CR2 raw , strange behaviour and no astrometrical plate solving
Stacking program, astrometric (plate) solver, fits file viewer
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Hello everybody,
my name is Maurizio and I've been interested in photometry for the last few months, being, anyway, a planetary astrophotographer/amateur astronomer for a long time. My only aim now is to do photometry with my Canon 700D and analysing /preparing AAVSO report with ASTAP.
Going directly to the end, the Photometry Table process (done with FITS file from CR2 for lights, darks and flats, obtained from ASTAP conversion itself, using all three methods LibRaw cropped, LibRaw full and dcraw) is not going to the end because (after calibration and green channel extraction) ASTAP is not able to find an astrometric solution for any analysed images.
Considering the single CR2 image, when I simply load it into ASTAP:
1) the image is flipped upside down (you need to flip vertically to have the raw original orientation). Also the converted FITS, loaded from scratch are flipped.
2) with LibRaw conversion (both full and cropped) the header contains the Bayer scheme (RGGB), whereas with dcraw the scheme is ???? (not detected directly).
I tried to astrometrically solve the image (directly the raw, the FITS in all three conversion algos, original and flipped upside down), also doing the manual solution with two points but without any success. The log is asking to use G05 catalogue, I did it but nothing changed.
It is strange because Astrometry.net is solving the FITS converted (with ASTAP) image istantaneouly, even if you give it flipped.
I really don't know what to do anymore, but I don't want to give up, ASTAP is too exceptional to leave it.
I attached an example file, the quality is not good but definitely enough to work on.
Thanks in advance
Hello Maurizio,
The images solve with the attached settings.
However I think the current ASTAP versions seems to have a bug making the solving less reliable. Let me investigate and I will come with a solution in one or two days.
For the moment you can try one of the older versions:
Windows:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/files/windows_installer/older%20versions/
There are also older Linux and Mac versions.
The photometry part is also currently actively developed which i hoe to release soon.
Cheers, Han
Fixed in the development version:
http://www.hnsky.org/astap_setup.exe
Tell me if this version works for you . I will update the Linux or Mac version later in the day.
Thank you Han, I'll check and let you know.
Have a good day
Maurizio
Hello Han,
I don't know if I installed the new version right, but apparently nothing changed: the CR2 image is loaded and converted into FITS same way as before, so flipped upside down with same header. The 'old' and new exec file are the same release too, the 6.04a, I don't know if this was intended.
Anyway, this id what I did: I moved the astap folder from the Program one to the main C: disk, i changed the folder name (for 'astap' to 'astap_old') and installed the new version you gave me (plut G05 and V50 catalogues).
Did I do the process in a proper way ?
Thanks a lot
Maurizio
Version 2024-06-04a is the last one.
Flipped you can set under viewer menu view permanently
To solve it is important that you set once the field of view to 6.55 degrees and the radius search area to 180 degrees since your CR2 files do not contains a position . See the screenshot
https://sourceforge.net/p/astap-program/discussion/general/thread/4497d309e3/555a/attachment/Untitled.png
Set the database to AUTO which will select G05.
Does it solve then?
Han
Hello Han,
Yes, both the releases of ASTAP solved the images, as soon as you set the field of view to 6.55 degrees and the radius search area to 180 degrees (and G05 catalogue). There's no difference at all in a Photometry run between the two ASTAP releases (the original one and the new you prepared). I attached txt file of AVVSO report. I did first solving with G05, after select Var, Check and '3' stars, and after a new run with V50 catalogue.
Only thing it doesn't work is the Transformation button, it abort the process.
Anyway, I keep experimenting with new photometric data as soon as I can.
Many thanks
Maurizio
If you do not know the field-of-view, you could always set it in auto and it will try all between about 10 degrees en 0.5 degrees.
If you find any orher problem please report. Feedback helps.
Cheers, Han
Hello Han,
about Transformation, it keeps failing. It seems to me that there are enough stars to measure from. I attached the log error and the star map with annotation. What could be the reason ?
Thanks
Maurizio
Hi Maurizio,
I think the problem is that you selected the online database. Thsi is relative slow and for a field -of-view of 6.58 degrees it will fail. The reason it goes very deep and building a field for 6.5 x 9.9 degrees is too much for Simbad server.
Just try the local database. Best is to install the V50 which contains the calculated Johnson -V magnitudes. Here is the download link of the Windows installer:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/files/star_databases/v50_star_database.exe/download
or the Linux the V50 debian package:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/files/star_databases/v50_star_database.deb/download
I will double check the transformation function here. Just in case.
Cheers, Han
Han,
actually I tried to use V50 (that I downloaded at inception because It's compulsory for photometry) at first try, but the log is asking explicitly Online database, as attached
Maurizio
Actually, if I use 'Online Gaia -> V' for solving & photometry, I doesn't work as you see in the screen attachedLog. I don't know if it is normal, and maybe related with the fact that Transformation fails as well.
Cheers
Maurizio
See attached. Change the one in your screen shot to "local star database" . I have marked it in my screenshot as 1) This is for the actual photometry so to calibrate the magnitude/flux ratio. The only reason you can set it to online is to calibrate against Johnson-R, Johnson-B, SG ..... The local database is only available in Johnson-V and just called Local database.
The selection marked with 2) is for the annotation of the variables and check stars.
Han
The transformation is only possible with the online version since it required the magnitude for two colours. So with your large field-of-view transformation is not possible.
You will get this error:
I will add an remark about the FOV limitation of the online version
Han
Here with the markers number as 1) and 2)
Hi Han
I've been playing around with the Transformation and get an error. I believe I have set the databases correctly. Any ideas?
Thanks
Mark
Yes local database should be fine. Can you describe what your doing prior to the error?
I calibrated some colour files, without demosaicing, copied them to the Photometry tab then extracted the Green channel, platesolved one of the images and then performed some photometry. Then I pressed the Transformation button which gave me the error.
However, I just tried pressing the Transformation button again now but with Comp. stars set to Online Gaia -> V and it worked without giving me an error. I then went back to Local database and it now also works.
Vey strange. Something in the order of events that caused the error?
Mark