Unable to get Astrotortilla to connect with BYE

[whatablanker]

1. Start BackyardEOS/BackyardNIKON Premium Edition

2. Go to settings

3. In 3rd party interrogation section check enable 3rd party interrogation

 

there is no check box in the 3rd party interrogation section to enable 3rd party interrogation just a tick box for tcp. I can't get astrotortilla to connect with BYE.

[whatablanker]

I have managed to get astrotortilla to talk to BYE I just haven't had a chance to try plate solving. I think the original problem was an error it did connect but it just wouldn't plate solve. It kept coming up with 0 solutions or something like that. When I get a clear night and a day off (very short on both at the moment) I will give it a go and let you know how I get on. Thanks for all the help so far it's much appreciated.

[admin]

Okay, thanks for the feedback.

 

Regards,

[s3igell]

There is no need to await a Cloudless Night, if you have an existing AP Image in either JPG or TIFF format.  

Simply select "File Open Dialog" in the Camera Pulldown and then click "Capture and Solve" to have the AstroTortilla Program pose a File Open Dialog with which to select that AP Image.

[whatablanker]

Thanks I will give it a go

[whatablanker]

Hi I have tried what you suggested. It runs through it's bits but as you can see it will not solve. I appreciate this will not be a BYE issue but you seem to know what you are talking about so have you any ideas from looking at my setup.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated but I understand if you would prefer me to go to the Astrotortilla forum.

 

Dave

[whatablanker]

2016-09-30 14:34:23,486 - astrotortilla - INFO - Waiting for scope to stop
2016-09-30 14:34:23,499 - astrotortilla - INFO - Connecting to camera...
2016-09-30 14:34:23,509 - astrotortilla - INFO - Exposing: 60.00 seconds
2016-09-30 14:34:26,818 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading image from camera
2016-09-30 14:34:26,832 - astrotortilla - INFO - Solving...
2016-09-30 14:34:26,960 - astrotortilla - INFO -       5 [main] bash 3512 find_fast_cwd: WARNING: Couldn't compute FAST_CWD pointer.  Please report this problem to

2016-09-30 14:34:27,078 - astrotortilla - INFO - the public mailing list cygwin@cygwin.com

2016-09-30 14:34:27,697 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading input file 1 of 1: "/cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif"...

2016-09-30 14:34:28,522 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50002 (0xc352) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:34:28,638 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50006 (0xc356) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:34:28,750 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50008 (0xc358) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:34:28,862 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50009 (0xc359) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:34:28,982 - astrotortilla - INFO - tifftopnm: writing PGM file

2016-09-30 14:34:29,096 - astrotortilla - INFO - tifftopnm: actual resolution has been reduced to 24 bits per pixel in the conversion.  You can get the full 16 bits that are in the TIFF with the -byrow option.

2016-09-30 14:34:29,213 - astrotortilla - INFO - Read file /tmp/tmp.ppm.5JziWg: 3906 x 2602 pixels x 1 color(s); maxval 65535

2016-09-30 14:34:29,328 - astrotortilla - INFO - Using 16-bit output

2016-09-30 14:34:31,983 - astrotortilla - INFO - Extracting sources...

2016-09-30 14:34:36,190 - astrotortilla - INFO - simplexy: found 0 sources.

2016-09-30 14:34:36,302 - astrotortilla - INFO - Downsampling by 2...

2016-09-30 14:35:03,075 - astrotortilla - INFO - simplexy: found 1730 sources.

2016-09-30 14:35:05,028 - astrotortilla - INFO - Solving...

2016-09-30 14:35:08,092 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading file "/cygdrive/c/users/dave/appdata/local/temp/solver1kc77t/11/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.axy"...

2016-09-30 14:35:08,203 - astrotortilla - INFO - Only searching for solutions within 10 degrees of RA,Dec (202.652,47.1141)

2016-09-30 14:35:08,321 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4217.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:08,434 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4216.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:08,549 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4215.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:08,664 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4214.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:08,776 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4213.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:08,888 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4212.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:09,359 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field size: 84.0295 x 56.0209 arcminutes

2016-09-30 14:35:09,372 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field center: (RA H:M:S, Dec D:M:S) = (13:29:48.362, +47:16:08.092).

2016-09-30 14:35:09,384 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field center: (RA,Dec) = (202.5, 47.27) deg.

2016-09-30 14:35:09,400 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field: /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif

2016-09-30 14:35:09,414 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 solved: writing to file /cygdrive/c/users/dave/appdata/local/temp/solver1kc77t/11/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.solved to indicate this.

2016-09-30 14:35:09,426 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1: solved with index index-4108.fits.

2016-09-30 14:35:09,438 - astrotortilla - INFO -   Hit/miss: +-+++++-+-+++-+++++-++-+-+-+----+-++++---+-----------------------------------------------+(best)------++++

2016-09-30 14:35:09,450 - astrotortilla - INFO -   RA,Dec = (202.45,47.2697), pixel scale 1.2918 arcsec/pix.

