Sky simulator for Ascom & Alpaca Activity
Sky simulator for Ascom using an artificial sky or online DSS images.
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han59
Activity for Sky simulator for Ascom & Alpaca
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Sky simulator for Ascom & Alpaca updated /program/linux_installer/sky_simulator_amd64.tar.gz
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han.k committed [b2ee6a] on Code
'v3.0.0RC1'
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To all, Sky Simulator version 3.0.0RC1 has been released. Please tell me if this first release RC1 works for you. I have dropped the external ASCOM COM camera and it uses now only the internal Camera. Both are accessible via Alpaca or ASCOM COM. This should simply the installation a little. In the ASCOM camera selector click on the Alpaca tab and enable discovery. Then you can access the Alpaca camera via the standard COM interface. Select in your imaging program "Camera Sky Simulator ALPACA (Alpaca)...
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'v3.0.0RC1'
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'v3.0.0RC1'
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'v3.0.0RC1'
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Ian Rothwell posted a comment on ticket #6
UPDATE: Ok, it works if I manually launch Sky Simulator separately. I'd assumed Voyager would launch it as it does with other programs!
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Sorry typo. Try option 2.
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Hi Ian, Try option 2 Option 1) Most likely you haven't set the path correctly in the simulated ascom camera. In Voyager you select it as "Camera Sky Simulator" and then go to settings of this camera. In the driver settings you can set a path to documents\image.png Option 2) However much better you set in the Sky simulator the camera to Alpaca. In Voyager you can select then the camera "Camera Sky Simulator ALPACA (Alpaca) and for guiding the Guide Camera Sky Simulator ALPACA (Alpaca)". Option 2 will...
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Hi Ian, Try option 1 Option 1) Most likely you haven't set the path correctly in the simulated ascom camera. In Voyager you select it as "Camera Sky Simulator" and then go to settings of this camera. In the driver settings you can set a path to documents\image.png Option 2) However much better you set in the Sky simulator the camera to Alpaca. In Voyager you can select then the camera "Camera Sky Simulator ALPACA (Alpaca) and for guiding the Guide Camera Sky Simulator ALPACA (Alpaca)". Option 2 will...
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Voyager integration (not updating capture)
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'v2.1.2'
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'v2.1.1'
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'v2.1.1'
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'v2.1.1'
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'v2.1.1'
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Hi That is a strange error. Can you first try selected the standard ASCOM simulator with a static image. See attached nr 3) If that doesn't work either there is something in either ASCOM or Nina. If 3) works and 1) not, then you could try the Sky simulator in Alpaca mode, so option 2) as indicated attached. But before connecting 2). First stop the Sky simulator simulator and select for the camera the Alpaca interface. Then start the simulation again and connect the camera in Nina. Tell me if this...
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Damien posted a comment on discussion General Discussion
Hello Sky simulator is installed, Ascom platform too. When I try to connect to the camer "Sky Simulator (ASCOM) with NINA, the connexion is successfull, but when i want to open the settings, I have the error message: ASCOM Driver Error, Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. What can I try?
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'v2.1.0a'
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'v2.1.0a'
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'v2.1.0a'
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'v2.1.0'
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'v2.1.0'
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'v2.0.4'
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'v2.0.4'
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'v2.0.4'
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Alan Shirey posted a comment on discussion General Discussion
The sky_simulator.cfg is attached… For added info, to retrieve this file quickly I RDP’d into my Windows Astro Laptop from my iMac. SkySimulator setup behaved correctly during the RDP session. This was interesting, so I went to my laptop to confirm if it was still behaving badly there. It was, but after deleting the configuration file and restarting sky_simulator it worked as expected. Thanks for your help (I doubt I would have found this one), and thanks for writing this program which I intend to...
