1.1.6.2 Quickly disconnect or switch devices

1.1.6.3  Connection Methods Overview

1.1.6.4 AP Mode

Note: Connection stability in STA mode depends on your router’s range, configuration, and Wi-Fi band. If you experience connection issues, verify that your router meets the recommended settings and that required features are enabled.

Note: If the wide-angle and telephoto views are misaligned, point DWARF mini at a distant object (at least 200m away) in General Mode, tap AF, then select "Align Green Frame" under Parameters > Settings：

3.1.2 Wide View Time-Lapse

1. Point the lens toward the sky. Make sure the wide-angle view covers the cloudscape you want to capture.
2. Tap “W” to set the wide-angle lens as the main view. This ensures the camera records using the wide-angle perspective.

3. Adjust image settings such as tone and saturation to your preference. Fine-tuning these parameters helps bring out the color and texture of the clouds.

4. Open the settings panel to configure the time-lapse options. Set the shooting interval, total duration, and resolution — the final video length will be displayed at the top of the screen.

• Clouds: 2-5 second intervals for capturing dynamic cloud movements, aiming for a 20-30 minute duration.
• City Traffic: 1-3 second intervals to capture the hustle of city life, ideally for about an hour during peak times.
• Blooming Flowers(Tele Photo): Longer intervals, like 1 minute, for slower processes such as flowers blooming, extending over several hours or days.

When you switch the app to the background or disconnect, the shooting process will still continue. Note that there's a brief delay in saving photos after hitting stop on taking the time-lapse video. So it might take some time for the photos to show up in the album.

3.2 Deep Sky Mode

3.2.1 First Light of Deep Sky Photography

*You may just see all black at first for the shutter is too short, stars will show up later.

3.2.1.1.3 Adjusting Parameters

• Once DWARF mini has locked on to Lagoon, it’s time to adjust the parameters for this session. Tap Parameters and open the Telephoto Lens settings.

• You’ll notice that Auto Parameters ③ are enabled, which means the system has already optimized exposure, gain, filter, and stacking numbers for you. It even estimates a total duration of about 2 hours. Perfect, no need to worry about all those options!

• Tap “Shoot”! The imaging and stacking ④ process begins automatically.

• Use two fingers to zoom in and explore more details. Tap the Hide Controls button or press and hold the screen for an immersive stargazing experience.

• You can safely close the app or walk away during the imaging, DWARF mini will complete the session on its own.

• After several stacked frames, you may think the result looks great enough. Press and hold to stop the session.

• A message will appear inviting you to begin post-processing.

• Upload your stacked image to Stellar Studio, select Auto, and wait for processing. Wow — the result looks amazing!

• Select Watermark, add the name, and share This masterpiece with friends!

Make sure there are no obstructions in the telephoto view that could interfere with DWARF mini’s calibration movements. Thick clouds can also cause calibration failure, so always set up the telescope to face a clear sky with visible stars before starting all shooting process.

3.2.2 Going for Advanced Deep Sky Session

• DWARF mini quickly calculates and locks on to Target X.

• On tracking X, Sue notices the stars look slightly soft, so she taps the Focus② button to run Auto Focus again. After a few fine adjustments, the stars shrink to perfect points.

• She plans a 60-second long-exposure session ③, so she turns off Auto Parameters, to perform Manual Settings ④, chooses the recommended Duo-Band Filter, sets Exposure/Shutter = 60 s, Gain = 60, and 200 frames — a solid configuration for deep-sky imaging.

• Then in the Settings (top-right corner of the Parameters panel), she reviews the details of this session:

• Subframe Format: FITS⑤
• Display: Stacked Image⑥
• Mandatory Calibration: On⑦
• Update Focus Point⑧: (not needed this time)

• Everything’s ready. Sue taps Shoot, as expected, a prompt appears asking her to capture a dark frame ⑩ first. Following the instructions, she attaches the filter, turns off nearby lights, and keeps the telescope completely still.

• The process finishes quickly. She removes the filter, hit the following "ok" button, and the scope just resumes to perform the previous shooting automatically, no need to tap shoot again.

• Once stacking is complete, she proceeds to post-processing in Stellar Studio.

Due to framing adjustments, the final GoTo position may sometimes point to another target or unnamed object near your selected celestial target, which might be displayed as “Unknown.”

