STAR Atlas:PRO VERSION 4.0 ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
ASCOM Compliant Telescope Support
STAR Atlas:PRO supports the ASCOM standard for telescope control. It is recommended that you download and install the latest ASCOM telescope driver software from the ASCOM Web Site at http://www.ascom-standards.org (the software is provided free of charge).
Enabling the Telescope Interface
Go to Chart Prefs, then the "Telescope Settings" button, and then Enable the telescope interface by clicking the "Telescope Interface - ON" button. If you do not enable STAR Atlas:PRO's telescope interface you will be alleviated from the relevant menus being displayed on the STAR Atals:PRO desktop.
Now select the telescope driver of choice. If you choose the ASCOM driver, STAR Atlas:PRO will load the ASCOM Telescope Chooser dialog box that allows you to select the ASCOM Telescope Driver of choice.
When you return to the STAR Atlas:PRO desktop, note that the 'Scope' button on the main toolbar is now enabled.
Using the Telescope Control System
Right-click on the desktop and when STAR Atlas:PRO's popup menu is displayed you will note the menu option for your Telescope Driver. Select the scope menu and the option 'Connect' is displayed. Click 'Connect'. A successful connection to your telescope will result in the Scope Control floating command toolbar appearing on STAR Atlas:PRO's desktop. Commands from this toolbar can then be executed with a mouse click or the corresponding keyboard shortcut displayed next to the button's name (ie AF4 which means ALT-F4 keys).
Enabling Internet Features (Adv. Edition)
If you have access to the Internet you may choose to enable this feature. Enable the ‘[SAP/INET] Internet Add-On’ option so that there is a tick mark present. Now click the Close Button and return to the STAR Atlas:PRO desktop.
- Automatically download and import the latest Comet Elements.
- Automatically retrieve & display DSS Images.
- Retrieve and import data from the GSC-2 and USNO-A2.0 Catalogues
Commands & Keyboard Commands
The floating toolbar on STAR Atlas:PRO's desktop is your main command control panel. Each of the buttons can also be accessed from the keyboard.
| Button | Keyboard | Description |
| Locate | L (note) | Locate an Astronomical Object |
| Field of View | F | Change the Chart Field of View |
| Mag Filter | M (note) | Set the Limiting Magnitude of the Chart |
| Goto RA DEC | G | Go to user entered R.A. and DEC. co-ordinates |
| Chart Prefs | E (note) | Chart options and program setup |
| Catalog Prefs | C (note) | Astronomical Catalogue selection options |
| Rotate / Flip | O | Rotate, Flip, Mirror current Chart view |
| Zenith | Z | Go to your current Zenith |
| Refresh | R | Clean-up Chart with a re-draw |
| Pan | Cursor Keys | Use your Left, Right, Up and Down Cursor (arrow) keys to pan. |
| Help | F1 | Display the on-line Help Menu |
| Legend | F2 | Display, Modify Chart Symbol Colours |
| About | F3 | About Screen |
| F4 | Print the Chart to a Printer or Windows Bitmap File | |
| Scope | ALT-F2 | Connect to your Telescope |
| Quit | F10 | Quit and return to Windows |
The new Locate Command replaces the prior Find Command. The Locate Command displays a menu of each of STAR Atlas:PRO's Astronomical Catalogues in addition to allowing you to enter the designation of a known object. If you know the designation of an astronomical object, simply enter it's designation, and click the Find button.
Examples of designations:
- M81
- NGC1000
- IC10
- ESO350-40B
- ARP200
The Catalog Prefs Command allows you to configure how STAR Atlas:PRO decides which astronomical objects too display on Star Charts.
Typically only the brightest of Stars are displayed at large field of views and as you Zoom In, decreasing the Field of View, fainter Stars and deep sky objects begin to appear. Ultimately, at the smallest Field of View the faintest astronomical objects should be displayed. STAR Atlas:PRO has three primary methods when it comes to deciding which objects to display on the current Star Chart.
- AUTO: an internal matrix is used that limits the catalogues dispayed and the limiting magnitude, based on the chart's Field of View.
- FIELD OF VIEW: in this mode you may configure which astronomical catalogues to display based on the chart's Field of View.
- MANUAL: in this mode you may configure which astronomical catalogues to display regardless on the current Field of View.
The Mag Filter Command allows you to set the Limiting Magnitude for the current Star Chart.
Note that AUTO mode can only be selected if the Catalog Prefs is also set to AUTO mode.
The Chart Prefs Command provides you with access to numerous charting options. New or modified commands in Version 4 include:
PIXEL MODE: Enabling this option will allow STAR Atlas:PRO to draw the faintest Stars as a single picture element on your computer screen.
DISPLAY B-V STAR COLOURS: Enable this option to display Star's in their B-V filter colour. Note that not all stellar catalogues contain star colour data. For example the Guide Star Catalog will only ever display stars as white.
DEEP SKY OBJECTS - DISPLAY LABELS: Enables labels for all the deep sky objects displayed on a chart.
DEEP SKY OBJECTS - DISPLAY POPULAR NAMES: Display popular names of astronomical objects such as "The Beehive Cluster"
CHART COLOUR SCHEME - BACKGROUND COLOUR: Allows you to choose your own chart background colour.