TheSky X Build History

August 22, 2023 Latest Windows and macoS TheSky Serious Astronomer edition version 10.5.0 Build 13618

Added a reminder message how to exit Full Screen Mode.
TheSky for macOS includes a universal bundle that supports both Intel and Silicon architectures.

August 08, 2023 TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13613

Latest Linux x86 Full Installer

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior release (13572) where the serial port selector did not list any appropriate serial ports under Linux.

June 13, 2023 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13592

Latest macOS Update and Linux Full Installer

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build on macOS and Linux where opening a FITS file would give the error “Unrecognized or bad file format. Error = 701”. This would break dependent operations like camera control, Image Link, Automated Pointing Runs, etc., any operation that displayed FITS files.

June 13, 2023 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13592

Latest macOS Update and Linux Full Installer

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build on macOS and Linux where opening a FITS file would give the error “Unrecognized or bad file format. Error = 701”. This would break dependent operations like camera control, Image Link, Automated Pointing Runs, etc., any operation that displayed FITS files.

June 9, 2023 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13572

Latest Windows, macOS, Linux AMD64 (released simultaneously)

This build Incorporates the latest application framework development environment with long term support ensuring the future of TheSky while using of state of the art available technologies.
The serial port selector now only lists serial ports that are recognized and available to the computer. Also the list of available ports is updated dynamically as changes happen like when hardware is plugged in or turned on or vice-versa, without having to exit and re-enter the window.
The serial port selector now has a vertical scroll bar when needed.
Automated pointing runs (APR) now log the entire run status to a text file in the camera autosave subfolder, including the image link results, (along with the APR photos which have always been logged). The APR FITS photos have FITS key added to record the APR run number and the pointing sample number. This make is easier to correlate photos with pointing samples enhancing the ability to debug imaging system anomalies brought to light by TPoint.
In case this new logging feature causes APR issues, make a folder named “DisableAPRLogging” under the folder where TheSkyX.exe resides (even if running TheSky64.exe) to turn off this new logging feature. One must exit and restart TheSky for this key folder to take effect.
Photos acquired with TheSky now include an EXPDELAY FITS keyword recording the “Exposure Delay” on the camera tab. Some systems require a settling time after slewing which is typically and easily accomplished by setting an exposure delay which is now recorded.
Take two… Press control before pressing Image Link’s “Open FITS” to have any existing WCS ignored upon open, i.e. the sky display will not adjust. This is useful if you want to force Image Link to “redo” all calculations instead of using the historic Image Link results stored in a photo.
Incorporated latest cfitsio libraries.
Fixed a bug where the TPoint module check boxes Show pointing data, Automatically update model, Show pointing path, Graph unused samples could get out of sync when opening historic models.
Fixed a bug introduced in build 13479 where multiple aborts were required to abort a scripted SlewToAzAlt operation.
Train PEC now captures PEC index at mid exposure.
When using JPL Horizons and the ASTAO to track a satellite via ephemeris, fixed bug where declination sign was ignored.
Allow slashes in autosave “filenames”. Filenames is in quotes because allowing slashes for this field enables (dynamic) subfolder creation, so saved photos can be grouped by subfolder. The subfolder name is any available key abbreviation (exposure time, binning mode, filter name, image type, etc). For example all 1×1, 2×2, 3×3 photos could be saved into a corresponding subfolder “1×1”, “2×2”, “3×3”.
Allow configurable slew timeout for Automated Pointing Runs. The value can be changed by added this line into AppSetting.ini file: “APP_nSynchronousSlewTimeout= 180000” The units are milliseconds, the default is 180000 ms which is three minutes. This is rarely needed, one example might be when bootstrapping direct drive mounts that are not yet optimally tuned and slews don’t settle in certain areas of the sky.

March 3, 2023 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13507

Latest Windows, macOS

Fixed a bug where a FOVI “Linked to camera’s rotator” and with an offset guider, was draw incorrectly for a GEM (fork mounts were ok), also causing confusion with the rotator option “Rotate 180 degrees when the mount changes side of pier”. A crude work around in prior builds is to draw the guider as a ring, that is two concentric circles, indicating all possible positions of the guider and knowing one posture of the mount the guider rectangle is correct while the other side it is 180 degrees opposite.
Fixed a bug where right click on Gaia 3 data and choosing “More Data” would cause TheSky to crash.
Added an option to Meade mount driver to support the short coordinate format.
Fixed (what appeared as) a memory leak when quickly taking back to back photos with very large format cameras (like 10K x 9K) and short exposures (i.e using Take Series or continuous Focus Mode). The work around in prior builds is to NOT set auto contrast as Heuristic or if Heuristic is a must, set an enough of an exposure delay, giving the GUI enough time finish Heuristic calculations per photo.
Look for faster performance in image calibration routines (bias, dark, flat, etc.) when processing large format photos (and or during photo acquisition) on computers with more than two CPU cores.
Various improvements for SB direct drive mounts.
For the x2 driver model, released and documented the WeatherStationDataInterfacethe DomeHasHighlyRelaibleOpenCloseSensors interface.
By default, Image Link, “Open Fits” automatically utilizes any existing Image Link solution in the FITS header and places the photo correctly on the star chart. Most the time this is the desired behavior, avoiding the need to perform an Image Link again. In rare cases, you may not want this automatic behavior and instead desire to ignore any existing WCS solution so a fresh Image Link can be performed. With this build, if you hold down the control key before you press “Open FITS”, any existing WCS solution is ignored so you can perform a fresh Image Link. Again, you must hold down the control key before you press “Open FITS”, if you press control after “Open FITS”, that’s too late.

November 11, 2022 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13479 Latest Windows, macOS, Linux AMD 64 and Linux ARM

November 11, 2022 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13479
Latest Windows, macOS, Linux AMD 64 and Linux ARM
Bug fix: Selecting a FOVI from the Star Search window no longer causes TheSky to crash.
Fixed a bug that caused TheSky to crash when clicking with the mouse to identify an object. To reproduce, use the mouse to identify an object, press ESC to clear the currently identified object, then click on another object.
Allow configuring the maximum number of satellites. Can be lowered on computers with low memory restrictions or increased on computers with more memory. On Windows, an increase is only recommended when running TheSky 64 bit, not TheSkyX 32 bit.
TheSky 64 bit now supports “MaxIm DL’s Camera” (just like TheSky 32). Beware the first few connection attempts might be problematic/cumbersome, but clear up after that. Verified it worked on two different computers.
Draw Jupiter’s great red spot more accurately. In addition, added a button under Display, Non-stellar Object Options, “Update Jupiter’s Great Red Spot” for future date accuracy.
New default behavior for Paramounts, scripted calls to sky6RASCOMTele::SlewToAzAlt(), now turns off tracking when the destination azimuth, altitude is reached. The work around in prior builds to achieve the same behavior is to slew a few times to the target in a loop and then turn off tracking. That code will still work with this new default behavior. For new builds wanting to return to the old behavior, make a folder named “EnableLegacySlewToAzAltBehavior” under the same folder where TheSky executable resides.
Fixed a bug on Linux where accessing TheSky User Guide from Help menu did not work. Note “atril” now needs installed.
Updated FOVI databases.

September 30, 2022 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13405 (Latest Windows macOS release)

Updated QHYCCD camera and filter wheel driver to version 1.3.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior release where the icons were missing on field of view indicators using a “Reference frame” other than “Center of Sky Chart”.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior release where slewing a Paramount always approached the target from the same direction, i.e. two additional, small slews at the end of a slew.
Renamed the menu command from “Clear” to “Clear Log” when right clicking an autoguiding graph plot area.
Fix a bug introduced in the prior build where opening an historic autoguiding log and pressing the “Clear Log” button or right click “Clear” would only produce a computer beep and not clear the graph. This action now clears the autoguiding graph window like builds before one prior build.
Fixed a bug under rare circumstances, where the file name displayed in the autoguiding graph window’s title was incorrect, behind by 1 with respect to the log sequence number in the file name.

September 02, 2022 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13395 (Latest Windows and macOS releases)

Bug fix: When autoguiding, the name of the auto guiding log file displayed in the title of the Autoguiding Graphs window was wrong, behind by one w/r/t the sequence number. For example, Imager.010.log was displayed, but the log file actually being written to disk was Imager.011.log. The title would get out of sync, especially when using the popup menu within the Autoguiding Graphs plot (right click) and choosing “Clear”. Work around for prior builds would be to use the “Clear Log” button on the Camera window instead and not the right click, “Clear”.
The autoguiding graphs now plot corrections sent to the mount by default.
Bug fix – The auto guiding graph, right click “Clear” would lose the name of the log in the window title.
The auto guiding graph, real-time settings are now displayed by default.
TPoint settings operations (New, Open, Save As, etc.) now easily allow a custom chosen folder and filename rather than always opening to the default folder “\Software Bisque\TheSky Professional Edition 64\TPoint\TPoint Settings.tptx”.
Bug fix: The Imaging Systems window icon for manufacturer-specific telescope windows no longer disappears after connecting to the mount.
Improved the behavior when overlaying DSS photos on the Sky Chart. The maximum size of DSS photos is 2 degrees. If the field of view of the Sky Chart is greater than 2 degrees, and the Overlay Photo button is pressed, a DSS photo is now displayed (rather than doing nothing).
Paramount owners, ProhibitTrackingBelowHorizon is now true (i.e. on) by default. If the paramount tracks below the horizon for a few moments, tracking is automatically turned off. Takes care of the case of slewing to an object in the western sky, forgetting and leaving it for hours, eventually the mount would track below the horizon. TheSky has to be running and connected to the mount in order for this option to work.
Fixed a bug where Closed Loop Slew (CLS) uses the scale from Image Link>Search tab>Image scale, but now uses scale from “Automated ImageLink Settings” as documented. A work around in prior builds is to use “Take and Image Link Photo” on the “Automated Pointing Calibration Run” window. This change may break some automation clients with extensive Image Link and CLS support.
Drastically improved the speed of building the FOVI telescope selections.
Added missing Celestron model mounts to list.
Bug fix: When using the telescope Move buttons, telescope cross hairs no longer jumps unexpectedly.
Updated Celestrak URL (from .com to .org) and added new categories.
iOptron mounts now properly report they are not slewing when they are actually slewing. When checking if mount is slewing, also check if mount is meridian flipping.
Updated FOVI equipment databases (added ASA and OGS telescopes and SBIG Aluma cameras).
Improved the persistent folder associated with FITS Viewer window especially when used with Image Link and acquiring photos with the camera.
Added a button “Open FITS from AutoSave Folder” on the camera tab next to the AutoSave button for convenience to open recently acquired photos. Also remember the forward back buttons on the FITS Viewer window.
Fix a bug where RA autoguiding corrections were being incorrectly scaled down by maximum move, especially noticeable at high declinations. The work around in prior builds is to increase aggressiveness.
iOptron version 2.5 command protocol bug fix: The Telescope window’s telescope status now shows the mount’s current tracking rate.
iOptron version 2.5 command protocol bug fix: The HC and Main firmware versions are displayed on the Telescope > Telescope Setup window upon connect.
iOptron version 2.5 command protocol attempted fix: Using the latest firmware with the latest version of TheSky, unable to reproduce the reported “Error 206: Command Failed” message on macOS or Windows.
Sky Commander version: Device version is now displayed correctly.
Automatically set iOptron mount’s location, date, and time when a link with TheSky is established.
Updated latest UT1-UTC predictions.
Changed the default value for the camera setting for “Reduction” to “None” (was “AutoDark”). Most modern cameras do not have physical shutters.
Fixed size of Telescope Rates drop-down menu wider on macOS.

May 20, 2022 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13339 (Latest Windows release

Train PEC now requires a fresh autoguider calibration within one hour (was 10).
Tools, Run Java script now only accepts text and removes html markup.
Scripted ccdsoftCamera::CenterBrightestObject() now operational (was “Not Implemented”).
Updated TheSky User Guide.
Updated ICRS text file.
Updated camera FOVI database.
Train PEC now compatible with Taurus 500/600. In earlier builds, use the “PEC Parameters.txt” file convention with the following line PEC Parameters = 735 500 0.05625. For details on this convention, see the note at the bottom of www.bisque.com/train-pec
Fixed a bug where the polar alignment report was incorrect for a Taurus when the elevation adjustment required less than one turn. For example, if the polar should be raised 1.5 arc-minutes, old builds would report incorrectly report “Paramount Taurus: Raise the polar axis 44 degrees”, the new build reports “Paramount Taurus: Raise the polar axis 0.1 full turns (i.e. 0 full turns, plus 44 degrees).
Added several bullet points to the TPoint Polar Align Tab under “Important Information” to clarify to perform either tic based polar alignment or APA but not both at the same time.
Fix several misspelling of achieve.
The “Advanced Camera user interface” setting is now true by default. This option shows the Autoguide tab for the imager which is commonly used now compared to the past. Also, it is very convenient for Train PEC to using the imager as an autoguider.
Fixed broken link in rough polar alignment.
The “Advanced Camera user interface” setting is now on (true) by default. This option shows the Autoguide tab for the imager which is commonly used now compared to the past. Also, it is very convenient for Train PEC to using the imager as an autoguider.
Fixed broken link in rough polar alignment to a video of the same.

April 4, 2022 – TheSky version 10.5.0 Build 13318 (Latest macOS release)

See release notes below for the macOS-specific changes in this release.

April 4, 2022 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13311 (Latest Windows Release)

Updated all core system libraries used by TheSky (macOS and Windows).
LTI – Fix for “Autofocus Now” text bigger than the button.
Updated x2 documentation to include a brief section on developing and distributing 64 bit drivers.
Updated Wolf-Rayet-stars SDB.
Updated FOVI database.
Updated TheSky User Guide.
Corrected LX200 get latitude receive length avoiding a lengthy read.
Added/updated SDBs.
Updated Paramount mount textual descriptions displayed once selected.
Advanced Satellite Tracking Module again supports Horizon JPL ephemeris (decimal and sexagesimal) tracking (accommodated their new format changes).
Tools > Verify TheSky Time working again. The prior web based resource was no longer available.
macOS: Updated install script to include missing library that prevented ZWO and QHYCCD cameras from connecting.
Comet/Minor planets – Added links to asteroid download resources and MPC credit statement.
The web page URL for unusual minor planets on the Minor Planet Center changed. TheSky now uses this new URL.
Updated native A-P mount driver to include Mach2GTO support.
Latest changes for Bisque TCS direct drive mounts.

February 18, 2022 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13273 (Latest ARM64 Release)

Updated installer for ARM64 architectures.

Available to active subscribers of the following products:

TheSky Imaging edition for ARM64
TheSky Professional Edition and the Multi-OS module
Universal subscription
Paramount Software Suite

February 9, 2022 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13284 (Latest macOS Release)

macOS only: Corrected an error in the previous release that prevented successful installation of the core Sky Databases (SDBs).

January 26, 2022 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13264 (Latest macOS Release)

Updated QHYCCD X2 Camera Plug In (macOS only).
Updated core Sky Databases (SDBs).
Updated miscellaneous optional Sky Databases (SDBs).

January 14, 2022 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13243

Fixed a bug where the camera Focus Graphs incorrectly plotted two points per cycle when autoguiding and AutoDark turned on. In builds with this (display only) bug, the “workaround” is to mentally ignore the higher point of the pair.
LTI – Fix for missing seq suffix on TheSky Fusion.
Distribute x2 Optec Gemini Focuser driver.
Allow Train PEC to be used by custom, Bisque TCS installations. Use a file convention to dictate PEC parameters so that Train PEC has the data necessary to operate.
- The file must strictly follow the format below for 1) The number of teeth on the HA gear 2) The number of entries in the PEC table 3) The number of arcseconds per motor encoder.
- Create a file named “PEC Parameters.txt”, in TheSky’s folder.
  - Have the first line in the file be this:
  - “PEC Parameters = nteeth npec upec”
  - For example, an ME II…
  - “PEC Parameters = 576 1125 0.0625”
Fixed a bug where focuser temperature compensation had stale temperature when “Temperature source” is set to “Paramount Mount”. A work around in prior builds is to keep the Bisque TCS window open on the Utilities tab with “Slew rate adjustment based on temperature” selected.
SatViaEphem is now compatible with new JPL Horizons ephemeris format.
When editing a Power Control circuit label, show the circuit number in the window title.
Added FocuserTraining scripting object.
For BoltwoodCloudSensor support, when attempting to connect, populate the Windows registry with the value name (and create the keys) so it is easy to subsequently add the path of the file share for the ClarityII data file to the Windows registry. This is a convenience when running more than one of TheSky in a single observatory, each wanting (shared) weather data, and the ClarityII software is not installed.
Updated all core system libraries used by TheSky.
New feature – create a dual field of view indicator that has both imager and autoguider from two Image Links of the respective imager and autoguider.
Drastic improvement when editing numeric values that have a suffix, mouse clicking to the right of the suffix, then pressing the backspace key, now jumps to the end of the numeric value, ready for edit. For example, the Exposure time field, “1.000 seconds”, mouse click in the edit control to the right of “seconds” and click backspace, and the cursor jumps to the end of the numeric value. In prior builds, the backspace did nothing.

October 26, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13210

Fix a bug where starting a second instance of TheSky64.exe (i.e. windows only) unnecessarily prompts for a serial number. Work around in builds before this one, enter the serial number to run the second instance.
Fixed a bug where using a script to image link would not obey the image scale parameter. A work around in prior builds is to set the “Blind” option and turn on “Use All Sky Image Link for scripted Image Link” on the All Sky tab of Image Link. A second work around is to use the GUI to perform an image link with the same scale and subsequent, scripted Image Links would succeed.
Fixed a bug where using a script to image link with the “Use All Sky Image Link for scripted Image Link” option on, would not obey the parameter “unknownscale” and instead use whatever setting the GUI had.
“Train PEC”
- Fixed a bug where Train PEC did not work (doubled PE) if autoguider calibration was performed on the east. The workaround in prior builds is to perform autoguider calibration on the west.
- “Train PEC” now draws graphs using the same scale on the dependent y axis, making PE improvement more easily, visually apparent.
- Fixed a bug that produced before/after plots with obvious, incorrect straight line portions.
- Fixed a bug where Train PEC would compute the wrong after curve if autoguider calibration binning was different from binning during acquisition.
- Fixed a bug where Train PEC would incorrectly fail with error 573 “Error during PEC fit.”
The TPoint [active/inactive] and [doing calibration/calibration locked] icons are now drawn in the bottom corners of the plot, former builds were covering the displayed magnitude of the hysteresis graph.
Added clarification on first parameter of TrackingRatesInterface.
In the imaging system toolbar, added an icon to telescope manufacturer-specific windows for better identification.
Added Starlight Xpress SX-M26 64-bit X2 Plug In for Windows
Added Celestron Hyperstar and Fastar optical configurations
Updated/corrected the FL in telescope in database.
After changing the camera autosave path, the setting is immediately written to disk.

September 1, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13166

macOS: Fixed a bug that prevented successful connection to Starlight Xpress cameras (no longer reports Error 201).

August 17, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13153

macOS: Added support for the new Starlight Xpress Trius Pro-834 CCD camera.
macOS: Added QSI camera list to the update installer.

August 16, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13152

macOS: ZWO X2 Camera Plug In updated to version 3.1.
macOS: Daily build installer for distributes the following files that can be missing if an older full installer is used for the original installation:
- Moonlite focuser (Focuser Setup)
- Moonlite NightCrawler focuser (Focuser Setup)
- Optec focuser (Focuser Setup)
- Moonlite NightCrawler Rotator (Rotator Setup)

August 10, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13151

The latest macOS update reinstalls every Core SDB after reports that some are missing.

August 6, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13150

Fix a bug that causes autoguider calibration to fail, especially with large format cameras without shutters like some ZWO cameras.
Latest TheSky User Guide and app-based help.
Bug fix: The Input > Satellites > Show Satellites checkbox is now preserved after a restart (was always turned on).
Bug fixes for Mallincam USB camera support. Corrected issue with cooling disengaging between exposures.
Import Satellites from Web now includes a number of additional Celestrak satellite categories.
Update available for macOS and Windows operating systems.

July 19, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13131

Fixed a bug where the sometimes TPoint inner RMS circle was not drawn on TheSky 32 bit, only. This was just a display bug, but could lead to confusion.
Train PEC
- Re-center reference star did not always work. The work around in prior builds was to center the reference star in the photo before performing Train PEC (right click star, choose “Center via Relays”).
- Added settling time after re-centering reference star.
- To help differentiate the “After PEC” case, use a different colored graph background.

July 14, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13125

Train PEC improvements/fixes
- Allow a greater number of periods.
- Opening an historical Train PEC run shows correct after status text when the “Before PEC” case is “No detectable periodic error”.
- Fix a bug of not being able to load historical runs when run number was less than 100.
- Provide access to the resultant PEC table opening a successful, historic Train PEC run by using the button “Copy PEC Table to clipboard” and subsequently pasting into the Bisque TCS window. Not possible on runs that encounter an error, except when the error cause by user abort and the abort is after at least 2 cycles for the “Before PEC” case and “Before PEC” is not a case of “No detectable periodic error”.
- When the “Before PEC” case has “No detectable periodic error”, clarify the summary text, namely “After PEC = Intentionally skipped, given above.”.
- Fixed a case of uploading the wrong PEC table for southern hemisphere, when camera rotated 90 degrees.
- The reference star is re-centered after uploading new PEC table to Paramount, verified and working ok.
Improved “Auto find guide star” button on Camera, Autoguide tab by ignoring hot pixels when finding local maximum.

