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Scheduler Configuration

Scheduler Configuration defines the general scheduling behavior AstroManager should use when more than one target is possible.

What This Influences

Scheduler configuration affects things like:

  • which target AstroManager prefers first
  • how AstroManager ranks viable targets
  • how filters should be scheduled within a target
  • how long a target may run in one night
  • how AstroManager behaves when no target is available
  • how AstroManager reacts to runtime errors

When To Care About It

You do not need to master scheduler configuration before your first test night.

It becomes more important when:

  • you run larger target queues
  • you want more predictable automation
  • you want finer control over scheduling decisions

How It Fits Into The System

First, you define one or many scheduler configurations. One of them is set as the global default.

Then, in the Remote Control Dashboard, you can assign a different default scheduler configuration per client.

Finally, in the N.I.N.A. Scheduler, you can choose whether AstroManager should use the default scheduler configuration for that client or a specific scheduler configuration.

Some of these settings can also be overridden later:

Scheduler configuration settings

Target Selection Strategies

The scheduler supports a primary, secondary, and tertiary target-selection strategy.

These strategies define how AstroManager ranks viable targets when more than one target is currently possible.

Currently supported strategies are:

  • Priority First AstroManager prefers the target with the lowest priority value first. (Priority 5 is preferred over 42)
  • Altitude First AstroManager prefers the target that is currently higher in the sky.
  • Time First AstroManager prefers the target with the shortest observability window first.
  • Highest Time First AstroManager prefers the target with the largest observability window first.
  • Higher Completion First AstroManager prefers the target that is already further along in its completion progress.
  • Moon Avoidance First AstroManager prefers the target whose filters require the largest moon-avoidance distance first.

You can combine these strategies by setting a primary, secondary, and tertiary rule.

Weighted Mode

AstroManager also supports a dedicated Weighted Mode for more advanced target ranking.

In this mode, the scheduler does not just compare one strategy after another. Instead, it combines multiple weighted factors into one ranking result.

This is especially useful when you want more nuanced scheduling behavior, for example:

  • preferring targets that are already well progressed
  • still rewarding good current altitude or time-window fit
  • defining thresholds so weak candidates drop out before weighting matters

Weighted Mode also includes a preview so you can inspect how AstroManager currently ranks targets before you use the configuration in a real session.

Weighted scheduler mode and completion strategy

Filter Shooting Pattern

Filter Shooting Pattern controls how AstroManager should schedule imaging goals within one target.

AstroManager currently supports these patterns:

  • Parallel Rotate through imaging goals continuously, for example R -> G -> B -> R -> G -> B.
  • Batch Shoot a batch of exposures per imaging goal before switching, for example RRR -> GGG -> BBB.
  • Sequential Complete one imaging goal before moving to the next, for example RRRR... -> GGGG... -> BBBB....

Main Scheduler Settings

Min Altitude

Defines the minimum altitude at which a target is still considered schedulable.

Imaging Efficiency

Defines the expected efficiency of the night.

This helps AstroManager estimate how much useful imaging time will actually be available compared to the raw slot duration. This is used in Night Preview.

Min Sequence Time

Defines the minimum duration of a scheduling slot.

If the remaining schedulable time for a target is shorter than this value, AstroManager will not schedule it for that slot.

Max Hours Per Target Per Night

Limits how long a single target should be scheduled during one night.

Target Completion Behavior

Defines what AstroManager should do once all imaging goals of a target are considered complete.

AstroManager supports these options:

  • Stop Stop scheduling this target once its imaging goals are complete.
  • Lower Priority Lower the target to a reduced priority value and keep it available for the scheduler.
  • Continue Keep scheduling the target at the same priority even after the goals are complete.

If Lower Priority is used, you can also define the new lower priority value.

Use Moon Avoidance

Enables or disables moon avoidance checks.

Error Handling

Scheduler configuration also controls how AstroManager behaves when there is no useful target or when a runtime problem happens.

No Target Behavior

Defines what AstroManager should do when no valid target is currently available.

AstroManager supports these options:

  • Stop Sequence Stop the running sequence when no valid target is currently available.
  • Wait and Check Again Wait for a defined time, then ask AstroManager again whether a target has become valid.
  • Image Completed Targets Continue shooting already-completed targets instead of idling.

Regardless of the selected no-target behavior, AstroManager will stop scheduling for the current night once it determines that no target can become available anymore during the remaining night.

No Target Wait Minutes

Defines how many minutes AstroManager should wait before checking again when Wait and Check Again is selected.

During that waiting period, AstroManager will automatically stop mount tracking.

Error Behavior

Defines what AstroManager should do when an error occurs during runtime.

AstroManager supports these options:

  • Stop Sequence Stop the sequence immediately when the retry limit is reached.
  • Wait and Retry Wait for a defined time and retry the failed operation.
  • Skip Target Skip the current target and move on to another one.
  • Skip Target Temporarily Skip the current target for a while, then allow it to become eligible again later in the night.

Max Error Retries

Defines how many retry attempts AstroManager should allow before the selected error behavior is applied.

Error Wait Minutes

Defines how many minutes AstroManager should wait before retrying when Wait and Retry is selected.

During that waiting period, AstroManager will automatically stop mount tracking.

Error Skip Duration Minutes

Defines how many minutes AstroManager should skip the current target before it becomes eligible again when Skip Target Temporarily is selected.