationisappropriatelyadjusted.Allthisisaccomplishedautomatically.AutomaticmeridianflippingdependsonsuccessfulplatesolvingandInitialization.

TrackPastMeridian:Ifthevalueenteredispositive,thisindicatesthenumberofminutesyourmountcantrackpastthemeridiananddeferstheflipforyourspecifiednumberofminutes.Dependingontheabovetwosettings,youmaybeabletogetanotherexposureinbeforemeridiancrossingandeliminatethewaittimeforthemeridianflip.ObservatoryusersusingDDWorASCOMforobservatorycontrolshouldinsuretheirshutterspermitcrossingthemeridianbythePMTrackingtimesincedometrackingisdisabled2minutesbeforeameridianflip.AutomaDome

hasnosuchlimitationsinceitintegratestightlywithTheSky.Ifthevalueenteredisnegative,themountbacksup1hourinRAintheeastandthesessionwaitsforthespecifiednumberofminutes.ItcanbeusedifyourmounthassomeambiguityinslewingtoalocationwhoseRAhaspassedthemeridian.BysettingMeridianTrackingto-10orso,thetargetRAwillbe10minutespastthemeridianbeforemeridianflipisenabled.Someexperimentationmayberequiredforthesmallestnegativevaluethatwillwork.Forsomemounts,thismayneedtobeusedinconjunctionwithSafetySlew,below.

RotateonFlip:IfcheckedandarotatorisconnectedtoCCDAutoPilot,themeridiancrossingeventwillalsotriggerarotatormovementby180°.Thustheimagesonthewestofthemeridianwillbethesameorientationasontheeastsideofthemeridian.

SafetySlew:Somemounts,notablytheGemini,willnotflipeventhoughthetargethascrossedthemeridian.CheckingSafetySlewwillslewthemountonehourpastthemeridian,whichwillforcetheflip,andthenbacktothetarget.ThisshouldeliminatetheneedfortheAMstopoffsetsettinganditshouldbesetto0.

PostFlipDelay:Thesessionwillpausefortheenteredtimebeforeproceeding.Thisisusefultoallowdomesthatdonothavedirectsynchronizationwiththemountto"catchup"tothemount.Somedomesdependonatextfilewrittenperiodicallytodeterminewherethemountispointingfordomesynchronization.

AllowSyncAfterFlip:Ifthisoptionischecked,animageistakenandplatesolvedafterameridianflip.Themountisthensync'dtothecenterofthesolvedimage.Thecorrectingslewisthenfromthisreference.Recommendedforportablesetupsorforsetupswithpoorpointingaccuracy.Ifthisoptioniscleared,thereisnosyncandthecorrectingslewismadefromtheplatesolvedposition.ThisoptionshouldbeclearedforpermanentsetupswithgoodpointingaccuracyasmaybeobtainedwithasuitableTpointmodel.Ifchecked,anyTpointmodelsshouldbedisabledasrepeatedsyncingintoaTpointmodelisnotrecommendedandwillresultinpointinginaccuracies.UseeitherAllowRe-syncorTpointbutnotboth.

AutoGuideStarSelectAfterFlip:Ifchecked,anautomaticdetectofthebrighteststarinthefieldwillbeusedtoguide.Ifunchecked,therunwillpauseuntilyouselectaguidestarandtellittocontinue.

FocusAfterFlip:Whenchecked,thefocusmethodchosenontheFocuspagewillbeexecutedimmediatelyafterthemeridianflipandbeforethenextexposure.

ReverseYAfterFlip:Inveryrarecircumstances,itmaybenecessarywithsomeguidecameras

andusingaGuideScope(only)forguidingtoselectthisoption.ThisoptionisalsorequiredwhenusingMaxim'sTelescopeorASCOMDirectguidemethodswithsomedrivers,notablytheAstroPhysicsV2driver.Ifyourguidestarmovesoutintheverticaldirectionaftercrossingthemeridian,youshouldcheckthisoption.Mostproperlyconfiguredsystemsshouldhavethisoptionunchecked.

TipsonefficientmeridianusageWiththevarioustimesettings,youcanincreaseyourmeridianusageefficiency.TrackPastMeridianistheamountoftimeyourmounthastotrackpastthemeridianbeforeit(themount)knowsitistimetoflipandwilldoso.Let'sassumeyouhavedeterminedyourmountcansafelytrackpastthemeridianfor15minutes.SettheTrackPastMeridianto12minutesforasafetymargin.Now,assumeyouaretaking10minutesub-exposuresatthetimethemountapproachesthemeridian.Assumeyourmeridiancrossingisat22:05.Hereisascheduleofeventsyoumightsee:21:50Take10minuteexposure22:00Take10minuteexposure22:05(Timetoflip-deferred)22:15Flipmeridian22:18Take10minuteexposureNow,ifPMTrackingweresetto0,thiswouldbetheresult21:50Take10minuteexposure22:00Waitformeridianflip22:05Flipmeridian22:09Take10minuteexposureHerearesomeexcerptsfromanactuallogwithPMTrackingsetat10minutes:>>>Hereisthetargetinformation20:02:28Target:M120:02:28Rise:13:516Feb20:02:2845°Eelevation:17:326Feb20:02:28Transit:20:506Feb20:02:2845°Welevation:00:097Feb20:02:28Set:03:507Feb20:05:49SolvedRA:053430.2,Dec:+21591720:05:49TargetRA:053430.2,Dec:+215917,PA:358.420:05:49Meridianflipafter20:51Tue6Feb>>>Themountwouldhaveflippedat20:51withoutthebuffertime>>>Theexposurecompletedafterthemeridianfliptimebutbeforethe10minutebufferelapsed.20:43:31Exposing...20:54:15D:\Astronomy\070206_M1\Clear356E_M1_00006.fit>>>Andthenthemountflippedimmediately.20:54:18Waitingformeridianfliptime...20:54:18Meridianflipstarting...Ifyourmountiscapableoflongertrackingpastthemeridian,theflipcanbedeferredlonger,forexampleinthecaseofanAstro-Physicsmountwhichcantrackforanumberofhourspastthemeridian,dependingontelescope,camerasizeandorientation,declination,etc.Warning:ItisuptotheusertodeterminetheproperTrackPastMeridian.Inadditiontoconsultingyourmount'sdocumentation,youshouldalsoexperimentatvariousdeclinations,whilewatchingthemount.Ifyourotateyourcamera,youshouldalsoverifythissettingatvariouscamerarotations.

SettingsHereiswhereyoucancustomizeCCDAutoPilottomeetyourneeds.Eachtabisdiscussedinthenexttopics

TheLogwindowontheleftisusedtorecordcertainactionsoftoolsandwizardsonthispage.

PlateSolving

PlateSolveSettings

Exposure:Entertheexposuretimeinsecondsforplatesolveexposures.Binning:SelectthebinningdesiredforplatesolveexposuresFilter:Selectthefilterdesiredfortheplatesolveexposure.UsuallythisisthemosttransmissivefiltersuchasluminanceorclearSub-frame:Ifyouhaveawidefieldsystem,selectingasub-framemayresultinfasterplatesolving.MinStars:Thissetstheminimumnumberofstarsrequiredforaplatesolutiontobeaccepted.

Settingthisnumbertoolowmayleadtoafalsesolution.15representsasafeminimum.Reduction:ReductionoptionsareavailablethatmirrorthoseinTheSkyXandCCDSoft:None,AutoDarkandFullCalibration.Thelastoneishandyforcameraswithoutashutter.Thesettingherewillalsoapplyto@Focus2and@Focus3KnownImageScale:ThisappliestoplatesolvingviaTheSkyXonly.Whenchecked,theunbinnedimagescaleenteredontheSetuppage,Imagerboxwillbeused.Itwillbeadjustedasrequiredforbinning.Ifunchecked,TheSkyXwillhavealittlemorelatitudeinplatesolvingbutmayormaynotbeassuccessful.Thissettingisbestdeterminedexperimentallybutcheckingthisfeatureisrecommended.Priortov5.06.1,operationwassimilartothisboxbeingunchecked.UseCurrentFilterForPlateSolving:Formostusers,itissufficienttoleavethisunchecked.Ifyouhaveanon-repeatablepositionfilterwheel,areimagingwithonefilterpersessionandhaveasufficientlylongExposure,checkthisoption.DeleteSolvedFiles:Checkedbydefault,ifyouwanttoretainsuccessfulplatesolvefiles(Sync_Images),uncheckthisboxandbothsuccessfulandunsuccessfulplatesolveswillbesaved.

PinPointSettings

Catalog:Selectthedesiredstellarcatalogtobeusedforplatesolving.Formostusers,GSC-ACTwillserveverywellbutothercatalogsarealsosupported.

CatalogPath:Pressthe tonavigatetotherootfolderofyourchosenstellarcatalog.Thiscatalogmustagreewiththecatalogselectedabove.Expansion:SetshowmuchbeyondtheimagerFOVPinPointwillsearchforasolution.Ifyourpointingisnotprecise,increasingthisvaluecanmakeplatesolutionsmoreprobablealbeitwithincreasedsolvetimes.AllSkySolving:Whenchecked,theInternet-basedAstrometry.Netall-skyplatesolvingenginewillbeused.ThisisconsiderablyslowerlocallybasedplatesolvingandrequiresInternetAccess.Cantakeupto10minutestofailtosolve.ToabortAllSkyplatesolvebeforethetimeout,closetheBlindSolverwindowthatopenswhenAllSkystarts.AllSkyRetry:Whenchecked,iflocalplatesolvingfails,theInternet-basedAstrometry.Netall-skyplatesolvingenginewillbeused.ThisisconsiderablyslowerlocallybasedplatesolvingandrequiresInternetAccess.Undernormalcircumstances,thisshouldnotbecheckedwhenAllSkySolvingischeckedasitwillsimplyrepeattryingtosolveaplatethatAllSkyalreadyfailedtosolve.Withanydecentexposure,theliklihoodofAllSkySolvingfailingisremote.

FileSettings

FoldersThefolderstructureconsistsofabasefolderandindividualfolderswhichcanbecustomizedfordifferentframetypes.Ifthefieldisblank,thedefaultsettingsareused.Ifyouwanttoclearafolder'spath,hitthe

buttonandthenselectCancelwhenthewindowopens.Ifthebasefolderentryisblank,thedefaultbasefolderis(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Images\Ifthelightframefolderisentryblank,thelightframesfolderis<basefolder>\yyyymmdd_<targetname>\DataFilesIfanyofthebias,darkorflatfolderentriesareblank,allcalibrationfileswillbeplacedinto<basefolder>yyyymmdd_<targetname>\CalibrationFiles

Ifthelogfolderentryisblank,thedefaultlogfolderwillbe<basefolder>\CCDAutoPilot_LogsSeeDataOrganizationforsomeexamplefolderstructures.

FileNamesIfthedescriptionfieldonanyseriesontheSessionpageisnotblank,thenthefilenamewillbedefinedbythatDescription,followedbya5digitsequencenumber,followedbyanextension,typically.fit.IftheDescriptionfieldontheSessionpageisblank,thenthefilenamesaredefinedbytheappropriatetemplate,followedbya5digitsequencenumber,followedbyanextension,typically.fit.Filenametemplatescanbeusedforeachframetype.A'%'characterisnotlegalaspartofafilenamebuta'%'characterfollowedbyaletterwillreplacethe'%'characterandthefollowingcharacterbyspecificinformationasdefinedbelow:

%aenterstheexposurestartingdAte/timeaspartofthefilename.SeeDateFormatbelow%benterstheBinningforthespecificexposure%centerstheimager'sCoolertemperatureforthespecificexposure%dentersthetargetpositionangleDegreesforthespecificexposure%eenterstheexposuretimeinsEcondsforthespecificexposure%fenterstheFilternameforthespecificexposure%gentersthesessionstartingdateaspartofthefilename%ienterstheImagetype:Bias,Dark,Flat,Lightforthespecificexposure%lentersthetargetLoopcountindex%menterstheexposuretimeinMinutesforthespecificexposure%oentersthereadOutmodeforthespecificexposure(Maximonly)%renterstheRotationtype:PAEast,PAWest,Rotatorforthespecificexposure.Thisisapplicabletoflatframesonly%senterstheSideofthemeridian:EforeastorWforwest.forthespecificexposure%tenterstheTargetnameforthespecificexposure.Thisvariableisnotrecommendedforcalibrationframesasduskflatsanddarkstakenbeforethelightframeswillhaveanullentryforthetargetanddarksafterlightframesanddawnflatswillhavethelasttargetacquiredasthetargetname.%npreventsaserialNumberfrombeingentered.Caution:thisisusedinveryspecialsituationsandshouldnotgenerallybeusedassubsequentexposureswilloverwritethepreviousone.

