STAR Atlas:PRO™ instruction manual

The Contents of the Instruction Manual are listed below.

CONTENTS

Welcome to STAR Atlas:PRO.. 5

How this document is organised. 5

Conventions used in this Manual. 5

STAR Atlas:PRO Installation. 6

Computer Requirements. 6

Minimum Requirements for all Computers. 6

Optional and Preferred Computer Requirements. 6

Supported Operating Systems. 7

Installing STAR Atlas:PRO. 7

Installing STAR Atlas:PRO Advanced Edition. 7

How to Install the STAR Atlas:PRO Internet Communications Package. 7

Guide Star Catalogue (GSC) Installation Options. 8

Guide Star Catalogue (GSC) Installation Options. 8

STAR Atlas:PRO Configuration. 10

Initiating STAR Atlas:PRO with your CD Key Number. 10

The Observer’s Location and other Basic Settings. 10

Settings. 10

Setup Links to External Programs. 11

Enable STAR Atlas:PRO Advanced Edition Options. 12

Enable the Guide Star Catalogue [SAP/GSC] 12

Enable Internet Communications Module [SAP/INET] 12

Pixel Graphics Option. 12

Setup the Telescope Control System... 13

Enable the Telescope Control System.. 13

Choose the Telescope Driver. 13

Selecting an ASCOM Telescope Driver 14

Using STAR Atlas:PRO.. 16

Charting Modes. 16

Identifying Astronomical Objects. 17

Locating Astronomical Objects. 17

Observation Planner. 17

Telescope Control 17

STAR Atlas:PRO Desktop Layout and Menus. 18

Status Display Panel. 18

Status Display Values. 19

The Navigator Command Toolbar.. 19

Navigator Commands. 19

Other Keyboard Commands. 20

Navigator Popup Menu.. 21

Navigator Popup Menu Commands. 21

On-Line Data menu. 22

DSS Image Options. 22

Guide Star Catalogue 2 and the USNO A2.0 Catalogue. 23

Scope Control Toolbar.. 23

Chart Preferences and Settings.. 25

General Settings. 25

Chart Colour Scheme. 25

Chart Date & Time. 25

Chart Mode. 25

Object Filter. 26

Label Options. 26

Stars. 26

Co-ordinate Grids. 27

Digitized Sky Survey Images. 27

Constellations. 27

Other Settings. 28

Object Labels. 28

Object Filter.. 29

Star Chart Symbols. 29

Catalogue Selection Method (CSM) 29

CSM Mode Settings. 30

Catalogue Selection Matrix for Auto Mode. 30

Observation Planner.. 31

Listing Observable Target Objects. 31

Adding Objects into the Observation Planner.. 32

Operating the Telescope Control System. 33

Establishing a connection with the Telescope. 33

Telescope Control. 33

[GOTO] and [SYNC]. 33

STAR Atlas:PRO Components.. 34

Astro Images. 34

Astronomical Clocks and Astronomical Twilight.. 34

Center on R.A. / Dec. co-ordinates. 35

Comms & Reticle Options. 35

Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) Images. 36

Screen Data. 36

Commands. 36

Exposures Organiser.. 36

Jovian Events. 37

Jovian Chart Settings. 37

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and System I & II Longitudes. 38

Jupiter’s Moons. 38

Animation, Time Stepping and Time Skipping. 38

Animate Controls. 38

Planetary Ephemerides. 39

Print Chart.. 39

Select Horizon.. 40

Select Telescope and Eyepiece Combination.. 40

Adding Telescope Parameters. 40

Adding Eyepiece Parameters. 41

Select Telescope and CCD Combination.. 41

Adding CCD Camera parameters. 41

Set Limiting Magnitude. 41

Set Field Of View (FOV) 42

Telescope Control Panel. 42

LED Indicators. 42

Telescope Control Panel Indicators. 42

Telescope Commands. 43

Rotate / Flip Charts. 43

User Objects. 44

Astronomical Database Manager..