2016-09-30 14:35:09,464 - astrotortilla - INFO -   log-odds ratio 188.596 (8.05772e+81), 27 match, 0 conflict, 63 distractors, 31 index.

2016-09-30 14:35:09,476 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4109.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:09,487 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4110.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:09,502 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4111.fits, field objects 1-10).

...

2016-09-30 14:35:09,782 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4209.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:09,793 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4210.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:09,806 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4211.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:35:09,822 - astrotortilla - INFO - Parsing results...
2016-09-30 14:35:10,477 - astrotortilla - INFO - 0
2016-09-30 14:35:10,490 - astrotortilla - INFO - [
2016-09-30 14:35:10,503 - astrotortilla - INFO - m
...

2016-09-30 14:35:11,997 - astrotortilla - INFO - Solved in 45.2s
2016-09-30 14:35:12,009 - astrotortilla - INFO - Re-centering...
2016-09-30 14:35:12,020 - astrotortilla.ASCOMTelescope - INFO - Syncing to Coordinate(202.616408, 47.186704)
2016-09-30 14:35:12,032 - astrotortilla.ASCOMTelescope - INFO - Sync separation is 4.58'
2016-09-30 14:35:13,306 - astrotortilla - INFO - Connecting to camera...
2016-09-30 14:35:13,322 - astrotortilla - INFO - Exposing: 60.00 seconds
2016-09-30 14:35:18,555 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading image from camera
2016-09-30 14:35:18,568 - astrotortilla - INFO - Solving...
2016-09-30 14:35:18,700 - astrotortilla - INFO -       1 [main] bash 11776 find_fast_cwd: WARNING: Couldn't compute FAST_CWD pointer.  Please report this problem to

2016-09-30 14:35:18,815 - astrotortilla - INFO - the public mailing list cygwin@cygwin.com

2016-09-30 14:35:19,339 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading input file 1 of 1: "/cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif"...

2016-09-30 14:35:20,062 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50002 (0xc352) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:35:20,181 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50006 (0xc356) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:35:20,296 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50008 (0xc358) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:35:20,411 - astrotortilla - INFO - TIFFReadDirectory: Warning, /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif: unknown field with tag 50009 (0xc359) encountered.

2016-09-30 14:35:20,526 - astrotortilla - INFO - tifftopnm: writing PGM file

2016-09-30 14:35:20,638 - astrotortilla - INFO - tifftopnm: actual resolution has been reduced to 24 bits per pixel in the conversion.  You can get the full 16 bits that are in the TIFF with the -byrow option.

2016-09-30 14:35:20,753 - astrotortilla - INFO - Read file /tmp/tmp.ppm.nSSOjH: 3906 x 2602 pixels x 1 color(s); maxval 65535

2016-09-30 14:35:20,868 - astrotortilla - INFO - Using 16-bit output

2016-09-30 14:35:23,548 - astrotortilla - INFO - Extracting sources...

2016-09-30 14:35:27,825 - astrotortilla - INFO - simplexy: found 0 sources.

2016-09-30 14:35:27,937 - astrotortilla - INFO - Downsampling by 2...

2016-09-30 14:35:55,407 - astrotortilla - INFO - simplexy: found 1730 sources.

2016-09-30 14:35:57,348 - astrotortilla - INFO - Solving...

2016-09-30 14:36:00,407 - astrotortilla - INFO - Reading file "/cygdrive/c/users/dave/appdata/local/temp/solver1kc77t/12/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.axy"...

2016-09-30 14:36:00,523 - astrotortilla - INFO - Only searching for solutions within 10 degrees of RA,Dec (202.652,47.1141)

2016-09-30 14:36:00,635 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4217.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:36:00,750 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4216.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:36:00,871 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4215.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:36:00,984 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4214.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:36:01,101 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4213.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:36:01,634 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field size: 84.0295 x 56.0209 arcminutes

2016-09-30 14:36:01,647 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field center: (RA H:M:S, Dec D:M:S) = (13:29:48.362, +47:16:08.092).

2016-09-30 14:36:01,658 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field center: (RA,Dec) = (202.5, 47.27) deg.

2016-09-30 14:36:01,673 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field: /cygdrive/g/Astronomy/Astonomy Photos/M51/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.tif

2016-09-30 14:36:01,691 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 solved: writing to file /cygdrive/c/users/dave/appdata/local/temp/solver1kc77t/12/M51-06-06-13_LIGHT_300s_800iso_+17c_615stdev_20130606-23h34m21s716ms.cal.solved to indicate this.

2016-09-30 14:36:01,703 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1: solved with index index-4108.fits.

