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The last couple of weeks are the hardest...

Tom Blahovici
 

I guess everyone has been there, waiting for the final call and tracking number for a new mount....
Re: #APCC Pro 1.9 w/ASTAP platesolve test always fails #APCC

Ray Gralak
 

Hi Sebastion,

 

What’s the full name of the file? APPM might have extracted the RA/Dec coordinates from the filename. It does this for working with the files it creates.

 

Regarding the DLL problem, that is probably the fault of your anti-virus program, which is likely being overly protective. J

 

As for the NASA SkyView, have you tried reading the help? You can click the little “?” button in the upper right corner of most tabs and/or group boxes to pull up context-sensitive help. Here’s the link to the same information online:

 

https://www.apastrosoftware.com/help/apcc-pro/appm_run_menu.htm

 

-Ray

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Seb@stro
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2021 2:52 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] #APCC Pro 1.9 w/ASTAP platesolve test always fails

 

Hello Ray,

 

Relative to this same "Image Test Link" function, I also encountered a file where the fits data was improperly parsed. RA and DEC were significantly off - see below. The camera angle wasn't correct either, only image scale was. Solve failed because of this. Not sure if it has to do with J2000 (coord in fits) to JNow (which AP software seem to use by default) calculation, but the difference does not account for that much error. I can provide image file as well as full Fits header and logs if required.

 

 

This is the best place to post issues you encounter with APCC, APPM, Horizons, and the AP V2 ASCOM driver.

Excellent, thank you. That wasn't entirely clear to me. That is now! 🙂

 

I'm going to need more details and perhaps log files to understand what you are observing.

No problem, I'll open another thread specific to this but maybe another day... 

 

For now, I might have found another issue relative to an "offline platesolving test tool" in APPM w/ASTAP, that is the "Test Solve Images in a folder..." under "Tools" menu.

 

First thing (not really related to solving per se) is I had to launch APPM in Administrator mode to make the tool work the first time.  I got the error below when I first hit "Start Plate Solves" button. Error translates to: "Module siUtils3.dll was loaded but a call to DLLRegisterServer failed with error code..." 

 

 

After I clicked OK, this poped-up:

 

Then, I closed APPM and after re-opening in admin mode, I got this:

(success of what had failed before)

 

After that, ASTAP invokation started correctly everytime I clicked the button (didn't need to open as admin). Got exact same thing on 2 different computers. Not sure if this is documented somewhere - haven't seen it in the help file - but I just tought I'd report it since its a bit unintuitive to the newcomer.

 

That was the extent of my success with this though. Indeed, I wasn't able to have a single file solved with success even with some 4-to-3-characters-converted-extension-fits (see logs extract below)... Before you ask, both files below were successfully solved with the "Image Link Test" button (one file is the same as earlier). I noticed the parameters passed along to ASTAP are weird looking: -ra 0, -spd 90, etc.? and they do not seem configurable with this tool, unless I missed a configuration pane somewhere. End result is ASTAP can't find a solution for one image and doesn't return any output for the other (using the same command line reported in APPM log file below). Couldn't find anything useful to help troubleshoot this in the manual either, so again, thought it was worth reporting.

 

And last, while it may be a bit off-topic (but since I started it...) while I was in the area, I peeked and poked the "Create NASA Starview Images Reference" under "Tools" menu, and it didn't seem to do anything (doesn't record anything in APPM's log either). Are these images saved somewhere ? What's their purpose relative to modeling ? Maybe I just need a little education here...

 

Thanks,

Sébastien

 

 

ASTAP logs------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

03:02:05  astap.exe  -f "C:\Users\Seb4stro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214461081 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow -log

03:02:06  Creating grayscale x 2 binning image for solving/star alignment.

03:02:07  1021 stars, 815 quads selected in the image. 682 database stars, 544 database quads required for the square search field of 1.5°. Search window at 200%

03:02:07  Using star database H18

03:02:12  No solution found!  :(

 


03:06:19  astap.exe  -f "C:\Users\Seb4stro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0044.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214461081 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow -log

 

APPM logs-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

0000694 2021-08-19 02:27:35.719:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Init

0000695 2021-08-19 02:27:35.720:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Solve() called.

