Contents - Index

Version History

4.23.3    April 14, 2011
  • For Licensed Users Only
  • Bug fix: Correct error in G2V measurement when using ASCOM for telescope control
  • Change: Align observatory to occur before telescope slew settling time to allow for dome to rotate if necessary
  • Change: Improve Precision Slew accuracy when used with TheSkyX

    4.23.2    February 17, 2011
  • Bug fix: Allow cooler warmup when artificial flats is selected

    4.23.1    February 8, 2011
  • Bug fix: Prevent error with no focus star X,Y coordinates entered.

    4.23.0    January 19, 2011
  • Enhancement: Restore TheSky's position after TheSky lookups
  • Enhancement: Increase Sky Flat Exposure resolution to .01 sec.
  • Enhancement: AO Reset of AGSR activation.
  • Enhancement: Use more aggressiver CFZ calculation per Goldman S&T article
  • Bug fix: Add scroll bar option to Preferences page when resizing main window.

    4.22.9    November 6, 2010
  • Enhancement: Change focus timeout to 7.5 minutes for slow focusers
  • Bug fix: Resolve Error 1006 from CCDSoft with some configurations when starting guider.

    4.22.8    October 25, 2010
  • Enhancement: Added settling time to AGSR.
  • Bug fix: UCAC3 selection caused a system profile load failure
  • Bug fix: Focus offsets not showing minus sign for large offsets.
  • Bug fix: Focus timeout reset to 5 minutes.

    4.22.7    October 14, 2010
  • Bug fix: TheSkyX version number not being properly recognized when ASCOM/TheSky was selected.

    4.22.6    October 12, 2010
  • Enhancement: Focus offset range increased to +/-9999
  • Bug fix: Corrected version routine to allow operation with comma as decimal separator
  • Bug fix: Suggested move times now agree with CCDWare web site.

    4.22.5    October 8, 2010
  • Enhancement: SkyStar focus stars must be over 3 degrees from target coordinates.

    4.22.4    October 4, 2010
  • Bug fix: CCDSoft/TheSky6/TheSkyX integration not being properly maintained.

    4.22.3    September 28, 2010
  • Enhancement: increased resolution and/or range on Focusing temperature, min. and max. Flat exposure
  • Bug fix: fixed guider restart after meridian flip with photometry option.

    4.22.2    August 19,2010
  • Bug fix: Change "Use Input File" to "Use Control File" for consistency
  • Bug fix: Correct unhandled exception with meridian flip, AO, Maxim

    4.22.1    July 13, 2010
  • Bug fix: Correct Win 7 update bug (dang!)

    4.22.0    July 11, 2010
  • Enhancement: Added support for TheSkyX Professional.  See Software Settings for important information.  before using TheSkyX.  You will need TheSkyX Pro Build 3952 or later, which should be in the next Software Bisque maintenance release as v 10.1.9, to park after light frames and park again after dawn flats.  To use an earlier build, turn off Revision Checking, avoid using Park While Waiting, use Turn off Tracking instead and only park at the end of the session.  Also, see Plate Solving to take advantage of the greatly improved CCDSoft/TheSky plate solving capability.
  • Enhancement: Added UCAC3 catalog support for PinPoint.  Requires PinPoint version 5.1 or later.
  • Bug fix: Fixes early trial period termination for trial users.
  • Bug fix: Correct CCDNavigator plan import with no filter wheel.
  • Bug fix: Enhanced version checking to recognize more versioning variations.

    4.21.9    June 10, 2010
  • Bug fix: Unable to start CCDAutoPilot under some circumstances.
  • Enhancement: Bad weather abort will now stop an exposure in progress.

    4.21.8    May 27, 2010
  • Bug fix: Correct internal build error.

    4.21.7    May 26, 2010
  • Bug fix: Enhanced version reporting under 64-bit OS.
  • Bug fix: Flat readout modes with Maxim not being properly set.

