KOPR documentation

User guides and reference documentation for observing comets with KOPR.

Start here

Install KOPR

Python requirements, Linux and Windows setup, Astrometry.net and safe source updates.

Installation

First startup

Initial configuration, active observing context and the five main workflows.

Getting started

Observer and instruments

Locations, telescopes, cameras, eyepieces, photometry defaults and FITS output settings.

Configuration

Observation workflows

Visual observations

Comparison-star maps, Argelander estimates, coma and tail information and ICQ output.

Process Visual Obs.

Image calibration and stacking

Calibration masters, astrometry, image quality and matched star/comet FITS stacks.

Image Calibration & Stacking

Observation planning

Ephemerides, visibility, COBS-supported brightness estimates and target selection.

Observation Planner

Finding charts

Single-comet printable overview and detail maps with N-body physical-track refinement.

Planner finding charts

Light-curve analysis

One or more comets, photometric models, fit groups, formulas, scenarios and CSV export.

Comet Analyzer · Scenarios

Reference

Comet designations and elements

Accepted designation syntax, local-element roles and custom orbital records loaded from NASA/JPL SBDB when required.

Designation syntax · Custom elements

Troubleshooting

Symptom-based checks for installation, astrometry, image processing, catalogues, Planner and photometry.

Troubleshooting

KOPR statistics on COBS

Current count of COBS measurements processed with KOPR, with a periodically refreshed breakdown by comet, observer and year.

View KOPR statistics

Video guides

Usage guides and tutorials will be added progressively to the official KOPR YouTube channel.

For developers

Implementation architecture, algorithms, testing and release evidence are kept in a separate section so they do not interrupt the observing guides.