June 18, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13096

Note that with builds 12966 and later win 7 is no longer supported
Fixed a bug introduced in the full installer, build 12978, where TheSky cannot find the all sky database, i.e. after a fresh install.
No longer allow a value of zero for “Bad pointing sample criterion” under Preferences, Advanced.
Added Eagle 3 power control support (when run under that environment, window only).
New “Train PEC” button under the Bisque TCS window, Periodic Error tab, Compute PEC Curve sub tab. Instructions here.
Enable Gaia for TheSky (on all platforms). Note that Gaia was enabled on the Windows and macOS full installers that were distributed with the Paramount Software Suite thumb drive (build 12978).
Fixed a crashing bug when communicating with some third party equipment over TCP/IP, typically after extended use.
When initiating a pointing run with an existing model, clarify the forth type, “Re-calibrate portable telescope” in that it also applies to the scenario “Recalibrate after polar alignment adjustment”.
Display SDB Multipliers to 8 decimal places.
Fixed a bug of not moving to the desired filter wheel filter under the following circumstances (should be rare). Doing an APR (or Take Series), and aborting the APR (or Take Series), then changing the filter from the FilterWheel window or disconnecting and reconnecting the filter wheel, then restarting the APR (or Take Series), the APR (or Take Series) desired filter was not commanded.
On the Bisque TCS window, PEC tab, the Paste button now accepts the clipboard format from Excel when Excel is used to copy a PEC table to the clipboard. (To get a PEC table into Excel, press the Copy button from the PEC tab, paste into Excel, the two rows will be in one column, then use Data, Text to Columns. Edit as desired, copy to the clipboard from Excel, then Paste from the PEC tab.)
Autoguider graphs now automatically scale the dependent y axis based on data min/max.
Calibrating the autoguider with DirectGuide now has a minimum, built in “delay after correction” of a few seconds for more consistent and accurate results.
Fixed a bug where turning on TheSky64’s “Black Box Recorder” would cause TheSky to hang on a subsequent start (waiting for a 64 bit support process to start that was not distributed). The workaround for prior the prior build is to not turn on “Black Box Recorder” or edit “AppSettings.ini” and delete the line “APP_enumBlackBoxRecorder” if you do.
TheSky64 displays the correct name in the message (TheSky) when prompting to run a second copy.
Prompting to run a second instance and pressing cancel no longer (incorrectly) creates a corresponding folder for the second instance.

March 18, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12978

Desktop shortcut to the 64 bit build of TheSky on Windows

Allow image scale to 3 decimals on the automated pointing run window.
Updated common non-stellar objects database.
New! Installs the 64-bit build of TheSky for Windows. To run it, double click the newly created desktop shortcut named “TheSky Professional Edition 64” (to the left). Carefully read “TheSky 64-bit Quick Start Guide” that is automatically displayed when first run.

TheSkyX 64 Quick start guide

February 12, 2021 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12966

TheSky will no longer run on Windows 7. Background: Microsoft Windows 7 reached “end of life” on January 14, 2020. At that time, TheSky Version 10.5.0 for Windows minimum operating system requirement was changed to Windows 10. While TheSky was not officially supported, it was still able to run on Windows 7 with earlier builds. Changes in Build 12966 necessitate Windows 10.
LTI was resetting custom camera autosave filenames when it should really only do this when they are blank and unset. Now, it makes sure it is not overwriting other settings. In addition, the advanced file name feature of the autosave dialog would remain off if LTI was launched and closed from within TheSkyX. This has also been corrected, and when launched from within TheSkyX pro, all features remain available in the autosave dialog.
Enabled copying all-sky mosaic to the clipboard on non-Windows computers.
Fix a bug where an error was not displayed if there was an error after using the hardware settings window.
Allow an alternative location for the AllSky image link database file (10-180.allsky, 2GB). Instead of <My Documents>\Software Bisque\TheSkyX Professional Edition\Astrometry, the new, preferred location is <TheSky Installation Folder>\Resources\Professional\Astrometry. Warning, if you move 10-180.allsky to the new location, going back to an old build will not see it.
Fixed a bug with the mount Jog command that caused certain model mounts (those incapable of reporting rates) to unexpectedly continue to move after a jog.
Show the mount Jog motion control and or the Move motion control when the selected, underlining hardware is capable. In prior builds, only when hardware supported both were both controls shown, incorrectly treated as one.
Updated FOVI detector database.
Updated FOVI telescope database.

December 20, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12868 (Windows)

On December 14, 2020, the DSS website (stsci.edu) changed to require the https protocol. This build updates TheSky’s DSS operations accordingly so that DSS photos can again be downloaded from the web.
For power control, added Web Power Switch access control and locked state awareness/compatibility.
Fixed a bug where mouse clicking a celestial object (identifying) would sometime wrongly result in “Mouse click position” as the first of the list instead of identifying the desired, clicked object. Another symptom was that the identifying bullseye would not be centered on the desired, clicked object.
Fixed a bug where the mouse would sometimes get stuck dragging the star chart.
Fixed a bug where the mouse would sometimes get stuck with the grab hand or the cross cursor.
Fixed a bug under, Automated Pointing Calibration Run window, create pointing samples tab. The bug specifically, was a crash when opening a user supplied file of pointing samples (Commands, Open) when excessive in number.
- Fixed a bug loading a user supplied file of pointing samples (Commands, Open) would appear to do nothing. Now this command automatically turns off “Interactive grid” so that supplied samples are immediately imported.

December 8, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12856 (Windows)

Fixed a bug where @Focus2 would report a diverge error even though data formed a nice v-curve. Introduced in build 12827 (pretty sure). There is no workaround for broken builds.

December 7, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12846 (Linux x64)

The latest release for the Linux x86_64 architecture is now available for download. See the Windows changes below for a generic list of changes in this release.

December 3, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12846 (macOS)

This version includes the following macOS-specific changes:

Compatible with macOS version 11, Big Sur.
Includes Mallincam camera support.
Starlight Xpress is now shipping color cameras with four different Bayer matrix settings (RGGB, BGGR, GBRG, GRBG). As there is no way to query the camera for the appropriate setting, users can now select the right one.
Updated Canon DSLR X2 Camera Plug In.
Updated RoboFocus X2 Focuser Plug In.

December 2, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12846

Added a workaround to support Web Power Switch *Pro* …
- Must turn on “Allow legacy plaintext login methods” and “Allow legacy state-changing GET requests” under Setup > Access Settings.
- Must use this build 12846 or later to display circuit labels.
Released Mallincam camera support!

November 24, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12831

The web loggers power switch can now use any arbitrary port. The workaround the in the prior build was to use port 80.
Updated instructions associated with the “Check for updates” window.
Updated TheSky scripting documentation to include the PowerControl object.

November 20, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12827

Support for power control hardware, includes native driver for digital loggers web power switch.
Distribute updated libRoboFocus2.dll.
Fixed an AtFocus3 crash fix when autodarks are turned on.
LTI Log file location by default is now in TheSkyX’s documents folder.
Added new QSI camera to detector list.
Fixed an APA polar align bug fix for southern hemisphere.
TPoint pointing graphic now shows resultant RMS in middle even when graphing unused samples.
Help > TPoint User Guide now opens TheSky User Guide PDF.
Minor tool tip tweak in Choose Mount.
Remove CEM120/CEM120EC from the list of natively supported iOptron mounts (TheSky presently supports Version 2.0-2.5 command protocol). Use the version 3 x2 plug in. This model requires iOptron Version 3.0 command protocol (it has the 8704+ V2 hand controller).
Prevent AutoLocFromZip from crashing when there is no TCP/IP stack.
TheSky Pro User Guide now includes TheSky LTI and TPoint User Guides. All 846 glorious pages! This single source file is distributed as a PDF, web-based help, and app-based help.
A single document is required for the pending rebranding ad: TheSky Telescope Edition, TheSky Imaging Edition and TheSky Observatory Edition, here we come!
Digital Setting Circles window now uses less screen real estate.
The user selected “Number format” (Sexigesimal or Decimal) is now persistent under Edit, Preferences.
For x2 LoggerInterface, increased logger history size limit (5x), great for complex problem tracking. Likely useful to other developers.

August 03, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12739

Updated the full installers for TheSky Imaging Edition and TheSky Pro for Linux ARM32 (Raspberry Pi) and x86_64 disk images (only)
- Added ATIK camera and filter wheel support.
- Added Mallincam support.
- Updated several plug-ins to correct bugs.

April 03, 2020 – TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 12545

TheSky Imaging Edition released. The new edition includes all the features found in TheSkyX Professional Edition, the Camera Add On and the TPoint Add On.
TheSky Pro User Guide now includes TheSky LTI and TPoint User Guides.
Increased logger history size limit (5x) to help troubleshoot complex issues.
The user selected “Number format” (Sexigesimal or Decimal) is now persistent under Edit, Preferences.
Digital Setting Circles now uses less screen real estate.
Getting location from the computer’s IP functional with upgraded website.
Help > Check for Updates command functional with upgraded website

February 14, 2020 Build 12503

Bug fix: Accurately display moon occulting mars Feb 18, 12:04 UTC for parts of North America. TheSky’s Moon coordinates now closely match Horizon’s JPLs.
Bug fix: Camera tab is now the default again instead of focus tab.
Bug fix: TheSky’s Jog command now works as expected with a NexStar-compatible mounts.
QSI ui source folder corrected, and files are signed.
Added Moonlite Nitecrawler rotator.
Bug fix: A Paramount GEM mount can track into limit region below the pole, and slew away without throwing an error message.
Updated ATIK FW distribution files in the DBI installer script
The x2 LoggerInterface now latches the time an entry is logged rather than when it displays on the Communications Log window.
TheSky supports iOptron version 2.51 command protocol.
Image Link now allows scale to three decimal places.
Updated FOVI database to include new ZWO ASI cameras.
Allow Optec focusers to have arbitrarily large backlash amounts (9999).
New 2.0 ATIK filterwheel using SDK support instead of old HID interface.
New DSL raw processing update.
For macOS:
Updated Canon frameworks for additional camera support.
Updated raw file decoding library.
Corrected name of library in the text file so that the Starizona Microtouch focuser works on macOS.

January 17, 2019 – TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 12473

Celestron driver Move To command now obeys selected slew speed.
Distribute new ATIK2 library.
The ATIK filter wheel X2 Plug In device list is now installed to the correct folder.
Added new ATIK plug-in w/out service based installer & new supporting .dylib in /Frameworks.
Tools, Lite Imaging Interface now showing.
The ATIK filter wheel X2 Plug In device list is now installed to the correct folder.
Minor edits to LTI user guide.

November 11, 2019 – TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 12439

Live Stacking improvements:
- Changed the on screen error message for when the initial frame is rejected for better clarity (not enough stars).
- Add an option to turn on/off on the fly bad frame rejection, and labled it R&D.
Image Link’s image scale now shows 4 significant figures (rather than 2).
If opening a FITS fails, provide a more detailed error message when possible.
Now distribute QHYCCD X2 Plug In
Starlight Instruments X2 Plug In focuser is now distributed.
Bug fix. Images made with color cameras that have the debayer pattern set to MONO (when binning, etc.) no longer attempt to display in color.
Fixed a memory leak when third party scripting applications extensively use the CCDSoft2XAdaptor.ccdsoft5Image object and its DataArray property to do image processing on acquired photos. A possible work around before this build, use the TheSkyX.ccdsoftImage object instead.
Comets with eccentricities greater than 2 (interstellar comet C/2019 Q4 (Borisov)) can now be imported.
Fixed a bug where the mount corrections on the autoguider graph were drawn incorrectly when the autoguider camera was binning at something other than 1×1. Mount corrections are drawn optionally, in green. This was only a graphical display issue. The same issue applied to opening an historic autoguider log, corrected with this build as well.
Increase maximum ellipticity to 5.0 in two places (presently defined in multiple places as a number, not a #define, needs a global wrapper function as there are two CometSeeksOK() in different objects.)
Editing a comet or asteroid that has invalid data now displays an appropriate error message. Previously, TheSky emitted an audible “beep”.
Increased the maximum number of observable comets to 1100.
Comet and minor planet orbital element data accepts more significant figures to match JPL/Horizon data’s precision.
Advanced preferences now allows non-https comet data URLs so that comets can be imported from astro.vanbuitenen.nl (http://astro.vanbuitenen.nl/cometels).
Comet Source hyper link on the Comets tab now reflects the appropriate URL in Advanced Preferences.
Added JPL/Horizon-specific abbreviations to the orbital element labels on the Comets tab for clarity.
Allow up to 16 decimal places for comet orbital elements as from the source.
The “Small Solar System Bodies” window now saves/restores the last tab in use.
Fix a small memory leak when manually editing comet/minor planets.
LTI
- Refine polar alignment wizard now has forced screen dimensions to make sure it is visible in FS/small screen scenarios.
- Fixed a bug where the image scale in TPoint autocalibration dialog was sometimes set to 0.01
New chart elements for telescope east/west limits so color can be changed and they can be toggled on/off.
Added Telescope Air Mass to status bar(s)
Bug fix: New Zealand Daylight Saving Time starts the last Sunday in September.
When run in a series, @focus3 will use the configured number of samples per focus position. Previously, it only took only one sample.
Corrected the time zone in selected cities in France to +1.

July 24, 2019 – TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 12304

Fixed an issue introduced in the prior build that caused @Focus3 and Live Stacking to crash.
Added tool tips to new histogram controls.

July 12, 2019 – TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 12289

Updated Messier overlays (case sensitive).
Updated mount list (iOptron V 2.0 clarification).
Latest FOVI databases.
Bug fix: When manually entering your location, the maximum value for longitude is limited to 180 degrees and 90 degrees for latitude.
Fixed a bug where all FITSViewer windows (Take Photo, DSS, Tools, Open FITS) could hang caused by a local printer driver problem.
LTI
- Always unpark 3rd party mounts on connect.
- LTI bug fix. At the end of a series, if the checkbox for terminate is on, no longer asks if you are sure you want to terminate during a series (because, the series is done of course).
- Park at end of series refactored. Now park and disconnect. This works around the fact that there is no unpark command in LTI, and if users park, don’t quit, and then want to continue, they previously would have to restart LTI. Now, they just reconnect and go (since reconnect checks for park and unparks now).
- Errors are not presented as sheets on macOS. Causes hang if another dialog is on top of LTI dialog.
- Right click context menu fixes for LTI, particular click and slew, or click and find.
- Rough Polar Alignment improvement. The previous query for alignment stars was so slow on the Raspberry Pi, as to be virtually unusable. A smaller database of bright stars is now queried for suitability, and the process is much faster and more usable.
- Wait for park to complete before disconnecting and terminating.
- Fixed an issue with slewing to coordinates when using a .fits file as a search object.
- If set to shutdown and park at the end of a series… DON’T if the user aborts manually.
- Fixed a rare, but possible focus problem in LTI series where subframe would be empty.
- LiveStack fits files are now FITS conformant.
FITSViewer is now compatible with color photos!
There is a new auto-contrast method!
Corrected the number of pixels in four SBIG detectors.
Clarified the message that appears when the home index offset calibration is successful.
Corrected the wording on the ‘Minimum Angle From Slit Edge’ dome option.
Acquired photo now have three new keywords from the FITS 4.0 specification.
OBSGEO-B (Observation latitude in degrees, North positive), OBSGEO-L (Observation longitude in degrees, East positive, and OBSGEO-H (elevation in meters). Existing fits keywords for these values (and their formats) untouched for historical compatibility.

April 26, 2019 – TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 12165

Distribute the latest QHY X2 Camera Plug In.
Paramount, fixed a bug where pressing “Calibrate Joystick” button without a connection would produce a low level serial port error, now the error is “No connection”.
Paramount graphical flip HA at zero now matches Meridian graphic. Flip HA handle now drawn more closely to the Flip HA line.
Fixed a bug with the iOptron setting the sidereal tracking rate.
Bug fix: Eclipses are no longer missed when the Solar and Lunar Eclipse window first appears.
LiveStack Improvements
- All settings are retained and restored when the LiveStack dialog is dismissed and brought up again, including calibration frame status. Red/Green indicator on calibration tab is an alert as to whether calibration frames have been selected. Current selected fits/in-memory state is now displayed on the calibration tab.
- Live stacking has a full screen mode now. No GUI or anything, once you get it going, you can switch to a full screen uncluttered view while it stacks. LTI and SkyX Pro both. Mouse controls work, but cursor is hidden. Press ESC to return to normal mode.
- Bad frame rejection, better rotation aware.
LTI
- Flat name when generated now put in correct label (was showing up as dark).
- No longer crashes if calibration frames are accidentally set to files that are different sizes.
- Find and slew now has option to set target as the file prefix automatically.
- Fixed memory leak in calibration wizard.
- Suggested file name setup for saving master flats and darks.
- Fixed crashing bug when @focus3 was selected for autoguider, but no focuser had been selected for the autoguider. Now presents “No Device Selected”.
- Optimized query for rough polar alignment targets.
- Fixed memory leak in flat wizard.
- LTI/Workbench now can display better as a window in TheSkyX Pro.
- Hide Park commands if connected telescope does not have the park interface.
- Make meridian flip to only occur ONCE for take series target.
- Now brings up a prompt if a take series is running and continues or terminates gracefully.
- Error messages are prevented from showing up under the LTI window.
@Focus3
- Fixed @Focus3 to not incorrectly think it found focus under very low signal conditions.
- Added additional decimal place to focus exposure logs for very short exposures.
- @focus3 can now do autodarks. Since @focus3 can modify the exposure time unpredictably, this only works with cameras that have a shutter, and “Full Calibration” is not an option unless scale exposure times is used.

December 07, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 12034

Make sure sun is above the horizon before issuing a “mount near sun” warning. If this a problem, the work around before this build is to disable “mount near sun warning” under Preferences.
Performance optimizations and bug fixes for live stacking.
Added the Optec Gen3 Rotator X2 Plug In to support Optec’s new model rotator.
Allow configuration of the largest TCP request that can be sent to TheSky (which is typically a script over a socket), under Preferences “TCP request maximum size”.
Improved hot pixel removal for color live stacking.

November 09, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11996

Fixed a bug where @Focus3 didn’t work in take series, introduced in the prior build. Improvements on @Focus3.
Fixed a bug that Live Stacking caused a crash. Live Stacking master darks work again.

November 02, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11981

Fixed a bug with very limited exposure. Introduced in prior build 11576, only with on axis encoder mounts, “Save all parameters to mount” would fail with 21013, ERR_MKS_COMM_BADVALCODE when using stable, popular firmware 5.32.8.
Allow setting take series repeat to zero again. Originally allowed in build 8896 (May 21, 2015), inadvertently taken away in build 11584 (June 2018).
New Advanced Preferences feature “Apply camera delay to dark and bias frames”; off by default.
Bug fix – Right click photo, Center Cursor Position via Relays now works with SBIG external CCD.
Fixed a bug where “Imaging system toolbar only shows selected hardware (less clutter)”=true might not have done its job if settings were from a very old build.
Fix rare crash when connecting a video camera.
Bug fix – Shorten the camera name when using SBIG with AO so the camera tab can be narrower.
New Advanced Preferences feature “Enable mount near sun warning.” and “Mount near Sun radius (degrees).” On by default.
Corrected repeated phrase in text used by the Accurate Polar Alignment Wizard.
Corrected the buttons offered on the PEC import error message box.
Correction: The Add/Edit Comet orbital element input window now refers to Time of Perihelion (T) instead of Element Epoch.
Expanded the Reverse X tool tip explanation.
ATIK X2 Plug In: No longer distribute v1.0 of the camera driver. Distribute v2.0 of the camera driver.
The maximum size of a detector (in pixels) has been increased to accommodate larger sensors (> 10K).
Bug fix: Coordinates entered by specifying “B1950.0” or “J2000.0” for the Equinox on the Navigate window are now precessed correctly. Work-around for older builds is to type the value without a letter prefix.
Added Live Stacking feature that is accessed by a new Live Stack button on the Camera window’s Take Photo tab.
LTI
- Fixed @focus3 control panel crash caused by switching to a camera with fewer bin modes than a previously selected camera.
- Bug fix: @focus3 control center allows manual focus movements for autoguider focuser. Also updated @focus3 state machine to use proper access to focuser pointer in case it is different from main imaging system pointer.
- Prevent autofocus run from being launched manually while an image is being taken/previewed.
- Substantial improvements to color auto-stretch & color tweaking controls throughout LTI and live stacking.
- Take series (LTI only) less CPU intensive.
- LTI allows turn on red screen (Mac, Win only, not Linux/PI).
- Many @Focus3 improvements

June 12, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11587

Update scripting object to match documentation.

June 08, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11576

Fixed a bug where the Automated Image Link Settings “Exposure time” and “Binning” were forced to “4.0” and “2×2” on exit where as in prior builds they were correctly preserved.
Fixed a bug where the status text for the camera and autoguider wasn’t colored w/r/t connection state like all other hardware windows (i.e. green when connected, and red when not connected).
Bug fix: When the Sky Chart is being dragged by clicking and holding the left mouse button, simultaneously clicking the right mouse button no longer shows the context-sensitive pop-up menu.
Fixed two crashing bugs in LTI.
Many other LTI enhancements.