0000696 2021-08-19 02:27:35.720:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: application path: c:/program files/astap/astap.exe

0000697 2021-08-19 02:27:35.721:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: arguments: -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-03_00-52-03__-5.00_300.00s_0044.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow

0000698 2021-08-19 02:27:35.763:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000699 2021-08-19 02:27:35.977:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000700 2021-08-19 02:27:36.180:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000701 2021-08-19 02:27:36.383:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000702 2021-08-19 02:27:36.586:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000703 2021-08-19 02:27:36.789:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000704 2021-08-19 02:27:36.992:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000705 2021-08-19 02:27:37.195:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000706 2021-08-19 02:27:37.398:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000707 2021-08-19 02:27:37.601:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000708 2021-08-19 02:27:37.805:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000709 2021-08-19 02:27:38.008:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000710 2021-08-19 02:27:38.211:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000711 2021-08-19 02:27:38.414:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000712 2021-08-19 02:27:38.617:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000713 2021-08-19 02:27:38.820:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000714 2021-08-19 02:27:39.023:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000715 2021-08-19 02:27:39.226:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000716 2021-08-19 02:27:39.430:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000717 2021-08-19 02:27:39.633:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000718 2021-08-19 02:27:39.836:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000719 2021-08-19 02:27:40.039:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000720 2021-08-19 02:27:40.242:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000721 2021-08-19 02:27:40.446:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000722 2021-08-19 02:27:40.648:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000723 2021-08-19 02:27:40.852:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000724 2021-08-19 02:27:41.054:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000725 2021-08-19 02:27:41.258:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000726 2021-08-19 02:27:41.461:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000727 2021-08-19 02:27:41.664:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000728 2021-08-19 02:27:41.867:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000729 2021-08-19 02:27:42.070:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000730 2021-08-19 02:27:42.273:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000731 2021-08-19 02:27:42.477:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000732 2021-08-19 02:27:42.680:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000733 2021-08-19 02:27:42.883:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000734 2021-08-19 02:27:43.086:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000735 2021-08-19 02:27:43.290:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.

0000736 2021-08-19 02:27:43.291:       Info,   ASTAP Results, Results Filename = C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-03_00-52-03__-5.00_300.00s_0044.ini

0000737 2021-08-19 02:27:43.293:       Info,   ASTAP Results, PLTSOLVD=F

0000738 2021-08-19 02:27:43.293:       Info,   ASTAP Results, CMDLINE="C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe" -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-03_00-52-03__-5.00_300.00s_0044.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow

0000739 2021-08-19 02:27:43.508:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.

0000740 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Init

0000741 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Solve() called.

0000742 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: application path: c:/program files/astap/astap.exe

0000743 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: arguments: -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow

0000744 2021-08-19 02:27:50.235:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000745 2021-08-19 02:27:50.445:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000746 2021-08-19 02:27:50.648:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000747 2021-08-19 02:27:50.852:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000748 2021-08-19 02:27:51.055:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000749 2021-08-19 02:27:51.258:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000750 2021-08-19 02:27:51.461:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000751 2021-08-19 02:27:51.665:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000752 2021-08-19 02:27:51.867:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000753 2021-08-19 02:27:52.071:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000754 2021-08-19 02:27:52.274:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000755 2021-08-19 02:27:52.477:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000756 2021-08-19 02:27:52.680:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000757 2021-08-19 02:27:52.883:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000758 2021-08-19 02:27:53.086:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000759 2021-08-19 02:27:53.289:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000760 2021-08-19 02:27:53.492:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000761 2021-08-19 02:27:53.695:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000762 2021-08-19 02:27:53.899:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000763 2021-08-19 02:27:54.102:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000764 2021-08-19 02:27:54.305:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000765 2021-08-19 02:27:54.508:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000766 2021-08-19 02:27:54.711:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000767 2021-08-19 02:27:54.914:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000768 2021-08-19 02:27:55.117:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000769 2021-08-19 02:27:55.320:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000770 2021-08-19 02:27:55.524:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000771 2021-08-19 02:27:55.727:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000772 2021-08-19 02:27:55.930:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000773 2021-08-19 02:27:56.133:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000774 2021-08-19 02:27:56.336:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000775 2021-08-19 02:27:56.539:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000776 2021-08-19 02:27:56.742:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000777 2021-08-19 02:27:56.946:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000778 2021-08-19 02:27:57.148:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000779 2021-08-19 02:27:57.352:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000780 2021-08-19 02:27:57.570:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000781 2021-08-19 02:27:57.782:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.

0000782 2021-08-19 02:27:57.993:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.