Ifanytextisenteredinatemplatethatisnotprecededbya'%'characterorafterthefirstcharacterafterthe'%'character,itwillbeenteredexactlyasenteredforallfilenamesforthegivenframetype.Ifthebackslashcharacter,'\'isentered,anewfolderwillbecreatedwhosenameisthetextprecedingthebackslash.Youcanexperimentwithdifferenttemplatesbyenteringthetextinthespaceforeachframetypeandhoveringthemouseoverthespace.Youwillseeasamplefilenameinthetooltipwindow.Thiswayyoucancheckoutthefiletemplatesbeforecommittingthemtoasession.DateFormat:Thisnewfeatureallowsfurthercustomizationofdateandtimeforthefile/foldernamefor%aabove.Whateverdate/timestringenteredherewillbaappliedwherever%aiscalledabove.Allowablelettersareyforyear,Mformonth,dforday,Hforhour,mforminuteandsforsecond.Forexampleentering"yyyyMMMddHHmmss"willresultfor(US)"2014May23132744".Enter'%a'inoneofthefile

nameboxes,enterdifferentcombinationshereandhoveroverthefilenameboxwiththe%aandseetheresultingformat.NotethatthetimeenteredhereisnotaspreciseastheFITSKeywordDATE-OBSforthestartoftheexposure.Itisanapproximationonly.

StartingSequenceNumber:Thisrepresentsthestartingsequencenumberthatwillbeusedforasession.Thereisnoneednormallytoresetthisforeachsessionbutitcertainlycanberesetifdesired.FileNameExtension:Thisnormally".fit"butcanbechangedifneededbyyourprocessingapplication.

FITSKeywordsThesekeywordsareenteredintheFITSheaderforeveryframe.IftheINSTRUMEkeywordisleftblank,thecameraserverwillenterthenameofthedriverused.TELESCOPisusuallyusedtodescribethetelescope.OBSERVERisusuallyusedtonametheobserver.OBSERVATisusuallyusedtonametheobservatory.

StandardKeywords:ischecked,theFITSKeywordIMAGETYPwilluseprofessionalstandardsforlightframe,darkframe,biasframeandflatframe-LIGHT,DARK,BIASandFlat,respectively.Ifcleared,theSBIGstandardwillbeused,LightFrame,DarkFrame,BiasFrameandFlatFieldrespectively.ItisrecommendedthattheStandardkeywordsbeused.WeatherInfoFITSHeader:Whenchecked,weatherinfowillbeinsertedasdescribedbelow

CloudSensorI:AMBTEMPandSKYTEMPwillbeaddedasambienttemperatureandskytemperaturerespectively,asreportedbythecloudsensorintheunits(ForC)forwhichthesensorisset.CloudSensorII:WINDSPDandHUMIDITYwillbeaddedaswindspeedandhumidityrespectively,asreportedbythecloudsensorintheunitsforwhichthesensorisset.IftheTI/AAGCloudWatcherandassociatedWeatherCentersoftwareisonthelocalPC,additionalfitskeywordswillbeaddedforDEWPOINT(dewpoint),WINDDIR(winddirection,compassazimuth)andWXSENSOR(nameandversionofCloudCentersoftware).

FlatSettings

ExposureLimits

SetaMinimumexposurelimittopreventanyshuttereffectsfromdistortingtheflats.SetaMaximumexposurelimitsuchthatabiasframeissufficienttocalibratetheflatwithouthavingtoworryaboutmatchingorscalingdarkframes.

Tracking(Skyflatsonly)

SelectingOnwillmovethemountbetweenflatexposures.Whenusingthetwilightskyastheflatlightsource,starsmayappear.Bymovingthemountbetweenexposures,thestarscanbeeliminatedinthemasterflatbysuitablerejectioncombiningtechniquessuchaSigmaReject.SelectingOffwillturnofftracking.Anystarsthatappearwillbetrailedforthelengthoftheexposure.

StartingSunAltitude(Skyflatsonly)ThesesettingsarethesunaltitudeatwhichtobeginskyflatexposuresforDuskandDawn.Thevaluesshownaregoodstartingpointsbutyoumayadjustthembasedonyourownexperiencebyreviewingthelog.

SolarNullPoint(Skyflatsonly)WhenAutoischecked,thetelescopewillbeslewedtothatpointinthetwilightskythathasaminimumgradient,neededforgoodflats.Whenunchecked,youcanenteryourownaltitudeandazimuthforskyflats.

BiasEntertheaveragebiaslevel,ifknown,foryourcamera.ThisimprovesexposureconvergencetothedesiredtargetADUandisespeciallyimportantwhenadimflatsourceisused.Iftheaveragebiaslevelisnotknown,thenenter0.

FlipFlat/FlatManCCDAutoPilothasintegratedsupportforthisflatpanel.Allthatisneededistousethe buttontopointtotheAACmd.exefile,usuallylocatedatC:\ProgramFiles\AlnitakAstrosystems\Alnitak

AstrosystemsController\Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .

TimeEstimates

Akeyaspectofplanningistheestimationofvariouseventtimingsthatoccurduringthecourseofanimagingsession.Theseeventsareshownabove.OnecaneitherenterestimatesorletCCDAutoPilotdevelopthemusingitsinternallearningalgorithm.Themoresessionsarerun,themoreaccuratetheestimatesbecome.Attheendofeachrun,theactualeventhistoryiscomparedwiththeestimatesandthevaluesareadjusted.Anydifferencesareshownintheadjustbox.Asadditionalsessionsarerun,themagnitudeofthisadjustboxdecreases.Whenarunestimationismade,theseeventtimesareusedtomakethesessionestimatedtimesmoreaccurate.Notethatdownloadtimeestimatesarebasedonlightframedownloadsonly.TheResetEstimatesbuttonisusedtoresetallestimatesto0andstartthelearningprocessagainfromscratch.TheSetEstimatesbuttonisusedtoenteranestimatewherenoneexistsortoenterarevisedvalue.

Ingeneral,thesesettingsarebestmadeautomatically.

ControlSettings

WeatherSensor

CCDAutoPilotusesthesinglelinedatafileoftheBoltwoodfamilyofcloudsensorsandothercloudsensorsthatconformtothisfilestructure.Withthisfacility,multipleobservatoriescanshareacommoncloudsensoraslongasitisnetworkedtoeachobservatory.Setupthecloudsensorto

writethesinglelinefile.UsetheFilePath buttontonavigatetothelocationwherethisfileis

written.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhitting .Theremainderofthesettingsdepend

onwhetheraversionIorversionIIcloudsensorisbeingused.Thecloudsensorstatuswillbecheckedonceperminute.Therunabortconditionissetifthecloudsensorreportsverycloudyorrain.

WaitforCloudstoClear:Whenchecked,ifcloudscomeinandthecloudsensorisnot"verycloudy",lightframeacquisitionwillpauseforthetimespecifiedwaitingforthecloudstoclear.Ifitclearsbeforethespecifiedtime,therunwillresume,ifnottheRunAbortConditionwillbelaunched.Ifthisisnotchecked,3successivereadsindicatingacloudycondition,withoutaninterveningclearconditionwillcausetheRunAbortConditionwillbelaunched.Aninterveningclearconditionreport"resets"thecounterand3morecloudyconditionswithoutaninterveningclearwillcausetheRunAbortConditionwillbelaunched.TrackingOffwhileWaitingforCloudstoClear:Whenchecked,mounttrackingwillbeturnedoffwhilewaitingforthecloudstoclear.ParkwhileWaitinfforCloudstoClear:Whencheckedthemountwillbeparkedwhilewaitingforthecloudstoclear.

ThefollowingareProfessionalEditionfeaturesonly.AbortSessionifHumidityGreaterThan:Whenchecked,theRunAbortConditionwillbelaunchedifthehumidityexceedsthespecifiedlevel.AbortSessionifWindSpeedGreaterThan:WhencheckedtheRunAbortConditionwillbelaunchedifthewindspeedexceedsthespecifiedlevelAbortSessiononLossofWeatherInfo:Whenchecked,theRunAbortConditionwillbelaunchediftheweathermonitoringthreadfailsorthecloudsensor/weathersystemstopsupdatingforthespecifiedtime.SeetheCloudSensorNotes.AbortSessionifTooLight:Whenchecked,theRunAbortConditionwillbelaunchedduringlightframeacquisitioniftheskyistoolight,i.e.theCloudSensorreportstheTooLightcondition(3).Thisisusefultosettoterminatethesessionafterdawnifanincorrectusersettingallowsthelightphasetocontinuetoolong.

RunAbortConditionShouldanyadverseweatherconditionbeset,includingverycloudy,rainorwaterontherainsensor,CCDAutoPilotwillattempttoperformthecertainShutdownstepsontheOptionspage-turnofftracking,parkthetelescope,parktherotatorifoneisusedandthatoptionischeckedontheOptionspage,Shutdowntab,closethedomeandrunthefinalapplication(Run8only)-whetherthesearecheckedornot.Anyscheduledcalibrationframes,exceptforflatsusingtheskyasaflatlightsource,willbeacquired.Theguiderwillbestoppedifrunning.ThecameracoolerwillbewarmedupimmediatelyattheendofanycalibrationframeacquisitionsonlyifcheckedontheOptionspage,Shutdowntab.Afailureofanyoftheseattemptswillnotimpactsubsequentsteps.ActionsandactivitiesfromRun4onwardsontheDataAcuisitiontabwilloccur.CautionandDisclaimer

BoththeCloudSensordocumentationandcommonsenseadviseagainstrelyingonthisdevicetoprotectvaluableequipment.Itismainlyintendedasamonitorofskyconditions.SeetheCloudSensordocumentationfordetails.CCDAutoPilotrespondstochangingskyconditionsasaconveniencetotheuserandinnowayshouldbeconsideredafailsafeapproach.Themostreliableusage,againwithoutguarantees,istohaveadirectconnectionbetweentheCloudSensorandthedomecontrolhardwareemergencycloseswitchwithnointerveningsoftware.Thedomecontrollershouldbeonanuninterruptiblepowersupply(UPS)tobeabletoclosethedomeintheeventofapowerfailure.Noneofthisisanysubstituteforanattendant.

MountControlCustomapplicationscanberunatthepointsinthesessionindicatedbelow.

ASASlew:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredafterthemounthasslewedtothetargeteitheratthebeginningofatargetsessionofaftercrossingthemeridian.

ThisisusedforASAmounttraining.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enter

themmanuallyintheargspace.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafterhittingPre-Slew:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredrightbeforethe

mountleavesthetarget.ThisisusedforPHD2support.Toenteranapplication,hitthe tonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyintheargspace.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafter

hittingPost-Slew:Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillrunwhateverapplicationisenteredrightafterthe

mounthasslewedtothetargetThisisusedforPHD2support.Toenteranapplication,hitthetonavigatetothespecificapplicationtoberun.Iftheapplicationrequiresanyargumentstofollowtheapplication,enterthemmanuallyintheargspace.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafter

hitting

SQMDataFile:Whenchecked,usethe buttontonavigatetotheSkyQualityMeterdatafile,aswrittenbytheSQMreaderapplication.Whenactive,theskyquality,asmeasuredinmag./arc-sec^2isaddedtotheFITSheaderwiththekeywordMPSAS.

CCDNavigator3SessionPlanPath:Usethe tonavigatetothefolderthatcontainsthe

sessionplan.Tocleartheentry,againhitthe andpressCancel.SeetheEnhancedAutomationtopicforsuggestedusage.

ControlFilePathProfessionalFeatureOnly)Usethe buttontonavigatetotheControlFilePath.Toclearanentry,simplyhitCancelafter

hitting .SeetheControlFileEditortopicfordetailsonthisfilestructure.CoolerSetpointRecovery:Somecameracoolers,Apogeeforexample,havefirmwarethatincreasethecoolersetpointifthepercentpowerusedbythecoolerexceedsapredeterminedlevel.Sincetheeveninggenerallycoolsdown,thisartificialincreaseincoolersetpointbecomeslessnecessary.CheckingCoolerSetpointRecoverywilltrytoresettheimagercoolertemperaturetothatenteredontheOptionspage,StartuptabwhetherSetImagerCoolerischeckedornot.

Dome

SlewDometoScope(AutomaDomeandTheSkyX(X2)only):ThesettingdetermineshowfrequentlyCCDAutoPilotshouldadjustthedomeslitpositiontothetelescope.(ThereisnoneedforanyauxiliaryVBscripttomaintainthisalignmentasCCDAutoPilotdoesthisinternally.)Thistimeshouldbechosensuchthatthetelescopedoesn'tmoveoutoftheslitwhentrackingalongexposure.Formostsystems,4min.orsoshouldworkfine.Ifmorefrequentadjustmentsaredesired,thedome/telescopesystemshouldbecheckedoveranextendedperiodoftime(hours)toverifypropercenteringandtracking.Todisablethisfacility,settheupdatefrequencyto0min.

HomeBeforeMovingShutter:Somedomesneedtobeatthehomepositioninordertoprovidepowertoopenandclosetheshutter.Thisclassofdomesshouldhavethisboxchecked.Iftheshutterpowerisprovidedindependentlysothathomingisnotrequired,thisboxmaybeuncheckedandthedomewillnothomebeforeopeningorclosingtheshutter.ShutterTimeout:CCDAutoPilotwilllogIftheshutterdoesn'tcompleteitsactivity,eitheropenorclose,withinthespecifiednumberofminutesandoptionallynotifytheuser.Thisisprimarilyintendedfornotifyingtheuserofthisissue.Thesessionwillcontinueafterthetimeoutperiodisreached.ThissettingwillbeusedinconcertwithAbortSessiononOpenFailureischeckedtodeterminewhentoabortthesession.Azerovaluewillcausetheerrormessageandoptionalnoticifcationeverytimethedomeisopenedorclosed,regardlessofhowlongittakestocompleteitsmovementbutthesessionwillnotbeabortedifAbortSessiononOpenFailureischecked.Itishighlyrecommendedasuitablenon-zerobeentered.DomeResponseDelay:ThissettingdetermineshowlongCCDAutoPilotwillwaitbetweencertainTheSkyXdomecommands.Thisisnecessarilyadjustableforsomeslowly-respondingdomes.Thedefaultsettingof5sec.worksformostdomes.

