NEO Planner V4.6.3
(September, 15 2023)
NEO Planner - Planning and execution tool for observing NEO and comets, usable for all IAU observatories, interested observers welcome!
Introduction Installation Settings process Questions and answers Update What is new (with history)
Currently registered stations (39):
104, 221, 227, 637, 958, B50, B72, C95, E89, G04,
G15, G19, K19, K35, K55,
K63, K74, K83,
K87, L04,
L40,
L63, L65, L81,
L90, M18, M19, M26,
M45,
M49, U52, U93,
U94, W24, W50, X06, X09, X93, Z28
(Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Germany, France, Italy, Namibia, New Zealand, Romania, U.S.A.)
Introduction:
The idea for NEO Planner comes from Free Basic planning programs for personal
use,
which I have been written and used since 2017 on K87
Dettelbach Vineyard Observatory.
NEO Planner however, has been developed with Microsoft
Visual Studio since spring 2020 .
Thanks to the active support of Father Christoph Gerhard OSB from the
neighboring monastery
observatory K74
Muensterschwarzach,
NEO Planner could be prepared for global use.
His math skills as an engineer and his tips and time for testing helped me
immensely in creating a usable version of NEO Planner for IAU observatories in
general.
NEO Planner is off course not intended for surveys,
but rather for amateurs or
professional observatories with telescopes from 10cm up to about 1 m in
diameter at any sky quality.
NEO Planner is able to calculate the exposure times, the
required number of exposures and the positions of currently observable comets,
NEO and NEOCP objects based on MPC, JPL Horizons and Scout data in a chronological sequence for each
location and for each device.
In addition, NEO Planner automatically monitors the NEOCP
and provides the user with important current changes, both visually and, if
desired, acoustically.
NEO Planner can work with both Astrometrica and Tycho and
supports full integration with
N.I.N.A., the freely available equipment control
program.
There is also a .txt file release of the planning for the ACP
Observatory Control Software for your own use.
If desired, the planning and ephemeris can be uploaded to
a website to be followed from any location.
An internal sniping tool enables timer controlled hard
copies of the screen and the viewing of the night
sessions via the website.
And many many features more...
Due to years of experience in measuring comets, asteroids, NEO or NEOCP objects,
I found the laborious preparation of the manual search and compilation of
objects for the night session to be time-consuming and in no way motivating.
In the past, I usually spent several hours preparing and then spent sleepless
hours during the night manually positioning, focusing, and readjusting the objects.
Due to a professional affinity for programming and process improvement, I
finally thought about how I could give my motivation to observe and measure the
objects
of the solar system a boost and then decided to take the programming into my own
hands.
The deployment of NEO Planner is a consequent step to share the functions of the
program with all interested observers.
During the often long periods of bad observation weather at my location, the
program should also be usable for other stations.
NEO Planner is basically suitable for all observatories with IAU code,
regardless of whether the observation is done manually or fully automatically,
whether you just watch for a few hours or all night. Simply pick those objects
from the list that seem interesting to you.
The function of displaying and saving the Revise, Object
information window or ephemeris on the minute for
each object in the planning list
enables individually coordinated observation of selected objects.
This extension is based on a suggestion by Bernd Koch, B72/G04.
The observer or his colleagues can now call up the ephemeris,
the Revise or Object information window on any PC, laptop, pad or
smartphone via links at any location,
in order to be independent of the planning computer.
Version 2.4
gives the active observer of NEOCP objects the possibility to recognize all
changes on the NEOCP at the push of a button
and to adapt his observation scheme
accordingly.
In version 3.0, automatic
background monitoring enables the optical and acoustic detection of changes on
the NEOCP.
Important parameters have also been added for Tycho users.
New from version 4:
NEO Planner now supports up to 5 cameras and equipment. A NEO search function
has been added to the planner.
The calculated search positions of a mosaic are prepared
for
N.I.N.A.
XML and JSON integration, which enables an automatic search for Near Earth
Objects.
The program is also coded with a hardware key and runs only on authorized
computers.
NEO Planner is Registerware (Freeware requiring registration) and does not use
cookies, neither tracking nor tracing.
To make maintenance easier in the event of problems, NEO Planner transfers
some files of the planning process to my
server every time the program is closed
so that I can analyse your planning results
in the case of questions..
These files are particularly useful for quickly identifying initial
difficulties. The transmission can be switched
on or off in the privacy settings if desired.
NEO Planner is based on free Microsoft .net technology and runs
perfectly on
Windows 10.
I deliberately do not use paid features from Microsoft such as security
certificates or Azure test servers.
The planning program should be freely usable and dispense with actually useless,
but chargeable beauty features.
A stable internet connection is mandatory.
No app comes out of the socket and any
program can contain bugs. I ask for a benevolent
report if recognizable errors occur.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please send me an
Email.
German speaking NEO Planner Group in SIGNAL:
https://signal.group/#CjQKIN4rT3b8oeBgwr1T8_PE1KEfJI0TE49WJSVF-pdsOqE7EhBW1iBZxDuUHz7tDBecrh3E
Installation process:
Before you contact me, first click through the navigation bar on this page above
and read all the explanations carefully.
If your IAU observatory is equipped for the requirements, you are welcome to
contact me using the procedure below.
Note that preparing to use NEO Planner will take some
time and be patient, it's worth it!
The process is as follows:
1. Send me an
Email, please. After that, I'll send you a link to a shared
folder. Then download the Setup.zip file to your computer.
2. Unzip the .zip file to a folder of your choice, but not to
C: \ neosettings!
2a. After unzipping the download folder must contain the following files:
Neo Planner.exe, WinSCP.exe, winscp.ini, WinSCPnet.dll
2b. If the loading over the descriped method doesn't suceed, try to load the
setup program over this
link and store
Setup.zip into a folder of your choice, but not
to C: \ neosettings!
After unzipping call Neo Planner.exe and follow the instructions.
Hint: If a Firewall of your computer is blocking the download, ignore this please.
3. Call Neo Planner.exe only once! Ignore warning messages from Windows or the
firewall. An internet connection is mandatory.
4. A folder C: \ neosettings is created and all necessary programs and files are
loaded into this folder.
