Changelog

Beta versions

Version 4.x

4.0.0b0

• this is a major release ! please try out in a separate work folder for test!

• add: support for python 3.11 and 3.12, remove 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9

• add: support automation with 10micron webservices

• add: support uploading mechanism for databases for macos and linux

• change: faster and more reliable uploading mechanism for databases

• change: celestrak interface url’s and retrieval strategy

• change: moving PyQt5 to major version PySide6

• change: moving libraries to latest versions

• change: remove old windows automation

• change: remove embedded documentation and replace with online link

• refactoring: environment devices (now 3 generic ones)

• refactoring: remove installer to separate repo (InstallerMW4)

• improve: reduced size of app

• improved: don’t delete message list when color change

• remove: automation of 10micron installer

• fix: typos

Released versions

Version 3.x

3.2.6

• add: support for INDI Pegasus Uranus Meteo sensor

• add: wait time after slew finished before exposing

• change: writing pointing coordinates to fits header from MW4 now

• change: celestrak interface url’s and retrieval strategy

• improve: add waiting time for image file save for NINA and SGPro

• improve: logging for NINA / SGPro controlled cameras

• improve: gain handling when missing values in camera settings

• improve: lower the dome radius to 0.8m

• fix: typos and some minor bugs

3.2.5

• improve: add more information to the log file seeing

• improve: openweathermap data handling (API)

• improve: add support for pegasus uranus meteo sensor

3.2.4

• add: support for astap D80 database

• improve: more robust implementation against touptek drivers

• improve: add more information to the log file seeing

• improve: openweathermap data handling (API)

3.2.3

• fix: correct editing points, when slew path is not selected

• improve: sort horizon points when loading a file

3.2.2

• change: switch from forecast to weather api on openweathermap

3.2.1

• fix: change humidity and dewpoint value in driver as there were mixed up

3.2.0

• add: editable mount settling time for 10micron box (UI change!)

• add: waiting time used w/o meridian flip

• add: bring “keep scale” when doing exposeN

• improve: some refactoring for speed

• improve: watney checking allows for multiple sets in one directory

3.1.0

Version 3.1 brings aarch64 support for arm back if using the new installer 3.1

• add: support for aarch64 on raspi for python 3.8 - 3.10 (needs installer 3.1)

• add: support for ASTAP new databases D50, D20, D05

• improve: speedup launch if INDI server not ready

• improve: support for catalina

• improve: ParkPos with 2 digits precision

• fix: download sources IERS

• fix: switching UTC / local times

• fix: seeing entries visibility upon startup

3.0.1

• fix: ASCOM cover: brightness status.

• fix: ASCOM cover: setting / reading brightness / max brightness

• fix: almanac: text for “rise” and “set” were mixed

• fix: DNS resolving

• improve: add a hint for optimal binning to keep reasonable image sizes

• improve meteoblue behavior: correct text and undisplayed if disabled

• improve minor planets selection: adding multiple selection by mouse

• improve refraction: when selecting internal sensor, go to automatic

3.0.0

Version 3.0 is a major release! Please update with care! No ARM7 support / ARM64 only Python 3.8 - 3.9

• add: GUI: all charts could be zoomed and panned

• add: GUI: all tab menu entries could be customized in order and stored /reset

• add: GUI: all open windows could be collected to visual area

• add: GUI: separate window with big buttons are available

• add: GUI: reduced GUI configurable for a simpler user interface

• add: video: support for up to 4 external RTSP streams or local cameras

• add: video: adding authentication to video streams

• add: video: adding support for HTTP and HTTPS streams

• add: almanac: now supports UTC / local time

• add: almanac: support set/rise times moon

• add: environment: integrate meteoblue.com seeing conditions

• add: analyse: charts could show horizon and values for each point

• add: analyse: alt / az charts with iso 2d contour error curves

• add: audio: sound for connection lost and sat start tracking

• add: model points: multiple variants for edit and move points

• add: model points: set dither on celestial paths

• add: model points: generate from actual used mount model

• add: model points: existing model files could be loaded

• add: model points: golden spiral with exact number of points

• add: polar align: adding hint how to use the knobs measures right

• add: plate solve: new watney astrometry solver for all platforms

• add: hemisphere: selection of terrain file

• add: hemisphere: show actual model error in background

• add: hemisphere: edit horizon model much more efficient

• add: hemisphere: show 2d contour error curve from actual model

• add: hemisphere: move point with mouse around

• add: dome: control azimuth move CW / CCW for INDI

• add: satellites: all time values could be UTC or local time now

• add: MPC / IERS: adding alternative server for download

• add: measure: window has max 5 charts now (from 3)

• add: measure: more values (time delta, focus, cooler power, etc.)

• add: image: photometry functions (aberration, roundness, etc.)

