
Notes for Usage

The application is quite intuitive to use, but certain points need clarification.

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SETTINGS
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In the SETTINGS menu, you will declare the paths to the external software used by ASTROMIRA.

**THE ESSENTIAL!**
NOVAS by Ascom
I chose to set all coordinates in JNOW to be consistent with CARTE DU CIEL, which is by default in JNOW. All GOTO or SYNCHRONIZE operations use coordinate corrections, so the application will crash if NOVAS is not installed.
[Download NOVAS-COM Vector Astrometry Engine V2.1.1 (~283KB)](https://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScriptableComponents.htm)

Essentials for astrometry and guiding:
PHD2 and ASTAP.

Secondary:
PLATE SOLVE PLANE WAVE 2.8
ALL SKY PLATE SOLVER

The 2 jokers
You choose what you want.
I chose IRIS (sigma measurement) and CARTE DU CIEL (camera field visualization).
The idea is to centralize and launch these software from ASTROMIRA.

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PHD2
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Connect ASTROMIRA to PHD2.
If PHD2 is not started, an alert is issued (pop-up).
If PHD2 is connected but not guiding, a pop-up asks if you want to start tracking.
Clicking yes, PHD2 uses the first possible configuration, connects the elements, and starts guiding. So, it's better to have an operational setup, calibration, and equipment already well-parameterized in PHD2.
WARNING: The app may crash if the connection to the PHD2 server is slow.

If PHD2 is running but you perform a GO TO from ASTROMIRA, PHD2 is stopped before the GO TO to prevent errors (flashing red window).
A pop-up asks if you want to restart PHD2.
If yes, wait for the GO TO to finish, then click Yes.

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ASTROMETRY
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The window only opens if the mount and camera are connected.
For tests, remember to point the mount (ASCOM simulator) towards the target in question so that the coordinates are close to those of the shot.

"Go To point" function.
Once the astrometry is determined, you can click on the image and point the telescope to this point of interest (recenter the image framing).
Use the Top Most checkbox to keep the astrometry window in the foreground while selecting the point of interest on the image.

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AUTOFOCUS
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The window only opens if the camera and focuser are connected.
By clicking on the main image, you select an isolated star.

General idea of the interface: Use 12 steps to visualize the star's focus.
Start from extra focal to intra.
As always, we revolve around a successful MAP. The tool is not used to find the MAP from scratch.

Options:

*Bathinov: Traverse 12 points and return to the initial position.
By placing a Bathinov mask, you visualize the best position.
Repeat by reducing the steps taken.

*Selected Star: The principle is to study convergence by following a single star in the image.
Take an initial shot via the main interface.
Then, select (click on) a star in the image.
In the Focus interface, click the Lock Star checkbox, which allows you to keep the selected star in memory and click elsewhere on the image without deselecting it.
By launching the procedure, the system analyzes the star and converges to the best focus.

*Average FWHM: This is the RECOMMENDED mode!!
The system analyzes the size of the stars in the image and automatically converges to the best focus.
Adjust the crop parameter, which allows you to select a ROI centered on the center of the image.
Crop = 3 small ROI
Crop = 10 large ROI
Min bright Pixel Value = defines the minimum intensity of a star's pixel -> allows separating the pixels of a star from the sky background
Max bright Pixel Value = defines the intensity of bright pixels. Allows limiting the number of stars to analyze.
By increasing this parameter, you will only select bright stars and not consider faint stars.

Play with the parameters and use the Test FWHM button to find the right settings.

*ASTAP: Measure the 12 images and call ASTAP to determine the best FWHM; the focuser automatically moves to the best position estimated by ASTAP.
The procedure is very long -> not recommended

To use autofocus during image capture, the autofocus window must be open!!
Do not close the window once the FWHM tests are finished.

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AUTOMATIC MERIDIAN FLIP ASSISTED BY ASTROMETRY
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Notes on using automatic meridian flip.

It is possible to perform a meridian flip assisted by astrometry:
- either during image capture
- or by clicking the Meridian Flip button.

In both cases, the "use RA as meridian culmination" checkbox must be checked, and the correct values entered.

To perform the meridian flip during image acquisition:
- Check the "use RA as Meridian Culmination" box
- Enter the meridian transit time of the imaged object according to the ephemerides (I use CARTE DU CIEL and the culmination or transit indication).

- In the DEC minutes field, enter the desired delay after the passage. Not too early so that the mount does not flip, and not too late so that the tube does not hit the tripod. Determine according to your setup.

Click the "Check Meridian Flip parameters" button to verify if the data is correct:
Hours from 00 to 23
Minutes from 00 to 59
Seconds from 00 to 59
Delay number from 00 to 99.
Warning: If you enter a significant delay, the software will not prevent you!

If everything is OK, the delay value is saved in the software configuration file (<add key="MERIDIAN_FLIP_DELAY" value="15" />)
Thus, the value is retrieved the next time you use it.

Reminder: This configuration must be done once the object is framed and at least one astrometry has been performed just before launching the photo series or the object has been pointed via GO TO or GO To TARGET.
Without considering the object's coordinates, the flip procedure will not be able to reframe automatically.
So, make sure to perform astrometry on the object once it is framed!

You can launch the meridian flip assisted by astrometry by clicking the "meridian flip" button or automatically if you start a series of image acquisitions.

References:
- [PHD2 Guiding](https://openphdguiding.org/)
- [ALL SKY PLATE SOLVER](http://www.astrogb.com/astrogb/All_Skt_Plate_Solver.html)
- [PLATE SOLVE 2.28](https://planewave.com/software)
- [ASTAP](https://www.hnsky.org/astap.htm)
- [ASCOM NOVAS](https://www.ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScriptableComponents.htm)