I also get information that NEO Planner has loaded on your computer
on my secure web server! Only
hardware information is transmitted here.
If an error message "Check of License failed,
check your Internet connection" appears when you first call up NEO Planner
with
a reference to a protected SSL/TLS channel,
set the protocol(s) to <Enabled> in the registry:
<Enabled> means that your computer can send files to a secured server.
Now, send a Email to me, please, that you did the first step and wait for my response..
Hint: You can also send the hardware information to me via Email. Attach this file C:/neosettings/hardware_sich.txt please.
5.
Keep in mind that in my time zone and because of my job, I may not react
immediately.
6. You can only use the program after I
included the hardware code in the observatory list and have given my approval via
Email.
7. NEO Planner is called up using the shortcut created or by calling up the Neo
Planner.exe program in the C: \ neosettings folder.
8. First carry out all the settings in the order from top to bottom before using
other functions of the program.
Follow the instructions here on the web on how to best prepare NEO Planner for
planning the coming night.
9. Confirm, if requested, all programs from NEO Planner as trustworthy.
Report bugs you encounter in a constructive and friendly manner, please.
The description of the program here on the web is not yet complete and will be
supplemented over time.
Settings process after registering NEO Planner
Please note the following points when preparing the initial planning: Example: X09 in Chile - Dessert, 1700m.
1. GEO Settings: Enter X09 in
the IAU Observatory code field, then press the TAB key.
Register and determine the API code in
IPGeolocation and enter the API code.
Press Save Settings until the message
'Saving successful' appears in the status bar at the bottom.
2. Enter a Base Folder in Folder
and File Structure settings, e.g. NeoplannerX09\
Respond positively to all messages to
create a folder.
Define the folder for the star
catalogs with specification of the drive.
Press Save Settings until the message
'Saving successful' appears in the status bar at the bottom.
3. In Object Selection it is
imperative that in the field 'with Decl. between ...' specify the declination
range for X09. e.g. between -90 and +25
If necessary, adjust brightness
information from ... to for NEO and comets.
Proceed conservatively in the first
attempts, i.e. not weaker than e.g. 20.5 mag for NEO + NEOCP and 18.0 mag for
comets.
As always, press Save settings.
4. In No go areas, enter the
maximum declination West according to the existing mount, which should be
allowed for western observation.
A note is then displayed in the plan
if exceeded.
5. In Common Restrictions enter
the values according to the Light conditions.
At my station, I use the nautical
twilight as a guide. For RA East and RA West,
enter estimated values such as 10 East
and 08 West. It is about the distance to the meridian.
6. CCD parameters take the most time. Please enter all values as precisely as possible.
7. Maintain NINA and AFC
parameters.
Then the settings can be closed
8. Be sure to load current
Comets in the Preparation/Loading Tab, if necessary up to 18.0 mag.
Also the star and deepsky catalogues.
9. You can then start the first
attempt at planning in Execute Planning.
Please enter conservative values there
first and do not immediately go to the limits of the equipment, which later
result from experience.
Please do not plan special objects
such as Mars Crosser etc. together with comets, NEO and NEOCP.
With NEO you can safely do without
numbered objects, because they are of no interest for measurements,
unless you want to include them for
special reasons.
Don't forget to read the Explanations of each Window.
Good luck with these steps.
Questions and answers about the installation process: NP = NEO Planner
First of all, data security is of particular interest.
Q: Which programs are loaded during installation or update?
A: Usually the
firewall will prevent Setup.zip from loading and delete it immediately. NEO
Planner does not contain any viruses,
all programs are self-written, virus-free and hosted on
a secure server. If necessary, the firewall should be disabled during the
initial installation process.
Q: Question: which data
connections does the NP set up?
A:
MPC,
JPL/NASA and
ESA servers are accessed via services using
so-called CGI or API interfaces.
These are publicly available and used by programs worldwide. I am in
sporadic contact with the programmers at MPC, JPL and ESA when problems arise.
Additionally, I am accessing data from
http://www.hohmanntransfer.com/tables.htm
with permission from Bill Allen as he does not provide a CGI service.
Recently also on the CGI service from
https://www.projectpluto.com/fo.htm
by Bill Gray with his online Find_Orb for the GEO settings.
A long time ago on the websites of
http://www.astrosurf.com/cometas-obs/
whose access permission I obtained at the time, since they don't offer any CGI
service.
NP is primarily based on data from the MPC and the JPL (Horizon and Scout),
only marginally on ESA data and the other websites mentioned.
Q: Since the Neo Planner uses WinSCP https://winscp.net/eng/download.php, the question here would be which settings are made in WinSCP?
A: The WinSCP is
integrated in Visual Studio as a so-called reference in the Visual Basic
program. It handles the SSH access to my https server.
The settings are of course secret, but host and user names, passwords and
fingerprints are required in the ssh process.
Within the NP-.exe programs that require WinSCP, the access data are
chaotically encrypted in various variables and cannot be read directly,
to deprive hackers of the chance to access it via pattern search.
NP is hosted on a secure Telekom https web server.
Q: Can WinSCP's data connection be restricted to the NP directory?
A: WinSCP is only used for access to my web server.
Q: What data from my own PC is read out and forwarded to the license server?
A:
When installing NEO Planner, in
addition to the hardware code of the PC,
the external IP address is also sent to me in order to determine from which
region the installation is taking place.
This is a legitimate interest so that the release of NEO Planner based on the
email contact also matches. Verification is done with
https://iplocation.com/
As described
on the NP website, only the settings_xxx.dat and the last orchtemplate.txt
(planning) are transferred to my server when the program is closed.
This setting can be switched on and (better not) switched off in the
privacy window.
In order to be able to answer questions efficiently in the event of
problems, I can use these two files to simulate a planning of the stations on my
computer.
This possibility is essential for me to detect problems, especially with
the help of debugging.
In addition, I always get a notification when an update has been carried
out. This information is also needed in the event of a problem.
The user is
responsible for using my web server for the NP functions Ephemeris links and
Screenshot; use can also be defined via Privacy.
Basically, I don't care how and when someone works with NEO Planner and I
only look at the data sent in case of a problem or a question.
Q: Does each MPC station have to run its own NP installation, or can an installation be planned for several stations?
