New features
Version 2.0.2 adds the ability to control Digital focusers and
Observatory domes in addition to Cameras, Telescope mounts and GPS
devices.
Focuser (left) and observatory dome (right) control
tool windows in SIPS New standard for driver interfaces for the above mentioned
devices was introduced. It was designed to be as close as possible
to ASCOM defined protocols for focusers and domes to make future
mapping of ASCOM drivers as easy as possible.
Another “chessboard image filter”, cropping four squares
from the corners and one square from the center of source image
and composing them into resulting image, was added. We used quotes
because it is not typical image filter, it is rather intended for
usage during focusing only. Especially when using wide field
cameras with large CCD detectors, optics is only rarely capable to
create perfect image over e.g. 50 mm
diameter of G4 detectors. Focusing is the a compromise between
image quality in the image center and in the very corners. This
chessboard filter allows inspection of critical portions of large
images without zooming (which hides fine details) or extensive
scrolling of the downloaded image (which consumes lots of
time).
Chessboard filter applied to large image shows perfect
image in the center as well as distorted star images in the
corners of original image Chessboard filter can be applied to any image within SIPS from
the Image Transform tool windows or can be applied directly to
images downloaded from the camera, which is defined in the New
Image Transform tool window. (Only do not forget to switch this
filter off when acquiring final image after focusing :-).
Bug fixes
SIPS v2.0.2 fixes problems, found in the previous
versions of the software.
Open File dialog box does not hide behind the main SIPS
window when deselected. CCD Camera tool properly enables/diables controls
(Start/Stop buttons etc.) when camera is unplugged during image
download. Fixed problem while loading FITS images with improperly
formated string headers. Fixed problems with asynchronous handling of camera
commands.
SIPS v2.0.2 is a freeware and can be downloaded from the download section of this WWW site.
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