FaultManagement

WeatherAbortonSlewFailure:IfthereisaslewfailureforwhateverreasoninTheSky6orTheSkyX,theRunAbortActionswillbeexecuted.Iftheslewfailurepreventsthemountfrommovingatall,themountmaynotbeabletogototheparkposition.Caution:Beforeengagingthisoption,besureyourdomeorroofcanclearthetelescopewiththetelescopeinanyposition.Ifthisisnotthecase,donotcheckthisoption.

Notifications

EmailSettings(ProfessionalFeatureOnly)Emailnotificationispossibleofsignificanteventsduringthecourseofasession.InconcertwiththeControlFileandtheNotifysettings,youcanreceiveanemailnotificationofanumberofevents.Enteranemailaddresstowhichyouwantthenotificationssent.TIP:Ifyouentertheemailaddressforyourcellphone'sSMStextmessage,youcanreceiveatextmessage.Youcanentermorethanoneemailaddressaslongastheyareseparatedbyacomma','butnospacesoranyotherpunctuation.YoucantestthesesettingsusingtheSendTestEmailbutton.Inordertoreceivethesenotification,youmusthaveavalidemailaccountestablishedontheobservatory'scomputerandCCDAutoPilotmustbeproperlyconfigured.Asaminimum,youwillhavetoentertheSMTPserver,whichisthesamethatisenteredinyouremailclient'saccountsetup.Ifyouneedtoenteraport

otherthanthedefaultstandardwhichisport25,enterthesmtpservernamefollowedbyacolon':',followedbytheportname.Forexample:smtp.mail.netforastandardportandsmtp.mail.net:505foranon-standardport505.IfyourserverrequiresyoutouseSecureSocketsLayer,checktheSSLbox.CCDAutoPilotwillusethedefaultcredentials(UserNameandPassword)youhaveenteredinyouremailsetupforthataccount.EntertheUserNameasyourfullemailaddress,includingthedomain.E.g.,"anyone@gmail.com"insteadof"anyone".BesuretotestyoursettingsbyusingtheSendTestEmailbutton.IfyougetanAuthenticationError,proceedtoenteryourUserNameandPasswordasdescribednext.

NotifyWiththeEmailSettingsproperlyconfiguredandtested,youcanreceivenotificationforanyoftheeventsshownintheNotifybox.OfparticularuseforremoteobservatoriesisAtEndofSessionwithLog.Itisverygratifyingtoreceivethelogofasuccessfullycompletedsessionwhenyouawake!

AtStartofSession:Sendsanemailwhenthesessionstarts.Thisisusefulwhenusingaprogrammedsessionstart.AtStartofSessionwithSessionReview:SendsanemailwhenthesessionstartsandincludesanattachmentthatrepresentstheSessionReviewthatappearsontheRunpage.AtStartofLightFramesPhase:Sendsanemailwhenthelightframedataacquisitionbegins.AtEmdofLightFramesPhase:Sendsanemailwhenthelightframedataacquisitionends.AtEndofSession:Sendsanemailwhenthesessioncompletes.AtEndofSessionwithLog:Sendsanemailwhenthesessioncompletesandattachesthelogforthesession.UponWeatherEvents:SendsanemailifanyoftheweatherabortlimitssetintheWeatherSensorboxarehit.UponGuideError:Sendsanemailiftheguiderfailstostartforanyreason.UponPlateSolve?RotatorError:Sendsanemailifplatesolvingfailsorthereisalarge,uncorrectedrotatoroffset.Platsolveerrormaybeanindicationofclouds.Rotatorerrormaybeanindicationofrotatororcameramountingslippage.UponSlewError:SendsanemailifthemountfailstosuccessfullymakeaPrecisionSlew.UponCameraError:Sendsanemailifthecameraserverisunabletotakeorsaveanimage.OnShutterError:Sendsanemailiftheshutterdoesn'tcompleteitsoperation,eitheropeningorclosing,inthespecifiedtimeout.GoodNightSystem:Wenchecked,notificationsofactivityandissueswillbesenttoyoursmartphoneifyouhaveGoodNightSysteminstalledonyourobservatoryPC.AlloftheabovenotificationswillbesenttoGNS,whethercheckedornot.YoucanreservecheckingtheaboveitemsforthosethatyouwantsentviaemailorSMStext.

Wizards

G2VCalibrationWizard

CCDAutoPilotcanautomaticallymeasureyourRGBRatio,sometimescalledaG2Vratioforthespectralsignatureofasun-likestar.ThisisawidelyacceptedmethodofdeterminingyourcolorcombineratioswhenassemblingyourfinalcolorimagefromRGBfiltereddata.Tobegin,firstselecttheR;G;andB;filters.TheG:filterwillbeusedasthereference.TypicallyinEnglish,R:willbeRed,G:willbeGreenandB:willbeBlue.IfusingaBVRfilterset,thenR:wouldbeR,G:wouldbeVandB:wouldbeB.Thenproceedasfollow,dependinguponyourtelescopecontrolprogram.

Tosavetime,CCDAutoPilotwillusethebinningspecifiedforPlateSolvingtoinitiallylocatethetargetG2Vstar.TheSky6,ASCOM/TheSky6,TheSkyX,ASCOM/TheSkyX:Pointyourtelescopetoapointintheskynearthezenith.IfAutoischecked,CCDAutoPilotwilllocateanumberofG2VstarsandslewtothefirstG2Vstar.Ifyouareinitialized,itwillcenterthestarinyourFOV.Ifyoudon'tcheckAuto,youwillhavetomanuallyslewtoaknownG2Vstar.CCDAutoPilotwillthenautomaticallyadjusttheexposuretomeetitsmeasurementcriterion,takeanumberoffluxmeasurementsthrougheachfilter,correctthemeasurementforatmosphericextinctionandshowtheresultantcombineratio.Youwillbeaskedtoinspectthefirstimageforeachstartoinsurethereisnotaclosedoubleintheimage.Ifthereis,simplymoveontoanotherstar;ifnot,allowthemeasurementtoproceed.Youcanmeasureadditionalstarsifyouwish.ASCOM:AutomaticselectionofG2Vstarsisnotpossible.ThereforemanuallyslewthetelescopetoaknownG2VstarthenhittheMeasurebutton.CCDAutoPilotwillautomaticallyadjusttheexposuretomeetitsmeasurementcriterion,takeanumberoffluxmeasurementsthrougheachfilter,correctthemeasurementforatmosphericextinctionandshowtheresultantcombineratio.Youwillbeaskedtoinspectthefirstimageforeachstartoinsurethereisnotaclosedoubleintheimage.Ifthereisone,pleaseselectandslewtoanotherstar.Ingeneral,itisadvisabletomeasureafewG2Vstars.Theexpectedmeasurementaccuracyis+/-0.1foreachstarbuteachstar'sspectrummaybedifferent.Itisalsoworthwhilemeasuringondifferentnights.High,thincloudscanreducebluetransmission,leadingtoerroneousresults.Takethemedianvalueof5differentstarmeasurementsforbestresults.Ifyouhaveapreferredstarorstarsforthismeasurement,donotcheckautobutmanuallyslewtoandcenteryourpreferredstar.Atanytimeduringthemeasurement,youcanterminatetherunviatheAbortbutton.Alogofmeasurementswillbedisplayedinthelogwindowtotheleft.Whencompleted,youaregiventheopportunitytosavethelogtonotepad.ItisalsoavailableontheWindowsclipboardtopasteintoanotherapplication.

FocusOffsetMeasurementWizardFocusoffsetswerediscussedearlier.Thiswizardprovidesaneasywaytodetermineyouroffsets.Beginbypointingthetelescopetoasuitablefocusstar.ChooseonethatisbrightenoughforyourrangeoffiltersThesettingsontheFocusingpagewillbeusedtorunthefocusroutine.Verifysuccessfulmanualfocusonthisstarwithyourmosttransparentandleasttransparentfilterinplacebeforebeginningthewizard.AdjustthesettingsontheFocusingpageifnecessary.BesuretosettheFocusMethodto"BrightestStarinFOV".Notethatanyfiltersnamed"dark"or"shutter"willbeskippedduringthemeasurement.Obviously,suchfilter(s)shouldnotbedefinedasthereferencefilter.Formostusableresults,youwillneedtoknowyourCriticalFocusZone(CFZ).UsetheinfowindowcalculatorontheFocusingpagetodeterminetheCFZinappropriateunits.Thenmoveyourfocuseraknowndistance,notingthestartingcountsandendingcounts.Fromthesedata,youcancalculateyourCFZThresholdincounts.Forexample,assumeyouareusinganF/9system.Selectingthebluecolor(smallestCFZ),weseetheCFZis58.3microns.Assumeyoumoveyourfocuser10mmandthefocusercountschangeby1000countsoverthatmovement.ThenyourCFZincountsis1000X.0583/10or5.8counts.Anychangeunder6countsisimmaterial.BysettingtheCFZThresholdto6inthisexample,youtellthewizardtoputoffsetsonthefocusingpagethatexceedthisthresholdandenter0foranyoffsetsthatdonotexceedthethreshold.Thiseliminatesunnecessaryfocusermovementsduringfilterchangeswhentheoffsetsarenotsignificant.IftheCFZThresholdisenteredas0,focusoffsetswillbereportedandoptionallyenteredontheFocusingpageasmeasured.SelecttheReferenceFilterandchoosethenumberofMeasurementCyclesyouwantperformed.Aminimumof5measurementcyclesisrecommendedandmorearepreferred.CCDAutoPilotwillsetthefilterandfocususingthatfilter,repeatforeachfilterinthefiltersetandthenrepeatthecycleforthespecifiednumberofMeasurementCycles.Ifafocusfailsforwhateverreason,itwillkeeptryinguntilisachieved,beforemovingontothenextfilter.Aftereachcyclethefocusoffsetwillbecalculated.Whenthe

measurementsarecompleted,CCDAutoPilotwillcalculatethemedianoffsetforeachfilterfromyourchosenreferencefilterandoptionallyenterthemedianoffsetsintheFocusOffsetcolumnofFilterFactorsontheFocusingpage.ThemeanofthefilteroffsetsisalsocalculatedwithoutconsiderationoftheCFZsettingasacross-check.Withasufficientlylargenumberofmeasurements,themedianandthemeanshouldconverge.Atanytimeduringthemeasurement,youcanterminatethemeasurementviatheAbortbutton.Alogofmeasurementswillbedisplayedinthelogwindowtotheleft.Whencompleted,youaregiventheopportunitytosavethelogtonotepad.ItisalsoavailableontheWindowsclipboardtopasteintoanotherapplication.Thewizardwillmeasurethedifferencebetweentheminimumandmaximumfocuspositionofthereferencefilter.Foranabsoluterfocuserandundergoodseeingconditions,thisdifferenceshouldbeminimal,certainlybelowtheCFZThreshold.Ifitexceedsthatthreshold,youwillknowthatthefocuserisnotrepeatableandmaybeslipping.Somefocusershomeonpowerup,inwhichcase,youshouldcomparefocuspositionsforaknownstarandfiltermanuallytoverifyrepeatabilitythroughapowercycle.Ifitstillisnotrepeatable,youshouldnotrelyonanyloggedfilterpositionsasrepresentativefromnighttonight.Iftheslippageissoexcessiveastoimpactoffsetrepeatability,youmaynotbeabletorelyoffilteroffsetfocusingstrategies.

LinearityMeasurementWizardAllCCDcamerasarelinearoverarangeandthensaturateordepartfromlinearity.FlatfieldframesshouldbeexposedtoashighanADUlevelaspossible,whilestayingwithinthelinearrange,tomaximizetheflatfieldframe'ssignal-to-noiseratio.ThiswizardwillhelpdeterminethatADUlevel,whichcanthenbeusedastheTargetADUforflatfields.Tomeasurethelinearrange,pointourcamera/OTAtoasuitableconstantilluminationlightsourcewithnoothersourcesoflighthittingthecamera.Ifyourartificallightsourceissufficientlybright,useacolorornarrowbandfiltertohavethelightsourceoverwhelmanyotherlightsources.Foraccuratemeasurements,thelightsourcemustbeconstant.Toverifythestabilityofthelightsource,adjustthelightsourcebrightnesssothata20sec.autodarkexposuregivesapproximately20,000ADU.Take10imagesorsoandmeasuretheaverageADU.Computethedifferencebetweenthehighestvalueandthelowestvalue.Thesmallerthedifference,themoreconstantthelightsourceis.Ifthelightsourcehassomevariation,thensettheNon-LinearityToleranceasneededtoaccountforthelightsourcevariability.Forexample,assumeyouseeavariationinthe10imagesof100ADU.Then100/20,000=0.5%.Sotoincludethisvariability,youshouldsettheNon-LinearityToleranceto1%.Withsuchalightsource,thisisthebesttolerancewithwhichyoucandeterminethedeparturefromlinearity,calledtheturnoverpoint.Adjustthelightsourcebrightnesssothatthecenteroftheimagemeasures5,000±400ADUwitha5sec.auto-darkexposureatthedesiredbinning.Oncethesourcebrightnessisadjusted,hittheMeasurebutton.CCDAutoPilotwilltakeanumberofauto-darkedexposuresin5sec.incrementsandrecordtheexposureandADU/sec.inthelogwindowtotheleft.Attheendofthemeasurement,arecommendationastothemaximumlinearADUwillbemade.Itisagoodideatoexaminetherawdataalongthewayaswell.WhentheADU/sec.decreasessignificantlyathigherADU,theCCDisgoingnon-linear.Ifyouacquiredataatmorethanonebinning,itisrecommendedthatthismeasurementberepeatedforotherbinningsused.Atanytimeduringthemeasurement,youcanterminatethemeasurementviatheAbortbutton.Alogofmeasurementswillbedisplayedinthelogwindowtotheleft.Whencompleted,youaregiventheopportunitytosavethelogtonotepad.ItisalsoavailableontheWindowsclipboardtopasteintoanotherapplication.