A: One
installation of NP on one computer is enough. If you enter several MPC codes in
the GEO settings, separate settings are automatically created for each IAU code.
These are independent of each other, which means that there are different
settings_xxx.dat files in the C:\neosettings folder.
If you have specified several stations, a selection screen appears when you
start NP.
Entries must be made separately for each station.
Q: does the NP run on Win11?
A: Why not, just try it. I only use NP on Win10.
Update process:
If a new version is available, NEO Planner will indicate this when it starts. You can then carry out the upload immediately, or you can do this manually later using the menu bar:
1. On NEO Planner header line click on Maintenance and Update.
2. Push the "Download Programs" button:
Most of the NEO Planner programs
are loaded into the C: \ neosettings folder with a different name.
NEO Planner closes automatically and calls the updater program.
After pushing the "Activating Updates" button, the old programs
will be deleted and the new programs will be renamed to their active program
names.
The Updater closes automatically and calls the updated
NEO Planner.
What is new?
Save the folder C:\neosettings before the update!
Latest Update: September,15 2023 V4.6.3
- Point 3 has been added to the strategy button in Revise
to indicate the process of the NEOCP check.
- NP has calculated too few total images, especially for weak objects and s/min
smaller than FWHM. This problem is now resolved.
The previous workaround has been disabled in the CCD/CMOS settings.
- The number of cameras in the CCD/CMOS settings has been increased to 30 per
Observatory Code.
In the next update, the Execute Planning selections for each camera
will be saved and can be reloaded using the camera selection.
- Correction of some small bugs.
Update: August,31 2023 V4.6.2b
- Fixed a severe scheduling error due to the current
issue on the MPC website.
- After performing a NEOCP check, new objects are displayed with a $$$ in
the Hint column in the revise.
Update: August,27 2023 V4.6.2a
- An error in the NEOCP check meant that new objects from R.A. 00h were not included in the planning. This is now fixed.
Update: August,26 2023 V4.6.2
- The NEOCP background check retry rate has been
increased from 2 to 5 minutes for performance reasons.
A countdown counter was added for the waiting time.
The check is carried out immediately without waiting when the
background check button is pressed.
The termination is now also immediate when the Off button is
pressed.
- The screenshot window was supplemented with a reference to the procedure for scaled Windows screens.
Update: August,18 2023 V4.6.1a
- Correction of a bug in NEOCP Check
Update: August,17 2023 V4.6.1
- The ESA priority list 0 - 3 has been integrated,
displayed in Object Information and NEO Ranking in column # opp/ESA.
- Corrected the sorting of columns in the NEO Ranking window. In addition,
the ESA priority 0-3 is displayed in the #opp/ESA column.
- A new function has been added to the NEOCP Check.
When called up, manually adjusted plans are now retained and
changes to the NEOCP are integrated.
Increased NEOCP Background Check repetition rate from 1 to 2 minutes.
Automatically output a Logchanges.txt + .csv to the archive folder
every time the NEOCP is changed when Background Check is run.
- Correction of some small bugs.
Update: August,07 2023 V4.6.0b
- Fixed error: Important: The GEO Settings are not loaded when you start NEO Planner.
Update: August,06 2023 V4.6.0a
- Fixed error: When creating a new observatory, the program aborts in the folder and file settings.
Update: August,05 2023 V4.6.0
- Fixed the note 'E' next to the altitude in the revise
window. Likewise the wrong graphic display of the observations for the month
12/2022 in the start window.
- The information on moon distance and moon altitude for NEOCP objects in
Revise was corrected to MPC data with a maximum inaccuracy of about 30 minutes.
- Added #POINTING before #FILTER to ACP output after scheduling.
- Plausibility checks in the folder and file settings have been revised.
The maximum size of folder names has been increased to 30, the
drive has been expanded to 20 characters.
In addition, when creating a new IAU obs.code, the base folder
including the obs.code is preset.
- Correction of some small bugs.
Latest Update: July,23 2023 V4.5.9
- ACP settings: In addition, you can specify whether the full name of the
camera should be included in the designation of the ACP and NINA output files
or with cam# and the number of the camera.
- In the Execute Planning Window you can now choose
whether the moon restrictions should be taken into account or not.
- After the planning in 'Execute planning' has been completed, you can
switch there immediatly to the 'Rejected objects' window in order to get a list
of those objects
that were excluded from the planning due to the settings. After
objects have been marked, they can be integrated there in a new planning run.
Read 'Explanations'
- In the 'Utilities' tab you can now call up the NEO graphical platform
again. This feature was accidentally disabled.
- With 'Save list' in the Object Information window, jpg, txt and csv
files are saved with names analogous to Revise.
- Revise: If the altitude of the object at the end of the path is smaller
than the allowed altitude, the altitude in the list is displayed in red with an
'E' added.
Update: July,3 2023 V4.5.8a
- Correction of a program error when outputting ACP data during planning. It could happen that a previous planning template is used. Important for ACP users!
Update: July,1 2023 V4.5.8
- Additional display of the note in the NEOCP in the hint
column in Revise; i.e. S = satellite.
- Planning in Revise can now be reset in two ways: The 'Reset to origin'
button is used to restore the first plan. You can go one step back with the 'Reset
one step' button.
- Correction of some small bugs.
Update: June, 29 2023 V4.5.7
- Significant performance improvement in the revise window.
The revision of the planning is now faster and takes place without recalculation.
The planning is only completed by pressing Execute smart Planning.
A red button indicates that planning still needs to be done.
- In the revise window, by pressing the strategy button, a hint on
planning under lunar conditions can be called up.
- And finally, a workload relief for me as the administrator of NEO
Planner. Loading of statistical data for all observatories is now automatic.
Update: June, 25 2023 V4.5.6
- A new ACP-settings window is available. The #DIR
directive in the ACP output can now be selected there via a checkbox, as can the
drive for #DIR.
- In the N.I.N.A. settings you can specify whether the exposure time
should be output in LT or UT.
- Some file name extensions of *.csv and ACP* files in Save List in Revise.
- Correction of some small bugs.
Update: June, 23 2023 V4.5.5
- The output of the ACP file for every type of planning in
Execute Planning or replanning in Revise has been supplemented with various
comments in the header and item area.