• She tunes parameters in the settings panel and taps Shoot to begin.

  

• During mosaic imaging, she notices the view will automatically switches⑭ among segments.

• When complete, she remembers that mosaic images must be stitched in Stellar Studio⑮ to form the final picture.

• The result looks fantastic, detailed and clean. She shares her masterpiece proudly.

• Her 200 friends react with likes and chees, what a wonderful night!

3.2.2.2 Footnotes for Advanced Session

① EQ Mode

EQ Mode - (Equatorial Mode) is a special tracking setup that lets the DWARF mini tilt the whole mount so its rotation axis is aligned with Earth’s axis, neutralizing the effect of Earth's rotation when tracking the target, ensuring stable tracking during long shutter time reducing field rotation on your stacked image.

• We recommend setting your scope in EQ mode when you intend to set the exposure to 15 seconds and above. A recent update has now made it mandatory to be in EQ mode for anything 30 seconds and higher.
• Astro mosaic imaging (provides a larger field of view / FOV) also requires setting the EQ mode.
• DWARF mini does not require you to "see" Polaris (Northern Hemisphere) or Sigma Octantis (Southern Hemisphere) for EQ (polar alignment) The key is the axis aligning, not target aiming. So if you don't see it, no worries.

A useful note for astrophotography: the focal point for deep-sky objects is usually fixed. The Infinity Focus represents this standard focus position for night-sky imaging. DWARF mini provides a one-tap “Infinity” button to quickly return the lens to its preset starlight focus range.

Automatic focus also uses this reference value, and if you find autofocus slightly off, you can update the infinity focus value in Parameters → Settings. (See footnote ⑧ in this section for details.)

In Deep Sky Mode, the minimum gain for tele photo lens is limited to 40, as lower gains can cause vertical banding in stacked Astro images.

When selecting a target in Sky Atlas, the recommended filter will be automatically shown and applied under Auto Parameters.

If you find the image filled with too many star points or scattered background stars, try switching to the Duo-Band filter for a cleaner and more defined result.

Even if you select TIFF as the format, the final stacked image will be in FITS format, while the individual frames will be saved as TIFF.

You can switch between the two modes at any time during shooting. If you notice the stars drifting or becoming elongated in the single-frame preview, it may indicate tracking instability or tripod movement.

However, calibration takes additional time. If you are already confident that the previous alignment is accurate and the scope won't be moved again, you may disable this option.

In that case, there won't be another round of calibration when switching targets, and the manual calibration button will appear on screen whenever you find GoTo is failed and a recalibration is needed.

If autofocus fails or does not produce sharp stars, manually adjust the focus until stars appear as fine and sharp as possible, then tap update the position here.

To do this:

• Go to Focus and manually adjust your telephoto lens on a star field or a VERY distant object.

• Return to Parameter > Settings, scroll down to Update Auto Focus Position, and press Update.

• The three-digit value displayed will change to your newly defined focus position, which will be used for future autofocus operations.

Note:

• Dark frames captured with the same exposure, gain, and resolution but at different temperatures are automatically grouped together for easier browsing and selection.
• Even if your exposure and gain are identical, you may still need to recapture dark frames when the sensor temperature changes. You can review all darks with non-matching temperatures in the Dark Management section.
• The current sensor temperature is displayed on screen. If the temperature difference exceeds ±8 °C, your DWARF will automatically prompt you to retake dark frames before starting the session.
• You may dismiss this prompt and capture dark frames manually at a later time, but accuracy may be affected.

Pulling down the left side of the curve darkens the background, while lifting the right side brightens nebulae and galaxies. If you’d like to explore advanced techniques, you can find many great tutorials online — but don’t worry, sometimes it’s all about intuition!

After adjusting, don’t forget to click Save — your edited photo will be saved directly to your phone or tablet’s photo album, making it easy to share right away.

Click Reset to restore the previous curve settings.

3.2.6 Wide-Angle Astrophotography (The Milky Way)

Use Milky Way Mode for wide-angle Milky Way imaging.

1. Open Milky Way Mode. Use AR Framing, Locate Milky Way, and the Sky Atlas to choose and frame the desired area.
2. Choose automatic, Quick, or manual parameters. For DWARF mini, the Time Lapse default exposure is 10 s, the starting Gain is 40, and wide-angle Time Lapse output is 1080p.
3. Tap Start. Shutter and Auto-Parameter are then locked; Toolbox, calibration, and infinity-position update are unavailable. Stacking and Time Lapse share the same Auto-Parameter state.