Tools

Sub-ExposureCalculatorAsdiscussedinImagingStrategies,characterizationoftheimagingcameraandsiteskyglowcanaidindeterminingsub-exposureduration.TheSub-exposurecalculatorconsistsoftwoparts,MeasurementandAnalysis.

MeasureFirst,thecamerareadnoiseandgainmustbemeasured.Manyvendorssupplyvaluesforthesetermsbutitisgoodtomeasureyourspecificcamera.Thereadnoisemeasurementrequiresnospecialsetupbutthegainmeasurementdoes.Forthegainmeasurement,youwillbeaskedtosomewhatuniformlyilluminateyourimagingcameratoapproximately20,000ADUbyadjustingtheexposuretoreachthatlevel.Ifyouarenotpreparedtodothat,youcanacceptthecameramanufacturer'svalueandproceed.Beforemeasuringthecamera,selectabinningandafilter.Isuggestyourfirstmeasurementbeat1x1andyouuseaclearfilter.HittheMeasureCamerabutton.Youwillbepromptedthroughthestepsforthemeasurement.Whencomplete,therewillbeanentryforReadNoiseand,ifmeasured,Gain.Intheory,readnoiseshouldbeunchangedwhenbinning,ifthebinningisdoneinhardwareandtherearenoothernoisesourcesintroducedbythebinningprocess.Withsomecameras,thisisnotthecase.Thenextstepistomeasureyourskyflux.Tryanexposureof180to300sec.,dependingonyourambientlight.Thismeasurementwilltakesometimeasalightexposureandanauto-darkexposurewillbetaken.Oncetheexposuresarecomplete,theSkyFluxwillbedisplayedate/sec.Youcanalsodeterminethismanuallybyusingacalibratedpreviousexposurethroughthefilterofinterest.SimplymeasuretheaverageADUlevelofanareafreeofstars.TheskyfluxissimplythataverageADUtimesthegainasmeasured,dividedbytheexposuretimeinseconds.Gain,readnoiseandskyfluxarethekeyingredientsnecessarytoproceedtotheAnalyzebox.

AnalyzeSelectthecontributiontototalnoiseyouwishtoassigntothecamerareadnoise.Thisisapercentageofthenoisethatwillbecontributedbytheskyflux.Theunderlyingconceptistoexposelongenoughsothatthenoisefromtheskyfluxoverwhelmsthereadnoisesuchthatthereadnoisecontributestheindicatedpercentagetothetotalnoise.Agoodstartingpointis5%.EnteringaReadNoiseContributionvalueautomaticallycalculatestheminimumsub-exposuredurationinsec.Formoredetailsandanalysis,seemypaperonSub-ExposureTimesandSignal-to-NoiseConsiderations.Next,chooseyourimagesensor.Ifnecessary,consultyourcameradocumentationorvendorforyoursensortype.Ifyoursensorisnotavailable,youcanadditifyouhavethenecessarydata.Seehereforthefilestructure.Enteryourplannedsub-exposuretime.SelectyourSensortemperature,DarkNoisecontributionandthenumberofsub-exposuresinyourstacktogetthenumberofmeancombineddarksyouneed.(Becauseanymasterdarkissubtractedfromeachsub-exposure,itiscorrelated.Thismeansanynoisethatisinthemasterdarkeventuallywillappearifthestackisdeepenough,justasfaintdetailsappearwhenthestacksizeislarger.)ExperimentwithchangingyourSensorTemperatureandDarkNoiseContribution.Asyoufurthercoolyourcamera,youwillseethenumberofdarksneededslowlydecreases.Nowwarmupthecamera.Thenumberofdarkswillincreaseslowlyatfirstthenfaster.Youwanttobeintheareawhereitincreasesslowlyifpossible.FormoredetailsandanalysisseemypaperonSub-ExposureTimesandDarkFrames.CompareStaremodetoDitheredmode."Stare"meansundithered.Youcanreadilyseetheimpactofditheringontherequirednumberofdarks.Itshouldbementionedthatthenumberofdarksisbasedonamin./maxclipcombine.Youwouldnormallyusethiscombinemethodtoeliminatecosmicrayhitsandsimilarrandomartifacts.Caveat:Thisisabitofasimplificationofaverycomplextopic.Narrowbandimaging,extremelydarkskies,etc.willmandatemuchcoldercameraoperationsincethesub-exposureswillbecomelonger.Nevertheless,thisisagoodstartingpointfordeterminingastartingpointforyoursub-exposures,cameraoperatingtemperatureandnumberofdarks.

TestButtonsThesebuttonscausetheindicatedactionstobeperformed.Theymaybeusedtotestcommunicationstotheultimatehardwarethroughthevarioussoftwarelayersbeforecommittingtoanautomatedsession.Itisrecommendedthesebuttonsbeusedwheneverhardwarechangesorasuspicionofthingsnotgoingrightarises.IMPORTANT:CCDAutoPilotcanonlysendtheTrackingOffandParkcommandtoyourtelescopecontrolprogram.Itisyourresponsibilitytoverifythatyourmountbehavesproperlywhenitreceivesthesecommands.Pleasetakeadvantageofthetestbuttonstoverifypropercommunicationswithyourmountanddome.Hitthesebuttonsoneatatimetotestwhetheryourchosentelescopecontrolprogramturnsofftrackingorparksthemount.Ifyoudon'tgettheexpectedresults,consultthemanufacturerofyourtelescopecontrolprogramforsupport.CCDAutoPilotsendsstandardcommandsfortrackingoffandparkinaccordancewithASCOMandTheSky'sdefinedinterfaces.Watchthestatuspanelbelowthebuttonsforreportsofactivities.

TrackingOn:Thisbuttonshouldturnthemounttrackingon.TrackingOff:Thisbuttonshouldturnthemounttrackingoff.Park:Thisbuttonshouldsendthemounttoitsparkposition.Withmosttelescopecontrolprogramsand/ormounts,thisparkpositionmustbepre-definedbytheuser.CloseDome:Thisbuttonshouldclosethedomeshutter.OpenDome:Thisbuttonshouldopenthedomeshutter.MoveDomeTo:Thecurrentdomeazimuthisreportedtotheright.Changethevalue,hitMoveDomeToandconfirmthedomedoesindeedrotatetotheenteredposition.MoveRotatorTo:Thecurrentrotatorpositionisreportedtotheright.Changethevalue,hitMoveRotatorToandconfirmtherotatordoesindeedmovetotheenteredposition.GuiderAlarm:ThisgivesanexampleofthealarmthatsoundswhenguidingfailsandtheAGRScannotrestoreit.AlarmOff:Thisturnsoffthealarm.

GuideCalculatorThiscalculatorallowsyoutodetermineyouroptimumminimumandmaximummoveparametersforyoursystem.Propersettingoftheseparametersisimportantforoptimalguiding.Whenconnectedtoyourcameracontrolprogram,theguidecalculatorwillautomaticallydeterminewhetherDirectGuide(CCDSoftonly)orcamerarelaysisinuseandcalculateminimumandmaximumrecommendedmovesautomatically.Theseparameterscanbeloadedintoyourcameracontrolprogram.Formoreinformation,seetheonlineGuideCalculator.

Max.AllowableP-PError:Herewetrytodeterminewhenwewantyourmounttoactuallymakeacorrection.Ifyourguidererrorisonly.05"arc-seconds,thereisnoneedtomakeancorrection.Ifyourminmovesettingissettolow,thenyouguiderrelayswillmovethemounteveryguidercycle.Thiscanresultinmountoscillationsorchasingatmosphericturbulence.Mybestsuggestioninsettingthisvalueisabout75%theimagescaleinwhichyouareimaging.Forexample,ifyouareimagingat1.2"asp,thensetthisvalueto0.9"asp.Thiswayaguidercorrectionisonlysentwhenthecentroidoftheguidestaris0.45"aspoffineithertheXorYaxisfromtheselectedguidestarposition.Max.AllowableMovement:Thisvalueisnotrequiredtoachievegreatautoguiding,butitdoesprotectusfromsomeextremesituationsthatcouldruinasub-exposure.Forinstance,ifacosmicrayhitissensedontheautoguiderCCD,thiscouldcauseyourautoguidingsoftwaretothinkthatthecentroidofthestarhasmovedmany,manypixelsfromcenter.Thereforeitisgoingtoattempttocorrectthemountforthiserror.Ifyouhavenomaxmovesetting,thiswillresultinaverylargecorrectionandaruinedexposure.Ifyouhavealimittothesizeofthecorrection,i.e.maxmove,thenthiseffectcanbemitigatedbynotallowingalargecorrection.Settingthisvaluetoolowmayresultinundercorrection,soitsbesttosetthisvalueabout2X-4Xlargerthantheabove'PeaktoPeakMaximumAllowableError'setting.Suggest:Hittingthisbuttonwillcauserecommendedsettingstobeenteredfortheabovetwovaluesandrepresentsagoodstartingpoint.Ifyouareunsureofwhattoenter,hittheSuggestbutton.RecommendedMin.Move:Basedontheaboveentries,thisistherecommendedminimummoveamountforyourguider.RecommendedMax.Move:Basedontheaboveentries,thisistherecommendedmaximummoveamountforyourguiderAggressiveness:Withtherecommendedminimumandmaximummove,thisistherecommendedaggressivenesssettingforyourguiderApplyTo<guider>:Hittingthisbuttonwillautomaticallyentertherecommendedvaluesintoyourcameracontrolprogram.Thebuttonnamewillindicateyourcameracontrolprogram(CCDSoftorMaxim)andthecorrespondingguidemethod(RelaysorDirectGuideforCCDSoft,RelaysorMicroGuideforMaxim).

CameraOptions

CameraReadoutModes

Dependingonyourspecificcamera,differentCameraReadoutModesmaybeavailableinMaximandTheSkyXbuild11586orlater.ThesechoiceswillbeavailablewhenthecameracontrolprogramisconnectedtoyouractualcamerahardwareandCCDAutoPilotislinked.Dependingonthechoicesavailable,youmayelecttochoosedifferentreadoutmodesfordifferentexposures.Forexample,assumeyourcamerahastworeadoutmodes:NormalandFast.TheFastmodemighthavemorereadnoise.(Hint:UsetheSub-ExposureCalculatortomeasureallmodes.)ForthingslikeFocusing,platesolvingandevenflats,youmayelecttousetheFastmode.ButforLightframes,youuseNormaltominimizereadnoise.Don'tforgettouseDarkandBiasframeswiththereadoutmodethatmatchesyourlightframesandflatframes.Thesettingsarestoredinthesystemprofilesoifyouchangecameras,besuretocheckthese

settingswiththenewcameraand/orsavethesystemprofilefortheoldcamera.

MaximCameraOptionsDependingyourspecificcamera,differentSpeedsmaybeavailable.ThisallowsyoutosetspecificISOspeedsor,inthecaseofQSIcameras,differentgainsfordifferentbinningchoices.

LosslessCompression:Whenchecked,allFITSdatafiles,lightframes,darkandbiasframesandflatframesarecompressedusingMaxim'sproprietarylosslesscompressionalgorithm.ThismakesfilesizesconsiderablysmallerthanuncompressedfilesbuttheycanonlybeopenedinMaximandnotanyotherprogram.Ifthisoptionischecked,DataAssessmentcannotbeused.RemovePixels(Maxim):Whenchecked,CCDAutoPilotwillautomaticallyexecuteMaxim'sRemoveBadPixelsprocessforallframes,Light,Dark,BiasandFlats,takenduringthesession.SeetheMaximhelpfilefordetails.TheBadPixelMapinMaximmustbepre-definedanduniqueforeachbinning.Forexample,abadpixelmapfor1x1binningmusthavethename"Map1",for2x2binning,thenamemustbe"Map2",for3x3binning,thenamemustbe"Map3".AnyothernamewillnotbeacceptedbyCCDAutoPilot.Noise:ThisrepresentsthesmallamountofGaussiannoisethatisaddedtotheinterpolatedimagestoimproveappearance.SeetheMaximhelpfileformoredetails.FW8-STG:CheckthisoptionwhenusingtheSBIGFW8-STGwithanAOandusinganoff-axisguidecamera.SeealsoCameraNotes.Ifthisoptionisused,itmustbecheckedbeforeinitialization.Anyinitializationperformedwhenthisoptionisnotcheckedmustberedoneifitischecked.SX-AOwithPulseGuide:Whenchecked,automaticbumpcalibrationafterinitializationissupportedinMaximwhenASCOMDirectorTelescopeareusedforAutoGuiderOutputControl.Ifthisoptionisused,itmustbecheckedbeforeinitialization.Anyinitializationperformedwhenthisoptionisnotcheckedmustberedoneifitischecked.