    4.21.6 May 13, 2010
  • Bug fix: CCDNavigator session plan file filter broadened to select all xml files.

    4.21.5    May 11, 2010
  • Bug fix: Abort exposure in process of control file calls for a session abort.

    4.21.4    April 29, 2010
  • Enhancement: Add ability to turn off plate solving for CCDSoft and shutterless cameras.  See Plate Solving

    4.21.3    April 20, 2010
  • Enhancement: Add with sync option to precision slew to focus star
  • Bug fix: Prevent SkyStar warning in Review Setup when ASCOM/TheSky6 is selected.

    4.21.2    April 5, 2010
  • Bug fix: @Focus2 not being allowed when it should have been
  • Bug fix: Show sun ephemeris data.

    4.21.1    April 1, 2010
  • Bug fix: ASCOM rotator not reporting position, correct error message

    4.21.0    March 31, 2010
  • Bug fix: Allow @Focus2 with ASCOM/TheSky6 during session run
  • Bug fix: Prevent slew abort during weather event.

    4.20.9    March 27, 2010
  • Bug fix: ASCOM/TheSky6 doesn't need Kepler/NOVAS
  • Bug fix: Allow @Focus2 for ASCOM/TheSky6

    4.20.8    March 20, 2010
  • Enhancement: Added a Telescope Control option to combine ASCOM telescope control with TheSky.  See Telescope
  • Enhancement: Increased max flat ADU target to 60,000.
  • Enhancement: Minimum number of stars for an acceptable plate solution is now adjustable.  See Plate Solving
  • Enhancement: Dawn flats will abort if sun is 10 degrees above the dusk altitude specified on the Preferences page.  See SkyFlat Settings
  • Enhancement: Import and Export of text files changed to handle ',' as decimal character.  See Targets Menu
  • Bug fix: Improved accuracy of moon rise and set times.
  • Bug fix: Corrected read noise measurement for binned imagers. See Sub-Exposure Calculator
  • Bug fix: Setting guide exposure to 0 on lights page will now properly result in series being unguided.  Requires CCDSoft 5.00.192 or later.
  • Bug fix: Shouldn't require PinPoint or Flip-Flat, if selected, be installed for Planing mode.  Fixed. 

    4.20.7    February 18, 2010
  • Enhancement: Accommodate new Maxim 5.08 guide speed scaling.  Earlier versions of Maxim still supported.

    4.20.6    February 15, 2010
  • Bug fix: Correct CCDN filter name mismatch trapping logic

    4.20.5    February 15, 2010
  • Bug fix: Prevent spurous plate solve attempt when changing to Run Session page under some circumstances

    4.20.4    February 4, 2010
  • Enhancement: Add confirmation dialog on Apply To All button on Targets page.
  • Enhancement: Add cooler temperature and power percentage to log where supported by camera control program.
  • Enhancement: Add warning for filter name mismatch on CCDNavigator import.
  • Enhancement: Flip-Flat now closes immediately aftere lights run and before park.
  • Enhancement: Add KAF8300 to sensor list on Tools page.  Use sensor maximum values where specified by vendor.
  • Bug fix: Correct number of darks calculation based in master darks being correlated.  See Sub-Exposure Calculator.

    4.20.3    January 18, 2010
  • Enhancement: Show solar altitude in log for all successfully acquired sky flats. See Sun Altitude.
  • Bug fix: email not being sent on guide star failure

    4.20.2    December 28, 2009
  • Enhancement: Prevent entering anything other than 8 or 16 for Guider A/D bits/pixel

    4.20.1    December 15, 2009
  • Enhancement: Added code to prevent FocusMax corrupting Maxim exposure settings
  • Bug fix: Prevent exception if Focus Before Target Start is checked without a filter wheel

