Request for Sol'Ex and SHG700 users

[cardanoc]

Hi

You may not be familiar with these instruments, but they allow for high resolution imaging of the sun.
They look like a spectroscope, but are used differently. Results are amazing.

The focused disk of the sun falls on the narrow slit of the spectroscope.

While the camera takes frames, the user moves the telescope slowly in the RA direction. (there is a formula for frame rate and RA rate)

A SER file is produced. This file is processed with either JSOLEX or Spec_Init.

When it comes to SharpCap scripting, there is a limitation.

When my script executes the line "CAPTURE 1800 LIVE FRAMES", I must click the arrow key to move the scope in RA.

Consequently, I cannot fully automate my observing session.

As a suggestion, the command could look like: CAPTURE 1800 LIVE FRAMES with RA+

This would simultaneously capture frames and move the scope in RA.

Options could be: RA+, RA-, DEC+, DEC-

Thank you for reading this

Conrad Cardano

[Jean-Francois]

Hello Conrad,

I have small corrections ...

For the SER film processing, it exists 3 software.
The "original" INTI from Valérie, then the variation from TheSmiths. The last software in the game is JSolex.
INTI and the version from Thesmiths are programmed in Python and JSolex is in Java.

The software Spec_Inti is completely different.
It is for the night spectroscopy for the processing of the spectrum of stars or other night targets.

Concerning the SharpCap "limitation" ...
What you mean with the function CAPTURE is in fact the "Sequencer".
Note that the IronPython script language has fast no limitation.

Do you already test my SharpCap INTI capture script (IronPython version) ?
It can do single scan or automatic repetition and other help for focusing and special movement for Doppler imaging.
But, I upload it only on the SolEx forum on group.io.
I will upload on the SharpCap forum ... soon.

For you proposal of command ... the mount speed is missing.
I guess that you mean that the telescope has to move with the selected mount speed from the "Scope Controls".
My script can move the mount at any speed if the mount driver allows it.

Regards,
Jean-Francois

[cardanoc]

Hi

Thank you Jean-Francois. I did make a mistake. Init is the correct name for the software and not Spec_init.

Also, the "Capture" command is part of the SharpCap Sequence Editor commands.

You mention that the mount speed is missing. I assumed that the SharpCap Sequence Editor would use the rate on the Scope Controls.

Thank you again.

Conrad Cardano

[admin]

Hi folks,

certainly I would suggest looking at Jean-Francois' scripts as they are able to automate a lot of the required steps (the scripting language gives finer control over doing things than the sequencer tool, which is as it should be).

From the point of view of the sequencer, the philosophy is to have multiple simple steps that you combine to do more complex things, so a 'Capture with movement' step in the sequencer wouldn't be something I'd want to introduce - instead you would have a movement step and a separate catpure step.

Right now there isn't a step in the sequencer to get the mount to move at a specific rate in the same way that the movement arrow buttons do, but that can be sidestepped with the sequencer step that allows you to include a single line of python code...

The script line would be something like

Code: Select all

# the zero is the axis to move, 0=RA, 1=Dec
# the second number is the rate to move as a multiple of tracking rate. 
# Note that MoveAxis(0,1) will move the mount at tracking rate, which is probably not what you want as the sun will remain stationary
SharpCap.Mounts.SelectedMount.MoveAxis(0,2)
# or
SharpCap.Mounts.SelectedMount.Stop()

These one line snippets of script can be put into the 'run the specified python code' sequencer step, allowing you to start the mount moving before the start capture and to stop it again afterwards.

Hope this helps,

Robin

[cardanoc]

Hi

Sounds interesting. I'll check it out.

Conrad