- The output of the ACP position data has been supplemented with a freely
selectable filter in the CCD/CMOS settings, default = #FILTER Luminance.
- Correction of some small bugs.
Update: June, 18 2023 V4.5.4
- Fixed an bug when
calling the Folder and File structure. In rare cases, a wrong drive was used,
resulting in a Windows error.
- The file names have been expanded for better readability when the Save List
button is pressed in Revise.
- A file for use in ACP is now also output during planning. The content of
the file may be tested if necessary, please send me feedback.
Update: June, 17 2023 V4.5.3
- The Save List button in Revise now creates both .txt and .csv
files with all usable content for further processing.
The extended .csv file contains all data that is required for the
creation of your own interfaces.
- If in the previous planning, a manual execute start date was entered, it
is set to 'auto' when Neo Planner is restarted.
- The NEOCP object's arcs are also updated when pushing Smart Planning in
Revise.
- Correction of some small bugs
Update: June, 11 2023 V4.5.2
- In an additional column in the Revise Window, the track
lengths of NEOCP are displayed in days (d), hours (h) or minutes (m).
If the Background NEOCP Check is activated, the display is
automatically updated when new observations are published on the NEOCP.
Please test.
- The XML and JSON files for the N.I.N.A. Sequencers now have the prefixes
EP_ and ES_ depending on where they were created in Execute Planning or Execute
Search
- In the N.I.N.A. Settigs there is a new checkbox with the option of
selecting an extended object name.
Update: June, 5 2023 V4.5.1
- Correction of some small bugs
- Help texts can now be displayed in the Object Selection settings instead of tool
tips.
- The determination of the NEOCP ephemeris using the Scout API has been
refined. By scaling based on the arc lengths, the accuracy of the NEOCP
ephemeris
has been adjusted more closely to the Scout Online ephemerides,
however, the planning is delayed. See
description in the Object Selection settings.
Latest Update: May, 24 2023 V4.5.0
- Correction of some small bugs
- Help texts can now be displayed in the GEO settings and Execute Search
Windows instead of tool
tips.
Latest Update: May, 1 2023 V4.4.9
- If the HORIZON Scout Server is overloaded, a
notification is now displayed during planning.
- In the MPCAT Details (statistics - all observations) window, there is a
significant performance improvement when months are called up again.
In addition, a totals overview can be displayed via a button.
- Help texts can now be displayed in the CCD/CMOS settings instead of tool
tips.
- If only your own objects are selected in the Execute planning window,
they are now planned correctly.
- The performance of the planning has now been improved from the 2nd call.
Update: April, 24 2023 V4.4.8
- Since the tool tip (via mouseover a text) in Visual
Studio is limited to 5 seconds, a new method of displaying help in the Execute
Planning Window has been added.
Help texts can now be displayed for any length of time by
clicking on and off. Anywhere possible where green hints (i or hint) are
displayed.
Further adjustments to help texts will also be made later in
other Windows.
Update: April, 18 2023 V4.4.7
- Extension of the settings of Common Restrictions: The
new button <Light conditions on/off> shows the sunset and sunrise times as well
as the various twilight times.
- Adaptation of some windows to the screen resolution of the primary
screen with additional scroll bars.
- Addition of hints when determining plausibility problems in the settings.
Update: April, 11 2023 V4.4.6
Corrections in the Revise window:
- The red warning in the column Min./gr. is then displayed in green if the
column No./gr. contains a sufficient number of groups (stacks) for a triple
measurement.
- The calculation of the Transit LT column has been redesigned. A
maximum possible number of ephemeris from the JPL Horizon and Scout APIs are
loaded
for determining the transit time of the objects. This means that
not all transit times can always be displayed correctly in daylight positions, neither
extremely western nor eastern,
and especially with NEOCP objects. The transit times are only
calculated when planning is called up for the first time.
Pay attention to a realistic planning
selection, which is limited to the upcoming night session.
- The hint W in the "hint" column has been adjusted.
W in velvet green
is displayed in this color only if the duration of the object's exposures does
not exceed one hour after exceeding the transit time.
Update: April, 2 2023 V4.4.5
- Extension of the hint column in the revise window:
W in blue color means: The object is already west
of the meridian at the start time of observation.
W in velvet green color means: The object is still
east of the meridian at the start time of observation, but will cross the
meridian in the course of the observation.
In this case, you should also check the duration of observation of the
object.
- A new sub-item in the statistics: all observations.
Based on the MPC-OBS archive of the MPC, all observations of the
active station can now be displayed on a monthly basis.
Pressing the Save List button loads .jpg, .txt and .csv files into
the archive folder.
- Various corrections.
Update: March, 24 2023 V4.4.4
- Improvement of the accuracy of NEOCP ephemeris, which
are determined from the CNEOS Scout. The base of positions is now increased to
an average of 30 orbits.
The performance of the planning process is still within the
expected range.
Update: March, 22 2023 V4.4.3
- The unsightly display of the UT date in the revise for
objects beyond the following day has been fixed. The calculation of the
ephemeris for these objects has now also been corrected.
- Revision of the privacy policy: The authorization for uploading planning
data has been extended to include the update date. In addition, the user has now
also been given the option
of authorizing screenshots and ephemeris data for upload to the web
server. If these uploads are refused, the corresponding functions will be
deactivated.
Check the Privacy, please!
Update: March, 16 2023 V4.4.2
- Revision of the GEO settings with addition of an
automatic loading of the GEO data based on the observatory code.
Thanks to Bill J. Gray from the Pluto project for the freely
available CGI interface.
- The star catalogs can be loaded in the .zip version again.
Update: March, 13 2023 V4.4.1
- The progress of loading the MPCOrb.DAT is now displayed
above the progress bar.
- The star catalogs can only be loaded in the xxx.txt version, no longer as a .zip.
- Various corrections.
Latest Update: March, 5 2023 V4.4.0
- On March 4, 2023, the MPC published the NEO (620000)
with the packed number ~ 0000 in a M.P.E.C Daily Orbit Update.
All new following numbered objects are shown with the tilde in the
M.P.E.C.s. This changeover is now taken into account in the relevant programs by
Neo Planner.
