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Status Window

Once the Run Session is hit on the Run Session page, the main window is minimized and the Status window is loaded.  If the main window is restored via the Windows Task Bar, all of the controls will be disabled (grayed out), until the run is either competed or aborted.



The window is resizeable as the user desires.  There are also some options selectable from the Windows menu:



  • Show Log (Ctrl-L): When this item is checked, the detailed log at the right is shown.  When it is not checked, only the summary information is displayed.  This selection may be toggled by holding down the Control key and then hitting 'L'
  • Always on Top (Ctrl-T): When this item is checked,d the status window is made the topmost window on the desktop. This prevents other windows from hiding crucial session information.  When it is not checked, the status window's behavior is normal, i.e. it can be hidden by other windows.  This selection may be toggled by holding down the Control key and then hitting 'T'


    Summary Information



    Session Time Estimates
  • Start: indicates the run start time
  • Imaging: indicates the time the light frames will begin.  If the user has specified a delayed start for the first target on the Targets page, this will indicate that time.  Otherwise, it will indicate ASAP.
  • End: indicates the expected ending time of the run, not including any dawn flats
  • Next Focus: indicates when the next automatic focusing activity will take place.  Series start indicates at the next series, otherwise the time of the next scheduled focus is indicated.
  • Meridian Flip: If the target is east of the meridian, this indicates the expected time of the meridian flip.  If the target is west of the meridian, this field will so indicate.  If a fork mount is being used, n/a will be indicated since there is no meridian flip with a fork mount.
  • Sunrise: indicates the time of local sunrise

    Target
  • Target: indicates the target, as defined on the Targets page.
  • Altitude: indicates the altitude of the target and whether it is east or west (of the meridian).
  • Transit: indicates the time the target will transit (cross) the meridian.

    Focus
    If no focus program is used, all these entries will indicate "n/a".  Otherwise:
  • HFD: indicates the Half-Flux Density of the focused star, as reported by FocusMax.  This is not necessarily the same as FWHM (Full Width Half Maximum) as normally used for stellar profile measurements.  HFD is a good relative indicator of focus however.
  • Position: indicates the focuser position, as reported by FocusMax, for your focused position.
  • Temp: Reports the ambient temperature in whatever units (°F, °C, counts, etc.) the focuser in use reports temperature.  If the focuser doesn't report temperature, then "n/a" is indicated.

    Bottom Box
    The title of this box will change, depending on the activity in progress.  For Light Series as shown above, it will show the progress in terms of the number of Sets, what series is underway, what progress is made in the series and what Filter, Binning and Exposure time is being used for the exposure in process.
  • Pause: The Pause button allows the run to be paused at an appropriate point, usually the completion of the exposure in process.  Once paused, the title of this button changes to Resume and hitting it again will resume the run.  This is convenient if you have to go out to the telescope, put a light on and adjust something.  When you are done, you can resume the run from where you paused.
  • Abort Session: This is used to totally abort the running session.  When hit, the session abort routines will be initiated and the Abort Session button will be grayed out.  Once the abort routines complete, the main window will be restored.  Be sure to wait for the main window to reappear to insure CCDAutoPilot is in the proper state to restart a run.  If there is any doubt, close and restart CCDAutoPilot.  The status window can either be left open or closed as desired.  Closing the status window causes its position and size to be remembered so that it will be restored to the same size and position when Run Session is hit again.

    Status Bar
    A status bar is provided at the bottom of the status window to indicate various activities.