108 replies to this topic

[mikenoname]

Actually, any plate solve will work, with or without the sync. All that SC needs is the image platesolved to be able to identify the objects in your FOV.

[herseycart]

Does this work in live view?

I tested with live view and yep works there as well. Just do a plate solve and then Deep Sky Image Annotation from the Tools menu.

 

It works with both live view and live stack. I wrote up a quick walk-through here: http://www.suffolksk...sky-annotation/

 

Basically while you are in live view or live stacking go to the Tools menu -> Plate Solve, it will take a frame and pass it to the solver.  Once solved you can turn on Deep Sky Image Annotation from the Tools menu.  If Deep Sky Image Annotation is turned on at the start of the Live View or the Live Stack you can just double click the image frame to send a frame to the solver.

 

Amazing the amount of things you don't even realize are there.  Even if I can see a faint fuzzy in the image I may not think about the fact it could be something interesting.  This annotation feature has opened up a whole new sky.

 

Really neat stuff!

[alphatripleplus]

 

 

It works with both live view and live stack. I wrote up a quick walk-through here: http://www.suffolksk...sky-annotation/

 

 

Nice write-up!

[BrentKnight]

Actually, any plate solve will work, with or without the sync. All that SC needs is the image platesolved to be able to identify the objects in your FOV.

True...but I've found (for whatever reason) that once you start a live stack, that it often loses the plate solve information.  I don't want to do a plate solve and sync if it's going to try moving the mount while I'm taking subs, so you can just do the plate solve and get the annotation to work.

[mikenoname]

True...but I've found (for whatever reason) that once you start a live stack, that it often loses the plate solve information.  I don't want to do a plate solve and sync if it's going to try moving the mount while I'm taking subs, so you can just do the plate solve and get the annotation to work.

Really? That's never happened to me.

 

My normal procedure is to slew to a new object, solve-and-sync, initiate my start imaging script which starts the stack and then turn the annotation on. I don't recall ever having SC lose the plate solve info at that point, but maybe I'll have to pay closer attention.

 

If you are seeing this behavior in the latest version of SC, then you should report it to Robin on the Annotation thread:

 

https://forums.sharp...opic.php?t=4977

[roelb]

One other interesting feature is using the "Objects Nearby".

You can click an object in this list and then press "Center in View".

Works very well.

Because CPWI and my 6 SE produce an error using the sync I use this feature finding my object when not in the FOV.

The scope goes to the correct object and centers that perfectly.

Thanks again to Robin.

[BrentKnight]

Really? That's never happened to me.

 

My normal procedure is to slew to a new object, solve-and-sync, initiate my start imaging script which starts the stack and then turn the annotation on. I don't recall ever having SC lose the plate solve info at that point, but maybe I'll have to pay closer attention.

 

If you are seeing this behavior in the latest version of SC, then you should report it to Robin on the Annotation thread:

 

https://forums.sharp...opic.php?t=4977

I think that you are not seeing this issue because you did the annotate early in the process.  I usually turn on annotate after about 20 minutes or so.

 

If you think about it, SharpCap will have to lose the plate solving data during a live stack (unless your subs always align perfectly).  Sometimes I can do the annotate and the positions are off - but more often it says it can't find any objects (or some such).  Just doing another plate solve (which takes about a second or two) always fixes it...

[alphatripleplus]

I think that you are not seeing this issue because you did the annotate early in the process.  I usually turn on annotate after about 20 minutes or so.

 

If you think about it, SharpCap will have to lose the plate solving data during a live stack (unless your subs always align perfectly).  Sometimes I can do the annotate and the positions are off - but more often it says it can't find any objects (or some such).  Just doing another plate solve (which takes about a second or two) always fixes it...

I only use platesolves on live view, not live stack, so I haven't tested how well it works on a live stack. 

[BrentKnight]

One other interesting feature is using the "Objects Nearby".

You can click an object in this list and then press "Center in View".

Works very well.

Because CPWI and my 6 SE produce an error using the sync I use this feature finding my object when not in the FOV.

The scope goes to the correct object and centers that perfectly.

Thanks again to Robin.

I had trouble this week getting M65/M66 centered in the view.  I tried using SkySafari to Go2 a faint star nearby and between them, but there were none that got the pair of galaxies in the right place.  It would be nice if SharpCap added a feature similar to what the ASIair has - that when you see your image on screen, you can point to any spot (star or no star) and it will center on that point.

