Version: 1.0.0
Release Date: 29-September-2024
Availability: Download from https://github.com/ogecko/alpaca-benro-polaris
Win11 Install: Demonstration Video at https://youtu.be/ipbWT54afhY
MacOS Install: Demonstration Video at https://youtu.be/ZT91dpLObP8
- [Telescope Control]: Provides comprehensive control over the telescope.
- [Larger Catalog]: Includes an extensive catalog of celestial objects, surpassing the BP App.
- [GOTO Coordinates]: Command the Benro Polaris to move to a selected target with a simple click.
- [Move Axis]: Control the primary and secondary axes of the Benro Polaris for precise adjustments.
- [Move Rate]: Adjust the movement speed across a continuous range from slow to fast.
- [Slewing Status]: Monitor the Polaris movement status as it slews to a new target.
- [Aligned Status]: Indicates the alignment status of the Polaris.
- [Reticle Position]: Instantly recognize the telescope’s current pointing position.
- [Reticle FOV]: Customize the reticle size to match your camera and lens setup for accurate framing.
- [Sync Coordinates]: Improve aiming accuracy by syncing with a known celestial object.
- [Sync Alignment]: Ensure Polaris alignment by syncing with a known celestial object.
- [Sync Location]: Send Stellarium’s site altitude and azimuth to the driver for accurate positioning.
- [Sync Time]: Check that Stellarium and Driver times are in sync for precise tracking.
- [Network Comms]: Connects to the driver over the network using the SynScan protocol.
- [OS Supported]: Supports IOS and Android.
- [Hardware Supported]: Supports iPad, Tablets and Mobile Phones.
- [Telescope Control]: Provides comprehensive control over the telescope.
- [Even Larger Catalog]: Includes an extensive catalog of celestial objects, surpassing the BP App.
- [What’s Up Tonight]: A tool for planning the best celestial objects to observe.
- [GOTO Coordinates]: Command the Benro Polaris to move to a selected target with a simple click.
- [Slew Telescope To]: More flexible dialog to control Polaris target selection and syncing.
- [Reticle Position]: Instantly recognize the telescope’s current pointing position.
- [Reticle FOV]: Customize the reticle size to match your camera and lens setup for accurate framing.
- [Sync Coordinates]: Improve aiming accuracy by syncing with a known celestial object.
- [Sync Alignment]: Ensure Polaris alignment by syncing with a known celestial object.
- [Full Customization]: Allows users to customize what is shown and how it is shown.
- [App Extendability]: A library of plug-ins that add additional functionality to the application.
- [Win11 Network]: Connects to the driver over the network using Alpaca protocol.
- [MacOS Network]: Connects to the driver over the network using Binary protocol.
- [OS Supported]: It supports MacOS, Linux and Windows.
- [Hardware Supported]: It supports Laptops and Desktops.
- [Telescope Control]: Provides comprehensive control over the telescope.
- [Larger Catalog]: Includes an extensive offline catalog of celestial objects, surpassing the BP App.
- [GOTO Coordinates]: Command the Benro Polaris to slew to a selected target.
- [Abort Slew]: Immediately stop the Benro Polaris movement during a slew operation.
- [Park UnPark]: Reset the three Benro Polaris axes position.
- [Tracking Control]: Enable or disable the Polaris sidereal tracking.
- [Move Alt/Az Axis]: Control the azimuth and altitude axes for precise adjustments.
- [Move Equatorial Axis]: Control the right ascension and declination axes for precise adjustments.
- [Move Rate]: Adjust the movement speed across a continuous range from slow to fast.
- [Equipment Setup]: Support discovering and connecting various astronomy equipment.
- [Sky Atlas]: Enables offline searching and filtering of deep sky objects.
- [Framing Images]: Helps visualize and plan shots offline, including panoramas.
- [Flat Wizard]: Finds optimal exposure settings and captures flat images for stacking.
- [Target Sequencing]: Plan target slewing, centering, syncing, and image capture.
- [Image Capture]: Allows for live monitoring and control of image capture.
- [Options Settings]: Allows customization of image directories and naming conventions.
- [Autofocus Run]: Optimize the focusing of your lens, initiated manually or within a sequence.
- [Star Detection]: Robust star detection algorithm with annotations, history, and customization.
- [Plate Solving]: Identifies Polaris orientation by matching stars in an image to a database.
- [Target Centering]: Iteratively aims the Polaris at a target using plate-solving until within tolerance.
- [Sync Aligning]: Aligns the Polaris with a known celestial object by observation or plate solving.