Time Lapse and tracking: Start Time Lapse after stopping tracking to keep the landscape fixed. If tracking is active, the App warns that the frame will move with the target; choose Continue to keep tracking.

Exposure warning: If overexposure is detected, shooting continues and the App asks whether to continue or stop and adjust parameters.

Tap Stop when finished, then open Album. Wide-angle Astro Mosaic is not supported in this workflow.

3.2.7 Star Trails

1. Tap the icon in the top-right corner to switch modes and enter Star Trails mode.
2. Capture Wide-Angle Dark Frames (Optional)

You can skip this step if a suitable dark frame is already available in the Dark Library. A "suitable" dark frame must meet the following criteria:

• The exposure time and gain match your current capture settings.
• The ambient temperature during the dark frame capture is close to your current temperature (within a range of ±8°C).

Example: If your current shooting temperature is 28°C, any dark frame captured between 20°C and 36°C can be used.

Tap "..." button on the left of the screen, tap "Darks", and select 'Wide-angle Dark Field' to complete the capture by following the on-screen instructions.

Note: Since star trails are captured using the wide-angle lens, the dark frames must also be taken with the wide-angle lens.

3. Composition

• Framing your shot: If you wish to include terrestrial foregrounds (scenery) in your frame, use the Virtual joystick to adjust the composition before you start.
• Choosing your direction: The appearance of star trails varies depending on the direction the camera is facing. To capture the concentric circle effect (circumpolar stars), please point the lens toward the North.

Duration and Video Generation

• Trail length vs. Time: The length of the star trails depends on your total shooting duration; the longer the session, the longer and more dramatic the trails will appear.
• Setting the duration: You can select a shooting duration ranging from 30 to 360 minutes. If you select ∞ (Infinite), the device will continue capturing until you manually stop it.

• Video output: Classic and Comet star-trail videos are generated at 30 fps.

• Note: A generated video appears in the App Album after at least 30 accumulated frames. With fewer than 30 frames, it remains in the DWARF mini device files.

Multi-night stacking: You can re-stack the Star Trail photo in Mega Stack. 

Sample star trail video styles. Footage provided by user '阿靖婧婧'.

Star trail videos are generated frame-by-frame from each individual exposure. The video length depends on your selected shutter speed and total shooting duration.

If the generated video is less than 1 second long, it will not appear in the App album. However, the file remains stored on the device and can be accessed by connecting to a computer.

To generate a video longer than 1 second, you need to shoot for at least 45 minutes with a 90s shutter, or at least 30 minutes with a 60s shutter.

4. Parameters
     You can complete the parameter settings using either of the following methods:
     Method 1: Automatic Settings
     For your first capture, we recommend using the Auto-Adjustment mode.
     Method 2: Quick Settings
     Quick Settings will match parameters based on your existing Dark Library.
     Method 3: Manual Settings
     Manually adjust Shutter Speed and Gain.

   Note: You must disable Auto-Adjustment before you can use Quick or Manual settings.

Once you have configured the parameters, tap the shutter button to start capturing.

During the star trail stacking process, you will see a Red timer and a Black timer on the interface. Their meanings are as follows:

• Red Timer: Represents the current shooting progress, indicating the total duration the device has captured so far.
• Black Timer: Represents the stacking process, indicating the total duration of exposures that the algorithm has successfully stacked.

3.2.8 Star Trail Restack Tutorial

Feature Introduction:

This feature allows you to manually remove frames containing airplane trails or defects after the initial star trail synthesis, and then restack the images. If you selected the option to generate a star trail video during shooting, the system will automatically update the video file after the re-stacking process.

Steps:

1. Tap Album to enter the gallery.
2. Select and enter the Mega Stack module.
3. Select the star trail image that needs to be re-processed.
    

   

4. Tap the Single Image Management button.
5. Check the unwanted frames or frames with airplane trails in the list.
6. Tap Delete to remove the selected frames.
    

   

7. Return to the main Mega Stack interface, select the processed image, and tap Stack.
8. Wait for the system to complete the stacking progress.
9. A new stacked photo and the updated video will be automatically regenerated in the Album.

