Starmap PRO

Starmap’s timer will help you in taking exposure sequences if you have no automatic camera control on your desktop computer. The timer act as a timer preset (count down) or as a chronometer. In order to set the time, touch one of the two icons in the bottom menu bar and use the wheels to set the time. Once done, press the Set button in the menu bar. Your timer is ready.

Then choose the kind of image — exposure, dark or flat — and if this is a single shot or a serie. The timer starts counting. You can pause or rewind it if something is wrong in your setup, or if you have to start over an exposure. All photos timer operations automatically add entries to the logbook. Aborting or skipping the image of a series will not add it to the logbook.

You may link the photos timer to any object by simply pressing the Timer button in the bottom menu bar of an object’s detailed panel. Its altitude and azimuth at the time the photo has been taken will be included in the logbook entry.

The logbook of Starmap does not only record photo sessions. It is also a handy notepad where you can store the information you always need at hand, like camera settings or former telescope adjustements. To enter a new note, touch the Logbook icon in the main menu. From the logbook entries list, touch the + button in the top menu bar to add a new note. Touch the edition area to let appear the keyboard. Once done, press Save. All notes are editable, including those created by the photos timer. You can include comments to you photo shooting. To erase a note, simply swipe it with your finger over it, as in all other iPhone applications.

An alarm clock can be very useful during an observation session, for instance reminding you that an object will reach it’s transit in 15 minutes, letting you enough time to prepare the exposure. Alarms can also be used for planning your observation session.

Touch the Alarm icon in the main menu to reach the alarms list. Touch the + button in the Alarms menu to add a new alarm. An alarm can be erased from the list by swiping your finger across it.

Alarms can be related to objects rise, transit and set times. In all objects detailed panel, press the Alarm + icon in the bottom menu bar. This shows the alarm editor. Choose one event kind in the bottom menu bar — rise, transit or set time — and modify the time with the scrollers. Alarms can be modified anytime from the Alarms menu. Simply touch the alarm to edit it.

IMPORTANT: like all iPhone applications, Starmap cannot run in background and alarms will be suspended if you leave or temporarily put it to sleep (sleep mode can be disabled from the Navigation settings). Alarms will be active again when launching Starmap or waking up the device. Alarms overdue for more than 12 hours are ignored.