Recent changes to Configuration

Discussion for Configuration page

Antti Kuntsi — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 14:19:41 -0000

please can you help when i load an image in to AT this what i get in the log, i did have it working once then it just stopped so i reloaded it now this is the result.

2017-01-22 14:07:31,539 - astrotortilla - INFO - Connecting to camera...
2017-01-22 14:07:31,539 - astrotortilla - INFO - Exposing: 20.00 seconds
2017-01-22 14:07:36,150 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading image from camera
2017-01-22 14:07:36,150 - astrotortilla - INFO - Solving...
2017-01-22 14:07:36,275 - astrotortilla - INFO - 0 [main] bash 5280 find_fast_cwd: WARNING: Couldn't compute FAST_CWD pointer. Please report this problem to

2017-01-22 14:07:36,384 - astrotortilla - INFO - the public mailing list cygwin@cygwin.com

2017-01-22 14:07:36,930 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading input file 1 of 12: "r"...

2017-01-22 14:07:37,477 - astrotortilla - INFO - ERROR: Image type not recognized: Could not determine file type (does the file exist?): r

2017-01-22 14:07:37,993 - astrotortilla - INFO - ioutils.c:605:run_command_get_outputs Command failed: return value 255

2017-01-22 14:07:37,993 - astrotortilla - INFO - augment-xylist.c:585:backtick Failed to run command: /usr/lib/astrometry/bin/image2pnm.py --sanitized-fits-outfile /tmp/tmp.sanitized.tnhvrL --fix-sdss --infile r --uncompressed-outfile /tmp/tmp.uncompressed.FMdtrX --outfile /tmp/tmp.ppm.V8Lb27 --ppm

2017-01-22 14:07:37,993 - astrotortilla - INFO - No solution in 1.8s

Discussion for Configuration page

Antti Kuntsi — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 01:17:26 -0000

I'm fairly sure that it is the downsample parameter that is the problem. I tried most of your other settings and still solved the image, as long as downsample 2 was in place.

Somewhere in the past threads there is a discussion of downsample. I have never used anything other than 2.

Bryan

WikiPage Configuration modified by Antti Kuntsi

Antti Kuntsi — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:19:43 -0000

--- v6
+++ v7
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 [AstroTortilla](../Home) stores its configuration files in the user's application local settings directory structure, under the astrotortilla.sf.net\\AstroTortilla directory. You can also store additional (partial) configuration files for quickly switching between various setups. It is recommended you save the configuration files into the default directory. You can remove any unwanted sections from the saved configuration files, e.g. leave only the solver specific section in the files. This enable creating a quickly switchable profile library for different telescopes and for annotated plots from stacked images.
 
-The configuration file structure uses the familiar INI-file structure and it is currently in 7bit ASCII only. 
+The configuration file structure uses the familiar INI-file structure and it is currently in 7bit ASCII only. The percent -sign (%) must be escaped with another escaped-sign in the configuration file.
 
 
 # Comment
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@
 
 
 
-
+
-
+settings_path reserved for future
settings_path reserved for future use
 log_file Log file name (name only or absolute path)
 log_level DEBUG, INFO, WARNING or ERROR
last_gotoimage reserver
last_gotoimage reserved for future use
 work_directory If set, all work will be done under the given directory. The temporary data is not deleted at exit.
 
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@

- + @@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ Binning is always set as symmetric, and it's supported by MaxImDL, Nebulosity and ASCOM camera modules. -Nebulosity module cannot detect current imaging directory from Nebulosity and thus it has to set the imaging directory to a temporary one. If the resetpath is set, the given value is set as imaging directory after the image for plate-solving is taken. The resetpath option supports following parameters: +Nebulosity module cannot detect current imaging directory from Nebulosity and thus it has to set the imaging directory to a temporary one. If the resetpath is set, the given value is set as imaging directory after the image for plate-solving is taken. The resetpath option supports following parameters (use escaped form in configuration file):

shell	Executable string for using astrometry.net
shell	Execution string for using astrometry.net undec Cygwin. Note that `%%s` is in escaped form in the config file.
downscale	Image downscaling factor (0=disabled)
scale_max	Upper limit for image scale
scale_low	Lower limit for image scale

WikiPage Configuration modified by Antti Kuntsi

Antti Kuntsi — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:14:15 -0000

--- v5
+++ v6
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Configuration and settings
 ====
 
-[AstroTortilla](../Home) stores its configuration files in the user's application local settings directory structure, under the astrotortilla.sf.net\\AstroTortilla directory. You can also store additional (partial) configuration files for quickly switching between various setups.It is recommended you save the configuration files into the default directory. You can remove any unwanted sections from the saved configuration files, e.g. leave only the solver specific section in the files. This enable creating a quickly switchable profile library for different telescopes and for annotated plots from stacked images.
+[AstroTortilla](../Home) stores its configuration files in the user's application local settings directory structure, under the astrotortilla.sf.net\\AstroTortilla directory. You can also store additional (partial) configuration files for quickly switching between various setups. It is recommended you save the configuration files into the default directory. You can remove any unwanted sections from the saved configuration files, e.g. leave only the solver specific section in the files. This enable creating a quickly switchable profile library for different telescopes and for annotated plots from stacked images.
 
