June 24 2026 APP 2.0.0-beta46 has been released !
Improved internal memory configuration (lower ! memory usage), fixed beta45 startup issue, fixed Set Save Directory & 2-panel mosaics.
May 27 2026 APP 2.0.0-beta45 has been released !
Fully Multi-Threaded LNC, many improvements for the registration engine, platform upgrade, and further tuning of internal memory consumption and memory release back to OS.
Apr 14 2026: Google Pay, Apple Pay & WeChat Pay added as payment options
Update on the 2.0.0 release & the full manual
We are getting close to the 2.0.0 stable release and the full manual. The manual will soon become available on the website and also in PDF format. Both versions will be identical and once released, will start to follow the APP release cycle and thus will stay up-to-date to the latest APP version.
Once 2.0.0 is released, the price for APP will increase. Owner's license holders will not need to pay an upgrade fee to use 2.0.0, neither do Renter's license holders.
Hello, do I need to retake flats after I rotate the camera or will APP compensate by automatically rotating the master flat? Right now I'm retaking them after every camera rotation but it takes awhile because I'm shooting in SHO narrowband. Thanks, Alan
@soylentgreen66 That depends on what you mean with "camera rotation". If you mean "after a meridian flip where the camera keeps the same position with respect to the telescope" then no, you don't need to take flats and yes, APP will detect this and will apply the flats correctly. If you mean "the camera rotates with respect to the telescope" for instance when using a rotator or by manually changing the camera orientation then yes, you will need to retake the flats. For flats, the important aspect is whether or not the properties of the entire optical system have changed. In case of a meridian flip, those properties don't change. In case of removing the camera from the telescope and putting it back on or rotating the camera with respect of the telescope then the properties do change.
Hello thanks, I meant the latter. I rotate the camera orientation with a rotator to better frame the subject. OK, good to know that you need to take new flats everytime. Now, I'm curious how people with an alt-az style mount and a motorized derotator handles flats.
I'm guessing not really as the problem remains that the dust (for instance) rotates along with the rotation of the camera.
By "not really", do you mean that you can't use flats with an alt-az mount and motorized de-rotator or do you mean I don't need to retake flats if I rotate the camera orientation. Sorry, the way I phrased my 2nd question was unclear.
Well, that's why I also mention "I'm guessing". 😉 I never used an AltAz like that so it'll depend on what exactly it does. If the sensor is rotated in respect to the stars or the filters in front of the sensor, you need flats for almost every angle. If the entire system stays the same and only the stars rotate due to the entire system rotating the same, then you can keep using the same flats. A meridian flip doesn't change the system which is why you can keep using the same flats as well.
