I downloaded and installed the linux version. I can start the "Sky Simulator" and can see it is running, but there is no UI. How it is configured or accessed over the network? Some instructions would be nice.
arto
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The program should start in the left top of your screen.
The only reason why it could not work is that your system doesn't support widget GTK2 anymore. Which Linux version do you use? I could compile for QT5.
It was compiled on Lubuntu 24. widget gtk2 should work. But I noticed by accident I compiled to gtk3 which could be buggy. Try again the standard version just uploaded and the qt5 version and tell me if they work for you. Note you will need a program like CCDCiel to use the simulator in full because it communicating in Alpaca and not in Indi.
I tried to put just the ip-address and the full address with and without the port number but it just always says "Error: 99 Can't assign requested address". Port number input has: 5555.
arto
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So connecting to an external Alpaca mount is yet not implemented because no Alpaca capable mount was available up to now. So the current program provides a server as it is a Alpaca telescope which programs like CCDCiel can connect to.
Since you have an Alpaca capable telescope it will require an Alpaca client to connect to. No problem to look into this. For testing I could run two simulators and I can use one as server so the telescope and an one being the client (new). But this will take some time (weeks?) develop.
The Alpyca telescope, is that a driver to a real telescope or a simulator?
Last edit: han.k 2025-07-23
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I am developing an Alpyca telescope driver. It is currently running on RasperryPi against a telescope hardware simulator (Arduino Uno) both sitting on my desktop, but will be soon controlling a real telescope. I was hoping to connect Sky Simulator to the Alpyca driver and simulate polar alignment errors with it for making a pointing model for the telescope.
The Alpaca client is very simple. In python something like this.
I dont quite understand what is "external ASCOM telescope" and what is the URL for it.
The internal Alpaca "telescope" is working fine (except it cannot be de-selected, there is only one radio-button, maybe it should be a checkbox instead?). Maybe I can use it for the pointing model software if I can somehow access it from my python program. What is its URL?
arto
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I was hoping to connect Sky Simulator to the Alpyca driver and simulate polar alignment errors with it for making a pointing model for the telescope.
The internal Alpaca driver is doing the same as your Alpyca driver. The both are a server which can be accessed by a client but the server can't talk which each other. Your Phyton program is a client. So if at the same computer you will need something like:
T = Telescope('127.0.0.1:11111', 0)
There is only one radio button visible. The other is for ASCOM COM connection to a real telescope or a ASCOM simulator. COM is for Windows only and not available in Linux. So COM is invisible in the Linux program version. See attached.
dont quite understand what is "external ASCOM telescope" and what is the URL for it.
Sorry, but I still dont understand. Is the URL and port on the Alpaca page for the internal Alpaca server? If I put there URL 127.0.0.1 and port 11111, I cannot connect to Telescope('127.0.0.1:11111', 0).
Can you give an example for a working setting and the corresponding URL to connect?
arto
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With Firefox (http://127.0.0.1:11111/setup/v1/telescope/0/setup) on the same computer I get "Unable to connect". Alpaca server details: "127.0.0.1" and Port Number: "11111". Simulation running.
Should I see something on the log? There is just "Error: 99 Can't assign requested address". What does it mean?
netstat -at does not show anything on port 11111.
arto
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I asked ChatGPT to write two script files. The Windows version works but the Linux version not. See attached. I need to check why the simulator server is not responding in Linux.....
Okay I have it working in Linux Lubuntu24. The check-mark for the mount was not activated. I also compiled it in Lubuntu 20 so it will also run in older Linux versions. I have also updated the script.
Hello!
I downloaded and installed the linux version. I can start the "Sky Simulator" and can see it is running, but there is no UI. How it is configured or accessed over the network? Some instructions would be nice.
arto
The program should start in the left top of your screen.
The only reason why it could not work is that your system doesn't support widget GTK2 anymore. Which Linux version do you use? I could compile for QT5.
Han
I am running it on Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS on GNOME 46 desktop. GTK version is 4.14.
arto
It was compiled on Lubuntu 24. widget gtk2 should work. But I noticed by accident I compiled to gtk3 which could be buggy. Try again the standard version just uploaded and the qt5 version and tell me if they work for you. Note you will need a program like CCDCiel to use the simulator in full because it communicating in Alpaca and not in Indi.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/linux_installer/
The program should be self explaining and look to the balloon hints. Some info is here:
https://sky-simulator.sourceforge.io/
But these instructions are focused on Windows versions.
Neither is working. The qt5 version is not even starting and the gtk-version is as before. Program starts, but does not show any UI.
In the system log I found this error:
/opt/sky_simulator/sky_simulator: error while loading shared libraries: libQt5Pas.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directoryThe gtk-version shows several errors like this when starting:
Negative content width -18 (allocation 16, extents 17x17) while allocating gadget (node button, owner LCLGtkButton)arto
The QT5 need a library. Lets skip that one. I used now an older compiler. Try this one just uploaded:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/linux_installer/
Yes! This version is working. Or at least it does show the user interface. :)
I will try to set it up.