- [3 Point Alignment]: Accurately polar align a telescope using three reference points.
- [N Point Alignment]: Accurately polar align a telescope using multiple reference points.
- [Drift Correction]: Compensate for the telescope’s drift-off target.
- [Tilt Analysis]: Allows review of SyncOffsets around the 360° Azimuth axis
- [Simple Setup]: Allows Polaris compass and polar alignment with a single plate-solve.
- [Network Comms]: Connects to the driver over the network using Alpaca protocol.
- [OS Supported]: Supports Windows.
- [Hardware Supported]: Supports Laptop, Desktop, MiniPC, SurfacePC
- [Client Supported]: Supports Local UI, Remote Desktop, and Mobile Remote Desktop Apps.
- [Cameras Supported]: Support additional camera models through the ASCOM platform.
- [Sony Nina Plugin]: Supports Sony Cameras and Lens.
- [ASCOM ConformU]: Passes standard validation tests for ITelescopeV3.
- [Driver Discovery]: Provides Alpaca Discovery services.
- [ASCOM Alpaca Protocol]: Supports the ASCOM Alpaca protocol.
- [SynSCAN Protocol]: Supports the SynSCAN protocol (for StellariumPLUS).
- [Stellarium Binary Protocol]: Supports the Binary Protocol (for MacOS Stellarium Desktop).
- [Polaris Protocol]: Supports the Benro Polaris protocol.
- [Refraction Correction]: Adjusts for atmospheric refraction to improve aiming accuracy.
- [Aim Correction]: Adjusts for consistent Polaris inaccuracy on goto Alt/Az.
- [Time Correction]: Adjusts for time delay caused by Polaris backlash removal.
- [Pointing Model]: Support Alt/Az and RA/Dec Sync Offset pointing models.
- [Goto Coordinates] Supports GOTO target, Alt/Az, Ra/Dec. Sync or aSync.
- [Move Axis]: Controls the movement of primary, secondary and tertiary axes.
- [Move Equatorial]: Controls the movement of RA, Dec axes.
- [Park Unpark]: Allows reset of all axis positions.
- [Sync Aligning]: Aligns the Polaris with a known celestial object by observation or plate solving.
- [N Point Alignment]: Accurately polar align a telescope using multiple reference points.
- [Drift Correction]: Compensate for the telescope’s drift-off target.
- [Tilt Analysis]: Allows review of SyncOffsets around the 360° Azimuth axis
- [Simple Setup]: Allows Polaris compass and polar alignment with a single plate-solve.
- [Configurable Settings]: Allows tailoring of Driver behavior via config.toml
- [Site Location]: Allows command line parameters, config.toml, Synscan, and Alpaca location sync.
- [AHRS Data Logging]: Logs data from the Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS).
- [Move Rate Data Logging]: Logs movement rates of the telescope’s axes.
- [Diagnostics Logging]: Captures detailed logs of system operations and errors.
- [Watchdog Timer]: Monitors the health of the Driver/Polaris, taking action when needed.
- [Comms Recovery]: Automatically recovers communication with applications.
- [Network Comms]: Connects to the Polaris over the WiFi network
- [Nina Support]: Support the latest version of Nina
- [Stellarium Desktop Support]: Support the latest version of Stellarium Desktop.
- [StellariumPLUS Support]: Support the latest version of StellariumPLUS for mobile.
- [Dark Site Support]: Allows operation, even without an internet connection.
- [OS Supported]: Supports Windows, Linux, MacOS, RaspberryOS, Docker.
- [Hardware Supported]: Supports Laptop, Desktop, MiniPC, SurfacePC, Raspberry Pi
- [Client Supported]: Supports Local UI, Remote Desktop, and Mobile Remote Desktop Apps.
- [Cameras Supported]: Support additional camera models through the ASCOM platform.
- [Video Demonstrations]: Visual demonstrations of installation and operation.
- [Full Documentation]: Hardware, Installation, Nina, Stellarium, Troubleshooting and FAQ Guides.
Please let us know if you can try any of these features.
- [Raspberry Pi]: Supports running on Raspberry Pi Zero2, Pi 4, and Pi 5.
- [Docker Support]: Supports running in Docker containers.
- [Lumix Nina Plugin]: Supports Panasonic Lumix Cameras and Lens. Untested.
- [Pentax on ASCOM]: ASCOM Camera driver supports a range of cameras. Untested.
- [BP Keepalive]: Implement Wifi Keepalive, reduce phone battery usage, by closing BP App.
- [AHRS Keepalive]: Ensure AHRS continues to inform of position updates.