- All relevant Windows from Neo Planner were provided with the .NET 'Tool
Tips' function.
In this way, explanations in the Windows can be displayed when the
mouse is guided over a text.
The extensive description of the Neo Planner functions can still be
found on the Internet via the Explanation Buttons.
Update: February, 19 2023 V4.3.15
- Fixed the display of MOID for NEOCP objects in the
Object Information Window. Additional fuchsia color if MOID = 0
- New revision of the NEO Planner update process: The process is now
largely automated.
Update: February, 5 2023 V4.3.14
- Fixed comet loading due to missing comets brighter than 10 mag.
Update: November, 13 2022 V4.3.13
- Correction of an incorrect time specification with a manual start time of the planning after midnight of the following day.
Update: November, 6 2022 V4.3.12
- Expansion of the N.I.N.A. Autofocus function on any
order in the N.I.N.A. settings.
Autofocus possible in both Execute Planning and Execute Search.
Additional separate field "Autofocus time" in the CCD settings.
Update: November, 4 2022 V4.3.11
- Installation of the N.I.N.A. "Autofocus" option as an
extension of the JSON parameters for advanced sequencing.
If checked, Autofocus is always integrated with all objects, only
takes place in Execute Planning (not in Execute Search) and is always executed
before the "Wait for" parameter.
Update: October, 30 2022 V4.3.10
- Extension of the minimum images in planning to 99. This
extension makes sense if you want to search for new objects in the planning
objects with the help of Tycho's Synthetic tracker.
- Improvement in the Revise display for the transit time of the objects.
NEO and comets now include 5 hours before dawn, NEOCP 3 hours.
Latest Update: October, 29 2022 V4.3.9
- The calculation of the exposure times at object speeds
above 99 s/min has been corrected again, sorry.
- Extension in the Object Selection setting: The selection of the minimum
and maximum speed (s/min) has been extended to NEOCP objects. The entered values
now apply to all objects.
Latest Update: October, 25 2022 V4.3.8
- The calculation of the exposure times at object speeds
above 99 s/min has been corrected.
- New window "Parking stars". The star selection for the PARK position of
the planning has been changed to free selection of the park stars.
- Correction of various bugs.
Latest Update: October, 8 2022 V4.3.7
- Start with the integration of
NEO Fixer: By pressing the "NEO
Fixer will observe" button, the plan data is transferred to NEOfixer via the API
web service.
Prior registration with NEOfixer is mandatory. Enter the NEOfixer
API key in the GEO settings of NEO Planner before using the function.
- Correction of various bugs.
Update: October, 1 2022 V4.3.6
- Important: Correction of
a time error from 1.10. a year in Execute Planning. Without this update, NEO
Pannner will not run.
- The best observation time when crossing the meridian has been corrected
for the NEOCP objects.
Update: September, 24 2022 V4.3.5
- Extension of the statistical data by total lines per country.
- Improved object selection after midnight.
- New selection field for loading comets: Number of days until the last
observation date.
In addition, the following logic is used when loading comets:
The average Vmag of the last 10 observations is used only if the last
observation is less than 2 months ago. Otherwise, the JPL T-mag is used (apparent
visual total magnitude).
Update: August, 19 2022 V4.3.4
Settings of Object Selection:
- Days of last orbit update have been extended to a maximum of
-9999.
- Only those NEOs are taken into account whose last observation date is no longer
than the specified days ago.
A period longer than one year makes sense if you also want to carry out recovery
observations.
Statistics:
- In the monthly statistics, the subtotals per country are now
also displayed when sorting by country.
A checkbox can be used to select whether you want to see all entries or
just the subtotals.
Corrections:
- The display of the UT times for NEOCP objects is now displayed
correctly.
- In the event of a NEOCP line being moved in Revise using the M function,
incorrect positions were sometimes calculated. This has been fixed.
Update: August, 13 2022 V4.3.3
Various corrections:
- When reinstalling NEO Planner, a crash occurred after
releasing the PC. This has been fixed.
- When executing planning with a central object position, no central position
was transferred to NINA if HORIZON data was missing. This has been corrected.
Update: August, 9 2022 V4.3.2
Extension of the Execute Planning Window:
- In the Execute Planning Window you now have the option to
choose between two types of centering objects for the FoV.
a. Centering the object's start position to the center of the FoV (as
before).
b. Centering the middle position of the object path to the center of the
FoV.
By centering on the middle of the object path, you get a
much longer path of fast objects per frame.
The adjusted middle positions are also taken into account in the JSON
interface for N.I.N.A. and the path is displayed correctly in the Execute
Search window.
Improved usage of the Execute Search Window:
-
Ability to display solar system objects with central object path.
- NEOCP objects are now also displayed with their path.
- Object color adjustments: yellow for star clusters, dark golden rod for solar
system objects.
- Display of stars and deep sky objects now also in the range RA 23 50 to RA 23
59.
In the more object window in the settings section you can now load *.txt or *.csv files.
- Various corrections
Update: August, 2 2022 V4.3.1
Improved usage of the Execute Search Window:
-
With a double click on any object it can be centered in the middle of the
starmap. This position is also used for the interface to N.I.N.A.
- With designations: checked -> displays existing designations of
deep sky objects in the NGC/IC catalog.
-
Without SFx: checked -> The numbers of the mosaic fields are not displayed in
the SFx format.
- Entering the position in R.A. and declination was extended by the second.
Update: July, 29 2022 V4.3.0
Significant extension of the Execute Search Window:
- Graphical display of deep sky objects. All objects of the NGC/IC
catalog can be displayed including their NGC/IC number.
- Extension of the RA/Dec. enter in Execute Search around hhmmss and sddmmss to
center objects to the arc second.
- Additional search function for all types of deep sky objects, Messier, NGC,
IC, PGC and other catalogues. Any string input is possible.
- If the search is successful, these objects are centered in the middle of the
mosaic. The coordinates are transmitted to N.I.N.A.
The extensions in Execute Search also allow the user to freely use NEO Planner
in planning to observe deep sky
objects.
When using the S function in the Revise Window, all deep sky objects in the
vicinity of the asteroids/comets
are now also displayed.
