brickbots · brickbots · May 30, 2026 · May 30, 2026
diff --git a/.claude/skills/docs/SKILL.md b/.claude/skills/docs/SKILL.md
@@ -83,18 +83,28 @@ discrepancy.
 
 The manual is written warmly and directly, but it stays measured and
 professional — clear guidance from someone who knows the instrument well, not
-breezy chat. Match it:
+breezy chat. It is also **lean**: the reader is usually at the eyepiece in the
+dark, so every sentence earns its place. Keep the warmth, cut the padding. Match
+it:
 
 - **Talk to the reader as "you."** "You'll then see the Main Menu appear."
 - **Be warm but measured.** Keep the tone calm and confident rather than
   breathless. Reserve exclamation points for the rare genuinely delightful
   moment and prefer plain, declarative sentences the rest of the time.
+- **Be succinct.** Say it once, in as few words as carry the meaning. Cut
+  throat-clearing ("In order to…", "You should note that…"), redundant
+  restatement, and hedging. Favour the active voice and concrete verbs. When a
+  procedure runs to more than two or three ordered steps, prefer a numbered list
+  over a chain of "To begin… Next… Once you have…" paragraphs.
 - **Write complete sentences; don't open with a conjunction.** Never begin a
   sentence with "And" — join the thought to the sentence before it, or rephrase.
   The same goes for opening with "But" or "So."
-- **Explain the *why*, not just the *what*.** The existing docs constantly say
-  things like "This helps save battery power and can prevent glare at the
-  eyepiece." A reader who understands the reason trusts the instruction.
+- **Explain the *why*, but compress it.** A reader who understands the reason
+  trusts the instruction, so keep the *why* — but state it in a clause, not a
+  paragraph. "The PiFinder dims the screen after a while to save battery and
+  prevent glare" earns its keep; a three-sentence aside reassuring the reader
+  that this is normal usually does not. When a caveat genuinely needs more room,
+  put it in a `.. note::` rather than swelling the main flow.
 - **Plain language over jargon.** When a technical term is unavoidable (plate
   solving, alt/az), define it in passing the first time, the way the quick start
   glosses "plate solving" as taking continuous pictures and comparing them.

diff --git a/docs/source/build_guide.rst b/docs/source/build_guide.rst
diff --git a/docs/source/catalogs.rst b/docs/source/catalogs.rst
@@ -2,24 +2,22 @@
 PiFinder™ Catalogs
 ===================
 
-The PiFinder comes with a number of astronomical catalogs which can be searched and filtered.
-Each has a short catalog code displayed on the PiFinder UI.  You can select which catalogs
-are active via the :ref:`Filters<user_guide:filters>`
-menu.
+The PiFinder ships with several astronomical catalogs you can search and filter.
+Each carries a short catalog code shown on the UI. Choose which catalogs are
+active in the :ref:`Filters<user_guide:filters>` menu.
 
-A few of these catalogs — the Washington Double Star catalog especially — hold far too many
-entries to scroll through.  For those, use **Name Search** to jump straight to an object by
-its designation, or sort a list by **Nearest** to surface the objects closest to where your
-scope is currently pointed.
+A few catalogs — the Washington Double Star catalog especially — hold far too many
+entries to scroll. For those, use **Name Search** to jump to an object by its
+designation, or sort by **Nearest** to surface the objects closest to where your
+scope is pointed.
 
 Abl
 ----
-The Abell Catalog of Planetary Nebulae (1966 by George O. Abell) contains 79 entries confirmed to be planetary nebulae.
+The Abell Catalog of Planetary Nebulae (George O. Abell, 1966): 79 confirmed planetary nebulae.
 
 Arp
 ----
-Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies    (Arp 1966)
-Select galaxies with interest morphology.  See `Wikipedia - Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_of_Peculiar_Galaxies>`_
+Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies (Arp 1966). Galaxies with unusual morphology. See `Wikipedia - Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_of_Peculiar_Galaxies>`_
 
 B
 ----
@@ -31,20 +29,19 @@ Caldwell catalog
 
 Col
 ----------
-The Collinder catalogue has 471 open clusters compiled by Swedish astronomer Per Collinder.
+471 open clusters compiled by Swedish astronomer Per Collinder.
 