   

3.3 Solar System Mode

3.3.1 Solar Imaging

1. Place DWARF mini on a stable, flat surface and attach a Solar Filter. Point the lens toward the Sun, keeping the front of the telescope body facing forward.

2. Power on the device and connect it to your phone or tablet.
3. Enter Solar System Mode. Select Sun. Use the dual-lens to locate the Sun in the tele frame (roughly center), then tap Focus → Auto Focus. You can also fine-tune the focus manually if needed.

4. Tap "Track" and the sun will be precisely centered and tracked.

Device Note: The telescope tube will first retract briefly to recalibrate before stable tracking begins. You may notice a brief pause in viewing before it restarts tracking and alignment.

5. Tap Shoot to start imaging — the auto parameters are already optimized for solar capture.

6. You can also switch to Video Mode or Time-lapse Mode to record the Sun in different styles.

• Additional Solar Notes:

  • Exposure caution: Other shooting modes cannot automatically optimize shutter settings for the Sun or Moon. You may get overexposed images.
  • Recommended session settings: For your first capture, start with 20–30 images per session. You can set up to 999 images, but long sessions increase heat exposure, which may trigger safety shutdowns. DWARF Mini’s recommended sensor operating temperature is below 60°C (140°F). If the internal temperature reaches this limit, the device will automatically shut down to protect itself.
  • Auto-focus: During auto-focus, the camera adjusts exposure and gains automatically—typically around 1/250s–1/200s exposure, gain = 0, and Astro filter applied. You can manually adjust hue and white balance if desired. *Keep in mind there is no VIS filter on the Mini, so there may be a slight tint/coloring to your Sun view
  • Lens orientation: Since there’s no "astro" calibration for Sun or Moon tracking, keep the lens arm facing forward (DWARFLAB logo side) to ensure better tracking.

• 

3.3.2 Moon Imaging

Moon imaging works similarly to solar imaging, with a few key differences:

• No ND filter needed: Unlike the Sun, the Moon does not require a neutral density filter.
• Best timing: nighttime is ideal, when the Moon is most visible.
• Daytime or evening imaging: You can also capture the Moon during daylight, generally late afternoon or early evening, as long as it is bright enough and unobstructed for DWARF Mini to detect and track.

1. Place DWARF mini on a stable surface. Point the lens toward the Moon, keeping the front of the telescope body facing forward.

2. Power on the device and connect it to your phone or tablet.
3. Enter Solar System Mode. Select Moon. Use the dual-lens to locate the Moon in the tele frame (roughly center), then tap Focus → Auto Focus. You can also fine-tune the focus manually if needed.

4. Tap "Track" and the moon will be precisely focused, centered and tracked.

Device Note: The telescope tube will first retract briefly to recalibrate before stable tracking begins. You may notice a brief pause in viewing before it restarts tracking and alignment.

5. Tap Shoot to start imaging — the auto parameters are already optimized for moon capture.

6. You can also switch to Burst Mode or Time-lapse Mode to record the Moon in different styles.

1. Additional Moon Notes:

   • Exposure caution: Other shooting modes cannot automatically adjust shutter settings for the Sun or Moon, so overexposed images are possible.
   • Lens orientation: Since there’s no "astro" calibration for Sun or Moon tracking, always keep the lens arm facing forward (toward the DWARFLAB logo) to ensure accurate tracking.

In the previous sections, we’ve introduced the main interface and explained how to use each shooting mode for different scenes.

In the following chapters, we’ll explore DWARF mini’s signature advanced features — including Stellar Studio (SS) and Mega Stack (MS) for astrophotography post-processing, as well as advanced shooting techniques like mosaic imaging and scheduled deep-sky captures. Let's dig in!

3.4 Stellar Studio

Steller Studio is the post-processing companion to your DWARF 3 Smart Telescope. It transforms raw image data captured by the telescope into polished, detailed astrophotos. After a session, open Album from the DWARFLAB App homepage, then select Stellar Studio. Stellar Studio supports stacked telephoto and wide-angle deep-sky images, as well as eligible Sun and Moon stacks. Available processing tools vary by source type.

January 2026 Update: we have included the option to upload Solar and Moon stacked sessions

 

After completing your Astro session, navigate to the DWARFLAB App homepage, select Album, then at the top, select Stellar Studio. Stellar Studio is designed specifically for Telephoto and Wide Angle deep-sky objects (DSO's).

