Partner Resources and Links
The Companies below have worked with Optec to integrate our devices and instruments into their software products. Optec enthusiastically recommends these software products. Click on any logo below to visit the company website for more information.
A ntónio A lberto Peres G omes (AAG) has developed a number of programs and plug-ins for amateur astronomers including AAG_Pyxis, a handy utility to sync the FOVI (field-of-view indicator) in TheSky6 to the Pyxis camera field rotator. Highly recommended!
DC3 Dreams exceptional observatory control software package ACP supports all Optec instruments through an ASCOM interfaces. Bob Denny of DC3 Dreams has been instrumental in developing the original ASCOM drivers for many Optec products. ACP provides full automated, unattended control of observatories across the globe. ACP Planner allows complete scripting of all instrument and dome controls providing all the tools required for a well run automatic observatory. Click the banner or here to visit the ACP website. Highly Recommended!
CCD AutoPilot 4 developed and distributed through CCDWare supports manual and automatic control of the Optec Pyxis rotator, TCF-S focuser and IFW filter selector. A free trial version is available at the CCDWare website for download. CCD AutoPilot provides astrophotographers the tools and capabilities needed to optimize the imaging system and fully automated the image acquisition over the course of an evening. The program allows for a complete robotic telescope system with automated observing session. Click the banner or click here to visit the CCDWare website.
CCD Commander will control your CCD camera exposures, your mount movement, your TCF-S focuser, IFW filter selector and the Pyxis rotator to completely automate your night's imaging. CCD Commander allows unlimited combinations of these different actions to give you full control of your telescope and camera. The simple to use Graphical User Interface makes these complex configurations very easy to setup. Click the logo or here to visit the CCD Commander website.
MaxIm DL is the fastest and easiest way to image the night sky. Whether you want to produce stunning portraits, collect science data, or hunt for new objects, MaxIm DL has the tools you need. Version 5 adds a host of new capabilities, to make imaging and processing faster and easier than ever before possible. Maxim DL integrates nearly all Optec products including the TCF-S focuser, IFW filter wheel, and Pyxis camera field rotator through ASCOM interfaces. Highly Recommended!
Click the logo above or here to visit the Diffraction Limited website.
FocusMax software uses a new auto focus algorithm that was developed specifically for amateur astronomers and works exceptionally well with the Optec TCF-S focuser. Visit Larry Weber and Steve Brady's site or join the FocusMax Users Group on Yahoo!.
FocusMax features a First Light Wizard making it easy to get stared on your first V curve. Neil Fleming provides a simple step-by-step guide which can be found here.
Mike Unsold's excellent Image Acquistion and Image Processing modules comprise ImagesPlus. With an avid following and active Yahoo! User Group, ImagesPlus provides a dedicated image processing application for astronomers and astro-imagers. Excellent for DSLR's, One-Shot Color cameras, and monochromatic CCD's.
Free online tutorials for camera control, auto-focus, and image processing/a> help the beginner get started on a journey to create breath-taking astrophotos.
The goal of
Main Sequence
Software is to provide a best-in-class image capture suite for astrophotography.
As stated on their website "You have a lot of equipment and sometimes it
is difficult to get it all working together. We have written software that
is capable of executing complex sequences of capture events which will allow
you to spend more time looking up and less time fighting with your rig.
".
Visit Main Sequence Software to learn more about Sequence Generator Pro and how to simplify your observing and imaging sessions.
Equinox Image controls Santa Barbara Instrument Group (SBIG) CCD cameras (grey scale and color) and Optec TCF-S focusers. This program also controls SBIG filter wheels, AO devices and remote guide heads. Auto focus, FWHM, Photometry, Astrometry, RMS error, color enhancement and format conversion functions are available. Tools exist to dark subtract, align and stack images, composite color, drift scan (TDI) and program up to ten image sequences. Equinox Image works on Mac OS X only.
Equinox 6 is a powerful planetarium program that has many features for both the beginner and advanced astronomer. It has filters for organizing deep sky objects with many controls to adjust the sky display, colors and fonts. There is a window that simulates a telescope's view. Equinox 6 can control most telescopes, the TCF-S family of focusers, Canon cameras and webcams. You can build tours and photo horizons and modify the database. You can even slew your telescope with voice commands Click the logo above or here to visit the Microprojects Astronomy Software website. Equinox 6 works on Mac OS X only.
PreciseParts
will custom machine any adapter for Optec devices to most any other manufacturer's
device. Ashley Stevens has developed his "Build-An-Adapter" web application
to solve your connection problems quickly and easily.
Visit PreciseParts
and try out Build-An-Adapter for any adapter not found on our website.
Highly recommended!
PRiSM
is a software for controlling telescope (telescope, IFW filter wheels, TCF-S
focuser, Pyxis rotators), recording images from CCD camera, preprocessing,
processing and analyzing astronomical images. It embeds also an efficient
Skymap tools. Prism use ASCOM standard drivers to communicate with
all Optec devices.
Click the icon above or
here
to visit the Prism 7 website.
RTS2 Remote Telescope System - Version 2
RTS2 is an open-source observatory control package used for remotely controlling instrumentation while running a Linux-based operating system. It embeds SQL database integration for storing detailed databases of observational data and records, as well as many other useful tools and features.
RTS2 features support for Optec focusers, filter wheels, field rotators, and the SSP-5 photometer. Full instrument compatibility information can be found here.
Click the header above or here to visit the RTS2 website.
TheSky6™ Professional Edition is used by more observatories and controls more automated telescopes than any other astronomy software. For twenty five years, astronomers worldwide have relied on TheSky for everything from a visual observation guide to turn-key telescope control center. TheSky has controlled the TCF-S focuser, IFW filter wheel, and Pyxis camera field rotators since their introduction.
CCDSoft™ Image Processing and Camera Control Software provides control for CCD cameras, and performs image processing, data reduction, and scripted data acquisition. Think of it as “mission control center” for your observatory. With built-in support for the complete line of SBIG cameras, and optional support for many other popular camera models, CCDSoft is the tool most used when capturing your favorite deep-space objects or hunting for undiscovered celestial treasures. CCDSoft's comprehensive manual and detailed help will guide you each step of your journey.
Click the logo above or here to visit the Software Bisque website.
Stark Labs provides software for amateur astrophotographers designed to be simple and easy to use. These software packages are designed to be user-friendly and to make capturing your images as easy as possible while still providing the flexibility and power you need.
Nebulosity (Windows and OS X) is designed to be a powerful, but simple to use capture and processing application for a wide range of astronomy CCD cameras. Many cameras are supported for capture as well as the TCF-S focuser family, and images from just about anything can be processed (support for many FITS formats, PNG, TIFF, JPEG, CR2/CRW, etc). Nebulosity's goal is to suit people ranging from the novice imager who wants to create his or her first images to the advanced imager who wants a convenient, flexible capture application for use in the field.
Click the banner above or here to visit Craig Stark's website.
StellarCAT makes electronic drives and controls for several popular Dobsonian telescopes. To de-rotate the field for long exposure astrophotography, StellarCAT has incorporated the Pyxis camera field rotator into their drive system and answers the question: Is it possible to do "imaging" with a Dobsonian Telescope!?
The answer is a resounding YES! /span>Astrophotography with Dobsonian alt-az telescopes is now possible with the Pyxis camera field de-rotator. Click the logo above or here to visit the StellarCat website.
Professor John Kielkopf of the University of Louisville and Moore Observatory and his team have developed XmCCD - Linux Software for Astronomical CCD Camera Control software. This software supports many cameras and the IFW and IFW 3" filter wheels.
Click the banner above or here to visit the XmCCD website.
