CCDciel features

Supported devices

Any ASCOM or INDI camera, filter wheel, focuser, rotator, telescope mount, dome, weather station, observing condition device, safety monitor
ASCOM driver can be a classic local driver or a remote Alpaca device
ASCOM Alpaca devices can be used on Linux and macOS
Device connection can be a mix of local and remote devices using different protocols
NO native support for any device

Easy to use configurable interface
Separate settings for preview and capture
Can start a quick capture without the need to parameter a full sequence
Parameters for saved files include options for the capture folder name and the file name
Improve the preview image display with predefined histogram truncation and gamma
Predefined zoom level or free zoom with the mouse wheel
Add bull eye to the preview image
Show saturation on the preview image
Image magnifier at mouse position
Debayer the preview for color sensors
Can stack preview images with single star alignment and dark subtraction
Show a reference image on screen to help to manually recenter a frame
Can set a bad pixel map to remove hot pixel in auto-focus and plate-solving preview images
Select subframe with the mouse
Camera temperature control
Select camera readout mode depending on the frame use.
Automatic sky flat
Automatic panel flat
Choose from 3 different auto-focus method the one that best work with your equipment
Can auto-focus with field stars or by slewing to a bright star
Support for filter offset and exposure factor
Focuser temperature compensation
Options for periodic refocusing during capture
Automatic meridian flip with many options
Show selected star profile with HFD and FWHM
Image inspector show stars HFD, sensor tilt and field curvature
Simple photometry measurement
Message log with severity filter
Video control and recording with supported INDI camera
Powerful scripting language
Run automated action if the conditions are not safe.

Plate solving

Automatic precision Goto using plate-solving
Precision Goto can Sync the mount or use a local offset
Automatically recenter a target that drift during a sequence.
Slew to any point of solved image
Rotator calibration and rotation from plate-solving
Plot DSO in solved images
Arrow show North direction, or mark the position of the Pole if in the image frame.
Show solved image in planetarium
Show solved image frame in planetarium

Auto-guiding

Automatically manage the guiding start/stop/pause during the different operations
Options for automatic auto-guider dithering
Recovery from auto-guiding problem

Automated sequences

Automated sequences with many sequential targets
Sequence contain a list of target and can indicate a start/stop time and repetition options
Target is defined by a name, coordinates, rotator angle, start/end time
Target coordinates can be set from the planetarium
Import mosaic from the planetarium.
Import Cartes du Ciel observing list.
A moving target can have it's coordinates updated from the planetarium at the time of the observation
Target option include plate-solving Goto, auto-focus position, skip or wait if the observing condition are not reach
Use horizon profile for objects rise/set time
Every target use a predefined plan to not have to type everything again
Plan are multi-steps, with number and type of frame, exposure time, gain, binning, filter, auto-focus and dither options
A target can also be a script or an automated sky flat at dusk or dawn
Restart an interrupted sequence at the last check point
Pause the sequence if the observing condition are not optimal
Get the program status in a web browser

Interface with other software

Interface with four different local plate-solving software (Astrometry.net, Astap, Platesolve2, Elbrus)
Interface with two auto-guiding software (Phd2, Linguider)
Interface with two planetarium software (Cartes du Ciel, Hnsky)
Interface with any SAMP application (Aladin, Topcat, …)
Interface with processing software (Siril)