    4.20.0   December 9, 2009
  • Enhancement: Use J2000 coordinates for RA, Dec kewords in FITS header
  • Enhancement: Do precision slew if user specified Focus at Series Start and doesn't connect a focuser
  • Enhancement: Revised AO calibration routine when used with ST-4000
  • Enhancement: ASCOM sends telescope coordinates in mount-specified equinox if supported in driver
  • Enhancement: Now requires NOVAS-COM 2.1.  Users should upgrade if necessary.  See Software Requirements
  • Enhancement: Updates now downloads a complete installer to update an installation.  Required for Windows 7. See Updates
  • Enhancement: Precision slew is now used to improve return to target accuracy when Focuser Program Picks Star is used (e.g. AcquireStar).
  • Bug fix: Fixed issues with ASCOM telescope slew

    4.16.0    October 25, 2009
  • Bug fix: Remove Map entry on Options page.  Remove spurious log entry if Map Pixels is not checked.
  • Bug fix: Correct ReverseX guiding error when no rotator is used
  • Bug fix: Correct error when loading a new system profile from other than the settings page.

    4.15.9    October 10, 2009
  • Enhancement: autodarks are now used during RGB (G2V) target star selection
  • Enhancement: If Flats at park position is checked, park after target run will automatically be checked
  • Enhancement: Added support for Maxim's Remove Bad Pixels during image acquisition.  See Customizations.
  • Bug fix: Resolved PinPoint plate solving errors with non-US versions of Windows

    4.15.8    September 22, 2009
  • Enhancement: Account for long exposure and long focus time when approaching meridian flip time
  • Enhancement: Use Equipment Settings FL is imager FL is not entered in camera control program setup
  • Enhancement: Maxim 5.07 appropriated FOCUSPOS keyword.  CCDAP will now use FOCUSER.
  • Enhancement: Added global error handling facility
  • Enhancement: Allow ":" in manually entered RA and Dec coordinates
  • Enhancement: If with sync is checked on the Targets page, a sync will be performed when returning to the target from a SkyStar focusing run.
  • Enhancement: Allow darks to proceed after a cloud abort.
  • Enhancement: Warm up cooler at the conclusion of the session after a cloud abort.
  • Enhancement: Skip plate solve before focusing if SkyStar is used and the first active series contains a focus at series start
  • Enhancement: Add option to stop mount tracking while waiting for clouds to clear.  See Preferences.
  • Enhancement: Always use specifed coordinates for target coordinates.  Saves a plate solve.
  • Enhancement: When autoguide exposure is used, it now starts at the minimum user-specified exposure.
  • Enhancement: Added customization options for simple file names and cooler set point recovery.  See Customization.
  • Enhancement: Initialization enhanced for increased reliability.  Cardinal point warning added for CCDSoft initialization.
  • Enhancement: Plate solving reports number of stars used in solution and rejects solutions with insufficient number of stars.
  • Enhancement: Plate Solving Notes topic added to the help file
  • Bug fix: Corrected unhandled exception errors in 4.15.5 and 4.15.6
  • Bug fix: Default folder names - all calibration frames are now stored in a calibration folder whose date stamp agrees with the date stamp of the target (data) folder, regardless when the calibration frames were taken in the course of the evening.

    4.15.7    July 23, 2009
  • 4.15.5 and 4.15.6 changes removed pending further testing.

    4.15.6    July 9, 2009
  • Bug fix: Corrected focus deferral near meridian calculation.

    4.15.5    July 6, 2009
  • Enhancement: Added protection against long focus times impacting meridian flip
  • Bug fix: Default folder names - all calibration frames are now stored in a calibration folder whose date stamp agrees with the date stamp of the target (data) folder, regardless when the calibration frames were taken in the course of the evening.

    4.15.4    June 16, 2009
  • Enhancement: Added log parser utility.  This requires downloading the utility from the CCDAutoPilot4 support forum (search for Log Parser) or downloading the latest build from http://www.ccdware.com/downloads/
  • Enhancement: ResetAO is performed prior to precision slew
  • Bug fix: Exposure delay wasn't being set properly if automatic guide star exposure was used.

