Table of Contents
Server Commands
SkyChart can work as a server. It accepts the following commands from a TCP/IP connection:
Connection
You can use any socket library or object to connect to Skychart from your software, or use the commands telnet or netcat from a script.
To send a command, write to the socket the command, any parameter separated by a blank space, and finally a CR-LF termination.
For examples with various languages, see https://github.com/pchev/skychart/tree/master/skychart/sample_client
The standard port is 3292, this can be changed by the user in the configuration menu. The program can also choose to listen to another random port if the configured port is busy.
Skychart maintains a file with information about the port and it's status.
In Linux and Mac: [User settings]/tmp/tcpport
In Windows: Registry key HKCU\Software\Astro_PC\Ciel\Status\TcpPort
The file (or key) do not exist if Skychart was never run.
It contains 0 if the program is not running, or the server is disabled in the configuration menu.
It contains the listen port if the program is ready to accept a connection.
Global Commands
Command | Parameters | Comment or GUI Equivalent |
---|---|---|
? | No GUI equivalent, list the available commands | |
NEWCHART | chart_name | File → New Chart |
CLOSECHART | chart_name | File → Close Chart |
SELECTCHART | chart_name | Window → chart_name |
LISTCHART | Window | |
SAVE | saved_file_name | Save the current chart to the specified file |
LOAD | saved_file_name | Load the chart from the file |
LOADDEFAULT | option_file_name | Use this command to load an extract of the configuration file that temporarily replace some option from skychart.ini. |
SETCAT | path shortname active min max | Add or change a Catgen catalog. The fields are the same as in the catalog setup. |
LOADMPCORB | file_name | Load the specified file with asteroid element in MPCORB format. Detail result is available in file [user_data]/database/LoadAsteroidFile.log |
PLANETINFO | page_number | Open the Solar system information window at the given page |
GETMSGBOX | Returns the status bar content | |
GETCOORBOX | Returns the coordinates shown in the status bar | |
GETINFOBOX | Setup → Display → Labels - Display the chart information in the menu bar | |
RESET | Reload the default chart and options (same as signal HUP) | |
SHUTDOWN | Close the program |
Chart Commands
Chart drawing
Command | Parameters | Comment or GUI Equivalent |
---|---|---|
CLEANUPMAP | Remove any selection and redraw the map | |
SETFOVPROJECTION | fov_number HAI/MER/CAR/ARC/TAN/SIN | Set the given projection for the fov_number |
SHOWONLYMERIDIAN | ON/OFF | Display only the meridian instead of full grid |
SHOWALWAYSMERIDIAN | ON/OFF | Display the meridian line on every projection |
SETEQGRID | ON/OFF | Chart → Lines, Grid → Add Equatorial Grid |
GETEQGRID | ||
SETGRID | ON/OFF | Chart → Lines, Grid → Show Coordinate Grid |
GETGRID | ||
SETSTARMODE | 0/1/2 | Setup → Display → Display → Star Display |
GETSTARMODE | ||
SETNEBMODE | 0/1 | Setup > Display → Display → Deep Sky Objects Display |
GETNEBMODE | ||
SETAUTOSKY | ON/OFF | Setup → Display → Sky Colour |
GETAUTOSKY | ||
SETPROJ | ALTAZ/EQUAT/GALACTIC/ECLIPTIC | Chart → Chart Coordinate System |
GETPROJ | ||
SETCHARTEQUINOX | Date/J2000 | Set the equinox when coordinate system is EQUAT |
SETGRIDNUM | ON/OFF | Setup → Display → Lines - Show Grid Label |
SETCONSTLINE | ON/OFF | Setup → Display → Lines - Show Constellation Figure |
SETCONSTBOUNDARY | ON/OFF | Setup → Display → Lines - Show Constellation Boundary |
SHOWPICTURE | ON/OFF | Chart → Show objects → Show pictures |
SHOWBGIMAGE | ON/OFF ON/OFF | Show background image, change FOV to image size |
LOADBGIMAGE | fits_filename | Load new background image FITS file, also force reload of updated file if the name is the same. |
LOADCIRCLE | file_name | Load a list of finder mark, same as right click - Finder circle - Load from file |
SETCIRCLE | num diameter rotation offset | Define a finder circle as in Setup - Display - Finder circle |
SETRECTANGLE | num width height rotation offset | Define a finder rectangle as in Setup - Display - Finder rectangle |
SHOWCIRCLE | num_list | Set a comma separated list of circle to be activated 1,2,…,10 |
SHOWRECTANGLE | num_list | Set a comma separated list of rectangle to be activated 1,2,…,10 |
MARKCENTER | ON/OFF | Show a mark at the chart center, same as Show mark |
GETFRAMES | Return the mosaic frames, same as the mosaic tool “Send via server” button | |
PLANISPHEREDATE | ON/OFF | Show or hide the planisphere date scale |
PLANISPHERETIME | ON/OFF | Show or hide the planisphere time scale |
Object selection
Command | Parameters | Comment or GUI Equivalent |
