Auto-Align script for SkyWatcher telescope
Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2023 11:30 pm
Hello Ruby and Robin,
It was this evening a surprise after installing the last version of the SynScan software (2.4.8).
I found a directory with 2 script for SharpCap.
I tested one script this evening.
It was not working at the first time and not at the second time ... and not at the end because several GOTO was too much north where I have no visible sky.
First problem is the print function in line 129 ... it changes between IronPython 2.7 and 3.4.
>>> print Latitude is not working on SharpCap 4.1.x, but
>>> print(Latitude) will work on both.
Other problem was the function SharpCap.BlindSolver.Solve() at the line 94 ... the function is not "present" in SharpCap 4.1.11251.0.
I replaced the Solve() function with the SolveAsync() function ... then it was working.
Other point ... the script should test the SynScan driver version.
Normally I use the 1.19.20 while it is better working as all the other 2.xx version.
The script starts a lot of GOTO in several direction and at both pier sides ... it takes more time as to perform the polar alignment with the SharpCap tool (for the location with the polar star visibility) or it takes more time as the SynScan 2 stars alignment + the following polar alignment method.
It would be interesting to have the list of the command available to the SynScan software.
Idea for the next version ... please add the possibility to set an user horizon file with the local sky visibility.
The script could then use the horizon file for selecting only target visible from the location.
The horizon file would be a simple text file. Ideally the same as the Carte du Ciel or the OccultWatcher software.
Regards,
Jean-Francois
It was this evening a surprise after installing the last version of the SynScan software (2.4.8).
I found a directory with 2 script for SharpCap.
I tested one script this evening.
It was not working at the first time and not at the second time ... and not at the end because several GOTO was too much north where I have no visible sky.
First problem is the print function in line 129 ... it changes between IronPython 2.7 and 3.4.
>>> print Latitude is not working on SharpCap 4.1.x, but
>>> print(Latitude) will work on both.
Other problem was the function SharpCap.BlindSolver.Solve() at the line 94 ... the function is not "present" in SharpCap 4.1.11251.0.
I replaced the Solve() function with the SolveAsync() function ... then it was working.
Other point ... the script should test the SynScan driver version.
Normally I use the 1.19.20 while it is better working as all the other 2.xx version.
The script starts a lot of GOTO in several direction and at both pier sides ... it takes more time as to perform the polar alignment with the SharpCap tool (for the location with the polar star visibility) or it takes more time as the SynScan 2 stars alignment + the following polar alignment method.
It would be interesting to have the list of the command available to the SynScan software.
Idea for the next version ... please add the possibility to set an user horizon file with the local sky visibility.
The script could then use the horizon file for selecting only target visible from the location.
The horizon file would be a simple text file. Ideally the same as the Carte du Ciel or the OccultWatcher software.
Regards,
Jean-Francois