Installing AstroTortilla for plate solving

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umasscrew39
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#11

Post by umasscrew39 »

OK- thanks; on the next clear night I will try this and look at the log as it is running

On another note- I downloaded All Sky Plate Solver and all index files need for my C11" at f/7 with two camera sensors sizes, followed the steps and even confirmed my entered values with the assist tool and then tried to plate solve a saved fits image; it started to work and then said cannot resolve and to check the log. The log only showed the time it took to run. I'm now wondering if it something with my laptop. One person said they had issues with AstroTotolla involving Cygwin. I hope it is not something like that as again, being a Mac user primarily, I have no idea what to do to fix it.
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turfpit
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#12

Post by turfpit »

Bruce
One person said they had issues with AstroTotolla involving Cygwin
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/6132 ... ometrynet/ see post #1 re Cygwin.

Dave
umasscrew39
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#13

Post by umasscrew39 »

well, this gets more depressing by the moment..........thanks, Dave.

I updated like he suggested but had to pick a different site than he suggested because of more windows blah, blah, blah errors. Now have to wait until a clear night (I think Sunday night might work) and see what happens.
Last edited by umasscrew39 on Sat Feb 01, 2020 2:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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turfpit
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#14

Post by turfpit »

Bruce

Some more info on setup https://katorellaastro.com/2017/12/11/a ... lla-setup/

Log files from SharpCap are going to help others to help you solve (no pun intended) your problem. Also screen shots of any settings such as the Plate Solving tab in SharpCap Settings.

Dave
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#15

Post by umasscrew39 »

Tried running plate solving again and got the same error messages. Index files are loaded and I followed setup steps. I also tried All Sky Plate Solver and got error messages as well. It seems I have all of the index files but they are not connecting with the programs. I tried uninstalling and re-installing with Bitdefender off as some have said it can cause problems with installation. Please let me know if you have any suggestions as I have no idea what else to try. Here is the part of the log which mentions the plate solving errors...

Info: 18:5
Info: 19:07:36.8271369 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver.AutodetectCygwinBinPath() :: Found ASPS plate solver found at C:\Users\donza\AppData\Local\Astrometry\bin
Debug: 19:07:36.8291315 Thread:#1 SharpCap.UI.SharpCapForm.OnStopCapture() :: Started
Debug: 19:07:36.8291315 Thread:#1 SharpCap.UI.SharpCapForm.OnStopCapture() :: Ended
Info: 19:07:36.9486995 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ViewModels.SharpCapViewModel.appModel_OnCaptureEvent(Object sender, CaptureEventArgs e) :: CaptureFrameComplete event received in UI thread
Info: 19:07:37.4531434 Thread:#1 SharpCap.Models.PlateSolveOnly+<Solve>d__7.MoveNext() :: Captured single frame to C:\Users\donza\AppData\Local\Temp\tmpFC45.tmp.png for plate solving, Exists?: True
Info: 19:07:37.9415702 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver.AutodetectCygwinBinPath() :: Found ASPS plate solver found at C:\Users\donza\AppData\Local\Astrometry\bin
Info: 19:07:37.9415702 Thread:#1 SharpCap.Models.PlateSolveOnly+<Solve>d__7.MoveNext() :: Starting blind plate solve
Debug: 19:07:37.9435654 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver+<SolveFrameAsync>d__18.MoveNext() :: Started
Info: 19:07:37.9576638 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.ProcessRunner+<RunCommand>d__0.MoveNext() :: Running external process: C:\Users\donza\AppData\Local\Astrometry\bin\cygpath -w /tmp
Info: 19:07:38.8253468 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver+<SolveFrameAsync>d__18.MoveNext() :: Astrotortilla temp folder set to C:\Users\donza\AppData\Local\Astrometry\tmp\e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859 (/tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859)
Info: 19:07:39.3538545 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver+<SolveImpl>d__19.MoveNext() :: Astrotortilla plate solve command is: solve-field -b /etc/astrometry/backend.cfg -z 2 --sigma 100 -r --objs 100 --no-plots -N none -L 0.1 -H 20 -u degwidth -D /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859 /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png

Info: 19:07:42.9092625 Thread:#1 SharpCap.Models.PlateSolveOnly+<>c__DisplayClass7_1.<Solve>b__2(Object s, SolveProgressEventArgs a) :: Plate solving : Reading input file 1 of 1: "/tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png"...
Warning: 19:07:44.0082673 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver+<SolveImpl>d__19.MoveNext() :: StdErr from plate solver : /etc/profile: line 47: /usr/bin/id: No such file or directory
ERROR: Image type not recognized: Could not determine file type (does the file exist?): /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png
augment-xylist.c:585:backtick Failed to run command: /usr/lib/astrometry/bin/image2pnm.py --sanitized-fits-outfile /tmp/tmp.sanitized.RGDmVo --fix-sdss --infile /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png --uncompressed-outfile /tmp/tmp.uncompressed.L0huEN --outfile /tmp/tmp.ppm.1MgtkX --ppm
ioutils.c:605:run_command_get_outputs Command failed: return value 255

