Contents - Index

Options

This page gives you the ability to completely customize the session to your needs and your systems capabilities.  The session is roughly divided into three phase, each with their own set of customization options and each include the ability to launch a user-provided program at the conclusion of each phase.


Startup
These tasks are run before any calibration frames or exposures take place



  • Begin Session at a specified starting time: When checked, the session will start at the specified time
  • Begin Session at a number of minutes relative to Sunset: When checked, the session will start the specified number of minutes before (-) or after (+) sunset.  Note that only one of the two Begin Session options can be checked.
  • Open Dome: When checked and connected to appropriate dome automation software, the dome shutter will be opened at the session start time.  If the dome fails to open, the run will abort.
  • Cooler start Delay: When checked, this will allow the cooler to come on after the specified number of minutes delay and at the specified set point.  The delay is defined as the time from the previously completed startup task.  If this is the first checked task, it will be measured from session start.
  • Wait up to: CCDAutoPilot will wait up to the specified number of minutes for the cooler to reach the set point specified above.  As soon as the set point is reached, the session will continue; if the set point is not reached in the after the specfied number of minutes, the session will continue.
  • Run: When checked, the application in the space provided will be run.  Navigate to this application by using the file open button.  The run will not proceed until this application completes and closes.


    After Lights
    These tasks are run at the conclusion of the light frames and before any calibration frames are acquired after the light frames.


  • Park Telescope: When checked, the telescope will be parked at its user-defined park position
  • Telescope Tracking Off: If desired, or if the mount doesn't support parking, the telescope tracking will be turned off, leaving the telescope in its current position.
  • Close Dome before Dawn Flats: When checked, the dome shutter will be closed.  This option could be used either when no dawn flats are planned and only dark and bias frames are needed.
  • Run: When checked, the application in the space provided will be run.  Navigate to this application by using the file open button.  The run will not proceed until this application completes and closes.


    Shutdown
    These tasks are run after all scheduled calibration frames are completed.


  • Abort Light and Dark Frames at Twilight: When checked, any light and dark frames being taken at the start of twilight will be aborted.  This box is automatically checked if any dawn flats are selected.
  • Re-park Telescope after Dawn Flats: When checked, the telescope will return to its park position after dawn flats are completed.
  • Telescope Tracking Off after Dawn Flats: If desired, or if the mount doesn't support parking, the telescope tracking will be turned off, leaving the telescope in its current position.
  • Close Dome after Dawn Flats: When checked, the dome shutter will be closed at the conclusion of dawn flats.
  • Cooler Warmup: When checked, the camera cooler set point will be set to +25°C.  This is done in place of merely turning the cooler off in case the camera's driver controls the cooler ramp-up.  This becomes more important in large chip cameras.  In such cases, wait for the cooloer duty cycle to get to 0% before turning off the camera.
  • Run: When checked, the application in the space provided will be run.  Navigate to this application by using the button.  The run will not complete until this application completes and closed.


    Cloud Sensor
    This option refers to the cloud sensor, if installed, reporting a cloudy sky condition.  See the Boltwood Cloud Sensor topic.



    If Pause is checked, the run will pause for the specified number of minutes to wait for the clouds to clear.  If they clear in that period of time, the run resumes.  If they do not, the run aborts and the appropriate user-specified shutdown tasks are executed.  If pause is not checked, then the appropriate user-specified shutdown tasks are executed immediately upon the cloud sensor reporting a cloudy condition.

    Limits


  • Min. Alt: Sets the minimum altitude to which CCDAutoPilot will slew the telescope.  If Min. Alt is set to 0, there will be no minimum altitude limit applied.


    Image Management
    These options provide image folder locations and enable the starting sequence number to be set.


  • Starting Sequence Number: This entry will be the sequence number of the first exposure taken in the series.  The number is maintained in the registry so that all exposures in a consecutive period are assured of having a unique identity.  While it is possible to edit this entry, it is recommended it be left intact so that the chance of over-writing previous data is minimized.
  • Images Folder: This is the root or base folder in which all exposure files are located.  Using the button, navigate to the desired base folder for your images.
  • Auto-generate sub-folders: When checked, this powerful option will arrange your exposures in an easy-to-use and logical manner, without your having to worry about folder names.  The Images Folder specified above will be the base.  Light frames will be located in a folder with the name <yymmdd><Target>.  Calibration frames, consisting of dark frames, bias frames and flat frames, will be located in a folder with the name <yymmdd>_CalibrationFrames.  And all CCDAutoPilot logs will be located in a folder with the name CCDAutoPilot_Logs.

    Here is an example.  Assume you have defined your Images Folder as C:\Astronomy and on January 22, 2006, you imaged M42 and M78.  At the end of your automated run, you will find the following folders created with the appropriate data in them:

    Light frames: C:\Astronomy\060122_M42 and C:\Astronomy\060122_M78
    Calibration frames: C:\Astronomy\060122_CalibrationFrames
    And your log for the night's activities will be in C:\Astronomy\CCDAutoPilot_Logs


    Test
    These buttons cause the indicated actions to be performed.  They may be used to test communications to the ultimate hardware through the various software layers before committing to an automated run.  It is recommended this facility be used whenever hardware changes or a suspicion of things not going right arises.

    IMPORTANT: CCDAutoPilot can only send the Tracking Off and Park command to your telescope control program. It is your responsibility to verify that your mount behaves properly when it receives these commands. Please take advantage of the Test buttons to verify proper communications with your mount and dome. Hit these buttons one at a time to test whether your chosen telescope control program turns off tracking or parks the mount. If you don't get the expected results, consult the manufacturer of your telescope control program for support. CCDAutoPilot sends standard commands for tracking off and park in accordance with ASCOM and TheSky6's defined interfaces.


  • Park: This button should send the mount to its park position.  With most telescope control programs and/or mounts, this park position must be pre-defined by the user.
  • Tracking On: This button should turn the mount tracking on.
  • Tracking Off: This button should turn the mount tracking off. 
  • Guider Alarm: This gives an example of the alarm that sounds when guiding fails and the AGRS cannot restore it.  This button can be used to set the sound level desired.
  • Alarm Off: This turns off the alarm.
  • Move Dome: This is a simple test of slewing the dome.  Hitting this button should move the dome 15° clockwise.
  • Open Dome: This button should open the dome shutter.
  • Close Dome: This button should close the dome shutter.


    Resources
    The desired URL's for your Sky Conditions and Weather can be entered here for easy access anywhere within CCDAutoPilot.


  • Sky Conditions: Enter or paste the URL of a site that indicates your sky conditions.  A nearby Clear Sky Clock is handy for this in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Weather: Enter or paste the URL of your favorite weather site.