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Astronomy Control Panel

Export Plan to App

Export Plan to App | Astronomy Control Panel is used to convert an observing plan report to a text file in the correct format for Astronomy Control Panel (ACP) software by DC-3 Dreams. The exported file can be used by ACP to execute an automated imaging sequence.

Output File allows you to define the file and path in which the exported plan will be stored. By default, the file is stored in ACP's Plans folder, i.e., C:\Users\<user account>\Documents\ACP Astronomy\Plans with a default file extension of .txt. You can change the path by clicking the button, or by entering a complete path and file name.

Repeat Imaging of the Entire List allows you to define a repeat count for the entire sequence of targets. This defaults to 1.

Enable Focusing Rotator allows you to add position angle information for each target if you have an automated focusing rotator. If this is disabled, you cannot enter position angle information for your targets.

Imaging Targets shows each target (object designation) that will be imaged in this sequence. A set of exposure defintions is required for each target. At present, only deep-sky objects and stars can be exported to ACP. Other object types are not included in an export - they are simply skipped.

Per Target Exposure Definitions encompasses all the information required to image a single target.

Focusing Rotator Angle is enabled only if Enable Focusing Rotator is checked. You can specify a position angle for the focuser measured eastward of north (0).

Repeat Each Exposure Definition allows you to specify the number of times that each exposure defintion tab is repeated for the target. For example, suppose you create 4 exposure definitions for the selected target - one each for Luminance, Red, Green, Blue. This repeat count instructs ACP to repeat each of these 4 defintions a number of times, like L-R-G-B, L-R-G-B, etc. The default repeat count is 1.

Total Exposure for Target shows the total amount of exposure time for the target. This is the sum of exposure duration * exposure count for all exposure definition tabs.

Copy These Exposure Defs to Remaining Targets allows you to copy the set of exposure definition tabs for the selected target to each subsequent target in the Imaging Targets list box. This is simply a quick way to duplicate your exposure information across targets.

Definition # specifies an exposure definition for a single combination of imaging equipment (camera, binning, filter). You can create up to 10 exposure definitions per target. Most users will need fewer than 10.

▪You can use the button to add an exposure definition tab with default settings. The new tab is appended to the sequence of tabs.

▪You can use the button to make a copy of the currently displayed exposure defintion tab and append it to the sequence of tabs. This is handy when you are duplicating most settings on an exposure defintion for multiple filters, for example.

▪You can use the button to remove the last definition tab from the sequence of tabs. You are asked to confirm the deletion before the tab is actually removed.

Filter shows a list of all optical filters in Deep-Sky Planner's database. You must select a filter for the exposure definition. You can create filters using the Filter Browser. Important: the Filter name selected here must match one defined in Maxim DL.

Camera/Binning shows a list of all cameras in Deep-Sky Planner's database. You must select a camera for the exposure definition. Because binning is specified for each Camera, you should choose the correct camera item with the desired binning. You can create cameras using the Camera Browser.

Number of Exposures allows you to choose the number of exposures to take in this exposure definition. The default value is 1.

Exposure Duration allows you to specify the number of seconds for each exposure taken with this exposure definition. The default value is 1 second.

Total Exposure for Definition shows the total amount of exposure time for this definition (i.e., combination of equipment.)

Preview performs the export conversion without storing the results to a file. The results of the conversion are displayed in the Exported File Preview pane. You can scroll through the preview information to verify that it is correct before saving it to a file.

Save performs the export conversion like Preview, but it also creates a file in the selected format that is stored in Output File. The contents of the exported file are displayed in the Export File Preview pane after the export conversion is performed so that you can review the contents.

Close closes the Export Plan to App dialog box.

Help opens this help topic.

What About?

Targets exported to ACP include the equatorial coordinates of the object. For deep-sky and stellar objects, the coordinates must be referred to equinox of J2000, or the object is skipped. See Plan Editor for information on setting the Reference Equinox of an object's coordinates.

Knightware thanks Bob Denny of DC-3 Dreams and Doug George of Diffraction Limited for their kind assistance while developing the Export Plan to App - ACP feature.