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Cartes du Ciel Changelog

What's new in Cartes du Ciel 4.3-4370 Beta

Jul 22, 2021
  • New calculation of the planetary satellites with CALCEPH library:
  • To have the best possible precision of the position it is now possible to calculate it using a SPICE kernel.
  • To do this, you have to install the corresponding data files from:
  • Https://sourceforge.net/projects/skychart/files/2-catalogs/SpiceKernel/
  • The skychart-spice-base file is required and you can add skychart-spice-ext for more satellites. The list of satellites in each file can be found on the download page.
  • New functions:
  • Update to latest version of solar and lunar eclipse catalog.
  • For date before 1657 the Delta T computation is from Morrison, Stephenson, Hohenkerk, Zawilski 2021.
  • For date older than 1840-1950, depending on the country, when the LMT timezone is in use, the time offset is now for the longitude of the observatory.
  • Can use SPICE kernel for NEO or other solar system objects. On Linux this require installation of libcalceph, see above.
  • Use binary file instead of database for asteroid element, improve performance
  • Show more asteroid information from the Asteroid lightcurve database
  • Display object information directly from the Search window
  • Add Alpaca telescope discovery
  • Add civil twilight in the calendar
  • Allow to import a mosaic in the observing list
  • In Observer tool, stop the telescope motion when releasing the arrow button
  • Use the nebula outlines from OpenNGC, add option to select line or surface
  • Allow simulation for a single asteroid and comet
  • Add menu "Window/Lock chart position" to not move the chart after a search
  • Show hour angle and airmass under mouse cursor
  • Add telescope handpad for ASCOM and INDI
  • Add option to blure and set transparency of surface catalog
  • Add pre-pointing feature for asteroid occultation
  • Bug fix:
  • Update Quicksat to support the new magnitude file
  • Fix PHD2 comet tracking interface
  • Fix setting telescope time
  • Planet in line mode must be really transparent
  • Fix "Show Mark" option for comet and asteroid simulation
  • Removed:
  • Move SAC to obsolete catalog, replaced by OpenNGC
  • Remove Iridium flare computation

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.3-4167 Beta (Jul 27, 2020)

  • New functions:
  • In Observer tool, stop the telescope motion when releasing the arrow button
  • Use the nebula outlines from OpenNGC, add option to select line or surface
  • Allow simulation for a single asteroid and comet
  • Add menu "Window/Lock chart position" to not move the chart after a search
  • Show hour angle and airmass under mouse cursor
  • Add telescope handpad for ASCOM and INDI
  • Add option to blure and set transparency of surface catalog
  • Add pre-pointing feature for asteroid occultation
  • Bug fix:
  • Fix PHD2 comet tracking interface
  • Fix setting telescope time
  • Planet in line mode must be really transparent
  • Fix "Show Mark" option for comet and asteroid simulation
  • Removed:
  • Move SAC to obsolete catalog, replaced by OpenNGC
  • Remove Iridium flare computation

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.3-4133 Beta (Apr 20, 2020)

  • New functions:
  • Add telescope handpad for ASCOM and INDI
  • Add option to blure and set transparency of surface catalog
  • Add pre-pointing feature for asteroid occultation
  • Bug fix:
  • Planet in line mode must be really transparent
  • Fix "Show Mark" option for comet and asteroid simulation
  • Removed:
  • Remove Iridium flare computation

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.3-4123 Beta (Mar 30, 2020)

  • New functions:
  • Add telescope handpad for ASCOM and INDI
  • Add option to blure and set transparency of surface catalog
  • Add pre-pointing feature for asteroid occultation
  • Bug fix:
  • Planet in line mode must be really transparent
  • Fix "Show Mark" option for comet and asteroid simulation
  • Removed:
  • Remove Iridium flare computation

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.2.1-4073 (Nov 25, 2019)

  • New functions:
  • Add telescope handpad for ASCOM and INDI
  • Change Neighbour button to obey Object list setting, increase search radius to show at least 10 objects
  • Add object to the Observing list from the Object list
  • The old Encoder driver can be installed from: https://github.com/pchev/alpaca_encoder/releases
  • Bug fix:
  • Planet in line mode must be really transparent
  • Fix "Show Mark" option for comet and asteroid simulation
  • Fix launching Edge browser
  • Show a clear error message when trying to run on 8 or 16 bit display
  • Fix disconnection from Alpaca telescope