 EGC
 ----
-Catalog of Extra-Galactic Globular Clusters. This catalog features globulars associated with nearby galaxies and are visible through modest amateur telescopes, mostly in Andromeda.
+Catalog of Extra-Galactic Globular Clusters: globulars associated with nearby galaxies, mostly in Andromeda, visible through modest amateur telescopes.
 
 H
 ----------
-The Herschel 400 catalogue is a subset of William Herschel's original Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, selected in response to a letter in Sky and Telescope.
+A subset of William Herschel's original Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, selected in response to a letter in Sky and Telescope.
 
 Harris
 -------
-Globular Clusters in the Milky Way (Harris, 1997)
-This catalog compiled was by William E. Harris and used by permisson.
+Globular Clusters in the Milky Way (Harris, 1997). Compiled by William E. Harris, used by permission.
 
 IC
 ----------
@@ -60,46 +57,44 @@ Messier catalog
 
 NGC
 ----------
-NGC 2000.0, The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J.L.E. Dreyer Sinnott, R.W.  (edited by)
+NGC 2000.0, The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J.L.E. Dreyer (edited by R.W. Sinnott).
 
 RDS
 ----
-the RASC Double Stars Observing Program.
-The 110 double star targets are visible from the northern hemisphere in many constellations.
+The RASC Double Stars Observing Program: 110 double-star targets visible from the northern hemisphere across many constellations.
 
 SaA
 ----------
 Saguaro Astronomy Club Asterisms Database Version 3.2
 
 SaM
 ----
-Saguaro Astronomy Club Double Star Database Version 4.0
-2162 double stars.
+Saguaro Astronomy Club Double Star Database Version 4.0: 2,162 double stars.
 
 SaR
 ----
 SAC Red Stars Database Version 2.0
 
 Sh2
 ----
-The Sharpless catalog is a list of 313 H II regions (emission nebulae) intended to be comprehensive north of declination −27°.
+313 H II regions (emission nebulae), comprehensive north of declination −27°.
 
 Str
 ----
-A catalog of named bright stars.  Especially useful for aligning GoTo scopes.
+Named bright stars. Especially useful for aligning GoTo scopes.
 
 Ta2
 ----------
-The TAAS 200 deep sky astronomical observing list designed for the intermediate observer, and includes the best 200 non Messier objects easily visible from central New Mexico, (objects north of declination -48).
+The TAAS 200 deep-sky observing list for the intermediate observer: the best 200 non-Messier objects easily visible from central New Mexico (north of declination −48°).
 
 TLK
 ----
 TLK's hand-picked list of interesting variable stars visible from the northern hemisphere.
 
 WDS
 ----
-The Washington Double Star Catalog — the PiFinder includes over 130,000 double and multiple
-star pairs from it.  Because the full list is far too long to scroll, find a pair with
-**Name Search** (type its WDS designation) or sort the list by **Nearest** to bring up the
-doubles closest to where your scope is pointing.
-For more information on WDS, please see: `https://www.astro.gsu.edu/wds/ <https://www.astro.gsu.edu/wds/>`_
+The PiFinder includes over 130,000 double and multiple star pairs from the
+Washington Double Star Catalog. The full list is far too long to scroll, so find
+a pair with **Name Search** (type its WDS designation) or sort by **Nearest** to
+bring up the doubles closest to where your scope is pointing.
+For more on WDS, see `https://www.astro.gsu.edu/wds/ <https://www.astro.gsu.edu/wds/>`_
diff --git a/docs/source/equipment.rst b/docs/source/equipment.rst
@@ -1,44 +1,40 @@
 Equipment
 =========
 