0000783 2021-08-19 02:27:57.993:       Info,   ASTAP Results, Results Filename = C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.ini

0000784 2021-08-19 02:27:57.994:       Info,   ASTAP Results, PLTSOLVD=F

0000785 2021-08-19 02:27:57.994:       Info,   ASTAP Results, CMDLINE="C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe" -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow

0000786 2021-08-19 02:27:58.196:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.
Re: Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Absolute_Encoders #Mach2GTO #APCC

David Johnson
 

Also, if the driver window is blank because there is no communication with the mount than why is the APCC window still showing the correct mount position?
Re: Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

Dominique
 

Hi Ray,
Well the illustration, because I had a bad interpretation of the notion All-Sky which extends beyond the zone defined for the recording of the points and therefore the Dec arc tracking will apply only within the edge of sky points and therefore not outside this area.
So I understand that the Dec Arc tracking works in the whole circle on your illustration, for all the objects located in this circle and that for that the model for the Dec arc tracking would be calculated taking as a basis the pointing coordinates of the mount for look for the points on the useful declination arcs of the full APPM record that I am using and that I mistakenly call "All-Sky".
If that's right, I may be able to rest my mind tonight.

Dominique
Re: #APCC Pro 1.9 w/ASTAP platesolve test always fails #APCC

Sébastien Doré
 

Hello Ray,

Relative to this same "Image Test Link" function, I also encountered a file where the fits data was improperly parsed. RA and DEC were significantly off - see below. The camera angle wasn't correct either, only image scale was. Solve failed because of this. Not sure if it has to do with J2000 (coord in fits) to JNow (which AP software seem to use by default) calculation, but the difference does not account for that much error. I can provide image file as well as full Fits header and logs if required.



This is the best place to post issues you encounter with APCC, APPM, Horizons, and the AP V2 ASCOM driver.
Excellent, thank you. That wasn't entirely clear to me. That is now! 🙂

I'm going to need more details and perhaps log files to understand what you are observing.
No problem, I'll open another thread specific to this but maybe another day... 

For now, I might have found another issue relative to an "offline platesolving test tool" in APPM w/ASTAP, that is the "Test Solve Images in a folder..." under "Tools" menu.

First thing (not really related to solving per se) is I had to launch APPM in Administrator mode to make the tool work the first time.  I got the error below when I first hit "Start Plate Solves" button. Error translates to: "Module siUtils3.dll was loaded but a call to DLLRegisterServer failed with error code..." 



After I clicked OK, this poped-up:


Then, I closed APPM and after re-opening in admin mode, I got this:
(success of what had failed before)

After that, ASTAP invokation started correctly everytime I clicked the button (didn't need to open as admin). Got exact same thing on 2 different computers. Not sure if this is documented somewhere - haven't seen it in the help file - but I just tought I'd report it since its a bit unintuitive to the newcomer.

That was the extent of my success with this though. Indeed, I wasn't able to have a single file solved with success even with some 4-to-3-characters-converted-extension-fits (see logs extract below)... Before you ask, both files below were successfully solved with the "Image Link Test" button (one file is the same as earlier). I noticed the parameters passed along to ASTAP are weird looking: -ra 0, -spd 90, etc.? and they do not seem configurable with this tool, unless I missed a configuration pane somewhere. End result is ASTAP can't find a solution for one image and doesn't return any output for the other (using the same command line reported in APPM log file below). Couldn't find anything useful to help troubleshoot this in the manual either, so again, thought it was worth reporting.

And last, while it may be a bit off-topic (but since I started it...) while I was in the area, I peeked and poked the "Create NASA Starview Images Reference" under "Tools" menu, and it didn't seem to do anything (doesn't record anything in APPM's log either). Are these images saved somewhere ? What's their purpose relative to modeling ? Maybe I just need a little education here...