    4.15.3    May 29, 2009
  • Bug fix: Average altitude and extinction coefficients being improperly calculated under some conditions

    4.15.2    May 16, 2009
  • Changed Maxim guide error reporting to accommodate differences between Maxim v4.xx and v5.xx

    4.15.1    May 9, 2009
  • Enhancement: Sky flats can now be taken automatically at dawn in reverse order from dusk with an optional 180 degree rotation.  See Dusk Order in the  Flat Frames command summary.  The flat measurement technique has changed.
  • Enhancement: Sky flat measurements now taken at the center of the sensor.  Improvements in efficiency as well.
  • Enhancement: Automatic guide star measurement now starts at minimum specified exposure time.  
  • Bug fix: Corrected plan estimate to count focus at series start properly.
  • Bug fix: Mount tracking was not turning off at some points.
  • Bug fix: Maxim guide error measurement not reporting corrected.  Added check and log entry for guide star fade.  Also, see Maxim v5.05/5.06 note for important Maxim information.

    4.15.0    April 11, 2009
  • Enhancement: Integrated support added for the Flip-Flat, a programmable artificial light source for flat field generation.
  • Bug fix: Fixed turning on tracking for sky flats
  • Bug fix: Eliminated sunrise testing for artificial flats
  • Bug fix: Eliminated slewing to sky flats when artificial flats is selected

    4.13.3    March 25, 2009
  • Ehnancement: Arguments for applications to be run at specified times is now supported.  See Options
  • Bug fix: Allow artifical flats when sun is in the west.
  • Bug fix: Tracking on/off now works properly.
  • Bug fix: If dusk flats tracking off and neither park while waiting nor tracking off while waiting is selected, tracking will be turned on.

    4.13.2    March 9, 2009
  • Enhancement: Preserve non-sidereal tracking rate when manually set in ThsSky at the start of the run.  This is useful for Paramount users imaging non-sidereal objects such as comets, asteroids and the like.
  • Enhancement: Accommodate non-square imager pixels for faster plate solving with PinPoint
  • Enhancement: Increased Pyxis timeout from 5 to 10 sec. to respond to a command.
  • Bug fix: Correct field used for RDNOISE keyword.  Now uses the correct Read Noise entry on the Tools Page

    4.13.1 February 15, 2009
  • Bug fix:  Exception when starting with default profile.

    4.13.0    February 14, 2009
  • Enhancement: Reset times now closes gaps while optionally preserving first target start time.  See Reset Times
  • Enhancement: Attempts to load an invalid target file are now trapped.
  • Enhancement: Keywords for read noise (RDNOISE) and gain (GAIN) added to FITS header for light frames.  See FITS keywords
  • Enhancement: Improved Vista 64-bit compatability.
  • Enhancement: Improved guide star detection for 8-bit guide cameras.  See Guider Settings
  • Enhancement: Allow optional guide star selection by Maxim.  See Guided Operation
  • Bug fix: Min. W Altitude limit now properly impacts west of meridian only at target start.

    4.12.9    February 1, 2009
  • Enhancement: Improved guide star detection and exposure setting.  See Guided Operation
  • Enhancement: G2V measurement accuracy improved.  Focus star centering now used for precision slews
  • Enhancement: Trap and exit 0,0 guide errors when reported by Maxim.

    4.12.8    January 26, 2009
  • Enhancement: Added disk drive space (with low space warning) to setup review
  • Bug fix: Resolved Maxim guider start problem for some users

    4.12.7    January 20, 2009
  • Enhancement: Added support for ASCOM rotators
  • Enhancement: Added focus star centering tolerance for SkyStar
  • Enhancement: User interface changes to show/hide certain options depending on Software Settings
  • Enhancement: Eliminate extra target precision slew for initial focusing.  Increased precision slew tolerance limit
  • Enhancement: Eliminate DDWCP dome home on Connect
  • Bug fix: Focus time and temperature initialization changed from per target to per session
  • Bug fix: Flat readout mode default file name (Maxim only) fixed.
  • Bug fix: Dome not closing under certain circumstances fixed.
  • Bug fix: Overhead percentage now properly calculated.

