Practise plate solving

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Daryl
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:42 pm

Practise plate solving

#1

Post by Daryl »

How can I practice plate solving using SharpCap test camera 1 (deep sky) or one my recent star images? I need a few dummy runs to feel confident before actual use. Being in the southern hemisphere aligning the EQ mount to the celestial south pole can at times be difficult but if I can use plate solving after a rough alignment using just true south and the latitude, could get me around this error. Can someone point me in the right direction with practice?
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admin
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Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
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Re: Practise plate solving

#2

Post by admin »

Hi,

you can use the ASCOM Simulator mount to do this - basically all you need to do is select the simulator mount, connect it and then adjust the position to be within 15 degrees (RA & Dec) of the image being used in the test camera before trying to plate solve.

cheers,

Robin
Daryl
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:42 pm

Re: Practise plate solving

#3

Post by Daryl »

Hi Robin,
I'm still stuck on base 1. How do I connect to Telescope Simulator for.NET (selected in SharpCap: File, settings, hardware, mounts) then to plate solve when getting the following statement "plate solve failed. Only one star etc".
Still need directions to proceed further.
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admin
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Posts: 13173
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
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Re: Practise plate solving

#4

Post by admin »

Hi Daryl,

configuring a mount - https://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/3.2/#Hardware%20Tab - please make sure you have ASCOM platform installed.

Make sure the connected option is ticked once camera started - https://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/3.2/#Mount%20Control

If not enough stars deteced, try lowering the sigma option in the plate solve settings - https://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/3.2/#Plate%20Solving%20Tab

Hope this helps get you going,

Robin
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