Using CCDInspector for „actice primary mirror“
Hello Forum, hello Paul

Is there any chance to get CCDInspector run in a batch mode?
Something like “load an image, calculate collimation values, write them to stdout or to a file”.
Or, even better: can I use some functions of CCDInspector by a COM-interface?

The background of my question: Out telescope Ganymed (see www.capella-observatory.com) has some “problems” with seeing. The problem is not, that seeing is bad but it is extremely good. As a result errors in the optics path become more important than usual. Our primary mirror cell mechanics is not optimal so that collimation changes when the telescope points to different positions into the sky. (As a result a seeing of 0.6” may result in an FWHM on the image of ~1”). Since we use the telescope remotely (it is located in Greece and we use it from Germany) we added two stepper motors with reduction gears to two of the three mirror supporting adjustment screws. This stepper motors are controlled by a simple software which allow to rotate the motors to a specific position. My idea is to do this adjustment automatically after each exposure using CCDInspector-Outputs as input values.
(BTW: “active optics for amateurs” may be a good marketing feature ;-) )

May be it is possible to add this feature in V2.0?

CS

Stefan & Josef
www.capella-observatoy.com

Hello Stefan and Josef.

That's a very interesting idea, guys!

Version 2 does a small part of what you want: it can be started with a list of images to automatically load and analyze. But it sounds like you are looking for a much more automated access to analysis data.

Let's discuss this off-line for now. Please e-mail me what kind of information you'd like to get from CCDI:

paul [at] pk.darkhorizons.org

Regards,

-Paul