Some of the most accomplished astrophotographers
rely on CCDAutoPilot for complete CCD imaging automation. Here are a
few things some of them have to say...
"I love using CCD AutoPilot. It is straightforward, logical and
easy to use. I can set up my shots, including darks, go to bed and
come out in the morning and close the roof of the observatory. The
mount is already parked for me and the camera is at ambient. Most
importantly, I have a complete set of dithered, LRGB images waiting
to be processed. This is a really cool program!"
Steve Mandel
http://www.galaxyimages.com
"I have been using CCDAutoPilot to automate my data acquisition.
I wholeheartedly endorse this product. The integration with CCDSoft
or MaxImDL appears seamless. The ability to dither makes a
considerable improvement in the signal-to-noise of the image.
Thoughtful design considerations have been built in, such as adding
delays between images to allow enough time for the guide star to be
reacquired and stabilized. You can even select a star in the image
and perform scheduled focusing using FocusMax as your equipment
cools down over the course of the evening. CCDAutoPilot is a
wonderful new product that takes some of the drudgery out of the
long hours of data acquisition and allows us to snooze."
Don Goldman
www.astrodon.com
"I just wanted you to know that AutoPilot is now a very important
part of my imaging routine. The user interface is very easy to use.
I can setup just about any combination of image exposures along with
individual guider (AO7) exposures for each filter with each shot
dithered. Another great feature is being able to setup a focus run
at any time during the exposures to keep the images sharp. You even
thought of recording the PIR position in the FITS header. But the
best part of all is being able to setup an complete sequence of
images including darks, and have the CCD cooler turned off and then
park the scope while I am Sleeping. My recent APOD of the bubble
nebula was taken mostly while I was asleep using CCDAutoPilot.
Just wanted to say thanks for your efforts with this great product.
I feel it is as important to my imaging as my 20" RC"
Ken Crawford
www.rdelsol.com
"CCDAutoPilot
is 21st century astronomical software! With a couple of mouse
clicks your imaging session is set up. A couple more clicks and the
entire set of images to be taken will run and when finished the
telescope is parked and autoguider and camera cooler turned off.
All while I sleep."
Jack Harvey
Trubble Terrestrial Telescope
Coyote Rim Ranch
"CCDAutoPilot is a wonderful tool. It provides the easy to use
'missing link' for integration of astronomy software. Need help
with CCD chip artifacts? Too tired to stay up and refocus when
the temperature changes? Aggravated that you have to stay up
all night? CCDAutoPilot has a solution for all of these issues,
including dithering, focus in between, separate light/dark
exposure series, and parking the telescope when imaging
is done. I personally wouldn't attempt to image without it.
Morgan Wilson, M.D.
