However, newcomers to CCD-style imaging may experience the frustration of not being able to preview the .FIT files created by these cameras. APT Has a "CCD Flats Aid" that appears to do this exact same function. For me, what I'd normally do in monochrome (20D) is this: Although I no longer use Star Tools, I remember how nice and helpful he was. If the cost of SGP isn't an issue, I'd suggest getting it. Although I do keep my Astro laptops clean and exclusively for AP hence my smooth running. SGP can then instruct Gemini 2 do a rough slew to the first target and then goes through fine corrections and plate-solving to center the coordinates to the precision (in pixels) you wish. Yes Meridian Flip is awesome with SGP especially automatic centering and auto select guide stars. All of the applications I have used for controlling my camera have had one thing in common; they make life easier. Iam using nikon d5100 now, but I will be upgrading my camera next year for dedicated astro cmos. In general, I like SGP a lot. That said, at the moment, SGP is not the most reliable program for use with modern CMOS cameras. I've been using APT for camera control, I am now thinking of using SGP any advice weather to change or not? He was all over it when I got my ASI1600 working on getting things working right with ZWO's iffy drivers. Speaking of add-ons (ie Mosaics),.. I tell Stellarium to slew the scope to that point, and then plate-solve just to be sure it's exactly where I want it. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality. This uses the Bahtinov Grabber technology to further improve the precision of your focus using a Bahtinov mask. This prevents thermal shock to the camera, and I had no idea about this issue until using the cooling aid in APT! ...You get the idea. Tried searching but couldn’t find anything comprehensive .... is there link to where someone has done a comparison of features? This is something I don't think APT is capable of handling on it's own. I think SGP it will be. = 11,462, Your email address will not be published.
I'm not that far ahead yet..still set up and tear down kinda guy.. I would only suggest looking at this path if you are ok with a more complex initial configuration, but want a client server relationship with your AP rig that allows you to control everything in a truly remote fashion from whatever client you have on hand (MacOS X, Linux, Windows). Several functions may not work.
The software boasts native support for SBIG and SBIG cameras, with ASCOM support for all other compatible cameras, filter wheels, focusers, and telescopes. Now the framing and mosaic wizard does cost more money, but well worth it, especially if you are doing mosaics.
Regarding my buggy errors in SGP, I had multiple evenings of waking up to a sequence that had stalled due to dither settling or some other error. For the 14 bit ZWo ASI 294 MC Pro with a full well of 63,700e wouldn’t the ADU be: I'm not totally sure I understand what you're saying; is this what you mean?
I am looking forward to comparing the two programs. Which DSLR cameras can you use with Astro Photography Tool? For CCD photography there seems to be a preference for SGP. APT also presents helpful reminders at critical stages of your imaging session, such as “remember to cover the telescope”, before you run a series of darks.
I tried both and decided i preferred SGP. BYN does not have autofocus feature an I will need that. The “Near” method needs to know the approximate location of where you are currently pointed in the night sky, and “blind” will discover this information for you. (Note: I'm not knocking SGPs support forum, just stating that the developer is an active participant here on CN). Thanks, all. Not sure, but now you have me curious as well. But as I mentioned these issues probably could have been solved if I had spent enough time with it, on help forums etc. Deep Sky Astrophotography Walkthrough (Step by Step). I would also vote for SGP in terms of features. Then again, I guess this would be the best way to find out for myself; try them both! It locks on, settles and begins guiding automatically as each new target is acquired.
I can image from horizon to horizon without ever having to perform a meridian flip I was very close to hitting the frustration level maximum with my initial set up, but then by researching through your information invested in an Altair ED80 triplet apo and an Altair guidecam/finder set up with a trusty second hand Canon EOS 450D. Making the jump from Canon EOS Utilities to BYEOS for camera control was an eye-opener. A bad exposure, I can ignore and it will auto decrement or increment. Could a couple of things be better? Open the roof, flip the power switches and unpark the scope (I'm now on a permanent mount with a clamshell roof plastic shed observatory! The SGP Flats Wizard automatically finds the exposure length for each filter by comparing samples it takes against a target ADU you enter.
I currently have in place my laptop (windows 8), ASCOM, EQMOD (with EQDirect interface), Stellarium,……and just recently APT and PHD2. I really love about APT for it's easy to follow interface (clean and straight forward), smooth operation, constant version improvements, great support and it's FREE! It suggested to slowly drop the temperature of the cooler in 3-degree intervals – over a period of 4-5 minutes. There is no better way to learn a new imaging application than to put it to use for a night of deep-sky imaging.
And I suspect that Ivo at APT will have these features before long. For complete step-by-step instructions of the process, you should read the APT User Guide PDF. I appreciate all the input! Plus, as Dan shared, the creator of APT is a great guy who is also active here on CN. It may just be that I'm less familiar with APT, but there were some of the "whole package fully automated" features that SGP has that I didn't think APT had.
That's useful info AD. Then ADU = (63,700/3.89) x 70% I don't plan on building my own Observatory anytime soon so a lot of the SGP features don't give me anything.