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So path is %LOCALAPPDATA%\sky_simulator File: %LOCALAPPDATA%\sky_simulator\sky_simulator.cfg
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That is strange. Can you send me the configuration file sky_simulator.cfg You can find it in: %LOCALAPPDATA%\sky_simulator Copy this path into Windows Explorer path at the top. Then you will see the e sky_simulator.cfg After making a copy, delete the %LOCALAPPDATA%\sky_simulator\sky_simulator.cfg file and try the sky_simulator again. Tell me if this works. Regards, Han
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That is strange. Can you send me the configuration file sky_simulator.cfg You can find it in: %LOCALAPPDATA%\sky_simulator Copy this path into Windows Explorer path at the top. Then you will see the e sky_simulator.cfg After making a copy, delete the %LOCALAPPDATA%\sky_simulatoky_simulator.cfg file and try the sky_simulator again. Tell me if this works. Regards, Han
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I have installed Sky Simulator 2.03 to use with APT. I have installed it on my Astro Laptop which is Windows 11 (w all updates) and with the most current versions of APT and ASCOM. When I open Sky Simulator I do not get the Settings Screen (i.e. the Sky Simulator screen referred to in the setup instructions). Instead I get the active program icon in my lower task bar, with a minimized blank screen which I cannot enlarge to save my life...Figuring that this was a simple fix I have nibbled at various...
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Billy McLean posted a comment on discussion General Discussion
Greetings Han,Your modification worked great! However I managed to shoot myself in the foot, allowed phd and Cdc to update and now The sequence runs up to the slew to coordinate and crashes. CdC shows no mount movement so it looks like I will need to uninstall and find the older version and start over. Crap! Will get back to you when I get this fixed. You did good, Bm On Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 02:57:13 PM CST, han.k <han59@users.sourceforge.net> wrote: If your still interested in using it:...
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Thanks again Han, Happy new year, we all need one.I just came in from the observatory getting ready for an expected Friday night effort. Will get on this right away and give you the update. On Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 02:57:13 PM CST, han.k <han59@users.sourceforge.net> wrote: If your still interested in using it: I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2....
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'v2.0.3'
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If your still interested in using it: I made some changes and added a telescope focal ratio setting rather then limiting magnitude. Work for me fine with PHD2 for a small field of view. Just change the default f/7 to f/2. Download: https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/windows_installer/Sky%20Simulator%20v2.0.3.exe/download See screenshot. Han
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Here's hoping Santa does good by you. My next window and a narrow one, Friday 29th. Full moons do not make testing possible, but it wikk givw me a few hours to test. Bm On Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 06:00:17 AM CST, han.k <han59@users.sourceforge.net> wrote: Hi Billy, I did run a test today with a FOV of 60 arcmin and 20 arcmin with M13 in the center. See attached screenshots. For 60 arcmin it runs fine but for a FOV=20 armin the image contrast is too low. Most people have a very wide FOV for guiding...
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Hi Billy, I did run a test today with a FOV of 60 arcmin and 20 arcmin with M13 in the center. See attached screenshots. For 60 arcmin it runs fine but for a FOV=20 armin the image contrast is too low. Most people have a very wide FOV for guiding so this was missed. I will fix it the coming days. Continue with you field test if the weather allows. Happy holidays. Han
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Thanks Han, Let me first wish you a great Christmas and a prosperous new year. I tried the g17, also setup multiple focal lengths and resolutions, pixel sizes both in phd, SC and Sky Simulator. The images remain dark and even with a lot of gain in SC the stars are faint, phd just can;t maintain a lock. I appreciate your help but without gain control in phd I don;t think I can test sequences, so will just accept that I sacrifice a few evenings to get my sequence working. Safe travels, thanksBm On...
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The G17 should be in the same folder as the G14. Once in the folder you should be able to select G17 or G14. I'm traveling today. Tomorrow I have more time. Han
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Thank you Han,I have never had the response and help you have kindly provided. Will do as you advise and thank you, hope this solves things as the weather here in West Texas has gone to hell in a hand basket.Do I need to put the g14 and g17 data in separate folders? Bm On Friday, December 22, 2023 at 04:15:58 PM CST, han.k <han59@users.sourceforge.net> wrote: Hi Bill, Looking to your screenshot, the field of view/ image height in armin is set at only 12.4 arcmin. That will not give many stars using...
