Anybody use APT - Astro Photography Tool?

[Carole]

I've had a look at this too and it seems to have a good number of tools. 
Although I can programme long exposures with my DSLR and Canon Utillity I can't programme various lengths. 
Also now supports dithering and I like the sound of the DSLR temperature facility.

I might have a go at this at some point (clouds permitting!!!)

Carole

[Fay]

Does it support GPUSB, do you know?  I can see it supports DSUSB

[RobertM]

We really need lots of threads about spending cloudy nights trying out new software (you know what I mean  )

Yes, we get enough of them so there's no excuse 

[Carole]

Does it support GPUSB, do you know?  I can see it supports DSUSB

Not sure Fay, might be a good idea to E mail IVO and ask him.

I also noticed a very neat feature in that you can line up your images to those you have done on a previous night.

Carole

[The Thing]

From the M65-M66 thread...

[For those who followed the APT thread,] I used the image mask function to get the stars lined up for the second set of subs, it works. You can load an existing image, create the mask (little circles you put round prominent stars) and then start snapping subs and lining things up. It even has ASCOM scope control buttons but I found the distance moved for each button click a bit odd.

[Mac]

also noticed a very neat feature in that you can line up your images to those you have done on a previous night.

isnt that just called stacking?
or am i missing something.

Images of the same object should be roughly in the same place on the ccd, even over a few nights,
and stacking will just align them anyway,

Mac

[The Thing]

If your camera doesn't get dismounted, the rotation is the same, your  polar alignment is the same etc.etc. Also if the framing isn't very close stacking won't work, it can't work miracles. Its better to have a tool that will get things aligned as close as possible.

Its ok for those with observatories!

[Mac]

Its ok for those with observatories!

But Carole has one as well

[Carole]

Well my camera is usually orientated roughly the same, but the GOTO does not always get the image in the centre and I have to slew a bit and I have to try to remember where abouts the object was in the frame from last time.  So having that APT facility would be useful to me.

Yes I know stacking would line them up, I am already doing that, but would be nice to be able to line them up beforehand.

Carole

[Fay]

A good job Carole

[RobertM]

Carole, another thing to think about...  If you don't line up precisely for your next imaging session then you will loose edges of the image or they (those edges that don't overlap) will at best have a poorer signal to noise ratio.  That may not concern you at this stage but if a field just fits in then it just might.

Robert

[Carole]

Robert, thats exactly what I am meaning and why I think the APT tool would be so useful.  

Mostly I am not currently using the whole field of view (although I think I did with Rosette), but the closer I get to placing the image in the same position the less I have to cut off the edge.

I actually had a look at APT today with some-one who uses it and who thinks it is really good.  
Seems you can only examine the last image captured (although you might be able to open them up in another programme).  Also if you don't set the anti-vibration pause to NIL you get banding at the top of the image.  

Anyway, I think I am going to purchase this and give it a go. 

Carole

[Mac]

I think I am going to purchase this and give it a go.

Is there not a 30 day trial or something?
Just in case you done get on with it.

Although in the case of the uk, i think this should be set at opening and using it for 30 times,
as there is probably never going to be a period of 30 clear days
Mac.

[mickw]

It's only 12.7 euro

[Carole]

It's only 12.7 euro

and the trial version doesn't have many useable options.

Carole