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Target Templates

Target Templates allow you to overwrite the general behavior from Scheduler Configuration for specific targets.

They are useful when a certain kind of target should usually behave differently from your normal default scheduling rules.

When Target Templates Help

They are useful when you have targets that should usually use different scheduling behavior, for example:

  • a different minimum altitude
  • a different filter shooting pattern
  • a different moon-related behavior

Target template settings

Altitude And Timing

These settings control when and how long the target should be considered useful.

Min Altitude

Overrides the normal minimum altitude for targets using this template.

Max Hours Per Night

Limits how long AstroManager should spend on that target during one night.

Min Sequence Time

Defines the minimum duration AstroManager should consider for a useful sequence block.

Max Sequence Time

Defines the maximum length AstroManager should allow in one sequence block for the target.

Sequence Settings

These settings define how AstroManager should treat the target while it is being scheduled.

On Goal Complete

Defines what should happen once a goal is completed.

AstroManager supports these options:

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

If Lower Priority is used, the Lower Priority To field becomes relevant.

Lower Priority To

Defines the new lower priority value after goal completion, if that behavior is selected.

Filter Shooting Pattern

Defines how filters should be scheduled for this target.

AstroManager supports these patterns:

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

Batch Size

Used only when the shooting pattern is Batch.

Defines how many exposures AstroManager should take before switching to the next filter.

Dither Every X

Defines after how many exposures AstroManager / N.I.N.A. should dither.

0 disables dithering from this template.

Moon Settings

These settings define how the moon should affect targets using this template.

Use Moon Avoidance

Turns moon avoidance on or off for targets using this template.

See Moon Avoidance.

Min Moon Phase

Defines the minimum moon phase percentage allowed for targets using this template.

Max Moon Phase

Defines the maximum moon phase percentage allowed for targets using this template.

This can be useful if a certain target type should only be considered in darker lunar conditions.