Plate solver

[Tiago Ferreira]

When i get this in the PS tab:

Manually configured Astrometry : Not configured
AstroTortilla : Not found (binary path missing : C:\cygwin\bin)
All Sky Plate Solver : Not found at C:\Users\Tiago\AppData\Local\Astrometry
Ansvr : Found at C:\Users\Tiago\AppData\Local\cygwin_ansvr
Cygwin/Astrometry based : Not found (binary path missing : C:\cygwin\bin)
Astap (manual location) : No sign of Astap
Astap (auto-detect) : Found at c:\Program Files\Astap\Astap.exe
PlateSolve2 : No sign of PlateSolve2
PlateSolve3 : No sign of PlateSolve3

Which one Sharpcap will choose by default?
And how do i get it from Astap? Should i use c:\Program Files\Astap\Astap.exe as the path in "Enter manually" box where the sigma is located?

[Tiago Ferreira]

I found I just have to select from the drop down menu the one i want to use however if i have installed Ansvr and ASPS which one will sharpcap choose as they are in the same selection row?
And Is there a best (plate solver) choice for Sharpcap to work with? Or doesn't matter?

Another doubt i still have, with the push-to feature does the telescope has to be pointing within 15º of the target i want (like when i use virtual telescope paired with ascom and stellarium) or doesn't matter?

[admin]

Hi,

if there are multiple plate solvers found in the ASPS/Ansvr/Astrotortilla family, then they are used in this order (first one present in this list is used)

* One with a path specified manually
* Astrotortilla
* ASPS
* Ansvr
* Anything with a 'solve-field' binary located inside c:\cygwin\bin

If the default ordering here doesn't suit then you just specify a manual location since that is top of the list (ie if you want to use Ansvr in place of Astrotortilla).

All of the Astrometry.Net based solvers are using effectively the same codebase for the plate solving engine (maybe different versions of it depending on how recently they were updated). The biggest differences between them are the UIs that they have (which SharpCap bypasses anyway) and the installers.


As for PushTo - if it hasn't found a position yet it will try the whole sky. Once it has a position it will try within 15 degrees for updates, but then go back to whole sky if a 15 degree solve fails. That means it should usually use the fast option, but should drop back to the slow but more thorough option when needed.

cheers,

Robin

[Tiago Ferreira]

I chose the manual location and after that it appears in the path list below however the check box for manual turns unchecked after leaving the settings and come back again.
The manual path still appear at the bottom list of paths as "found".
Is it intentional or should the manual check box stay checked and it's a small glitch?
The selected software at the top is ansvr/astrotortilla/asps

[admin]

Hi,

yes, I see the same with the radio button not being enabled if you go back to the settings. Looks like it is just a UI glitch as the edit box on the right of it is enabled and the manual path works.

cheers,

Robin