Hello, Han: I am new to plate solving and have installed ASTAP into the C:\Program Files\astap directory. I have also installed the h18 star database into that same directory. After installation, I attempted to test it standalone by loading an existing FITS file and attempting to Plate-Solve it.
No matter what I do, I always get the message: "ASTAP error: No star database found at C:\Program Files\astap\ ! Download the h18 (or h17, or v17) and install" I have repeated these downloads multiple times and am always getting this message. Again, the ~1400 star database files are in the same directory as the astap application.
Judging by the lack of postings on this topic, I must be making some really basic newbie type error, and would appreciate any help you could provide.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
That is weird. The only condition is that ASTAP and the star database files are in the same location.
I assume you have used the installers. One for the program and one for the star database.
1) If you open ASTAP, go to the stack menu by CTRL+A, go to tab alignment. Can you select one of the database as indicated in the attached screen shot? Select one and try it again.
2)Are you sure you execute the correct astap? Start ASTAP by double clicking on c:\program files\astap\astap.exe
3) Try to copy the file to an other directory. E.g to c:\astap and try to execute then c:\astap\astap.exe
4) If it still doesn't work, can you use explorer, navigate to in C:\Program Files\astap. Then sort on file names and make a screenshot and post it here?
Interesting ! When I change the field under "Star Database Used" from auto to H18, I no longer get an error, but the following:
NAXIS = 2 / number of data axes
NAXIS1 = 4656 / length of data axis 1
NAXIS2 = 3520 / length of data axis 2
EXTEND = T / FITS dataset may contain extensions
COMMENT FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format is defined in 'Astronomy
COMMENT and Astrophysics', volume 376, page 359; bibcode: 2001A&A...376..359H
BZERO = 32768 / offset data range to that of unsigned short
BSCALE = 1 / default scaling factor
OBJECT = 'Heart Nebula' / The name of Object Imaged
INSTRUME= 'ZWO ASI1600MM Pro' / The model Camera used
DATE-OBS= '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the start of the expo
HIERARCH CAMERA-DATE-OBS = '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the
EXPTIME = 600. / The total exposure time in seconds
CCD-TEMP= -0.5 / Temperature of CCD when exposure taken
XPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel width in microns (after binning)
YPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel height in microns (after binning)
XBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in width
YBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in height
XORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame X position
YORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame Y position
EGAIN = 1.55053532123566 / Electronic gain in e-/ADU
FOCALLEN= 16 / Focal Length of the Telescope in mm
JD = 2459596.74383102 / Julian Date
SWCREATE= 'Astro Photography Tool - APT v.3.88' / Imaging software
SBSTDVER= 'SBFITSEXT Version 1.0' / Standard version
FILTER = 'Ha ' / Filter used to take image
SNAPSHOT= 1 / Number of images combined
SET-TEMP= 0. / The setpoint of the cooling in C
IMAGETYP= 'Light Frame' / The type of image
SITELAT = '+30 24 00.220' / The site Latitude
SITELONG= '-97 46 27.380' / The site Longitude
GAIN = 101 / The gain set (if supported)
PLTSOLVD= F / No plate solution found.
WARNING = 'Very large FOV, use W08 database! Warning, remaining image dimensio&'
CONTINUE= 'ns too low! '
END
.....
so it thinks it needs the wide field database.
so I installed W08 but did not remove the H18 database from the directory. I changed the "Star Database Used" setting in the stack menu from H18 to W08, and tried plate solving again....
