Bug fix release

This is a minor bug fix release after the first stable release 1.0.0.

Changes since V1.0.0:

• The Windows installer was built on a Windows 10 system with Python 3.5 and tested on Windows 10 only.
• A bug was fixed in adding a new camera in the configuration dialog.
• The shortcuts on the Windows desktop and in the start menu show the MPM icon without manual user action.
• The Linux distribution includes the FireCapture plugin and the user guide.

Before installation of this new version, de-install any earlier MoonPanoramaMaker version using the “Uninstall” entry in the program menu. The Windows installer and the software itself have been tested with Windows 10 Professional (1803). When the installation is complete, please do not forget to replace the MoonPanoramaMaker plugin in FireCapture's plugin directory with the new version. The Linux version has been tested on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

First stable release for Windows and Linux

Changes since V0.9.5:

• The graphical user interface (GUI) was revised substantially. Keys were renamed and arranged in a more logical way. New keys “Mark tile(s) processed” and “Exit” were added. In the configuration dialog windows, drop-down lists replace text input wherever possible.
• If the user changes a configuration parameter during the workflow, re-initialization is limited to an absolute minimum, as required by the parameter change.
• Error handling has been extended considerably. Problems in accessing external software (e.g. drivers, FireCapture program) should not cause the program to crash anymore. Instead, human-readable error messages are issued, and the program waits for a user response.
• As an alternative to ASCOM there is the option to use INDI for telescope control. Therefore, MoonPanoramaMaker can be used on Linux systems as well now.
• MoonPanoramaMaker and FireCapture can now run on different computers, even using different operating systems. In the case of INDI telescope control, the INDI server might run on a third system.
• The configuration parameter set and some default values have changed.
• The entire Python code was ported from Python 2.7 to Python 3.5. The GUI toolkit Qt4 was replaced with Qt5.
• The Windows installer (as well as the Linux tarfile) was produced with PyInstaller 3.3.1 instead of Py2exe.

Before installation of this new version, de-install any earlier MoonPanoramaMaker version using the “Uninstall” entry in the program menu. The Windows installer has been tested with Windows 7 Professional and Windows 10 Professional. When the installation is complete, please do not forget to replace the MoonPanoramaMaker plugin in FireCapture's plugin directory with the new version. The Linux version has been tested on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

If you want to use the Linux version of FireCapture together with MoonPanoramaMaker, the plugin directory "MoonPanoramaMaker" has to be copied into the FireCapture folder "plugins/x64" (exactly as explained in the user guide for the Windows case). To this end, download the file "plugins.tgz" below and unpack it in FireCapture's directory "plugins/x64". Do not forget to select the "MoonPanoramaMaker" plugin in FireCapture's pre-processing section.

For details please refer to the user guide document. A link to it is contained in the Windows start menu after installation.

Auto-alignment and other features added

Changes since V0.9.3:

• Introduction of auto-alignment. A new GUI button “Auto-Alignment on/off” was added. Several new parameters were included in the configuration dialog window.
• New option to record more than one video at each tile location.
• New option to focus on a star rather than on a lunar surface area.
• Introduction of four protocol levels with increasing level of detail. Also, readability of the protocol file was improved.
• A new landmark can be selected during the recording workflow without invalidating the tiles recorded so far. This works with both manual and automatic alignment.

Before installation of this new version, de-install any earlier MoonPanoramaMaker version using the “Uninstall” entry in the program menu. The Windows installer below has been tested with Windows 7 Professional and Windows 10 Professional (version 1703). When the installation is complete, please do not forget to replace the MoonPanoramaMaker plugin in FireCapture's plugin directory with the new version.

For details please refer to the user guide document. A link to it is contained in the Windows start menu after installation.

Important notice for Windows 10 users: If you have installed the Windows "Fall Creators Update" (Windows 10 version 1709), you have to run MoonPanoramaMaker in compatibility mode. For details, refer to this discussion on "Cloudy Nights", starting December 06: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/538627-moonpanoramamaker-released-as-open-source-software/page-2. On earlier versions of Windows 10, MoonPanoramaMaker will run out-of-the-box.

Update for FireCapture Plugin Interface V1.1

Changes since V0.9.2:

• Compatibility with FireCapture Plugin Interface V1.1, introduced with FireCapture version 2.5Beta09. Please note that MoonPanoramaMaker V0.9.3 does not work with older FireCapture versions.
• Camera rotation prompt in main window changed. The old prompt had turned out to be misleading in case the moon limb shows a strong curvature in the camera live view window.
• "Tile Arrangement Window" title changed. It now includes a notice that the moon is displayed in "normalized orientation", i.e. that south is up for waning phases.
• User Guide updated

First public release of MoonPanoramaMaker

The software has been thoroughly tested by the author, using his telescope, computer and camera. Since MoonPanoramaMaker is based on standard interfaces only, the software should work with other telescopes and cameras as well. First tests by other users are encouraging, but more independent tests are required.

The Installer was produced with Windows 7 Professional. It has been executed successfully on Windows 8 and 10 as well. When installation is complete, the installation menu contains a link to the user guide. Please read the documentation carefully before using the software.