RemovePixelsUsageNoteWhenthisfeatureisconfiguredandchecked,itwillbeappliedtoallframes,light,dark,biasandflat.Ifyoualreadyhavelibrarydarkandbiasframestakenwithoutthisoptionandwanttousethemwithlightframesacquiredwiththisoptionchecked,thenyoushouldrunyourmastersthroughMaxim,applytheappropriatebadpixelmapandsavethemastertoanewname.Ifyoudon'tdothis,yourcalibratedimagemightnotlookcorrect.Forexample,assumeyouhaveabrightcolumnthatyouremovewiththebadpixelmap.Thiscolumnwillnotshowupinyourlightframebutifitisinyourdarkframe,youwillhaveablackcolumninyourreducedimage.IfyourunyourmasterdarkthroughtheRemoveBadPixelsroutinemanuallyinMaxim,savethatdarkandapplyittoyourlightframetakenwiththeRemovePixelsoptionchecked,yourcalibratedimageshouldlookproper.Ifyouselectthisoption,youshouldmakebadpixelmapsforallbinningsthatyouuse,includingthoseyouuseforplatesolveexposures.Thatway,hotpixelswillberemovedandtheplatesolvingroutinewon'tmistakeahotpixelforastar.Whiletherearemanywaystodevelopabadpixelmap,onewayistouseamasterbias.Itshouldbemadeupof20-40individualbiasframes,themorethebetter.Movetheinformationwindowsaroundtomeasurethelevel(ADU's)ofthebadpixelsyouwanttoremove.HittheAutoGeneratebuttonandusethethresholdadjustmentsinMaximtodefinethepixelsthatshouldbereplaced.Next,processthebiasframetoseewhatpixelswillberemoved.Itisstronglyrecommendedthatyouexperimentwiththisfeaturebeforecommittingittoanevening'ssession.EnablingthisfeaturemodifiesyouroriginaldatabytheRemoveBadPixelsprocessbeforeitissaved.Thereisnowayto"undo"thismodification.Scienceusersshouldcarefullyconsiderwhetherthisoptionisappropriateforyourdatarequirements.YoucanevaluatethisbynotcheckingtheoptionandmanuallyrunningitthroughMaxim's"RemoveBadPixels"process.

CCDSoftCameraOptionsThissettingallowsadjustingthesizeoftheguidestarbox.Thisistheimagethatisvisiblewhentheguiderisoperational.Thesettingsmustbesetbeforeguidingisenabled.YoucanseteithertheAOguidestarboxortheconventionalguiderguidestarbox.Changingduringguidingwillnothaveanyeffect

Set:Entersthevaluesshownfortheguideboxsize.Reset:Resetstheguideboxsizetothedefaultvaluesof8fortheAOand32forconventionalguiders.

AssessData

Dataassessmentconsistsofmeasuringkeylightframeexposureparametersduringasession.Bysettingcriteriahere,framesfailingtomeetthedefinedcriteriacanbesonotedinthelogandoptionallymovedtoanotherfolderforsubsequentexamination.DataassessmentworkswithgoalstoinsureonlythoselightframesthatmeetthedefinedcriteriacounttowardthegoalssetontheSessionpage.Asaminimum,theaverageFullWidthHalfMaximum(FWHM)oftheframeismeasuredasafirstorderqualityassessment.ThismeasurementrequireseitherPinPointorTheSkyXbeavailableandusedforPlateSolving.BasicfunctionalityrequiresCCDInspector2.5.3orlater.WithCCDInspector3.0,additionalmeasurementsofAspectRatio,ameasureoftrackingand/orguiding,andBackground,tomeasurethelevelofskyglow,canalsobemeasured,

EnableDataAssessment:Whenchecked,dataassessmentwillbeperformedeitherduringa

sessionorviatheAssessDatabuttonontheOptionsPage.UseCCDInspector:Whenchecked,CCDInspectorwillbeusedtoassessthelightframesMax.FHWM:Whenasuitablevalueisentered,alllightframeswhoseaverageFWHMexceedstheenteredvaluewillbenotedashavingfailed.Max.AspectRatio(CCDInspectoronly):Whenasuitablevalueisentered,alllightframeswhoseaverageAspectRatioexceedstheenteredvaluewillbenotedashavingfailed.Max.Background(CCDInspectoronly):Whenasuitablevalueisentered,alllightframeswhoseaverageBackgroundexceedstheenteredvaluewillbenotedashavingfailed.

InordertopassCCDInspector'sscreening,allthreemeasurementsmustbebelowtheircorrespondingvalues.Ifitisdesiredtonotconsideroneparameter,Backgroundforexample,simplysetthevaluehigh.Framesthatarenotedasfailedwillnotbeconsideredagainstthegoal.Thereisanadditionaloption:

MoveFailingDatato:Whenchecked,failingframeswillbemovedtothefolderspecified.Use

the buttontospecifythefoldertowhichthefailingdatawillbemoved.Ifthepathisblank,thefailingdatawillbemovedtoa\Failed|\folderofftheBasefolder.AssumetheBaseFolderisC:\AstroandallotherFoldersontheFileSettingtabareblank.ThenthefailedfolderwillbeC:\Astro\20110228\Data\Failed\Ofcoursethisfolderlocationcanbecustomizedaswell.InsertWCSintoLightFrames:Whenchecked,WCSdatawillbewrittentotheFITSheaderaswell.ThisoptionisavailableonlywhenTheSkyXorPinPointisselectedforplatesolving.NotethatthiswillrequireadditionaltimeduringasessionasaplatesolvewillhavetobemadeforeachdataframeandthenaddedtotheFITSdata.Forotherthanscientificpurposes,thisisbestleftunchecked.

OtherApplicationsCCDAutoPilotcomeswithanumberofapplicationsthatarediscussedinthefollowingsub-topics.Thesetoolscanhelpwithevaluatingandtroubleshootingsessions.

ControlFileEditor

ProfessionalEditionFeatureTheControlFilefacilityallowsanumberofadditionaloptionsthatareusefulformoresophisticatedremoteobservatories,whetherremoteisinyourbackyardoracrosstheglobe.Thisfilecanbecreatedormodifiedbyanytexteditor.TheControlFileEditorprovidesaconvenientwaytocreatethecontrolfileaswell.

Load:LoadsanexistingfileforeditingSave:SavestheopenfileorcreatesanewoneTestMessage:Enteruptoa20characterstringthatwillaccompanyanyemailmessagesorlogentriesasdesiredCharacters1through6(CCDAP5):Thesecharactersmustbe"CCDAP5".Thisstringofcharactersisusedtovalidatethisasacontrolfile.CheckPolling(Character8:IfY,thefollowingfieldmustbeupdatedmorefrequentlythantheCCDAutoPilotpollingtimeof6sec.ThisoptionisusefulforsophisticatedobservatorycontrolsystemstoinsurecommunicationbetweenaclientapplicationandCCDAutoPilot.Ifthefollowingfieldisnotupdatedwithinthepollinginterval,thecurrentrunisaborted.IfthischaracterisanythingotherthanY,thenextfieldisignored.Character10through20:ThisstringcanbegeneratedbyaNow(days)functionintheclient

program.AslongasthisstringchangesbetweenCCDAutoPilotpolls,therunwillprogressifCharacter8isY.StartSession(Character22):IfY,therunwillstartwhentheRunSessionispressedontheRunSessionpageofCCDAutoPilot.IfsettoanythingotherthanY,thesessionwillnotstartuntilthecharacterchangestoY.PauseSession(Character24):IfY,therunwillpauseinthesamemanneraswhenthePauseSessionbuttonispressedontheStatuswindow.Whensettoanythingelse,therunwillresumeaswhentheResumeSessionbuttonispressedonthestatuswindow.AbortSession(Character26):IfY,therunwillbeabortedasiftheAbortSessionbuttonispressedontheStatuswindow.AbortSessionandShutdown(Character28):IfY,therunwillbeabortedasifacloudsensorhadtriggeredtheRunAbortConditions.Additionally,theimagercoolerwillbewarmedup.SendEmail(Character30):IfY,anemailwillbesentusingtheEmailaddressandSMTPserversettingsonthePreferencespage.Anyothercharacterandnoemailwillbesent.IncludeLog(Character32):IfY,thecurrentlogwillbeattachedtotheemailsentasabove.Anyothercharacterandnologattachmentwillbeincluded.PlateSolveError(Character34):IfY,anyplatesolveerrorwillresultinamessage"Platesolveerror"beingsenttotheemailaddress,assumingcharacter30isY.Anyothercharacterwillresultinnomessage.SlewError(Character36):IfY,anyslewerrorwillresultinamessage"Slewerror"beingsenttotheemailaddress,assumingcharacter30isY.Anyothercharacterwillresultinnomessage.GuideError(Character38):IfY,anyautomaticguidestarerrorfailurewillresultinamessage"Guidestarnotrecovered.Imagingunguided."beingsenttotheemailaddress,assumingcharacter30isY.Anyothercharacterwillresultinnomessage.ReservedIdentifier(Character48)Message(Characters50through70):Upto21characterscanbeappendedtoanymessagessentfromtheaboveevents.

FormatThecontrolfileconsistsofasinglelinefilethatmayormaynotbeupdatedcontinuouslyastheneedarises.WhenUseInputFileischeckedonthePreferencespageandasuitablefileisenteredbytheFile/Pathbutton,thisfilewillcontrolCCDAutoPilot.Hereisthegeneralstructureofthatfile:012345671234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890CCDAP4N01234.67890yNNNNNNNNTestMessage........X|||||||||||Y=Check+||||||||||||||||||||Y=Enablestart++++++++||||||||||||||||||Y=Pause,elseresume++++||||||||||||||||Y=Abortrun+++++++++++++++||||||||||||||Y=AbortRunandShutdown++++||||||||||||Y=SendMail+++++++++++++++++++||||||||||Y=SendLog++++++++++++++++++++++||||||||Y=Reportplatesolveerror++++++++||||||Y=Reportslewerror+++++++++++++++++||||Y=Reportguidestarrecoveryerror++++||Reason/textmessage(21characters)+++++++++++++++Thetoplineindicatescharacterposition,startingwith1andgoingthrough70.Thecharacterpositionshavemeaningasdefinedbelow:

Usage

Bythejudiciouschoiceoftheseoptions,youcanarrangeforanynumberofnotificationsandcontrol.Someexamples:Assumeyouhaveasophisticatedweatherandobservatorycontrolsystemsuchthatifprimarypowerislost,youhaveenoughUPSpowertosecurethesystem.YoumightusetheAbortfunctiontoaborttherun.Then,assumingyourobservatoryisproperlyconstructed,youcanclosetheslitandgracefullypowerdownthesystem.Youcanbenotifiedofthisbyemailortextmessage,alongwithanyadditionaltext,identifyingthereasonforthechangeYoucanyouremailaddressofyourphone'stextmessagesubscriptiontoreceivenotificationofanyplatesolveorguidestarfailure.Notethat,independentofthiscontrolfile,youcanelecttobenotifiedviaemailofruncompletionandreceivethelogasanattachmentbycheckingtheappropriateboxesonthePreferencespage.

LogExaminerCCDAutoPilotlogshavealotofinformationinthemanditcanbeabittedioustofindwhatyouarelookingfor.TheLogExaminerallowsyoutosearchforaspecificsetofcharacters(calleda"string")andreportallinstancesofthatstring.Sincewhatyouarelookingformayrequiresomelinesbeforeorafteryoursearchstring,thatcanalsobeselected.Upto10searchstringsaresaved.Youcanevensavethesearchresults.

Openlog:Thisopensawindowfromwhichyoucannavigatetoandselectthelogyouwishtoexamine.Oncethelogisselecteditisdisplayedinthetextwindow.Searchfor:Enterthesearchtermyouwishtouseforthesearch.Youcanenterthenumberoflinesbeforeandafterthesearchterm,Search:Thissearchesthelogforallinstancesofthesearchtermanddisplaysanylinesbeforeorafterthesearchtermyouhavespecified.SaveSearch:Allowsyoutosavethesearchtoanewfile.Thedefaultfilenamewillbethesameastheoriginallogfilewith"_sort"appendedtothelogfilename.Ofcourseyoucannameitanythingyouwish.Reload:Reloadstheoriginallogfile,replacingthesearchdisplay.

ClearSearchHistory:Clearsthesavedsearchstrings.

ExamplesSupposeIwanttoseehowfocuschangesoverthecourseofasession.IfIenter"focuspos"asasearchstring,thisiswhatIwouldsee:

SupposeIwanttoseehowtheweatherchangesduringasession(Iamusingacloudsensor).HereIenter"ambient"asthesearchterm:

NowIwanttoseewhattheweatherwaslikeaftereachexposure.Icanselectmypreviouslyenteredsearchterm"ambient"fromthesearchpulldownbutspecify1linesbefore.

Asyoucansee,therearemanyrepeatingeventsandrelationshipsthatcanbeextractedfromthelogbytheLogExaminer.Infact,youcanuseExaminertoscanlogsfromotherprogramsaswell,forexampleFocusMaxlogstosimilarlycollecteventsandrelationships.