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.1.1-4028 Beta (Oct 7, 2019)

  • New functions:
  • Default comet element download is now from http://astro.vanbuitenen.nl
  • New mosaic tool
  • Option to show only the celestial equator line.
  • New default interface with minimal button bar.
  • Saved circle file (.cdcc) include the coordinate equinox on the first row.
  • Add Delta T update menu.
  • Add orange night vision mode.
  • Allow per chart observatory horizon profile.
  • Separate label setting for Asteroid and Comet.
  • INDI server and driver selection is now in the connection box. Option to launch indistarter is removed.
  • Show a warning in window title if running as administrator
  • Add option to not filter the bright nebula by magnitude
  • Add option to set the line width. Beware this not work with dash line when printing on Windows because of API limitation.
  • The resolution of the background image can now be limited to improve the performance if the screen is too big or if there is not enough cpu core.
  • Client/server communication can now use J2000 coordinates instead of the current chart setting. You can change this option in Setup/General/Server.
  • Remove obsolete/unmaintainable lx200 and encoder drivers. Please use the corresponding ASCOM or INDI drivers:
  • For generic lx200: https://pixelstelescopes.wordpress.com/advanced-lx200/
  • For digital circle: http://eksfiles.net/digital-setting-circles/ascom-driver-for-digital-setting-circles/
  • Depreciate the use of Mysql database and suggest to move to Sqlite if currently in use.
  • Allow to lock at the position set from the menu View/Position.
  • Support for the new GAIA DR2 star catalog.
  • Allow to use HNSKY star catalog using the "290" format.
  • Improve double star display.
  • Improve magnitude filter for small FOV.
  • Show the object rise and set time relative to the local horizon if a horizon file is loaded. This can be disabled in Setup/Observatory. Calendar rise/set are always given to the astronomical horizon.
  • New icon for the buttons better suited for night vision filters, use larger image for big buttons.
  • Set observatory coordinates from telescope GPS, use "Telescope" observatory name.
  • Improve download progress display.
  • Many bug fix.

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.1.1-3995 Beta (Aug 19, 2019)

  • New mosaic tool:
  • Option to show only the celestial equator line.
  • New default interface with minimal button bar.
  • Saved circle file (.cdcc) include the coordinate equinox on the first row.
  • Add Delta T update menu.
  • Add orange night vision mode.
  • Allow per chart observatory horizon profile.
  • Separate label setting for Asteroid and Comet.
  • INDI server and driver selection is now in the connection box. Option to launch indistarter is removed.
  • Show a warning in window title if running as administrator
  • Add option to not filter the bright nebula by magnitude
  • Add option to set the line width. Beware this not work with dash line when printing on Windows because of API limitation.
  • It is now possible to use a telescope connected to a remote ASCOM Windows computer from Skychart running on Linux or macOS. See: https://github.com/ASCOMInitiative/ASCOMRemote/blob/master/Documentation/ASCOM%20Remote%20Concept.pdf
  • The resolution of the background image can now be limited to improve the performance if the screen is too big or if there is not enough cpu core.
  • Client/server communication can now use J2000 coordinates instead of the current chart setting. You can change this option in Setup/General/Server.
  • Remove obsolete/unmaintainable lx200 and encoder drivers. Please use the corresponding ASCOM or INDI drivers.
  • For generic lx200: https://pixelstelescopes.wordpress.com/advanced-lx200/
  • For digital circle: http://eksfiles.net/digital-setting-circles/ascom-driver-for-digital-setting-circles/
  • Depreciate the use of Mysql database and suggest to move to Sqlite if currently in use.
  • Allow to lock at the position set from the menu View/Position.
  • Support for the new GAIA DR2 star catalog.
  • Allow to use HNSKY star catalog using the "290" format.
  • Improve double star display.
  • Improve magnitude filter for small FOV.
  • Show the object rise and set time relative to the local horizon if a horizon file is loaded. This can be disabled in Setup/Observatory. Calendar rise/set are always given to the astronomical horizon.
  • New icon for the buttons better suited for night vision filters, use larger image for big buttons.
  • Set observatory coordinates from telescope GPS, use "Telescope" observatory name.
  • Improve download progress display.
  • Many bug fix.