Thanks,
Sébastien


ASTAP logs------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

03:02:05  astap.exe  -f "C:\Users\Seb4stro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214461081 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow -log
03:02:06  Creating grayscale x 2 binning image for solving/star alignment.
03:02:07  1021 stars, 815 quads selected in the image. 682 database stars, 544 database quads required for the square search field of 1.5°. Search window at 200%
03:02:07  Using star database H18
03:02:12  No solution found!  :(


03:06:19  astap.exe  -f "C:\Users\Seb4stro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0044.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214461081 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow -log

APPM logs-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

0000694 2021-08-19 02:27:35.719:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Init
0000695 2021-08-19 02:27:35.720:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Solve() called.
0000696 2021-08-19 02:27:35.720:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: application path: c:/program files/astap/astap.exe
0000697 2021-08-19 02:27:35.721:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: arguments: -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-03_00-52-03__-5.00_300.00s_0044.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow
0000698 2021-08-19 02:27:35.763:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000699 2021-08-19 02:27:35.977:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000700 2021-08-19 02:27:36.180:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000701 2021-08-19 02:27:36.383:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000702 2021-08-19 02:27:36.586:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000703 2021-08-19 02:27:36.789:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000704 2021-08-19 02:27:36.992:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000705 2021-08-19 02:27:37.195:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000706 2021-08-19 02:27:37.398:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000707 2021-08-19 02:27:37.601:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000708 2021-08-19 02:27:37.805:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000709 2021-08-19 02:27:38.008:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000710 2021-08-19 02:27:38.211:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000711 2021-08-19 02:27:38.414:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000712 2021-08-19 02:27:38.617:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000713 2021-08-19 02:27:38.820:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000714 2021-08-19 02:27:39.023:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000715 2021-08-19 02:27:39.226:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000716 2021-08-19 02:27:39.430:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000717 2021-08-19 02:27:39.633:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000718 2021-08-19 02:27:39.836:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000719 2021-08-19 02:27:40.039:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000720 2021-08-19 02:27:40.242:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000721 2021-08-19 02:27:40.446:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000722 2021-08-19 02:27:40.648:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000723 2021-08-19 02:27:40.852:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000724 2021-08-19 02:27:41.054:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000725 2021-08-19 02:27:41.258:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000726 2021-08-19 02:27:41.461:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000727 2021-08-19 02:27:41.664:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000728 2021-08-19 02:27:41.867:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000729 2021-08-19 02:27:42.070:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000730 2021-08-19 02:27:42.273:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000731 2021-08-19 02:27:42.477:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000732 2021-08-19 02:27:42.680:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000733 2021-08-19 02:27:42.883:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000734 2021-08-19 02:27:43.086:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000735 2021-08-19 02:27:43.290:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.
0000736 2021-08-19 02:27:43.291:       Info,   ASTAP Results, Results Filename = C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-03_00-52-03__-5.00_300.00s_0044.ini
0000737 2021-08-19 02:27:43.293:       Info,   ASTAP Results, PLTSOLVD=F
0000738 2021-08-19 02:27:43.293:       Info,   ASTAP Results, CMDLINE="C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe" -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-03_00-52-03__-5.00_300.00s_0044.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow
0000739 2021-08-19 02:27:43.508:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.
0000740 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Init
0000741 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, Solve() called.
0000742 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: application path: c:/program files/astap/astap.exe
0000743 2021-08-19 02:27:50.206:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, StartSolve: arguments: -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow
0000744 2021-08-19 02:27:50.235:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000745 2021-08-19 02:27:50.445:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000746 2021-08-19 02:27:50.648:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000747 2021-08-19 02:27:50.852:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000748 2021-08-19 02:27:51.055:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000749 2021-08-19 02:27:51.258:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000750 2021-08-19 02:27:51.461:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000751 2021-08-19 02:27:51.665:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000752 2021-08-19 02:27:51.867:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000753 2021-08-19 02:27:52.071:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000754 2021-08-19 02:27:52.274:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000755 2021-08-19 02:27:52.477:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000756 2021-08-19 02:27:52.680:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000757 2021-08-19 02:27:52.883:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000758 2021-08-19 02:27:53.086:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000759 2021-08-19 02:27:53.289:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000760 2021-08-19 02:27:53.492:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000761 2021-08-19 02:27:53.695:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000762 2021-08-19 02:27:53.899:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000763 2021-08-19 02:27:54.102:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000764 2021-08-19 02:27:54.305:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000765 2021-08-19 02:27:54.508:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000766 2021-08-19 02:27:54.711:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000767 2021-08-19 02:27:54.914:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000768 2021-08-19 02:27:55.117:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000769 2021-08-19 02:27:55.320:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000770 2021-08-19 02:27:55.524:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000771 2021-08-19 02:27:55.727:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000772 2021-08-19 02:27:55.930:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000773 2021-08-19 02:27:56.133:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000774 2021-08-19 02:27:56.336:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000775 2021-08-19 02:27:56.539:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000776 2021-08-19 02:27:56.742:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000777 2021-08-19 02:27:56.946:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000778 2021-08-19 02:27:57.148:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000779 2021-08-19 02:27:57.352:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000780 2021-08-19 02:27:57.570:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000781 2021-08-19 02:27:57.782:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP is still running.
0000782 2021-08-19 02:27:57.993:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.
0000783 2021-08-19 02:27:57.993:       Info,   ASTAP Results, Results Filename = C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.ini
0000784 2021-08-19 02:27:57.994:       Info,   ASTAP Results, PLTSOLVD=F
0000785 2021-08-19 02:27:57.994:       Info,   ASTAP Results, CMDLINE="C:\Program Files\astap\astap.exe" -f "C:\Users\Sebastro\Documents\Astro-Physics\APPM\2021-08-06_02-42-19__-5.00_300.00s_0113.fit" -ra 0 -spd 90 -fov 1.49962214479594 -s 1000 -r 5 -t 0.007 -speed slow
0000786 2021-08-19 02:27:58.196:       Info, ASTAP Plate Solve, ASTAP has exited.
Re: Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Absolute_Encoders #Mach2GTO #APCC

