ASTAP program has two new features. Track and Stack for minor planets and SIP 3th order polynomial

[han59]

FYI, the free ASTAP program has two new features.

The first is Track and Stack for minor planets and comets. This new feature allows to compensate for the velocity of these object and keeping them centered in the stack. This allows to improve the signal to noise ratio. The program can also extract the time and position in a MPC1992 report line to check the object in the minor planet center MPCchecker. 

Below a normal stack compared with Track and Stack. For the 60 x 120 seconds stack the two minor planets are vague streaks. The obsolete remarks indicates that the MPCORB database is obsolete. That is why the two minor planets are out of the center of the annotation:

 

The manual for Track and Stack is here: http://www.hnsky.org/astap#trackandstack

 

The second change is the possibility to add a SIP 3th order polynomial to the solution. This improves astrometric measurements and also improves the stitching of a mosaic.

Feedback is most welcome.

Han

 

 

[Paul M]

Thanks Han,

I just spotted the Track and Stack feature when I downloaded the latest version this afernoon. I'm looking for some data that I know contains an asteroid or 2 so I can try it out.

I've already played with the improved mosaic stitching. It made an excellent job of a recent 9 panel mosaic of M42 I did a few weeks ago.

[han59]

Hi Paul,

For Track and Stack use version 2024-02-25a as indicated under the menu "about".  It was released in the evening. 

[happy-kat]

Thank you I've some comet data I could try the update on

[han59]

ASTAP version 2024.03.07 is out. I have created a Youtube video to demonstrate the "track and stack" function.