=3.89 I am not familiar with APT (?Astro Photography Tool? Hi guys,Just thinking of starting to use this type of software and was supprised at the cost difference between the 2..APT is next to nothing (about £15) and sgp $99.. Are there any benefits over one or the other? 5. It is not as polished as APT or SGP, but feature wise it is a lot closer to SGP than APT is, but much simpler to use than SGP in my opinion.
2. The APT forum is the best place to go for specific questions about camera compatibility. Literally, every button has an associated tooltip indicating what the button does, and when to use it. No need to do anything except enter the target value and press go. There are a couple of features in SGP that I refuse to give up.
He also posted a very nice narrowband image on CN today. Edited by Peter in Reno, 27 December 2018 - 11:52 PM. If you test for every possible bug on every possible piece of hardware and driver, you will never release anything. SGP does a wonderful job. The APT has released beta version for Nikon.
Start guiding. Required fields are marked *. To create an evenly illuminated field, I use a flat field panel. Astrophotography | NGC 4631 – The Whale Galaxy, The Crescent Nebula – captured using Astro Photography Tool, Astro Photography Tool User Guide – Astroplace.Net, Astro Photography Tool vs. Backyard EOS – AstronomyForum.Net, Sequence Generator Pro – LightVortexAstronomy. Hi Trevor, You have many supporters down here in Australia. APT is the third image acquisition software I’ve used in the past 4 months. APT or SGP for observatory use - posted in Beginning and Intermediate Imaging: So I like the BYN interface. But for automation, SGP is hard to beat. to do what? I would like to try the APT when it arrives, and I am wondering what kind of cable I will need for that.
SharpCap doesn't currently integrate platesolving, though, so you will have to use AstroTostada if you choose that option. BUT not great for planet viewing.
Thank you so much for yet another really well presented and informative video/review.
I write code and scripts when I need to, but tend to avoid it if I can. This also transfers useful information to the user such as image orientation and resolution. HI Trevor, What a novel idea! DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing, CCD/CMOS Astro Camera Imaging & Processing, Science! For my personal style and imaging goals, Astro Photography Tool will likely be my imaging control software of choice for years to come! So, you’ll run both programs at once. SGP does all that and much, much more.
How do you arrive at an ADU of 25,000 for the ZWO ASI294 MC Pro? How often you get some error in SGP?
Today it has many automation features, but I still think SGP's design is more suited to the task. Usually only takes 1 or 2 tries. I did think about using another programme earlier this year as I do find SGP flaky at times, but this alone stopped me from changing. Once you have a good understanding of the interface, you can easily turn off the tooltips by clicking the “i” button on the top right of the screen.
Assuming that you have a USB-controlled focus unit/stepper motor (mine is a Moonlite), you can specify under what condition you wish to refocus. As others have indicated, APT is probably capable of doing many of the functions of SGP, the difference to me is one of convenience. I use APT with a Canon 450D and SGP with an STF-8300C. TSX may be powerful but not 100% automation software. Would you go for APT or SGP if you were buying new imaging software? APT uses platesolving in a couple of ways, to great effect.
I have only just started using APT but I find its blind platesolving is very good, took only 47 secs to find my image. For the $20 or so APT costs, it's a really nice program. I have SGP and I know many speak highly of it but I also had APT and when I switched from DSLR to a ZWO 1600 camera last year decided to start off with APT and am still happily using it. Literally, every button has an associated tooltip indicating what the button does, and when to use it.
The PointCraft feature of APT is powered by existing plate-solving technology that was previously only available in professional observatories. Perhaps if I was at this level, I would appreciate the features of SGP more. I spend a lot of time outside next to my gear, not in a warm room or in the house. My plan is to continue imaging unguided with my Orion Sirius mount and ES ED80 CF scope……but now using EQMOD with Stellarium for GoTo and APT for the camera control and Bahtinov aid while I am saving for the scope and cam. I think there were plans to implement this but I haven't checked recently.
Setting up focus steps can seem more than a bit mysterious, but if you simply experiments with steps you can get it right and achieve good focus more-or-less automatically as the night goes on. The fact that I jumped straight from Sequence Generator Pro to APT between imaging sessions gave me a direct head-to-head comparison. Ivo... any relation to Ivo Jager, author of Star Tools? Awesome software.
Brief: This article explains the difference between apt and apt-get commands of Linux. Not sure how serious the OP was but ACP is what I would probably use if I had a true-blue permanent observatory. I have recently installed the Astro Photography Tool camera control software on my dedicated astrophotography laptop. Change the manual filter wheel to whichever filter I need. If the plate has been successfully solved, the software can then calculate the RA and DEC of the image. Tanks you for a lot of information! Apt will also feature direct support (Not Ascom) for ZWO soon I beleive! A flats wizard? And as I mentioned, all the components to fully automate this seem to exist within the program (plate solving, meridian detection, best focus parameters etc). APT vs. SGP. Switch filter. However, although all the pieces are in place, APT doesn't presently support automated meridian flipping nor unattended auto focusing based on HFR/V curves as SGP does. It won't connect to native QSI driver.