Date
1 - 11 of 11
question re a preplanned observing session...
|
Roland Christen
In a message dated 9/17/2008 6:47:14 AM Central Daylight Time,
phil.dombrowski@... writes: Dear Howard, Roland & any group member that knows the answer to myThere is no function like that in the AP servo or keypad. However, what you are describing is a scripting program. I know Bob Denny sells one. You will need a laptop to run a scripting program. Anyone out there have any other software recommendations? Rolando ************** Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)
|
|
|
|
Roland Christen
Digital Sky Voice, which we used to provide with our mounts, also has a
planned observing feature. Rolando ************** Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)
|
|
|
|
philipdombrowski <phil.dombrowski@...>
Dear Howard, Roland & any group member that knows the answer to my
question.... If I am doing a nightly sequence of variable star observations is there a way to have a preplanned (pre-programmed) sequence of targets so that I can simply go from one star to the next without having to enter the RA & DEC of each target star? On any given night I may want to do 15 variable stars and it would be most desirable to go from one star to the next without the re entering of coordinates. Earlier Vstar observers would likely tell me that a "good" observer would just know how to get from one star to the next from my knowledge of the night sky! However, I would like to take advantage of the AP1200's full capabilities. Many of my target stars are in fields were I am looking for a target that my only be 12th mag or fainter. A feature that may already be on the AP1200 that I am unaware of would be rather "cushy". I very much appreciate your response. Phil Dombrowski Glastonbury, CT
|
|
|
|
Dean S
Hi Phil,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Have you considered an automation program like CCDCommander? It is very easy to learn, will do multiple targets, focus with Focusmax, plate solve, etc. I had it doing that my first night and got all objects in the center of the CCD. The program itself is not expensive by todays standards, and Matt offers a free trial. Dean
----- Original Message -----
From: "philipdombrowski" <phil.dombrowski@...> To: <ap-gto@...> Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 7:46 AM Subject: [ap-gto] question re a preplanned observing session... Dear Howard, Roland & any group member that knows the answer to my
|
|
|
|
Mark Galiyano Jr <mgjr@...>
Bob Denny's ACP is an automated imaging system. I think Starry Night allows
the creation of observing lists that could be prepared ahead of time, and selected and slewed to during the observing session. Mark _____ From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...] On Behalf Of chris1011@... Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 10:53 AM To: ap-gto@... Subject: Re: [ap-gto] question re a preplanned observing session... In a message dated 9/17/2008 6:47:14 AM Central Daylight Time, phil.dombrowski@ <mailto:phil.dombrowski%40cox.net> cox.net writes: Dear Howard, Roland & any group member that knows the answer to myThere is no function like that in the AP servo or keypad. However, what you are describing is a scripting program. I know Bob Denny sells one. You will need a laptop to run a scripting program. Anyone out there have any other software recommendations? Rolando ************** Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelis <http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014> t.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)
|
|
|
|
The next full version of the keypad firmware, v.4.20 will also have a
"bookmarking" feature that will allow up to 50 objects or custom RA / Dec coordinates to be assembled into a list like you want. This would eliminate the need for an external computer. Contact me at A-P for more information. Mag. 7 skies! Howard Hedlund Astro-Physics, Inc. 815-282-1513 ________________________________ From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...] On Behalf Of philipdombrowski Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 6:47 AM To: ap-gto@... Subject: [ap-gto] question re a preplanned observing session... Dear Howard, Roland & any group member that knows the answer to my question.... If I am doing a nightly sequence of variable star observations is there a way to have a preplanned (pre-programmed) sequence of targets so that I can simply go from one star to the next without having to enter the RA & DEC of each target star? On any given night I may want to do 15 variable stars and it would be most desirable to go from one star to the next without the re entering of coordinates. Earlier Vstar observers would likely tell me that a "good" observer would just know how to get from one star to the next from my knowledge of the night sky! However, I would like to take advantage of the AP1200's full capabilities. Many of my target stars are in fields were I am looking for a target that my only be 12th mag or fainter. A feature that may already be on the AP1200 that I am unaware of would be rather "cushy". I very much appreciate your response. Phil Dombrowski Glastonbury, CT
|
|
|
|
Hi, Phil:
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
You might want to acquaint yourself with Paul Rodman's AstroPlanner (see <http://www.ilangainc.com/astroplanner>). It is an observing planning and logging application with lots of functionality, including the capacity to send goto commands to A-P GTO mounts. You could easily compile an observing plan for your variable star targets on a given night, sort them by virtually any criterion (culmination time, RA, constellation, etc.), and then slew to each object from within the application. Paul Rodman is the Roland Christen of observing software, in that he constantly monitors the AstroPlanner users group and responds to questions, problems, or concerns nearly instantly and with great patience. I can't recommend the application more highly. (Oh, yes, it also runs on both Mac and Windows computers!) Hope this helps, Eric Baumgartner Redding, CT
On 9/17/08 10:53 AM, "chris1011@..." <chris1011@...> wrote:
In a message dated 9/17/2008 6:47:14 AM Central Daylight Time,
|
|
|
|
Hank Sielski
Phil,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
While I and others are looking forward to the new version (4.20) of the keypad software, as well as the new AP Control Center, for now, I want to second Eric's recommendation of AstroPlanner. In its current form, it has tremendous capabilities. In addition to the pre-planned observing list, it has more than 125 catalogues that you can download and use with your studies, so you may not have to id your targets with just RA and Dec. You can download a free trial version of 1.6.1 (no telescope control in the free version, I think, though), but if you decide to buy and test out the telescope control, it doesn't cost much ($35, I think). And if you register now, I think you'll get a free upgrade to the forthcoming V2 (almost in beta now), which promises to be even better...and as Eric says, Paul Rodman's support is right up there with AP's... Good luck, Hank
On Wed, Sep 17, 2008 at 9:48 AM, Eric Baumgartner <malkasten@...>wrote:
Hi, Phil:
|
|
|
|
ayiomamitis
Howard,
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
This is awesome! Will this feature be replacing an existing list or is it simply an addition? Anyway, I would certainly be interested in any further details you may have available. Anthony.
--- In ap-gto@..., "Howard" <howard@...> wrote:
|
|
|
|
eugene roeschlein
Hey There
What ever happened to Digital Sky Voice ?? Used it a lot when I first got it and still use it at times Thought it was really neat Gene R --- In ap-gto@..., chris1011@... wrote: has a planned observing feature.
|
|
|
|
ebuehrens
Phil, you should look at SkyTools
(http://www.skyhound.com/skytools.html) by Greg Crinklaw. It's not clear from your message whether you want to simply avoid punching RA & DEC info into the keypad for every star, or actually script the mount to move through a sequence of objects without human intervention, as would be desirable for a remote observatory. SkyTools does the former brialliantly, and building an observing list filtered for the variables you want to observe is very straightforward and rapid. Then you use the SkyTools "RealTime" plugin, which is an ASCOM driver, to drive the mount. Slewing from object to object is by pushing the space bar on your laptop - it could not be easier. It does not do scripting but there is a new version about to be released that will emphasize imaging capabilities more - perhaps this will be added. It's pretty much all I use for visual observing with my AP1200 and 10" Mak-Cass. Eric www.taconicobservatory.com --- In ap-gto@..., "philipdombrowski" <phil.dombrowski@...> wrote:
|
|
|