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Two requests for manual object finding

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2026 4:36 am
by BipTunia
When your computer isn't hooked up to the mount, just camera on scope hooked up to computer and SharpCap:

1. Be able to enter a target or coordinates, then plate solve, and automatically overlay an arrow on the screen pointing to the direction where your target is from where you are (and maybe how much Dec / RA you need to go up or down to get there). But even just the arrow would help.

2. Have the option when using plate solve to hit COPY and copy it just as this

RA=20:24:28
Dec=+42:04:31

or even better as

20:24:28
42:04:31

Instead of this:

Solution : RA=20:24:28.2,Dec=+42:04:31 (J2000)
Field of View : 3.3724x1.9066 degrees
Time : Sat, 03 Oct 2026 04:28:46 GMT
Orientation : up is 92.3 degrees E of N
Focal length is 189.9mm

This would make it a lot easier when typing in where you are and where you want to be, to compare to the last one in a text file, without all the other stuff you don't need. I find myself having to edit that other stuff out to compare location.

Re: Two requests for manual object finding

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2026 12:37 pm
by admin
Hi,

the first already exists as a feature called the 'Push To Assistant' - you'll find it in the tools menu. Select a target either from the catalog or by pasting in co-ordinates, then SharpCap will happily sit there and plate solve each frame from the camera and tell you how far you need to move the mount and in what direction. There is even an arrow on screen too, so hopefully this will cover pretty much everything you are looking for.

As to the copy of the plate solving information... It's the way it is now with the additional info because someone else specifically requested to have the full information available rather than just the co-ordinates! Just shows that you can't please everyone all of the time :)

cheers,

Robin

Re: Two requests for manual object finding

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2026 10:55 pm
by BipTunia
Good to know. I'll try the PTA.

Since that exists, the other isn't needed.