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[Needs Path To Reproduction] SkySafari 6 Pro | White Light Flash In 3 Instances

If possible see if you also are getting these minor bugs:

While conected to scope, in full red light mode, including keyboard I found I always get a white light flash in only these 3 instances, please verify if possible, happens only when I've connected the ipad to the telescope.

- From the toolbar, Observe/Observing Lists/list/actions & settings will cause a white flash 100% of the time only when I'm connected to the scope.

- From the toolbar: Selection/Add to observing list will cause a white flash 100% of the time only when I'm connected to the scope.

- From the toolbar: Search/clicking on the search bar will cause the reddened keyboard to switch to a white light keyboard version, just like others for only a split second, which can be avoided by blinking in advance.

Although, the create a new observation can be tricky to block because it can take that screen to load anywhere between a split sec to 4-5 secs.

- Is it possible to add a sort by surface brightness option within one's lists or a sort by size in arcm option.

Super Great Telescope Astronomy Software = SS6!

6 comments

  • 0
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    Bill Tschumy

    Tom,

    I'm just not seeing this white flash.  

    1. Is it the whole screen that flashes, or just part of it?

    2. Do you see it when connected to the "Demo" scope, or a real scope (I've tried both).

    Our catalogs don't have surface brightness for objects so it is not something that can be sorted on.

    For sort by size, do you want to sort by area, longest dimension or shortest dimension?

  • 0
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    Tom Stamkos

    Hi Bill, thanks for taking the time to answer, Super service! 

    Perhaps it's just a bug with my elder Ipad mini 3? It only happens while connected with skywire to the CPC 1100 hand control (RS-232 phone jack type)  to the Ipad mini 3.

    1) Is it the whole screen that flashes, or just part of it?

    This one causes a brief split second white flash as if quickly going from red light to white light mode, the entire screen will flash - From the toolbar, Observe/Observing Lists/list/actions & settings will cause a white flash 100% of the time only when I'm connected to the scope.

    This one also causes a brief split second white flash as if quickly going from red light to white light mode, the entire screen will flash once the white downloading circle vanishes and brings you to the edit your observation screen (which can take anywhere from .5 seconds to 5 seconds to load) - From the toolbar: Selection/Add to observing list will cause a white flash 100% of the time only when I'm connected to the scope.

    This one causes a brief split second white flash as if quickly going from red light to white light mode, but ONLY on the keyboard, AND: will only happen on the first search, afterwards all the next following searches will always show a red keyboard- From the toolbar: Search/clicking on the search bar will cause the reddened keyboard to switch to a white light keyboard version, just like others for only a split second, which can be avoided by blinking in advance.

    Honestly, these are very minor bugs, and I'm still amazed at how steady and reliable the software is!!! I can only imagine how much better it will be (If that's possible) with a newer faster mini IPad- Ipad!

    2) Do you see it when connected to the "Demo" scope, or a real scope (I've tried both).

    So far I've only been using the skywire to connect to a CPC telescope, that is the option I choose, not demo, please let me know if you'd like me to try it in demo or anything else I can test if you like.

    3) Our catalogs don't have surface brightness for objects so it is not something that can be sorted on.

    Sorting by Surface Brightness can be VERY useful for Planetary Nebulae and Galaxies and sorting by Magnitude is not as helpful for these 2 objects, not ultra necessary though.

    4) For sort by size, do you want to sort by area, longest dimension or shortest dimension?

    I think best would be to sort by Apparent Size or in Arc Minutes starting with the highest one on top. This can easily make one's night very efficient, but again not really necessary!

    One more question:

    5) When I click on download DSS image for a list I notice it places permanent markers on the screen. I now realize the only way to delete them or turn them off is if I click on each object and create observations for them, and than click on the option Hide viewed objects, not sure on this though, I'm just guessing from the options I see. This can take a long while, unless there is a batch create observations for the whole list. Or, I guess, I can just delete the whole list and recreate it, but will the dss images be saved or one would hopefully have to click on dowload dss image for them to permanently reappear as markers on your screen. And do you think by adding too many permanent markers by downloading dss images can really cutter/slow down the software eventually? 

    Also, do you think, if one adds too many lists, (I have 70 at the moment and no issues), it can cause slowing issues while connected? 

    Thanks so much!

     

  • -1
    Avatar
    Bill Tschumy

    Tom,

    Please do try the Demo scope to see if it happens there.

    Also what version of iOS are you running?  It could have something to do with that.

    You need to be more specific by what you mean by sorting by "size".  Suppose an object is 20' x 10'.  You you want to consider the largest dimension when sorting, the smallest, or the area (200 square arcminutes).

    I don't think 70 lists will cause a problem.  Do any of the lists have a large (> 500) number of objects in them?

  • 0
    Avatar
    Tom Stamkos

    Please do try the Demo scope to see if it happens there.

    A: Ok, will do!

    Also what version of iOS are you running?  It could have something to do with that.

    A: Will check from home after work.

    You need to be more specific by what you mean by sorting by "size".  Suppose an object is 20' x 10'.  You you want to consider the largest dimension when sorting, the smallest, or the area (200 square arcminutes).

    A: I think square arc minutes would be best, sorted by biggest/highest first! 

    I don't think 70 lists will cause a problem.  Do any of the lists have a large (> 500) number of objects in them?

    A: My largest lists is a Herschel 2500 list, followed by 2 500 lists, and all the others I try and keep them under 50-100 or 300. I don't want to add a big 10k list for now lol. No issues here so far whatsoever, was just curious. 

  • 0
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    Chris

    I would echo the desire for having surface brightness for as many objects as possible, even though I know it wouldn't exist for many.

    Chris

  • 0
    Avatar
    Bill Tschumy

    We have tested with some pretty large lists.  We do have 1 or 2 users that have a couple of thousand lists (one for each night of observing) and we have set some performance problems there.  We are trying to address them.  I don't think most people will run into issues.

    With respect to the "markers" on the screen.  I don't think that is the DSS download.  It is the fact that you have highlighted the list.   The reason the blue ring disappears after making an observation is because you have "Hide Observed" enabled in the screen where you highlight a list.  You can unhighlight the list going to the list and tapping "Actions & Settings" and then turn off Highlight Objects.  You can quickly get to the highlighted list b tapping the "List" icon at the bottom center of the chart and choosing "Unhighlight List" from the popup menu.

     

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