 The configuration file structure uses the familiar INI-file structure and it is currently in 7bit ASCII only. 
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@

- +

%(date)s	Current date
configfile	Path to astrometry.net configuration file (in Cygwin)
xtra	Additional command line options to `solve-field`
searchradius	Assumed telescope pointing accuracy radius (180=whole sky)
year_epoch<	Epoch used in solution coordinates, JNow or J2000
year_epoch	Epoch used in solution coordinates, JNow or J2000

If you see a systematic error of a few arc-minutes, you can try changing the epoch setting.

WikiPage Configuration modified by Antti Kuntsi

Antti Kuntsi — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:58:18 -0000

--- v4
+++ v5
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@
 setextfilterwheel = -1
 resetpath = 
 binning = 1
+nebulosity = 2

Various camera specific settings. @@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ The date format is YYYY-mm-dd. The current image name in Nebulosity is not changed. -Nebulosity module has been tested with Nebulosity 2.4 only. Nebulosity 3 may work, but it has not been tested. +Nebulosity module has been tested with Nebulosity 2.4 and 2.5 only. Nebulosity 3 may work, but it has not been tested. Set the nebulosity option to "3" instead of "2" and point the path to your Nebulosity 3 installation directory. Astrometry.net solver

WikiPage Configuration modified by Antti Kuntsi

Antti Kuntsi — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:33:47 -0000

--- v3
+++ v4
@@ -5,11 +5,21 @@
 
 [AstroTortilla](../Home) stores its configuration files in the user's application local settings directory structure, under the astrotortilla.sf.net\\AstroTortilla directory. You can also store additional (partial) configuration files for quickly switching between various setups.It is recommended you save the configuration files into the default directory. You can remove any unwanted sections from the saved configuration files, e.g. leave only the solver specific section in the files. This enable creating a quickly switchable profile library for different telescopes and for annotated plots from stacked images.
 
+The configuration file structure uses the familiar INI-file structure and it is currently in 7bit ASCII only. 
+
+
+# Comment
+[SectionName]
+option = value
+another_option = different value
+
+
+There is no need to have any particular section present in a configuration file, and it is recommended you edit the additional saved configuration files to cover only the parts of AstroTortilla settings you want to change quickly and easily on the field.
 
 
 AstroTortilla
 ---
-Configuration file is currently in 7bit ASCII only. A sample of configuration file sections:
+A sample of configuration file sections:
 
 
 [AstroTortilla]



WikiPage Configuration modified by Antti Kuntsi
Antti Kuntsi — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:19:32 -0000
--- v2
+++ v3
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
 Configuration and settings
 ====
 
-[AstroTortilla](../Home) stores its configuration files in the user's application local settings directory structure, under the astrotortilla.sf.net\\AstroTortilla directory. You can also store additional (partial) configuration files for quickly switching between various setups. All configuration files are currently in ASCII.
+[AstroTortilla](../Home) stores its configuration files in the user's application local settings directory structure, under the astrotortilla.sf.net\\AstroTortilla directory. You can also store additional (partial) configuration files for quickly switching between various setups.It is recommended you save the configuration files into the default directory. You can remove any unwanted sections from the saved configuration files, e.g. leave only the solver specific section in the files. This enable creating a quickly switchable profile library for different telescopes and for annotated plots from stacked images.
+
 
 
 AstroTortilla
 ---
-A sample configuration file sections:
+Configuration file is currently in 7bit ASCII only. A sample of configuration file sections:
 
 
 [AstroTortilla]



