I would not see the download rate which is less desirable. I have no problem that the PPA contains a version, but Jason should agree and he should update it if new versions are issued. But downloading and installing is very easy. This could be done by a few command lines. Once you have it, there is no need to update unless something very fundamental changes which is very unlikely..


ASTAP reads the FITS file and header from location \tmp as specified by Ekos. If the header is very wrong, solving will fail.


Han

Are the exact steps and code listed somewhere to install on my Ubuntu machine?
I need basic instructions, as I am not a programmer. The Mac OSX was easy as it was just one click install.
I do not know what commands to use, or addresses to enter to get the software.

Thanks!

Peter

Hello Peter,


Go to
www.hnsky.org/astap.htm


For Ubuntu 64 bit do the following:

Download the Linux 64 bit program:
sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/f...p_amd64.deb/download

Download star database:
sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/f...e_mag17.deb/download

After the download:
Move the mouse cursor to the downloaded program file astap_amd64.deb, right mouse button click and select install Debian package.
Move the mouse cursor to the downloaded star database file g17_star_database_mag17.deb, right mouse button click and select install Debian package.

That's all. ASTAP is installed and ready to use. The program can be used byEKOS. You can also start the program as viewer / solver from the applications menu "Education"


p.s.
You can do the same for Linux 32 bit, Windows, or Linux Raspberry Pi 32 or 64 bit. Select then the correct program version from www.hnsky.org/astap.htm
Only the MacOS version has the star database included.

Han

Thanks!
I tried both the Linux 32 and 64 bit versions but it came back with an error "wrong architecture".
I was doing this on my NanoPC T4 (Rockchip RK3399), running Ubuntu 16.04

Peter

I would hazard a guess that your system is actually an arm64 system rather than amd, so try an intstaller based on ARM. I have it running on an Odroid without problems, using astap_arm64.deb.

As Jerry said the NanoPC T4 is an arm computer so:

program, 64 bit arm version:
sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/f...p_arm64.deb/download

if that doesn't work the 32 bit arm version:
sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/f...p_armhf.deb/download

plus the universal star database probably already downloaded.

Got it! Thanks!

Peter

On macOS the app ASTAP solves fits files extremely rapidly.
However I can't succeed solving the same files with KStars using the ASTAP solver option (it works very well using the Astro.net solver option)
ERROR : 2020-04-19T17:47:27 Solver failed. Try again.
What am I missing ?

Can you provide to me both the image and the .ini file from the temporary directory for investigation? In the .ini file, I can see the command used and compare whats required to solve the image.

Han

The generic checklist is as follows:

At least 30 stars are visible.
Reasonable round stars.
Image dimensions at least 1280x960 pixels.
An approximate position for a spiral search is specified correctly. (unless you do a 180 degrees search)
Image is not stretched or heavily photo-shopped.
Correct image height in degrees specified within 5% accuracy. (Check focal length, sensor size settings or try FOV=auto once)

Hi Han,
In the Solver panel I clicked on "Load & Slew..." and selected a .fits of M 106
Success with Astro.net, failure with ASTAP

Here is the log :
2020-04-19T21:33:42 Solver failed. Try again.
2020-04-19T21:33:38 /Applications/ASTAP.app/Contents/MacOS/astap -r 30 -z 2 -speed auto -f /private/var/folders/2b/5hc0l8dw8xl0g30059b1n9180000gn/T/fitsOrfXng.fits -o /private/var/folders/2b/5hc0l8dw8xl0g30059b1n9180000gn/T/solution
2020-04-19T21:33:38 Starting solver...
2020-04-19T21:33:38 Solver iteration #1
2020-04-19T21:33:38 Image received.
2020-04-19T21:33:27 Capturing image...
2020-04-19T21:33:22 Settling...
2020-04-19T21:33:14 Slewing to target coordinates: RA (12h 20m 03s) DEC ( 47° 12' 04").
2020-04-19T21:33:14 Solution coordinates: RA (12h 20m 03s) DEC ( 47° 12' 04") Telescope Coordinates: RA (09h 50m 24s) DEC ( 90° 00' 00")
2020-04-19T21:33:14 WCS information updated. Images captured from this point forward shall have valid WCS.
2020-04-19T21:33:14 Solver RA (184.76060) DEC (47.30991) Orientation (50.72273) Pixel Scale (0.40022)
2020-04-19T21:33:14 Solver completed in 2 seconds.
2020-04-19T21:33:11 /Applications/ASTAP.app/Contents/MacOS/astap -r 30 -z 2 -speed auto -f /private/var/folders/2b/5hc0l8dw8xl0g30059b1n9180000gn/T/Light_001.fits -o /private/var/folders/2b/5hc0l8dw8xl0g30059b1n9180000gn/T/solution
2020-04-19T21:33:11 Starting solver...
2020-04-19T21:33:11 Solver iteration #1
2020-04-19T21:33:11 Using solver options: -r 30 -z 2 -speed auto
2020-04-19T21:32:39 World Coordinate System (WCS) is enabled. CCD rotation must be set either manually in the CCD driver or by solving an image before proceeding to capture any further images, otherwise the WCS information may be invalid.
2020-04-19T21:32:38 Idle.

