------------ Astroart 9.0 Service Pack release notes -------------


Version 9.0 SP2 - September 25, 2025
--------------------------------

 * New feature. Saving of compressed FITS.
 * New feature. Stars information from the Simbad web site.
 * New feature. Several new commands in the Stars Window.
 * New feature. Two focusers can be controlled at a time.
 * New feature. 16 switches supported, with multi-state.
 * New feature. Log files for instrumentation.
 * New feature. Script commands for easy logging.
 * New feature. Safety monitors.
 * Improved. Opening the MPCOrb is 2x faster.
 * Improved. "Compare" button in the DDP window.
 * Improved. Selected points in Blink are more visible.
 * Improved. The N/E marker is saved with antialias in graphic files.
 * Improved. Option for automatic saving of processing history in FITS.
 * Improved. User defined font size in reports and batch photometry.
 * Improved. Several new keyboard shortcuts.
 * Improved. "Connect All" dialog box with more options.
 * Improved. Buttons for parking and homing the dome.
 * Bug fix. Moving the mask failed sometimes.
 * Bug fix. The dialog window for Resize failed sometimes.
 * Bug fix. User comments in ADES reports were not compatible.
 * Bug fix. The "Save JPEG" window did not show the correct zoom.
 * Bug fix. Some NGC objects could not be searched.
 * Bug fix. The "Merge" command was not saved in the History. 


Version 9.0 SP1 - February 12, 2025
--------------------------------

 * New feature. Filter for removing bright and dark spots.
 * New feature. Filter for reducing seams in mosaics.
 * New feature. Flat fields for color cameras in grayscale or color.
 * New feature. Resize with Lanczos interpolation.
 * New feature. Opening of compressed FITS images.
 * New feature. Reading of ILP preprocessing files.
 * New feature. Option for ADES file format for MPC reports.
 * New feature. Annotations with live equatorial coordinates in the text.
 * New feature. Window for controlling the FlatPanel.
 * New feature. Two switches can be controlled.
 * New feature. Several camera setups can be saved.
 * New feature. Focusing and guiding on a sunspot.
 * New feature. User defined minimum altitude for telescope GOTOs.
 * New feature. Script commands for trichromy and for opening masks.
 * Improved. Better antialiasing for thumbnails in the browser.
 * Improved. Better hot pixels correction for RGB demosaic.
 * Improved. Preview for hot pixels correction in RGB demosaic.
 * Improved. Equatorial coordinates can be shown without the grid.
 * Improved. Opacity for equatorial grid when saving JPEG/TIFF.
 * Improved. Recent files for masks.
 * Improved. Software binning up to 8x8.
 * Improved. Rotate shows the rotation angle for calibrated images.
 * Improved. Moving a selection shows a crosshair for centering.
 * Improved. Better algorithm for focusing on a spectrum.
 * Improved. The name of the sequence can be set from the last GOTO.
 * Bug fix. Demosaic with binning 2x2 did not update the WCS.
 * Bug fix. Equatorial grid was saved with a wrong color in JPEG/TIFF.
 * Bug fix. Deconvolution parameters were not shown in the History.
 * Bug fix. Some Sharpless nebulas could not be searched.