CloudWatcher 4+

Major new features in version 4.0:

- Added support for Dark Mode.

- Some major changes in the internal operations which makes the communications with the AAG CloudWatcher device very robust, with effectively no lost data.

- Added measurement of sensitive darkness level in magnitudes per square arc-sec (MPSAS) for those CloudWatcher models which support it.

- A new Summary tab has been added which gives a practical, colour-coded view of all environmental parameters at once. This view also provides a wide range of textural descriptions of conditions and gives the Bortle class of the associated sky quality measurement (from either or both the built-in Sky Quality sensor or a connected SQM device).

- Added an SQM parameter to the Clarity II format, with the mechanism to fill it with (a) built-in measurements, (b) measurement from a direct TCP/IP connection to a SQM-LE, (c) measurements from a file transfer (eg from SQM-Toolbox), (d) no SQM data. Note that the new TheSkyX ClarityII X2 plugin, by Rodolphe Pineau, is able to read this new parameter.

- Updated the sky temperature correction function to include the parameters K6 and K7, which existed in the Windows version for a long time. This is apparent in all the relevant interfaces, and particularly so in the “Edit” window, where the updated equations are now shown.

- Added a new graph tab to display atmospheric pressure, for those models which support it.

- Implemented an SQM Master/Remote architecture (which includes files generated by another GerSpatial app, SQM Toolbox) to harmonise SQM-LE access. In future, using SQM Toolbox, this will also allow USB models to contribute to CloudWatcher data.

- Added ability to select graph trace thickness.

- The External SQM measurement, if it exists, is included on the Summary tab, together with a description of the Bortle class of the measurement.


Minor or GUI improvements in version 4.0:

- Increased the size of the window to accommodate the extra features.
- Many improvements to the GUI.
- Added an additional section of the Limits tab to enable definition of textual descriptions of humidity conditions.
- The various transfer files are automatically enabled without using the associated checkbox. The checkbox remains functional in order to disable the transfer if necessary.
- Changed some of the default names for various conditions (e.g. “Bright” is now “Daylight”; “Light” is now “Twilight”)
- Slightly changed the default colours for graphs - these are only apparent after pressing “Reset”, which reverts to the defaults.
- Added dark red, in addition to bold, to the text in selected buttons on the Unsafe tab, to aid visibility.
- Relabelled the Find button in the Setup>Comms tab, to reflect its actual function: refreshing the list of serial ports.
- Added option to select rain Sensor type in the Settings->Device tab : this then determines the default calibration settings for the Rain Sensor.
- Enabled a choice of source for the ambient temperature measurement, for models which offer the appropriate sensors.
- Added the means to select parameters for both the main and secondary trace in the Brightness graph.
- Added the selection of LDR or Built-in SQM for the Brightness Limits tab.
- Removed AppleScript handlers for providing various data (changes in the Apple ecosystem mean they no longer work, and this cannot be resolved in the short-term).