You can find the image at dl.free.fr/kecEX5fgR

That looks all good except that it is reaching the mag 17 limit of the database. It can just solve your image. You better install the G18 up to magnitude 18 database. For detecting the smallest star pattern, the database should go equal or go deeper then your image. Your image contains stars at least up to magnitude 17.8.

The G18 you can download from Sourceforge at:
sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/files/star_databases/

There is only a ZIP file. You should extract it and move the .290 files to /opt/astap The database is selectable in ASTAP, but it's probably easier to just delete the G17 files. It will find the G18 automatically.

Cheers, Han

G17 extended rapport:
01:24:25 Creating monochromatic x 2 binning image for solving/star alignment.
01:24:26 Start finding stars
01:24:26 46 stars found of the requested 500. Background value is 610. Detection level used 569 above background. Star level is 569 above background. Noise level is 52
01:24:27 73 stars found of the requested 500. Background value is 610. Detection level used 260 above background. Star level is 569 above background. Noise level is 52
01:24:27 Finding stars done in 1281 ms
01:24:27 73 stars selected and 52 tetrahedrons selected in the image. 69 database stars required for the square search field of 0,4°. Search window at 139% based on the number of tetrahedrons. Step size at 100% of image height
01:24:27 Using star database G17
01:24:27 Search 0, [0,0], position: 12: 19 02.5 +47° 18 36 Up to magn 17,0 79 database tetrahedrons to compare.
01:24:27 5 of 5 tetrahedrons selected matching within 0.005 tolerance. Solution x:=-0.253334*x+ -0.309740*y+ 1134.209108, y:=-0.309854*x+ 0.253350*y+ 275.115721
01:24:27 Solution found: 12: 19 02.5 +47° 18 36 Solved in 1,6 sec. Offset was 0,000 deg. Used stars up to magnitude: 17,0
01:24:27 See viewer image for image stars used (red) and database star used (yellow)

G18 extended report. Note the more matches:
01:24:33 Creating monochromatic x 2 binning image for solving/star alignment.
01:24:33 Start finding stars
01:24:34 46 stars found of the requested 500. Background value is 610. Detection level used 569 above background. Star level is 569 above background. Noise level is 52
01:24:35 73 stars found of the requested 500. Background value is 610. Detection level used 260 above background. Star level is 569 above background. Noise level is 52
01:24:35 Finding stars done in 1266 ms
01:24:35 73 stars selected and 52 tetrahedrons selected in the image. 69 database stars required for the square search field of 0,4°. Search window at 139% based on the number of tetrahedrons. Step size at 100% of image height
01:24:35 Using star database G18
01:24:35 Search 0, [0,0], position: 12: 19 02.5 +47° 18 36 Up to magn 17,8 99 database tetrahedrons to compare.
01:24:35 17 of 19 tetrahedrons selected matching within 0.005 tolerance. Solution x:=-0.253171*x+ -0.309728*y+ 1133.913288, y:=-0.309753*x+ 0.253263*y+ 275.056286
01:24:35 Solution found: 12: 19 02.5 +47° 18 36 Solved in 1,6 sec. Offset was 0,000 deg. Used stars up to magnitude: 17,8
01:24:35 See viewer image for image stars used (red) and database star used (yellow)