Thanks for excellent support!
arto
What should be in the Alpaca server details?
My Alpyca telescope has this URL and it is working from the browser:
http://192.168.8.2:5555/api/v1/telescope/0/rightascension?ClientTransactionID=7931&ClientID=27588
I tried to put just the ip-address and the full address with and without the port number but it just always says "Error: 99 Can't assign requested address". Port number input has: 5555.
arto
Currently the mount can be either an:
So connecting to an external Alpaca mount is yet not implemented because no Alpaca capable mount was available up to now. So the current program provides a server as it is a Alpaca telescope which programs like CCDCiel can connect to.
Since you have an Alpaca capable telescope it will require an Alpaca client to connect to. No problem to look into this. For testing I could run two simulators and I can use one as server so the telescope and an one being the client (new). But this will take some time (weeks?) develop.
The Alpyca telescope, is that a driver to a real telescope or a simulator?
Last edit: han.k 2025-07-23
I understand Alpyca is a "Python API client library for ASCOM Alpaca" so it can connect to an Alpaca server like the simulator. But I never tested it.
I am developing an Alpyca telescope driver. It is currently running on RasperryPi against a telescope hardware simulator (Arduino Uno) both sitting on my desktop, but will be soon controlling a real telescope. I was hoping to connect Sky Simulator to the Alpyca driver and simulate polar alignment errors with it for making a pointing model for the telescope.
The Alpaca client is very simple. In python something like this.
I dont quite understand what is "external ASCOM telescope" and what is the URL for it.
The internal Alpaca "telescope" is working fine (except it cannot be de-selected, there is only one radio-button, maybe it should be a checkbox instead?). Maybe I can use it for the pointing model software if I can somehow access it from my python program. What is its URL?
arto
The Alpaca telescope of the simulator should be at:
http://127.0.0.1:11111/setup/v1/telescope/0/
The internal Alpaca driver is doing the same as your Alpyca driver. The both are a server which can be accessed by a client but the server can't talk which each other. Your Phyton program is a client. So if at the same computer you will need something like:
T = Telescope('127.0.0.1:11111', 0)
There is only one radio button visible. The other is for ASCOM COM connection to a real telescope or a ASCOM simulator. COM is for Windows only and not available in Linux. So COM is invisible in the Linux program version. See attached.
That is a ASCOM COM connection not an URL. See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_Object_Model
Sorry, but I still dont understand. Is the URL and port on the Alpaca page for the internal Alpaca server? If I put there URL 127.0.0.1 and port 11111, I cannot connect to Telescope('127.0.0.1:11111', 0).
Can you give an example for a working setting and the corresponding URL to connect?
arto
I never worked with Python but in Firefox you could enter:
http://127.0.0.1:11111/setup/v1/telescope/0/setup
The reply would be:
Driver Setup
There is no Sky Simulator setup information.
I will see if more is possible via the browser...
With Firefox (http://127.0.0.1:11111/setup/v1/telescope/0/setup) on the same computer I get "Unable to connect". Alpaca server details: "127.0.0.1" and Port Number: "11111". Simulation running.
Should I see something on the log? There is just "Error: 99 Can't assign requested address". What does it mean?
netstat -at does not show anything on port 11111.
arto
I asked ChatGPT to write two script files. The Windows version works but the Linux version not. See attached. I need to check why the simulator server is not responding in Linux.....
Last edit: han.k 2025-07-23
Compiled in Lubuntu 20 it works. I need some experimenting to find the cause....
Okay I have it working in Linux Lubuntu24. The check-mark for the mount was not activated. I also compiled it in Lubuntu 20 so it will also run in older Linux versions. I have also updated the script.
1) Check in tab if the mount is checked.
Optional:
You could update the program but not required:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/linux_installer/sky_simulator_amd64.deb/download
2) The updated script:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sky-simulator/files/program/linux_installer/sky_simulator_mount_control_scripts_windows_linux.zip/download
Tell me if it is now working for you.
Han
I have now also changed now the defaults to Alpaca so the problem does not reoccur.
You mean the radio button? Mount tab "Alpaca interface"? Yes it is selected. Not working. And netstat does not show it.
I will try the new version.
arto
Yes correct radio button.
Maybe it requires a reboot. It works in Lubuntu 24, so I assume it should work in Ubuntu 24 Gnome as well.
Installing the new version did the trick. Your internal alpaca telescope is now answering from for example: http://localhost:11111/api/v1/telescope/0/declination
Thanks!! I will work on with my script.
arto
Good. It was also good to test the Linux version since it is hardly used. If you find any other bug or problem please report.
Han