SharpCap Forums

I'm hoping Robin can answer this - is there a conflict between AP mounts/APCC software and sharpcap?
I have a new AP 1100 go to mount with a ZWO ASI2600 with my AP 1100 goto and Celestron 9.25 Edge? I ask because I"m totally new, finally got Sharpcap pro set up with APCC Pro and STellarium and downloaded ASAP and the D50 database and finally everything is working!
But, I haven't been able to plate solve and sync. I set up the Sharpcap "hardware" tap with my mount and it actually did work with one plate solve, but without the "sync" part, it's not helpful. I need to center objects!
1 - What is your favorite software that does the planetarium side for finding objects and camera software? sometimes Stellarium weirdly does NOT show the telescope reticule when it's connected (though it slews correctly) - any idea?
2 - is it true that Sharpcap won't work with APCC? I feel like it should work but if there is an easier way to plate solve/sync to CENTER my objects, please fill me in!
3 - Does SkyX handle both camera and planetarium features? In short, if you were starting from scratch with the goal of EAA specifically, which combo would you use? Right now I'm using Stellarium, finding objects, slewing, but I have to manually center with my AP touchpad.
4 -Is "modeling" on APCC/APMM the same as plate solving? If it's true I just need to do a sky model, maybe I should forget about plate solving and just do this?
In any case, I really appreciate the advice and guidance as I spent 7 straight days setting up a permanent observatory in my yard with a skyshed pod/pier with my AP 1100 goto and now I just want to be able to use a monitor to do EAA and share with friends and local kids. And if APCC is incompatible with Sharpcap and will not platesolve with ASTAP's D50, what else do you guys use?

Hi,

OK, first off, I don't have an AP mount, but can provide some general guidance that is most likely relevant

1) People have had issues in the past with trying to access AP mounts from SharpCap and from other applications at the same time (second copies of the mount control appearing) - these should be resolvable by using the ASCOM Device Hub driver in SharpCap and then setting up the device hub to talk to your AP mount

2) Some versions of AP mounts cannot perform the 'MoveAxis' command, meaning that the movement direction buttons in SharpCap do not work. Unfortunately the ASCOM driver (the last time I heard about it) claimed that the mount *could* perform MoveAxis, so the buttons remain enabled in SharpCap in spite of not working

3) If your mount is set up with a sky pointing model then the standard 'plate solve and sync' in SharpCap will not work correctly, since the mount will either ignore the sync or treat it as an extra point on the pointing model. The trick here is to go to the plate solving settings in SharpCap and change the 'after solving' action to 'Offset the mount position to center the target'. Note that with that option, you should only use it once after the GOTO the target - trying a second time will most likely send the mount off in the wrong direction, since it will think the target is at the offset co-ordinates

4) Plate solving may be a bit tricky with the 9.25 and the ASI2600 - if I have calculated correctly the field of view is only 0.6 by 0.4 degrees, but that should be workable in Astap. Do make sure that a good number of stars are visible in the image (without having to use a display stretch to see them). If necessary increase exposure/gain to get more clearly visible stars to see if that helps.

As to SkyX and what that does/doesn't do, I'm afraid I have no real idea as I've never used it. I'm sure there are other forum members who have and hopefully they will respond.

Hopefully this will get you a bit further,

Robin

Thanks Robin.
This is so frustrating. one weird thing is that when I do "test plate solve" in the sharpcap window, it says it's fine but as soon as I try a real one, it fails instantly. almost like it's not accessing the ASTAP database though the file path looks correct.
Quick question - does "stretching the histogram" in the right hand camera pane affect what the CAMERA and plate solving software sees? I ask because one piece of advice I heard was DON"T stretch the histogram but you are saying I should stretch the histogram, and then adjust gain so I can see enough stars?
To follow up on your question, I have NOT done the pointing model yet so that is not the case. I just need to get plate solving working!
I am focusing by hand right now until I get my focuser - it looks sharp when I view on live view?

Hi,

the histogram stretch only affects what you see on screen, not the image sent to the plate solving program, so it is best *not* to use the histogram stretch when setting up to plate solve. That's because with the stretch you might be able to see stars that are really very very faint, so you can end up sending almost black images to the plate solving application.

The 'Test' button for plate solving sends a known image (installed with SharpCap) to the plate solving application - it tests that the plate solving application is set up correctly and that SharpCap is talking to it, but does not test the camera settings.

If you are having trouble, look at the SharpCap log after trying to plate solve - there should be some info recorded like the number of stars the plate solving application found and any error that it produces - that might help.

cheers,

Robin