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.1.1-3969 Beta (Aug 12, 2019)

  • New functions:
  • Add orange night vision mode.
  • Allow per chart observatory horizon profile.
  • Separate label setting for Asteroid and Comet.
  • INDI server and driver selection is now in the connection box. Option to launch indistarter is removed.
  • Show a warning in window title if running as administrator
  • Add option to not filter the bright nebula by magnitude
  • Add option to set the line width. Beware this not work with dash line when printing on Windows because of API limitation.
  • It is now possible to use a telescope connected to a remote ASCOM Windows computer from Skychart running on Linux or macOS.
  • The resolution of the background image can now be limited to improve the performance if the screen is too big or if there is not enough cpu core.
  • Client/server communication can now use J2000 coordinates instead of the current chart setting. You can change this option in Setup/General/Server.
  • Remove obsolete/unmaintainable lx200 and encoder drivers. Please use the corresponding ASCOM or INDI drivers.
  • - for generic lx200: https://pixelstelescopes.wordpress.com/advanced-lx200/
  • - for digital circle: http://eksfiles.net/digital-setting-circles/ascom-driver-for-digital-setting-circles/
  • Depreciate the use of Mysql database and suggest to move to Sqlite if currently in use.
  • Allow to lock at the position set from the menu View/Position.
  • Support for the new GAIA DR2 star catalog.
  • Allow to use HNSKY star catalog using the "290" format.
  • Improve double star display.
  • Improve magnitude filter for small FOV.
  • Show the object rise and set time relative to the local horizon if a horizon file is loaded. This can be disabled in Setup/Observatory. Calendar rise/set are always given to the astronomical horizon.
  • New icon for the buttons better suited for night vision filters, use larger image for big buttons.
  • Set observatory coordinates from telescope GPS, use "Telescope" observatory name.
  • Improve download progress display.
  • Many bug fix.

New in Cartes du Ciel 4.0-3575 (Apr 18, 2017)

  • New functions:
  • Set the tool bar button arangement, size and text in Setup / Toolbar editor. Increase default button size.
  • The tool bar editor allow you to edit the button bar layout. The function is available from the menu Setup / Tool bar editor.
  • New performance options from menu File/Reset chart and options...
  • New tool box function you can activate with the keys F1 to F8.
  • Scripting functions and custom tool box capabilities.
  • New representation for the Milky Way. This can be activated from the menu Setup / Display / Lines by unchecking "Milky Way - Line mode".
  • Updated Solar system information window with more functionallity
  • Plot images for the main planetary satellites
  • More color and label options
  • Update the artificial satellites TLE files automatically.
  • Option to add a crosshair to the chart center.
  • Option to add the meridian line with any projection.
  • Show comet and asteroid hourly motion in the detail window.
  • Update download URL for asteroids and comets
  • New observing list Tour function
  • Add cursor or telescope position to observing list
  • Add Tcp/Ip connection to the LX200 telescope interface.
  • Use INDIstarter to manage the INDI server.
  • New INDI control panel.
  • Catalog:
  • OpenNGC replace NGC2000, it is now include with the base version
  • Use official IAU star name
  • The following catalog change require to install the new version with 4.0 in the file name from https://sourceforge.net/projects/skychart/files/2-catalogs/
  • New version of GCVS and WDS catalog
  • New version of PGC/LEDA with 5 million galaxies
  • Add index to search planetary nebula by name
  • Add Sh2 and Barnard catalog
  • Update the pictures using better coordinates from OpenNGC
  • Corrections:
  • Performance improvement with image display
  • Artificial satellites TLE files can use .txt extension.
  • Move some menu from File to View and Chart.
  • Now the program scale the window correctly on high resolution screen. You can set the old behavior in Setup/General.
  • No more store the program data location in the configuration file. If you need a non-standard location use the new command line option "--datadir=".