April 06, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11485

Updated FOVI databases.
Improved the common non-stellar object labels.
Fixed a bug where some searches for HD (Henry Draper) stars failed because they were not in Hip catalog.
Fixed a bug where the software limits were not updated (work around in prior version, click the OTA east west radio button).
Fixed a bug where some searches for HD (Henry Draper) stars failed because they were not in Hip catalog.
Telescope jogs now maintain custom tracking rates.
Small jogs don’t clear the current object name.
Fix a bug where the alt az reported by sky6RASComTele.GetAzAlt() was wrong.
Fixed a bug where the total RMS error displayed on the Autoguider Graphs window (right most graph only) was computed incorrectly and arbitrarily high (a display only issue).
Bug fix: Running a (complex) database query could cause TheSky to crash.
Improved and expanded the database of common non-stellar object names.
Updated FOVI databases.
LTI
- Update documentation.
- Scripted @focus3 no longer limits samples to 3, but is same as regular.
- Scripted @focus3 fixes w/regard to subframes.
- General fixes w/regard to subframes from @focus3 command center and LTI.
- Find sharpest region in FloatImage more robust. Autoadjusts correctly now for small or non-pow2 subframes.
- Fixed crashing bug on shutdown when “video mode” was on.
- Fixed image display screen job controls using chart screens jog values.

January 29, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11360

Take 2 – Hopefully a fix to the ‘Windows 10 V1709 Update’ that prevented external programs from being able to use TheSky’s scriptable, COM objects.
- Windows 10 Users…
  - Reboot.
  - Install build 11360 or later.
  - Run TheSkyX as an administrator at least once (right click TheSkyX icon, choose “Run As Administrator”).

January 26, 2018 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11355

Hopefully a fix to the ‘Windows 10 V1709 Update’ that prevented external programs from being able to use TheSky’s scriptable, COM objects.
Try out the new @Focus3! See the new button under Camera tab, Focus Tools tab. Quick start documentation here!
Dozens of improvements/enhancements to LTI interface.
Fixed a bug in scripting where a script in a tight loop doing a Find() and checking an object azimuth/altitude didn’t change even when calling UpdateSolarSystem() in that same loop.
Corrected behavior when clicking between two “Find results” objects so that the angular separation is computed between those two objects, always.
Corrected spelling of Piazzi’s Flying Star in Star Labels Sky Database.
Removed unused “Optimize Telescope Position” option from Dome Preferences.
Updated Dome Preferences tool tips.
Updated Neptune and Uranus planet textures to correct their colors.
Fixed a bug where [sync back into existing model] didn’t work when a paramount was pointing on the east side of the meridian.
Allow a configurable number of decimal places on the camera exposure time under Edit, Preferences, Advanced, Camera.
The APA cancel message is now correctly formatted in HTML.
All MPC URLs now use the “https” protocol.
TheSky now more accurately computes stellar position for archeoastronomy.
Fixed a bug where the camera tab came up with the wrong tab by default.

November 03, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11177

Camera add on – For photos acquired by TheSky, the FITS header now contains the focuser temperature along with the focuser temperature source.
Numerous enhancements and fixes for LTI, especially w/r/t @Focus3.
Bug fix: Allow 90.00 degrees as a valid custom-horizon altitude when reading a saved .HRZ file.
Fixed a bug introduced in build 10554 where TheSky didn’t obey beyondThePole() returned by third party GEM mounts. The result was pointing with TPoint was only good on one side of the meridian. TPoint models for third party GEM mounts created with builds 10554 and less than this build need to be discarded and redone.
Press and hold down the CTRL+SHIFT keys when TheSkyX is launched to turn off Hardware Acceleration.
Added APA and RPA icons.
Updated APA wizard text to clarify that APA -OR- the TPoint Polar Alignment Report be used (not both) and other minor changes.
An error message is displayed when importing “bad” pointing data.
The URL for downloading comets and minor planets ‘By Name’ now uses https.
Added an option for ascom telescopes to allow TheSky to handle slewing to a park position along with maintaining that position. By default these mounts slew themselves to a park position and maintain that position.
- Exit TheSky, edit ImagingSystem.ini, find the entry below and set it to zero.
  X2ASCOMTELE
  DriverSlewsToParkPosition=0

September 01, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11086

Bug Fix: Cameras without coolers (DSLR’s mostly) don’t get hung up on connect. Temperature controls are hidden.
For fusion (dark) theme, fixed css syntax errors that prevented a number of custom tweaks.
The time portion of the LOCALTIM FITS header key now displays to the nearest millisecond and not dependent on system locale.
The resolution of the DATE-OBS FITS header key is no longer dependent on the star chart frame rate.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where connecting to a Paramount would cause the rotator to move to position angle zero.
Updated FOVI databases.
Fixed a new line issue in Locations.txt.
Minor changes related to measuring the motor index angles (default values, text messages).
Installer always updates Workbench scripts now.
The rectangle that highlights text (in menus, text boxes, etc.) is more subdued, and the text in the rectangle is brighter to improve visibility.

August 04, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 11012

When acquiring SBIG photos, the FITS header now contains the SBIG Egain value.
Chart status can be docked on bottom and top of the main window.
LTI enhancements:
- Changed inspection cursor readout to be next to cursor. Text moves around if you get too close to and edge.
- Miscellaneous spelling and spacing issues in GUI
- Fixed inability to select a target on take series tab.
- Better /fs (full screen) behavior on macOS
- Cross hairs can now be displayed on images.
- Zoombox contains scale legend 1:1, 2:1, etc.
- Zoombox contains a thumbnail of the entire image to make it clear what it’s purpose is.
- Fixed error where some wizards would fire twice.
- New Wizard to set parking position.
- Option to shutdown and park at the end of take series.
- Wizard prompts on macOS now use “sheets”. Windows prompts have caption set.
- Added icons to toolbox.
- Changed Toolbox and tab styles so it’s easier to see which one is selected.
- Put set location in both startup wizard and utilities. User warned that location cannot be changed when connected to a mount.
- Re-arranged utilities and wizards. One time nightly, and one time initialization separated out.
- Removed Advanced Preferences from utilities. Java Script is next… don’t count on it in the next update.
- Don’t show FWHM if N/A or over 10 pixels on focus (probably not a star field).
- Greyed out disabled Toolbox steps.
- @Focus3 creates subfolders exactly like @focus2 does. Both the focus images and a log file are provided.
- Toolboxes are frozen during take series.
- Added Training mode to Utilities, uses DSS data for camera simulator.
- On take series, if the target is anything other than “Current”, it appends a :t_ to the light frame, prepending the target name to the beginning of the file name.
- Removed advanced file naming options, and the following schema is now always enforced:
  - – Always autosave
  - – Always use date based subfolders
    - – _:f_:b_:e_:c_
    - BIAS_:b_:e_:c_
    - DARK_:b_:e_:c_
    - FLAT_:f_:b_:e_:c_
  - WARNING: If you run LTI, it will also replace your current settings with these values.
- LTI Closed Loop Slews (Verify Photographically) now have their own folder for output files.
- Accuracy of CLS improved (LTI version only – Pro was fine already, just did not provide GUI feedback)
- All other tabs are disabled during autofocus.
- Completion of the focuser characterization wizard now takes you to focusing toolbox instead of useless popup message.
- Source Extractor is used to determine FWHM only on focus confirmation image, or manual focus images. FWHM is not used for @focus3, but users want so see the resulting value (gives you an idea of the seeing conditions).
- Focuser movements can now be aborted by clicking on the button displaying the focus motion.
- Focus position display is now a button. Clicking the button turns it into an edit control (when the focus is not moving) where you can manually type in a specific focuser position. Clicking anywhere but “Go” aborts the edit. Clicking “Go” moves the focuser to the location typed in, and returns the GUI to normal.
- @Focus3 now has a graphical overlay that is updated during the focus run, and will display the final focus curve and best focus position.
  Take Series was not properly using extended camera mode, this was fixed.
- Focuser backlash is now just always applied, there is no checkbox to confuse people. It does no harm if not needed.
- Hardware tab has been modified significantly. You can now click the device name to bring up the dialog for device specific settings.
- Filter names and offsets has been moved to the setup toolbox.
- Persistent focuser characterization settings have been moved, and will need to be reset with this build. They should not move again after this update.
- There is a new collimation tool under utilities that runs full screen. This is preliminary release, please try it and let us know what you think or need for collimation needs. The collimation tool does not save any photos/FITS files, except if you launch @focus3 from this tool. There are three different ways to display your images, and you can save and restore focuser positions. If you want to adjust the screen stretch do that in inspection mode before going to crosshairs/circle or the four corners mode.

June 20, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10857

Take 2 – Fixed a bug introduced in build 10815 where Accurate Polar Alignment did not work (i.e. ME and MA were not adjusted after pressing APA “Finish”).

June 20, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10853

Fixed a bug introduced in build 10815 where Accurate Polar Alignment did not work (i.e. ME and MA were not adjusted after pressing APA “Finish”).
For a clearer convention, the Daily Build Installer names the backup folder based on the build number of TheSkyX being backed up, rather than using the “Pre <this build number> Backup” naming convention that was previously used.
Fixed a bug in the FITS Viewer window that occasionally prevented the crosshairs from appearing when the ‘Crosshairs’ checkbox is turned on.
For cameras the support the LoggerInterface, there is now a “Show Log” button on the camera tab.

June 15, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10837

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior daily build that prevented downloading comets and asteroids by name.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior daily build that prevented enabling on axis absolute encoders on Paramounts equipped with such (error was 20200).

June 08, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10815

Improved support for on axis absolute encoder mounts.
Added current Paramount models to the built-in focuser list.
Guarantee @Focus2 moves the focuser in one direction and one direction only for final moves, creating a natural anti-backlash measure.
Fixed a bug where changing the time skip increment through a script didn’t actually apply on subsequent scripted time skip operations.
Fixed a bug beginning after build 9334 where the time skip tool bar “Use computer’s clock” button wouldn’t stay down when pressed.
Fixed a bug where methods RADecToXY() and XYToRADec() were not accessible from high level scripting languages.
The ccdsoftImage object now offers the X,Y pixel coordinates relative to image where the user last pressed the left mouse button and or where the user last double clicked the left mouse button.
Fixed a bug where the FITS header did not have the most up-to-date focus position only after the first filter wheel change and filter, focus offsets were set. This was a book keeping error as the focuser actually moved.
Fixed a bug where an SBIG autoguider, configured to use the “External CCD”, of an SBIG STXL camera, incorrectly recorded the pixel sizes in the FITS header as the size of the imager pixel sizes.
Importing minor planets is now more flexible.
Minor change to Non-Stellar Object Options windows descriptions, and added tool tips that describe each control.
When the script text box has the focus, pressing the F5 will “Run” the script.
Tweaks to @Focus2 Settings window.
Bug fix: Vixen firmware version may have shown incorrect characters.
Bug fix: On Windows, Sky Chart lines now honor the color
Preference: Do not automatically turn off constellation lines and other chart elements when turning on the Show Daylight option.
TPoint scatter diagram center circle on orthographic graphs now matches dark theme.
Bug fix: Connecting to and controlling a Vixen Star Book on the Mac no longer crashes.
Fixed a Windows-specific Night Vision Mode bug that prevented the histogram from displaying correctly.
Minor improvements to Night Vision Mode theme.
Under Edit, Preferences, there is a new option “Imaging system toolbar only shows selected hardware”. This causes the imaging system toolbar to only show buttons associated with hardware which has a selection, and buttons associated with hardware that has no selection are not displayed. This is cleaner and improves navigation while observing, especially late at night. It also can free up some screen real estate when running on smaller monitors.
Improved the orientation of a several photos in the Messier and Deep Sky photo overlays.
While scrolling a window with the mouse wheel, input controls that happen to come under the mouse cursor no longer “steal” the input focus (and expectantly begin to have their value changed in response to the mouse wheel).
The QSI X2 Camera and Filter Wheel Plug In is now distributed on Windows.
Change: the “Direct Markers” label is renamed to “Horizon Cardinal Labels (N,E,S,W)”.
Bug fix: When turning in Night Vision Mode, the width of columns in tree lists is maintained (Windows only).
Improved the description of the recalibration requirements after completing an Accurate Polar Alignment.
Updated MKS 5000 USB driver so that the Software Bisque MKS 5000 COM port description always appears on Windows 10’s Hardware Manager.
Attempted to improve consistency of the control’s layout between normal and Night Vision Mode themes (Windows only).
Expanded list of common names.
Canon camera plug in now uses the latest Canon SDK.

February 24, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10554

Fixed a bug introduced in build 10351 causing some windows to not have a minimize and or maximize button.
Bug fix: NiteCrawler rotator X2 Plug In now saved to correct folder (was Focuser, now Rotator).
Updated Asterism names.
Asterism names are again searchable.
When acquiring photos from SBIG cameras, the INSTRUME keyword is now set to the specific camera model. Prior to this build, it held the name of the camera selected in TheSky.
Photos acquired with TheSky include FITS key for latitude, longitude, and local sidereal time with or without a mount connection (in prior builds these keys were only added when connected to a mount).
Fixed a bug when configuring the Paramount WiSky. Prior to this build, when the “Network type” was changed, the Apply button had to be pressed twice.
Fixed a bug in a recent prior build where slewing a fork Paramount with a TPoint model was off. A work around in that build is to set the fork flip hour angle to -8 (default is 8).
Fixed bug where database queries selecting a specific constellation did not work.
The satellite tracking window again has tracking offset controls (incorrectly removed since build 10167).

February 9, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10516

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where the park position for a Paramount would change over time. Please note, this build will ignore any existing park position thus requires setting a desired park position again.

February 2, 2017 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10486

Gemini mounts can now be slewed to the home position by clicking the Slew To Home Position button on the Miscellaneous tab of the Gemini window.
Improved Paramount park abilities. Can now consistency park on the meridian due south/due north with counterweight shaft exactly horizontal, or with the counterweights above horizontal or very near the pole, all with either GEM posture, beyond-the-pole or not. In prior builds, Park had to be away from the meridian, not beyond the meridian in the flip region, and away from the pole. Warning any existing park position is cleared and this build requires setting a new park position.
TheSkyX’s queries ascom CanSetRightAscensionRate and CanSetDeclinationRate properties (was querying CanSetTrackRates) to determine if a mount can set tracking rates.
Added missing word “to” to the Find Home command.
After issuing the Slew To command (:MS#) to the Gemini controller, wait 1.5 seconds for a response.
Fixed crashing bug for large DSLR images with odd numbers of columns.
Image Link Open Photo will now instantly overlay the photo on the star chart provided the photo has already been Image Linked with this build or later.
Image link report now includes “Mirror Image: No” or “Mirror Image: Yes”.
Implemented less restrictive iOptron mount version checking so that pre-version 2 firmware versions can be controlled.
Show the Sky Chart’s RA/Dec and field width on the DSS window with the window is first displayed.
Updated DSS window tool tips.
Added 2000.0 to the RA/Dec on the DSS photo’s coordinates.
Fixed a bug where Image Link run from a script would sometimes leave the photo overlaid on the star chart.
The maximum size of DSS photos downloaded from the web is 120 arc minutes (was 60 arc minutes).
The angular size of the major axis of an Area of Interest My Chart Element is now correct (was 1/2 major axis).
Serial ports now properly enumerated on Linux (including Pi).
Removed non-HTML compatible characters.
Fix for Prolific USB selection not being persistent on Linux/Pi.
TheSkyX’s status text can be customized (colors, font, font size, etc.) with an external style sheet. Three separate style sheets are available: Night Vision, Dark and Light Themes.
Changed references to Java Script to JavaScript.
Bug fix: The Import button on the Large Asteroid Database is no longer disabled when an optimized version of the imported database is present. DNP: Bug report: clicking the Import button twice hides the asteroids on the Sky Chart, which the above change attempted, failingly, to correct.
Bug fix: Prevent the width of the first column on the Acquire Pointing Samples table from getting too small when turning in Night Vision Mode, then switching between tabs.
Fixed a bug where hand editing TPoint model terms on/off and the state of the checkbox was also being applied to the pointing data list.
Fixed a bug where attempting to center a star on a FITS photo acquired by a *standalone autoguider* by right clicking and choosing “Center cursor position” would incorrectly give error 565 “Autoguider calibration is required. The Declination at calibration is unknown, but declination is now known.” even though the autoguider was indeed calibrated.
Fixed a bug in TheSky that would sometimes incorrectly reject a pointing sample (on the rare occasion when the sample was exactly on a degree or hour and had zero minutes and zero seconds).
Added NightCrawler and OS focuser and rotator X2 Plug Ins.
Fixed a bug where Take Series Dithering would not move in declination when the autoguider was been configured to not reverse directions in declination. IOW, dithering moves happen in all directions regardless of the user’s configured “Relay enabled” settings.
The legacy MKS3000 can again be used with TheSkyX. TheSkyX builds 10229 through 10305 could not be used with the legacy MKS3000; the symptoms in builds 10229 to 10305 “Restore Defaults” failed and starting a new TPoint model would corrupt most MKS parameters. The work around before this build is to use build 9334 or earlier.
Turn off accurate shutter timing if specialized hardware is not present.
Updated ICRSData text file
Fixed bug where Hip extended labels required computing proper motion.

TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10305 (November 17, 2016)

Camera temperature included in customized AutoSave filename is now formatted with 2 decimal places (was 4).
The Autoguider Graphs window grid now draws the x zero and y zero axes with a black line.
Slew prior stores the prior telescope coords in addition to the prior target name – works even in the case slew to M1, tweak city, slew off to focus, now Slew Prior back to M1 – the FK_OBJECTN is “M1” (i.e. correct target name) and all the mount tweaks are included (just what the user expects). The prior commit, did a click find on prior tele coords, but that didn’t always “find” the correct prior target name, especially if there were small tweaks after slew.
Warn if a TPoint recal is attempted w/o having first performed Super Model.
Mac only. Zooming with trackpad is improved on both sky chart and fits viewer.
Removed unrelated and unnecessary controls from the “Atmosphere Refraction Parameters” window causing confusion.
When the Dark Theme is enabled, the radio button, checkbox, and tool button controls’ disabled state is now more discernible.
Proper motion vectors are now red, not black.
Bug fix: MPC large database asteroids can be successfully imported.
Increased the maximum semi-major axis for an asteroid to 5000 AU.
Added tooltip text to Imaging System Windows.
Corrected spelling errors in Accurate Polar Alignment procedure and elsewhere.
Fixed a bug in the Autoguider graphs where the most recent mount correction was not graphed until the next cycle.
Only show the Accurate Shutter Time checkbox when appropriate.
Fixed a bug on Windows where TheSky’s dark theme was partially “undone”. Two common causes include making a remote desktop connection onto a computer where TheSky is already running or when a computer awakes from being in sleep mode with TheSky running.
Fixed a bug where Automated Pointing Run would encountering an persistent error doing a target and would not allow an abort.
Autoguide speed (pix/sec) now shown to 3 decimals (was 2). Primarily matters when hand editing calibration results.
The Flip Mount Now button now appears on the Telescope Tab when connected to a Paramount.
When tracking satellites, now that the satellite name makes it all the way to the FITS FK_OBJECT like “IRIDIUM 8 [+] #24792U”, if someone also as object name as as part of the camera autosave file name, CFitsIO has optional file name parameters to do things indicated by [] in the file name – so we take these out of the autosave filename.

TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10229 (September 23, 2016)

Fixed a bug where the white text on the PEC graph of the PEC tab of the Bisque TCS window was difficult to read. The text is now black.
Fixed a bug where camera drivers using AddFITSKeyInterface were not able to add double values (int and string were ok).
Fixed: Telescope Move/Jog buttons are now the same size.
Fixed: Navigate buttons are sized correctly.
Added one more significant figure to RA in Find reports.
Fixed a bug when printing a FITS file would crash using Tools, Open Fits and subsequently Photo, Print.
Fix: Control text on the Image Calibration Library is no longer clipped on the Mac.
Added a “Flip Mount Now” button to the telescope tab. When pointing in the flip region, pressing this button will cause the mount to slew to the same target but flip the OTA to the other side of the meridian.
Fixed a bug when running @Focus2 on the Autoguider the Focus Graphs Window incorrectly displayed the Focus V-Curve data (using a constant focus position). This was a display bug only, @Focus ran normally.
Updated the default URL that is used to retrieve asteroids and comets by name (data source changed).
Fixed a bug where the Filter Names Setup window didn’t label the columns correctly. The work around in prior builds is to know the columns are “Filter Number” “Filter Name” “Focus Offset”.
The maximum value of an asteroid’s semi-major axis has been increased to accommodate the newly discovered asteroid 2014 EF72.
An error message is displayed when semi-major axis and other orbital parameters are out of range as received from the data source (The Minor Planet Center’s By Name service presently erroneously returns the text: ******** (8 asterisks) for 2014 EF72’s semi-major axis.)
Distribute the latest ZWO camera and filter wheel X2 Plug Ins.
Fix for when a Retina Mac has a 2nd display, and the earth view windows are dragged from the main retina display to the non-retina display.
Fixed a bug where the “Reboot WiSky” button did nothing.
When downloading a DSS photo and if the download happens to time out, ERR_DSSRXTIMEOUT is now returned.
For Paramounts, implement ‘Sync mount into existing model’ as an single, instant operation. In the two prior builds, 10031 and 10133, ‘Sync mount into existing model’ was (temporarily) implemented as a TPoint recal which caused some confusion – when using these builds to ‘Sync mount into existing model’, upon Sync, press OK to the ‘Start Calibration Run’, and after the pointing sample is added, the cross hairs will jump to the sync star and the ‘Sync mount into existing model’ operation is complete.