Warning: 19:07:44.0082673 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver+<SolveImpl>d__19.MoveNext() :: Plate Solving Failed with 255 : /etc/profile: line 47: /usr/bin/id: No such file or directory
ERROR: Image type not recognized: Could not determine file type (does the file exist?): /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png
augment-xylist.c:585:backtick Failed to run command: /usr/lib/astrometry/bin/image2pnm.py --sanitized-fits-outfile /tmp/tmp.sanitized.RGDmVo --fix-sdss --infile /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png --uncompressed-outfile /tmp/tmp.uncompressed.L0huEN --outfile /tmp/tmp.ppm.1MgtkX --ppm
ioutils.c:605:run_command_get_outputs Command failed: return value 255

Error: 19:07:44.4480859 Thread:#1 SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver+<SolveFrameAsync>d__18.MoveNext() :: Exception of type Exception from Failed to plate solve : Plate solving failed : /etc/profile: line 47: /usr/bin/id: No such file or directory
ERROR: Image type not recognized: Could not determine file type (does the file exist?): /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png
augment-xylist.c:585:backtick Failed to run command: /usr/lib/astrometry/bin/image2pnm.py --sanitized-fits-outfile /tmp/tmp.sanitized.RGDmVo --fix-sdss --infile /tmp/e01904ff-9734-4b9a-af10-2ee44a359859/frame.png --uncompressed-outfile /tmp/tmp.uncompressed.L0huEN --outfile /tmp/tmp.ppm.1MgtkX --ppm
ioutils.c:605:run_command_get_outputs Command failed: return value 255

Stack Trace: at SharpCap.ImageProcessing.AstroTortillaPlateSolver.<SolveImpl>d__19.MoveNext() in C:\Documents\Source Code\SharpCap3.2\src\SharpCap.ImageProcessing\AstroTortillaPlateSolver.cs:line 206
umasscrew39
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#16

Post by umasscrew39 »

If anyone has any ideas as to what the issue is that I have with AstoTortilla based on the log I posted, please let me know.
BlackWikkett
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#17

Post by BlackWikkett »

Bruce

First I'd remove both AstroTortilla and All Sky Plate Solver. Also remove Cygwin which was installed with the Astrometry plate solver back end. AstroTortilla and ASPS are just Windows front end for the Astrometry back end. Reboot and make sure all of the above are removed. I can't speak for ASPS but have had success with AstroTortilla, which I use every time I use SC. Only use one of these I wouldn't try to have them both installed. I'm sure it's fine but keeping just one will help narrow troubleshooting.

It's been mentioned before but I'll repost here since this is an excellent resource, follow this!
https://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tu ... lving.html

In SharpCap settings in the plate solver section set sigma for 50. I noticed in your provided log it's at 100. Use a reasonable gain and exposure to capture enough stars for the plate solver to use. I find 18 to 40 stars is usually enough to get a solve. Keep in mind the image sent to the plate solver is a raw image with no stretching or processing. For my ASI294 I usually use 400 to 450 gain and expose for 4-8 seconds. this works well for my 6 inch RC. You may need to adjust this based on your scope. As you know you can complete a blind solve or a solve and sync from the mount interface in SharpCap. I would use the solve and sync from the mount control. This narrows the scope of the plate solve to 15 degrees and will significantly speed up solving. From here I'd adjust exposure and gain as needed to get a good star count.

Report back with results.
-Chris
umasscrew39
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#18

Post by umasscrew39 »

Well- I tried this twice more with the same result. I removed everything (AstroTortilla, All Sky Plate Solver, Cygwin) and reinstalled AstroTilla, all files associated for my scopes, and Cygwin while following Lightvotexastronomy steps with success. I used a sigma of 70 and even went down to 10. I captured images using around 500 gain and 4 sec. The result is exactly what I posted previously, stating 1 or fewer stars was detected which makes no sense. So, I am out of options at this point.

At this point, I'll have to just continue to capture an image and export it to Astrometry on the internet to plate solve. Too bad I cannot figure this out. I am guessing it is an issue with my computer but being primarily a Mac user, I am not familiar enough with Win 10 to figure out the problem.

Bruce
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#19

Post by BlackWikkett »

Give this a try. Capture an image and save the single frame as normal. Open the Astro Tortilla application. For Telescope leave at "Disconnected." For camera select "File Open Dialog." When you click "Capture and Solve" you get a file open dialog. Use this to navigate to the just captured image.

1. Does this solve
2. How long does this take
3. Astro Tortilla "Tools" menu, open, in the log window choose info for log level. You'll want the log open prior to capture and solve.

You can complete this procedure anytime using previously captured images. This will at least let us know if plate solving is working and there's an other problem to tackle.

-Chris
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turfpit
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Re: Installing AstroTortolla for plate solving

#20

Post by turfpit »

Bruce
also tried All Sky Plate Solver and got error messages as well. It seems I have all of the index files but they are not connecting with the programs
Today, I have 'dipped a toe in the water' with plate solving. I have installed All Sky Plate Solver and at first run downloaded the index files for my scope & camera. SharpCap has detected the installation, as indicated in the Settings. For an initial test, I used astrometry.net to solve a FITS file and repeated the exercise with All Sky Plate Solver running locally. These are the results:

plate-solve-test.JPG
plate-solve-test.JPG (178.97 KiB) Viewed 2816 times


The FITS test file was a mono capture of NGC7000 with very little showing.


NGC7000fan-slow_00001.jpg
NGC7000fan-slow_00001.jpg (35.67 KiB) Viewed 2816 times


Next step is to integrate this with some planetarium software and the mount - I could be some time.

Now I have a working plate solve installation, I know where all the files are stored if you ever wanted to revisit this.

Dave
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