---|---|---|
GETCHARTEQSYS | Return the current equatorial system to be used with other command. Date or J2000, B1950, … | |
SEARCH | object_name | Search tool (Main Bar). object_name must be enclosed in double quote if it contain space |
FIND | object_class object_name | Same as search, but lets you specify the class of object you want: 0=nebula, 1=na, 2=star, 3=star, 4=variable, 5=double, 6=comet, 7=asteroid, 8=planet, 9=constellation, 10=line catalog. . object_name must be enclosed in double quote if it contain space |
IDCENTER | Identify object at chart center | |
IDCURSOR | Identify object at cursor position, same as click on chart | |
IDSCOPE | Identify object at telescope position | |
GETSELECTEDOBJECT | Return information about the last selected object | |
GETRISESET | Get rise/transit/set time for the last selected object |
Telescope
Command | Parameters | Comment or GUI Equivalent |
---|---|---|
CONNECTTELESCOPE | Connect to the default telescope. | |
DISCONNECTTELESCOPE | Disconnect the default telescope. | |
SLEW | RAhr Dec [in decimal] | Slew the default telescope to specified coordinates. |
ABORTSLEW | Abort the current slewing command. | |
SYNC | RAhr Dec [in decimal] | Sync the default telescope at the specified coordinates. |
GETSCOPERADEC | S/F | Return current telescope coordinates, string or float format |
TRACKTELESCOPE | ON/OFF | Chart follow the telescope. Same as menu Telescope / Track telescope. |
SETSCOPEREFRESHRATE | delay [ms] | Refresh the telescope position every (delay) [ms] |
GETSCOPERATES | Return a list of movement rate supported by the telescope | |
SCOPEMOVEAXIS | axis(0/1) rate | Start moving the telescope along (axis) using (rate) |
Obsolete command specific for a INDI telescope, prefer the command above | ||
CONNECTINDI | Redirect to CONNECTTELESCOPE | |
DISCONNECTINDI | Redirect to DISCONNECTTELESCOPE | |
SLEWINDI | RAhr Dec [in decimal] | Redirect to SLEW |
ABORTSLEWINDI | Redirect to ABORTSLEW | |
SYNCINDI | RAhr Dec [in decimal] | Redirect to SYNC |
This command show a cursor on the chart for a telescope not managed by Skychart | ||
MOVESCOPE | RA Dec [00.00] | Move the telescope cursor to coordinates. RA in decimal hours. |
MOVESCOPEH | HourAngle Dec [00.00] | Same as MOVESCOPE but hourangle instead of RA. Hourangle in decimal hours. |
Observing list
Command | Parameters | Comment or GUI Equivalent |
---|---|---|
OBSLISTLOAD | list_file_name | load the observing list |
OBSLISTFIRST | select first object | |
OBSLISTLAST | select last object | |
OBSLISTNEXT | select next object | |
OBSLISTPREV | select previous object | |
OBSLISTLIMIT | ON/OFF | set limit on/off |
OBSLISTAIRMASSLIMIT | [airmass] | limit by airmass |
OBSLISTTRANSITLIMIT | [hours] | limit by meridian distance |
OBSLISTTRANSITSIDE | EAST/WEST/BOTH | side of meridian |
V2.7 compatibility DDE command
Avoid to use this command that exist to help the migration for older application.
Command | Parameters | Comment or GUI Equivalent |
---|---|---|
MOVE | obsolete RA: 00h00m00.00s DEC:+00d00m00.0s FOV:+00d00m00s | ![]() |
DATE | obsolete, same as SETDATE | |
OBSL | obsolete, same as SETOBS | |
RFSH | obsolete, same as REDRAW | |
PDSS | Same as the menu Chart-Get DSS Image | |
SBMP | obsolete, use SAVEIMG | |
SGIF | obsolete, use SAVEIMG | |
SJPG | obsolete, use SAVEIMG | |
IDXY | X:pixelx Y:pixely | |
GOXY | X:pixelx Y:pixely | |
ZOM+ | obsolete, same as ZOOM+ | |
ZOM- | obsolete, same as ZOOM- | |
STA+ | ![]() |
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STA- | ![]() |
|
NEB+ | ![]() |
|
NEB- | ![]() |
|
GREQ | obsolete, use SETEQGRID | |
GRAZ | obsolete, use SETGRID | |
GRNM | obsolete, use SETGRIDNUM | |
CONL | obsolete, use SETCONSTLINE | |
CONB | obsolete, use SETCONSTBOUNDARY | |
EQAZ | obsolete, use SETPROJ |
Information about selected object
The following information are returned when an object is selected on the chart, either by a mouse click or as a result of a search. Each field is separated by the <tab> character.
> Chart_1 : 23h21m39.85s +61°19'04.8" Nb NGC 7635 m:11.00 Dim: 15.0 x 8.0 ' class: Identifier:C11,LBN 548
- > indicate the start of a message.
- Chart_1 : the name of the chart the object was selected.
- 23h21m39.85s RA of the object using current chart equinox.
- +61°19'04.8“ Dec of the object using current chart equinox.
- Nb the type of object
- NGC 7635 the name of the object
Then follow a number of fields whose content depend on the object type and the catalog in use.
If the selection is from a mouse click you can also get this information about the distance from the last selected object:
> Chart_1 : From: "Sh 2-150" to "NGC 7635 " Separation: +06°48'05.6" PA:119° Offset: 0h49m46.4s -03°53'47"