Contents - Index

Walk through

Installation
CCDAutoPilot is an executive program.  This means it controls other programs that must be properly installed and up and running before CCDAutoPilot is launched.  Depending on your installed software, certain underlying applications must be installed first.

1. Install .Net 2.0 framework.  This is normally installed as part of the Windows Update process.  If you have TheSky6 installed, the .NET framework is installed as part of it.  To see if it is already present, go to Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs and scroll down the list.  If .NET 2.0 is installed, you will see an entry for Microsoft .NET framework 2.0.  If the entry is present, then close the Add/Remove Programs window.  If it is not present, install it using the link found in Software Requirements

2. If needed, install the latest ASCOM platform, including the Kepler and NOVAS utilities.  Links are found in Software Requirements

3. Extract the CCDAutoPilot set up files to a new folder and double-click on setup.  When the setup completes, you will find a CCDAutoPilot3 icon on your desktop.

4. If you are using Software Bisque applications such as TheSky and/or CCDSoft, you must enable the underlying software communication system for the Software Bisque applications. For TheSky, ensure in Telescope | Server Settings that all boxes checked. "Log Current Telescope Connection..." is not necessary to be checked. For CCDSoft (if installed), ensure in Camera | Server Settings that all boxes checked except two. "Make BMP copy" and "Make GIF Thumbnail Copy" must not be checked. If they are checked, CCDAutoPilot will uncheck them.  In CCDSoft, File | Preferences, be sure you have selected TheSky6 Professional edition.  In order for SkyStar to properly function, in TheSky6, Telescope | Setup, be sure to uncheck "Always keep telescope crosshairs on screen".

5. In your chosen camera control program(s), be sure to enter your telescope focal length for camera (and guider if different) and your filter names.  CCDAutoPilot needs this data for proper operation.


First Time Users
First time users and experienced CCDAutoPilot users are encouraged to go through the next steps.  There are many new features and capabilities that can best be understood by going through these steps.
It is not necessary to connect to anything to set up a run.  CCDAutoPilot has a set of default binning and filter assignments that may or may not agree with your specific camera.  Once you connect CCDAutoPilot to your camera via your camera control program for the first time, the filter and binning selections will be updated and stored.  To orient yourself to the program, step through the various pages using the buttons at the lower left.  CCDAutoPilot follows a logical flow to set up an automation session.

1. CCDAutoPilot opens with the Settings page.  Here you define the basics of your system - software, equipment and configuration.

2. The Targets page is where you would select your target(s) for the evening.  Using the Add button, you can add a target manually.  If you use TheSky6 and are connected to it, you can get a target a number of ways using the power of TheSky6.  A selected target's ephemeris is provided with customizable midpoints.  For reference, the sun and moon rise and set times are provided to aid in target planning.

3. The next thing to consider is how and when to focus during the run.  The Focusing page brings up a host of options for maximum focusing flexibility.  The little buttons with the inverted triangle on them are like ditto marks.  They copy the first entry to all the entries below as an editing aid.

4. Having determined your focusing strategy, your Tracking and Guiding decisions are next.  Depending on whether you choose guided or unguided operation, you can select dithering, meridian flip (with an equatorial mount of course) and guide exposures.

5. Now we are ready to select the Light Frames.  Your target(s) will be available in the top pull down.  You can select each target and assign it a specific light frame sequence, as defined by the eight series below.  Checking the left box activates the series and you can control the number per series, filter, exposure, binning and even whether or not to focus at the start of each series.  You can also set how many times to repeat each series set on the page.

6. Next we select our Dark & Bias Frames for calibration.  You can select whether to take them before or after the light frames or at both points.  You can select bias or dark frames.  And of course all the normal number, binning, filter and exposure selections are available.  Depending on your imaging camera, you may want to enable the Flush series.  This series is run once before every series set to help remove any residual image (stored charge) in the imager's CCD array.  And as with the Lights Frame, you can also set how many times to repeat each series on the page.