Important Stellar Studio Notes:

Stellar Studio requires you to upload stacked image files from the DWARF telescope to an online (cloud) server.

• Your phone or tablet must be connected to a stable internet connection. Using STA mode is recommended.
• If your connection is unstable, uploads may fail or be delayed, preventing the process from completing.
• Stellar Studio may display a queue or numbered postion in the order it receives your files when uploading or processing the data. This is expected during high usage/high volume of uploads and downloads by other DWARF device users.
• Stellar Studio may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or server issues. DWARFLAB will work with our server providers to restore services as quickly as possible.

3.4.1 Processing Features

Click one of the various options to start the processing of your stacked image

3.4.1.1 Auto Mode

Automatically corrects star shapes, reduces noise, and enhances background uniformity.

3.4.1.2 Star Correction

• Adjusts only the shape of stars.

3.4.1.3 Noise Reduction

• Performs only noise reduction on the image.

3.4.1.4 Star Removal

• Only removes all stars from the image, leaving a pure nebula view.

3.4.1.5 Crop and Watermark

Use Crop to refine the composition and orientation of an astrophotography image. Use Watermark to add a template, device branding, target information, capture location, and a caption. When everything looks right, download the finished image from the Edit page.

1. Open the Edit Page

   On the astrophotography post-processing screen, find the bottom toolbar and tap Edit, the option on the far right.

   

   The Edit page has three main controls: Download in the upper-right corner saves the finished image; Crop at the bottom left opens the crop and rotation tools; and Watermark at the bottom right opens the watermark tools.

   

2. Crop the Image

   Tap Crop on the Edit page to open the crop tools. The controls below can be used in any order and combined as needed. The preview updates while you work.

   

3. Adjust the crop frame and image size

   The white crop frame is the part of the image that will be kept. Drag any of the four corner handles or any white edge handle to adjust the crop frame. Keep Free selected when you want to adjust width and height independently.

   Use two fingers directly on the image to pinch out and enlarge it, or pinch in to make it smaller. You can then drag the image to position the subject inside the crop frame.

   

   

4. Choose an aspect ratio

   Tap the ratio you need: Free, 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, or 3:4. Swipe left across the ratio list to reveal any additional ratios. The selected ratio turns green and the frame updates immediately.

   

5. Rotate and straighten

   Tap 90 degrees on the left side of the ruler to rotate the image clockwise by 90 degrees. Drag the angle ruler left or right for fine adjustment; the current angle appears above the center marker. You can continue adjusting the crop frame or image size after rotating.

   

   

6. Apply, reset, or cancel

   • Tap Reset in the upper-right corner to restore the original crop and rotation.

   • Tap X at the bottom left to cancel. If changes have been made, confirm whether to discard them.

   • Tap the check mark at the bottom right to apply the crop and return to the Edit page.

   • 

7. Add a Watermark

   From the Edit page, tap Watermark at the bottom right.

   

8. Select a watermark template

   Tap a template thumbnail to apply it. There are currently eight templates. Each template displays a different combination and layout of information, such as the target name, device information, capture settings, date and time, and caption. The selected template has a green border, and the preview above updates immediately. Swipe left across the template list to see more templates. Tap the crossed-circle icon if you do not want a watermark.

   

9. Open Edit content

   Tap the selected template again, or tap the pencil shown over its thumbnail, to open Edit content.

   

10. Choose device branding

    Under Device, choose whether the watermark shows the device name or the device logo. The preview at the top updates as soon as you select an option.

    

11. Set the target name

    Tap Target name. Select the detected target name when it is correct, or choose Custom to enter a different name.

    

    After choosing Custom, enter a name and tap Confirm.

    

12. Set the capture location

    Tap Capture location, then choose one of the available options: Precise shows the exact location when location data is available; Approximate shows the location at city level; Don't show hides the location; and Custom lets you enter your own location text.

    Unavailable options appear dimmed when the image has no matching location data. When you choose Custom, enter your own location text, then tap Confirm.

    

    

13. Add a signature and choose its font

    Templates with a signature field display a default value such as @See Further. Tap it to enter or change the signature. Tap a font card to choose how the signature appears. To see all 13 font options, tap Expand, then swipe up to browse and select a font.