WikiPage Configuration modified by Antti Kuntsi
Antti Kuntsi — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:05:00 -0000
--- v1
+++ v2
@@ -67,13 +67,19 @@
 downscaleImage downscaling factor (0=disabled)
 scale_maxUpper limit for image scale
 scale_lowLower limit for image scale
-scale_xrefineFactor for setting the scale_max and scale_low parameters based on solved image
+scale_xrefineFactor for setting the scale_max and scale_low parameters based on solved image (0=disabled)
 scale_unitsdegwidth, arcminwidth or arcsecperpix
 configfilePath to astrometry.net configuration file (in Cygwin)
 xtraAdditional command line options to solve-field
 searchradiusAssumed telescope pointing accuracy radius (180=whole sky)
-year_epochEpoch used in solution coordinates, JNow or J2000
-
+year_epoch<Epoch used in solution coordinates, JNow or J2000
+
+
+If you see a systematic error of a few arc-minutes, you can try changing the epoch setting.
+
+The fastest way to solve an image is to use a scale_low a bit smaller than your actual image size and searchradius of around 45 degrees (eg EQASCOM cannot sync with >45degree mismatch), to use binning instead of down-scaling, to disable plotting and to optimize the exposure-time and --sigma values for approximately 100-200 stars. One additional performance test is to make sure your Cygwin doesn't have Bash autocomplete enabled, it can add several seconds to the solve time if enabled.
+
+The search radius and RA/dec information is not used when solving an image from "GoTo image" or "Add bookmark from image".
 
 
 [Telescope-ASCOMTelescope]
@@ -188,7 +194,7 @@
 Recommended options to experiment with:
 
 
-
+
@@ -202,4 +208,8 @@
 --sigma N Set the noise threshold level to N
--sigma N Set the noise level to N
 --no-plots Do not plot the annotated image
 --N none Do not create a new FITS file with integrated WCS headers
 -q N.N Minimum quad size fraction
--guess-scale Try to estimate field size from FITS headers
 
 
-
+The --sigma option can be used in conjuction with the exposure time to improve the detected stars SNR and limit the number of items interpreted as stars. Depending on your camera and telescope aperture the known good values are known to vary between 2-5 seconds of exposure and 5-200 units for --sigma.
+
+If you have a fairly slow harddisk (e.g. netbooks), disabling the plotting functions can improve you solve time by over ten seconds. These are set to disabled by default in new installations.
+
+If you want to solve images on disk and store the annotated images from astrometry.net solver, remove the --no-plots -N none options and set the work_directory in the configuration file to a temporary directory. Using the FileOpenCamera module you can annotate existing stacked images and the results are stored in solving order under the work directory.



WikiPage Configuration modified by Antti Kuntsi
Antti Kuntsi — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:47:24 -0000
[TOC]

Configuration and settings
====

[AstroTortilla](../Home) stores its configuration files in the user's application local settings directory structure, under the astrotortilla.sf.net\\AstroTortilla directory. You can also store additional (partial) configuration files for quickly switching between various setups. All configuration files are currently in ASCII.


AstroTortilla
---
A sample configuration file sections:


[AstroTortilla]
settings_path = C:\Users\MyUserId\AppData\Local\astrotortilla.sf.net\AstroTortilla
log_file = 
log_level = ERROR
last_gotoimage = 
work_directory = s:\tmp



settings_path reserved for future
log_file Log file name (name only or absolute path)
log_level DEBUG, INFO, WARNING or ERROR
last_gotoimage reserver
work_directory If set, all work will be done under the given directory. The temporary data is not deleted at exit.




[Session]
iterlimitarcmin = 1.0
iterlimitcount = 5
solver = AstrometryNetSolver
syncmode = 0
exposure = 5.0
camera = CaptureCamera




iterlimitarcmin Accuracy limit for iterative GoTo correction
iterlimitcount Maximum number of successive correction iterations
solver Last used solver module
syncmode Last used synchronization mode
exposure Default exposure time in seconds
camera Last used camera module



[Solver-AstrometryNetSolver]
shell = S:\cygwin\bin\bash --login -c "%%s"
downscale = 0
scale_max = 4
scale_xrefine = 0
configfile = /etc/astrometry/backend.cfg
scale_low = .5
xtra = --sigma 50 -N none --no-plot
searchradius = 180
scale_units = degwidth
year_epoch = JNOW


Epoch used in solution coordinates, JNow or J2000
shell Executable string for using astrometry.net
downscale Image downscaling factor (0=disabled)
scale_max Upper limit for image scale
scale_low Lower limit for image scale
scale_xrefine Factor for setting the scale_max and scale_low parameters based on solved image
scale_units degwidth, arcminwidth or arcsecperpix
configfile Path to astrometry.net configuration file (in Cygwin)
xtra Additional command line options to solve-field
searchradius Assumed telescope pointing accuracy radius (180=whole sky)
year_epoch



[Telescope-ASCOMTelescope]
propertyagelimit = 1.0
syncaccuracy = 1.0
syncmaxwait = 2.0
lastselection = ASCOM.Simulator.Telescope



propertyagelimit Minimum telescope property refresh interval
syncaccuracy Post-sync reported coordinate accuracy limit
syncmaxwait Timeout limit for sync-operation
lastselection Last used ASCOM Telescope device name



[Bookmarks]
bm-0 = 21h29m58.57s,12:10:15.59,1.0,M15
bm-1 = 05h34m48.42s,-05:38:06.04,-3.5,M45
count = 2