    4.12.6    January 9, 2009
  • Bug fix: PinPoint catalog selection is back to being persistent
  • Bug fix: Accommodate Maxim 5's 32 pixel forbidden region in guider FOV

    4.12.5    January 3, 2009
  • Enhancement: Dec. Axis Release option added which replaces and enhances the "rc-astro" hidden option.  See Mount Settings,
  • Bug fix: Improved reporting of guide errors when using Maxim.

    4.12.4    December 30, 2008
  • Enhancement: Complete support for Maxim version 5 Readout Mode added.  See Readout Modes and Data Organization.
  • Enhancement: Added PinPoint selection for USNO NOMAD catalog.  Requires an internet connection and PinPoint version 5 or greater.
  • Bug fix: Stop removing the domain name from the user name for SMTP servers that may require it.
  • Bug fix: Insure auto-detect guide star in Maxim v5.

    4.12.3    December 23, 2008
  • Bug fix: Apparent Maxim 5.03 internal change caused guide error readout to be 0.  Fixed.
  • Bug fix: Maxim doesn't report initial readout mode state for FLI cameras.  CCDAP defaults to Normal (RBI Flushing) 

    4.12.2    December 11, 2008
  • Enhancement: Support fast readout mode (Maxim only) for certain Apogee and FLI cameras. 
  • Enhancement: Overhead per frame is calculated for improved CCDNavigator planning accuracy.
  • Bug fix: Prevent multiple emails and notices on run abort via control file

    4.12.1    December 4, 2008
  • Bug fix: Remove test code, which prevented guide errors from being reported with CCDSoft.

    4.12.0    December 3, 2008
  • Enhancement: Increased post-focus offset and dusk flat elevation ranges
  • Enhancement: Prevent exceptions on some user input errors
  • Bug fix: Changed fast readout mode (Maxim) version detection

    4.11.9    November 18, 2008
  • Enhancement: Abort will now stop slews in progress as part of the abort process
  • Enhancement: ASCOM dome open implements home before trying to open
  • Enhancement: ASCOM telescope is disconnected when CCDAP is disconnected or closed
  • Enhancement: Test buttons enhanced and now require connection to operate
  • Enhancement: Prevent confusion from "Sun" showing up in TheSky's Object Information window
  • Bug fix: ASCOM chooser cancel exception eliminated
  • Bug fix: Duplicate FOVI names are flagged only if the duplicate name is active

    4.11.8    October 26, 2008
  • Enhancement: Added support for CloudWatcher and WeatherWatcher
  • Enhancement: FOCALLEN keyword will be written to all FITS headers, based on Settings page entry
  • Bug fix: Cloudy weather condition will not abort darks in progress

    4.11.7    October 15, 2008
  • Enhancement: Fast readout mode enabled for some FLI cameras (Maxim only)
  • Enhancement: Revised recommended dither values
  • Enhancement: Improved Precision Slew efficiency
  • Bug fix: CCDSoft initialization near a cardinal point improved
  • Bug fix: Automatic AOL bump calibration now works properly with Maxim v4.54 to 4.62.  Maxim 5 not recommended yet.

    4.11.6    September 27, 2008
  • Enhancement: Guide Star Selection Algorithm improved to reject overly bright guide stars
  • Bug fix: Pyxis COM port setting and Center Focus Star setting now persistent
  • Bug fix: Corrected spurious "IsReady" error.

    4.11.5    September 12, 2008
  • Enhancement: Off-target unguided focusing now returns to target coordinates
  • Enhancement: Focus Now now returns to exact starting point via precision slew
  • Enhancement: Added Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to Email setup
  • Bug fix: Upper limit of sky flux increased to 999
  • Bug fix: Periodic focus had required a filter wheel - corrected.
  • Bug fix: Correct RA wraparound error
  • Bug fix: Exposure time not being imported from CCDNavigator or ACP Planner - corrected.