The NGC/IC catalog is loaded in the Loading tab.
Latest Update: July, 19 2022 V4.2.3
- Important: Correction of NEO Planner start sequence due to crash of JPL API - time table.
Latest Update: July, 16 2022 V4.2.2
- Extension of the Show Changes (NEOCP) window with the last observation data. Improved detection of changes on the NEOCP.
- Various corrections
Update: July, 13 2022 V4.2.1
- Correction of the S-Function in the Revise Window: Paths of objects whose path exceeds the mosaic borders in the Execute Search Window are now displayed correctly.
- Additional display of albedo and rotation period in h in the object information window.
Update: July, 10 2022 V4.2.0
- Execute Planning Window: To simulate other observation days,
leave the 'auto' field empty and enter the desired planning date in local time
in the form 'yyyy.MM.dd hh mm ss'.
NEO Planner then calculates the planning data for the date entered.
Example: Simulation of a plan from April 13, 2029, the close flyby of (99942)
Apophis.
- Extension of 'S'-Key: Pressing 'S' on an object line
in the Revise Window takes you to the Execute Search Window.
There the object position is displayed centrally with a star background at the
time of recording and the track length of the recording.
This allows one to control the path of the object
taking into account the star field and the FoV of the equipment.
- Conversion of the determination of the ephemeris of the most objects using the NASA JPL Horizons API (except comets). NEOCP objects are always determined via the JPL Scout API.
Update: June, 24 2022 V4.1.1
- Additional display of the uncertainty parameter U in the object information window. A popup menu for U is displayed on mouse hover over the U / score column.
Update: June, 22 2022 V4.1.0
- Display of each object from the Revise Window in the Execute Search Window by selecting with the 'S' key.
- In order to get the different comet classes displayed, the comets should be loaded in the loading window.
- new orbit classes are integrated into the planning process now.
The following
orbit classes can now also be integrated into the planning.
However, attention should be paid to a narrow selection of brightnesses and not
planned to be mixed with other classes.
Otherwise there is a risk of very long planning times.
Orbit classes: Mars Crosser MCA, Jupiter Trojan TJN, Centaur CEN, TransNeptunian Object TNO, Hyperbolic <Asteroid> HYA
- The Revise and Object Information Windows have been adjusted to reflect the new Orbit classes and the displays have been expanded.
- A privacy window can now be called up in the settings. The transfer of data to my secure server can now be switched on or off by the user himself.
Update: June, 8 2022 V4.0.5
The JPL API access does not work at high latitudes on the
summer solstice due to the lack of astronomical twilight.
This issue has been resolved in NEO Planner.
MPC-CGI access now only occurs if the JPL-API service fails.
- Optional display of the light conditions in the revise window. At higher latitudes only rudimentary data is shown around the summer solstice.
- The user can now regulate the transfer of data to the secure NEO Planner Server himself via the privacy window in the settings.
Update: June, 3 2022 V4.0.4
The JPL API service is currently not available. A switch to the MPC CGI service has temporarily taken place. The update to V4.0.4 is mandatory.
Latest Update: June, 2 2022 V4.0.3
Correction of various bugs:
- in the NEO ranking
window the Sentry flag was not activated. This is now fixed. Double-clicking and
Sentry label S now also takes you to the corresponding Sentry page of the object.
- The MPC CGI interface has been changed. Therefore, the description of the
clicked NEO no longer worked in the
NEO graphical platform.
This has been fixed.
- Exposure times under one second were not displayed correctly in the Revise
Window. These are now displayed correctly in the planning display and
transferred to N.I.N.A. correctly.
Additional display of the sidereal time related to 00:00h local time midnight in Execute Search.
Update: May, 31 2022 V4.0.2
Extension of the display of the star field in the Execute Search with the
checkbox "switch E/W" (East/West).
This can now be used in combination with the "switch N/S" (North/South)
checkbox.
Update: May, 29 2022 V4.0.1
Important:
The bug in N.I.N.A. when processing JSON data between declination 0 and -1
degrees has been fixed. NEO Planner has been adjusted accordingly.
Before using NEO Planner V.4.0.1, it is essential to
reinstall Beta N.I.N.A. be carried out from its
download
website.
A full screen window has been added to the Execute search
to display the star fields more accurately.
In addition, the search field names have been integrated
into the mosaic.
Several errors in selecting and displaying the sorted objects in Execute Planning have been fixed.
Update: May, 15 2022 V4.0.0 - New Version
Preparatory actions in the NEO Planner for Version 4 after the update:
1. Enter the folder for the star catalogs in the settings -> Folder and File
Structure.
2. Go to the Preparation-Loading files window and load the star catalogues.
3. Name your camera in the settings for CCD Parameters.
4. Adjusting the N.I.N.A. settings for the NEO Search.
NEO Planner now supports up to 5 cameras and equipment.
- All relevant CCD parameters can now be set separately for up
to 5 cameras.
- The camera can be selected during planning or NEO search.
A NEO search function has been added to the planner.
- To help select the search area, the mosaic of stars from the
Yale Bright Star, Tycho, Hipparchos, and UCAC3 catalogs is displayed.
- The calculated search positions of a mosaic are
prepared for
N.I.N.A. XML
and JSON integration, which enables an automatic search for Near Earth Objects.
- The mosaic function can optionally be used for any object,
including deep-sky observation.
Correction of various bugs.
Latest Update: April, 23 2022 V3.2.1
correction of various bugs.
Update: March, 22 2022 V3.2.0
New function in the planning process:
Additional parameters can now be entered
in the CCD settings:
- Width and height of the FoV of the CCD or CMOS chip.
- % rate for the maximum path of an object from the center of the image.
Additional fields are displayed in the
Revise window.
- The maximum distance the object can travel in the FoV.
- The length of the path of an object during the shooting series
The planner determines if the path length of an object has been exceeded and corrects the planning.
Update: March, 11 2022 V3.1.2
Correction when selecting objects in the
Execute Window:
- If <With NEO = N> is selected, the NEO are no longer
included in the planning procedure.
Problem creating the
JSON for N.I.N.A. has been fixed:
- If the first planning object has more than 10 digits or is a comet, the JSON
was not created correctly.