This format is subject to change.

bm-* Bookmark entry RA,dec,rotation,name
count Number of bookmarks (last+1)



Camera specific sections:


[Camera-MaximDLCamera]
filter = -1
binning = 2

[Camera-ASCOMCamera]
lastcamera = 
binning = 1

[Camera-FileOpenCamera]
directory = S:\tmp
binning = 1

[Camera-APTCamera]
binning = 1
hostname = localhost
port = 21701


[Camera-CaptureCamera]
windowtitle = ^PHD Guiding.*
topmargin = 49
rightmargin = 48
classname = .*
bottommargin = 70
leftmargin = 3
binning = 1

[Camera-NebulosityCamera]
path = C:\Program Files\Nebulosity2\
setfilterwheel = -1
setcamera = False
setextfilterwheel = -1
resetpath = 
binning = 1


Various camera specific settings.


Camera settings
---

The MaxImDL and Nebulosity camera modules support using a specific filter for solved images. Setting a filter value to -1 means current filter, any other value is passed as filter index to supporting imaging software. 

Binning is always set as symmetric, and it's supported by MaxImDL, Nebulosity and ASCOM camera modules.

Nebulosity module cannot detect current imaging directory from Nebulosity and thus it has to set the imaging directory to a temporary one. If the resetpath is set, the given value is set as imaging directory after the image for plate-solving is taken. The resetpath option supports following parameters:


%(date)s Current date
%(night)s Date 12 hours ago


The date format is YYYY-mm-dd. The current image name in Nebulosity is not changed.

Nebulosity module has been tested with Nebulosity 2.4 only. Nebulosity 3 may work, but it has not been tested.


Astrometry.net solver
---

The astrometry.net plate-solver engine is used to determine the location, orientation and coverage of the imaged star field. The majority of the command-line options for solve-field can be set thru the xtra configuration entry or thru the GUI entry Custom options. 

Reserved options not available as custom options (showing only short variants):


-D Working directory (thru AstroTortilla config file)
-b Configuration file location (thru AstroTortilla)
-L Scale low limit (thru AstroTortilla)
-H Scale high limit (thru AstroTortilla)
-u Scale unit settings (thru AstroTortilla)
-3 Target RA (from telescope if applicable)
-4 Target declination (from telescope if applicable)
-5 Search radius (thru AstroTortilla)
-z Downscaling factor (thru AstroTortilla)
Any/all options changing output file locations and names


Recommended options to experiment with:


--sigma N Set the noise threshold level to N
--no-plots Do not plot the annotated image
--N none Do not create a new FITS file with integrated WCS headers
-q N.N Minimum quad size fraction
-Q N.N Maximum quad size fraction
--odds-* See astrometry.net documentation
--parity neg|pos Try only negative/positive parity
--objs N Limit source list to N objects
--resort Sort stars by background calibrated flux
--no-fits2fits Don't sanitize FITS files
--no-background-subtraction Don't estimate background fluctuations
--guess-scale Try to estimate field size from FITS headers

settings_path	reserved for future
settings_path	reserved for future use
log_file	Log file name (name only or absolute path)
log_level	DEBUG, INFO, WARNING or ERROR
last_gotoimage	reserver
last_gotoimage	reserved for future use
work_directory	If set, all work will be done under the given directory. The temporary data is not deleted at exit.

--sigma N	Set the noise threshold level to N
--sigma N	Set the noise level to N
--no-plots	Do not plot the annotated image
--N none	Do not create a new FITS file with integrated WCS headers
-q N.N	Minimum quad size fraction
--guess-scale	Try to estimate field size from FITS headers

iterlimitarcmin	Accuracy limit for iterative GoTo correction
iterlimitcount	Maximum number of successive correction iterations
solver	Last used solver module
syncmode	Last used synchronization mode
exposure	Default exposure time in seconds
camera	Last used camera module

propertyagelimit	Minimum telescope property refresh interval
syncaccuracy	Post-sync reported coordinate accuracy limit
syncmaxwait	Timeout limit for sync-operation
lastselection	Last used ASCOM Telescope device name

bm-*	Bookmark entry `RA,dec,rotation,name`
count	Number of bookmarks (last+1)

-D	Working directory (thru AstroTortilla config file)
-b	Configuration file location (thru AstroTortilla)
-L	Scale low limit (thru AstroTortilla)
-H	Scale high limit (thru AstroTortilla)
-u	Scale unit settings (thru AstroTortilla)
-3	Target RA (from telescope if applicable)
-4	Target declination (from telescope if applicable)
-5	Search radius (thru AstroTortilla)
-z	Downscaling factor (thru AstroTortilla)
	Any/all options changing output file locations and names