David Johnson
 

Why doesn’t APCC doesn’t tell me there is a communication error when I ask it to park?  Please watch the video.
Re: Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Absolute_Encoders #Mach2GTO #APCC

Roland Christen
 

The driver being blank is an indication that you lost communication with the mount. Happened to me when my USB connection failed. When this happens in APCC the handshake is interrupted and the mount automatically parks itself to avoid slowly tracking the scope into the pier (thus avoids pier crash).

Rolando



-----Original Message-----
From: David Johnson <dajohns37@...>
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Sent: Thu, Aug 19, 2021 3:23 pm
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Mach2GTO #APCC

I'm still having intermittent problems with my Mach2 parking itself.  Today, I was running it inside, just as a test, and it parked itself after several hours of tracking fine, while the driver was connected to Stellarium.  The driver display was strange:



I tried to Unpark, and here is the result.  As you can see, it acts likes it will unpark, but it doesn't and I don't get any kind of error message or other indication of what is wrong.  The only way I can fix the problem is closing and then restarting APCC.  As you can imagine, this is very frustrating when it happens during a night of automated astrophography.  I want to emphasize that this happens out of the blue when I am not doing anything with the mount or the software and after it seems to be tracking fine for some time.

--
Roland Christen
Astro-Physics
Re: Registration question

Marj Christen
 

no

 

Clear Skies,

Marj Christen

Astro-Physics

11250 Forest Hills Road

Machesney Park, IL 61115

Phone: 815-282-1513

www.astro-physics.com

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of ap@...
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2021 3:06 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: [ap-gto] Registration question

 

Cleaning up paperwork and filing... 

Is there a need to register anything, software or mount, bought directly from AP? 
Re: Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Absolute_Encoders #Mach2GTO #APCC

David Johnson
 

Re: Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Absolute_Encoders #Mach2GTO #APCC

Ray Gralak
 

Hi David,

 

The blank fields in the driver’s window imply that driver is not communicating with APCC, or that APCC was not communicating with the mount.

 

I can take a look if you use the APCC log zipper utility to zip the APCC and AP V2 driver logs and provide a dropbox, google driver, or other link to this zip file.

 

-Ray

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of David Johnson
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2021 1:24 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Mach2GTO #APCC

 

I'm still having intermittent problems with my Mach2 parking itself.  Today, I was running it inside, just as a test, and it parked itself after several hours of tracking fine, while the driver was connected to Stellarium.  The driver display was strange:



I tried to Unpark, and here is the result.  As you can see, it acts likes it will unpark, but it doesn't and I don't get any kind of error message or other indication of what is wrong.  The only way I can fix the problem is closing and then restarting APCC.  As you can imagine, this is very frustrating when it happens during a night of automated astrophography.  I want to emphasize that this happens out of the blue when I am not doing anything with the mount or the software and after it seems to be tracking fine for some time.

Re: Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Absolute_Encoders #Mach2GTO #APCC

George
 

David,

 

It seems strange that you have COM3 as a virtual port.   How do you have them set up?

 

Regards,

 

George

 

George Whitney

Astro-Physics, Inc.

Phone:  815-222-6538 (direct line)

Phone:  815-282-1513 (office)

Email:  george@...

