I have been a long-time user of SGP and I really like it and would like to continue using it, but there are some features that I cannot find or do not know if they are planned to be implemented.
As the title says, is there a way to automatically calculate the filter offset? I’m looking for something similar to the NINA plug-in, where a single click is all it takes for the program to do everything.
I do narrowband, and it’s really tedious to have to do everything manually.
Thank you very much,
With lots of different equipment in Astro - we take the time to set things up as required…..e.g. polar alignment on a fixed set -up where one might spend quite a bit of time to get it down to arc-seconds. But once it is done - it is done…..at least that is how it was for me. Likewise, for me, that is how it was with the filter offsets and I cannot understand you saying it is a “tedious” chore. It is only required one time and that is it. When I did it for my filters (quite a few years ago now), I picked a relatively stable night - the temperature was not changing - or at least only very slowly. I did an auto focus run with the Lum filter, then with a particular NB filter and then with the Lum again to confirm. (Obviously with the Lum filter is quite fast compared to the NB filter - so it was no hardship to do it on either side of the check with the NB filter). This was done 3 times - once for each NB filter. But once done - that’s it. The offset does not change - or at least I have not had to change mine - ever. So it is a task - done once - for each of 3 NB filters and works a treat when using SGP to take account of the offset….and only ever do focus runs with the Lum filter. Like I said - I have been using the same offset numbers for years, without problem.
Having said all that - having an Auto-Calculate feature in SGP may make it more attractive to some but I personally don’t see it as a huge selling point.
I fully understand the tediousness of this stuff, but we have traditionally spent our time on features that are often repetitive. Calculating offsets isn’t one of those things… it’s kind of a set it and forget it setting unless you cycle thru gear often.
That said, if this is a common request, we are certainly not opposed to implementing something like this. The primary difficulty would be focusing in narrowband and the ultra-long exposures it takes to get enough measurable data.
Thx for the feedback.
Thank you for your quick response. I hope this feature will be implemented soon, as it is very important to me, at least.