July 29, 2016 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10133

Fixed a crash in Moon Viewer and when drawing the earth in the Location window.
Fixed a bug where the Autoguider and or Camera window was floating and then the icon size or style under Edit Preferences was edited causing all the controls in the window to go to their minimum size. The work around in the prior build is to re-dock and undock the window after editing the icon size or style.
Corrected misspelled asterism name.
Conjunction Finder window is easier to read in the Dark Theme.
Latest asterisms (from TMB)
Night vision change to red is significantly faster.
Fixed a bug where the observing list window incorrectly shrunk the list.
Primarily benefitting large format cameras that use a lot of memory, running on Windows 64 bit operating systems, TheSky now has significantly more memory (TheSky on Mac/Linux already had this “extra memory”).
Fixed a bug where error windows were sometimes incorrectly hidden under other windows.
Fixed a bug where “Restoring Defaults” on an on-axis absolute encoder mount would not subsequently slew correctly. The work around in prior builds is to disconnect and reconnect the mount after restoring defaults.
Fixed a bug where turning on/off a TPoint model term didn’t apply.
Fixed a bug where turning on/off a TPoint model term using a multiple selection didn’t work.
Fixed a bug where the object id bullseye was plotted at 0,0 when highlighting a TPoint calibration sample and that sample was not on screen.
The focuser now has a configurable ‘Focuser update interval’.
Fixed a bug when running AtFocus2.dbq took longer than it should.
Scripts can now get/set the extended camera mode [use Camera.PropStr(“m_csExCameraMode”)].
Added support for the nSTEP focuser.
When ‘Prompt to save modified chart settings’ is on (and ‘Automatically save chart settings upon exit’ is off) and orientation is set to ‘Zenith up’, any change in the chart center (i.e. N, S, E, W, drag screen, etc.) dirties the document so that upon exit (w/o explicitly saving first) TheSky will prompt ‘One or more chart settings have been modified.Do you want to save your changes?
Fixed a bug when autoguiding with a rotator that was rotated to an arbitrary angle other than +/-180 from calibration, without autoguider recalibrating, the autoguider would continually overshoot very slightly in declination and not converge (worst case at 45 degees from calibration). The fix in prior builds is to recalibrate the autoguider if rotating the rotator to an angle other than +/- 180.
New feature for the Camera Add On… Right click the Autoguider graph, and choose “Real-time settings” to allow changing the following autoguiding settings while autoguiding:
- Enable or disable corrections for +X,-X,+Y,-Y
- Change Aggressiveness for +X,-X,+Y,-Y
Camera Add On – the ‘Filter Names Setup’ window can now accommodate any number of filters.
When TheSkyX is controlling a mount through an ascom driver, the park implementation is delegated entirely to driver.
Made color of checked “on” push buttons lighter (more obvious that it is pressed).
Improved Moon Viewer background in Dark Theme
Push button down state more obvious in Dark Theme
Added two new scriptable objects, namely TextFile object and RunJavaScriptOutput object.

June 24, 2016 TheSkyX Version 10.5.0 Build 10031

There may be bugs with this build so please proceed with caution. You may want to install this build on a test computer and or wait until customers provide significant feedback before installing this build in a critical, production environment.
This build is a major technology update to TheSkyX incorporating the latest possible compilers and latest application framework development environment ensuring the future of TheSky and use of state of the art technologies.
On Windows TheSky now incorporates a unified, standardized, OpenGL layer instead of relying on OpenGl drivers written by various third parties.
The above two bullets alone took the majority of the time since the last prior daily build released approximately six months ago and we’ve worked long and hard since then. Getting out a build before this time simply wasn’t feasible. Never-the-less, we also made a few fixes and improvements, please read on…
Support for high DPI monitors on Windows.
Support for Retina displays on Mac.
When using TheSky over remote desktop on Windows, opengl can now be used.
New “dark” theme is on by default (can turn off under Edit, Preferences, Advanced, Miscellaneous, Dark theme).
New professional looking icon throughout the program.
Fixed a bug where double clicking on a star listed in the Accurate Polar Alignment, didn’t slew. The work around in prior builds is to instead right click and choose Slew or Closed Loop Slew or Find.
Preferences is now under Edit, Preferences (was Tools, Preferences)
The Display menus lists all tabbable windows alphabetically, in two groups, “Sky Chart Windows” and “Imaging System Windows”.
- There is also new behavior when choosing a particular window from the Display menu, in which the particular window is instead brought forward upon selection and there is no longer a check box. Prior to this build, the Display menu for these windows had a check boxes that toggled the window visibility (show or hide) without intuitively bringing it forward making the Display menu an unintuitive means of selecting a particular window.
The FITS Viewer window now displays sextractor light source data under the mouse cursor provided the photo has previously had Image Link or a “Find Sources” performed on it. Click the “Cursor Info” tool button on the FITS Viewer window.
For easier selection, the tabbified windows on the chart window no longer have shortened names with “…” in their tabs under limited space conditions and instead always show the full window names (with a scroll bar to accommodate when space is limited).
Fixed a bug where the FITS viewer window Previous Next buttons were backwards.
Improved the grouping of settings under Edit, Preferences.
Autoguiding graphs window
- Double clicking on an autoguider graph point will display the corresponding autoguider photo, great debugging tool. Requirements –
  - Collect data with TheSky build 9530 or later with ‘Log autoguiding’ turned on and “Auto save” turned on for the autoguider.In short the, logging must be turned on and autoguider photos must be available to TheSky at the time of the double click in either the same folder as the autoguider log (happens by default) or the standard camera AutoSave locations. Double clicking on a graph of a log collected with an earlier build displays an appropriate error message.
- Autoguiding graphs show RA error and Dec error (provided telescope physical characteristics are entered under Camera setup) for any camera rotation. The autoguider must be calibrated in order for the transformation to RA/Dec to be correct.
- Autoguiding graphs indicate when the guide star signal is lost or when saturated pixels are found (legend is found on graph window).
- One can optional graph the corrections sent to the mount to scale along side the guide error (right click graph, choose “Graph Corrections”).
- Displays RMS error.
- The default Autoguiding graph history has increased from two minutes to five minutes and made configurable under Edit, Preferences, Camera, Autoguiding graph history.
- Added options to enable/disable each of the 4 autoguider relay adjustments along with 4 independent aggressiveness for the 4 directions in both setup window and real-time from the Autoguiding graph window by right click.
- Because prior builds only had one autoguiding aggressiveness that applied equally to all 4 directions, automation clients setting this legacy Aggressiveness will set the new value on all four axis. Automation clients reading the legacy Aggressiveness will actually be returned the new X Plus value. This convention should not break existing client logic. Clients wanting to get/set the new values can do so by using the name based access functions.
A new “Imaging System Windows” toolbar was added for quick access to imaging system windows, sorted alphabetically.
Fixed a bug where all sky image link crashed on a rare photo.
TheSkyX’s now uses mean solar time (UT1) where appropriate. The basis for this time, namely UT1-UTC, that changes by 1-2 milliseconds per day, is handled automatically and its value can be viewed from the Chart Status window. Those who use the same model over very long time periods (months/years) without ever recalibrating should experience more consistent pointing.
For advanced users, TPoint offers a “More Graphs” button under the command line tab. Each graph is documented with in this window.
The filter wheel control is now on its own window (tabbed by default, but can be floated). In prior builds, filter wheel control was on the same window as the Camera. You can almost return to that same configuration by docking both windows at the same level, rather than behind one another.
There are now icons on the Imaging System Setup tree.
The FITS Viewer window now has an option to “Invert” the photo (stars white vs stars black). This option is a display only option, is not persistent and doesn’t actually change the data in the photo.
Fixed a bug where TheSky’s “Rotate rotator 180 when the OTA side of pier changes” might have commanded the rotator to go outside 0 to 360 degrees.
Added a Close button to the Bisque TCS window
Fixed a bug when using “Focuser Training” to compute filter offsets in which they incorrectly resulted in zero upon pressing “Use Current Values” on some computers due to locale settings.
Also fixed a bug where after pressing “Use Current Values” of “Focuser Training” the offset values were not persistent after exit and restart of TheSky. The work around in prior builds – after pressing “Use current values” go to “Filter Names Setup” window and press OK to make offsets values to be persistent.
Fixed many windows that had one or more edit controls and after editing a value, pressing ENTER to accept the value, would instead incorrectly press the default button producing unexpected behavior.
From start, the first time Automated Pointing Run window came up, if you went to the “Acquire Pointing Samples” tab , w/o touching the “Create Pointing Targets” there were no targets.
My Chart Elements maintains coordinates when switching between Equatorial (J2000) and Horizon radio buttons.
This build prevents Paramount MX customer from incorrectly updating from the original MX firmware to the latest and provides a message indicating the intermeidate firmware versions that first must be installed.
Asterisms are no longer always turned on when the Constellation & Asterisms window is opened.
Closed loop slew now ensures a light frame is captured.
Display an appropriate error message if the camera calibration library is only at say 2×2 only and attempt to full calibrate at 1×1.
Fixed a bug where the @Focus log reported -1 for the “Time Taken” field.
Fixed a bug in the polar alignment report when in southern hemisphere the Paramount specific sentence raise or lower was backwards. A work around in prior builds, click the “Show alternative polar alignments (advanced)” box and use the raise/lower word there or anywhere else on the report, except the on the Paramount specific sentence.
Corrected the case for constellation art source file names so the constellation art appears on case-sensitive operating systems.
Take series Repeat field maximum is now 5000 (was 1000).
Starlight Xpress plug-in fixes for M25C and M26C cameras..
Starlight Xpress Lodestar pixels can now be forced “square.”
FLI camera plug-in 2.0 fixes + now supports overscan and non visible pixel acquisition.
Expanded the list of Canon camera support, updated Canon SDK, along with bug fixes to Canon plug-in.

Thursday December 10, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 9334

Tools, Verify TheSkyX Time now works (data source changed).
Added SX-M26 X2 Plug In
Fix a crash caused by leaving Navigator window open on exit.
The Accurate Polar Alignment now can optionally offer a list of suitable stars to choose from.
The default ‘Bad pointing sample criterion (degrees)’ is now 5 degrees.
Camera Add On
- Can now control Backyard EOS cameras.
- A warning is giving if ‘Take Series’ is attempted when autosave is off.
- Improved autoguiding when the guide star signal is very weak.
Polar alignment report now warns to not alter the mount’s polar alignment during a pointing run.
Fixed a fringe case where dragging the Paramount’s configurable flip hour angle was limited when dragging across RA 0/24. The workaround in prior builds is to use the Bisque TCS window and type in the value.

Friday October 16, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 9240

Added new FLI camera, focuser and filter wheel X2 Plug In files.
Fixed a bug where using the ccdsoft5Image.FITSKeyword() method to write a double would incorrectly write the value as string in the FITS header.
Autoguding Graphs window
- The title now shows the name of the autoguiding log.
- Remembers the folder where the last autoguider log was opened.
- Fixed a bug in where the 3D rendered guide star shown while autoguiding wasn’t in the middle of the drawing surface if and only if the track box size was less than 32×32. This was merely a display idiosyncrasy and did not affect autoguiding.
FITS viewer window now has Previous/Next buttons that will use the currently opened photo to conveniently move to the previous or next photo in the same folder, sorted by file time, with the same extension.
Added scripting method sky6RASCOMTele::ParkAndDoNotDisconnect (and related unparking methods) to allow Parking w/o automatically disconnecting. Nothing changed with existing methods.
Added rotator methods to ccdSoftCamera.

Friday October 02, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 9202

Fixed a bug where the On-Axis tab of the Bisque TCS window was accessible when the on-axis hardware wasn’t present.
Fixed a bug where Protrack wasn’t up-to-date after completing an Accurate Polar Alignment. Prior to this build the work around is to de-activate and re-activate Protrack or disconnect/reconnect the mount or exit/restart TheSky after completing an Accurate Polar Alignment.
Fixed a bug where Accurate Polar Alignment didn’t work with AP GEM mounts.
Fixed a bug where the x2 Lodestar camera driver would periodically have a corrupt download. This could be “the fix” or a “significant fix” for those who are having difficulty autoguiding using the Lodestar. The reported symptoms include “cannot autoguide” or “have trailed stars” or “elongated stars” or “jumps” while autoguiding, yet at the same time the same customer can take a 5 or more minute unguided exposure (PEC and Protrack on) without elongated stars. Those autoguiding with the Lodestar are encouraged to try this update.
Choosing Frame on a constellation now does a better job framing it.
Camera Add on –
- Added the option to select different image calibration options (including full calibration reduction groups) for individual image series. Among other possibilities, this allows creating master flat images for multiple filters and to have the reduction process proceed automatically during image acquisition without user intervention. Selecting the ‘Default’ option for this will command TSX to use whatever method is configured on the “Take Photo” tab (identical to the previous behavior).
- If autoguider calibration fails, the guide star is moved to its original position.
- Fixed a bug where scripting calls to lNumberFilters() or szFilterName() or setszFilterName() would incorrectly clear focus training settings.
- Right click photo, “Center via Camera Relays” is no longer subject to the autoguider Aggressiveness setting.
- Fixed a bug introduced in a prior build where scripted access to the focuser temperature for a TCFS was always zero.
- Fixed a bug where scripted access to the focuser who’s temperature “Source” was set to “Paramount” was always zero.
- Fixed incorrect title on TPoint graph – was “Declination vs. zenith distance” is now “Zenith distance vs. zenith distance”
- A TPoint recalibration now has its own Run Date.
- The entered temperature in “Atmospheric Re&fraction Parameters” is now persistent.
- Autoguider Calibration results now fill the window while maintaining the aspect ratio on both the Autoguide Setup window and the Autoguider Calibration Complete window.
- Fixed a bug when calibrating a displayed photo (by pressing the “Reduce” button on the Image Calibration Library window) the photo didn’t immediately reflect the changes. The work around before this build is to adjust the histogram of the displayed photo after pressing the “Reduce” button.
Improvement – “Open Tracking Log” has an intuitive default when the last opened folder/file no longer exists.
Bisque TCS Window – A PEC “Fit” operation on an autoguider log is now prohibited because the PEC fitting routines are looking for mount specific characteristics which don’t apply to an autoguiding log.

Friday July 17, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 9051

Dome Add On – Fixed a bug when dome tracking was turned on and the mount tracked across the mount’s flip hour angle (or the flip hour angle was dragged across the mount’s position, i.e. only near the meridian), the dome was incorrectly slewed to reflect the beyond the pole state w/r/t the mount’s flip hour angle. The work around before this build – before slewing to a target that needs tracked for an extended period, first drag the mount’s flip hour to your advantage, either the maximum or minimum limit, to enable the longest possible track. This eliminates the issue since mount cannot track across it’s flip hour angle because it physical cannot.
Fixed a bug where the camera’s progress bar wouldn’t update during the exposure, the photo would complete as expected the only issue was the progress bar wouldn’t update during the exposure. The workaround before this build was to exit and restart TheSky.

Friday July 10, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 9037

Improved logging for the “Log ccdsoftCamera and TheSky…” option with more isolation information.
Removed ambiguity when setting soft limits for a Paramount, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.
Fixed a bug when taking photo’s with CCDSoft’s camera where the FITS ‘FILTER’ keyword was accidentally omitted.
Fixed a rare crash when using the Paramount’s Built in focuser.
Fixed a bug introduced in build 8743 where some autoguiding controls were incorrectly made visible on the Take Photo , Focus and Take Series tabs.
Fixed a crash running w/o OpenGL caused by having the polar scope chart element on.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where “Preview Master Frame” under Tools, Calibration Library, would sometimes leave up a status window after the operation was complete.
Improved status and allow cancel while reducing a folder of photos.
Possibly fixed the issue where the camera’s progress bar stopped updating.
On Windows, fixed a tiny memory leak that occurred on some computers.
Fixed a bug introduced in build 8805 where polar alignment report ME adjustment (“raise” or “lower”) for southern hemisphere was backwards in the upper section of the report but correct in the lower section of the report.
Fixed a bug where the FITS Viewer window cross hair was drawn incorrectly when the photo size changed (prior to this build, the work around was to simply turn the cross hair off and back on).
Allow the Paramount’s built in focuser to be used as the Autoguider’s focuser.
Corrected a bug that would cause the current video number being recorded to display incorrectly during round-robin video sequences.
Fixed a What’s Up query bug that caused a crash when the number of objects in the What’s Up list was greater than the ‘Maximum Objects In Observing List’ advanced preference value.
Fixed an issue on some computers where TheSkyX to crash on exit.
Fixed an issue introduced in the prior build where on some computers TheSkyX crashed on start (under opengl only).
Made it easier to type in data/time in date/time tool bar
Improved logging for the option “Log ccdsoftCamera and sky6RASCOMTele methods” especially for trapping exceptions on exit.

Friday May 22, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8908

Made it easier to input Scale on PEC tab of Bisque TCS window.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior daily build 8636 where the “Confirm Slews” option did not prompt even when the option was on.
Fixed a typo on the enumerations for the ShowInventory.js script.
Some tool tips have expanded information to minimize common support questions and confusion.
Improved satellite computation accuracy.
Dome Add On – Fixed a bug where the Dome tab would wrongly expand in width to fit an error messages instead of text wrapping.
Added additional in/out distance selections that should allow for more versatile focuser control. In/out distance options now display the number of steps the focuser will move, in addition to the travel percentage.
Automated Image Link Settings now include a configurable, independent filter name (applies to Automated Pointing Run and Closed Loop Slew).
To aid in spectroscopy, added controls to the video display that allow the crosshairs to be adjusted (vertical/horizontal position + line spacing). Line spacing can be set to 0 to create a single line.
Fix bug where a retry, during Automated Pointing Run, nearly at zenith, might attempt to slew to an invalid location (rare).
Bug fix – Image Calibration Library ‘Preview Master Frame’ allows complete control (typically histogram) of the displayed photo.
Camera Add On –
- Now allow setting the Repeat field of a take series to zero, effectively giving an convenient means to turn off a series without fully deleting it.
- Take Series data can be copied to and pasted from the clipboard (use standard keystroke CTRL+C and CTRL+V).
- Autoguider graphs will now display guide error in arc-seconds (in addition to guide error in pixels) provided the focal length of the telescope is entered under Camera Setup and the camera under control supports the PixelSizeInterface (most camera’s do). Remember there is a focal length entry for the Autoguider and the Imager.

Monday April 6, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8805

Slightly improved the polar alignment report.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where the Canon wouldn’t take photos.
Dome Add On window – clarified any units can be used, improved dome labels and added tool tips to dome dimensions.Simplified dome geometry entry by placing two settings that are zero for typical GEM and fork mounts under an Advanced setting while noting they are zero typically.
Camera Add On – made it easier to enter and edit decimal exposure times (and all other double entries).
Likely fixed symptoms described in the daily build 8641, bullet item with “Camera Status Debug”.
Likely fixed a rare bug where Automated Pointing run would be waiting at “Taking photo…” with no photo in progress.
Fixed typos in comments for some FITS keywords.
Fixed a rare bug where sometimes dragging the Paramount’s flip hour angle didn’t work.
Fixed a bug that caused TheSkyX to crash if after the focuser was switched from one model to another and then one of the train buttons on the Focuser tab’s Focuser Training controls was clicked.
Now prohibit doing more than one Accurate Polar Alignment w/o recalibration.
Fixed a bug that would cause TheSkyX to hang during focuser adjustments for temperature compensation with certain focusers.
Fixed a bug where minimizing then restoring the FITS Viewer window didn’t restore to the previous position but instead maintained the top left coordinates of the minimized window.

Wednesday February 25, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8670

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior daily build (and exists only in the prior daily build) where the model put in place after an Accurate Polar Alignment was invalid. The symptoms were upon pressing the ‘Finish’ button the RMS jumped up and pointing was subsequently off.
Take 2, New feature – Completing an ‘Accurate Polar Alignment’ immediately puts a pointing model in place that assumes the polar adjustment was performed correctly and you are good to go, no need to perform a recalibration.
Some improved photos on both Rough and Accurate Polar Alignment windows.
Ensure that Ascom mounts always move at least 1/2 sidereal rate when pulseguiding, even if they support slower slew speeds.

Thursday February 12, 2015 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8641

Bug Fix – Sometimes aborting a Paramount slew would generate the error MOTOR_POSERRORLIM 24002 “The mount cannot slew.”
New feature – Completing an ‘Accurate Polar Alignment’ immediately puts a pointing model in place that assumes the polar adjustment was performed correctly and you are good to go, no need to perform a recalibration.
Bug fix – Closed Loop Slew and the rotator option ‘Rotate 180° when OTA Side of Pier Changes’ would sometimes take photo when before the rotator had finished.
Finishing an Accurate Polar Alignment now prohibits (accidentally) adding more pointing samples to the model.
Possibly fixed a bug where camera autoconnect tried to connect to sub hardware that has no selection.
Corrected the spelling of axis on the autoguide setting window, added Windows accelerators.
Improved Rough and Accurate Polar Alignment wizard (text and graphics).
Give a clearer error message when Internet type operations fail when the network is unavailable, i.e. cable is unplugged.
Help needed to isolate why the camera progress bar stops working for some customers while acquiring an exposure. If you experience this, double click the progress bar to display the “Camera Status Debug” window, take say a 5 second exposure and when complete, right click, select all, and copy the log post it. If you mess up, press Clear, repeat the prior instructions. IOW, most interested in the ”Camera Status Debug” log for a single 5 second exposure when the progress bar isn’t working (no more, no less).
Third party software, autoguiding a the Paramount with DirectGuide, doing large, synchronous, moves say for autoguide ditering and immediately calling sky6RASCOMTele::isSlewComplete, might sometimes have received a stale value.
Don’t allow the Automated Image Link Settings to be “squished”.
Bug Fix – An automated pointing run using all sky image link with the blind option would unnecessarily animate the success. Also, an automated pointing run using all sky image link would always unnecessarily reset the star chart to that of the image link.
The setup tab of the Automated Pointing Calibration Run window now has the “Use All Sky Image Link” option on it (formerly this option was only on the Image Link setup window).
New feature/bug fix – Automated pointing runs may now be aborted by aborting from the camera or telescope windows if their operation is in progress.
New, intelligent automated pointing run calibration path.
Trapped cases of Search FOVs being set too high that may be caused a crash.
Limit “Search area” for the Automated ImageLink Settings window to 8 (was 10).
Provide a means for x2 drivers to display a photo in a X2GUIInterface window.
TheSky HD for the iPad can natively display photos it acquires from TheSkyX.
Updated Celestron driver to allow Sync for StarSense hand paddles. Must choose the StarSense “mount” under Telescope Setup.
Revised text for Advanced All Sky Image Link options.

