AcquireStar

Setting up AcquireStar

Astronomers are using AcquireStar with automated telescopes to perform a periodic focus update to assure that images acquired during the night are perfectly focused.

AcquireStar can be operated manually by a push of a button or through automation within a script.

AcquireStar will identify and acquire a target star for autofocus that falls within the user defined requirements.

This feature requires ThjeSkyX ImageLink or the full version of PinPoint. AcquireStar will not work with the current version of PinPoint LE bundled with MaxIm V3 or higher.

At the push of a button or from a script, AcquireStar will (depending on user settings):

take short exposure and plate solve current telescope position using PinPoint or TheSkyX Image Link.

initiate a search in a star catalog to identify stars that meet the user defined magnitude range

identified stars will be screened for min slew altitude, side of meridian to prevent telescope flip

slew the telescope to the first target star in the list

take a short exposure and plate solve current telescope position

tweak telescope pointing to center target star

initiate autofocus routine

perform a return slew to original position

take a short exposure and plate solve current telescope position

tweak telescope pointing to met user defined allowable pointing error