CCDAutoPilot5ResetThisprogramisusedtorestoretheCCDAutoPilottoadefaultinstallation,asifithadjustbeeninstalledandCCDAutoPilothasneverbeenrun.

Youwillbeaskedtoconfirmresetbeforeproceeding.Yoursystemprofileandtargetdatabasewillnotbeaffectedbythereset.

TroubleshootingImportant:Ifsomeorallofyourcontrolprogramsarenotstarted,CCDAutoPilotwillattempttostarttheminwhatshouldbetheproperorder.DependingonyourPC'sperformance,theymayormaynotstartproperly.Ifthingsdon'tseemtobeoperatingproperly,startthemmanuallybeforestartingCCDAutoPilot.Forexample,assumeyouareusingRoboFocustocontrolyourfocuser,FocusMaxforfocusingandCCDSofttocontrolyourcamera.LoadandstartRoboFocus,confirmingitconnectstoandcancontrolyourfocuserhardware.NextLoadCCDSoft,confirmingitconnectstoyourcamera.Takeashortimagetobesure.Next,loadFocusMaxsinceitmustcontrolbothRoboFocusandCCDSoft.Finally,loadCCDAutoPilot.Similarly,whenclosingprograms,closeCCDAutoPilotfirst,thentheotherprograms.Intheaboveexample,closeFocusMaxthencloseRoboFocusifitisstillopen.FailuretodothismayleadtovestigesofprogramsrunningthatmustbemanuallyterminatedinTaskManager.SeeComputerNotesforanyfailurestoconnecttoserverapplications(controlprograms).Ifyouhaven'treadIntroductiontoAutomationyet,Istronglyrecommendyoudo.

Step-by-step1.Makesurethe.NET4.0frameworkextendededitionisinstalled.YoucanverifyitsinstallationbygoingtoControlPanel,Add/RemoveProgramsandmakingsurethereisanentryfor"Microsoft.NETFramework4Extended".Ifthatentryisnotpresent,pleaseinstallitbeforeproceeding.SeetheApplicationRequirementstopicforalinktotheMicrosoftdownloadlocation.2.Insureinstallationofallprogramsrequiredforyouroperationisproperandfunctionalbytestingthemstandalone.SeetheApplicationRequirementstopicforlinkstoallprograms.MakesureyouareusingthelatestversionofCCDAutoPilot.Themostrecentversioninformationandchangehistorycanbefoundhere.3.Verifyyouhavetheminimumversionlevelfortheaboveprograms.CCDAutoPilotwillwarnofout-of-revisionprogramsandpreventoperation.SeetheApplicationRequirementstopicforminimumversionrequirements.Ofcourse,higherversionnumberscanbeused.ProgramversionnumberscangenerallybecheckedbytheHelp|Aboutmenuontheindividualprogram.Forprogramsthatdonotsupportthisfeature,youmustlocatetheprogram's.exefile,rightclickonit,selectpropertiesandselecttheversiontab.4.BeforeconnectingCCDAutoPilottoanyofyourprograms,besuretheprogramsareabletoproperlycontroltheirrelatedhardware.Canyoutakeanimagewithyourcameracontrolprogram?Canyouslewthetelescopewithyourtelescopecontrolprogram?Canyoucontrolyourfocuserandfocuswithyourfocuserprogram?Doesyourrotatorprogramcontrolyourrotator?Doesyourdomecontrolprogrammoveyourdome?5.ConnecttoCCDAutoPilotandusethetestbuttonsonthePreferencepage,ToolsTabtoverifyCCDAutoPilotisabletocontroltheappropriatehardwarethroughyourprograms.6.OntheSessionPage,LightFramesphase,createatargetusingtheGetfunctionwithTheSkyortheAddatargetmanually.SelectthetargetifitisnotselectedusingtheRowHeader.Right-clickandselectSlewToTargetUncorrected.Doesthemountslewproperly?7.Setupasingle,shortexposureonSessionPage,LightFramesphase.Runashortsessiontoconfirmthetelescopeslewstothetargetandtakesashortexposure.8.Addotherfunctionsandcomplexitiesgradually,verifyingproperoperationwitheachaddition.

Whenthingsdon'tgoasexpectedWhileeveryefforthasbeenmadetotrapinvaliduserentries,someslipby.Theseareaddressedastheyare

identifiedbutwithover600controls,thereisalotofopportunityforbadentriesorcombinations.Herearesometechniquestohelpresolvesuchaproblem.

GlobalErrorHandler:CCDAutoPilottrapsandhandlesmanypotentialerrorsduringthecourseofasession.Occasionalsetupandinputerrorscanleadtoerrorsaswell(unhandledexceptions).Shouldthelattererroroccur,CCDAutoPilotwillpresentawindowwithchoicesonhowtocapturetheerrorinformation.Next,CCDAutoPilotwillattempttorunascriptnamedRunOnError.vbslocatedin(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\ifitexists.FinallyCCDAutoPilotwillclose.Iftheerrorisrepeatableandthenextstepsdon'tresolvetheissue,feelfreetoposttheerrorfiletotheCCDWaresupportforumforassistance.Reset:IfCCDAutoPilotfailstoload,selectingCCDAP4ResetfromtheStartmenuresetsallkeydataasifCCDAutoPilotwereneverinstalled(exceptforthetrialperiodstatusofcourse).Yoursystemprofile(s)andtargetlist(s)arenotaffected.YoucanalsoaccessthisfunctionbyholdingdowntheControlkeyonyourkeyboardwhiledouble-clickingontheCCDAutoPiloticon.CreateanewSystemProfile:FromtheSystemProfilemenu,selectNewtocreateanewsystemprofile.Ofcourseyouwillneedtore-enterallyoursettingsbutoftenthisresolvestheissueofabadsetting.TaskReview:OpenTaskmanagerandselecttheProcessestab.IfyouclickontheImageNametableheader,theprocesseswillbesortedinalphabeticalorderforeasyviewing.Verifythatoneandonlyoneprocessisrunningforeachserverprogramyouhaveoperating.Ifyouseemorethanoneprocess,thenproperautomationisnotpossible.YoushouldeitherrebootyourPC(easiest)orcloseallprogramsandusetheEndProcessbuttontostopanyserverprogramsthatremainrunning.Thiscanhappenwhenarunisabortedandtheabortprocessisnotallowedtocomplete.AfterhittingtheAbortbuttononthestatuswindow,remembertowaituntilthemainwindowrestores(re-opens).Thisminimizesthechanceofmultipleprocessesintaskmanager.Hardware:Ifthingssuddenlystopbehavingproperlyoryouexperienceheretoforeunexplainedhangs,itismostlikelyahardwareproblem.CheckallUSBconnections.MakesureyoudonotdependonconnectorretentionforcetoholdthecableinplacebutratherstrainrelieveallUSBcablessoyoucanpullonthemwithoutunpluggingthem.Asadiagnostic,bypassanyhubs,especiallyifnotofcommercial(usuallymoreexpensive)quality.Officequalityhubscanbeproblematicunlessyouoperateyourobservatorywithelectronicsinatemperaturecontrolledenvironmentbetween10°and35°C.Thesameistrueofserial-USBconverters.Insurepropervoltagesarebeingdeliveredtoyourcamerasandotherequipment.

TroubleshootingTools

Information(ReadFirst):linkstotheTroubleshootingOverview.Trace:TheTracefacilityprovidesdiagnosticinformationforvariousphasesofCCDAutoPilotoperation.WhiletheSessionwindowandtheattendantlogprovideeventloggingduringanactiverun,therearepossibleoccasionswhenthingsdon'tgoasexpectedbeforestartinganactualsession.Thetracefacilitycanbeusedwheneverthingsdon'tseemtobe"workingright"beforerunningasession.Tracealsoprovidesmoredetailedinformationduringasession.WhenTraceisenabled,allplatesolveframesaresaved,notjustthefailedones.ThiscanbehandytodiagnoseplatesolvingissuesbutbeawarethatleavingTraceenabledwillconsumemorediskspaceasallplatesolveframesaresaved.Whenthistopicisselected,CCDAutoPilot'stracefacilityisturnedonandCCDAutoPilotcloses.WhenCCDAutoPilotisnextstarted,thetracefacilityisengagedandatracefilewillbewrittenintheCCDAutoPilot5datadirectory.ThedatadirectoryislocatedatMyDocuments\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5(XPandPrior)andDocuments\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5(Vista/Windows7).AnewfileiswritteneachtimeCCDAutoPilotisstarted.ThefilehasafilenameofTrace<yyyymmdd>_<HHmmss>.logandwillrecordanyerrormessages.WhenTraceisenabled,allplatesolvingimages("Sync_Image")aresaved,whethersuccessfulornot.TracebeingonisindicatedbyachecknexttotheHelpmenuselection.ToturnTraceoff,selectthistopicagain.CCDAutoPilotwillcloseandTracewillbedisabledwhenCCDAutoPilotisnextstarted.Contactsupportforinterpretationofanymessagesinthetracefile.

RemoveandReinstallCCDAutoPilot:Whilethisshouldnotbenecessary.ithasbeenshowntohelpresolvesomeuniqueissues.ThisshouldbeusedinconjunctionwiththeCCDAutoPilotResetTool.FirstremoveCCDAutoPilotthenruntheCCDAutopilotResetTool.Ifpossible,itisagoodideatorebootyourPCbeforereinstalling.

SupportIfnoneoftheaboveresolvestheissueyouarehaving,pleaseusetheCCDAutoPilotsupportforum,whichisalsoaccessiblefromtheHelpmenu.Ifyouhaveproblemsduringarun,besuretoposttherelated.logfileasanattachment.Ifyouarehavingproblemsthatpreventarunfromstarting,posttheerrorlogfiledescribedabove.Themoredetailyouincludeinyourproblemreportalongwiththesuggestedattachments,themorequicklytheissuecanberesolved.

RunOnErrorScripts

Intheunlikelyeventofanunhandledexceptionorotherprogramerror,CCDAutoPilotwillattempttorunascriptcalledRunOnError.vbs,ifitexists.Thereisonlyonelocationcheckedfortheexistenceofthisscript:(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\AscriptisasimpletextfilethataddressesserverprogramsthroughWindowsScriptingHost.Ascriptiswritteninnotepadorothersimpletexteditor,(notWord!)andhastheextension.vbsinsteadof.txt.Ifyouwanttousethisrecommendedbackupfacility,herearesomesamplescripts.Simplycopythetextbetweenthe***'s(butnotthe***'s)andpasteitintonotepad.SavethefileasRunOnError.vbs,initiallytothedesktop.Doubleclickonittomakesureithasthedesiredresult.Onceyouaresatisfied,moveitto(My)Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\ParkthemountwithTheSkyX:***dimtelesettele=CreateObject("TheSkyXAdaptor.RASCOMTele")tele.connecttele.Parksettele=nothing***ParkthemountwithTheSky6:***Dimtelesettele=CreateObject("TheSky6.RASCOMTele")tele.Parksettele=Nothing***IfyouhaveGoodNightSystemsetuponyourobservatoryandsmartphone,youcanreallytakeadvantageofRunOnError.Shouldaprogramerroroccur,GNScannotifyyouviayoursmartphoneifyouincludethefollowinginyourRunOnErrorscript:***DimGNSsetGNS=CreateObject("GNS.OWL")GNS.NewMsg="CCDAP5ProgramError"GNS.NewTimeout=0setGNS=nothing***Ifyouwanttoaddmoretothis,forexampleclosearoofordome,thatcanbeadded.GoogleWindowsScriptingHostformoreinfoandseethedocumentationforyourserverprograms.

PlateSolvingNotes

PlatesolvingisatechniquethatmeasurespreciselywherethetelescopeispointingbytakingaCCDimageandthenusingvariouspatternmatchingtechniques,matchesthestarsintheimagetoagivenstarcatalog.Knowingapproximatelywherethetelescopeispointingandthesystemimagescale,platesolvingalgorithmscancalculatethecenteroftheimagetosub-arc-secondaccuracy.Successfulplatesolvingisessentialforautomatedimaging.Inordertobesuccessful,threethingsarerequired:telescopecoordinates,knownimagescaleandsufficientcatalogstarsintheimage.

Telescopecoordinates:CCDAutoPilotgetsthisinformationfromthemountviathechosentelescopecontrolprogram.GenerallythecoordinatesmustbewithinoneortwoFOV'sandiseasytodo.Problemswithplatesolvingaregenerallynotrelatedtotelescopecoordinates.Thetelescopecoordinates,RA(OBJCTRA)andDec.(OBJCTDEC),arewrittenintotheimage'sFITSheaderforanyimagesacquiredbyCCDAutoPilot.(seenotebelow.)Imagescale:CCDAutoPilotgetsthisinformationgenerallyfromtheFITSheader.Imagescaleiscalculatedfromthepixelsize(XPIXSZ),binning(XBINNING)andimagerfocallength(FOCALLEN).Thesekeywordvaluesarewrittenintotheimage'sFITSheaderforanyimagesacquiredbyCCDAutoPilot.Asuccessfulinitializationwillcausethesevaluestobeproperlywritten,basedontheImagerSettingsinformation.Seenotebelow.StarCatalog:WhenusingTheSky6,catalogselectionisautomatic.Intherecommendeddefaultsetup,GSC,TychoandUCACareused.TheSky6startswiththeGSCandproceedstomoredensecatalogsasneeded.WhenusingPinPoint,thechosenstarcatalogmustbedefinedbytheuserandonlyoneatatimeisavailable.Fortunatelyformostuses,theGSCissufficient.VerynarrowFOV'smayneedtouseUSNOA2.0.ThishasmorefaintstarsbutmayfailonwiderFOV's.