• add: image: tilt estimation like ASTAP does as rectangle and triangle

• add: image: add flip H and flip V

• add: image: show RA/DEC coordinates in image if image was solved

• add: image: center mount pointing g to any point in image by mouse double click

• add: image: center mount pointing to image center

• add: image: support for reading XISF files (simple versions)

• add: imaging: separate page for imaging stats now

• add: imaging: stats: calcs for plate solvers (index files etc.)

• add: imaging: stats: calcs for critical focus zones

• add: drivers: polling timing for drivers could be set

• add: drivers: game controller interface for mount and dome

• add: system: support for python 3.10

• add: help: local install of documentation in PDF format

• add: profiles: automatic translation from v2.2.x to 3.x

• improve: GUI: layout for main window optimized and consistent and wording updates

• improve: GUI: complete rework of charting: performance and functions

• improve: GUI: clean up and optimize IERS download messages

• improve: GUI: get more interaction bullet prove for invalid cross use cases

• improve: GUI: moved on / off mount to their settings: avoid undesired shutoff

• improve: GUI: show twilight and moon illumination in main window

• improve: INDI: correcting setting parameters on startup

• improve: model points: optimized DSO path generation (always fit, less params)

• improve: model run: refactoring

• improve: model run: better information about status and result

• improve: hemisphere: improve solved point presentation (white, red)

• improve: plate solve: compatibility checks

• improve: system: all log files will be stored in a separate folder /log

• improve: system: enable usage of python 3.10

• improve: system: use latest PyQt5 version

• improve: system: adjust window sizes to be able to make mosaic layout on desktop

• improve: system: moved to actual jpl kernel de440.bsp for ephemeris calcs

• remove: system: matplotlib package and replace with more performant pyqtgraph

• remove: system: PIL package and replace with more powerful cv2

• remove: system: move from deprecated distutils to packaging

• remove: system: support for python 3.7 as some libraries stopped support

• remove: imageW: stacking in imageW as it was never used

• remove: testing support for OSx Mojave and OSx Catalina (still should work)

• fix: drivers: device selection tab was not properly positioned in device popup

Version 2.x

2.2.9

• fix: internal updater shows only alpha versions instead of betas

2.2.8

• fix: updates for supporting newer ASTAP versions

• fix: model run will cancel if solving fails

• fix: workaround ASTAP FITS outputs which are not readable via astropy

• update ephemeris file

2.2.7

• fix: text labels

• fix: getting min / max values from indi devices

• fix: updates for supporting newer ASTAP versions

• fix: model run will cancel if solving fails

2.2.6

• fix: reduce load in debug trace mode

• fix: model process stalls in some cases in normal mode

• fix: text labels

• fix: getting min / max values from indi devices

2.2.5

• fix: reduce load in debug trace mode

• fix: model process stalls in some cases in normal mode

2.2.4

• fix: remove race condition for large image file causing solve error in ASTAP

• fix: reduce load in debug trace mode

2.2.3

• fix: mount orientation in southern hemisphere

2.2.2

• fix: almanac moon phase drawing error

2.2.1

• update: builtin data for finals200.all

• fix: download iers data: fix file not found feedback

2.2.0

• add: support SGPro camera as device

• add: support N.I.N.A. camera as device

• add: two modes for SGPro and N.I.N.A.: App or MW4 controlled

• add: debayer (4 modes) all platforms (armv7, StellarMate, Astroberry)

• add: filter satellites for twilight visibility settings

• add: setting performance for windows automation (slow / normal / fast)

• add: auto abort imaging when camera device is disconnected

• add: missing cursor in virtual keypad window

• add: support for keyboard usage in virtual keypad window

• add: screenshot as PNG save for actual window with key F5

• add: screenshots as PNG save for all open windows with key F6

• add: query DSO objects for DSO path setting in build model

• improved: flexible satellite handling when mount not connected

• improved: show selected satellite name in satellite windows title

• improved: 3D simulator drawing

• improved: updater now avoids installation into system package

• improved: GUI for imaging tab - disable all invalid interfaces

• improved: redesign analyse window to get more space for further charts

• improved: Tools: move mount: better UI, tooltips, multi steps in alt/az

• improved: gui in image window when displaying different types

• improved: reduced memory consumption if display raw images

• improved: defining park positions with digit and improve gui for buttons

• improved: when pushbutton shows running, invert icons as well

• improve: moon phases in different color schemes

• upgrade: pywin32 library to version 303 (windows)

