reusing solved images

[Axel Thomas]

Hi there,
I have a couple of already solved images (fits files and corresponding Info.txt files) that I want to load again to annotate a comet. After reloading the files ASTAP however does not recognize the solution of these files - the asteroid and comet annotation option remains grayed out. Does anybody know how I can reload solved images so they can be annotated?

Thanks and cs
Axel

[han.k]

Hi Axel,

The solution has to be stored in the header of the FITS files. You can do that with the viewer pulldown menu TOOLS, BATCH PROCESSING menu or with the popup menu of the lights tab. In the lights tab, select all images (ctyrl+A) and activate the popup menu with the right mouse buttone. Then select "refresh astrometrical solution". See attached.

Han

[Axel Thomas]

Han,
thanks - I was not sure how to make the solution permanent.
I next tried to stack using the ephemeris alignment following the manual (https://www.hnsky.org/astap.htm#ephemeris_alignment) but the comet drop down list always remains empty. I noticed that the documentation does not exactly reflect the current stack menu window, also the shortcut changed from ctrl Q to ctrl R. Could you perhaps point out what/if something changed and update the manual accordingly? Thanks in advance!

cs Axel

[han.k]

You have to select one solved image in the light tab. Then the comet drop down list can be filled with the button. I next version I could add to solve it automatically if it is not solved.

Yes I will update the manual .

Han

[Axel Thomas]

That is what (I think) I am doing. Selecting a solved light and switching to the alignment tab the comet drop down list remains empty. (see attachments).
cs Axel

[han.k]

Solving is automatically. The problem is likely you haven't downloaded and selected a comet database in the menu TOOLS, ANNOTATION OF ASTEROIDS AND COMETS, shortcut CTRL+R.
See attached screenshot. Just click on the download button and download the text version of the comet file and place it somewhere. Then select it in ASTAP with the ".." button.

After this annotation of the comet should work and you can fill then drop down list with the button next to it. Then select the comet in this drop down list and you go to go for comet aligned stacking.

Han

10:51:51  190 stars, 140 quads selected in the image. 127 database stars, 94 database quads required for the 3.12° square search window. Step size 1.56°.
10:51:51  66 of 67 quads selected matching within 0.008 tolerance.  Solution["] x:=1.332410x+ -0.007919y+ -4124.022215,  y:=0.006925x+ 1.333246y+ -2788.657727
10:51:51  Solution found: 16: 58  34.69 + 3° 04  24.8    Solved in 0.3 sec.  Δ was 14.0".    Mount Δα=10.0",  Δδ=8.8".   Used stars down to magnitude: 12.0
10:51:51  Annotating file: E:\Astro_images\_temp\Comet\Comet_20s_-15C_20241022_171757.fits and extracting objects.
10:51:51  No object locations found in the image. Increase the limiting count and/or limiting magnitude in Asteroid & Comet annotation menu, shortcut CTRL+R
10:51:51  Completed. Select the object to align on.

[han.k]

I have updated the documentation:
http://www.hnsky.org/astap.htm#ephemeris_alignment

[han.k]

If you open the solved image, can you annotate the image with the asteroid or comets involved? Just press in the viewer CTRL+R and then the button Annotate...

[Axel Thomas]

I opened astap (2024.10.23, 64bit) and tried ctrl R which resulted only in an error sound. The menu entry TOOLS, ANNOTATION OF ASTEROIDS AND COMETS is greyed out (just as the complete other menu entries below 'clean-up', see attachment). Even if I load a file first the menu remains inactive.

[han.k]

Greyed out of this menu is removed after the two conditions are met:

1) An Image loaded in the viewer
2) Image is solved.

Can you retry by loading the image and press the solve button first? Solved image is indicated by having a celestial position indicated in the status bar. Then menu ctrl+R should work.