New In Version 2.2

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Rather than adding new “features” that needlessly complicate the interface, ScopeDriver 2.2 adds new functionality without a performance penalty or increased complexity. Version 2.2’s highlights appear below. For a complete listing of changes in 2.2, click here.

Area Search

Sometimes, due to telescope pointing inaccuracies, object motion, or incorrect coordinates, a slew to a sky object will result in the telescope pointing close to — but not exactly at — the desired sky object.

Traditionally, the observer must manually slew around the sky region in search of the desired target. Using this method, one can end up being quite far from the original telescope position and the intended target.

ScopeDriver’s Area Search lets you search the immediate area surrounding the telescope’s current position, greatly speeding acquisition of the intended target object.

Instantly Add Orbiting Bodies from Autostar or MPC Files

ScopeDriver 2.2 adds support for both MPC-format and Meade Autostar-format comet and asteroid data files.

Just drop an Autostar or MPC-format file into ScopeDriver’s “Downloaded Elements” folder, and you’re ready to go. The objects will be available in the Find Object Window, or in any Observing List’s Add Database Object window.

Automatically Update and Load the Latest Comet and Asteroid Data

Click a button, and ScopeDriver 2.2 connects to the Internet, checks for updated comet and asteroid data, then downloads whatever data you desire and loads the objects immediately.

Select any or all of the following object types:

• Comets
• Bright Asteroids
• Distant Asteroids
• Near-Earth Objects and Unusual Asteroids
• “Critical List” Asteroids

Download the data in your choice of Autostar format or Minor Planet Center format. And ScopeDriver’s smart enough to avoid downloading the data if it hasn’t changed since the last time you checked.

Plays Well with Others

ScopeDriver’s powerful Observing Lists have always had access to an impressive number of database objects and importable text files. Version 2.2 adds the ability to import Autostar “Tour” documents, and even AstroPlanner plan and text files.

And we’ve selected some of the best Observing Lists, making them available for download.

Even Higher Accuracy

ScopeDriver’s precession and orbit calculations have traditionally achieved accuracy that exceeds most instruments’ pointing accuracy. Version 2.2 further increases the accuracy of the calculations, while maintaining the calculation speed that sets ScopeDriver apart from much of the competition.

Additionally, objects with elliptical orbits may now be identified using the object’s mean anomaly and the anomaly’s epoch, while preserving the option to specify the perihelion time if you prefer. So, no matter how the object’s orbit is defined, we’ve got you covered.

Try It Out!

Download ScopeDriver and see for yourself why this is such an exciting update!

Upgraders: This is a free upgrade for those who purchased ScopeDriver in January of 2003 or later. If you purchased ScopeDriver prior to January of 2003, you will be able to upgrade to version 2.2 at a special, discounted upgrade price. Just open ScopeDriver, and the program will guide you through the simple upgrade process.

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Thanks for your interest in ScopeDriver!

— Stephen E. Hutson, ScopeDriver’s author

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