7. The last set of calibration frames are Flat Frames.  Flat frame acquisition was once a tedious operation at best but is now streamlined by CCDAutoPilot by its automatic exposure facility.  For each flat series, you specify the number, filter, binning and target ADU level and CCDAutoPilot does the rest.  You can specify dusk or dawn flats or both and they will be automatically taken at the appropriate point in the twilight sky - automatically!  For extra critical flat field matching to your target, you can even specify the position angle to match your target exposures.  You can either have tracking on or off for flat acquisition.  If you have tracking on, you can dither between flats to remove any stray stars that appear during twilight.  If you use a light box instead, you can put the light box on your scope and hit the Flat Frames Now button to acquire them with the same ease as sky flats.

8. Having defined all the required data and method of acquiring it, the Options page is the next stop.  The session is divided into 3 sections.  At the end of each section, a user-supplied program can be run if desired.  A fully configured flow could be something like this:
  • Open the dome, wait until 5 PM for the dome to cool down and then start the camera cooler at a setting of -10°C.  After cooling to the desired temperature and before twilight is over, take dusk flats.
  • Take some dark and bias frames and then the desired light frame.  Then park the mount, take some more darks until twilight.  Abort any remaining darks at twilight.  Slew to the appropriate point in the sky and take the desired dawn flats.
  • Repark the mount, close the dome, turn off the cooler and run any additional housekeeping application desired.

    Thus an entire evenings activities can be planned here.
    Now, notice the Image Managementt box.  In addition to setting the exposure's starting serial number, a very powerful default storage mechanism is provided.  First set the base or root imaging folder, C:\Astronomy in this example.  Assume today's date is January 15, 2006, you are imaging M1 and M2, and the Auto-generate sub folders is checked.  Your entire imaging run will be stored as follows:

    Light Frames : C:\Astronomy\060115_M1 for the M1 light frames 
                    and C:\Astronomy\060115_M2 for the M2 light frames.
    Bias, Dark and Flat calibration frames: C:\Astronomy\060115_CalibrationFrames
    CCDAutoPilot log files: C:\Astronomy\CCDAutoPilot_Logs

    The Test box allows testing of your hardware in response to typical CCDAutoPilot generated functions via the appropriate camera control program.  You should test each function to make sure the hardware responds appropriately before committing to an unattended operation.

    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.

    The Resources box allows saving any desired links to Sky Conditions and Weather you may desire.


    9. Having set everything up, the Run Session page gives a preview of the run and the setup.  Look both over for any warning messages before initiating the session via the Run Session.  It is grayed out since there is no camera control program connected.

    This completes the orientation.  To increase your familiarity with the program, try running some sessions with a simulated camera and telescope.  Here is some outline information on how to set up the simulators. You must use the minimum versions specified in Software Requirements.  You can of course use more recent versions.  CCDAutoPilot's operation will be inhibited for out-of-revision applications.  For more details, refer to the individual application's documentation: 
  • CCDSoft: Open the Camera Control Window and select the Setup tab. For the Camera, select "Simulator". Select the radio button for AutoGuider and again select "Simulator". For the Filter Wheel, select "CFWAPI". You can change the filter names to something meaningful. For the Focuser, select "<None Selected>"   Select the autoguider radio button and again select Simulator for the Camera.
  • Maxim: Open the Camera Control Window and select the Setup tab. For the Main CCD Camera, hit the Setup button and select Simulator. For the Autoguider, hit the setup button and select "Same as main camera". For the Filter Wheel, hit the Setup button and select "Simulator". You can change the filter names to something meaningful. 
  • TheSky6: Go to Telescope | Setup and select "Simulator" for the Telescope. 
    First, set up your base image folder on the Options tab.  Check Auto-generate sub-folders.  You can experiment with acquiring targets using TheSky6.  Click on get and see the FOV Center target acquired.  Enter M1 and hit enter to see the coordinates for M1 entered.  Try setting up a mosaic and acquiring the points of the mosaic.  Set up a single, brief exposure in the lights tab and watch the telescope slew to the mosaic point.  Try obtaining some dark and bias frames before and after the lights.  Check your base images folder to see how sub-folders are automatically created and note the default file names.  Try entering your own descriptions for light frames and calibration frames to see how the file names are created in that case. 
    In short, the best way to get familiar with CCDAutoPilot's capabilities is to play with it with the simulators.  There is context sensitive help available from most points in the program.  Click on a form or function and hit F1 to get information specific to that item.  And feel free to take advantage of our support forum and other resources linked at www.ccdware.com