What's New with RTGUI+S and its Related Files

2010

April 14, 2010: Release 8.5.

 

  • Modified Search Wizard to work with catalogs containing different kinds of deep-sky objects (specifically, the Herschel 400 Catalog).
    • Increased the number of COM ports from 8 to 32. Earlier problems with using COM ports > COM9 are fixed. Added visible search status during COM search to provide feedback showing where delays might be occurring.
      • COM search now performed only on demand, no longer automatic. Once a COM port is selected and stored, there is no need to scan again unless you wish to change it.
        • Added 109 of the brighter and more popular Carbon Stars (of bright red hue) to FULL.RTG
          • Modified the Search Wizard to include searches for Carbon Stars, and Quasars (already in FULL.RTG). Fixed bug in checking magnitude limit. 
            • Now using Ver. 7.52 of Alzip to create self-extracting code. This allows the self-extractor to run OK on 64-bit versions of Windows . Previously, RTGUI would run OK on 64-bit systems, but the self-extractor failed.
              • No longer prompts for deletion of obsolete asteroid or comet data. Deletion is automatic when the object is selected, and updated positions are obtained from the internet (if connected).
              • Changed all instances where "GMT" was displayed to read "UTC".
                • Changed name of temporary file containing comet or asteroid data as received from "mpe.tmp" to "MpeTmp.txt"

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                  March 11, 2010: Bug detected in catalog-building utility "addconst.exe". File was fixed and updated.

                  2009

                  Feb. 18, 2009: Release 8.4

                  • Fixed name display problem for comets & asteroids. Re-labelled some name fields.
                  • Fixed problem reading newer Meade  latitude string including seconds.
                  • Fixed bug involving "maximum altitude" keeping planets out of 'Best of Sky'.
                  • Changes to FULL.RTG to prevent larger NGC numbers turning up first during searches for smaller ones.
                  • Bug fix to prevent RTGUI Icon from being created more than once.
                  • Created new Celestron telescope selection, "NexRemote". Introduces character delays  when sending to virtual serial port. Use with all model telescopes when using NexRemote program.
                  • Added Constellation names to objects in RADIO.RTG .
                  • Several small bug fixes in Search Wizard form.
                  • Number of COM ports increased from 8 to 12.
                  • New Scripting command, "SKY" (invokes skychart of selected object)

                  2008

                  Aug. 14: New catalogs: Sharpless catalog of H II objects (mostly in the northern sky), and the RCW catalog of H-alpha objects (mostly in the southern sky). These are emission nebulae, representing star forming regions, and are best observed using a nebular filter. Catalogs are in theFiles->Catalogs area of the Yahoo Group for RTGUI.

                  May 8: Release 8.3

                  Bug fix: calculated transit altitudes for moon, sun, and planets were incorrect (catalog objects were OK).

                  New Feature: "Maximum Altitude" is now an option in the Search Wizard. Use this option when you do not wish to observe objects close to the zenith. Some scopes (and some peoples' necks) would prefer not to be looking directly overhead. The default value is 90 degrees, so if you ignore this field it will have no effect.

                  April 2: Release 8.2.
                  Disabled "OK" button on Comet/Asteroid form after it's pressed. (Pressing twice caused program to hang.)

                  Changed comet/asteroid position request to include current hour as start time. (Apparently the MPE Center changed it so that the current hour is not, by default, included, causing "load error" for first 30 minutes of each hour.)

                  2007

                  July 19: Release 8.1.
                  Literals for Asteroid and Comet names: Because the Minor Planet and Comet Ephemeris database is case-sensitive (and in a non-intuitive way!), RTGUI reformats all names entered to a format that has been found to work. However, to allow for unusual cases where RTGUI's reformatting may not be correct, "names entered inside quotes" will be presented to the database exactly as typed. Fixed name-formatting bug for comets having two letters in their designation (Example: C/2006 VZ13). Fixed problem in deleting obsolete transient file. (File could be deleted using "Delete" button, but auto-delete and update was not working). Fixed bug where the existence of a previous 60-day positions' file for an asteroid prevented Near Earth Object positions (24 hours) from being downloaded for the same object.
                  Additional features: Commas now added to separate the different fields in file MATCHES.TXT. This allows the data generated to be imported easily into spreadsheets such as Excel. A few objects in FULL.RTG had commas in the name field; these have been replaced with semicolons. (Commas in a name field in a catalog will mess up the columns in the spreadsheet.)
                  Name of current location file (default:rtgui.hom) is now displayed in the bottom left corner, to help you remember which location you have loaded. Some revisions to "Best of Sky" double stars (promotions and demotions).

                  April 20: Updates to Scripting Document concerning use of of Transient Catalogs: Explains how to use RTGUI scripts to position telescope to comets or asteroids. (Brings the Scripting documentation up-to-date for the new features for Release 8.) See http://scripting.rtgui.com/ .