New Features in CCDAutoPilot 3.0 Standard

Easy to Use Interface

CCDAutoPilot 3.0's interface has been rebuilt from the ground up to work the way you work. Its intuitive workflow steps you the process of creating complex imaging sessions with point and click ease.

One-Click Setup Procedure

CCDAutoPilot 3.0 includes new advanced technology that allows you to initialize and characterize your imaging system with one-click. Once you system is setup, you will never need to recalibrate your autoguider or rotator for any target you want to image unless you change the configuration of your imaging system.

Boltwood Cloud Sensor Support

Full support for the Boltwood cloud sensor is included via an independent thread for immediate response to cloudy conditions instead of the more conventional and slower polled approach. User selectable options for a cloudy condition include either aborting the run or waiting for a specific period of time for the clouds to clear. In the latter case, the run continues when the Boltwood reports clear conditions.

Predictive Auto-Guiding Technology

CCDAutoPilot 3.0 improves guiding accuracy with its new predictive guiding algorithms. No matter where you point your telescope CCDAutoPilot will determine the best guiding parameters for your imaging system. Predictive guiding supports camera relays, DirectGuide and works with your optional rotator at any angle.

Support for CCDSoft @Focus2

CCDAutiPilot provides native support for CCDSoft @Focus2 focusing technology, an new fast focusing algorithm by Software Bisque.

Integration with TheSky6

CCDAutoPilot 3.0 seamlessly integrates with TheSky6 allowing you to work interactively with TheSky to select, frame and manage imaging targets. See when your targets rise, set and transit the meridian as well as user definable altitudes for starting and ending exposures.

Integrated Auto Guider Calculator

The CCDWare guide calculator is now incorporated into CCDAutoPilot. Additionally, the guide calculator minimum and maximum move as well as aggressiveness may be directly loaded into CCDSoft via a single click. The calculator will automatically determine whether camera relays or DirectGuide (CCDSoft only) is being used and will calculate the optimal settings accordingly.

Advanced Pointing Technology

When you slew to an object, CCDAutoPilot 3.0, confirms that you are at the exact coordinates you indicated in your target list. If there is any error in your pointing, CCDAutoPilot will correct your telescopes pointing to ensure that the object and your guide star are right where you want them within a few arc-seconds.

Automatic Guide Star Recovery

A passing cloud, cosmic ray hit or gust of wind can potentially ruin a nights imaging run. With AGSR technology, CCDAutoPilot will detect a missing guidestar, recenter your target, and continue the imaging session. New technologies are employed in Version 3.0 that greatly improves the chance of reacquiring your guidestar.

Seamless Rotator Control

CCDAutPilot supports manual and automatic control of the Optec Pyxis, RCOS PIR, Astrodon TAKometer and soon the ASCOM standard. Rotate your FOV indicator in TheSky6, right click on your target and select slew. You rotator will now rotate to the precise Position Angle in the sky. No more fumbling with rotator positions vs actual position angles.

SkyStar Focusing

SkyStar allows you to focus on stars outside your field of view and returning to your target with arc-second accuracy. SkyStar has been improved so that it works with both CCDSoft and TheSky6 as well as with Pinpoint. In addition, SkyStar will ensure your focus star is always in the center of you FOV for precise on-axis focusing. SkyStar is unique in that it is the only off-target focusing routine that allows you to plate solve with a filter other than the filter you use for focusing.

Focus Control

CCDAutoPilot 3.0 adds many new focus options to ensure your exposures are as sharp as ever. If using parafocal filters, you can now select which filter you will use for focusing, select when to focus during multi-filter imaging sessions and program initial FocusMax exposures for each filter to save imaging valuable time.

Reusable System Profiles

Once you have CCDAutoPilot 3.0 configured for your imaging system, you can save your system profile for each imaging configuration you use. This allows you to characterize many imaging configurations and save them for later use, thus eliminating the need for re-initialization of your system.

 

New Features in CCDAutoPilot 3.0 Professional

Multiple Targets

CCDAutoPilot 3.0 supports multiple targets. Easily select targets using TheSky's built in databases of millions of objects. Interactively select your targets using TheSky's FOV indicator to frame and rotate your objects exactly where you want them. Seamlessly image targets at any rotation angle, on either side of the Meridian with either your fork or equatorial mount.

Powerful Multi-Target Importers

Creating complex target runs for astrophotography and survey work is easy accomplished using CCDAutoPilot's powerful import features. Support for Text, CSV, Starry Night, ACP Planner and ACP Survey plans allow you to import targets from virtually any application or database.

Multi-Target Rotator Control

CCDAutoPilot 3.0 allows you to specify different position angles for any target in your session. Rotating to new positions does not require recalibration of the autoguider. CCDSoft users will now enjoy the ability to take advantage of multi-target imaging with rotator control and DirectGuide.

Mosaic Wizard

For those taking Mosaics, CCDAutoPilot provides powerful features to make this time consuming process fun and easy. Just create you mosaic in TheSky6, click on the Mosaic button in CCDAutoPilot, and all your mosaic panels are entered as new objects. With one-click you can define what exposures you want to take for all panels in your mosaic.

Reusable Target Lists

CCDAutoPilot 3.0 allows you to save and re-use target lists from night to night. Target lists contain not only target coordinates and rotation angle, but also the light frames associated with each target in your list. When the moon is full, load your Ha targets and start imaging. When the new moon arrives, load up your RGB targets. Got a great night of seeing, load up your 20 panel mosaic and start imaging where you left off last week. With CCDAutoPilot, working with multiple targets is easy and fun!