and I get the following messages:
NAXIS2 = 3520 / length of data axis 2
EXTEND = T / FITS dataset may contain extensions
COMMENT FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format is defined in 'Astronomy
COMMENT and Astrophysics', volume 376, page 359; bibcode: 2001A&A...376..359H
BZERO = 32768 / offset data range to that of unsigned short
BSCALE = 1 / default scaling factor
OBJECT = 'Heart Nebula' / The name of Object Imaged
INSTRUME= 'ZWO ASI1600MM Pro' / The model Camera used
DATE-OBS= '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the start of the expo
HIERARCH CAMERA-DATE-OBS = '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the
EXPTIME = 600. / The total exposure time in seconds
CCD-TEMP= -0.5 / Temperature of CCD when exposure taken
XPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel width in microns (after binning)
YPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel height in microns (after binning)
XBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in width
YBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in height
XORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame X position
YORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame Y position
EGAIN = 1.55053532123566 / Electronic gain in e-/ADU
FOCALLEN= 16 / Focal Length of the Telescope in mm
JD = 2459596.74383102 / Julian Date
SWCREATE= 'Astro Photography Tool - APT v.3.88' / Imaging software
SBSTDVER= 'SBFITSEXT Version 1.0' / Standard version
FILTER = 'Ha ' / Filter used to take image
SNAPSHOT= 1 / Number of images combined
SET-TEMP= 0. / The setpoint of the cooling in C
IMAGETYP= 'Light Frame' / The type of image
SITELAT = '+30 24 00.220' / The site Latitude
SITELONG= '-97 46 27.380' / The site Longitude
GAIN = 101 / The gain set (if supported)
PLTSOLVD= F / No plate solution found.
END
.....
So no plate solution found yet, but it does seem to see the star databases now. I have attached the FITS file I am using (a section of the Heart Nebula).
So after a bit more playing with the settings in the stack menu, I found that setting both the "Star Database Used" and "Field of View" fields to "auto" (with the latter then recommending 1.18), I can then get ASTAP to plate solve. The next challenge is getting ASTAP to communicate with NINA and be able to plate-solve there.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
ASTAP looks for the first file of the database for detection. So:
h17_0101.1476
or
h18_0101.1476
But if it is working for the h18, just leave it. You can delete the h17 and v17 files
To get platesolving in nina working you have to enter the foca length and pixel size correctly. One you have solved an image, you can experiment with the calculator in ASTAP under tab pixelmath 2. see attached screen shot
Thank you, Han. Using the same stack menu settings as above and the FOV calculator adjustments, right now in NINA ASTAP plate solving still fails (at least for this image). However, it then seems to fail over to blind solving (Astrometry.net) and that does work. It will be helpful for me to capture more images to better understand the conditions under which ASTAP will plate solve.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I have solved your h-alpha image. You will need the settings as attached for Nina unless you use other equipment. So focal length is 648 mm.
The camera looks uncooled so there are a lot hot pixels visible but they are filtered out. The hot pixels could require a little longer exposure time like 10 seconds or more.
Thank you for your attention to this, Han. I have entered those data into the FOV calculator - the focal length of the Sky Watcher Esprit 120ED telescope with the 0.77x reducer, also the pixel size of the ZWO ASI1600mm pro.
I had thought the cooler was running in the camera - I was running APT and it had indicated the temperature was -0.5C; I'll be more attentive to that in subsequent runs.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Buonasera, ho installato h18_star_database_mag18_astap.exe , la directory di installaziione è Program Files (x86) ma dopo l'istallazione la cartella Astap me la ritrovo in Program come posso risolvere? APT mi chiede la cartella Program Files e non riesco a cambiare directory.
Grazie per l'attenzione
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Buonasera, ho installato h18_star_database_mag18_astap.exe , la directory di installaziione è Program Files (x86) ma dopo l'istallazione la cartella Astap me la ritrovo in Program come posso risolvere? APT mi chiede la cartella Program Files e non riesco a cambiare directory.
Grazie per l'attenzione
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
The database files should be in the same directory as the program astap.exe
If astap.exe is in c:\Program Files\astap
then uninstall the H18 (as a program) from Window settings and reinstall by specifying the correct path. See screenshot:
Alternatively you can just move the H18 files to the correct directory.
Hello, Han: I am new to plate solving and have installed ASTAP into the C:\Program Files\astap directory. I have also installed the h18 star database into that same directory. After installation, I attempted to test it standalone by loading an existing FITS file and attempting to Plate-Solve it.
