ASTAP Installation and Use

[Bill.Richards]

I have the Premium version of BYE and would like to start using ASTAP for plate solving and syncing the mount.  I have ASTAP installed on my laptop and have successfully solved a couple images using the ASTAP UI, so I know it's working.  But I cannot find any instructions for how to configure BYE to use ASTAP or to do a plate solve from within BYE.  I did select ASTAP as the Plate SOlver in the Advanced Mode window, but I don't know what do do next.

Can someone please point me in the right direction?

[Bill.Richards]

I just tried it again and don't think I had any better luck.  I scoured all the mount settings and could not find anything that related to JNOW vs J2000.  But I made sure I was using J2000 coordinates every time I entered them.

I eventually did the 3-star alignment and used BYE to center the targets.  After completing that process, the mount slewed accurately to subsequent targets, but that corrects the pointing errors without doing any syncing.  I can send the new log file if you wish.

Also, does BYE handle meridian flips?  I couldn't find that anywhere in the UI or in the documentation.

[s3igell]

11 hours ago, Bill.Richards said:

Also, does BYE handle meridian flips?  I couldn't find that anywhere in the UI or in the documentation.

Meridian Flips are really the province of the Mount and it's controlling Software / Firmware.  There are several Configuration Settings which BYE cannot determine - including "Track Past Meridian" settings, "Direction of Approach" settings, Mount's Exact Location, and even the simple knowledge whether the Mount is GEM or ALT-AZ.

[Bill.Richards]

8 minutes ago, s3igell said:

Meridian Flips are really the province of the Mount and it's controlling Software / Firmware.  There are several Configuration Settings which BYE cannot determine - including "Track Past Meridian" settings, "Direction of Approach" settings, Mount's Exact Location, and even the simple knowledge whether the Mount is GEM or ALT-AZ.

OK, thanks for the info.  I guess I will have to evaluate NINA, then.  I'd prefer not to have to learn yet another tool, but it seems to have a lot more capability than BYE.

[mrchunks]

On 10/19/2020 at 4:01 PM, admin said:

Try this...

1. Make sure you have your telescope connected in BYE
2. Make sure your camera is connected BYE.
3. Enter the RA/DEC of the target you're imaging (same place where you selected ASTAP)
4. Click solve center.

Please make sure you download and install 3.2.1.RC3.  I added more login and fixed a bug.

Regards,

i am new so bear with me please if this has been answered 

i have a unmodded canon t3i  and am running the latest update 3.2.1 

on a skyview pro mount 

my workflow may be all wrong if i interpret the above quote ..please clarify

my current work flow

i start synscan ,stellarium and BYE and connect mount (and camera in BYE) 

i polar align roughly from info in synscan app

i do a 1 star alignment in synscan and center 

i snap a pic in BYE and solve using displayed picture with BYE/astap

and the target ra/dec are filled in automatically

i take that ra/dec info and in stellarium do a search and a target pops up , then i sync to the ra/dec provided and slew to where i want to be 

 

question 1

in BYE can i start from parked position and manually  fill in ra/dec for my desired target and hit slew?  or do i need to 1 star align at a minimum

question 2

if i solve using displayed pic ( BYE /astap)   and it fills in the blank target ra/dec after a solution is found  can i  modify the target ra/dec windows ( they are usually off my target ) and slew then center (in BYE)

the synscan app does not have internet capability when connected so i cant use astrometry.net but astap seems to be working

i cant seem to find the align vs append ascom setting either .i will check ascom forums 

thanks

 

 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by mrchunks
added info

[admin]

You need to align your mount, that is the only way the mount can know approximately where it is pointing.  Without an alignment, the mount can't know north from south or east from west. 

Platesolve from an image is exclusively for getting the RA/DEC.  At this point you can skip that 'take picture and solve' to acquire the RA/DEC.... just acquire from telescope.... you end up with the same coordinate.

You can modify the RA/DEC manually at any time.  Just remember that the slew and center workflow will user whatever is displayed in BYE/BYN to center to.

Hope this helps.