Monday December 22, 2014 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8495

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where satellites displayed incorrectly.
Updated Canon camera plug in.
Update Starlight Xpress plug in.

Friday December 19, 2014 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8489

Removed a line drawn from center of plotted ellipses.
A clearer camera auto connect error message – now includes if its the Camera or Autoguider and the actual name of the sub hardware unable to connect.
Fixed a bug in the prior build where depending on the upgrade path the camera auto connect error might be incorrectly be displayed when no device was selected. The work around for that build is to merely reselect the device representing “No Device Selected”.
Bug Fix – @Focus log “Time Taken” was sometimes zero.
The Bisque TCS “Copy Parameters” report now shows TheSky version, build, current date/ time, and motor and IO firmware versions.
When clicking on an ImageLinked photo, the “Linked Photo” is prepended with the FITS keyword “OBJECT” name field. This preserves the “OBJECT” keyword when manually slewing to an archived photo providing a much better target name for camera operations.
Now can ‘Find’ GSC stars with TYC, GSC, TYCHO – this also fixed a rare bug where @Focus2 would sometimes give “Object not Found” error when auto slew to focus start is on.
The Accurate Polar Alignment now gracefully prevents incorrectly reusing (iteratively) a given re-calibration data (say after having adjusted polar alignment).

December, 2014 – TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8461 (installer)

This is the last release that is compatible with Windows XP operating system. All later versions require Windows 7 or later.
Added support for Orion StarShoot autoguider (SSAG).
The TPoint polar alignment report now shows adjustment information for the Paramount currently in use, only.
Improved autoguiding when using large diameter guide stars.
Rotators now have a tabbed dialog in the same style as the other major hardware devices.
MoveTo now implemented for focusers (just like CCDSoft).
Improved histogram performance.
Image link window now has min/max buttons (because the window is rather large on small screen, and it is nice to be able to minimize/restore).
Added a “Set Chart Time To Photo Time” menu command to the FITSViewer’s right-click pop-up menu. This sets TheSkyX’s time to the time at which the FITS image was taken.
The FITS viewer now supports a CCDSoft-style crosshair reticule.
Camera Add On supports autoguiding.
Added UCAC4 support.
FOVIs are now integrated with the hardware rotator.

Tuesday November 25, 2014 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 build 8458

Fixed a bug that prevented Celestron mounts from being synchronized.

Friday November 21, 2014 TheSkyX Version 10.3.0 Build 8451

The daily build installer itself is now digitally signed (not just the binaries contained within it).
Added support for the Paramount MTY.
Fixed a bug where starting another Accurate or Rough Polar alignment didn’t always start at the beginning.
TPoint window remembers that tab that was last used between exit an restart.
Location changes are now prohibitied while a mount is connected.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where downloading more than one group of satellites would only downloaded the last group.
New Feature – Drag and drop support – Drag and drop any FITS photo, star chart or TPoint file (*.fits, *.skyx, *.tptx or a tpoint dat file) on the star chart and have it automatically opened. Also, if you have the Image link window open, “drop” a fits file directly onto the “Find Astrometric Solution” or the “All Sky Search” button to have Image Link performed upon drop.
Improved error message when the Paramount can’t slew.
Camera Add on – Camera autoconnect to sub devices now displays a very clear error message if connection to one or more sub devices fails.
Corrected default time zone for locations observing Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (AEDT).
Changed the position of the ImageLinked photo from end of list of id’d objects to front of list.
TPoint Add On – It is now more convenient to change the folder where TPoint settings are opened and saved. No longer always default to the folder “<My Documents>\Software Bisque\TheSkyX Professional Edition\TPoint” during “File Open” and “File Save As” but rather the folder is remembered.
New Feature – “Rough Polar Alignment” procedure for Paramounts allowing an easy (even daytime) jump on a rough polar alignment.
New Feature – “Accurate Polar Alignment” procedure precisely offsets a bright start so that when it is recentered using the mount’s polar aligment knobs the mount is polar aligned (iow visual feedback on the polar alignment adjustment using a bright star).
Prompt before undoing recal.
Added scanLine to the ccdsoftImage object.
Fixed a bug where TheSkyX’s camera wouldn’t record the Orchestrate comment of the TakeImage command.
Fix bug where AllSky wouldn’t work dependent upon install route.
TPoint recalibration RMS is now more appropriately computed.
Images taken with Ascom cameras (along with cameras linked via MaxIm DL) will now record the camera’s pixel size in microns in the FITS header when that data is available.
Distribute QHYCCD and Optec Pyxis LE Rotator X2 Plug Ins.
Closed loop slew no longer requires autosave to be on.
Automated Pointing Runs/Closed Loop Slews runs have their own, independent binning setting.
Camera Add On – when using two, independent SBIG camera’s, one as the imager, one as the autoguider, autoguiding is no longer (conservatively) paused when collecting a dark frame on the Imager.
Camera simulator, simulating DSS, won’t give stars for dark, bias and flat frames.
The camera’s exposure delay now applies to flat fields (in addition to light frames).
Corrected an issue that would cause images simulated using DSS to appear incorrectly if binning was enabled.
TheSkyX should now be a little bit more forgiving if an Ascom driver unexpectedly returns 2 byte results instead of 4 byte results (or vise-versa).
TheSky Controlled Telescope Driver has been updated to allow third-party applications to autoguide Paramounts using DirectGuide. Run ‘TheSky Telescope Driver Setup.exe’ in TheSkyX’s folder to install this driver.
Corrected an error that was causing focusers to be unable to use mounts as temperature sources for temperature compensation.
Fixed a bug that would sometimes cause a crash when selecting a temperature compensation temperature source for the first time.
New Feature – The photo Histogram window is completely new and now uses all cores, great for making realtime background/range change even on large format cameras. Also uses CCDSoft’s exact code for doing SBIG auto background and range (very common and better default/first impression appearance).
Fixed a bug where the “Telescope Position.txt” log file didn’t aways hold the most up-to-date telescope position.
Paramount sync history is now updated with every sync (the work around was to change any parameter or re-read all parameters or connect/disconnect).
Fixed a bug with camera simulator doing web DSS simulation would sometimes give ERR_POINTER.
Fixed a bug where focuser temperature was always zero.
Fixed a bug where focuser temperature was kept between connect/disconnect and different hardware.
Camera Add on For the AO track box size, added “Extra Large” and “Extra Extra Large” options.
New Feature – Camera Add on Correlation Autoguiding – In addition to being able to autoguide on stars, TheSkyX has the ability to guide on extended targets such as sunspots, solar prominences, lunar craters, etc. For features that change over time, the guide target may be set to automatically update itself every few minutes.Note that the larger the target (in terms of pixels), the more processor intensive the search for that target will be. A size of 50×50 should give good results on most systems. This is a fantastic new feature for solar imaging where there isn’t anything BUT the sun to guide on.

Friday July 11, 2014 Build 8114

Added AutomatedImageLinkSettings object.

Monday July, 07, 2014 Build 8073

Fixed a bug introduced in the prior daily build that gave error “A necessary driver was not found. Error 217” when attempting to connect or choose SBIG AO camera.

Friday July 04, 2014 Build 8068

Corrected a bug that caused dragging FOVs with a non-zero position angle to incorrectly command rotators.
Dome Add On – New “Slit status” – “Unknown”, “Last Open command successful”, “Last Close command successful”
Corrected a bug that would cause FOVs to appear incorrectly rotated on the star chart in Orthographic projection (especially near the poles).
Fix a bug where a fresh install may not find the all sky database.
Fixed a bug where creating a New Profile for an imaging system wouldn’t cause the user interface to reflect all the changes in hardware selections and their corresponding properties (except on exit and restart as a work around). Only New Profile was incorrect, Open Profile and Save Profile As worked as expected.
Improved the confirmation dialog when commanding a rotator via the FOV on the star chart. It should now be much harder to accidentally modify the FOV.
Corrected a bug where CCW-oriented rotators would incorrectly load their configuration preferences on TSX startup
Added the ClosedLoopSlew scripting object (Camera Add On required) so that external programs can perform a closed loop slew.

Tuesday June 03, 2014 Build 7973

New feature – Added Imaging System Profiles to allow maintaining more than one set of hardware configurations.
Camera Add On
- Don’t allow trailing spaces on autosave folder name.
- New option “Remove whitespace from AutoSave filenames” under Camera AutoSave Setup, Advanced.
- Fixed a bug introduced in prior build 7789 where the filter wheel was incorrectly commanded to move with every exposure rather than only when the filter did indeed change.
- Scripting – Added centerAO() method to TheSkyX.ccdsoftCamera object. Note: clients using the CCDSoft2XApapter object can call this method by setting the property ‘Camera.PropLng(“centerAO()”) = 1’ as a workaround to avoid changing that interface (especially for those using early binding).
Corrected a bug that would crash Temma mounts when pulseguiding, or moving via the virtual hand-paddle.
Added toggle for extend labeling comets with magnitude.
All Sky Image link now always restores source extraction parameters.
Fixed a bug introduced into a prior daily build that caused All Sky Image to crash on some photos.
FITS file extensions are now consistent throughout when opening FITS files.

Wednesday April 30, 2014 Build 7927

Fixed typo on new configure WiSky window.

Tuesday April 29, 2014 Build 7919

TPoint Add On
- Added alternate polar alignment adjustment options.
- Added a graph of the path taken during the pointing run.
Camera Add On
- Fixed a bug that would sometimes cause single exposures to fail to move the filter wheel.
- Added the scripting object SelectedHardware.
Improved overall performance and speed of All Sky Image Link.
Bisque TCS Window now has a means to configure the MKS-5000 WiSky.

Friday March 21, 2014 Build 7773

Fixed a bug where object names were truncated when searching MPCORB.DAT.
Fixed a bug where it wasn’t possible to abort an all sky image link from the automated pointing run window (aborting from the image link window was the work around).
Fixed a possible crash when attempting to PulseGuide with some native mount drivers.
Improved support for all Ascom devices.
This update allows TheSkyX to more gracefully handle drivers that don’t quite conform to Ascom.
Distribute native apogee filter wheel support (Apogee OEM driver required).
Corrected a bug that would cause temperature compensation to sometimes occur even if disabled in the GUI.
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior daily build that broke a Photo’s right click “To Image Link” “Center Cursor…” and “Set Chart Time to Photo Time” calls to incorrectly report “file/folder does not exist”.

Tuesday February 18, 2014 Build 7715

Camera Add On
- Bug Fix – Introduced in the prior build 7708, calling szBinModeFromIndex(0) threw an exception Parameter not optional.
- Some rotators move clockwise as their angle values increase, some move counterclockwise. Previously, the direction of rotation was stored as a property of each FOV defined in the system. Now that property has been moved into the configuration of the rotator itself. This should make rotators easier to configure and use, and also makes it possible to fully utilize the properties of the rotator throughout the rest of TheSkyX.
- TheSkyX now is able to autoguide after rotating a connected rotator. The rotator must be connected during autoguider calibration and subsequent autoguidng. Prior builds required re-calibrating the autouguider after the rotate.
- The user can manually control declination when autoguiding when not connected to a mount.
- Getting/setting m_ptGuideStarHiRes,m_TrackBoxHiRes, m_TrackBoxHiResAO, and all autoguide calibration parameters by scripting Camera.PropLng is no longer case sensitive.
- Relay-guiding with MaxIm’s camera now rounds UP to the nearest second
- Corrected the durations when relay-guiding with Ascom cameras should now be correct (previous relay activations were much shorter than they should have been).
Automated pointing run sextractor defaults are now 5,10 (were 10,10) detection threshold, and minium number of pixels above threshold, respectively.
Bug Fix – On Windows, sometimes File Open File/File Save windows did not refresh properly. The workaround in the past was to lower the target frame rate, which is no longer necessary.
Fixed a bug where Image Link was incorrectly ignoring the rotator’s angle when it was automatically adjusting FOV angles to match its solved angle.
Corrected spelling error in FITS header comment.
Fixed a bug where the date time format was incorrectly being set to the Image Link path by going to Tools, Open Fits.
Completion of a Paramount Find home takes ProTrack in stride (a benign issue).
Fix potential crash when a FOVI with an OAG element is turned on and the field of view is small.
Fixed a display error when showing the location reported by the NexStar hand paddle.
Fixed a possible crash caused by attempting to correlation-guide without a target.
Fix a bug introduced in prior build’s new feature – Image Link’s automated pointing run editing always works now.
Focuser temperature compensation can now make use of temperature values read from either the device itself, the partnered device, or a Paramount mount.
Corrected a bug that was causing Ascom mounts to move incorrectly in response to TheSkyX’s virtual hand paddle.
Exposure times in Take Series now allow 3 decimals of precision.
Tool, Telescope Setup, fixed accelerator buddies for two controls were not “set” (so an ampersand appeared on the control’s text).
Added option for TheSkyX’s tcpserver to automatically close the socket connection upon responding.

Friday, December 20, 2013 Build 7477

Camera Add On now supports the AO on the SBIG STT/STX/STXL.
All windows with splitter child windows will now be more obvious..
Avoid potential @Focus2 crash.
Added “Closed Loop Slew” button to star chart’s right click menu, Observing List window, Telescope window and Telescope Toolbar nearly every place a Slew button is available.
Added commonly used buttons to telescope toolbar.
TheSkyX focuser drivers that support logging will now allow their logs to be displayed in the GUI.
Ascom focusers, domes, rotators now implement logging.
Manually moving the focuser now automatically toggles temperature compensation off (without clearing the KVP).
Added a button “Automated ImageLink Settings” on the ImageLink Setup tab that controls settings using during automated image links (like when doing a TPoint automated pointing run or a Closed Loop Slew). Prior to this, these settings where only available through the optional TPoint Add On.
Bug fix – changes to DSS setup parameters apply w/o having to close and re-open DSS window.
Camera Add on – Image and Video “Take Series” has a new the option to execute the “Repeat” per series or across series.
The frame-grabbing video camera no longer requires that the video preview window be present in order to function.
Orion filter wheel driver is now distributed.

Friday, November 8, 2013 Build 7398

Fix for incorrect display of virtual mounts in southern hemisphere.
Possible fix for scripted slew receiving error 213 command in progress.
Possible fix for scripted slews that are ignored.
Increase in maximum dome width for graphical display.

Thursday, November 7 2013 Build 7392

Acquiring a FITS from the camera, then pressing ESC on the FITS Viewer window (to hide it), and acquiring another photo now shows the FITS Viewer window. (The window previously remained hidden.)
Southern latitudes less than 1 are now accepted correctly in the Location window.
Increased the maximum allowable dome slit dimensions for graphical display.
Ascom Mounts that implement Park, without Unpark should now work correctly
Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where Tools, Open FITS would change the date/time format.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 Build 7365

Ascom drivers should now more cleanly detach from their target device when they care commanded to disconnect
If an Ascom mount is already parked when a connection to it is made, this should now correctly be reported
Check for updates now also checks if a newer daily build is available.
Camera Add On
- Dithering released.
- Fixed a bug that was causing directory calibration to improperly truncate filenames that contained multiple separator characters.
Added missing Canon_notes.ui to the daily build installer.
Users may now manually move the mount via PulseGuide “relays” on the camera/autoguider tabs. This corrects a bug where pressing these buttons with PulseGuide enabled would cause TSX to hang.
Domes may now be configured to track the telescope.
Non-EQ mounts that can slew in Ra/Dec but not Alt/Az will now be asked for their Ra/Dec position.
Increase timeout for moving SBIG filter wheels.

Wednesday, October 10, 2013 Build 7314

Camera Add On
- Software-based temperature focus compensation while exposing is now available for any focuser capable of reporting its temperature to TSX (NOT including Optec’s line of TCF focusers, which perform similar functionality in hardware).
- Users of a wide range of mounts will now have the option to autoguide directly via their mount, without needing to make use of camera relays or a separate autoguiding cable. Supported mounts are: Gemini, AP, Celestron, iOptron, LX200, Temma, (Ascom Windows-only).
COM automation calls to TheSkyX are not affected if TheSkyX is minimized and “Sleep on minimize” is true.
“Sleep On minimize” is now off by default.
Fixed some format errors in log messages for Alt/Az telescopes and telescopes that report negative position angles.
New Closed Loop Slew button on the Find tab that uses ImageLink to refine the slew for accuracy.
The ERR_COMMANDINPROGRESS is thrown if a slew is issued while a slew is already in progress and logged in ISLog1.txt.
Updated FLI camera driver to resolve a crash.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Build 7225

Camera Add On
- Fixed a bug where the camera setpoint wasn’t always persistent.
- Fixed a bug where custom camera AutoSave file names could cause the raw photo to not be saved (when Reduction was set to Full Calibration).
- Scripting – Fixed a bug where it wasn’t possible to access calibration results for an SBIG external CCD.
- Made splitter window sizes persistent for the Camera, Autoguider, Video, and Video (Guider) windows.
- Moving the focuser while the camera is in focus mode, now causes the camera’s photo to be aborted and restarted after the focus move is complete.
- Fixed a bug where the Photo cross hair would not shut off.

Monday, September 09, 2013 Build 7208

A “Find” for GSC b:n returns the Tycho data as first priority (they have the same b:n designation).
Alt+mouse click now puts the Mouse click position in the first position.
When doing a “Find” on a coordinate, fixed an error in decoding declinations that came out negative when they should not have.
“Verify Time” may be slightly more consistent.
TPoint Add On – new option “Graph unused samples.”
Fixed a fringe case with limited pointing data, pointing to low altitudes.
Camera add on – when Autoguiding graphs do a right click, “Open Autoguiding log”, the x-axis is now labeled showing seconds.
Camera add on – Autoguiding graphs now have a splitter.
When the Black box recorder is on, it no longer treats memory allocation failure as a submittable event and instead the program behaves just as it would when the BBR is off (i.e. a “Memory Error” message is displayed).
Lowered memory requirements while saving a FITS.
Rotate tool text is now visible in photos with dense star fields.

Tuesday August 20, 2013 Build 7146

Camera Add On – Corrected a bug that caused !SHUTTER! dark frames to fail to rotate the filter wheel
Improved All Sky Image Link status.
Fixed a crash caused by pressing “Preview Combined Frame” button on a empty folder under the Image Calibration Library window.
Software Bisque Camera Simulator now simulates temperature.
Large FOVI’s are now displayed at wide fields of view.
Bug fix: Filter/Focuser offsets are now correctly displayed.
Rise/set report no longer shows incorrect begin/end twilight values when event does not occur on present date.
Clarified park error message.
Daily build installer distributes all Canon OEM DLLs.
Added a new FOVI element (OAG) that has it’s own rotation input.
Send native park command when AP mount is parked from TheSkyX.
All Sky Image Link spelling correction.
TheSkyX’s autoguiding improved when a steep background gradient is present.
Added a button to the Camera Dialog’s filter wheel control; “Move Now”. This button was already available from the Video dialog, so now the two are identical. This button allows filter wheel rotation without needing to take a picture The user will be presented with a warning if they attempt to rotate the filter wheel during an exposure (camera or video).
Fixed a potential crash in All Sky Image Link.
Two new All Sky Image Link options – Use All Sky Image Link for automated pointing runs (off by default), and Use All Sky Image Link for scripted Image Link (off by default).

Tuesday July 23, 2013 Build 7110

AO slew rate limit is now correctly applied.
SkyQLink no longer listed since no driver is presently available.
Bisque TCS window now saves PEC scale.
Bisque TCS window fixed a crash doing “Save all parameters” w/o a connection.
Bisque TCS window remember path to tracking log files.
Bug Fix – For southern hemisphere, TPoint polar alignment message for MA is now correct (was backward).
Bug Fix -Make automated pointing run parameters persistent w/o having to actually run the automated pointing run.
All Sky Image Link Database now has a new file format and requires a new database.
Fixed bug where database searches for spectral types using “equal to” did not work.
Changed the toolbar button’s background color to light gray so that the “on” state is more apparent on the Mac.
Camera Add On – Filters may be assigned focuser offsets.
Fixed a bug where Automated Pointing run options were incorrectly restored to zero upon restart which occurred when “Sort for dome” was turned on.
Fixed some of the sluggishness to “Create Pointing Targets” tab of the Automated Pointing Run window.
Fixed a crash on some systems when labeling constellations.
Fixed a crash when starting an Automated Pointing Run (introduced in the prior daily build).
Camera Add On – Ensure Apogee camera’s are listed, regardless of update route.
Camera Add On includes the native driver for the Starlight Xpress monochrome Lodestar autoguider.

Wednesday June 12, 2013 Build 7032

Significant performance improvement to All Sky Image Link.
Fix for not being able to unpark ACL mount.
Updated FLI Camera driver.
Camera Add On – fix for intermittent crash during imaging/autofocus.