The time of the log position in the Log of Changes window is now displayed correctly.
Update: March, 6 2022 V3.1.1
New feature in the
Revise Window:
- The start time of the planning can be adjusted manually.
- Smart execute planning: Positions and times are recalculated
XML and JSON Scripts for
N.I.N.A:
- New window for
NINA settings for automatically adding object parameters in JSON format.
- parameters: Binning, Slew to RA/Dec., Slew and center, Wait for time, Solve
and Sync
- freely selectable order of the parameters.
Execute Window:
- Selection of the different object types with Y/N
Latest Update: February, 20 2022 V3.1.0
-New option when selecting objects:
Addition of Maximum speed "/min
Sort out of previously observed objects
since xx days
- Correction of the exposure time for relative speeds of the object > 1000 "/min
- XML Script for N.I.N.A to run the planning list automatically in the night session. The output takes place in the planning folder and is updated with each new plan.
Update: February, 06 2022 V3.0.9
New window in the statistics area:
Customizable graphical platform of NEO and comet discoveries since 2020.
- You can select
by year or month, or you select both
all and individual observatories.
- Clicking on an object displays information about the object,
double-clicking also opens associated links to the MPC and JPL.
Update: January, 30 2022 V3.0.8
- Some corrections in the Window NEO ranking.
- NEO Planning main window: New chart display with the monthly observations of the active observatory since 2020.
Update: January, 22 2022 V3.0.7
- Adjustment of the explanations for the NEOCP Check window.
- NEO Ranking window:
Additional sorting by object possible.
In addition, when a line is marked, the object is also marked
in the Revise and Object Information Window and
appears in the display.
Integration of the
Earth BUSY Neighborhood EBN data into the
NEO ranking incl. JPL
Sentry marking.
Update: January, 9 2022 V3.0.6
- Ephemeris Detail Window:
'Observation changed' in the header of the display changes the color to RED when
the active NEOCP check notices changes in the number of observations of the
object.
In this case the ephemeris should be recalculated. The warning message is
also displayed on the HTM page (SAVE list button).
New button 'Refresh': The calculation of the ephemeris is
carried out again with the basic settings.
- Replace the F1 and F12 key in the Revise Window for moving positions in the planning list with the F6 key, with which the new position of the object can be entered directly.
Update: January, 6 2022 V3.0.5
- Extension of the screenshot window by the possibility of creating up to four hard copies. These can now be selected on up to two screens using a snipping tool method.
Update: January, 2 2022 V3.0.4
- Creation of explanations for
the utility function screenshots.
- Some minor fixes.
Update: December, 29 2021 V3.0.3
- Log of changes on the NEOCP:
Click on a line to see all of the object's entries.
- The target name is now correctly displayed in the Show Changes and Log of
changes on the NEOCP windows during the background check.
- The target name is now updated in the log of changes on the NEOCP window for
all entries of the object.
- The sorting order of the ADD / Update timestamp now works correctly in the
Show Changes and Log of Changes on the NEOCP windows.
- The new function
Utilities / Screenshots is available:
An internal sniping tool enables
timer controlled hard copies of the screen and the
viewing of the night sessions via the website.
Update: December, 27 2021 V3.0.2
- The content of the NEOCP
Check log has been corrected.
- Creation of screenshots and automatic upload to a website in progress.
- Some minor fixes.
Update: December, 23 2021 V3.0.1
- The Object Details Window
can now be called correctly from the statistics and shows the M.P.E.C. of the
objects.
- The log of the NEOCP check now correctly shows the timestamp.
- Marking objects in the Revise or Object Information Window causes each other
to be marked.
- The calculation of the number of images/object of NEO in the Revise Window is
now based on the ephemeris of the MPC and no longer based on the last 10
measurements.
- There is now a message about a possible NEO Planner update when loading the
program.
- Some minor fixes.
Update: December, 18 2021 V3.0.0 - New Version
- Automatic background monitoring and logging enables the optical and acoustic detection of changes on the NEOCP.
- Important parameters have also been added for Tycho users. The required sky background can now also be determined using Tycho values.
Update: December, 04 2021 V2.4.5
- The new
NEO Ranking window
enables sorting according to the columns "last observation", "Earth MOID", "H",
flyby date "or flyby distance fields.
After planning has been carried out, a button in the
Object Information
Window takes you to the NEO ranking display, where you can sort the planning
list
and search for objects according to your own preferences.
Latest Update: November, 27 2021 V2.4.4
- Display of rejected objects
in a new window. After every scheduling will update the display. The reasons for
the sorting out are the location in the west and east or too close a moon
distance.
- Some small extensions and improvements.
Update: November, 13 2021 V2.4.3
- NEOCP Check can now only be
called up if an Execute Planning has been carried out beforehand.
- Small extensions and improvements.
Update: November, 06 2021 V2.4.2
- NEOCP Check has been
upgraded in the Show Changes Window by the option of sorting by object, score,
number of observations, Vmag, H, Arc, not seen,
Add / Update, R.A., Declination and Discovery date. The sorting enables a
listing according to preferences.
Changes in the columns compared to the previous NEOCP check are displayed
in dark red.
Update: October, 28 2021 V2.4.1
- Display of previous
observations of NEOCP objects published by the MPC with a double click on the
NEOCP object in the Revise, Object Information and Show Changes Windows.
- The Show Changes Window is now displayed correctly when loading or refreshing
Update: October, 21 2021 V2.4.0
Version 2.4 gives the active observer of NEOCP objects the possibility to recognize all changes on the NEOCP at the push of a button and to adapt his observation scheme accordingly.
What is new?
- The determination of the
observable NEO per observatory code is no longer carried out via the
NEAm00.txt
of the MPC, but via
the new
API Web Service of the
Horizons system
of the JPL.
This significantly reduces the loading time of the NEO's ephemeris, which
is good for the overall performance of the Execute process.
The loading of the observable NEO of the coming night is now carried out
according to the parameters defined by NEO Planner such as minimum altitude or
limitation of magnitude.
- In addition, it is now possible to call up an update of the current NEOCP
objects at any time when NEO Planner is actively loaded.
The update determines which new objects have been added to the NEOCP or
which objects have been removed from the list.
