PlateSolve Coordinates

Anything that doesn't fit into any of the other forums
smithn00
Posts: 75
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:29 pm

PlateSolve Coordinates

#1

Post by smithn00 »

Are the coordinates presented by the PlateSolve function J2000 or JNow.
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13177
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#2

Post by admin »

Hi,

The astrometry.net based plate solving applications (AstroTortilla, Ansvr, etc) all give results in J2000. I presume Astap does the same.

If you use the plate solve functionality from the tools menu then the results are displayed in J 2000 coordinates (and in fact it includes J2000 in the message that is shown)

If you use the plate solve functionality from the mount control area, then SharpCap will automatically convert the results to JNOW if you're Ascom driver reports that it uses the JNOW coordinate system. Note that in this case also the message shown should include the coordinate system as either J2000 or JNOW. If you are not seeing that in the message then you may be using out of date version of SharpCap.

Cheers, Robin
smithn00
Posts: 75
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:29 pm

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#3

Post by smithn00 »

I have the latest version of SC. I don't see a reference to the coordinate system in either display of the solved RA/Dec.
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13177
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#4

Post by admin »

Hi,

This is what you should see from plate solving from the tools menu
Capture.PNG
Capture.PNG (158.38 KiB) Viewed 2505 times
And this one from plate solving from the mount control ( although you have to watch for it as it will be replaced quite quickly by another message telling you that the mount has been to the new position)
capture2.PNG
capture2.PNG (107.92 KiB) Viewed 2505 times
And if you look in the log you will see something like this

Code: Select all

Info:	16:11:35.5927878 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<>c__DisplayClass7_0.<SolveAndSync>b__2(Object s, SolveProgressEventArgs a) :: Plate solving : Field: /tmp/6f78db2c-afea-4168-a4bb-4c33e3357cec/frame.png
Info:	16:11:35.5927878 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<>c__DisplayClass7_0.<SolveAndSync>b__2(Object s, SolveProgressEventArgs a) :: Plate solving : Field center: (RA,Dec) = (83.84, -5.309) deg.
Info:	16:11:35.5927878 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<>c__DisplayClass7_0.<SolveAndSync>b__2(Object s, SolveProgressEventArgs a) :: Plate solving : Field center: (RA H:M:S, Dec D:M:S) = (05:35:20.552, -05:18:32.566).
Info:	16:11:35.5927878 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<>c__DisplayClass7_0.<SolveAndSync>b__2(Object s, SolveProgressEventArgs a) :: Plate solving : Field size: 1.5514 x 1.13927 degrees
Info:	16:11:35.5927878 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<>c__DisplayClass7_0.<SolveAndSync>b__2(Object s, SolveProgressEventArgs a) :: Plate solving : 
Info:	16:11:35.5927878 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.ExternalPlateSolverBase.ParseOrientationFromWCSData(Dictionary`2 fields) :: Frame Orientation : Up is 87.2 degree E of N
Info:	16:11:35.5947826 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<SolveAndSync>d__7.MoveNext() :: Mount reports JNOW, converting results position from RA=05:35:20,Dec=05:18:32S (J2000)
Info:	16:11:35.6267182 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<SolveAndSync>d__7.MoveNext() :: Conversion result is RA=05:36:18,Dec=05:17:55S (JNOW)
Info:	16:11:35.6277162 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<SolveAndSync>d__7.MoveNext() :: Field solved to RA=05:36:18,Dec=05:17:55S, field Size {Width=1.5514, Height=1.13927}
Info:	16:11:36.6287531 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<SolveAndSync>d__7.MoveNext() :: Before Offset mount is at RA=05:29:19,Dec=04:59:59S
Info:	16:11:36.6287531 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<SolveAndSync>d__7.MoveNext() :: Offset target calculated to be  RA=05:22:21,Dec=04:42:03S
Info:	16:11:44.7441109 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.PlateSolveAndResync+<SolveAndSync>d__7.MoveNext() :: After offset mount is at RA=05:22:23,Dec=04:42:03S
If you aren't seeing that information then do make sure you have the latest SharpCap 3.2 from the download page.

Cheers, Robin
Suhaib Ahmed
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2020 7:17 pm

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#5

Post by Suhaib Ahmed »

Hi,
How can ask SharpCap to go to a new target of my interest (like M51) from this point onwards?
Suhaib
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13177
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#6

Post by admin »

Hi,

SharpCap doesn't have the functionality to choose and go to a new target, but there are applications that you can use that do have that functionality. For instance

Cartes du Ciel : https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start
Skytech X : http://skytechx.eu/
Stellarium : https://stellarium.org/

Usually you would set these programs up to talk to your Ascom mount (for most amounts it's perfectly okay to have two or more programs using it at the same time). The place that the telescope is currently pointing will show up in these application's map and you can use the features of them to go to new targets.

Cheers, Robin
GaryCopper
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 1:07 pm

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#7

Post by GaryCopper »

Hi

Struggling with Plate solve with my ioptron mount. Now change to Jnow in ASPS. Would like to trigger plate solve from the mount pad but there doesn’t seem to be soft button with the ioptron commander interface verses the more recognisable synscan sw ascom interface. Any ideas ?

Gary
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13177
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#8

Post by admin »

Hi Gary,

not quite sure that I understand what you're aiming to do here. Perhaps you could share a screenshot or two which might help us understand what you are attempting.

Cheers, Robin
GaryCopper
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 1:07 pm

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#9

Post by GaryCopper »

Hi Robin

I am struggling with the difference between the SharpCap manual suggesting using the plate solve button on the ascom mount interface
67FAAF0D-DECD-4D6F-9335-349CE00F9F46.png
67FAAF0D-DECD-4D6F-9335-349CE00F9F46.png (549.37 KiB) Viewed 2176 times
Verses the availability through the ioptron commander ascom interface panel which doesn’t have the plate solve button on the mount panel.
459B98A0-783C-414A-AE42-3673F00F5F75.jpeg
459B98A0-783C-414A-AE42-3673F00F5F75.jpeg (107.64 KiB) Viewed 2176 times
Basically using the polar alignment tool. One star alignment then looking to point to target, plate solve then sync and correct automatically as suggested in the manual. Using a Altair 130mono guide cam and 183C Protec main camera through SC. Mount is a Ioptron Smart EQ pro + with SpaceCat 250mm scope on this rig. Hope this helps

Gary
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 13177
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:52 pm
Location: Vale of the White Horse, UK
Contact:

Re: PlateSolve Coordinates

#10

Post by admin »

Hi Gary,

okay, I think you are getting confused between the mount control buttons that come from your telescope mount software (the red iOptron commander ones) and the mount control buttons that appear inside SharpCap itself (the grey ones that are shown in the documentation).

The plates solving button only appears in the SharpCap mount control section, not in the iOptron one. To get the SharpCap mount control working you have to configure SharpCap to talk to your mount (in the settings window, go to the hardware tab) and then make sure you expand the right section (scope controls) in the controls area on the right.

Hope that clears up the confusion, Robin
Post Reply