Monday June 10, 2013 Build 7018

New “Black Box Recorder” feature, which is “Off” by default. Any one experiencing a crash and willing to help fix the problem can change this setting to “Save to disk” (restart TheSkyX to have the option take effect). After a crash, zip up and email the data found in the folder “<My Documents>Software Bisque\TheSkyX Professional Edition\Black Box Recorder Data”.
Minor tweaks to Image Link window.
Added tool tips to every Bisque TCS control, changed text to Remove All for Sync history removal and made other minor layout modifications.
Minor tweaks to Automated Pointing Calibration Run window

Wednesday June 5, 2013 Build 7005

Camera Add On – Autoguider log now includes TheSkyX build number, start time (local and UT), mount selection and camera binning.

Wednesday May 29, 2013 Build 6985

Fixed a bug where switching from one camera to another could result in some of the old camera’s settings being applied to the new camera, even when the new camera didn’t support those settings.
Small performance enhancement to AllSky ImageLink.
Fixed an Opengl bug where the Moon would go black.
Fixed a bug where Paramount PEC didn’t work for southern hemisphere with non symmetric PEC curves.
Ascom mounts now support open-loop, “press to slew” movements, for capable mounts.
TheSkyX Video Integration has been enabled for Windows users of TSX Professional with the Camera Addo On. Here’s a short list of features (which will be documented later in more detail in the user’s manual).
- TheSkyX can preview video in real time. The preview display is embedded in the “video” tab. It is possible to “tear off” this tab if a larger preview display area is required.
- Because the video camera settings that work well for your luminance filter may not work well your red filter, it is possible to save a video camera “profile” that contains a full set of video camera settings. Switching between sets of video camera settings on a filter changes then becomes quick and easy.
- TheSkyX can be programmed to collect a sequence of video clips, where each clip has its own duration, video camera profile, and filter settings. This allows a user to capture a full LRGB+ set of video sequences (with different video camera settings for each filter) as a one-button operation.
- TheSky’s Camera and or Autoguider may be selected to use the Video Camera as their data source. This allows TheSkyX to capture single frame, FITS-format snapshots from the video feed for use with TSX’s imaging tool suite: TPoint Automated Pointing Runs, Image Link, @Focus2, Autoguiding, etc.

Wednesday May 15, 2013 Build 6949

Photo window cross hair now shows photo’s center.
Corrected “Factory setting” for the Slew Limits on the Paramount ME II
Corrected text for entering the dome serial number command. (regression typo on shared pop-up menu).
Added tool tip and a status box message for the “gear” button that appears on windows for imaging system-related devices.
Updated FOVI databases.
Bug fix: Telescope limit lines are now loaded successfully (previously, the “last position” in the line, corresponding to north, was always zero degrees altitude).
Camera Add On reduced CPU usage during long exposures.
Fixed bug where not all file opens in All-Sky ImageLink set the version so floats were not being read in correctly.
Refactored Ascom mount support (replaces the x2AscomTelescope.dll driver). This should solve the issues connecting to Ascom mounts that have been reported since a recent daily build, and bring the Ascom mount into line with the other Ascom drivers in terms of design.

Tuesday May 07, 2013 Build 6931

Camera Add On
- Added an option (Tools, Preferences) to log external calls to ccdsoftCamera and sky6RASCOMTele methods.
- External scripting fix – under rare circumstances, TakeImage synchronously wouldn’t return.
- RBI Support in TSX for cameras that support RBI flooding. Multiple readout-mode support in TSX for cameras that support multiple readout modes. Initially this covers cameras being controlled by ASCOM or through MaxIm DL, but the list should expand quickly.
- Take Series will now be automatically saved whenever they’re modified. Previously, series were only saved when a series was executed.
- Right click Photo, “Center Cursor Position Via Relays” (autoguider calibration required).
- Test star pattern shows up when 3D star is initially shown (regression fix). Smooth shading option restored, scaled test data pattern (not the star) to show up correctly.
The DBI distributes native, x2 RoboFocus drivers.
The Daily Build installer now distributes the MKS 5000 Driver installer (located in TheSkyX Pro’s root folder.)
Removed duplicate accelerator keys on camera window.
Added HCG Sky Database
Added RCW Sky Database
Fixed a crash on Mac, when exiting after showing either the Focus Graphs or Autoguiding graphs window.
Prevent a rare crash during automated focus when 0-slope focusing curves (no data) resulted.

Monday April 15, 2013 Build 6901

Cameras without shutters will no longer prompt the user to “cover their telescope” for a dark frame if their filter wheel contains an opaque filter (named “!Shutter!”) that can be used instead.
Camera Add On Bug Fix – Fixed a bug where the Fan check box for SBIG camera’s would not turn off the fan.
Possible fix for slow response to File Open windows when Bisque TCS window is open.

Tuesday April 9, 2013 Build 6890

Updated Atik camera specs (from Atik)
Camera Add On – Bug fix – bias frames now have zero as the exposure time in the FITS header.
Added a search combo box to the Moon Viewer with a pseudo auto completer.
The rotator simulator will now show its current position while a rotation is in progress. The version ID has been updated to 1.1
Fixed a crash caused by the virtual telescope on Windows.
The CCDSoft2xAdaptor, when encountering exceptions, propagates the original error code.

Wednesday April 3, 2013 Build 6866

Camera Add On – A Successful @Focus2 run now takes a final, in focus photo and the camera status displays “@Focus successful” during this period so that it is clearer when @Focus is successful.
Fixed non 1:1 mapping of SIMBAD Bayer designations into ISO8859-7 unicode codec which caused Greek character graphics to be incorrect from Sigma to end of the Greek alphabet.
TPoint Add On – TPoint Add On Supermodel is now 5% faster.
The Telescope FOVI may now be rotated.
The histogram window will automatically zoom in to better display the data being presented.
Histogram graphs should now correctly update when an existing window loads a new image file while ‘custom’ settings are in use.
x2 drivers will now be more forgiving when an Ascom driver returns an unexpected integer data type (ie, a short instead of a long) (introduced in a prior daily build).
Added moon features to the Moonviewer tree list.
Corrected an issue where drivers could crash if they failed to return a valid string property.
Bug Fix – Programatically using the scripting Sync() method didn’t properly accomodate refraction.
Distribute HCG SDBs…

Tuesday March 26, Build 6839

Bug fix – Some settings under Telescope Setup were not intialized correctly (introduced in the prior build).
Bug fix – Fixed crash selecting the Telescope’s FOVI (introduced in the prior build).
Bug fix – FOVI Window, fixed crash turning off/on FOVI when more than 1 FOVI was selected.

Monday March 25, Build 6835

The imaging system configuration window will now correctly react when a one of the autoguider’s, sub-devices, status changes.
Improved device/version information display for Ascom devices.
The SBIG PEDESTAL FITS keyword is now correctly recorded as a negative value.
Camera Add On – The Camera/Autoguider photo windows now remember their position and size after exit and restart of TheSkyX.

Friday March 22, Build 6822

Camera Add On – Fixed a bug introduced in the prior build where connecting to the Camera would crash with specific focusers selected.
- scripting focuser temperature is now returned propertly from capable focuser hardware.

Thursday March 21, Build 6812

Corrected a bug introduced in the prior daily build where controlling the autoguider’s focuser incorrectly controlled the imager’s focuser.
TheSkyX now supports multiple simultaneous connections to “hub” style focuser hardware devices.
Tweaked the path of comet ISON so that it does not skip past sun.
The x2AscomTelescope driver is now distrbuted (again, with apologies).
Camera Add On – the Focus tab now has its own, independent exposure time.

Tuesday March 19, Build 6800

Regression bug fix: ASCOM filter wheels will now correctly report when they are moving.
Better tab names for the Autoguider’s rotator and focuser.

Monday March 18, 2013 Build 6792

Focuser controls have been moved from the mount tab and given a tab of their own.
The x2AscomTelescope driver is now distrbuted.
TheSkyX now supports control of two independent rotators and focusers. For users who don’t have use of this feature, the new tabs are hidden by default. Users with fully-outfitted guidescopes may enable this from the preferences window.

Friday March 15, 2013 Build 6788

Accomodate slower responding Ascom domes/focusers.
Fixed incorrect comment on FITS PEDESTAL keyword.
Bug Fix – “Prompt to save modified chart settings” didn’t always work on Win 7 32, now it does.
Updated Canon drivers.

Thursday March 14, 2013 Build 6780

Added a focuser timeout to accommodate slow-moving focusers.
Camera Add On now records the focuser position in the FITS header.
Camera Add On Scripted bug fix – method PropLng() didn’t work for m_TrackBoxHiRes, m_TrackBoxHiResAO, m_ptGuideStarHiRes.

Thursday March 07, 2013 Build 6734

Camera Add On Scripting – ccdSoftImage object now has a averagePixelValue method.

Tuesday March 06, 2013 Build 6722

Camera Add On – When Reduction is set to “Full Calibration” and AutoSave is on, both the uncalibrated image and calibrated image are saved.
Camera Add On – Images captured while the imaging system target has no target will insert “NoTarget” in the file name when the custom field format explicitly calls for the target to be inserted. The target will continue to be omitted when the default file name format is in use.

Monday March 04, 2013 Build 6713

Updated Bright Asteroid URL for 2013.
Updated TPoint Add On User Guide (must download manually).
Distribute native, x2Apogee camera drivers.
Camera Add On now supports the PEDESTAL keyword as per SBIGFITSEXTENSION.
Camera Add On Scripting – Fixed a bug where ccdsoftImage.DataArray returned saturated pixels as -1 not 65535.

Friday February 22, 2012 Build 6678

Bug fix – Optec TCF focuser over WiFi should now work.
New feature for Paramount – optionally prohibit tracking below the horizon. Mitigates the two most common issue (among others) of slewing to an object in the west and leaving for several hours and 1) return to find the optic pointing below the horizon or 2) to find the OTA against the pier. Go to Bisque TCS Window->Advanced->Initialization->Prohibit tracking below horizon = 1.
Clean up mount simulator, simulating DirectGuide, and Camera simulator simulated DSS photos.
Telescope setup window, Choose Hardware window now sorts possible hardware selections alphabetically.
In the Telescope setup window, double clicking the edit control that displays the currently selected device name, allows yet another intuitive way to choose the device.

Thursday February 21, 2013 Build 6666

Fixed bug where pressing 0 in date-time toolbar in h, m, s did nothing.
Configuring adhoc wifi now displays resulting SSID.

Wednesday February 20, 2013 Build 6660

Camera Add On simulating DSS images supports both subframes and binning.
The Software Bisque mount simulator now supports DirectGuide simulation.
Added HardwareModelOverrideInterface to the x2 standard.
Updated Canon DSLR driver.
The Bisque TCS Window fitted PEC graph displays “Peak-to-Peak” result.

Friday February 15, 2013 Build 6638

@Focus2 no longer gives incorrect “Device not connected” error introduced in prior build.
@Focus2 no longer *requires* a dark frame and instead uses current camera’s “Reduction” setting (None, Autodark, Full Calibration).
Removed duplicate labels for common stars.
Updated Canon DSLR drivers.

Thrusday February 14, 2013 Build 6621

Scripting – allow calling @Focus2 same way CCDSoft allowed.
Camera Add On – Camera connection automatically connects filter wheel, focuser and rotator when appropriate.
Editing My Chart Elements – RA decimals one more than Dec.
Camera Add On – Camera Relay group box title now reflects the Autoguide Via setting.

Wednesday February 13, 2013 Build 6616

My Chart Elements window “Add and Edit” maintains two decimal places now.
Bug fix – Find window, “Copy Equtorial” to clipboard had dec formatted as ra.
Camera Autosave prevents filename characters CFitsio doesn’t allow.

Tuesday February 12, 2013 Build 6610

Camera Autosave replaces each invalid character in a filename with an underscore character: “_”.
Camera Autosave setup, allows customized format for the autosave, date-based folder; hover over the label for possible formats.
Camera Autosave now allows customized format of the date (‘:a’) field; hover over the label for possible formats.
Camera Autosave the ‘:i’ image type for a flat field no longer has a space.
Fixed a bug when pressing “Autosave…” from the Camera or Autoguider tab would sometime require pressing Ok/Canel twice.
Camera Autoguide sub tab has a new setting “Guide star lost when signal below” percentage. If the guide star signal drops below this percentage, no autoguiding corrections are made and the guide star is considered lost; autoguiding is not aborted.

Monday February 11, 2013 Build 6604

Camera Add On –
- pressing the @Focus button connects the focuser on demand.
- temperature setpoint may have lagged in FITS header if setpoint changed during during lengthy camera operations like Take Series, Autoguide.

Friday February 8, 2013 Build 6582

Camera Add On Scripting fix – CCDSoft2XAdaptor.ccdsoft5Camera RegulateTemperature and SBIGFanOn now apply immediately (prior build work around was disconnect/reconnect).
Camera Add On – Bug fix FITS “DATE-OBS” is the instant in time when the shutter is open and not at the start of the exposure delay.

Thursday February 7, 2013 Build 6577

Fixed a Temma synchronization bug.
Camera Add On gracefully handles abrupt disconnects/exits.
During install, ensure CCDSoft2XAdaptor is installed.

Wednesday February 6, 2013 Build 6569

Scripting – Fixed a crash caused by calling sky6RASCOMTele.FindHome() from tcpscriptclient.exe and exiting the client before the find home completed.
Round FOVI elements that have offsets can now be rotated.
Updated description for locations in Russia/Russian Federation (RF).
Camera Add On – For cameras that don’t have shutters, a filter with the name “!Shutter!” is selected for dark frames.
Removed duplicate label for Markab.
Telescope Synchronization window corrections – 15 points are required for a recal (not 50) CH is not fixed during a “just sync” recalibration.
Scripting modifications:
- TheSkyX.ccdSoftCamera – added filterWheelConnect(), filterWheelDisconnect() and filterWheelIsConnected() methods().
- CCDSoft2XAdaptor.ccdSoft5Image.DataArray now returns a 2-D array instead of a 1-D array, just like CCDSoft.
- CCDSoft2XAdaptor.ccdSoft5Image.Width and Height properties no longer return “member not found”.
- CCDSoft2XAdaptor.ccdSoft5Camera methods that do filter wheel operations do nothing if there is no filter wheel connection, just like CCDSoft.
- CCDSoft2XAdaptor.ccdSoft5Camera.lNumberFilters returns zero when not connected, just like CCDSoft.
- ImageLink::execute() and ccdsoftImage.InsertWCS() both populate the FITS header with WCS.

Friday January 25, 2013 Build 6536

Added star labels SDB to remove duplicate Betelguese label.
Added Canon DSLR drivers (at Richard’s request).
Made “Add On” serial number entries case insensitive.
Scriptnig – possibly fix a bug when skyWeb.SlewToObject() was called immediately after sky6RASCOMTele.FindHome()
The automated pointing run “Sort for dome” is now persistent.
TPoint Add On now works with paths that have an apostrophe character (” ‘ “) and no longer displays the error message “object too low” when attempting to add calibration points and an apostrophe character is present in the account name.
The first time it is run, TheSkyX now shows a wizard the for SN and SLA agreement.
Added a filter wheel status that shows whatever filter is presently selected.

Friday January 18, 2013 Build 6519

TheSkyX’s camera control is now scriptable.
The Daily Build Installer now checks for minimum and maximum builds before installing.
Added APASS and 2MASS magnitudes to the Object Information report.
Added documentation for new Automated Pointing Calibration features to the TPoint Add On User Guide.
Added Celestron cameras to FOV detector list.
Bug Fix – Documents with the Polar Scope chart element type turned on will no longer center on north on startup.
The Automated Pointing Run grid is now more versitile. Users can add targets, remove targets and save/restore customizations. New commands to add a group of targets near the current telescope position to help boot strap modeled pointing for first time and portable alignments and a to add group of targets optimal for recalibration.
Eliminate the error ERR_INDEX_OUT_OF_RANGE that some scripting clients would receive when calling TheSkyXAdaptor objects that resulted in TheSkyX launching (i.e. TheSkyX was not running already).
Fixed an error introduced in the prior daily build where the Polar Align Message wasn’t correct (Paramount MEs only).
Added Astro-Tech telescopes to FOV database.
Removed duplicate Betelguese label.
Bug Fix – For the camera add on, the “Image Calibration Library” button, “Clear Auto Dark” button, and Track Box Size current selection and available selections weren’t always initialized correctly after exit and restart (they were OK in the steady state).
Bug Fix – Some modal windows would have to be clicked on to receive the input focus.
Fixed 10-10-10 toolbar bug
Bug fix: Entering 0 for the number of mosaic grid rows or columns no longer causes TheSkyX to crash.
Shortened file names on distributed tours and manuals.

Tuesday December 11, 2012 Build 6408

Mirror image shows an icon in upper left corner of the star chart.
Possible fix for clients receiving the error “Error in loading DLL” when attempting scripting operations (on 32 bit operating systems only).

Friday December 07, 2012 Build 6393

Distribute Orion star shoot driver.
Bug Fix: Constellation lines were “automatically” turned on when certain sdb’s where present and turned on.
Enhancement – The TPoint polar alignment report now shows adjustment information for the Paramount currently in use, only.
Bug fix – @Focus2 would not restore telescope cross hair option if error happened early when running @Focus2.dbq (i.e. the daylight option makes AtFocus2.dbq result in no object found).
Bug fix: Getting the longitude from an LX200 compatible mount no longer results in a command failed error message.
Bug fix: for treating the autoguider ccd on an SBIG dual CCD as though it did not a shutter (introduced in the prior build).

Monday December 3, 2012 Build 6357

Bug fix – Camera addon cameras were incorrectly prompting the user to “Cover the telescope” when taking dark frames (introduced in the prior build).
Bug fix – Fixed a bug where the magnitude for minor planets was wrong.
TPoint calibration runs have the “Telescope name” default to the name of the currently selected mount (use to be the short name from the mount driver).
Bug fix – On the Enter Coordinates tab of the Navigation window, the “Center Chart on RA/Dec” button didn’t take into account nutation (error of a few arcseconds).

Friday November 30, 2012 Build 6350

The virtual mount displays correctly for southern hemisphere users.
Fixed case sensitive URL to Celestron downloads site.
A bug that only affected custom mounts, using Bisque TCS, configured as a fork, where slews missed with a fixed offset on one side of the meridian. The bug never applied to Paramounts.
Improved autoguiding when using large diameter guide stars.

Wedensday November 21, 2012 Build 6323

Fixed a bug where selecting “SBIG FW-8 STL” wouldn’t move the filter.
Distribute filterwheel.txt.
Distribute AtFocus2.DBQ fix to “File not found” error running @Focus2 with AutoSlew/AutoExposure turned on.
Fixed a regression bug slewing NexStar mounts to negative declinations did not work.

Monday November 19, 2012 Build 6309

@Focus2 incorrectly logged subframe option twice.
Bug Fix – ImageLink now saves WCS when operating on multiple files.
Fixed a bug where aborting UCAC compilation put TheSky in sleep mode.
Autoguiding clarification – show the units on the Calibrate Autoguider window for Relays vs DirectGuide.
Bug Fix – The “AutoSave focus images” checkbox didn’t apply.
Bug Fix – Running @focus2 would always incorrectly change the “Crosshair Option” to “No”.
ASCOM Focuser changes:
- Fixed a display error for the current position of relative focusers.
- Implicit connections (ie, move without first connecting) no longer causes strange focuser movement
- Commands to move a focuser by 0 steps no longer fail (but do nothing)
- Fixed move command for focuser drivers that block on MoveTo rather than returning immediately (RoboFocus should work now)
Image link window now has min/max buttons (because the window is big on a small screens and its nice to be able to minimize/restore and displays an image so maximize is nice too a) – choosing Image Link menu or accelerator when minimized does restore window.
The FOV angle being displayed should now always be shown in ‘counterclockwise’ orientation (bug introduced in prior build).
Improved histogram performance. Images with low signal should be displayed correctly (appeared inverted).
Added a new “Set Chart Time To Photo Time” context menu option to FITSViewer. This sets TSX’s time to the time at which the FITS image was taken.
The FITS viewer now supports a CCDSoft-style crosshair reticule.
MoveTo now implemented for focusers (just like CCDSoft).

Friday November 2, 2012 Build 6269

Improvement – Paramount sidereal tracking is turned off when a software limit is encountered.
Bug Fix – The autoguiding/focus 3D star plot is black on non OpenGL 2+ videos (it use to crash).

Tuesday October 30, 2012 Build 6262

Fixed a bug where Exercise Mount didn’t always work.
Rotators now have a tabbed dialog in the same style as the other major hardware devices.
Fixed a bug where sidereal tracking would go on shortly after turning it off (again).
Bug fix – Dome add on – the dome aligns to telescope even when OTA lower then counterweights.
Bug Fix – Attempting to autoguide with SBIG remote guide head would always, incorrectly result in the error 565 “Autoguider calibration is required. …” even after a successful calibration.
Bug Fix – @Focus2 would consistently diverge.

