In order to develop the facilities provided for visiting Astroguests here at the observatory, we have, from time to time, produced new software for various astro-related purposes. Some of this software has been found to be of use to other astronomers and others, and is presented here.
The software was developed for purposes which may not exactly coincide with your own. The software is made available "as is" with no warranties either expressed or implied as to its suitability for any particular purpose. We hope that you might find it useful and we always welcome constructive criticism. Some of the software requires the payment of a small registration fee. Please only pay the fee after you are satisfied that it does what you want. If you do want to register the software, please do so using our registration web page.
PolarAlign is a utility that helps you to set up an equatorial telescope mount.
For perfect tracking of the night sky, the polar axis of an equatorial telescope must be accurately aligned with the axis of rotation of the Earth. PolarAlign helps you to do that quickly and accurately. If you have an equatorial telescope mount, then try this handy utility. PolarAlign
AstroVideo allows you to capture astronomical images
using a standard low-cost web cam or video camera for the purpose. If you have a web cam or a video camera and a
video capture device on your PC, then try this groundbreaking application. Astrovideo
A variant of AstroVideo, called HawkVideo is specially adapted for security monitoring puposes.
FitsX is a powerful and versatile astronomical
image processing application that handles 32-bit FITS files
produced by AstroVideo. FitsX
The Starlite Xpress CCD cameras are superb pieces
of hardware with a very reasonable price tag. We have written our
own capture and image processing software packages which others
may find useful. The image processing software works with most
CCD images. The capture software only works with some of the SX
cameras (not, for example the frame-store version of the SX).
The image processing
application is a Windows program which runs under Windows 95/98.
It reads the images generated by the capture program (500 x 291
plus annotation) or those generated by the standard SX software
(510 x 256 no annotation) as well as many other custom formats. A
large number of familiar processing options include linear and
non-linear contrast enhancement, background linearising,
deconvolution, unsharp masking, binning, bas-relief, noise
filter, smoothing, zooming, image combination using manual
automatic or calculated alignment, astrometry, photometry,
contouring, blink comparison and movies, orientation, spectrum
extraction, FITS and BMP exporting, FITS importing, batch dark
subtraction, spectrum extraction and image calibration using
either GSC or SA2.0 overlays. Measurements on a calibrated images
are automatically exported in IAU MPC format.
The main difference between the COAA SX capture program and the
standard SX offering is that it can make use of the full height
of the chip (291 pixels) rather than the reduced size (256
pixels) which the standard software provides for compatibility
with the frame store version. On top of that, there are a number
of command line batch facilities which make it possible to
predefine a number of parameters without a lengthy question and
answer session. Among the most useful are a pre-exposure delay
time (so that you can get from the computer to the guide
telescope before the picture starts), auto-repeat (to take a
succession of shorter images to avoid saturation or perhaps
trailing), automatic file save with labelling of the exposure
date, time and duration. The image capture program runs under DOS
or as a shell from the Windows application described next. It is
important to recognise that images in the larger format will
not be compatible with standard SX software although the
Windows application can export standard images from large format
images.
The SXCAP capture application, the SX processing application, a help file and a read me file can be downloaded together here.
R_Meteor
If you are interested in studying
meteors by day or by night, under clear skies or under cloud,
then check out R_Meteor.
Radio Clock
If you need to set your PC clock accurately, by shortwave radio, check out Radio Clock.
If you have a GPS receiver with a serial output, you can set your PC clock with this freeware. GPSTime
This application is a "speaking clock" which counts time from the start of the program. It is useful for timing exposures in the dark.TimeSpeak
Orbit determination software
Astronomers making astrometric
measurements of comets or asteroids sometimes need to determine
orbital parameters from their measurements. The most accurate way
to obtain this information is by submitting the measurements to
the IAU MPC and awaiting their excellent predictions. We were
keen to find preliminary elements faster than this, in case a
Near-Earth-Object were discovered. This little windows
application accepts three well-spaced observations in IAU MPC
format and determines the classical elements. Predictions can be
made from the elements to locate an object in the future. If only
two measurements of an object are available, or if three are too
close in time to make a proper orbit, the package will do a
polynomial extrapolation which might suffice for finding an
object on the night after discovery, for example. It is not
anywhere near as accurate as the IAU service, but you can do it
all yourself! The package, which runs under Windows 98 or Windows
95, can be downloaded here.
We have recently
been experimenting with techniques for making an objective
grating using a PC and printer to plot a fine grating onto
transparency film. Many PC printers have sufficient resolution to
plot a useful grating directly onto transparency film up to about
8 inches in size. To make such a grating, we prepared a simple
Windows program which allows you to specify the size of the
telescope aperture (not bigger than the transparency width!), the
resolution of the printer (dots per inch) and the design of the
grating (1 dark+1 light, for example). A useful degree of
dispersion can be obtained with this technique applied to, say an
8 inch f10 telescope or one masked to the largest size you can
plot. Spectral lines can be observed or imaged with such a
grating applied to the front of a modest telescope.
The package, which runs under Windows, can be
downloaded here.
Plan your Messier Marathon
MESSMARA is a
Windows program that can calculate the number of Messier objects
which you can see in a single night from your location. Specify
the date and your location (latitude and longitude) and the
program will report the start and end times of observing
(Astronomical twilight) and the number of Messier object that
will be above your horizon between those hours. You can generate
a table, a graph or even a world map showing the dates and places
where the entire set of 109 objects can be observed in a single
night (you need a fast PC for this last option). Naturally, COAA
is one of the few places where you can complete the Messier
Challenge. Obviously you also need clear skies and no moonlight
to have a reasonable chance of joining those elite astronomers
who have complete the Marathon.
The program needs Windows (3.1 or 95) and for the map, a fast
processor too.
The program can be downloaded here.
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