- [Stelarium Lag]: Longevity testing of Stellarium introduced lag in position readout.
- [Network Recovery]: Improved network communications recovery.
- [Network Exceptions]: Handle more Win and MacOS network exceptions.
- [Park Reliability]: Ensure tracking is disabled before Parking.
- [Sync Function]: Correct Sync operation to pass ConformU tests.
- [Sync To Polaris]: Implement alignment command for Polaris.
- [Refraction Correction]: Adjusts for atmospheric refraction to improve the accuracy.
- [StellariumPLUS coord]: Translate SynScan Epoch to J2000.
- [Move Rate Continuity]: Improve Move Rate continuity from 5.01 to 6.00.
- [Install Guide]: Improve MacOS and Win installation guide based on Beta feedback.
- [Docs Improvement]: Numerous documentation improvements and better troubleshooting.
- Benro Polaris Hw 1.3.1.4, Firmware V6.0.0.40, Astro V1.0.2.11
- Canon R5, RF 16mm, EF 35mm MkII, RF 135mm, RF 100-500mm, RF 800mm.
- Canon R6 Mk II connected via USB3
- Canon R, 16mm 2.8, 24-240mm f4-6.3
- Canon 6D MkII, Canon EF 50mm f1.8
- Canon 800D, Sigma DC 17-50mm f2.8, Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3
- Nikon Z8 (z14-24mm F2.8)
- Sony Alpha 7R IV
- Pentax K1 150-450mm / Irix 45mm
- ZWO ASI585MC camera, a Sigma 120-400mm and 1.4x extender.
- MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Pro CPU (ABP Driver and CCDCiel)
- MacBook Pro 14” 2021
- MacBook Pro 13” 2013
- Mele Quieter 4C, Intel N100 800Mhz (ABP Driver and Nina)
- Minis Forum UM350 (ABP Driver and Nina)
- ASUS Vivobook Pro 16X OLED K6604JV (ABP Driver and Nina)
- Laptop Windows 10 Home (ABP Driver and Nina)
- Desktop PC, AMD 7950X (Stellarium Desktop, Siril)
- Desktop PC, AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- iPhone 13 Max (Stellarium Mobile PLUS)
- iPad Pro 3rd Generation
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Stellarium Mobile PLUS)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
- Benro Polaris Android App v3.0.27, iOS App v1.4.4,
- Stellarium Mobile PLUS v1.12.9 Android and iOS.
- Stellarium Desktop v24.2.0 Windows
- Nina v3.1.1.9001, HocusFocus v3.0.0.17, ASTAP 2024.08.11
- Nina v3.1.2.9001, HocusFocus v3.0.0.18, LensAF v2.1.0.2, Scope Control v2.0.2.0
- CCDciel Version beta 0.9.87-3346 Windows
- Siril v1.2.3 de49749
- Windows Remote Desktop v10.0.22621
- ASCOM Platform 7 RC7
- ASCOM Platform 6.6 SP2
- Windows 11 Pro v23H2,
- Windows 10
- MacOS Sonoma 14.6.1
- MacOS Sequoia 15
- iOS 17.6
- iPadOS v17.6.1
- [Sky Safari 7 Plus]: One Beta tester was unable to connect to Sky Safari 7 Plus.
- [Stellarium 24.3]: Stellarium Desktop v24.3 has known issues with telescope control. See Troubleshooting S2.
- [Raspberry Pi] Official support and testing on Raspberry Pi
- [Docker Support] Official support and testing on Docker.
- [Sky Safari] Official support and testing on Sky Safari.
- [CCDciel Support]: Official support and testing for CCDciel for MacOS.
- [Stellarium MacOS]: Add position update support to the Stellarium Binary protocol.
- [Software Delivery]: Deliver as an App rather than a zip file, eliminating the command line.
- [WiFi Setup]: Eliminate the need for BP App to set up Polaris WiFi Hotspot.
- [Astro Mode Setup]: Eliminate the need for the BP App to manually change mode to Astro and align.
- [Setup GUI]: Deliver a Graphical UI to manage config.toml and provide a base UI.
- [Control GUI]: Deliver a Graphical UI for Telescope Control, as a multi-platform web app.
- [Drift Repport] Develop an automated test for drift over a movable range of Polaris.
- [INDI support]: Add support for INDI protocol, enabling apps like KStars.
- [Emedded Driver]: The driver should be embedded on the Benro Polaris Device. Benro Change.
- [Pulse Guiding]: Allow micro-move axis commands while tracking without backlash. Benro Change.
- [None Known]: No features deprecated as this is the first release.