-The PiFinder can keep track of the telescopes and eyepieces you observe with.
-Telling it about your gear is optional, but it unlocks several conveniences:
-it works out the magnification and true field of view for any
-telescope-and-eyepiece pairing, it sizes and orients the survey images on the
-:ref:`user_guide:object details` screen to match what you actually see at the
-eyepiece, and it lets the push-to arrows follow the way your particular setup
-moves.
-
-You manage your equipment from two places. The :ref:`user_guide:web interface`
-is where you add and edit telescopes and eyepieces, and the Equipment screen on
-the PiFinder itself is where you pick which ones are active for tonight's
-session.
+The PiFinder can track the telescopes and eyepieces you observe with. Telling
+it about your gear is optional, but it unlocks several conveniences: it works
+out the magnification and true field of view for any telescope-and-eyepiece
+pairing, sizes and orients the survey images on the
+:ref:`user_guide:object details` screen to match the eyepiece view, and lets
+the push-to arrows follow the way your setup moves.
+
+You manage equipment from two places: the :ref:`user_guide:web interface` is
+where you add and edit telescopes and eyepieces, and the Equipment screen on the
+PiFinder is where you pick which ones are active for tonight's session.
 
 Telescopes and eyepieces
 ------------------------
 
-A **telescope** records the optical details of one of your instruments: its
-make and name, aperture, focal length, central obstruction, and mount type,
-along with a few display options covered below. The aperture and focal length
-are what let the PiFinder calculate magnification and field of view.
+A **telescope** records the optical details of one instrument: make and name,
+aperture, focal length, central obstruction, and mount type, plus a few display
+options covered below. Aperture and focal length drive the magnification and
+field-of-view calculations.
 
-An **eyepiece** records its focal length and apparent field of view (and, if
-you know it, the field stop, which gives a more precise field-of-view figure).
-You can store as many of each as you like and switch between them as you change
-eyepieces through the night.
+An **eyepiece** records its focal length and apparent field of view, plus the
+field stop if you know it, which gives a more precise field-of-view figure.
+Store as many of each as you like and switch between them as the night goes on.
 
 Adding and editing your gear
 ----------------------------
 
-Telescopes and eyepieces are added through the :ref:`user_guide:web interface`.
+Add telescopes and eyepieces through the :ref:`user_guide:web interface`.
 Connect to the PiFinder as described there, then open the Equipment page from
-the navigation menu. You'll find a list of your telescopes and a list of your
-eyepieces, each with buttons to add a new one, edit an existing one, or remove
-it.
+the navigation menu. You'll find a list of telescopes and a list of eyepieces,
+each with buttons to add, edit, or remove an item.
 
 A new PiFinder starts with a generic 200mm Dobsonian and a small set of Plössl
-eyepieces so the calculations have something to work with out of the box. Edit
-or replace these with your own equipment whenever you're ready.
+eyepieces so the calculations work out of the box. Edit or replace these with
+your own gear whenever you're ready.
 
 .. note::
    The on-device Equipment menu builds its list of telescopes and eyepieces
@@ -49,68 +45,68 @@ or replace these with your own equipment whenever you're ready.
 Choosing your active telescope and eyepiece
 -------------------------------------------
 
-The PiFinder uses one **active** telescope and one **active** eyepiece at a
-time for its calculations and displays. You can set these from either place:
+The PiFinder uses one **active** telescope and one **active** eyepiece at a time
+for its calculations and displays. Set these from either place:
 
 * **On the PiFinder**, open the :ref:`user_guide:tools` menu and select
-  Equipment. The Equipment screen shows your active telescope and eyepiece and,
+  Equipment. The Equipment screen shows the active telescope and eyepiece and,
   when both are set, the resulting magnification and true field of view. Choose
   "Telescope..." or "Eyepiece..." to pick from your stored gear.
 * **In the web interface**, use the Equipment page to mark a telescope or
-  eyepiece as active.
+  eyepiece active.
 
 .. image:: images/equipment/equipment_screen_docs.png
 
-Choosing "Telescope..." or "Eyepiece..." opens a list of your stored gear, with
-a check mark next to the active one. Use the **UP/DOWN** arrows to highlight a
-different item and **RIGHT** to make it active.
+Choosing "Telescope..." or "Eyepiece..." opens a list of your stored gear, a
+check mark beside the active one. Use the **UP/DOWN** arrows to highlight an
+item and **RIGHT** to make it active.
 
 .. image:: images/equipment/select_telescope_docs.png
    :width: 45%
 .. image:: images/equipment/select_eyepiece_docs.png
    :width: 45%
 
-If nothing is selected, the PiFinder simply skips the magnification and
-field-of-view figures and shows the object image in its default orientation.
+If nothing is selected, the PiFinder skips the magnification and field-of-view
+figures and shows the object image in its default orientation.
 