    

14. Add or generate a caption

    Tap Suggested Wording below the Caption field to generate a caption suggestion. The generated text appears in the same caption input used for manual entry, so you can review and edit it before continuing.

    

    To write your own caption, tap the Caption field and enter up to 210 characters. The caption updates on the image preview as you type. Tap Confirm to close the caption input.

    

15. Save the watermark

    Use the Android back gesture or Back button to close the Edit content panel. Review the full preview, then tap Save in the upper-right corner to return to the Edit page.

    

16. Download the Finished Image

    On the Edit page, check the crop, watermark, target information, location, and caption one last time. Tap Download in the upper-right corner to save the finished image.

    

    After the download completes, Saved to System Album confirms that the image is in your device's photo album. Tap Done to close this page. Use Share to open the system share sheet, or Share to PhotonVerse to send the image to PhotonVerse.

    

17. Recommended Order

    Crop first, then add the watermark. Cropping after watermark setup can change the composition and may require you to review the watermark again before downloading.

*Note: You can apply multiple processing features to the same image, generating separate result images under the same title in the task list.

We recommend sharing images directly, and for post-processing, using PNG is better as it preserves more detail in highlights and shadows.

How to Access Cloud Files:

Paste the link into a browser on your phone/tablet or computer to download the file for further use in post-processing applications. Newer operating systems on both phones and tablets (Apple or Android) give some functionality to allow users to save these file types in the file or folder structure on your personal device. If you have a file sharing or storage service (ex Google Drive, OneDrive), it may allow you to save directly to that. Please research how your personal devices can save these file types.

(This process may get updates in the future to assist users with a better method of file saving)

• Additional Stellar Studio Notes:

  Storage location: JPG and PNG post-processed images are not saved on your DWARF device. They are stored directly in your phone or tablet photo albums.

  Image cropping: Processed photos may appear cropped compared to the version in the app’s album. This cropping removes field rotation artifacts. To minimize cropping, we recommend shooting in EQ mode.

  • Some images may appear excessively cropped. We are working on improving this process or adding additional user options, so future updates should preserve more of the image edges.

  Files moved off the DWARF:

  • If a file or folder is manually moved off the DWARF device (e.g., to an external drive or PC) and then returned, it will be recognized as an unknown file. Stellar Studio cannot process it.
  • You can re-stack the original sub-frames in Mega Stack to generate a new valid file that Stellar Studio can recognize. See the Mega Stack section for additional information.

  Mosaic sessions: Re-stacking mosaic images is not supported. Once a mosaic is moved off DWARF, it cannot be reprocessed in Stellar Studio. This feature may be considered in future updates depending on feasibility.

3.4.5 Sun and Moon Processing in Stellar Studio

On the Select Photo page in Stellar Studio, choose a stacked telephoto Sun or Moon image/session. Upload, queue, and task-list behavior follows the deep-sky workflow.

For data identified as Sun or Moon, Star Correction, Noise Reduction, and Star Removal are disabled. Use only the tools currently enabled in the interface.

3.5 Mega Stack

In the screenshot below, the image marked with an exclamation mark indicates that this frame was rejected during stacking, likely due to clouds, glare, or poor tracking.

3.5.2 Multi-Mosaic and Cross-Filter Stacking

Mega Stack supports multiple compatible Astro Mosaic sets and cross-filter material. Mosaic material can be combined only with other Mosaic material.

If selected material is incompatible, the task does not start and the App shows the reason. During processing, open Task to check progress or a failure reason. When processing is complete, open the task result or Album to view the output.

3.6 Schedule Shooting

1. Creating a plan directly from the Homepage
2. Creating a plan from the Atlas.

3.6.1 Create a Shooting Plan Directly

Under Scheduled Capture Options, Lock Focus keeps the current focus position and Skip Calibration skips automatic calibration when the setup has already been calibrated.

Tap an existing target card to review its altitude curve and adjust settings such as Shutter and Gain.

Use the altitude curve: The entire curve represents the time span from sunrise to sunset.

 

• The red section of the curve indicates that the target’s altitude is below 30°, while the blue section means the altitude is above 30°.

 

• For the best results, schedule the session within the blue zone. The App shows the exact altitude as you drag the start and end times.

 

1. Due to various dynamic factors, the number of frames cannot be set manually. The system will automatically capture the maximum possible frames within the scheduled time.

