Two requests for manual object finding
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2026 4:36 am
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.
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.