Note:IfyouareusingimagedatathatwasnotacquiredbyCCDAutoPilot,asforexampleusingthe"FromFIT"buttononthetargetspage,theseparametersmustbecorrectinthefitsheader.IfCCDAutoPilotisnotinitialized,thentheFITSheaderinformationmaynotbecorrect.Cameracontrolprogramstypicallyprovideforenteringmostofthedatabasedonthecameradriver.However,theusermustenterthecorrectfocallengthfortheimagingsystemintheappropriatesetupsection.Failuretodothiswillcauseplatesolvestofail.Assumingalloftheabove,thenthenextissueistheplatesolveexposureparameters.Thegoalishereistogetasufficientnumberofstarsintheimage.Formostusers,abinningof2x2or3x3ismorethansufficientandwillbothspeedplatesolvingtimeandincreasesensitivity.Ofcourse,usethemosttransmissivefilter,usuallytheclearorluminancefilter.Sub-framingisappropriateforwideFOV'sbothtospeedplatesolving,andinthecaseofCCDSoft/TheSkyplatesolving,toinsuresuccess.CCDSoft/TheSkyhasamaximumFOVlimitof1squaredegree.Setasuitablesub-frametogetbelowthislimit.WhilePinPointdoesn'thavesuchalimit,sub-framingmaymakeitabitspeedier.Lastly,theexposuremustallowsufficientstarsforreliableplatesolving.

UsingCCDSoftandTheSkyXProfessionalTheSkyX,whenusedincombinationwithCCDSoft,givesgreatlyimprovedplatesolveperformanceoverTheSky6.The1squaredegreelimitationnolongerapplies.Anumberof10°x10°FOV'shavebeensuccessfullysolvedveryrapidlywithTheSkyX.YoumayneedtoadjusttheresidualtoleranceinCCDSofttogetsuccessfulwideangleplatesolves.UnfortunatelytheonlywaytoaccessthisinitiallyisviatheresultswindowafterasuccessfulplatesolveinCCDSoft.IsuggestyouuseaquarterframeexposurewithCCDSoft,solvetheplateandincreasetheresidualfromitsnormal0.5arc-sec.tosomethinglike5arc-sec.ifyouaredoingwidefieldimaging.

UsingTheSkyXProfessionalTheSkyXhasastandaloneplatesolvingsystemthatnotrequireCCDSoftandcaninfactbeusedsuccessfullywithMaxim.WhetherusedwithMaximorCCDSoft,youmayhavetoadjusttheDetectionThresholdinTheSkyXforoptimalresults.InTheSkyX,seeTools/ImageLink/Setup,SetupButton.Agoodstartingpointforthissettingis10.Forbestresults,selectUnknownImageScale(really!)andenteryourimagescalewhentesting.Startingwithbuild7146,thenewAllSkyimagelinkingcanbeassignedforCCDAutoPilotplatesolvinguse.SeeTheSkyXdocumentationforrequirements.Whenfunctioningproperlymanually,intheImageLinkwindow,AllSkytab,checktheboxentitled"UseAllSkyImageforscriptedImageLink"andthatwillbeusedinsteadofthenormalimagelink.

UsingPinPointIftheRA,Deccoordinatesreportedbyourmountarefarfromthesolvedcoordinates,youmayneedtoincreasetheEpxansionvalueiinSettings/PlateSolvingtab,PinPointbox.Ifthemountcoordinatesarenottoofarfromthesolvedcoordinates,thiscanhelpsolveotherwiseunsolveablysyncimages,sometimesattheexpenseoflongersolvetimes.SeePinPointdocumentationfordetails.

DeterminingplatesolveexposureparametersAgoodstartingpointis5sec.,binned3x3,throughaclearfilter.Takesomeimagesmanuallyfirstanduseyourdesiredplatesolveprogram.ForCCDSoft,useTools/InsertWCSAutoAstrometry.Youwillneedtomanuallyenteryourimagescale.ForPinPointwithMaxim,useAnalyze/PinPointAstrometry.ForPinPointwithCCDSoft,useVisualPinPointtosolvesavedCCDSoftexposures.Experimentwithdifferentexposuresandnotethenumberofstarsusedinthesolution.Youwillneedatleast10andmoreisalwaysbetter.Adjusttheexposuretoachieveagoodnumberofstars.Movetoastar-poorregionoftheskyandrepeatthetestacoupleoftimestoinsuregoodresults.Adjustexposuretimesasneeded.IfyourFOVissmallandyouareusingPinPoint,youmayneedtousetheUSNOA2.0catalog.DuringaCCDAutoPilotsession,thenumberofstarsusedinthesolutionisshowninthelogforeveryplatesolve.Examineyourlogtomakesureyouhaveasufficientnumberofstarsforreliableplatesolvingandadjustyourplatesolveparametersappropriately.Onewaytodevelopyourplatesolvingparametersistotakeandsavesometestexposures.InCCDAutoPilot,checkPlanningOnlyandthenhittheLinktoSoftwarebuttonThenusetheFromFITbuttonontheCCDAutoPilotSessionpage.IfyouarepresentedwiththeSelectDesiredTemplatedialog,theimagehasbeensolvedandthesolvedcoordinatesandnumberofstarsinthesolutionappearinthestatusbar.YoucanhitCancelintheSelectDesiredTemplatedialogtoavoidaddingtoyourtargetdatabase.SincetheFromFITroutineusestheidenticalplatesolveroutinethatisusedduringasession,thisisagreatwaytotuneyourplatesolvingparameters.

HardwareThissectionprovideshintsandsuggestionsforuniquehardware.Thesesuggestionswillmaximizeyoursuccessinautomatedimaging.PleasereviewthissectiontoseeifanyofyourhardwarehasspecificCCDAutoPilotsetupinstructions.Thissectionwillbeupdatedbasedonuserinputandshouldbecheckedperiodically.

ComputerNotesHereareacollectionofhintsthatmayhelpresolvesomeunexplainedorotherwisetroublingautomationissues.Inordertocontrolotherserverapplications,CCDAutoPilotmustbeabletolinktothoseapplicationsthroughWindow'sautomationinterface.variouslycalledActiveXorCOM(CommonObjectModel).WithWindowsversionslaterthanXP,12yearsoldasofthiswriting,Additionalsecurityhasbeenaddedthatmaypreventthisinter-applicationcommunication.Firstoff,makesureyouareloggedintoWindowsasadministrator.Next,whenaserverapplicationisfirstrun,besuretorightclickonitandchooseRunAsAdministrator.ThisgenerallyneedstobedoneonlyonceandshouldthenallowtheCOMinterfacetofunction.Insomecases,youmayneedtosettheUserAccountControltoitsminimumsetting(searchtheControlPanelforthissetting.Rebootisgenerallyrequired).Windowshasadefaultsettingtoupdatewindowsaround3AMlocaltime.Inmanycases,theupdateprocesswillresultinareboot-notagoodthingforautomation.Thusitisnotagoodideatoleavethisdefaultsetting.InWindowscontrolpanel,WindowsUpdate,selectDownloadUpdatesbutletmechoosewhentoinstallthem.Thatwayyoucankeepup-to-datebutyoudecidewhentoinstallupdates.MakesureyouhavesufficientRAMforyourcomputer.Aminimumof3GB,4GBrecommendedshouldbesufficientforCCDAutoPilotandthenormalcollectionofserverapplications.IfyouareusinganyUSBconnectionstoyourequipment,makesureUSBpowermanagementisdisabled.InWindows7,thisisburiedinControlPanel/PowerOptions/ChangePlanSettings/ChangeAdvancedPowerSettings/USBSettings/USBSelectiveSuspendSetting/Disable.Thenapply.Itisgenerallyagoodideatonotdoanythingelsewiththecomputerwhilerunninganautomatedsession.Thisisespeciallyimportantwithmodestprocessorormemorycomputers.

MountNotesMakesureyourmountiscapableofrespondingtoeitherorbothParkandTrackingcommandsissuedbyCCDAutoPilotthroughtheTelescopeControlProgram'sautomationinterface.ThiscanbeverifiedbyusingtheTestButtons.Ifthosebuttonsdon'thavethedesiredresult,thereisnowayCCDAutoPilotcancausethoseactionstohappen.Checkthemountdriversoftware.Manytimesthereisalaterrevisionthatmayaddresssomemissingfunctionality.

Specifichardwarenotes

Gemini:Toallowpropermeridianflipoperation,checktheSafetySlewboxontheGuidingpage.SeeMeridianCrossingfordetails.Alternatively,onyourGeminicontroller,settheGotoLimittoexactlythemeridian-90degrees.ParamountGT1100:FortheoriginalParamount,checkSafetySlewontheGuidingpage.SeeMeridianCrossingfordetails.ASADirectDrive:WhenusingMaximwithTelescope(PulseGuide)forguiding,turnoffAutoSlewinthemount'scontrolsoftware.

ScitechMountSetup(CourtesyofPeterKalajian)SomespecificsonSitechAscomdriverusingascom.siTechdll.telescopeastheascomtelescope.Firstofall,notethattheseinstructionsassumethatyouhavesetupMaximusing"telescope"astheguidemodeandhavethe"instanttotalpulseguiding"andIsPulseGuidingalwaysreturnsfalse"checkedinthetabAscomandloggingintheSiTechcontrollerconfigurationsetup.Inthesecondimagebelow,youcanseethattheReverseGuideModewhenlookingeast(dec)ischecked.ThisoverridesthedefaultsettingsinCCDAutoPilotwhichassumethatthemountactsdumbwhenitcomestomeridianflips,butthisistheonlywayitworks.Youneedtocalibrateintheeast.Notethattocalibrate,youneedtouncheckthetwopulseguidecheckboxesreferredtoearlier,butonceyouhaveagoodcalibrationinCCDAutoPilot,thenmakesuretocheckthembeforeyouactuallyguide.

ParamountMX/MEForpropermeridianflipping,besuretosettheFlipHourAngleto0inTheSkyX.(Telescopetab,Tools/BisqueTCS,Parameters)

AstroPhysicsGTOV2MountWhenusingtheASCOMV2driverwitheitherASCOMDirectorTelescopeguidemethodsinMaxim,youshouldcheckReverseYAfterFlip.Itshouldnotbecheckedforguiderelays.

PlaneWaveAscension200HRWhenusingMaximwithASCOMDirectastheguidemethod,makethefollowingsettingtoGuiderSettings,Advancedtab,GuiderMotorControl,OnPierFlip:SelectReverseX.

CameraNotesCCDAutoPilotgetsitsfilterandbinninginformationfromtheCameraControlProgramwhenitfirstconnectswithyouractualcameraconnected.Itwillsavethatinformationinthesystemprofilesothatyoucanusethatprofileforsessionplanning.However,thecameracontrolprogramautomationinterfacesdonotallowchangingthefilternamesorbinningback.Atthispointintheirdevelopment,theonlyalternativeifyouhavedifferentcameraswithdifferentfiltersetsornamesistomanuallyentertheminthecameracontrolprogram.Hopefullythatwillchangeinthefuture.Whenitdoes,CCDAutoPilotwillbeupdatedtohandleit.CameraSensorsTheSub-exposurecalculatorneedstoknowsensorcharacteristicsforyourcamera.Astartinglistisprovidedinafilecalledsensor.ini,locatedintheCCDAutoPilot5programfolder,typicallyC:\ProgramFiles\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5.Thereisspacefor32entries.Whileitwillbeupdatedfromtimetotime,youcanenteryourowndataifyouwish.Thefileshouldbeeditedinnotepadorsimilartexteditor,notWord.Makeabackupcopybeforeediting,justincasesomethinggoeswrong.Thefourentriesareseparatedbyacommawithnospacesandmustbenumericdata.Thelastentryshouldbeablankline.Thefourentriesare:

SensornameDarksignaline/pixel/secThetemperatureinCentigradeatwhichthedarksignalismeasuredThedarksignaldoublingtemperatureinCentigradetimes10.Inotherwords,ifthedarksignaldoublingtemperatureis6,thisentryshouldbe60.

