Mosaic with Carte du Ciel

amuro1977 · Sat Sep 15, 2018 6:34 pm

To create a mosaic I think I have found a comfortable solution also with Carte Du Ciel.

A small change is enough to make it very easy to import into APT.

1_make a plate solve near the object to determine the angle
2_Set the angle in the rectangular field you want to use in CDC
3_To the right button add as many guide fields as you want (fig.1) to create the mosaic
4_now just point the center of each guide field with the right button and copy the coordinates in APT (Custom Object) for each piece of the mosaic

All created guide fields can be saved from CDC to a .cdcc file.
The file opens from CDC but you can also open it as a txt (there are simple coordinates that are the center of the various guide fields created (fig.2)).
In APT it would be enough to be able to import this .cdcc file to already have all the coordinates without even having to import them manually.

Mon Sep 17, 2018 3:22 pm

Cool idea in the right time!

We are working in the moment on importing CdC observing lists so it will be easy to import this file too. However there is need to create one additional field that overlaps the first field or the .cdcc will have just 3 lines. Right or I'm missing something?

amuro1977 · Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:26 pm

The cdcc files report the custom fields created like in the fist pictures. I think the first field displayed is the standard target (that appear identical to the custom fields). Probably, during the test, i created only 3 fields..

Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:34 pm

I made the test myself to see what is stored in the .cdcc and saw that three only 3 lines... But it is not so big problem once you know that there is need to place 4 fields

We will investigate if there is way to import the frames at once via the live connection...

Thu Sep 27, 2018 3:16 pm

The idea is ready and comes with the next preview/beta

amuro1977 · Thu Sep 27, 2018 9:07 pm

Yoddha wrote: ↑Thu Sep 27, 2018 3:16 pm The idea is ready and comes with the next preview/beta

Thu Sep 27, 2018 9:21 pm

That's 12 days from idea to implementation!
Awesome

Thu Sep 27, 2018 9:52 pm

Many thanks

Some ideas are easier to be implemented that other... It took time to finish the previous one. In fact it was ready few days ago and wanted to announce it with the beta but there is interest to the topic so decided to give a hint ;)

The Thing · Thu Oct 04, 2018 5:34 pm

Wow Ivo, this is exactly what I was after! Even better than importing the Observing List (which is excellent thank you both!). I will give it a try.

Many thanks

Duncan

Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:16 pm

Hi Duncan,

It gets even better in the next beta.

If you save the CdC .cdcc file as your object name, rather than leave it as circle.cdcc, then the filename will be used as the object name in APT Object Browser, e.g. m45.cdcc becomes m45_01, m45_02, etc.
(see viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1983)

Cheers, Jim

The Thing · Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:32 pm

Hi Ivo,

I've had a go creating a plan to create a 3 pane mosaic of M31 (an easy place to start) Seems straightforward. (Is it a problem that if a second set of CdC frames is imported they have the same names as a previous set i.e. Circle_01 appears twice in the list of custom objects? APT didn't complain so I assume it's alright. I had previously imported 8 'circles' with no problem.)

Ignore that bit, just read your reply! Amazing stuff.

I have checked the box at the bottom of the Guide dialog which indicates APT will stop guiding and restart after a GoTo++ or other move. I am hoping this is no longer experimental as indicated by the pop-up help!

Now I just need a clear night to try it out...

Thanks

Duncan

Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:38 pm

Hi Jim,

The change is coming with tomorrows preview version

Hi Duncan,

Control PHD guiding is not experimental any more, hope that there are no problems with PHD2 native communication too

amuro1977 · Sat Oct 06, 2018 3:42 pm

Hi Ivo,

Thursday evening I finally managed to try APT with Sony and the respective ascom driver in the field.

Everything working perfectly (I would have some suggestions for improving the sony driver with APT and I will put it in the sony topic). I'm so happy that I bought the full version of APT right away. Work is now immensely simplified.

Here I report the only problem I encountered in the session that concerns only APT and Carte du Ciel.

The Plate solve (and also Go to ++) works perfectly but when I use the "SHOW" function in Cdc I get correctly the framed field but the rotation is wrong (it remains always the one set in the settings of the Cdc FOV which must then be corrected manually .

Unfortunately I did not notice immediately because the first framed subject was very weak and I had not seen the error of rotation. In the other shots on M31 the error appeared immediately.

Now that I know the problem is trivial and quickly solvable but it would be perfect if fixed.

Thanks again!

Giuseppe

amuro1977 · Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:14 pm

amuro1977 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 06, 2018 3:42 pm
The Plate solve (and also Go to ++) works perfectly but when I use the "SHOW" function in Cdc I get correctly the framed field but the rotation is wrong (it remains always the one set in the settings of the Cdc FOV which must then be corrected manually .

Sorry,

I did a test now at home and I realized that the SHOW command creates a dedicated FOV in carte du ciel (the first FOV on the list that I had not enabled) that perfectly reports the field and the correct angle.

So no problem to report; it was just my mistake ;)

gizmo6023 · Mon Nov 19, 2018 7:37 pm

Wow, You guys are telepathic! only explanation I can think of for you implementing this just when I need it

I have not used CDC in several years as too many programs running at once were causing problems with my laptop.
Does CDC run in the back ground while imaging / guiding or is it only used to plot the Goto++ coordinates?
I have not used guiding features other than PHD2 so will have to study the help file.

Tue Nov 20, 2018 12:48 am

Hi Dave,

All credits go to Giuseppe

He have investigated the possibilities and suggested the solution

You can start CdC only when you need interaction with APT. In fact you can do it in advance bookmarking all coordinates in the Object Browser. After that during the imaging to use only APT and PHD2

This is what I do for years...

gizmo6023 · Wed Nov 21, 2018 5:47 am

After several dry runs using saved images I think I have the hang of creating the custom list to produce a mosaic imaging session.
One thing I can't seem to find is how to execute the custom object list as an automated function. Am I missing something or is there currently no way to automate move and execute the imaging plan from item to item in the custom object list?
CS
Dave

Wed Nov 21, 2018 11:14 am

Hi Dave,

You need a plan with #GoTo or #GoTo++ commands to move between the panels.

You can find more info here - https://ideiki.com/astro/usersguide/scr ... 3D&mw=MjQw#

gizmo6023 · Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:06 pm

Thank you Ivo,
I missed the section on using scripts.
I have a bunch of new equipment and over two years of APT upgrades to try to make play nice with each other.
Me thinks I have a serious case of information overload

CS
Dave

nateman_doo · Mon Apr 17, 2023 5:55 am

Is there an update for this? The pictures dont work anymore.

Can APT automate the process? I did a test for the constellation Lyra (just to start small) and was able to load 4 frames in the custom objects browser. Then on into the "ToDo" list, (CDC did not populate the size, just he RA/DEC coordinates) of the 4 individual frames. Then I can click "goto" and it moves to the first file in the frame. And thats about it. Since APT can meridian flip, plate solve, and start a plan by itself, I was wondering if it can automate the mosaic process.