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Hi Bill, Looking to your screenshot, the field of view/ image height in armin is set at only 12.4 arcmin. That will not give many stars using the default database G14 down to magnitude 14 . You could download from the hnsky webpage the G17 database down to magnitude 17 for more stars. Put it in the same directory C:\Program Files (x86)\ASCOM_Sky_Simulator Download G17: http://www.hnsky.org/software https://sourceforge.net/projects/hnsky/files/star_databases/g17_star_database_mag17.zip/download Easier...
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Sorry, did not preview! I still had to zoom some even in preview. Hope these work........ Bm On Friday, December 22, 2023 at 01:52:13 PM CST, han.k <han59@users.sourceforge.net> wrote: Thanks. No problem. We will find problem. The screenshot of the simulator itself is too small. Can't read the values. Can you also add a copy of the simulator window? Han Phd2 guider Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/sky-simulator/discussion/general/ To unsubscribe...
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Thanks. No problem. We will find problem. The screenshot of the simulator itself is too small. Can't read the values. Can you also add a copy of the simulator window? Han
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Thanks Han, Sorry I'm such a pain. More than likely it's a case of Stupid me. On Friday, December 22, 2023 at 12:43:53 PM CST, han.k <han59@users.sourceforge.net> wrote: Can you attach a screenshot of the simulator settings? Then I will have a look here with same settings. Exposure time should be a few seconds Han Phd2 guider Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/sky-simulator/discussion/general/ To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit h...
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Can you attach a screenshot of the simulator settings? Then I will have a look here with same settings. Exposure time should be a few seconds Han
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I have not moved to Alpaca and have no experience with it, have not even looked at documentation. My needs have always been met with standard ASCOM. The slider only washes out the image no change in real gain so only very bright stars show up and their SNR is too extreme. The sim itself had a pretty good star field it simply does not translate to phd. Should I set up pixel and resolution to my scope cam and let that default to phd? BR On Friday, December 22, 2023 at 06:57:28 AM CST, han.k <han59@users.sourceforge.net>...
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Hi Billy, The normal gain of simulated camera is 100. You could set it higher in the simulator. If I remember well you can only adjust in ASCOM Alpaca not in the normal ASCOM interface. But PHD2 should stretch the image. Did you adjust the " Gamma adjustment slider" in PHD2? See https://openphdguiding.org/man/MainScreen.htm Han
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I setup phd using sky simulator camera ticked the has gain, but phd's camera settings is grayed out. The image is dark and causes lost star and tracking. I tried all the exposure settings including auto no joy. I get only magnitude 4 or>. Any suggestions, what did I miss? BR
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For the realsky images you will need an internet connection. Downloading the images can take 5 or 10 seconds so set exposure time for the camera not too short.
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Hi George, What resolution is your screen? Normally if the screen resolution is to small, you should be able to scroll using the mouse wheel or the scrollbars below or on the right. See screenshot below. What is you maximize the program window? Han
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George Shepherd posted a comment on discussion General Discussion
The bottom part of the screen is not visible as per picture Program will only let me use artificial sky I use SHARPCAP no instructions for THAT program Kind Regards George
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Hi Fabio, Good it is solved. It this a one off incident or do you think it is something related to the latest ASCOM version? Maybe it is wise to test again. Can you uninstall the sky-simulator and then reinstall and see if this happens again? Han
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Fabio Mario Fedeli posted a comment on ticket #5
Solved!!! Using ASCOM Profile Explorer I've seen that "ImageFile" property value was set to wrong directory. Reset to correct vale and driver started. See attached file.
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Sky simulator driver failed to connect to NINA
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'v2.0.2c'
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'v2.0.2b'
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'v2.0.2a'
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