New in Cartes du Ciel 3.10.2854 (Mar 31, 2014)

  • New functions:
  • Add the capability to display a picture for the horizon panorama. The image must be a PNG or BMP file of any size representing the full 360° panorama with an equirectangular projection. The horizon must be exactly at the middle height of the picture. The sky area must be set transparent (#FF00FF for BMP). The left side of the picture is the East direction. If you use another orientation you must also give the offset angle.
  • VO SAMP interoperability, allow to send and receive position click, FITS images, VO tables, VO tables row selections from other application like Aladin or Topcat.
  • Add support for JPL DE430 and DE431, you can now display the planet location between 13000BC and 17000AD.
  • New computation for the planetary satellites, add Phoebe, Triton, Nereid, Charon and 33 faint satellites.
  • Color option for Catgen nebula catalog.
  • Update URL option for Catgen text catalog.
  • Archive downloaded DSS images.
  • Display images with WCS from FITS archive.
  • Add a labels with FITS image name.
  • Calendar Twilight panel also show moonless night information.
  • Add a button in Calendar to display the brightest comets first.
  • Add Ctrl+L and Ctrl+Shift+L shortcuts to switch the chart legend.
  • Add a button to change the left mouse click behavior from zoom to move.
  • Add Observing list functions.
  • New option to mask the chart outside of the wider eyepiece.
  • New header/footer in the printout.
  • Capability to define more than 10 eyepieces or ccd fields.
  • More options to select column of VO catalog
  • Documentation is now available in PDF format.
  • Corrections:
  • Better picture/map transparency.
  • More options for picture tone mapping.
  • Full 16bit processing for pictures.
  • Multithread for fits mapping.
  • Add orientation in compass.
  • New simplified pointer instead of compass.
  • Galaxy symbol depend on luminosity also in line mode.
  • DSO label size depend on magnitude.
  • Fix varobs_lpv_bulletin to use the new csv bulletin format.
  • Search in local VO catalog data.
  • Planet deformation due to the refraction near the horizon.
  • Tell Xplanet to use the same JPL ephemeris than CdC.

New in Cartes du Ciel 3.9-svn2500 Beta (Apr 22, 2013)

  • New functions:
  • Add the capability to display a picture for the horizon panorama. The image must be a PNG file of any size representing the full 360° panorama with an equirectangular projection. The horizon must be exactly at the middle height of the picture. The sky area must be set transparent. The left side of the picture is the East direction. If you use another orientation you must also give the offset angle.
  • Color option for Catgen nebula catalog.
  • Update URL option for Catgen text catalog.
  • Archive downloaded DSS images.
  • Display images with WCS from FITS archive.
  • Corrections:
  • Better picture/map transparency.
  • More options for picture tone mapping.
  • Full 16bit processing for pictures.
  • Multithread for fits mapping.
  • Add orientation in compass.
  • New simplified pointer instead of compass.
  • Galaxy symbol depend on luminosity also in line mode.
  • DSO label size depend on magnitude.

New in Cartes du Ciel 3.7 Beta (Feb 19, 2013)

  • Major changes:
  • Change of the catalog index format. An index record was previously pointing directly to the RA,DEC coordinates. Now the index point to a catalog record.
  • This allow to process the stars proper motion for a correct location at any epoch.
  • his also help to display the object label and full detail even if it is not visible with the current chart setting.
  • Because of this change you need to reinstall the stars and dso additional catalog from: https://sourceforge.net/projects/skychart/files/0-beta/catalog/
  • This also upgrade the WDS, GCVS, PGC catalog to the latest 2012 version.
  • If you make you own catalog with Catgen you can rebuild your catalog to take advantage of the change but the old index still work as before.
  • New options:
  • New Hammer-Aitoff projection.
  • Option to not set the cylindrical projection equator to the chart center.
  • Rotate the label of the planet simulation perpendicular to the orbit.
  • Reduced label overlap (Display/Labels/Automatically optimize the labels placement).
  • Add the component name to the label of double stars.
  • Add Portuguese constellation names by Hugo D. Valentim
  • Add Swedish translation by Kåre Lekebjer
  • New option --userdir=
  • Configuration file now use relative path when possible
  • Add Thai translation by Worachate Boonplod
  • Replace Etc/GMT timezone by the more intuitive UTC (GMT+5 -> UTC-5)
  • New 180deg rotation button.
  • Meta+rotate button rotate by 180 degrees.
  • Right click on rotate button reset the rotation to 0.
  • Setup/Display "Show only text in detail window", use if you have problem with the standard detail window.
  • Bug fixed since version 3.6:
  • Fix Catgen Text catalog (need to rebuild text catalog done with 3.6)
  • More reactive scrollbar
  • Crash in planet computation.
  • Accept command if running with --daemon option
  • Wrong position when searching for planet name.
  • Crash in Observatory database.
  • Fix Setup/Pictures menu
  • Fix UTF-8 picture path