2. For DWARF mini, the maximum exposure time per scheduled frame is 180 seconds. Use the range shown for the selected device. Longer exposures require more accurate equatorial alignment and stable conditions. When you set an exposure longer than 30 seconds, the App reminds you to roughly polar align your DWARF.

3. In schedule shooting it automatically set appropriate filters for some common targets, with other targets defaulting to astro filters.

4. Synchronize Plan: When the plan is ready and shows Pending Sync, tap Sync. Sync is available only within 12 hours before the scheduled start time; if it is too early, the App shows the earliest time at which you can sync. The App then confirms Sync Complete; review the reminder to keep DWARF positioned, powered, and ready for the session, then tap OK.

Synchronization is possible within the valid timeframe.

Once synchronization is complete, secure the following items are fulfilled:

• Sufficient Power: verify the DWARF device is fully charged.
• Correct Placement: Position the DWARF in the appropriate location.
• Disconnect and Leave: After all preparations are complete, disconnect your device and step away. DWARF will automatically enter sleep mode and wake up at the scheduled start time.
• Do Not Power Off: Ensure you do not hit the power off button.

• When DWARF is in Sleep Mode, it looks almost identical to being powered off — no lights, no signals. However, the cylinder (lens) will NOT rotate closed and stay in its open position for it to better process its position and start the scheduled session when the start time begins.

• When your scheduled shooting session has been completed, the cylinder will rotate close to a secure position to protect it. This is also helpful incase your session goes into the daylight hours. As some will notice, it does not completely close (maybe 95%, but this is normal and should not worry the operator)

• Regarding EQ Mode: You can use EQ mode in Schedule Shooting to align the DWARF with the polar axis in advance. Also, you may turn off the ring light for better results.

• Regarding Dark Frames: Check the dark frame files before shooting to ensure there are corresponding frames available for stacking. If not, you can capture them now.

• Do Not Power Off: DWARF will enter sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity when disconnected to save power. In sleep mode, all indicator lights remain off. The device appears completely powered off, but it is in a extremely low-power standby state. But it is not completely powered off and will automatically wake up before the scheduled time. Do not long-press the power button, as this powers off DWARF and clears the synced schedule.

• Sleep mode and the scheduled shooting function are completely independent. Sleep mode is a power-saving feature that automatically activates 15 minutes after the device is idle and not connected to external power. This behavior applies under all conditions.

• If your DWARF is connected to external power and you have set up a scheduled session but notice that the device does not enter sleep mode, there’s no need to worry — the scheduled shooting will still start normally. Even if the device enters sleep mode later (for example, if charging stops during the waiting period), the scheduled session will still begin as expected.

• Unexpected Issues:
• If you accidentally power off the device after synchronizing the plan, please power it back on, cancel the synchronization, and re-sync the plan. Then, let the DWARF enter sleep mode naturally.
• 
• To wake DWARF mini from Sleep Mode, short-press the power button once. This wakes the device and does not power it off. Do not long-press the power button, as this fully powers off DWARF and clears the synced shooting plan. Restarting will refresh DWARF’s schedule memory, so don’t forget to re-sync your shooting plan for the day.
• DWARF will not enter sleep mode while charging. It will only enter sleep mode to save power once the charging stops.

Your shooting plan will have the following statuses:

You can connect to a DWARF at any time to check the plan’s execution status. If you encounter a plan execution failure, please upload the log in Settings - Support to get assistance.

3.6.2 Create Plan from Atlas

3.6.3 Schedule A Mosaic！

With the Schedule Shooting feature, capturing stunning deep-sky objects has never been easier. Whether you’re planning a night-long astrophotography marathon or simply want to automate your stargazing experience, DWARF mini ensures precision and convenience!

3.6.4 Fixed Focus and Skip Calibration

Open a plan and tap Scheduled Capture Options. These settings apply to every target in the current plan. They can be changed only while the plan is in Pending Sync; in other states, the current values remain visible but the switches are disabled. Both options are off by default.

Lock Focus: Enable this after completing precise manual focusing. The schedule uses the current focus position instead of running infinity autofocus, then continues with calibration, GoTo, tracking, and capture.

Skip Calibration: Enable this only after completing the full target-preparation flow in advance and confirming that the device has a valid calibration result. The schedule skips infinity autofocus and three-star calibration, then proceeds to GoTo, tracking, and capture. Keep the device and lens position unchanged.

If no valid calibration is available, the device automatically runs the default preparation flow to help prevent capture failure. When a plan is duplicated, Lock Focus and Skip Calibration are not copied; both switches reset to off.

3.6.5 Multi-Target and Back-to-Back Plans

A single plan can contain multiple targets. No minimum interval is required between adjacent targets: the next target can start as soon as the previous target ends. Set the targets in execution order and review the time and capture parameters for each one.

Each target must be scheduled for at least 10 minutes. If a target is shorter than 10 minutes, the App blocks saving and asks you to adjust its time. If any part of a target's scheduled window falls below the horizon, the App shows a red warning; adjust the time or remove the target before syncing.

You can sync a plan at any time before its overall end time. If you sync before the plan starts, the device waits until the scheduled start time. If you sync after the plan has started but before it ends, the device starts the remaining available capture flow from the current time. In a multi-target plan, targets whose end time has already passed are not executed; if the current time falls within a target time block, the device starts the available flow for that target. If too little time remains to complete preparation or capture, the App reports Capture Time Too Short. After the plan end time, the plan is expired and the Sync button is no longer shown.

Schedule cards identify the associated device, such as DWARF 2, DWARF 3, DWARF mini, or Draco. When a device is connected, This Device shows only schedules already synced to that device. This tab is hidden when no device is connected and updates when you switch devices.

3.6.6 Copy and Edit Shooting Plans

Open the plan menu and tap Duplicate. Duplicate is available for schedules in any state and opens a new, editable plan. You can change the name, location, date, target times, and other editable details before saving.

The copy retains the original targets, time blocks, and capture parameters, but it does not retain the original location. Automatic location is enabled when the copy opens. Lock Focus and Skip Calibration are also not copied; both reset to off. The copied schedule is unsynced and remains independent from the original.

The App generates a copy name from the original name and adds a number for later copies. The plan date is updated using the current location's sunrise: before sunrise, the copy uses the previous date; after sunrise, it uses the current date. Review the generated name, location, date, targets, and settings before saving and syncing.

To edit a synced schedule in Waiting to Start, tap Edit Schedule. If needed, connect to the device first, then confirm that editing will release the current sync. You can change existing targets or add new ones. Save the changes and tap Resync to send the updated schedule to the device. This edit flow does not apply to other schedule states.

3.6.7 Auto Shutdown

Go to Me > My Device > Auto Power Off. Auto Power Off is enabled by default on DWARF 3.

According to the current App setting, when Auto Power Off is enabled, DWARF 3 powers off after about 15 minutes if it is not connected to the App and no shooting or processing task is running. Turning this setting off prevents that ordinary idle power-off behavior.

Do not confuse Auto Power Off with Sleep Mode. For a device that was not physically powered off and whose controller remained active, waking from sleep recalculates the current time using the sleep duration before the device evaluates upcoming scheduled tasks.

3.7 Astro Mosaic

• The default view is 1 × 1, meaning only one segment is captured (no mosaic needed).
• If either the horizontal or vertical composition ratio is greater than 1, that direction will use 2 segments.
• For example, a ratio of 1 × 1.5 results in 2 views, while 1.5 × 1.5 results in 4 views.
• Maximum supported layout: 1.8 × 1.8, totaling 4 views.

• 15-second exposure per frame
• 50 frames

*If you notice obvious light seams or edge discoloration, it’s recommended to manually review and filter the bad sub-frames, then restack in Mega Stack before final processing in Stellar Studio.

3.7.7 Important Notes for Mosaic Rotation

If your DWARF mini is placed flat on the ground (in Alt-Az mode), the preview frame will always be in a horizontal position.

After setting up the equatorial mode, the actual astronomical image will also be tilted.

1. The wide-angle camera may allow mosaic photos in future updates.
2. When planning a mosaic, image quality becomes especially important because the final result relies on seamless stitching between view tiles. To ensure the best outcome:

• Make sure your EQ alignment is as precise as possible before capturing.
• If you notice visible seams or artifacts in the final mosaic, consider recapturing dark frames or filtering out lower-quality subframes.
• Then, use Mega Stack to reprocess the stacked tiles and finally re-stitch them in Stellar Studio. A bit of extra care during capture and processing can make a big difference in the final mosaic quality!