ACP guarantees(*) that it will put every target in the center of every image you take. The most basic operation is that, after slewing to a new target, it takes a short exposure and plate-solves it. The plate solution yields hyper-accurate coordinates of this image. It then compares the actual telescope location to the desired location and jogs the scope into place, centering the target. This is called a pointing update. After the pointing update, ACP then takes the final image you requested.

Lately, other tools have imiplemented this functionality as well, sometimes using our PinPoint Astrometric Engine (which is included wiith ACP). But ACP goes further. At other points in the acquisition cycle, such as after a return from auto focus, and during a repeat sequence, it also monitors pointing and will correct it. Expect these other fine points to be added to the features of other tools as their value becomes apparent, or simply to catch up to ACP.

ACP pioneered this technology many years ago by developing PinPoint to do the plate solutions. PinPoint is far more reliable than any other auto-astrometry solution available. It works on fainter images and even those with some star trailing. PinPoint handles both star-rich and star-poor images with equal ease and with no false solutions. It is the result of years of development and testing by demanding astrometry customers, professional and amateur alike.