October, 2011 – TheSkyX Version 10.1.11 Build 5080

Added Paramount MX support.
Added Virtual Mount command to Tools pop-up on the Telescope window that simulates the telescope.
Added the ability to automatically save photos (Camera Add On).
Added a focuser simulator (Camera Add On).
Added a filter wheel support (Camera Add On).
Added SBIG ST-i support (Camera Add On).
Added Pyxis rotator support.
Under Tools, Run Java Script added enable/disable debugger. Scripts run over a socket that threw an exception without a try catch would launch the debugger – solutions are to disable the debugger or put a try catch around script code intended to be run over a socket.
Improved the RunQuery.js java script example.
The fits header is dynamically populated when photo is acquired.
Added the Pole Indicators and Zenith Indicator SDBs to the Optional SDBs.
Updated common star names sky database.
Updated Common Non-Stellar sky database.
Updated FOVI Detectors (Canon models).
Added the following (additional) information to the fits header: LST, latitude, longitude, instrument, mount, telescope az/alt, hour angle, beyond the pole, air mass. observer, origin, telescope description, focal length, aperture area, aperture diameter.
Dome control window displays the selected dome.
Dome control windows has a “Show Log” when device supports logger interface.
X2 optional mount interfaces are re-queried after connection.
When selecting a TPoint calibration point either 1) graphically by clicking on the point on the TPoint scatter diagram or 2) by selecting it in TPoint list, the corresponding point on the sky display is highlighted with the target bulls eye and identified.
Documented TheSkyXAction object.
Dome is now polled for azimuth when parked.
When adding a pointing sample, an error message is displayed if the point is too low.
On Windows, when possible, show friendly names associated with COM ports.
Added the ability to put a background image on the camera, dome and telescope dialogs by placing images named camera.png, dome.png and mount.png respectively in the root of “<My Documents>/Software Bisque/TheSkyX Professional Edition” (exit and restart). Sample.
Allow larger semi-major axis for asteroids so that orbital elements for trans-Neptunian objects like Sedna are accepted.
Added an “Atmospheric Refraction Parameters” button and window on the Imaging System Setup window (Telescope > Telescope Setup).
Added “Sync back into model” type of TPoint re-calibration.
Added an option to recalibrate portable mounts.
Added a state to TPoint calibration runs.
Add an “Undo Recal” button to TPoint.
Released a “TheSkyXDailyBuildInstaller” to simplify installation of TheSkyX Daily Builds.
Paramount’s can be exercised for up to 1000 cycles.
Multiple satellite files can now be imported.
Added Set Lunar Rate and Refresh buttons to Temma window.
Added sky6Dome scriptable object.
Temma supports SetTrackingRates command when possible.
Moon, Sun, and planets can now be drawn transparently.
Added keyboard accelerator for the Field of View Indicators command.
Added the Check for Updates command to all Editions (Pro, Serious, Student, First Light and Theater).
Added ability to set AP Slew Rate. Rate is restored each session.
AP Backlash compensation settings are saved and restored each session.
The OTA end of the declination axis for AP mounts is always on the West side when Slewing to the AP park position #1 from TheSkyX.
Most recent tracking rate sent to the mount is displayed on AP window.
Implemented software-based parking for the AP mounts so that third-party applications can park it via script.
Added : /Resources/Common/User/Java Scripts/MountTrackingOff.js script.
Changes and Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug introduced in prior daily build where TPoint displayed RMS PSD as zero.
Default the *first* recalibration attempt to be for a permanent mount, from then on, the recalibration type is persistent.
Show “Run Date” for a TPoint calibration run.
To avoid confusion, bring “Pointing Data” tab forward when appropriate (as opposed to “Recalibration Data”).
sky6RASCOMTele.SlewToAzAlt now obeys the Asynchronous property (prior to this, all SlewToAzAlt were asynchronous).
Don’t allow identifying a TPoint calibration point unless it is visible (either by path or point).
Choosing Connect from the Telescope menu, prompts to Find Home if not homed.
Regression fix: Uncommented FindMosaic so that mosaics can be accessed via script
On Preferences window, “criterion” replaces “criteria”, For the Bisque TCS, a) Fixed crash pressing Revert with no sync history, Updated device and driver descriptions based on selection, b) Flip HA now is in hours, c) Bug Fix – turning off tracking on the MX status says “Tracking Off”, d) Added some wiggle room for TheSkyX’s UI to say “Tracking Off”
Graphical pointing samples were plotted in the wrong location – did not affect pointing, just a display item (the object info was therefore corrected as well).
New pointing samples were added to the top of the list instead of the bottom, now added correctly.
TPoint displays “N/A” for RMS and PSD when appropriate.
To avoid confusion, after finishing a TPoint recalibration, the scatter diagram is for the recalibration data, not the original pointing data.
Finishing a calibration run didn’t always set all terms to fixed, it does now.
Fixing a term no longer results in the term going to zero.
Can now find 61 cyg.
TPoint re-calibration did not work when initiated without using the TPoint dialog’s Start calibration button (like pressing “Add Pointing Sample” with an existing model in place).
1×1 Mosaics no longer cause a crash.
Don’t allow a scale of zero for image link.
Image Link now always shows a success or failure message in the status text (on failure the error description goes into status text).
Set/get southern hemisphere site information to/from Gemini correctly.
Bug fix for dynamic telescope menu.
Added ability to update firmware to Bisque TCS window.
Firmware updates are checked based on the filename.
Increase transparency of limit regions on the Mac.
Updated default settings for AutoPointingRun.sxt and DSS.sxt.
Daily Build installer didn’t work if unzipped to a folder using long filenames.
Added speed percentage to exercise mount window on the Bisque TCS window.
When clicking on TPoint graphic to identify pointing samples, only one sample is highlighted.
Bug fix – when clicking on an “TPoint calibration point” the object id target bulls eye didn’t coincide with the graphic at small FOVIs (high magnification). Did not affect pointing, just a display fix.
The textual azimuth displayed for an identified “TPoint calibration point” was incorrect. Note, this does not affect pointing and would primarily cause confusion for those attempting to correlate a already collected pointing sample with azimuth/altitude using the displayed azimuth (the graphically plotted azimuth for the point was correct).
Display error message if the format of a pasted PEC table is incorrect.
Added CR/LF to exported (Copy) PEC table for Mac happiness.
Bisque TCS control text tweaks.
Added CR/LF to Bisque TCS text files (not just LF) for Mac compatibility.
Command text tweaks.
The Image Link Search tab is forward by default (so .ui changes don’t put, say, All Sky tab first)
When using the new gear icon, the wrong preference page might have been displayed.
Added a device setup “”gear icon next to device name on control dialogs.
When No OpenGL is selected, show more meaningful messages for commands that require OpenGL.
Tweak wording of Preference options.
TPoint graphic is now dark red in night vision.
Prevent choosing a SBIG filter wheel unless the camera is an SBIG camera.
Filter wheel filter selection goes blank when connecting to a filter wheel with less filters then a previously connected filter that had, say the last filter selected.
On Windows, wasn’t initializing the filter wheel and rotator threads for possible COM calls in case COM used in x2 driver implementations.
When scripting sky6Dome, errors on asynchronous operations throw an exception in the context of the corresponding monitoring function.
When scripting TheSkyX’s mount, errors on asynchronous operations are now thrown within the context of IsSlewComplete.
Made camera’s AutoSave file name match CCDSoft’s convention w/r/t when AutoDark is turned on.
Image scroll bars appear when reusing a image going from small to large or large to small.
Added changes for Centurion to mount list.
Updated filter wheel, mount and detector geometry list (file may not be included with daily build).
Parking Gemini now also turns tracking off.
Bug fix: camera’s status text might become blank after encountering an error when attempting to connect.
Added and “Auto Selection” for SBIG filter wheels (file may not be included with daily build).
Possibly fixed erroneous ProTrack display values by limiting declination near poles.
Fixed a crash when taking a photo after aborting then changing binning to result in a larger image. Also fixed a misaligned image when taking a photo after aborting then changing binning so that had a smaller image resulted.
The state of the “Fit To Window” option of the FITS viewer is maintained while the windows stays open (across open/close and when a new CCD image appears).
Satellite sgp4sdp4 code fix.
OutputSplash.txt has more information on error to aid in debugging.
Updated remaining minor planet center URL references
Fixed a bug that would cause Image Links to fail when doing automated pointing calibration runs.
When the *camera* simulated a DSS photo, going to the fits header displayed in the FITSViewer was for the 3 HDU, not the primary HDU.
Click to find an object no longer removes focus from the Camera tab.
Updated TheSkyX’s default URLs for the Minor Planet Center downloads (from .org to .net)
Any error that prevented start up while creating TheSkyX’s model would incorrectly by mapped to error code 1.
Gemini window controls are now updated upon connect/disconnect.
Attempting to open a .hrz file that was generated by TheSky6 (and is incompatible with TheSkyX) from the Telescope Limits window no longer causes a crash.
TheSkyX would crash on start or when choosing Tools, Image Link. Made opening an all sky database robust (*.allsky), as customers where choosing, say a FIT file for the all sky database file.
ProTrack clean up: status not updated after disconnection.
TCFS settings now persistent.
Updated sky6DataWizard documentation.
When editing a comet’s orbital element data, TheSkyX now correctly shows the epoch day when the value exceeds 31 (for example: Hale-Bopp).
Added text “CWD” (counterweight down) to Gemini’s “Slew to Start Position” button.
Added configurable park position for Gemini mounts.
Put a run time limit on any log file of 0.5 MB.
Exposed sky6Raven object to java script engine (oversight).
Fixed crashes when TheSkyX was *not* running OpenGL and CCDSoft did a Comparison Star Chart or Insert Minor Planets or running TheSkyXGrabScreen.js : OpenGL is required for these features.
Introduced in daily build 4626 when connecting to some SBIG cameras would result in “SBIG driver: Bad parameter.”
CCDSoft’s @Focus2 would fail if either the “slew to” or “auto exposure” options where turned on which required integration with TheSkyX.
*Selectable* focuser support – focuser support existed previously, but didn’t allow an ad hoc focuser.
The SerXInterface of the X2 Standard allows parity to be configured in third-party drivers.
The FilterWheelDriverInterface has been published for the X2 Standard.
For java script, the result of sky6DataWizard.RunQuery now resolves to a sky6ObjectInformation (was not a problem on Windows via COM).
New Zealand DST now begins on the first Sunday of April.
Fixed a bug that would cause TheSkyX to crash when editing the date and time format to include a large number of abbreviations.
Moon’s features are no longer found when the Moon was not on the Sky Chart.
Include a note about the differences in TheSkyX vs. Telescope Time Zone on the Location,Date,Time window.
Setting a Celestron hand paddle’s location is correct the southern hemisphere.
Changed BisqueTCS dialog to show Common and Advanced settings.
Fixed getting bad temperature from the Paramount MX.
Handle error condition caused by unplugging USB Paramount ME/MX more gracefully.
Fixed regression bug that prevented Temma’s tracking rate from being turned on via script.
Save and restore the state of PEC for the Paramount across exit/restart of TheSkyX.
Cycles/second displayed for version 2 satellite tracking is now correct.
Drawing the horizon with the telescope works correctly.
Save and restore the state of PEC for the Paramount across exit/restart of TheSkyX.
Fixed random hang at “Displaying Photo” with TheSkyX camera add on.
Paramount obeys Home After Connect option.
Paramount now restores the state of ProTrack.
Slew prior now works correctly.
Fixed crash creating the All Sky Image link database.
TheSkyX now retrieves a “more accurate” version of OpenGL for NVIDIA graphics hardware.
On Labels window, changed the wording on the checkbox option from “Number of Labels on Chart” to “Maximum Number of Labels on Sky Chart”.
TheSkyX’s DATEOBS keyword no longer include the “Z”.
Fixed a Qt regression bug where QFileInfo’s isWritable now returns false for files that do not exist, so that new movie files can now be created.
Updated movie creation error messages.
Fixed a display bug for southern hemisphere longitudes on AP mounts.
Disable Super Model during recalibration runs.
Enabled settings for the Paramount’s built-in focuser which allowing changing the current position, min and max limits.
Show “Run Date” for a TPoint calibration run.
To avoid confusion, bring “Pointing Data” tab forward when appropriate (as opposed to “Recalibration Data”).
Changed default viewing orientation of the virtual mount to be in front of the mount looking south.
Don’t allow identifying a TPoint calibration point unless it is visible (either path or point).
Choosing Connect from the Telescope menu, prompt to Find Home if not homed.
Show “Recalibration” TPoint graph when appropriate.
Fixed a crash when pressing Revert with no sync history.
Turning off tracking on the MX status says “Not Tracking”
Updated device and driver descriptions based on selection.
Paramount’s flip HA is displayed in hours (not minutes).
Updated common star label database /Resources/Common/Core SDBs/star labels.SDBX and /Resources/Common/Core SDBs/star labels.txt.
Changed Paramount MX default “flip hour angle” to 1.5 hours from 2.5 hours
Added command for programming MKS 5000 firmware,
Added “Tonight’s Observing Parameters” dialog under Imaging System Setup. Allows a TPoint pointing run to have a set of observing parameters and TheSkyX to have a “nightly” set of observing parameters. Allows a pointing run where star ra,dec is identical to scope ra,dec when setting pressure to zero. (IOW, TheSkyX’s general purpose refraction calculations are accessible via the new UI.)
Changed the criteria as to when to apply telescope modeling if one or more terms is fixed (critical for recalibration case).
Fixed a bug where graphical pointing samples were plotted in the wrong location (applying precession twice) – did not affect pointing, just a display item (the object info was therefore corrected as well).
Allow re-cal on 15 points instead of 50 (makes testing recalibration easier).
When dragging the flip hour angle using the star chart graphic, the Bisque TCS window reflects the new value.
Bug fix for AP in southern hemisphere using TPoint.
LX200 sync command now more flexible for other like protocols.
Don’t fail connection for LX200 when ACK command fails.
The Paramount ME/MX dynamic flip HA gripper now always on screen. When dragging the flip HA, the value is shown near the gripper.
Added Create Bitmap tab to Print Export dialog to TheSkyX Serious Astronomer Edition.
When updating Bisque TCS motor firmware files, filter for *.bin and *.out, the latter is for the MKS 4000.
Bisque TCS: edited TCS parameters go from red to black upon “Save All Parameters.”
Possibly fixed a bug where the ProTrack status could display erroneous values.
Daily Build Installer is now Mac compatible.
Daily Build Installer provided improved status messages during install.
Bug fix – LX200 remains responsive after a long period of communication.
Bug Fix – AutoDark now works for Camera Add On, X2 drivers using rm_Image.
The relay graphic on the Bisque TCS dialog is now correct.
Daily build installer will prompt for TheSkyX’s installation folder as a last resort.
Added a clear button to satellite passes.
Added text to error 22010 (invalid PEC table).
Several minor Paramount MX PEC improvements.
The Orientation of the virtual mount for the Paramount ME is now rendered correctly.

February, 2011 – TheSkyX Version 10.1.10 Build 4470

The TPoint Add On includes a Super Model feature that creates an optimal pointing model with a single button click.
TheSkyX can now perform blind, All Sky Image Links using the All Sky Image Link tab on the Image Link window. Your imaging system will never be “lost in space” again. Point your ininitialized telescope anywhere, take a photo.TheSkyX can quickly determine the exact astrometric solution for the photo. (Professional Edition only)
New and improved Moon rendering that dynamically simulates crater and terminator shadows (this feature requires OpenGL 3.0 or later. The present Moon rendering technique is applied on computers running earlier versions of OpenGL).
The Moon approximates the effects of earthshine.
TheSkyX can now display galaxies from the PGC 2011 (Hyperleda).
TheSkyX can now act as a TPC/IP server with the TCPServer command on the Tools menu. (Professional Edition only)
TheSkyX can now run and debug Java scripts using the Run Java Script on the Tools menu. (Professional Edition only)
Documentation for scriptTheSkyX released. TheSkyX Scriptable Objects documentation is available at: http://www.bisque.com/scripttheskyx.
A Check for Update command in the Help menu helps ensure you are running the most latest update.
Added Sun Transit to Set Special Times menu on the Date and Time window.
Meade telescope driver provides simulated, software-based handbox key presses to access any handbox command.
Meade telescope driver now includes the hardware-specific Park command.
Added support for SBIG STX model cameras to the Camera Add On.
Added support for SBIG ST-4000XM cameras to the Camera Add On
Released X2GUI type interfaces, documenation can be found at www.bisque.com/x2.
TheSkyX can now use the Meade telescope driver’s native Park command to park telescope (by pressing the Park button on the Meade window). Using the native park command is required for proper shut down and subsequent mount initialization.
Add a general purpose, thread safe, function for going from mount mechanical coordinates to topocentric (the Adjust T case). (Professional Edition only)
Added a way to get to beyondThePole from the RASCOMTele interface (TheSkyX only, not TheSky6). (Professional Edition only)

**********

Option Explicit

Const beyondThePoleCmd = 11

Dim result

Dim T

Set T = CreateObject("TheSkyXAdaptor.RASCOMTele")

T.Connect

Result = T.DoCommand(beyondThePoleCmd,"")

MsgBox Result

**********

Added Civil and Nautical Twilight Times to Set Special Times list.
Astronomical, Civil and Nautical Twilight Times are shown in the Sun report.
TheSkyX now periodically updates the NexStar’s tracking rate setting (to, for example, detect and display changes made directly on the hand paddle).
Improved Moon’s libration calculations.
Added/Updated Alignment Star Databases: a) Argo Navis Alignment Stars, b) Arp Globular Clusters c) Gemini Alignment Stars d) iOptron Alignment Stars e) JMI Alignment Stars f) JMI SuperMax Alignment Stars g) Live Video Calibration Stars TMB h) Meade Alignment Star LabelsX i) NexStar Alignment Stars j) Orion Intelliscope Alignment Stars k) Sky Commander legacy Alignment Stars l) SkyCommander Alignment Stars m) Tele Vue Sky Tour Alignment Stars n) TPoint Stars o) Ultima 2000 Alignment Stars p) Vixen-Sphinx Alignment Stars
Changes and Bug Fixes
Updated radio source SDB.
Updated Double Double Companion Stars.
TheSkyXAdaptor update that must be paired with TheSkyX.exe: methods alphabetized for (better/easier) “ScriptTheSkyX” documentation.
Improved Image Link Results report layout.
DST end date for UK after 1996 is now correct.
Updated star labels (corrected two misspellings)
Updated telescope and detector databases.
Changed “Chart Rotation” to “Position Angle”.
Added data for additional Takahashi scope (FC-76), and two additional Canon cameras (500D/550D).
Adjusted position of Rosette color photo and common name label.
Added Double star companion SDBX.
Reading in a set of Bisque TCS Parameters from a TCS file now works.
The Slew Between Limits command now slews the RA axis in both directions.
Updated the URL to get comets/minor planets by name from IAU.
Laser pointer now highlights Iridium flares (regression).
The Whats Up? report no longer includes solar system objects that are below the horizon.
Zoom Tool now works when clicking inside the elliptical regions above and below the + and: signs, respectively.
Fixed an issue where Paramount ME/DirectGuide using live video would occasionally fail.
Starting a pointing calibration run no longer filters bright stars automatically. There is now a buttons on the Pointing Calibration Run tab of the TPoint Add On window that can be used to Show Only Bright Stars, which makes collecting and recording calibration data less error prone.
Show Pointing Samples checkbox is now always in sync on the Celestial Objects tab and TPoint Add On window.
Fixed an issue that prevented NGC and PGC labels from appearing on the Sky Chart.
Fixed an issue that prevented the Digitized Sky Survey thumbnails and ellipses from appearing on the Sky Chart.
Fixed plotting of SDB photos when No OpenGL is turned on.
Native UCAC3 can be now be compiled properly (regression).
Changed the Eclipse Viewer so that the eclipse list always starts on the first eclipse of the selected type.
When searching for lunar eclipses, TheSkyX now backs up the date by one lunation.
Going to Camera, Settings show the message “This device has no additional settings” when appropriate.
Made minor changes to Photo menu.
Possible bug fix to parking: (was writing as an int and read as a double).
The non-DST time zone is set correctly from TheSkyX for iOptron and LX200 mounts.
Fixed spelling error on satellite dialog.
Added textual string to SBIG driver errors.
Obey the “Home required for slews” TCS option for Paramounts.
Cleaned up TheSkyX’s PEC curve fitting (PrecisionPEC equivalent).
Setting the UseComputerClock Julian date didn’t work.Also fixed a bug where the StarChart’s UseComputerClock property wasn’t correct.
The To Google Map button was formatting latitude and longitude with local specific decimal point which Google does not want.
The ra dec returned by RASCOMTele interface wasn’t correct when tpoint was active.
Renamed “Fix Time to the Computer Clock” checkbox text to “Prohibit all time changes…”
Automatically turn off the “Prohibit All Time Changes…” checkbox when disconnecting the telescope.
Show HardwareInfoInterface and DriverInfoInterface for domes, cameras, rotators.
Fixed crash or memory leaks when choosing a new device (camera, dome, telescope) when the existing device was connected.
Save individual constellation options (for example, click the Zodiac button, restart and there’s restored).
Resolve an issue that could cause Image Link on Mac to crash occasionally.
Separated Status Bar and Chart Status settings and abbreviated the text labels for parameters that appear in the Status Bar.
Minimize Gemini window to fit in 600 pixel height screen.
Press Zodiac and turn on “Show constellation drawings” works.
The term’s sigma value in the TPoint Add On sigma value is shown correctly.
Fixed a bug that caused the wrong NexStar tracking rate to be set and displayed by TheSkyX (NexStar dialog).
Fixed bug setting AP mount GMT for southern hemisphere.
Fixed a bug that prevented tracking rate for LX200 to be set to zero (turn tracking off).
Minimize rounding errors when setting AP mount’s location.
Fixed a bug in ProTrack so that the pointing correction output is updated.
Fixed a bug that caused a crash when an object path was loaded.
Telescope model sets “beyond the pole” status.
TheSkyX no longer shows the message “Error 703: Cannot open file” message when the Input > Small Solar System Bodies > Asteroid (Large Database tab) > “Load Large Database Asteroids Each Time TheSkyX is Started” checkbox is turned on, and no large asteroid database file name is present.
Hawaii locations have been correctly to ingnore DST changes.
Mosaic dialog is now modeless; cleaned up some issues when creating mosaics.