 

From: main@ap-gto.groups.io <main@ap-gto.groups.io> On Behalf Of David Johnson
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2021 3:24 PM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Mach2GTO #APCC

 

I'm still having intermittent problems with my Mach2 parking itself.  Today, I was running it inside, just as a test, and it parked itself after several hours of tracking fine, while the driver was connected to Stellarium.  The driver display was strange:



I tried to Unpark, and here is the result.  As you can see, it acts likes it will unpark, but it doesn't and I don't get any kind of error message or other indication of what is wrong.  The only way I can fix the problem is closing and then restarting APCC.  As you can imagine, this is very frustrating when it happens during a night of automated astrophography.  I want to emphasize that this happens out of the blue when I am not doing anything with the mount or the software and after it seems to be tracking fine for some time.

Re: Heads-up on possible abrupt parking problem #Absolute_Encoders #Mach2GTO #APCC

David Johnson
 

I'm still having intermittent problems with my Mach2 parking itself.  Today, I was running it inside, just as a test, and it parked itself after several hours of tracking fine, while the driver was connected to Stellarium.  The driver display was strange:



I tried to Unpark, and here is the result.  As you can see, it acts likes it will unpark, but it doesn't and I don't get any kind of error message or other indication of what is wrong.  The only way I can fix the problem is closing and then restarting APCC.  As you can imagine, this is very frustrating when it happens during a night of automated astrophography.  I want to emphasize that this happens out of the blue when I am not doing anything with the mount or the software and after it seems to be tracking fine for some time.
Registration question

ap@CaptivePhotons.com
 

Cleaning up paperwork and filing... 

Is there a need to register anything, software or mount, bought directly from AP? 
Re: Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

Dean Jacobsen
 

Interesting illustration.  Thanks.
--
Dean Jacobsen
Astrobin Image Gallery - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/

Re: Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

Ray Gralak
 

> How is the Dec-Arc tracking region determined?

 

You define the points in APPM the same as you always have. The dec-arc region is bounded by the edge of the sky data points created using APPM. However, the because the all-sky model calculates pointing terms, APCC can calculate corrections both inside and outside of the edges of the data points.

 

Maybe this picture will help?

 

 

-Ray

 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Dominique

> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2021 9:03 AM

> To: main@ap-gto.groups.io

> Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

>

> On Thu, Aug 19, 2021 at 10:48 AM, Ray Gralak wrote:

>

>

>          As I have said several times in other posts, if a target falls outside of the Dec-Arc tracking region the all-sky

> model's tracking rate calculation will be used instead. And of course if the target is inside the Dec-Arc tracking

> region then the Dec-Arc tracking rate will be used when Dec-Arc tracking is enabled.

>

>          There is no need to check/uncheck the Dec-Arc tracking checkbox. I hope that is that clear now??

>

> Hi Ray,

> I thought I understood and not Ray it is not clear.

> I have my All-Sky model which is active on APCC (150 points for example).

> I just take the mount out of its park situation.

> Situation 1: I aim at a target then I check the Tracking Dec Arc option, what's going on?

> Situation 2: I check the Tracking Dec Arc option then I aim at a target, what's going on?

> How is the Dec-Arc tracking region determined?

>

> Dominique

>

Re: Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

Dominique
 
Edited

On Thu, Aug 19, 2021 at 10:48 AM, Ray Gralak wrote:
As I have said several times in other posts, if a target falls outside of the Dec-Arc tracking region the all-sky model's tracking rate calculation will be used instead. And of course if the target is inside the Dec-Arc tracking region then the Dec-Arc tracking rate will be used when Dec-Arc tracking is enabled.

There is no need to check/uncheck the Dec-Arc tracking checkbox. I hope that is that clear now??

Hi Ray,
I thought I understood and not Ray it is not clear.
I have my All-Sky model which is active on APCC (150 points for example).
I just take the mount out of its park situation.
Situation 1: I aim at a object then I check the Tracking Dec Arc option, what's going on?
Situation 2: I check the Tracking Dec Arc option then I aim at a object, what's going on?
How is the Dec-Arc tracking region determined?

Dominique
Re: Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

Ray Gralak
 

But I was still wondering if the
calculation was done permanently or not and therefore since we have an All-Sky model, if we aim at another target
during the night it still works without unchecking and re-checking, this I believe a priori.
As I have said several times in other posts, if a target falls outside of the Dec-Arc tracking region the all-sky model's tracking rate calculation will be used instead. And of course if the target is inside the Dec-Arc tracking region then the Dec-Arc tracking rate will be used when Dec-Arc tracking is enabled.

