Hi Han,
I recently discovered and am now playing a bit with the sky simulator and let me tell you this is another great and very useful piece of software from you!
I don't know whether this is something not yet implemented or I am missing something, but when I set some PA error, without guiding shouldn't the objects in the FOV drift away, more or less slowly depending on the amount of PA error?
I don't see it happen for now, is there anything I should configure?
Thank you and keep up the great work!
Piero
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It should. But the Ascom mount simulated mount has some limitations. The mount position and setpoint are coupled. I have to test it. For the Alpaca simulated mount (internal in the program) it should work. You should be able to access this mount via Ascom 6.5. You may try. I will test it after finishing some other work.
Han
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I am using the simulator together with CCDciel under Linux, so I am using the Alpaca interface.
Should it work already in this configuration?
I am testing it right now, but even with a large PA error I can't see any drift.
Thank you.
Piero
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Yes it should. Probably the problem is that is doesn't make a new sky image if the time changes. I think that isn't implemented yet. You can force an update by uncheck and check again the polar error check-mark. Can you try that?
Han
Last edit: han.k 2022-02-01
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It seems to work, I had to increase the PA error a lot to see some effects in a shorter time.
Probably one thing that tricked me is the fact that even though I set CCDciel for a 300s exposure, the simulator returns the image after one second, and I guess the sky is updated accordingly.
That is, the sky updates between two 300s exposures are actually the updates that occur in only two "real" seconds, correct?
Thank you.
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Yes the exposure duration is ignored. I'm working on Sky Simulator version 2 now. To demonstrate drift I have to wait the exposure time and update the image on the new time. I will not be possible to demonstrate elongated stars due to drift unless I combine an image from the beginning and the end of the exposure. Not a problem but it makes it all more complicated.
I can upload a Linux version of V2 in one or two days. Feedback helps so please test it.
Han
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In the new version the exposure time and gain have an influence. Furthermore the images are 16 resolution. Now they are 8 bit resolution in 16 bit format.
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Thanks Han, the drift is clearly visible now, if I check the "stack" checkbox in ccdciel and disable the star alignment function, I get nicely elongated stars without guiding :)
The effects of exposure and gain are clearly visible as well.
Are the produced images full 16 bit yet?
Thanks a lot for your great work.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Hi Han,
I recently discovered and am now playing a bit with the sky simulator and let me tell you this is another great and very useful piece of software from you!
I don't know whether this is something not yet implemented or I am missing something, but when I set some PA error, without guiding shouldn't the objects in the FOV drift away, more or less slowly depending on the amount of PA error?
I don't see it happen for now, is there anything I should configure?
Thank you and keep up the great work!
Piero
Hello Piero,
It should. But the Ascom mount simulated mount has some limitations. The mount position and setpoint are coupled. I have to test it. For the Alpaca simulated mount (internal in the program) it should work. You should be able to access this mount via Ascom 6.5. You may try. I will test it after finishing some other work.
Han
Hi Han and thanks for the info.
I am using the simulator together with CCDciel under Linux, so I am using the Alpaca interface.
Should it work already in this configuration?
I am testing it right now, but even with a large PA error I can't see any drift.
Thank you.
Piero
Yes it should. Probably the problem is that is doesn't make a new sky image if the time changes. I think that isn't implemented yet. You can force an update by uncheck and check again the polar error check-mark. Can you try that?
Han
Last edit: han.k 2022-02-01
polar error check/uncheck.
It seems to work, I had to increase the PA error a lot to see some effects in a shorter time.
Probably one thing that tricked me is the fact that even though I set CCDciel for a 300s exposure, the simulator returns the image after one second, and I guess the sky is updated accordingly.
That is, the sky updates between two 300s exposures are actually the updates that occur in only two "real" seconds, correct?
Thank you.
Yes the exposure duration is ignored. I'm working on Sky Simulator version 2 now. To demonstrate drift I have to wait the exposure time and update the image on the new time. I will not be possible to demonstrate elongated stars due to drift unless I combine an image from the beginning and the end of the exposure. Not a problem but it makes it all more complicated.
I can upload a Linux version of V2 in one or two days. Feedback helps so please test it.
Han
In the new version the exposure time and gain have an influence. Furthermore the images are 16 resolution. Now they are 8 bit resolution in 16 bit format.
That sounds great and will further improve an already outstanding project!
Thanks a lot!
In about 5 minutes you can download v2 for Linux.
Han
If polar alignment is checked then the image is every 10 seconds updated in the background. You can see that in the log. The stars will be drifting.
For the moment I keep the immediate image ready even if you select 200 seconds exposure.
Note that image will get saturated if you expose longer. 5 or 10 seconds are fine. A fast telescope is simulated.
Han
Thanks Han, the drift is clearly visible now, if I check the "stack" checkbox in ccdciel and disable the star alignment function, I get nicely elongated stars without guiding :)
The effects of exposure and gain are clearly visible as well.
Are the produced images full 16 bit yet?
Thanks a lot for your great work.