If NEOCP objects meanwhile have a M.P.E.C. publication and have received
a provisional number, NEO Planner recognizes this,
determines the new ephemeris from the MPC and then displays the object in
the Revise Window.
In addition, all changes to the NEOCP objects since the last call are
determined and highlighted in color in the Object Information Window.
This applies, for example, changes in the score, the magnitude, the last
update of timestamp or the number of observations.
Update: July, 23 2021 V2.3.16
What is new?
- Possibility of entering the
maximum brightness of NEOCP objects, NEO or comets in the Execute Planing Window.
The brightnesses are saved in the settings.
- Entry of the start time for planning is now taken into account. It can be
entered manually in the Execute Planning Window
and must be between the automatically calculated start time and midnight.
Update: July, 6 2021 V2.3.15
What is new?
- Automatic adjustment of the ListView height in information windows according to the screen resolutions of the PC or laptop.
Update: June, 22 2021 V2.3.14
What is new?
- Some fixes.
- All NEOCP objects are now integrated into the planning routines according to
the settings, which were previously selected in the neocpselect.txt file.
In earlier versions, some previously selected objects were not integrated
into the planning. This bug has been fixed. Thanks to Bernd and Christoph for
the hint!
- New design of the ephemeris display of all object types. Up to 8 hours can now
be selected. The hourly scrolling forwards and backwards via F1 and F12 is no
longer supported.
- Additional backup of the Ephemeris Window for each object as an
.HTM file.
Update: June, 18 2021 V2.3.13
What is new?
- Some fixes.
- Additional backup of the Object Information Window as an
.HTM file.
Now both the
Revise
Window and the
Object Information Window can be saved as an HTM file on the NEO Planner
Server and accessed or linked for free use on the Internet via any browser.
Update: June, 13 2021 V2.3.11 and V2.3.12
What is new?
- Some fixes.
- Additional selection E for objects in the Revise Window. Hourly display of
ephemeris from NEO, NEOCP and comets with the option to scroll forwards and
backwards.
dRA and dDec are also displayed for all objects.
- Additional backup of the Revise Window as an
.HTM file. The result of the
current planning can thus be found by anyone on the Internet at any time.
Update: May, 25 2021 V2.3.10
What is new?
- Supply of a SAVE list button to save the monthly / yearly statistics windows in .jpg, .txt and .csv format in the archive folder.
Update: May, 16 2021 V2.3.9
What is new?
- Optical adjustment of the
column widths in the Revise and Object Information window.
- Additional columns in the Revise Window: Display of the dRA and dDec proper
motion of NEOCP objects to enable the proper movement in RA and Dec for direct
tracking of the objects.
- Completion of the flyby data of objects up to 0.5 AU distance in the Object
Information window from ESA and CNEOS web services.
- Supply of a SAVE list button to save the Revise and Object Information windows in
.jpg, .txt and .csv format in the archive folder.
Thanks to Bernd Koch for his great tips! more links of Bernd: here and here
Update: April, 25 2021 V2.3.8
- Enter a desired personal
start time in the revise screen and mark the objects accordingly. The auto mode
is of course retained.
- Execute Planning selection with or without comets.
- Possibility to manage your own objects such as self-discovered asteroids or
objects of interest and to integrate them in Execute Planning.
- An extended display in the Window Object Information with date, distance in AU
/ km and lunar distances when the objects are closest,
based on
an automated data access from ESA's
NEOCC site
for NEOCP objects.
- The complete revision of the object sequence according to sidereal time and RA
position for use across all time zones and hemispheres.
Update: March, 29 2021 V2.3.7
- Complete revision of the
determination of the highest altitudes of the objects to avoid
misinterpretations.
- Due to the better performance of the access to the MPC databases, all numbered
objects within the specified parameters are now also included in the
calculations.
Objects like the well-known (99942) Apophis are thus also displayed.
Update: March, 21 2021 V2.3.6
- Expansion of statistics to
include annual overviews.
- Additional sorting of countries:
Update: January, 30 2021 V2.3.5
- Summaries of daily and monthly statistics:
All observations are
displayed per day with the option of selecting by days.
There is also a monthly statistic of all observatories with summaries of
discoveries, MPEC confirmations and daily observation updates of comets and
asteroids with sorting functions.
When clicking on objects, corresponding Informations are shown, also MPC
data and JPL orbiltal graphics of the objects are displayed in your browser.
Update: January, 10 2021 V2.3.4
- Display statistics for daily observations of the MPC.
- Double-Click on Revise, Object Information and Observation screens for links to detailed informations of the selected object on MPC and JPL sites.
Update: December, 30 2020 V2.3.3
- Including medium NEO diameter and NEO score
- Expansion of the comet selection to include the most recently
observed comets of the
CometasObs
observers.
- Improvement of the object information about the last consignment from
CometasObs.
These extensions compensate the disadvantage of the very delayed publication of new comet observations by the MPC.
Update: November, 13 2020 V2.3.2
- some corrections of program bugs while loading NEO data
Update: November, 05 2020 V2.3.2
- some corrections of program bugs
- some more explanations
- including a license code based on hardware information!
Update: October, 15 2020 V2.3.1
- CGI Query support from JPL Scout CNEOS site for NEOCP objects
- Computation of R.A. and Declination of NEOCP objects according to the observation time (Scout)
- Object Information with coloured Earth MOID - outside Moon orbit: Blue, inside Moon orbit: Green, inside half Moon orbit: Red, inside satellite orbits: Dark Red
- Colored marking of the active observatory in the object information if it has the last observation.
Update: October, 07 2020 V2.2
- Complete revision of the Execute Planning tab
- Interactive editing of the daily template in the Revise Button
- Additional Button for Object Information
Update: September, 27 2020 V2.1
- Displays the ephemeris of NEOs and comets of a calculated optimal observation time.
- Display of the meridian transit time of NEOs and comets as the
best observation time.
The best times for NEOCP objects will be recalculated in the next release.
- Activation of the NO-GO areas, useful for German mounts and others who avoid the meridian passage.
- Correction of some bugs and improving the Update feature.
These are screenshots of the first .NET version of NEO Planner in 2020. It was already possible to plan the night session of NEO and comets.