No matter what I do, I always get the message: "ASTAP error: No star database found at C:\Program Files\astap\ ! Download the h18 (or h17, or v17) and install" I have repeated these downloads multiple times and am always getting this message. Again, the ~1400 star database files are in the same directory as the astap application.
Judging by the lack of postings on this topic, I must be making some really basic newbie type error, and would appreciate any help you could provide.
Hello Mike,
That is weird. The only condition is that ASTAP and the star database files are in the same location.
I assume you have used the installers. One for the program and one for the star database.
1) If you open ASTAP, go to the stack menu by CTRL+A, go to tab alignment. Can you select one of the database as indicated in the attached screen shot? Select one and try it again.
2)Are you sure you execute the correct astap? Start ASTAP by double clicking on c:\program files\astap\astap.exe
3) Try to copy the file to an other directory. E.g to c:\astap and try to execute then c:\astap\astap.exe
4) If it still doesn't work, can you use explorer, navigate to in C:\Program Files\astap. Then sort on file names and make a screenshot and post it here?
Cheers, Han
Interesting ! When I change the field under "Star Database Used" from auto to H18, I no longer get an error, but the following:
NAXIS = 2 / number of data axes
NAXIS1 = 4656 / length of data axis 1
NAXIS2 = 3520 / length of data axis 2
EXTEND = T / FITS dataset may contain extensions
COMMENT FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format is defined in 'Astronomy
COMMENT and Astrophysics', volume 376, page 359; bibcode: 2001A&A...376..359H
BZERO = 32768 / offset data range to that of unsigned short
BSCALE = 1 / default scaling factor
OBJECT = 'Heart Nebula' / The name of Object Imaged
INSTRUME= 'ZWO ASI1600MM Pro' / The model Camera used
DATE-OBS= '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the start of the expo
HIERARCH CAMERA-DATE-OBS = '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the
EXPTIME = 600. / The total exposure time in seconds
CCD-TEMP= -0.5 / Temperature of CCD when exposure taken
XPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel width in microns (after binning)
YPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel height in microns (after binning)
XBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in width
YBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in height
XORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame X position
YORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame Y position
EGAIN = 1.55053532123566 / Electronic gain in e-/ADU
FOCALLEN= 16 / Focal Length of the Telescope in mm
JD = 2459596.74383102 / Julian Date
SWCREATE= 'Astro Photography Tool - APT v.3.88' / Imaging software
SBSTDVER= 'SBFITSEXT Version 1.0' / Standard version
FILTER = 'Ha ' / Filter used to take image
SNAPSHOT= 1 / Number of images combined
SET-TEMP= 0. / The setpoint of the cooling in C
IMAGETYP= 'Light Frame' / The type of image
SITELAT = '+30 24 00.220' / The site Latitude
SITELONG= '-97 46 27.380' / The site Longitude
GAIN = 101 / The gain set (if supported)
PLTSOLVD= F / No plate solution found.
WARNING = 'Very large FOV, use W08 database! Warning, remaining image dimensio&'
CONTINUE= 'ns too low! '
END
.....
so it thinks it needs the wide field database.
so I installed W08 but did not remove the H18 database from the directory. I changed the "Star Database Used" setting in the stack menu from H18 to W08, and tried plate solving again....