September 20, 2010 – TheSkyX Version 10.1.9 Build 4160

Added an application setting to grow the Observing List up to 20,000 objects.
Changed the Tools > Object Paths dialog considerably, including changing the Animate checkbox to Interactive and addressing numerous bugs.
The mount simulator can now simulate park and unpark.
Added the Object Paths command to the Tools menu.
Fixed a bug where using the Equal To comparator in SDB queries failed due to whitespace.
Fixed position of Object Path labels.
Moon no longer disappears when its center is off the Sky Chart.
Fixed a bug where some Tycho stars were not being labeled with Extended Labeling.
Improved the orthographic plotting of horizons.
Fixed a bug where the Edit Chart Elements dialog was snapping back to the last position (restored) when the dialog was used.
Sped up the interaction when Magnitude sliders are used in Edit Chart Elements.
Fixed a bug where FlipHourAngleMinutes was showing as 0 instead of the actual value that was in ImagingSystem.ini.
Fixed a bug where the Navigate dialog showed the incorrect equatorial coordinates and constellation when moving the mouse.
Connecting to an SBIG-402 no longer results in a “No Device Selected” error.
Text (the edition feature comparison list) was incorrectly being copied to the Clipboard when TheSkyX was launched.
Fixed bug that caused some lunar eclipses to be missed.
Fixed a clipping bug for the orthographic horizon.
Fixed a trail plotting bug for satellites in Orthographic Projection.
Fixed a bug where Raven.SlewDomeToTelescope would return ERR_NOT_IMPL.
Changed Horizon Photos Dialog so the supplied horizon photos and the custom horizon photos (in Application Support folder) are separated in a tree list.
The Horizon Photos list in the Horizon & Atmosphere dialog is automatically updated when horizon photos are added to the Horizon Application Support folder.
Bug Fix: legacycominterfaces.txt didn’t include TheSkyXAdaptor.dll (relied only upon installation registration).
Improved plotting of custom horizon in Gnomonic Projection.
ProTrack tab is now available on the TPoint Add On window.
BC years can now be entered by pressing the “–” key when the year (YYYY) portion of the date/time is highlighted.
The telescope Mask FOVI transparency can now be changed on the Edit FOVI dialog.
Parking the Paramount now works.
TheSkyX.RASCOMTele’s park now disconnects the telescope like TheSky6 does.
You can now double click on the Status Bar and the Preferences dialog will be displayed with the Status Bar options.
New Feature: Mount simulator’s az/alt position is persistent.
RASCOMTele’s connect also unparks (if parked) so it behaves like TheSky6.
LX200 unpark now sets location/date/time/time.
Aborting a telescope slew with the dome coupled, didn’t abort the dome slew too.
RASCOMTele’s lastSlewError wasn’t always correct.
Changes to the Mosaic are now updated immediately, allowing interactive sizing, etc.
Added a button to save a .hrz file that is linked with a horizon photo file so that the photo file can be loaded in the proper orientation.
LX200 unpark puts in polar mode right before syncing to ra/dec of parked position.
Can now search for stars using their DM designation such as B+19 2777 for Arcturus.
Added an option to the Advanced tab of the Database Manager creates the optimized TheSkyX plot file from the native UCAC3 text files.
The angular separation that is shown on the Find dialog now recomputes continuously so that the correct value is shown when two moving objects are selected.
Changed the graphic on the Create Pointing Targets so that it is clear which “node” is which.
Large database asteroid on Sky Chart queries are no longer clipped to 18 magnitude.
Fixed a bug in the Small Screen Toolbar where keyboard input was being ignored.
Fixed a bug where the Telescope toolbar was not showing up in the list of Toolbars for customization.
Camera simulator default width and height are now both 800.
Changing the camera’s Reduction option applies to automated pointing runs without having to take a photo from the Camera tab.
Fixed bug where Moon’s shadow could not be turned off.
Fixed OpenGL flickering problem that occurs on some graphics cards/driver combinations.
Optionally have AutoDark subtraction use all available processor cores.
Optionally allow mount drivers’ establish link to be called from the user interface thread, rather than a background thread. See LinkFromUIThreadInterface documentation.
Added the Slew Prior command. This command appears in the Tools Menu on the telescope tab and can be added to a toolbar.
FOVI grips now disappear when the FOVI disappears due to changes in the FOV.
Fixed bug where right-clicking on stellar extended labeling was not working.
Added Connect and Disconnect buttons to the camera dialog.
Added two FOVI options to the Image Link dialog. The first for adding a FOVI that matches the computed scale and position angle of the image link. The second option allows automatically rotating all active FOVIs to the computed position angle each time a on image link is performed.
New Feature-Dome setup has a configurable update interval.
Fixed a bug where large database asteroid queries of the asteroids visible on the Sky Chart was clipping to 18 magnitude.
Fixed a bug in the Small Screen Toolbar where keyboard input was being ignored.
Fixed a bug where the Telescope toolbar was not showing up in the list of Toolbars for customization.
Fixed two bugs related to time skips from twilight to twilight. After midnight twilight cases are now handled correctly, and the DST also now handled correctly.
Added an app setting that allows stopping all rendering/updating when TheSkyX is minimized (Windows only) for both OpenGL and Non-GL plotting.
The Sleep button now correctly shows the state of the sleep for all states.
Fixed bug where constellation label state was not updated properly.
Automatically save panoramic horizon settings for each photo.
Automatically import TheSky6’s .horizon file to restore panoramic horizon photo position.
The Create Tours dialog now has file saving and opening that places the tours (which are just .skyx settings files) in the Tours folder.
Automated pointing run files are saved into the correct support files folder.
Added better handling of graphics when the frame rate is set below 20 FPS, or a slow computer is in use.
Made changes to ImageLink so that NOMAD is ignored unless a very small FOV is used.
Downloaded Satellites, Comets, Asteroids files go to <Application Support> folders instead of the <AppData> folder. The consequence is that users will now backup these files, but going to shows etc., where there is no Internet connection, going to file open should display the last downloaded file so users can select it.
Fixed a bug where the NOMAD catalog was not used properly for Image Link.
Added the “Log current telescope position to” option for backward compatibility with TheSky6.
Treat the Gemini as a GEM for TPoint pointing calibration convention.
TheSkyX’s Dome Add On now has a DomeAPI driver selection. This means DomeAPI drivers written for AutomaDome for Windows now work with TheSkyX directly, independent of AutomaDome. This makes AutomaDome for Windows a legacy application.
ImageLink is now accessible from scripting languages.
Bug Fix: ImageLink “Close FITS” now clears the dialog title, dialog image and chart image.
List Bisque TCS and Bisque TCS Professional in list of supported mounts.
Bug fix: Find Flares now works even when all satellites from web (4000+) are loaded.
Fixed bug where turning off an SDB with the items tab displayed caused a crash.
Use mono-spaced font in Telescope Communications Window and made telescope log output more human readable.
Correctly save and restore the positions of many dialogs.
New Feature: Automated pointing run now highlights the active target while running.
Adjusted position of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.
Added a button to get the image scale from a successful Image Link to the Known scale.
Added a GEM checkbox for NexStar telescopes so that TPoint pointing calibration works properly for Celestron GEMs.
Fixed Hercules in H.A. Rey Constellation lines.
Automated pointing run bug fix when Auto Darks on.
Changing the camera’s Reduction option applies to automated pointing runs without having to Take a photo from the camera tab.
Bug Fix: No longer encounter a “Command in Progress” message when running @Focus2 from CCDSoft (focuser go to’s were being performed asynchronously from the RASCOMTele interface when they should have been synchronously).
Tools > Open FITS command and Image Link’s Open FITS command now use the same folder.
Horizon Photos can now be 8-bit and lower photo formats (with no transparency or “alpha channel”).
Crash on connect to DomeAPI.
Bug Fix: TeleAPI wrapper now uses “int” for parameters originally declared as BOOL.
The LX200 driver no longer requires a response from the ACK command (Autostar III LS do not respond to this command).
Camera’s Take Photo uses the TheSkyX’s “current target” for coordinates if there is no telescope connection.
Fixed a bug where various magnitude filters were being reset to star values on startup.
Camera simulator has light and dark frame values.
Bug Fix: Reduction set to AutoDark when using CCDSoft’s Camera” now works.
Added AppSettings to edit the “fast” and “slow” focuser sizes of the RASCOMTele interface (used by CCDSoft’s @Focus).
Changed the transition field of view when larger planets switch from the small symbol to an extended ellipse so that the planet is visible at all fields of view.
Bug Fix: The Image Scale Helper Take Photo And Image Link It button wouldn’t work after aborting a pointing run with the error “Process Aborted”.
Bug Fix: TheSkyX can now set the LX200 classic’s date (was reporting a command failed message).
Prevent pointing calibration samples from being added to the model when the telescope is slewing.

June 18, 2010 – TheSkyX Version 10.1.8 Build 3919

Changed the minimum value for the Residual Filter on the Astrometry dialog from 0.20 to 0.10.
Printed charts now show equatorial grid line labels.
Added the ability to edit the printed chart title on the Export Chart dialog.
Fixed a bug with MyFOVs.Property reading if skMyFOVProp_Visible was 1 or 0 didn’t work.
Added Chart Center RA/Dec 2000 as an option for chart status window.
Observing list labeling now includes the last object in the list.
Added an action (that is available via a customized toolbar) for toggling the linked photos.
The Database Add On node now shows a graphic indicating the TheSkyX Database Add On path is set and that the databases are present at that location.
When the DB add on path is set, the NOMAD and UCAC3 catalogs are turned on, and the tree is rebuilt and expanded to show this.
Removed 0.50 pixel convention when absorbing CCDSoft sources.
Right mouse clicks now work in No OpenGL mode.
TheSkyX no longer crashes upon restart when <My Documents> folder has Unicode characters.
When choosing the Database Add On drive/volume, it is automatically selected by default when possible.
Improved the scripting error architecture.
Allow negative values on dome geometry.
The min/max FOV settings on SDBS is now ignored when doing an SDB query.
Gemini mounts are now treated as a GEM w/r/t TPoint model.
The state of extended labels is now saved within the .SKYX settings file.
Now reset the Find dialog’s auto-completer when satellites change.
The ObjectInformationobject returned by DataWizard.RunQuery is now populated correctly.
When attempting to set MyFOVI reference frame, the exception ERR_INDEX_OUT_OF_RANGE is no longer thrown.
All mounts are slewed to refracted coordinates (except LX200).
Good pointing samples are no longer flagged as likely being in error.
Jog amounts now show arcseconds not seconds.
No longer show angular separation in calibration run spread sheet – not meaningful information in light of modeled verses raw telescope coordinates.
Added message in TPoint when editing fixed terms.
The To Clipboard command in Mosaic now copies the centers to the Clipboard.
For TPoint Add On, the Remove Term now works on selected terms (instead of deleting all additional terms).
Suggest and Remove term buttons are now disabled while “Suggest Terms” is iterating.
Added icon for Imaging System Setup dialog.
Editing a color now shows its alpha channel (Windows) or Opacity (Mac).
TheSkyX now properly sets Astro-Physics mount’s local date and time.
TheSkyX now sets the time zone properly in Daylight Saving Time for mounts that use, or use a subset of, the LX200 command protocol (Astro-Physics, Meade, iOptron and Gemini).
Changed the layout of the Find dialog box to always show the object name, symbol and object-specific buttons.
Added slew time estimate to slew to loop for Paramount mounts.
Dates between 001 and 999 now appear correctly in the Chart Status window.
Displaying Multiple Graphs in the TPoint Add On now works.
Added a Suspend Telescope Connection command in the Telescope Setup dialog.
DSS Setup dialog has a Close button instead of an OK/Cancel buttons.
DSS Setup dialog now remembers the tab that was last used.
Added an application setting for specifying whether or not the Observing List is automatically saved/loaded on exit/startup.
GSC identifiers are now being set on database queries.
NOMAD and UCAC3-specific magnitudes are now shown in the Object Information report.
Added a Log tab to the Find Dialog that shows Observers Log information for the current target object and allows adding Observations. Previously, observing logs could only be accessed through the Observers List.
LX200 mounts can unpark successfully now.
Added Paramount GT-1100S and Paramount MX to the list of supported mounts.
The TPoint Add On Polar Alignment Report now employs a less restrictive criteria for detecting a poor model for polar alignment recommendations.
The frame around photos in Photo Viewer and on preview window on the Photo window is now smaller.
Changed Linked Image text to Linked Photo.
Telescope jogs now use the raw telescope coordinates; they do not include refraction or modeling.
Telescope tab is brought forward upon telescope connection.
Move is default tab on the Telescope dialog.
Jog default amount is now 10 arcminutes.
The list of jog distances is now sorted smallest to largest.
Image Link now works for FITS photos with the height greater than the width.
TheSkyX’s installer now registers TheSky6 type library so that third-party applications can access TheSkyX’s scripting model.
Fixed a bug where the Observing List filter’s “equals” string comparator was not trimming the Sky Database (SDB) field string, so exact matches were not found.

May 7, 2010 – TheSkyX Version 10.1.7 Build 3828

Fixed a bug that prevented entering FOVIs with multiple elements.
Height of Object Information Report now scales to the height of the font..
TheSkyX’s StarChart
Added camera temperature regulation to the Basic Camera Add On.

April 19, 2010 – TheSkyX Version 10.1.6 Build 3784

The initial release of TheSkyX Professional Edition.
Added a Planet Report that includes a variety of Sun, Moon and planet ephemerides and other body-specific data.
Video driver incompatibility workaround: changed OpenGL calls so that horizon and other graphics items do not disappear when using Intel display adaptors.
Bug fix: Added Cepheus constellation line for Wil Trion set.
Bug fix: For locales where decimal and separators differed from US (“.” and “,” respectively), custom locations floating point numeric values were being truncated at the decimal level.
Bug fix: FOVIs: No longer allow click OK while selecting a root item in the list of telescopes, which isn’t a valid selection which was confusing.
Bug fix: Julian date displayed in Find tab is now shown to a more appropriate number of significant figures.
Bug fix: mirror photos when the Show Mirror Image command is turned on.
Added NexStar-specific telescope commands dialog.
Added Sky Commander/ServoCAT support.
Bug fix: The Edit Chart Element dialog wasn’t in sync with changes that happen outside of it.
Added Cross Hair Update Interval option to the Telescope > Telescope Setup dialog.
Bug fix: horizon/equatorial lines fonts/widths are now correct.
Bug fix: changes to time zone and elevation are now immediately applied.
Bug Fix: mounts that cannot report which side of the pier they are on will now point “better” w/r/t TPoint.
Bug fix: “Software imposed slew limits” can be over-ridden.
Bug fix: Display > Non-Stellar Options dialog, the Hollow Deep Sky option is no longer ignored.
Bug fix: Display > Non-Stellar Options dialog, a “fuzzy” value of 0 is now applied correctly.
Sky Database pens and brushes can now have an alpha channel.
Setting the pen color now works in a drawing Sky Database.
The Status Bar can now be configured to show Sky Chart Status information. To optimize screen real estate, items placed in the Status Bar do not include a text prefix, as they do in the Chart Status window. For example, the date in the Status Bar appears as just: 12/22/2020.
Added angular separation and position angle from prior object to Object Information Report on the Find dialog.
Corrected AP Park Positions (labels were wrong).
Moon’s Long/Lat are shown separately from the Moon Feature Information text box.
Fixed a regression bug that prevented showing Moon Viewer photos.
Changed name of TheSkyX supplied Sky Databases from “System” to “Core Sky Databases” in the Database Manager dialog.
All negative values for offsets in FOVIs.
Added TeleAPI to list of supported telescopes.
Corrected spelling of the star Alnair.
Updated/added SBIG detectors and corrected the relative position of the autoguider for the SBIG STL-4020M model camera.
Corrected misspelling of Sirius in tour description.
Enabled the app option to turn off AutoSave (was forced to on and disabled) and added an option to turn off being prompted to save modified settings. Sky Chart settings are “dirtied” better now, but not “perfectly” (on the conservative side). These changes allow customers more flexibility w/r/t multiple charts and is more like what TheSky6 Pro offers.
The format of the date and time that is displayed in TheSkyX’s custom Date & Time control can now be configured.Right-click on the control to edit the format.
Bug fix: prevent loading large database asteroids while load in progress.
Bug fix: Percent status is now correct while converting large database asteroid text file.
Cleaned up Asteroid (Large Database) dialog.
Night Vision Mode under Windows no longer requires Windows themes.
Fixed printing of ellipses (galaxies, etc.)
When FOVI groups are selected (like Telescopes+Eyepieces) the Combine message now correctly displays the number of combinations.
Bug fix: Positions of the galactic poles are now precessed to the current equinox.
Version 10.1.3 (Build 2930) July 24, 2009
Higher accuracy computations for Jupiter’s and Saturn’s moons.
Shadows of Jupiter’s major moons now appear on the planet.
Jupiter and Saturn’s moons can now be locked on.
Jupiter’s and Saturn’s major moons can be located using the Find command.
Added pulse focuser support for mounts that support pulse focusers through the telescope protocol (LX200/Autostar/AP GTO/Gemini).
Comet perihelion date now uses full precision from orbital elements.
Stereographic spelled correctly in Projections dialog.
Double-clicking tree list to add a “My FOVI” now works correctly.
Clicking Cancel button when editing a new FOVI no longer creates the FOVI.
Press Insert/Delete keys to add/remove My FOVIs.
The type Circle no longer appears in the Shape List when editing FOVIs.
Can double-click My FOVI list to edit them.
Increased the minimum size of the FOVI edit fields for better readability on the Mac.
E/W offset option renamed to East/west offset; N/S offset renamed to North/south offset on the Edit Detector dialog.
Center telescope cross hair now corrects for coordinate offset caused by TPoint model.
Corrected location for observatory in India.
Fixed a bug that caused TheSkyX to crash when connecting to the Temma.
Fixed a bug that caused the Temma to hang on connection.
The “Always keep telescope crosshairs on screen” option is now saved.
On the Mac, after a crash, re-starting TheSkyX and clicking cancel when prompted for a serial number would keep incrementing the multi-instance index. It is also possible that this fix might lessen the cases when starting again on the Mac after a crash goes to a new instance. On Mac (Unix OS) shared memory can survive a crash. Restarting the computer is the only way to free it.
Turning on/off FOVI’s from Chart Elements tab now works.
The “Slew button always disabled after slew” issue with Vixen HTTP telescopes is fixed.
Set both date and time in Gemini and LX200 driver (date was not always set correctly).
Reboot Gemini command now works.
Button text “Find Now” changed to “Find” on the Find window and Telescope window.
“Find” text on Telescope window changed to “Search For” for consistency with Find window.
Increased default width of SDB manager window.
Changed the maximum size for FOVI to 50 degrees.
TheSkyX Windows installer no longer allows individual features to be selected when there’s insufficient space on a drive.
Stellar catalogs are now saved and restored when opening an observing list query.
FOVI’s now drawn after Photo SDBs.
Constellation label checkbox in Chart Elements now works.
Numerous bug fixes related to changing the magnitude limits of single and multiple chart elements.
Fixed bug where clicking on planet moon reverted to Earth’s Moon.
The Tools > Show Satellites > Find Best Passes option now works (regression bug).
NexStar telescope cross hair position is now always correct.
Increased NexStar’s time out time to 3.5 seconds (per protocol specifiction)
Changed My Chart Element # heading to Element #.
Jupiter’s major moons can now by located from the Display > Find window.
Herschel and Caldwell labels are no longer filtered when the corresponding NGC/IC has already been plotted.
Renamed “Allow scrolling below the horizon picture” to “Allow Sky Chart to be scrolled below the horizon” (Display > Horizon and Atmosphere dialog).
The Allow Sky Chart to be scrolled below the horizon option can be accessed when either “Photograph” or “Custom Horizon” is selected.
FOVIs fill color can now be edited.
The default fill for circular FOVIs in Map-Like View is transparent.
For object types that cannot be turned on or off, the state of the Visible checkbox in the Chart Elements list is set to “indeterminate”.
Telescope can be slewed to any ra/dec or az/alt coordinate from the Telescope windows Tools > Slew To Coordinates command. (Or the Enter Coordinates tab of the Orientation > Navigate window).
Disabled diagonal move buttons for telescopes that do not support this feature.
Added the native Set Sidereal Tracking Rate and Turn Tracking Off commands to the AP-Specific dialog.
Changed the text “Related Find Results” to “Related Search Results” on the Display > Find window.
Updated telescopes listed in FOVI telescope database (including RCOS telescopes).
Searching for Asterisms now works (recompiled Asterisms.txt).
Changed moonlit side of symbol on date calendar for first and last quarter Moon.
Add a provision to (externally) abort serial operations that may timeout.
For mounts that can set tracking rates, but not get/read them, provide a convention so that an agnostic (non bias) status message may result.
Telrad Finder is now the correct size.
Added the Telescope Simulator to the list of supported telescopes (under Software Bisque).
Improved Telescope Simulator’s cross hair motion (slews now simulate acceleration and deceleration).
The automated location look up via IP is now more robust wrt invalid http responses.
The LX200 can now automatically synchronize at the home position after a park and reconnection to TheSkyX.
Added an abortable progress indicator window that appears when loading observing lists with large numbers of objects.

May 7, 2009 – TheSkyX Version 10.1.2 Build 2845

The initial release of TheSkyX Serious Astronomer Edition for both Mac and Windows.