2016-09-30 14:36:01,720 - astrotortilla - INFO -   Hit/miss: +-+++++-+-+++-+++++-++-+-+-+----+-++++---+-----------------------------------------------+(best)------++++

2016-09-30 14:36:01,733 - astrotortilla - INFO -   RA,Dec = (202.45,47.2697), pixel scale 1.2918 arcsec/pix.

2016-09-30 14:36:01,746 - astrotortilla - INFO -   log-odds ratio 188.596 (8.05772e+81), 27 match, 0 conflict, 63 distractors, 31 index.

2016-09-30 14:36:01,759 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4109.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:36:01,773 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4110.fits, field objects 1-10).

2016-09-30 14:36:01,789 - astrotortilla - INFO - Field 1 did not solve (index index-4111.fits, field objects 1-10).

...

2016-09-30 14:36:02,203 - astrotortilla - INFO - Parsing results...

2016-09-30 14:36:02,835 - astrotortilla - INFO - 0
2016-09-30 14:36:02,846 - astrotortilla - INFO - [
...

2016-09-30 14:36:04,753 - astrotortilla - INFO - Solved in 46.2s

 

It's been a while since I started this post but as you can see I finally managed to get this sorted but does anyone have any idea what is happening with the error message

1 [main] bash 11776 find_fast_cwd: WARNING: Couldn't compute FAST_CWD pointer.  Please report this problem to the public mailing list cygwin@cygwin.com

[astroman133]

I am assuming that you have installed all the index files that are relevant for your setup. They should cover a range that includes 0.1 times your smallest field with to 2.0 times your largest field width.

 

When you do not have a telescope connected, you should set the search radius to 180 degrees, since there is no telescope available to provide a hint about the celestial coordinates of the image.

 

If that doesn't work, make the following additional changes...Set the Downscaling=0, Scale minimum = 0.1 times the field width and Scale maximum to 2.0 x the field width. Also remove the -H and -L options, along with their values, from the Custom options setting.

[astroman133]

The error about "Couldn't compute FAST_CWD pointer" means that there is a problem with cygwin. I do not recall ever seeing it, but a quick Google search turned up the recommendation to upgrade cygwin. I have never seen that error.

 

Looking at the log file a couple of other things stand out.

 

I can see that you are trying to solve an old TIF image file with a 300 second exposure that was originally shot in 2013. While that should work, there appear to be some problems with astrometry.net reading the TIF file. I have never tried solving a TIF file with AT. There may be some kind of compatibility issue with the TIF image files that BYE is producing. AT does work fine with JPG images, however.

 

You also appear to have the search radius set to 10 degrees. When you are connected to a scope and live solving an image to position the scope, the search radius tells AT to only search for a match in the area of the sky that is within the search radius of where the scope is currently pointing. In that case 10 degrees may be appropriate. However, if you are solving an old image and are not connected to a scope you should set the search radius to 180 degrees. That tells AT to search the entire sky for a matching star pattern.

 

I typically use 6-8 second exposures. That way there are fewer stars in the image which makes it easier to solve.

 

So, here are my suggestions:

 

1) I would suggest upgrading AstroTortilla, astrometry, and cygwin, but leave the index files alone. If AT is already at the latest release then I would follow the recommendation in the log file and report the error to the cygwin email list.

 

2) If you want to solve an old image, I would choose a JPG file with as short an exposure as you have. Between 5-30 seconds should work.

 

3) If you are solving real-time exposures for positioning the scope I would start out by setting the sigma value to 150 and try to solve an 8 second exposure. If the number of sources (stars+ noise) reported by simplexy in the log is > 500 then I would try raising the sigma value to 200 and/or lowering the exposure to 5 seconds. With optimum parameters and a reasonably fast camera the complete plate-solving and positioning process should take less than a minute to complete.

 

The optimum parameters depend on several factors including aperture, field-of-view, ISO, exposure, and sensor temperature.

 

Aperture - a larger aperture scope collects more light so stars are brighter. This can allow you to shoot shorter exposures for plate solving

Field-of-View - the index files have data of stars in the sky at different scales. You should set the Scale mininum and Scale maximum to encompass the field of view for your equipment.

ISO - using a higher ISO brightens the data but can also add noise. AT may try to interpret this noise as stars. So keep the ISO low

Sensor temperature - The hotter the camera sensor, the greater the contribution of thermal noise in your image. This may mean that your solving will be more efficient with a higher sigma value. Keeping the exposures short, as recommended, will also help keep the noise contribution down.

 

I always keep an 8 second image with my raw exposure data in case I ever need to reposition on that target and I don't have a bookmark for it. I usually take that exposure immediately after AT has positioned on my target and I have started autoguiding. For my DSLR that image is a Preview JPG image. For my CCD camera it is, of course, a FITS image.

 

I hope this helps.

[s3igell]

Agree with Rick.