Somesensorshavebeensupersededbynewversionsbythesensormanufacturer.Thenewversiontypicallyhasthesameorbetterperformancecharacteristicsastheoneitreplaces.Someexamplesare:KAF11002replacesKAF11000KAI4021replacesKAI4020

SpecificHardwareNotesSBIGSTLwithRemoteGuideHeadandOff-axisguider

WhenusinganSBIGSTL-seriescamerawiththeSBIGremoteguideheadandanoff-axisguidersuchastheAstrodonMOAG-A,besuretoorienttheremoteguideheadsothatitsconnectorisclosesttotheSTLbody,asshownatleft.Select"Off-axisGuided"fortheguidemethod.FLIProLineandApogeeAltacamerasSomelargeformatsensorsbenefitfromhavingaselectablereadoutmodetoreduceresidualbulkimaging(RBI).SeetheCameraOptionstopicformoreinformation.Maximv5.05/5.06.ThereisabugintroducedinMaximv5.05thatresetstheguiderbinningto1uponprogramrestart.Ifyousimplychangethebinningto2,theguiderwillbesub-framedto1/4oftheactivesensor,resultinginpossiblelossofguidestar.WhenstartingorrestartingtheseversionsofMaxim,besuretoresettheguiderbinningto2andhittheresetbuttontogetyourfullguidechipagain.DiffractionLimitedisawareofthisissueanditwasresolvedinMaxim5.07.OperatingwithAOdevicesandMaximMaximusesasomewhatuniquemethodtodeterminemountbumping.DependingonthecameraandAOinvolved,someadjustmentsmayberequiredtogetsuccessfulmountbumping.Thismayrequirea

combinationofusingMaxim'sOrientation(CameraControlWindow,Setuptab,Optionsbutton,Orientationbox),alongwithpossibleadjustmenttoCCDAutoPilot'sGuiderMethod(Settingspage,Guiderbox).Unfortunately,trialanderrormayberequired.ContactCCDAutoPilotsupportforhelpifneeded.TestinghereandwithsomecustomersindicatesusingASCOMDirect(orTelescope)isafunctionalguidemethodforbumping.SeeMaximHelpforthedifferencebetweenthesetwomodes.Neitherneedsaguidecable.IfyouuseTheSkyControlledTelescopeASCOMdrivertocontrolanME/MXviaTheSkyX,usetheASCOMProfilertoinspecttheentryforthatdriver.intheTelescope-TheSky.Telescopeaddanentrywithavalueof"CanGetPierSide"anddataof"True".SBIGSTF-8300OAGPackageandothersystemsusingtheFW8-STGGuidingFilterWheel.WhenusingthispackagewithanexternalguidersuchastheST-i,selectSelf-GuidedforGuidemode.Eventhoughitisanoff-axisguider,therearetwomirrorsintheguideropticalpath,whichmakesitlooklikeSelf-GuidedtoCCDAutoPilot.SettingtheguidemodetoSelf-Guidedwillaccommodatethis.ThereareotherSBIGguidedfilterwheelvariationsthathaveaguidechipbuiltintothefilterwheel.Inthatcase,thereisasinglemirrorintheguideropticalpathsosettheguidemodetoOff-AxisGuided.(Rule:oddnumberofmirrorsintheguideropticalpath=Off-AxisGuided.Evennumberofmirrors(including0)intheguideropticalpath=Self-Guided.)

SBIGFW8-STG,FW8G-STXLandsimilar.Sincethereisafocalextenderintheexternalguideropticalpath,entertheguiderpixelsizeontheSetuppage,Guiderbox,tobetheactualguiderpixelsizedividedby0.7.Forexample,ifyourguiderdocumentationindicatesthepixelsizeis7.4micron,enter7.4/.7=10.6microns.Iftheguidecameraopticalpathisparalleltotheimagingcameraopticalpath,thereisprobablyanevennumber(2)ofmirrorsintheopticalpathtotheguider.Inthatcase,selectSelf-GuidedastheGuideMode.Iftheguidercameraopticalpathisperpendiculartotheimagingcameraopticalpath,thenthereisanoddnumber(1)ofmirrorsintheopticalpathtotheguider.Inthatcase,selectOff-AxisguiderastheGuideMode.

FocuserNotesIfafocuserworksproperlythroughthefocusprogram,itshouldworkfinethroughCCDAutoPilot.Ifyouareusingtemperaturetodeterminewhentofocus,makesureyouselectthepropertemperaturesourceontheFocusingpage.

SpecificHardwareNotesOptecFocuser:BesuretoturnofftheOptec'stemperaturecompensation.Thefocusercannotberemotelycommandedifitisturnedon.Iftemperaturecompensationisdesirable,useCCDAutoPilot'sinternaltemperaturecompensationroutine.AdvancedCustomization@Focus2andSkyStarfocusingusequeriestoTheSkytodeterminesuitablefocusstars.ThesequeriesarecontainedinsmallfileslocatedintheDocuments\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Focusing\folder.af2.dbqisusedwith@Focus2focusingand4stars.dbqthrough7stars.dbqareusedforFocusingMagnitudeRange"4to7"trough"7to10"respectively.AnyofthesefilescanbeopenedinTheSkyandcustomized.SeeAdvancedDatabaseQueryinTheSkyfordocumentationandsettings.Themostlikelychangetomakeisinthemagnituderange.Forexample,assumingyouareusingTheSkyXand@Focus2.InTheSkyXmenu,selectTools/ManageObservingList.ThenselecttheAdvancedQuerytabandtheOpen/SaveQuerysub-tab.HittheOpenbuttonandnavigatetoDocuments\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Focusing\af2.dbq.TheObjectTypesandDatabasessub-tabwillshowthecatalogsused.Forthisquery,thedefaultisHipparcos-TychoCatalog.Youcanselectothercatalogsifyouwishbutbesuretoselectonethatgivessuitablemagnitudestars.SelecttheFilterssub-tabandyouwillseethedefaultMagnituderangesasshownbelow:

Let'schangethebrightstarmagnitudeof3.5to4.5.Highlightthe"(Magnitude>=3.5)and"entryandhitEdit.Thisbringsupthiswindow:

change"thisvalue"from3.5to4.5andhitOK.ReturntotheOpen/SaveQuerysub-tabandhittheSaveAsbutton.Besuretosaveittothesamefilenameinthesamelocation:

Documents\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Focusing\af2.dbq.CCDAutoPilot5willusetheeditedqueryfiletoselectfocusstarsintherangeof4.5to6.5.Incaseyoumakeamistake,referencecopiesofallthesefilesareavailableintheprogramfolder:C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\andcanbecopiedbacktotheDocuments\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Focusing\folderifnecessary.Again,notethatCCDAutoPilot5willuseonlythequeryfilesasnamedintheDocuments\CCDWare\CCDAutoPilot5\Focusing\folder.Donotrenamethemandexpectthemtobeused.Also,ifyouchangeamagnituderange,itwillnotbereflectedintheSkyStarmagnituderangeofthedropdown.Therange4-7correspondsto4stars.dbq,5-8correspondsto5stars.dbq,etc.Ifyouchange4stars.dbqto3.5to6.5forexample,thedropdownwillstillbe4-7.SorryfortheconfusionbutthereisnowayaroundthissincethedbqformatisproprietarytoSoftwareBisqueandIhavenowayofknowingwhatthespecificqueryis.AnycustomizeddbqfileswillbeoverwrittenbythedefaultfilesduringaCCDAutoPilotupdatesobesuretobackupyourcustomizedfileselsewheresoyoucanputthembackafteranupdate.

RotatorNotesWhenusinganautomatedrotator,itiscriticalthattherotatorrotateintheproperdirection.IfTestRotatorDirectionischeckedontheSetuppage,therotatordirectionwillbecheckedaspartoftheinitializationprocessandyouwillbenotifiedifthedirectionisincorrect.Somerotatorshavenowaytochangethemandarecodedassuch.Othersaresettableandsettingsmustbemadesothatoperationisinthecorrectdirection.Referencestodirectionareviewedfromthecameraendandshouldbeasfollows:

SpecificHardwareNotes

RCOSPIR:Thisisfixedbydesign.CCWrotationshouldresultincreasingpositioncountsordegrees.OptecPyxis:Therearesetupoptions.TheoptionshouldbechoseninwhichCCWrotationresultsinincreasingpositioncountsordegrees.Forthe2"Pyxis,thisisnormallytheReversedirectionandforthe3"Pyxis,thisisnormallythedefaultdirection.DirectionissetontheASCOMPropertiespagefromtheASCOMRotatorChooser.CheckChangeDrivernexttotheRotatorselectionontheCCDAutoPilotSetuppage,Softwarebox.ThechooserwillbecomevisiblewhenLinktoSoftwareishit.AstrodonTAKometer:Bydesignintent,CCWrotationshouldresultinincreasingpositioncountsordegrees.Iftherotatorpositionisnegative,itshouldgetlessnegative;ifitispositive,itshouldgetlarger.Forexample,CCWrotationshouldresultinthepositionmovingfrom-150to-140or30to40.Ifthisisnotthecase,tryloadingfactorydefaultstoseeifthissolvestheissue.DirectionmayalsobechangedbytheRoboFocusControlBox,whichdrivestheTAKometer.Unlikeotherrotators,theTAKometermustbeaccuratelycalibratedtogivegoodresults.FollowtheinstructionsintheTAKometerdocumentation.Onceyouhavecompletedcalibration,rotatetheTAKometerto+180andnotetherotator'sposition,perhapsagainstafixedreference.Thenrotateto-180.TherotatorshouldcometothesamepointIfitdoesnot,re-calibrateasneeded.Ideally,youshouldgetwithin±1degree.

GeneralConsiderationsTherotatordrivershouldbeconnectedonlytoCCDAutoPilot,nothingelse.DonotconnecttherotatortoTheSkyXoranyotherprogram."Norotatorcanservetwomasters!"

CloudSensorNotesCCDAutoPilotaccessestheCloudSensorviatheSingleLineDataFile,asdescribedintheBoltwoodCloudSensordocumentation.Inordertoaccessthecloudsensordata,youmustsetupafilenameandlocationforthisdatafile.Then,CCDAutoPilotmustbetoldwherethisfileislocatedfromtheSettingspage,ControlSettingstab.ThisfilecanbelocatedonaPCdifferentfromtheoneCCDAutoPIlotisrunningon,allowingmultipleobservingsitesatasinglelocationtousethesameCloudSensor.WhenAbortonUpdateLossischecked,therunwillabortifthecloudsensorstopsprovidingupdateddataforthetimeperiodindicated.Formostdedicatedcloudmonitoringprograms,thisupdatetimeshouldbesetto30sec.Insomecases,asforexampletheWeatherWatcherdescribedbelow,thistimeshouldbelonger.

SpecificHardwareNotesBoltwoodCloudSensor:Makesureyourtemperaturesettingsforcloudyandverycloudyaresetproperlytoindicatetheappropriateconditions.Youmayneedtoadjustthesesettingsseasonally.CloudWatcher:TheCloudWatchersupportscompletenetworkedoperationsuchthateachclientcansettheirownthresholdsforwhatconstitutescloudyandverycloudy.ThisequipmentprovidesCloudSensorIfunctionality,i.e.monitoringofskytemperaturetodeterminecloudyconditionsandarainsensor.WeatherWatcher:WhenintegratedwithCloudWatcherandanappropriatecommercialweatherstation,aCloudSensorIIcompatibleSingleLineDataFilecanbeusedforCCDAutoPilotinput.ThisconfigurationaddshumidityandwindspeedfromtheweatherstationtocloudandrainmonitoringfromCloudWatcher.BecauseweatherstationsupdatetheirdatalessfrequentlythanCloudWatcher,youmayneedtoadjustthetimeoutinAbortonUpdateLoss.Youshouldsetthetimetobe3timestheweatherstationupdatetime.Forexample,iftheweatherstationfastestupdateisonceperminute,setthetimeoutto180sec.

DomeNotes

CCDAutoPilotmakeseveryattempttoworkwithavailabledomes.Someautomationinterfacesaremorerobustthanothers.UsethetestbuttonstoverifyCCDAutoPilotcanoperatethedomerotationandopenandclosetheshutters.Ifthosebuttonsdon'thavethedesiredresult,thereisnowayCCDAutoPilotcancausethoseactionstohappen.IfyouareusingAutomaDome,don'tsettheupdatetimetooshort.Longertimes,8-10minutesorso,seemtogivemorereliableoperation.

ProgramSettingsStorage

Beforethisrelease,CCDAutoPilotstoredsomeprogramsettingsintheWindowsregistry.Microsoftisstronglyrecommendingagainstdoingthisforsecurityreasons.Startingwiththisrelease,CCDAutoPilotwilluseanapprovedmethodofsavingprogramsettings.Theafftectedsettingsare:

SystemProfileTargetDatabaseDefaultASCOMdriverID'sforDome,Focuser,Rotator,andTelescope.StartingSequenceNumberSetupandRunwindowsizeandlocationUpdatepreferences

Whenfirststarted,thisandsubsequentversionsofCCDAutoPilotwillbehaveasanewinstallation,settingupdefaultsystemprofileandtargetdatabase.Torestoreyourdesiredsettings,youwillneedtodothefollowingonetimeafterstarting:1.FromtheCCDAutoPilotmenu,loadyourdesiredsystemprofileandtargetdatabase.2.OntheSetuppageandIfASCOMisusedfordome,focuser,rotatorand/ortelescope,youwillbepromptedtoselectyourdesireddriver(s)fortheappropriatesettingsintheSoftwarebox.3.OntheSettingspage,FileSettingstab,selectyourdesiredStartingSequenceNumber.4.PositionandsizetheCCDAutoPilotmainwindowandsessionwindoasdesired.5.Ifnecessary,specifyyourUpdatesettingsfromtheCCDAutoPilotmenu,Help/GetUpdatesfromWeb.(Ifyouareunsureofyoursettingsforstep1-3,consultyourmostrecentlogforthesevalues.)WhenCCDAutoPilotisclosed,allofthesesettingswillbemaintainedandregistryreadandwriteswillnolongerbeused.InordertoresetCCDAutoPilot,useHelp/Troubleshooting/ResetfromtheCCDAutoPilotmenu.IfyouareunabletostartCCDAutoPilot,holddowntheControlkeyonthekeyboardwhiledouble-clickingontheCCDAutoPiloticon.TheCCDAutoPilotResetfunctionwillnolongerbepresentontheWindowsstartmenu.

Focusing