A few things about smart project builder.    
I wanted to see how it compared to my own project of IC410, the tadpoles.     So I entered my imaging system, filters, etc.     Used the search tool to find some targets in target selection.   Then entered the smart project builder.  

First thing, instead of opening with all of the things I had selected in the target tool like location, imaging scope, etc, smart project builder opens with some default items which are totally different (maybe authors stuff).   So first thing you need to do is reset everything to what you have already selected in the target selection tool.      They should be carried over, to make the tool smart.    I agree you should be able to edit them, but they should at least be the same as in the target selection tool.

Next thing, all of the sub exposures, for every filter, are 20 minutes (my max exposure time) when I set total exposure time to 5 hours (I guess this is per filter).    L, R, G, B, Ha, SII, OIII.. every one is 20 minutes sub-exposure.     I'm not sure how useful that is.
As a sub note here, when you have multiple filters, you should allow a range of possible exposure times per filter...  because narrow band may be 20 minutes, but I'd never see doing a luminance image for 20 minutes.    And the SNRs aren't balanced across filters, just maximum for what 20 minute exposure gives for each filter.

But If you instead set SNR quality, which is exclusive of setting time per filter, then you get more reasonable exposure times, but you can no longer set total exposure time, you just get the amount of time to hit an SNR, which I'm not clear is all that useful from a practical standpoint.   The Tadpoles are primarily a narrowband target.  A lot of Ha, and much dimmer OIII, and get RGB for stars.   In this case, the smallest exposure time is for Ha which is really going to make your object, and the longest for SII.  I'm not sure I'd run things this way for a pleasing image.    Not doing science here, just looking for a pleasing image.    It recommends G at 70 minutes and Ha at 20 minutes, SII for 240 minutes, OIII for 30 minutes, and so on.    OIII in this object needs much longer exposures than 10 minutes because the signal is so low, so this doesn't match my experience.  Why is that?     Now I understand that this is to hit an fixed single SNR for all filters.   Just wondering how practical it is.     For star data only, you need minimal time and exposures such that you don't blow out stars.   Maybe there should be a setting for this kind of an image.    It's really SNR for stars much of the time when you take RGB for narrowband targets. 

Total exposure time.   I set this to 5 hours but at first I didn't realize it's per filter, not total for the object.    Every filter is set for 15x20 minutes, or 5 hours.     I thought I'd get some mix of exposures to fit within an imaging time.    Just setting them all to the same total exposure, not sure how useful this is.    Is there a way to set total imaging time.   Say I'm at a star party, I wanted to image this object and it's going to be up for 8 hours, is there a way to get an optimized use of that time?

Total object exposure:   I'm wondering if it makes sense to have a total imaging time (that you have).. and what's the best mix or exposures to fit into that and show the maximum object SNR you can get.

Gain.  Gain seems fixed, so while I have 2 different gains, one 0 and one 100, it just uses whatever you pick.     Might make sense to pick intelligently as I'm not really clear with the ASI6200 when to use gain 0 and use mostly gain 100.    

I haven't had the tool for long, so apologize if I'm not using it correctly.    Entirely willing to learn.   It's why I entered this in newbie area.

Thanks,
Terri

First, let me say - this is a remarkable set of catalogs. It's -- rather amazing. So... this is just one tiny little detail. Please don't let it detract from the huge body of work represented by SkyTools. But... in the interest of even more amazing completeness....

I wonder why we can't find IC4617, a spiral galaxy in the same field as M13?

Doug

This seems like the most basic question ever, but how do I go see all the log entries I've ever made for a given object? I've looked at the help file for the past 15 minutes and I can't find it? How is this possible? I must be "super-slow" sometimes.

Here's Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge from the book by the same name, written by Philip S Harrington, Cambridge University Press, 2011. In this list, we've included objects that Harrington included in his Appendix (table) beginning on page 450 of the book - as one unified list. Note that I used the "Brief note" field for a code that represented Harrington's numbering system. I numbered the categories 1 through 6, with 1 referring to naked eye ("Eye") and 6 referring to "monster scope" ("Mon"). I couldn't figure out how to list all the moon features. When targets were listed twice, I just made a notation of the second follow-up target in the "Brief note" field following the designation. Hope you can have as much fun with the list as I'm having!

Doug
Emerald Hills Skies
www.EmeraldHillsSkies.com

  Cosmic Challenge by Phil Harrington.stx (Size: 14.22 KB / Downloads: 3)

In a list like Harrington's Cosmic Challenge, the list calls for the same object to be added more than once (e.g., the moon) because additional listings focus on different features of the same object. How would I add a second copy of the same object?

How hard would it be to go ahead and add a configurable field of view indicator? I would configure one to be 2 degrees 10 minutes and 29 seconds by 1 degree 27 min 5 seconds - the exact size of my field of view with a RASA 11 teamed with a ZWO ASI2600MC Pro. Obviously, this is for EAA - and maybe you're working on that, Greg, for the EAA module. (I hope?) Boy -- getting that field of view indicator (like Stellarium can show) is so awesome for getting a sense of size for object viewing, right? Maybe this is available in the Imaging side. Or maybe I just need to wait for the EAA module. I approximated it with an eyepiece, but it's round - and it doesn't show the rectangular perspective of my 2600. First-world problems, right?

Suppose I have an observing list with 400 objects and I suddenly have an interest in one particular object - but primary designations are all mixed up using common names and designations. Is there something equivalent to ctrl-F to "find" a target in the active list?

I'm enjoying learning SkyTools.
Let's say I'd like to import my previous observations. How would I do that? Is there any kind of bulk import capability - say, from a CSV list from another application or even from spreadsheet records?

Brand new user. Thanks to Greg for the amazing capabilities in this application.
Curious... Does SkyTools 4 allow users to create custom fields? ... for example, a custom field to enter a catalog number in a user-specified list (like O'Meara's Secret Deep catalog/list?)?

This list is taken from Steve O'Meara's book, The Secret Deep. I live-streamed my way through this list on YouTube using electronically-assisted astronomy techniques, and it was a lot of fun. It's available as a 9-video playlist.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdkGi...nWlza5gQfT

Keep in mind - I've only owned SkyTools for 12 hours - but Greg seems to have made it that easy to get started. But tell me what I can do better.

For example, to improve this list, I'm guessing I'll learn how to create a user-defined field ... and then enter the Secret Deep Number (identified by O'Meara with an "x" as in "X marks the spot" of pirate booty) in that custom field, right? Either way, I hope this at least gets the discussion started.

Attached Files

  Secret_Deep.stx (Size: 741 bytes / Downloads: 3)