Astroplanner

[allan gould]

I dont know if you are like me but sometimes you get a program and use it but never read the manual. And then you see someone (with more patient or sensibility than you) using it and it has far more capabilities than you were aware of. This was the case with me and Astroplanner. Thought it was a good program, but after seeing some of its abilities used by someone else (Thanks Peter) I actually read the manual. What a brilliant program with Sooooo many features. Now its my favorite which I can do almost everything. The manual is over 360 pages but well worth a good look. Sync'ing and goto etc etc etc. Woa hold me back.

[renormalised]

Yep, it's really great program...use it myself. IMHO it's an essential piece of kit.

[Merlin66]

I'm playing around with the V2 AstroPlanner. I've scanned in all the sheets from the SN Search Charts and linked them via a "Plan" so when you look for one one these objects the SN Chart automatically shows. Great stuff!!
Paul visited me early January ( We used to work together in the Natal Centre of ASSA in the 70's) and we had the chance to "re-live our youth" as well as briefly discuss the new V2. He's getting some very good feedback, and as usual takes everything on board.
I'm sure when it's released later this year it will be a quantum leap forward and leave all the other planning software for dead!!!
Long live AstroPlanner!!!

[tonybarry]

I also use AstroPlanner v1.6.1 and think it is a great bit of gear. Would recommend it to any amateur astronomer. I still need Stellarium to get the overall night sky picture, so I know roughly where things are. But AP helps me plan a night's viewing better than anything else I've discovered.

Regards,
Tony Barry

[Merlin66]

The V2 update will seamlessly integrate with CdC V3; you can display the sky and zoom in to the FOV of your particular telescope/ eyepiece/ CCD combination. You can also print of various finder charts using any of the 100's of catalogues available in AP.

[peter_4059]

Hi Merlin,

I'm also testing the V2 beta version and have it working with ascom POTH and CDC V3. When you refer to integrating with CDC is that what you mean or are you referring to it syncing FOV or something else?

Peter

[Merlin66]

Peter,
I use the LX200 control mode to GOTO; no issues. I was refering to the FOV and mapping capabilities of CdC.
Still checking all the other "new" features!!!

[peter_4059]

ok - i'm with you. I spent a few hours playing today with it connected to the mount in various configurations (with/without ascom and with/without POTH). I now have both AP and CDC successfully talking to the mount through POTH which is good because I get an ascom telescope control interface that lets me nudge the mount from the laptop.

One problem I can't seem to resolve is my list of alignment stars has gone and I can't seem to make them re-appear.

I did manage to get the DSS images working today though.

[troypiggo]

Just dropping a quick line here as it seems the most recent thread here on AstroPlanner. At the advice and good reviews by Peter and Allan I purchased AstroPlanner last night online. While I have yet to play with all the features, I must say that I am very impressed with Paul Rodman's personal service. After my registration just last night he has already contacted me directly about a feature request. How good is that?

[allan gould]

I have been playing with the beta version 22 and find its absolutely brilliant. I use it in conjunction with ECU as a planetarium program and find that if I tell AP to slew to an object then ECU cross hairs track the scope to the object in real time and show how much off I am from the scynch source. Really great. At present Im downloading all of the DSS images which makes finding an object worth imaging realy easy.
Also dont need POTH to get the co-ordination going between these 2 programs. AP also synchs with C2A for windows - a great free planetarium program.

[allan gould]

Had the new DSI II Pro out working yet, Troy?

[troypiggo]

Hey Allan. Well it's working, but haven't had a chance to set it up to make sure I can get focus now with the 2x barlow with lens removed (as a cheap extension tube). Will probably try tonight because I want it all working before this weekend. Looking to go to Leyburn with SAS.

Back on AstroPlanner - I just got another email from Paul Rodman. I had mentioned to him that v2 wouldn't run on my netbook because it's only a 1024x600 screen and v2 requires 1024x768 min. v1 works on the netbook. He said he's had a few people now saying the same thing, that these netbooks must be getting really popular, and he will look into making it work by compressing the UI a little. No promises, but he's looking into it. What a legend.

[allan gould]

I got my DSI working, focussing and the filters in a new filter wheel. Just waiting for scopestuff to deliver the adapter plate.. Yes Paul is very reponsive and the product has exeeded my expectations. I have used Nebulosity 2 to make a bad pixel map of the DSI and this gives a very clean subtraction from my frames prior to stacking. Saves taking all those darks as a bad pixel map is so much easier than taking a plethora of darks at different temperatures as the BPM is scalable. Astroplanner is quite accurate with its field of view for the DSI II and makes framing great with its high precision goto with ECU

[Merlin66]

I had Paul and Sharon visiting in Jan. They spent a few days sightseeing in the UK.
He hasn't changed much in 30 years ( well, if you ignore hair lost and the effects of gravity - sorry Paul!) He's putting in 24/7 to get the V2 debugged and issued. A Fantastic guy!
(Pauls the good looking guy on the RHS! This is the Tin Shed Observatory -TSO)

[troypiggo]

I just checked my emails this morning, and Paul has emailed me that "my enhancement report has been resolved". He has modified v2 beta to allow support for netbooks with screen resolutions of only 1024x600. What a legend! Might use it tonight. Awesome (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=41675)! :)

[tonybarry]

The beta list for Astroplanner is a real tribute to Paul's single-minded attitude to software development. I still use v1.6.1 because it seems to do what I need, but will upgrade when v2 is stable - I really like the new interface and I suspect I have just scratched the surface.

Regards,
Tony Barry

[higginsdj]

Paul does a great job with this software. I'm also using the new beta and the app has always been great for planning all my asteroid observations and determining the most efficient targets to put in the observing script. (Been using it since v1 was a beta)

Cheers

David