Select the working folder, optionally select one TXT file, confirm the source NINA template and the Lucky container template.
Each event gets an outer sequential container. Inside it, the Lucky Target Container uses the configured ROI X/Y directly, waits until capture start minus the configured video prep seconds, runs Take Video Roi Exposures with the planned frame count, waits at capture end, then a 60 s full-frame localization exposure runs below the Lucky container.
The tool writes one NINA JSON per observing date and copies the daily files to the configured Dropbox folder.
Program Parameters
--template points to the NINA source script. It is read only. The generator also writes standalone occultation blocks for direct NINA loading.
The protected einzeln folder below the working folder is scanned on every run and its original TXT rows are preferred. --txt-file can add another TXT file. A yymmdd.txt name supplies the date; other names are accepted when the file contains DATE yyyy-mm-dd or # yyyy-mm-dd lines.
--complete-txt-file stores the merged original and Discord Text rows. Planning Ephemerides and daily NINA JSON files are generated from this saved table.
--field-x and --field-y define the upper-left ROI corner written directly into the Lucky container.
--roi-width and --roi-height define the generated capture rectangle. The default is 200 by 200 pixels.
--min-diff-time is the per-frame storage/readout delay added to the TXT exposure. The Take Video ROI exposure receives the resulting Real value. Range 0.0 to 1.0 s, default 0.5 s.
--slew-center-minutes is the time reserved before ROI capture for LuckyImaging preparation. Range 0 to 10 minutes, default 3.
--binning accepts 1x1, 2x2, 3x3 or 4x4. Default 2x2.
--video-prep-seconds moves the Wait For Time before Take Video Roi Exposures ahead of capture start. Range 0 to 30 s, default 5 s.
--video-roi-margin-percent increases the calculated frame count for Take Video Roi Exposures. Range 0 to 100%, default 10%.
--camera-min-exposure marks calculated exposure values below the configured camera minimum. Range 0.01 to 1.00 s, default 0.1 s.
--station X09 selects Deep Random Survey, Rio Hurtado. Manual latitude and longitude can override the local station catalog.
By default the planning table queries MPC MPES perturbed ephemerides for the exact midpoint time. Disable this with --no-mpc-ephemerides.
By default the planning table queries the nearest Gaia DR3 source around each TXT position and caches the result. --star-radius-arcsec range is 0 to 10 arcseconds, default 3. A radius of 0 skips Gaia lookup. Disable this with --no-star-catalog.
--star-distance-warning-arcsec marks V Star red when the proper-motion corrected star is farther away than this value. Range 0 to 10 arcseconds, default 2.
--asteroid-albedo is used with MPC H to estimate asteroid diameter D and the own-diameter motion time dt. Range 0 to 1.0, default 0.15.
Operator Checks
The source template is read only. Standalone occultation blocks are created alongside complete day sequences.
Use the listed RA/DEC as J2000. The Lucky target name removes any text after #.
The ephemerides page shows whether MPC or TXT coordinates were used for altitude and azimuth.