Core Concepts¶

Observatory

The location of the rig. It defines darkness windows, observability, moon separation, and the sky AstroManager should calculate against.

Equipment

Your imaging setup: telescope or lens, camera, filters, and the related context AstroManager needs for planning and framing.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are where you collect interesting ideas before they become active work. They are for planning, comparing, and organizing, not for tonight's execution.

Target

A target has moved from idea stage into active work. AstroManager will now evaluate and schedule it when conditions are suitable.

Think of it as: This is officially in my active imaging queue.

Imaging Goal

An imaging goal defines what you want to capture for one target.

Examples: L 180s x 60, R 180s x 20, G 180s x 20, B 180s x 20

Exposure Template

An exposure template is a reusable configuration for imaging goals, so you do not have to enter the same LRGB or narrowband plan over and over.

Moon Avoidance

Moon avoidance rules help AstroManager decide which filters and goals are still sensible under current moon distance and moon phase conditions.

Scheduler Configuration

Scheduler configurations adjust the scheduling behaviour.

Examples: What should happen if all imaging goals of a target are completed? In what order should the imaging goals be scheduled? ...

Target Template

Target templates are used to override the Scheduler Configuration only for specific targets.

Example: Minimum required Altitude of the Target.

Image Grading

Image grading settings control how AstroManager evaluates captured images so you can sort cleaner subs from weak ones more quickly.

Runtime Safety Settings

Runtime safety settings define how AstroManager should react to different events like disconnects of equipment, changes in weather conditions, etc.