1. So StellarSolver didn't "appear." It was a project that I worked incredibly hard on for 8 months during the pandemic.  The goal is a plate solver that works on Mac, Windows, and Linux and solves extremely fast as a library with very little configuration, no external settings files, and no external programs.  Plate Solving has been extremely tricky to get working on Windows and Mac.  I am trying to make it more beginner friendly and simple, but more powerful at the same time.   I had it perfected in its own world, but then integrating it into KStars was a bit challenging and it took us awhile to work it all out.  Part of the problem was that when I was making StellarSolver, we had been sent home due to the pandemic and I had more time on my hands, but when we were integrating it, I had started back at work and it was at least twice as hard due to the pandemic.  Now it should be pretty good, I haven't heard of many bugs in the last few months, but there still could be some issues here and there.  I would definitely try the internal solver if you can.  If you are not getting enough stars try increasing the exposure time or try a different area of the sky.  You can also try a different options profile.  

2.  I would highly recommend installing GSC so that you can have stars in your simulator images so you can work out issues.  The reason it isn't included in the main release is that some people just use kstars as a planetarium program.  Another reason would be people who already have everything worked out in their system and they never need to use simulators.  For you I would highly recommend it.  I wouldn't say the file is too big compared to what it will do for you.

3.  I don't always see every post people put up asking for help.  I am sure that is true for others as well.  If we see it, we will try to help though.  It was your post in the beta test forum that led me to this post.  I had no idea you had posted this.  Sometimes I have time to browse the forums, but recently I haven't had as much time.  As to diagnosing why your system is not plate solving, I will need more information.  I can tell you that it solves on my system both with ASTAP and StellarSolver using simulators, but to figure out why it doesn't work on your system I will need more information.  I don't know either why it would be working on your system for months and then suddenly not work.  With more information, maybe we can find out.  I think you first need to install the GSC files so you get stars and then try longer exposures.  Also try different methods.

 

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