 

If you still have issues with AT, please ensure that you collect the AT Logfile (well, actually you need to have the "Log Viewer" open when you do the Plate-Solve attempt), so that you can see how many Sources AT is picking out of your Image using your Parameters.  You'll want to tweak the Sigma and the Exposure until you are getting 60-100 Sources.

 

The Log Viewer will also show you which Index Files are being accessed.

[whatablanker]

thanks guys it's all very technical but I'm sure with help I'll get it. 

[whatablanker]

Hi I have tried what was suggested but I still can't get it to work I have screen shotted the Bottom of the log and my settings. There seems to be some errors in the log.

[astroman133]

I don't see any issues with the solve parameters but I can't see what exposure you selected. It would also help to see the entire log file.

 

I can see that you installed cygwin to G: drive.  Is G: an internal hard drive?  What is it?

 

Or, you could upload the image to Dropbox and PM me a link.  If you do this, it will also help to have info about the target as well as the scope used (diameter and focal ratio), the camera used, and the exposure parameters (ISO and duration).

 

At this point my guess is that the solve was terminated because of a time limit.  My solves usually happen within 30 seconds.  Yours failed after 30 minutes.

 

Let me know how I can help.

[whatablanker]

Thanks for the reply I will let you know all the info in a day or 2 as now back to work.

 

My scope is a SW 200pds f5 scope. Camera is an  EOS 1000D. I used the suggested site to get the FOV which is 1.27deg x 0.85deg but I may have mucked up the calculations when putting them into astrotortilla as some of the tutorials show them as arcseconds. I couldn't show the whole log as it is far to big. I tried copying it using the copy button on the log page but it didn't seem to work. I will copy and paste it to a txt doc and pm you the attachment. my G drive is internal and is a lot bigger than my C drive which is why I used. I will get back to you with the image data.

 

Dave

[s3igell]

Unless you simply DO NOT have enough Space on C:, you'd probably do better to do a New Install onto C: - there may be some parameters within Astrometry.net or Cygwin where the Installer isn't successfully replacing C: with G:...

[astroman133]

You may end up having to troubleshoot your installation of cygwin, astrometry.net, and AstroTortilla,  but, before going through that, it would be good to have someone with a proven installation tackle solving one of your images.  Since you are a new AT user, there may be something about the image that you are giving AT that is preventing AT from completing the solve.

[dts350z]

I'm willing to test your images if you post them somewhere.

 

I'll need to know your calculated FOV.

[astroman133]

His FOV was in a previous post in this thread...1.27deg x 0.85deg

[dts350z]

If his FOV is 1.27 x 0.85 then he's putting those numbers directly into AT as the Scale minimum and Scale maximum (according to the thumbnail screen shot). That won't work. He needs to start with Scale minimum = 0.1 times the field width and Scale maximum to 2.0 x the field width, as suggested in the thread, so:

 

Scale minimum should be 0.127 and Scale Maximum would be 2.54.

 

After one of those solves successfully, AT will tighten up the values, and he can save those settings, so subsequent solves should be in seconds vs. minutes.

 

This assumes FOV is correct or at least somewhere in the range, and that he has downloaded the data to cover that range.

 

Anyway, as I said. Post a pic and I will try to solve it with my working setup.

 

Cheers,

Z

[astroman133]

You based your comments on his original parameters. A subsequent screenshot shows more appropriate values.

 

I also disagree with using scale refinement to tighten the scale min and scale max after a successful solve.  These values become permanent "custom options" and may not be appropriate for all combinations of camera and optical tube, barlow, etc.  I typically get solves in about 20 seconds or less with a permanent set of parameter values.  One of the most important parameters is the Search Radius, since a good value there will avoid opening and searching index files that are further than the search radius away from the current telescope pointing location.

 

I do agree that posting one of the images that he is unable to solve is the quickest way to get him going.

[dts350z]

Interesting.

 

I have different config files saved for each optical config., and do have to remember to load the right one in order to get a solution. I'll have to experiment along the lines you mention.

 

Thanks.

[whatablanker]

Thanks guys for the all the advice. I haven't managed to get my scope out since starting this thread but fingers x'ed Weds looks the best night for me so watch this space I'll let you all know how I get on.

[admin]

The check box is there... It is called "Enable TCP Server" and it is checked already.

 

Now you need to restart BYE/BYN and ACCEPT ALL Windows firewall warning.  If you do not accept all Windows firewall warning when you restart BYE/BYN it will not work.  If you do not get the Windows firewall warning it means you have already accepted them (or denied) in an earlier restart.

 

Make sure you connect your camera to BYE/BYN before telling AstroTortilla to start capturing

 

You have everything you need to make it work, it's a configuration issue so we should be able to get it to work

 

 

 

Regards,

[admin]

Have you been able to sort this out?

 

If not I can login to your computer and fix it for you.

 

Let me know.