Image maps are often built into astronomical image capturing software. They allow the screen output from the imaging camera to be mapped so that from one imaging session to the next the camera may be exactly aimed at the same patch of sky with the same orientation. Image maps typically work on the basis that the positions of a few individual field stars are exactly plotted on screen and when the camera is re-aimed at the same target object the plots are used to reposition the same stars at their respective on-screen plot locations. Image maps serve two main purposes :
1. as mentioned, to reposition the camera's aim between imaging sessions, and
2. to correct for field rotation between image exposures in the same imaging session.
ImagingMap provides a universal imaging mapping tool for use if your image acquisition software does not have an image mapping feature or you would prefer not to use it. ImagingMap allows up to twenty plots to be displayed.
One benefit of using ImagingMap is that each plot can be annotated with its own caption. For example a caption could be "Centre of the galaxy" or it could be "Brighter of two stars in upper left corner". The annotations may allow you to better remember which particular stars were chosen as plot points. Captions may be displayed or hidden as you choose. Another benefit is the option to rotate the imaging map by 180 degrees so allowing a map for any given target object to be used either side of a meridian flip when it is not practical or desirable to rotate the imaging camera.
1. as mentioned, to reposition the camera's aim between imaging sessions, and
2. to correct for field rotation between image exposures in the same imaging session.
ImagingMap provides a universal imaging mapping tool for use if your image acquisition software does not have an image mapping feature or you would prefer not to use it. ImagingMap allows up to twenty plots to be displayed.
One benefit of using ImagingMap is that each plot can be annotated with its own caption. For example a caption could be "Centre of the galaxy" or it could be "Brighter of two stars in upper left corner". The annotations may allow you to better remember which particular stars were chosen as plot points. Captions may be displayed or hidden as you choose. Another benefit is the option to rotate the imaging map by 180 degrees so allowing a map for any given target object to be used either side of a meridian flip when it is not practical or desirable to rotate the imaging camera.
Use the Controls page to size and position the imaging frame rectangle around you camera's screen image, position each plot within that frame, change the color of the imaging frame and the plots and save and retrieve image maps to/from file. If necessary you can rescale your map to suit larger or smaller screen displays of your camera's output.
Use the Plots page to supply an image map name, to show or hide individual plots and to add captions.
Use the yellow arrows to collapse and expand the two pages. The smaller size of the collapsed pages allows more room on your screen for the image capturing software that you are using.
The night vision option helps to preserve your dark adapted eyes.
Example on-screen display of camera's output.
Same on-screen display with an image map using five plots. The captions are hidden.
The same image map showing captions.
The Help page gives a quick introduction to the use of the controls on the other two pages.