    4.11.4     September 3, 2008
  • Bug fix: Insure termination of CCDAutoPilot.exe process after exit

    4.11.3    August 30, 2008
  • Enhancement: null point Az and Alt is now persistent
  • Bug fix: Periodic realign only happens with unguided imaging as intended
  • Bug fix: Maxim version checking corrected

    4.11.2    August 21, 2008
  • Enhancement: Added Plate Solve Exposure info in help file
  • Enhancement: Increased AGSR maximum allowable correcting slew to 4 degrees
  • Enhancement: New method to write FITS header information
  • Bug fix: Improved Maxim exposure fail-to-start retry logic.

    4.11.1    August 15, 2008
  • Enhancement: Workaround for CCDSoft not reporting certain FITS key/value required pairs with some cameras
  • Enhancement: Trap some erroneous user inputs
  • Bug fix:  Corrected keep-out altitude processing

    4.11.0    August 8, 2008
  • Enhancement: Added a Suggest function for guider move calculator
  • Enhancement: Increased pixel size precision to .01
  • Bug fix: Dome now closes properly on weather abort
  • Bug fix: Guide calculator corrected

    4.10.9    July 31, 2008
  • Bug fix: Correct bad registration info display in Settings Utility Window
  • Bug fix: Correct dust donut calculator accuracy
  • Bug fix: Correct CCDSoft predictive guiding near cardinal points

    4.10.8    July 24, 2008
  • Enhancement: Interaction of Maxim Lossless Compression with Insert WCS clarified
  • Bug fix:  Defaulted Max E Altitude and Max W Altitude to 90 when using a profile created by versions prior to 4.10.7.


    4.10.7    July 23, 2008
  • Enhancement: Added additional steps when a weather event is triggerred.  Details here.
  • Enhancement: Added Run Abort and Shutdowm option to Control File.
  • Enhancement: Changed sensor.ini structure.  See Camera Notes
  • Enhancement: Added optional Maxim lossless file compression capability.
  • Bug fix: Precision slew with tolerance now applied on retrun slew from off-target focus star.
  • Bug fix: Changed event order in Options/Data Acquisition to reflect actual sequence.
  • Bug fix: Added Max E Altitude and Max W Altitude to profile.

    4.10.6    July 19, 2006
  • Bug fix: Corrected Boltwood data reporting error

    4.10.5    July 13, 2008
  • Enhancement: Color combine ratio calculation will now be reported even if run aborts for clouds or dawn
  • Enhancement: Plate solve time estimate now includes plate solve exposure times for increased session accuracy.  Your existing time estimate for plate solve will adjust (increase) as additional sessions are executed.
  • Bug fix: Boltwood data wasn't being reported

    4.10.4    July 10, 2008
  • Corrected focuser temperature reporting
  • Corrected flip time with ngative PMTrack values
  • Change email for data acquisition start to email for "Starting image data acquisition"
  • Dawn flats will not be attempted if very cloudy events triggered
  • Improved accuracy of E/W light frame file naming
  • Keywords for XPIXSZ, YPIXSZ and FOCALLEN written in proper numeric format
  • Workaround for CCDSoft RGH black hole incorporated.
  • Internal data synchronization improved.

    4.10.3    July 3, 2008
  • Change dawn abort to before estimated dawn flat start.
  • Added more time for CCDSoft to report guide errors when short guide exposures are used.
  • Minimum auto exposure time reduced to 0.01 sec.

    4.10.2    July 1, 2008
  • Unchecking Dawn Abort now works properly
  • Kepler and NOVAS download links updated in Application Requirements

    4.10.1    June 30, 2008
  • Corrected inability to start with default profile

    4.10.0    June 29, 2008
  • Decrease min. guide exposure to 100 ADU
  • Advance revision to prevent spurious updates

    4.00.0    June 27, 2008
  • Initial release