There is no need to check/uncheck the Dec-Arc tracking checkbox. I hope that is that clear now??

-Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: main@ap-gto.groups.io [mailto:main@ap-gto.groups.io] On Behalf Of Dominique
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2021 7:49 AM
To: main@ap-gto.groups.io
Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

On Thu, Aug 19, 2021 at 07:40 AM, Ray Gralak wrote:


The Dec-Arc tracking does not simply use the closest declination arc There is a complex two-dimensional
algorithm used to interpolate the appropriate tracking RA and Dec tracking rates between declination arcs.

Regarding what's inside the area covered by Dec-Arc rate calculations, I hope it's not too hard to see that if
you are planning to image a target at Dec = 10 degrees for example that you will need at least one declination arc
above and below. For example, arc's at Dec = 5 and Dec = 15, or even Dec=9 and Dec=11.

BTW, one of the key advantages of Dec-Arc tracking is it is ideal for mobile setups targeting a single object
because it allows you to use many less sky points than an all-sky model (i.e. quicker to create a model) and yet get
better tracking accuracy.

Thanks Ray,
I can imagine that there are some complexities in calculating Tracking Dec Arc. But I was still wondering if the
calculation was done permanently or not and therefore since we have an All-Sky model, if we aim at another target
during the night it still works without unchecking and re-checking, this I believe a priori.
Fixed station as I have All-Sky models depending on the tubes I use, and that I redo from time to time, I can see
that this option can be a plus for me since I do not guide with my Mach2 itself with the 2800 focal length of the C11.
Thank you again for your clarifications and the work done.

Dominique
Re: Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

Dominique
 

On Thu, Aug 19, 2021 at 07:40 AM, Ray Gralak wrote:
The Dec-Arc tracking does not simply use the closest declination arc There is a complex two-dimensional algorithm used to interpolate the appropriate tracking RA and Dec tracking rates between declination arcs.

Regarding what's inside the area covered by Dec-Arc rate calculations, I hope it's not too hard to see that if you are planning to image a target at Dec = 10 degrees for example that you will need at least one declination arc above and below. For example, arc's at Dec = 5 and Dec = 15, or even Dec=9 and Dec=11.

BTW, one of the key advantages of Dec-Arc tracking is it is ideal for mobile setups targeting a single object because it allows you to use many less sky points than an all-sky model (i.e. quicker to create a model) and yet get better tracking accuracy.

Thanks Ray,
I can imagine that there are some complexities in calculating Tracking Dec Arc. But I was still wondering if the calculation was done permanently or not and therefore since we have an All-Sky model, if we aim at another target during the night it still works without unchecking and re-checking, this I believe a priori.
Fixed station as I have All-Sky models depending on the tubes I use, and that I redo from time to time, I can see that this option can be a plus for me since I do not guide with my Mach2 itself with the 2800 focal length of the C11.
Thank you again for your clarifications and the work done.

Dominique
Re: APCC v1.9 and one-year renewal subscriptions #APCC

mikela
 

Driver version = 8.0.337.0.   Does APCC need to be connected to the mount?
Re: Dec-Arc Tracking in APCC Pro v1.9 - an explainer please?

Brian Valente
 

you don't need two models. 

You can enable dec arc tracking with an all sky model

the whole "you can build a smaller model with two dec arcs, one on each side of your target" is really for mobile users or people who set up each night and can't/don't want to build an all sky model 

So if you have an all sky model, you just enable dec arc tracking (or disable it by unchecking the box)



On Thu, Aug 19, 2021 at 7:23 AM Konstantin von Poschinger <KPoschinger@...> wrote:
Hi,

I think there is a gap how APCC is using the Models. What is happening when you build up a whole sky model and then use later a Dec-Arc Model cause you have changed something on your Equipment. Are the now two models used? How can I find out wich model is used?
Can you please explain this.

Konstantin


Konstantin v. Poschinger

Hammerichstr. 5
22605 Hamburg
040/8805747
0171 1983476

Am 19.08.2021 um 14:41 schrieb Dean Jacobsen <deanjacobsen@...>:

Thanks again Ray.   It was my misunderstanding of the terminology that was sending me off track.  
--
Dean Jacobsen
Astrobin Image Gallery - https://www.astrobin.com/users/deanjacobsen/



--
Brian 



Brian Valente
6621 - 6640 of 86823