and I get the following messages:
NAXIS2 = 3520 / length of data axis 2
EXTEND = T / FITS dataset may contain extensions
COMMENT FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format is defined in 'Astronomy
COMMENT and Astrophysics', volume 376, page 359; bibcode: 2001A&A...376..359H
BZERO = 32768 / offset data range to that of unsigned short
BSCALE = 1 / default scaling factor
OBJECT = 'Heart Nebula' / The name of Object Imaged
INSTRUME= 'ZWO ASI1600MM Pro' / The model Camera used
DATE-OBS= '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the start of the expo
HIERARCH CAMERA-DATE-OBS = '2022-01-17T05:51:07' / The UTC date and time at the
EXPTIME = 600. / The total exposure time in seconds
CCD-TEMP= -0.5 / Temperature of CCD when exposure taken
XPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel width in microns (after binning)
YPIXSZ = 3.8 / Pixel height in microns (after binning)
XBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in width
YBINNING= 1 / Binning factor in height
XORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame X position
YORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame Y position
EGAIN = 1.55053532123566 / Electronic gain in e-/ADU
FOCALLEN= 16 / Focal Length of the Telescope in mm
JD = 2459596.74383102 / Julian Date
SWCREATE= 'Astro Photography Tool - APT v.3.88' / Imaging software
SBSTDVER= 'SBFITSEXT Version 1.0' / Standard version
FILTER = 'Ha ' / Filter used to take image
SNAPSHOT= 1 / Number of images combined
SET-TEMP= 0. / The setpoint of the cooling in C
IMAGETYP= 'Light Frame' / The type of image
SITELAT = '+30 24 00.220' / The site Latitude
SITELONG= '-97 46 27.380' / The site Longitude
GAIN = 101 / The gain set (if supported)
PLTSOLVD= F / No plate solution found.
END
.....
So no plate solution found yet, but it does seem to see the star databases now. I have attached the FITS file I am using (a section of the Heart Nebula).
So after a bit more playing with the settings in the stack menu, I found that setting both the "Star Database Used" and "Field of View" fields to "auto" (with the latter then recommending 1.18), I can then get ASTAP to plate solve. The next challenge is getting ASTAP to communicate with NINA and be able to plate-solve there.
ASTAP looks for the first file of the database for detection. So:
h17_0101.1476
or
h18_0101.1476
But if it is working for the h18, just leave it. You can delete the h17 and v17 files
To get platesolving in nina working you have to enter the foca length and pixel size correctly. One you have solved an image, you can experiment with the calculator in ASTAP under tab pixelmath 2. see attached screen shot
Thank you, Han. Using the same stack menu settings as above and the FOV calculator adjustments, right now in NINA ASTAP plate solving still fails (at least for this image). However, it then seems to fail over to blind solving (Astrometry.net) and that does work. It will be helpful for me to capture more images to better understand the conditions under which ASTAP will plate solve.
I have solved your h-alpha image. You will need the settings as attached for Nina unless you use other equipment. So focal length is 648 mm.
The camera looks uncooled so there are a lot hot pixels visible but they are filtered out. The hot pixels could require a little longer exposure time like 10 seconds or more.
Last edit: han.k 2022-01-18
Thank you for your attention to this, Han. I have entered those data into the FOV calculator - the focal length of the Sky Watcher Esprit 120ED telescope with the 0.77x reducer, also the pixel size of the ZWO ASI1600mm pro.
I had thought the cooler was running in the camera - I was running APT and it had indicated the temperature was -0.5C; I'll be more attentive to that in subsequent runs.
Buonasera, ho installato h18_star_database_mag18_astap.exe , la directory di installaziione è Program Files (x86) ma dopo l'istallazione la cartella Astap me la ritrovo in Program come posso risolvere? APT mi chiede la cartella Program Files e non riesco a cambiare directory.
Grazie per l'attenzione
Buonasera, ho installato h18_star_database_mag18_astap.exe , la directory di installaziione è Program Files (x86) ma dopo l'istallazione la cartella Astap me la ritrovo in Program come posso risolvere? APT mi chiede la cartella Program Files e non riesco a cambiare directory.
Grazie per l'attenzione
Hello Gaetano,
The database files should be in the same directory as the program astap.exe
If astap.exe is in c:\Program Files\astap
then uninstall the H18 (as a program) from Window settings and reinstall by specifying the correct path. See screenshot:
Alternatively you can just move the H18 files to the correct directory.
Han
Last edit: han.k 2022-04-22
ok grazie