Code here is addresses bugs in full-release versions and also is where new features will first appear. In general, the code should be stable, but one purpose of the pre-release page is to give users a chance to shake out any bugs in new features before they get into a “full release”. So, if you’re packing up and headed to a dark site and the software is currently working for you, don’t grab these versions here without at least having a backup copy of something you know works for you.
Nebulosity 2.2.4 Download OS X (Universal binary), Download Intel/Leopard Mac, Download Windows
- (2.2.4) Updated to QSI 5.2.1 library (Mac and Windows) and added serial number to name in FITS header
- (2.2.4) "Atik 314" in pull-down renamed to let users know this supports many new Atik cameras
- (2.2.4) Updated to allow debayering of QHY9C
- (2.2.4) Fixed issue with camera debayers causing crash
- (2.2.4) Updated QHY support to use the 32/64-bit "WinUSB" drivers by default. If you wish to still use the QHY drivers from him circa 2009, head to the Preferences. The "CCD Labs Q8" and "QHY8 TVDE" have been removed as these are no longer supported by the camera makers. Users are encouraged to update to Tom and Qiu's updated WinUSB drivers.
- (2.2.3) Updated Shoestring DSUSB library (Windows)
- (2.2.3) Updates to deal with accented characters in filenames
- (2.2.3) Fixed bug that crept in at the last minute for SX Ext filter wheel on the Mac
- (2.2.3) Initial pre-release of auto-alignment routines. In the Batch menu, you will find "auto-alignment". Here, you select a "master" frame and your parameters. After hitting "OK", you will be asked to select the frames you wish to align. When this hits a full release, the # of parameters and options will probably drop, but here is a run-down of what they are and mean
- Transformation Method -- "Rigid" won't distort the image at all (translation + rotation only) and affine will (translation, rotation, scale and shear)
- Method -- This controls how we are determining how well the images overlap. You have a pull-down with a number of options. By default, we have "MI 5%" and other good options are "MSE" and "MSE stars". Here, MI=Mutual Information and MSE=Mean squared error. These are different "how much error is there" metrics. For "MSE stars" it tries to find and work on stars, speeding the process up over "MSE". For MI, you've got a few sampling rates -- percent of pixels and # of pixels to work on. 5% seems to work well here and is a lot faster than if you go up.
- Size -- By default, I downsample the image to half size and run on that. Much faster and I've not lost any apparent accuracy, but going lower (at least with the current downsample method) doesn't seem to work well on DSOs. It'd work well on the moon is my guess though.
- (2.2.2) External filter wheel support begun with new entry in View menu. ASCOM support in Windows and Starlight Xpress support on the Mac in place. New command added to script "SetExtFilter N" (N=1-indexed filter number) to move the external filter wheel.
- (2.2.2) QHY8 Pro offset set to 1,1
- (2.2.2) Update to Canon EDSDK 2.7 for support of newer cameras
PHD Guiding 1.11.3 Download OS X (Universal binary),Download Windows
- (1.11.3) Fixed issue with "hide" and "clear" button in graph log and added mouse-over tips.
- (1.11.3) In graph log, user can now change colors for lines. Shift-click RA/Dec button to change RA color. Ctrl-click to change Dec color.
- (1.11.3) Can now tweak numerous guide parameters on Graph Log window on the fly
- (1.11.2) When guide output is disabled, PHD will now track the star as it moves anywhere on the screen and not be confined by the search region (useful when doing PEC training)
- (1.11.2) Manual Guide dialog will now send commands even when guiding is active
- (1.11.1) Fixes for >1 SX camera on Macs - still an issue on PPC Macs
- (1.11.1) Fixes to the auto-star find routine (thanks Sander), but may still not be perfect
- (1.11.1) Removed warning about checking IsPulseGuiding -- handles it transparently as it really didn't matter
- (1.11.1) PHD can now remember which camera was last used. Shift-click on the camera button to connect to your last-used camera.
DSLR Shutter 1.10 pre-1 Download OS X, Download Windows
This pre-relese includes:
- Support for ShoeString’s DSUSB2 adapter
- Connect dialog now lists your last-used adapter
Craterlet OS X (0.3) Download 0.3 Download 0.2
Craterlet for OS X is designed to give Mac users simple capture application for DCAM-compliant firewire cameras such as those from The Imaging Source (sorry, the iSight is not DCAM-compliant). It's main application here will be to let you stream planetary or lunar images to disk. However, given the long-exposure options present in these cameras, other applications (e.g. DSO work) will certainly exist.
Currently, this is an early release. Heck, it may stay an “early release” forever. I have tested it with a monochrome camera (DMK 31AF03.AS) and with monochrome and color Unibrain Fire-i cameras. Images can be streamed to disk in BMP, JPEG, PNG, or TIFF formats (and SER in v0.3). On color cameras, it will stream color images, currently using the camera's onboard debayers even if pure RAW modes exist. I welcome bug reports and any other assistance users can provide in testing. Let me know what camera you are using, what modes show up (note, you can only selet a mode while Preview is not active), and how it behaves.
Version 0.3
- Added support for SER format. This is a RAW format that can be read by Registax. What’s great is that you can now stream a file rapidly here on the Mac and process the data in Registax. It’s possible this has broken support for a number of cameras, so I’ve left 0.2 up as well. (Remember, this program is far from prime-time).
- Note: If using a color-bayer DMK camera, make sure to select the “RAW” mode from the Mode pull-down. It may show up as “Y800”, “RAW RGB” or “Mono-8”. It won’t be called “Color”. Also, odds are the correct selection when asked what the sensor format is “GBRG”
Version 0.2
- Initial pre-release
Craterlet OS X is freeware. OS X 10.4 is required (some chance it will work with 10.3.9).
Please report your experiences on the Yahoo Group