APT - Fails to Plate Solve
Sky simulator for Ascom using an artificial sky or online DSS images.
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Hope you can help.
I found out about this program after watching YouTubers Hogarth video. It looked easy enough but I cannot get APT to plate solve.
When i click Solve, i receive a "Status: Fail" It says to check the focal length and camera params in Tools.
I own a Redcat 51mm so it is set to 250mm & Dia of 51mm (see attached image)
I have also hit the recalc button to get the fov & it still fails to plate solve.
Cheers In Advance
David
Hello David,
Can you share the last image used for solving. When the solving is running, you can see the path in the yellow pop-up window at the top left of the screen. You can attach it to your reponse at this forum. Attach als the .ini file in the same path. It is a tmp folder in your path to the images.
Tommorow i can give you the path, but currently I'm at a different computer.
Han
I'm not sure if i have the right information.
When i have the sky sim running & full screen, in the image tab, top left of the image, it has a number 32813.
In APT the "TemporaryStorage" folders ini file says this: "PLTSOLVD=F
CMDLINE="C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe" -ra 4.232500002 -spd 84.815833329 -fov 2.728273265 -z 0 -r 30 -s 500 -f "C:\APT_Images\CameraCCD_1\TemporaryStorage\ImageToSolve.fit""
I have attached the APT image path.
In Hogarth's video, other people in the comments have had the same problem.
Cheers
Hello David,
The .ini file tells me the FOV (field of view, height) is calculated by APT as 2.73 degrees and send to ASTAP.
The screenshot tells me the quality is fine.
Only the position and fov are then to check.
With your screenshot it was possible to extract the actual FOV in nova.astrometry.net. See:
http://nova.astrometry.net/user_images/5505038#annotated
http://nova.astrometry.net/user_images/5505040#annotated
Position is the same as your screenshot.
It indicates your field of view is about 82.5 x 58.5 arcmin equals 1.275 x 0.97 degrees.
It could be that the nova.astrometry.net is wrong but both extracts (main and preview) get about the same value.
So your settting for the telescope or sensor are somehow very wrong. APT sends 2.73 degrees but it actually 0,97 degrees heights. The telescope is confirmed by online spec as 250mm focal length.
1) What camera are you using?
2) Can you attach the image: C:\APT_Images\CameraCCD_1\TemporaryStorage\ImageToSolve.fit
3) Or can upload it to nova.astrometry.net and share the link?
Cheers, Han
Last edit: han.k 2022-01-05
If your using the Sky simulator then the problem is the Sky simulator setting Height [arcmin]. Enter there 164 arcmin (2.73*60)
Han
Well i think this program is broken for me.
I have spent several hours tiring to get APT to plate solve with no success.
I have uninstalled / reinstalled APT3.90, ASTAP & its data base, Sky Sim v1.0.0RC4.
I have used both data bases at its default camera height of 60, i have tried 164 height in the
.skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov data base, but when i try 164 in the archive.eso.org data base it reverts to its 60 height.
I have also tried older Sky Sim versions & N.I.N.A.
The problem must be the difference in FOV specified in APT and Sky Simulator. If the differ so much it will never solve.
The ESO site can't produce images larger then 60 arcmin.
Since your settings in APT specify 2.73 degrees equals 164 armin, you have to adapt in the Sky simulator. Just switch to artifical images in Sky simulator, specify 164 armin and it should work.
There is nothing wrong with the artifical images. They are faster then ESO and Skyview DSS image.
Han