Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Lyon, France
    Posts
    113

    Default Acquisition in sequence planning

    Hello all,

    I just started to use ACP and I'd like to get started with variable stars (and later asteroids) work.
    Here is my question: how can we in ACP Planner write a sequence of say one image of a star "every 15 minutes"?

    Thanks!

    François

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    33,158

    Default

    Francois --

    Planner is not good for making time series. For that it is better to write the observing plan yourself. The plan language is simple yet it has directives which will allow you to set up complex series. For example you could interleave multilevel targets so that it works round and round in a list, coming back to each one every 15 minutes. For example:

    #count 1, 1, 1
    #filter B, V, R
    #binning 1, 1, 1
    ; Adjust exposures for star 1
    #interval 12, 7, 8
    Star1 02:05:54 +22:51:38
    ; Adjust exposures for star 2
    #interval 20, 14, 16
    Star2 01:54:10 +44:20:07

    This will take one exposure each in B, V and R of each of the two stars, with the exposures individually set (based on the star brightness to prevent saturation or low signal). Now run this and see the log:

    ... one-time setup stuff ...
    21:45:55 Starting run for plan FrancoisTest.txt...
    21:45:55 ==== Starting target Star1 ====
    21:45:55 ; Adjust exposures for star 1
    21:45:55 (turning tracking on for live image(s))
    21:46:01 Start slew to Star1...
    ... to the end ...
    21:50:27 (turning tracking off for safety)
    21:50:28 End of run.
    ACP console log closed 23-Feb-2017 21:50:28 UTC

    So this took about 5 minutes, 30 seconds. Now, to take 10 sets of these images, spaced 15 minutes apart, add the following:

    #sets 10

    #count 1, 1, 1
    #filter B, V, R
    #binning 1, 1, 1
    ; Adjust exposures for star 1
    #interval 12, 7, 8
    Star1 02:05:54 +22:51:38
    ; Adjust exposures for star 2
    #interval 20, 14, 16

    #waitfor 570 ; 9 minutes 30 seconds


    The wait at the end forces the set to take a total of 15 minutes. You could put more stars into the plan and shorten the wait (dead time for the observatory). I hope this made it clear. For details see ACP Help Acquiring Images Automatically, Making Observing Plans, and Sample Observing Plans.

    You can make these locally and upload them through the web, then run using the "Multiple Targets, Plan" item.
    -- Bob

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Lyon, France
    Posts
    113

    Default

    Hi Bob,

    This scripting exercise seems a bit daunting to me.
    For simple photometry runs, I now use the "delay between" feature of the "autosave" menu in Maxim to set for example a 15 minute interval between images.
    This works just fine. And in order to sleep tight, I use the AP timer to stop tracking after a certain period of time.
    This is sort of the DIY of automation but it works well for simple photometry runs

    François

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    33,158

    Default

    Francois --

    For simple photometry runs, I now use the "delay between" feature of the "autosave" menu in Maxim to set for example a 15 minute interval between images.
    This means you have only one target? Much simpler:

    #sets 1000
    #quitat 11:00
    #count 1, 1, 1
    #filter B, V, R
    #binning 1, 1, 1
    #interval 12, 7, 8
    Star1 02:05:54 +22:51:38
    #waitfor 900

    This will take images in B, V, R (12, 7, 8 sec) every 15 minutes until 11:00 UTC. At that time ACP will do a shutdown.

    And "15 min between images" ... does this mean you only take one image in one color band each point? If so, even simpler:

    #sets 1000
    #quitat 11:00
    #filter V
    #interval 12
    Star1 02:05:54 +22:51:38
    #waitfor 900


    This will take images in V every 15 minutes until 11:00 UTC. At that time ACP will do a shutdown.
    -- Bob

 

 

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Planning an Update
    By Dale Liebenberg in forum ImageMan for ACP and ACP Expert (Scheduler)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: Jul 24, 2016, 07:01
  2. Planning update
    By Dale Liebenberg in forum ImageMan for ACP and ACP Expert (Scheduler)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: Mar 6, 2015, 03:58
  3. Related Question on Planning
    By Bill McLaughlin in forum ACP Planner
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: Sep 28, 2010, 14:42
  4. Planning tool for periodic variable stars
    By Tom Krajci in forum Add-Ons, Enhancements, and Helper Components
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: Dec 23, 2009, 14:13

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •