FAQ: General Operation
1. Observing/Planning
1.1 What is the Best Pair feature, and how can it help me?
AstroPlanner includes the Best Pair algorithm for Meade LX200 Classic scopes, to enable you to align your telescope in Alt-Azimuth mode using the optimal pair of alignment stars before you begin observing. Of course, if you're not using an LX200 Classic scope, or you have a polar mount, you needn't use this feature. However, many folk have reported that the algorithm gives better alignment for other Go-to scopes.
The Best Pair algorithm was originally developed by Jim Burrows to help get around some shortcomings of the built-in alignment procedure of the LX200 Classic (e.g. it didn't take refraction near the horizon into account, so low altitude stars should be avoided).
1.2 Why can't I select more than one object in the Observing/Planning lists?
Since the selection of more than one object in these lists wouldn't make sense in the existing user interface, it was decided early on to disallow this. There are also other technical reasons that make it difficult to allow multiple selection.
However, in its place, you can often use the Highlighting feature instead. By using highlighting, or custom highlighting rules, you can identify a set of objects and perform an opration on those highlighted objects (e.g. download images for them, etc.)
(AstroPlanner V2 will allow multiple selection)