 Magnification and true field of view
 -------------------------------------
 
-Once an active telescope and eyepiece are set, the PiFinder shows two numbers
-on the Equipment screen:
+With an active telescope and eyepiece set, the PiFinder shows two numbers on the
+Equipment screen:
 
-* **Magnification** is the telescope's focal length divided by the eyepiece's
-  focal length. A 1000mm telescope with a 25mm eyepiece gives 40×.
-* **True field of view** (TFOV) is how much sky you actually see through that
-  combination, in degrees. This is the figure to compare against the push-to
-  distance: when the object is within half your true field of view of the
-  centre, it's in the eyepiece.
+* **Magnification** is the telescope's focal length divided by the eyepiece's.
+  A 1000mm telescope with a 25mm eyepiece gives 40×.
+* **True field of view** (TFOV) is how much sky you see through that
+  combination, in degrees. Compare it against the push-to distance: when the
+  object is within half your true field of view of the centre, it's in the
+  eyepiece.
 
 The true field of view also sets the starting zoom of the survey image on the
 :ref:`user_guide:object details` screen, so the image frames roughly the same
-patch of sky your eyepiece shows. You can still zoom in and out from there with
-the **+** and **-** keys.
+patch of sky your eyepiece shows. Zoom in and out from there with the **+** and
+**-** keys.
 
-Both figures also appear on the object image itself — the field of view in the
-top-left corner and the magnification in the top-right — so you always know the
-scale of what you're looking at.
+Both figures appear on the object image too — field of view in the top-left
+corner, magnification in the top-right — so you always know the scale of what
+you're looking at.
 
 .. image:: images/equipment/object_image_fov_mag_docs.png
 
 Matching the object image to your eyepiece: flip and flop
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 
-The survey images on the object details screen are oriented to match the view
-through your eyepiece, so you can compare them to what you see directly. Because
-different telescopes flip the view in different ways, two per-telescope options
-let you correct the orientation:
+The survey images on the object details screen are oriented to match your
+eyepiece view, so you can compare them directly. Different telescopes flip the
+view in different ways, so two per-telescope options let you correct the
+orientation:
 
 * **Flip image (upside down)** mirrors the image top to bottom.
 * **Flop image (left right)** mirrors the image left to right.
 
-You don't need to reason about your optics to set these. Point at a bright,
-recognisable object, compare the object image to your eyepiece view, and toggle
-the two options until they match:
+You don't need to reason about your optics. Point at a bright, recognisable
+object, compare the object image to your eyepiece view, and toggle the two
+options until they match:
 
 * If the image is **upside down** compared to the eyepiece, turn on **Flip**.
 * If the image is **mirrored** left-to-right, turn on **Flop**.
@@ -141,7 +137,7 @@ As a starting point for common setups:
 A plain Newtonian or Dobsonian needs neither option, which is why both are off
 by default. A star diagonal produces a mirror image, so you'll need exactly one
 of Flip or Flop; which one depends on how the diagonal sits in the focuser, so
-just pick whichever makes the image match.
+pick whichever makes the image match.
 
 .. note::
    Early PiFinder software shipped the default Dobsonian with Flop turned on by
@@ -151,9 +147,9 @@ just pick whichever makes the image match.
 Reversing the push-to arrows
 ----------------------------
 
-The same telescope settings include **Reverse Arrow A** and **Reverse Arrow B**.
-These flip the direction of the push-to arrows so they point the way your
-telescope actually moves. If you find that nudging the scope in the direction an
-arrow points sends the target further away instead of closer, turn on the
-matching reverse option. The two arrows cover the two directions of movement, so
-enable A, B, or both until the arrows guide you the right way.
+The same telescope settings include **Reverse Arrow A** and **Reverse Arrow B**,
+which flip the push-to arrows so they point the way your telescope actually
+moves. If nudging the scope in the direction an arrow points sends the target
+further away instead of closer, turn on the matching reverse option. The two
+arrows cover the two directions of movement, so enable A, B, or both until the
+arrows guide you the right way.