Contents - Index

Data Organization

A large number of files can be expected over the course of an evening's imaging session.  In addition to your light frames, you will have flat frames and most likely dark and bias frames.  CCDAutoPilot has a set of file and folder naming conventions that can serve as a good default.  You always can of course choose your own names and structures by suitable entry in the description fields for light frames, dark and bias frames and flat fields.


Default File Names

Default file names were chosen to allow easy data sorting and identification from Windows explorer.  Dates are added to dark and bias frame file names to facilitate dark library aging.  Filter names and position angles are added to file names so that flats can be appropriately matched to the light frames.  If using Maxim version 5, a readout mode index is added to the file name.  If no entry is made in the description fields for Light, Dark & Bias and Flat frames, the default file names will be:

Light: <Filter>R<readout index>_<PA>_<Target>_<serial number>.fit
Dark: <temp>DarkR<readout index>_<Time><Binning>_<yyMMdd>_serial number.fit
Bias: <temp>BiasR<readout index>_<Binning>_<yyMMdd>_serial number>.fit
Flat: <Filter>FlatR<readout index> _<PA>_<Target>_<serial number>.fit

<Filter> is the name of the filter used for the exposure
<readout index> is the index shown for the selected readout mode.  This entry will be present only with Maxim version 5
<PA> is the position angle and side-of-meridian used for the exposure
<Target> is the target name from the target page
<serial number> is a simple sequential number.
<temp> is the sensor operating temperature.
<Time> is the exposure time in sec.
<Binning> is the binning used, !x1, 2x2, etc.
<yyMMdd> is the year, month, day of the exposure, e.g. Jun 20, 2008 would be 080620

Some examples with Maxim version 5:

RedR1_236W_M63_00123.fit
This is a light frame taken of M63 at a PA of 236° west of the meridian with serial number 00123.  Readout index 1, corresponding to an Apogee camera's monochrome (preflash) mode, is used.

-15BiasR0_1X1_080620_00124.fit
This is a bias frame taken June 20, 2008 with a camera temperature of -15°C with serial number 00124.  Readout index 0, corresponding to an Apogee camera's monochrome  mode, is used.

-15DarkR1_1200s1x1_080620_00125.fit
This is a dark frame taken June 20, 2008 with a camera temperature of -15°C with serial number 00125.  Readout index 1, corresponding to an Apogee camera's monochrome (preflash) mode, is used.


Red_FlatR0_236_PA West_M63_00126.fit
This is a flat frame taken at an equivalent PA of 236° west of the meridian when M63 was the last target with a serial number of 00126.  Readout index 0, corresponding to an Apogee camera's monochrome mode, is used.


And with CCDSoft or Maxim version 4:

Red236W_M63_00123.fit
This is a light frame taken of M63 at a PA of 236° west of the meridian with serial number 00123.

-15Bias1X1_080620_00124.fit
This is a bias frame taken June 20, 2008 with a camera temperature of -15°C with serial number 00124.

-15Dark1200s1x1_080620_00125.fit
This is a dark frame taken June 20, 2008 with a camera temperature of -15°C with serial number 00125

Red_Flat236_PA West_M63_00126.fit
This is a flat frame taken at an equivalent PA of 236° west of the meridian when M63 was the last target with a serial number of 00126.

If Atuo-Generate Folders is checked in CCDAutoPilot's Options page, then appropriate folders will be generated off the specified Images Folder.  for example, if C:\Astronomy is the specified images folder then light frames for June 20, 2008 will go into:
C:\Astronomy\080620\ and dark, bias and flat frames will go into C:\Astronomy\080620_CalibrationFrames\.  Additionally, any log files will go into C:\Astronomy\CCDAutoPilot_Logs\ and any unsolved sync images will go into C:\Astronomy\CCDAutoPilot_SyncImages\.

If AutoGenerate Folders is not checked, then all files and logs will go into C:\Astronomy\.


Customized names

You can generate your own names by filling out the appropriate description field for each exposure series.  You can even generate your own folders by having the first characters indicate a folder name followed by "\".  Assume the description field is "John\Clear1x1" and the target name is M63. The resultant file name will be Clear1x1_M63_00123.fit, located in a sub-folder, John, of the specified Images folder.  Assuming the Images Folder is specified as C:\Astronomy, then the completely qualified file name is:
C:\Astronomy\John\Clear1x1_M63_00123.fit

You can see what the resultant name will look like by using the Review Session button on the Run Session page with Details checked.