• upgrade: skyfield library to 1.41

• upgrade: numpy library to 1.21.4

• upgrade: matplotlib to 3.5.1

• upgrade: scipy library to 1.7.3

• upgrade requests library to 2.27.2

• upgrade importlib_metadata library to 4.10.0

• upgrade deepdiff library to 5.7.0

• upgrade wakeonlan library to 2.1.0

• upgrade pybase64 library to 1.2.1

• upgrade websocket-client library to 1.2.3

• fix: simulator in southern hemisphere

2.1.7

• add: 12 build point option for model generation

• add: grouping updater windows upper left corner

• add: support for languages other than english in automation

• add: minimize cmd window once MW4 is started

• fix: KMTronic Relay messages

2.1.6 - add: explicit logging of automation windows strings for debug - add: showing now detected updater path and app - revert: fixes for german as they do not work

2.1.5

• fix: checking windows python version for automation

2.1.4

• add: enabled internal updater for astroberry and stellarmate

• add: temperature measurement for camera

• improved: logging for ASCOM threading

• improved: image handling

• fix: DSLR camera devices

2.1.3

• add: config adjustments for astroberry and stellarmate devices (no debayer)

• improved: logging for UI events

2.1.2

• fix: non connected mount influences camera on ASCOM / ALPACA

• fix: logging string formatting

2.1.1

• fix: for arm64 only: corrected import for virtual keypad

• fix: arrow keys on keypad did accept long mouse press

2.1.0

• add: hemisphere window: help for choosing the right star for polar alignment

• add: hemisphere terrain adjust for altitude of image beside azimuth

• add: angular error ra / dec axis in measurement

• add: device connection similar for ASCOM and ALPACA devices

• add: extended satellite search and filter capabilities (spreadsheet style)

• add: estimation of satellite apparent magnitude

• add: extended satellite tracking and tuning capabilities

• add: enabling loading a custom satellite TLE data file

• add: command window for manual mount commands

• add: sorting for minimal dome slew in build point selection

• add: setting prediction time of almanac (shorter reduces cpu load)

• add: providing 3 different color schemes

• add: virtual keypad available for RPi 3/4 users now

• improve: check if satellite data is valid (avoid error messages)

• improve: better hints when using 10micron updater

• improve: simplified signals generation

• improve: analyse window plots

• improve: rewrite alpaca / ascom interface

• improve: gui for running functions

• improve: test coverage

• remove: push time from mount to computer: in reliable and unstable

• fix: segfault in qt5lib on ubuntu

2.0.6

• fixes

2.0.5

• fix: bug when running “stop exposure” in ASCOM

2.0.4

• improvement: GUI for earth rotation data update, now downloads

• improvement: performance for threads.

• improvement: added FITS header entries for ALPACA and ASCOM

• fix: removed stopping DAT when starting model

2.0.3

• improvement: GUI for earth rotation data update, now downloads

• improvement: performance for threads.

2.0.2

• fix: robustness against errors in ALPACA server due to memory faults #174

• fix: robustness against filter names / numbers from ALPACA server #174

• fix: cleanup import for pywinauto timings import #175

• improvement: avoid meridian flip #177

• improvement: retry numbers as int #178

2.0.1

• fix: MW4 not shutting down when dome configured, but not connected

• fix mirrored display of points in polar hemisphere view

2.0.0

• add new updater concept

• add mount clock sync feature

• add simulator feature

• add terrain image feature

• add dome following when mount is in satellite tracking mode

• add dome dynamic following feature: reduction of slews for dome

• add setting label support for UPB dew entries

• add auto dew control support for Pegasus UPB

• add switch support for ASCOM/ALPACA Pegasus UPB

• add observation condition support for ASCOM/ALPACA Pegasus UPB

• add feature for RA/DEC FITS writing for INDI server without snooping

• add completely revised satellite tracking menu gui

• add partially satellite tracking before / after possible flip

• add satellite track respect horizon line and meridian limits

• add tracking simulator feature to test without waiting for satellite

• add alt/az pointer to satellite view

• add reverse order for failed build point retry

• add automatic enable webinterface for keypad use

• add broadcast address and port for WOL

• add new IERS and lead second download

• add more functions are available without mount connected

• add change mouse pointer in hemisphere

• add offset and gain setting to imaging

• add disable model point edit during model build run

• update debug standard moved from WARN to INFO

• update underlying libraries

• update GUI improvements

• fix for INDI cameras sending two times busy and exposure^0

• fix slewing message dome when disconnected

• fix retry mechanism for failed build points

• fix using builtins for skyfield and rotation update

• fix plate solve sync function

Version 1.x

1.1.1

• adding fix for INDI cameras sending two times BUSY, EXP^0

1.1.0

• adding release notes showing new capabilities in message window

• adding cover light on / off

• adding cover light intensity settings

• reversing E/W for polar diagram in hemisphere window

• adding push mount time to computer manual / hourly

• adding contour HFD plot to image windows

• adding virtual emergency stop key on time group

• update build-in files if newer ones are shipped

• auto restart MW4 after update

• adding OBJCTRA / OBJCTDEC keywords when reading FITs

• upgrade various libraries