[steveincolo]

I had trouble this week getting M65/M66 centered in the view.  I tried using SkySafari to Go2 a faint star nearby and between them, but there were none that got the pair of galaxies in the right place.  It would be nice if SharpCap added a feature similar to what the ASIair has - that when you see your image on screen, you can point to any spot (star or no star) and it will center on that point.

Yes, it's a nice feature and not hard to implement, I think.  

[roelb]

I had trouble this week getting M65/M66 centered in the view.  I tried using SkySafari to Go2 a faint star nearby and between them, but there were none that got the pair of galaxies in the right place.  It would be nice if SharpCap added a feature similar to what the ASIair has - that when you see your image on screen, you can point to any spot (star or no star) and it will center on that point.

I think this does it:

> Tools > Pixel Position - Click to recenter

[alphatripleplus]

I think this does it:

> Tools > Pixel Position - Click to recenter

I will have to try that sometime!

[roelb]

I only use platesolves on live view, not live stack, so I haven't tested how well it works on a live stack. 

Did tested it yesterday and works well.

[mikenoname]

Last night on my 2 1/2 hour or so live stream on Night Skies Network I loaded some of the catalogs that Cey and Martin posted and played around with the annotation.

 

I loaded Martin's mag 17 PGC catalog, so had a total of about 300,000 entries between all the catalogs and SharpCap seemed to perform perfectly.

[MarMax]

I think that you are not seeing this issue because you did the annotate early in the process.  I usually turn on annotate after about 20 minutes or so.

 

If you think about it, SharpCap will have to lose the plate solving data during a live stack (unless your subs always align perfectly).  Sometimes I can do the annotate and the positions are off - but more often it says it can't find any objects (or some such).  Just doing another plate solve (which takes about a second or two) always fixes it...

I would probably turn on annotation later as well. I have not tried image annotation yet and would not want to mess up a live stack in progress. How do you do another plate solve without re-centering the mount?

[bmcclana]

I would probably turn on annotation later as well. I have not tried image annotation yet and would not want to mess up a live stack in progress. How do you do another plate solve without re-centering the mount?

 

the deepsky annotation window that pops up has a button to plate solve without a sync.

 

you can also use the menu option to Plate Solve (solve only).

 

just don't use the button in the scope control panel or the plate solve and sync option in the menu.

[descott12]

Just tried this new feature and it is FANTASTIC.   I usually run two instances of SharpCap: one for my main scope and one for a guide scope for platesolving. Having the annotations on the guidescope screen is great and it helps me fine-tune the position and find difficult targets on the main screen.

 

I love it!  Well done Robin!

[Ptarmigan]

I tried the annotation out and like it. One can use it at an outreach showing distant quasars (APM 08279+5255, TON 618, S5 0014+81, Einstein Cross, etc).   

[Cey42]

Adding two more catalogs. Figured it is best to keep them all in this topic

 

Quasars (375 entries)

 Quasar.csv   22.63KB   65 downloads

 

 

Perek-Kohoutek ('PK') Catalogue of Planetary Nebulae (632 entries)

 PK.csv   49.65KB   50 downloads

 

As a reminder these go in

C:\Users\[USER NAME]\AppData\Roaming\SharpCap\AnnotationCatalogs

[roelb]

Tested M 101 with SN 2023ixf => OK

Thanks Cey

Edited by roelb, 20 June 2023 - 05:28 PM.

[Cey42]

Here is the Abell catalog

 Abell.csv   321.35KB   41 downloads

[BrentKnight]

If this is going to be the "official" location for these files, then here are a couple more that are scattered around the forum.

 

 darknebulae.csv   274.23KB   41 downloads

Dark Nebulae.  I'm seeing about 5000 lines from multiple catalogs (including Barnard and LDN) in this one.

 

 M31 Globulars.csv   6.35KB   32 downloads

M31 Globular Clusters.  72 globular clusters within the M31 Andromeda galaxy.

 

 SH2 - 2000.csv   13.26KB   37 downloads

Sharpless Catalog.  314 nebulae from the Sharpless catalog.

 

 van den Bergh (vdB).csv   7.09KB   39 downloads

van den Bergh (vdB) Catalog.  155 reflection nebulae from the van den Bergh catalog.

[OregonSky]

A BIG thank you to Cey and Brent  ( and Martin ).

This is so great.

Last night I used GoTo' s from 3 of the catalogs you have provided to view a couple items from my " maybe someday"  dream list. 

 

I've only been Eaa'ing for almost 1 year.    I never took an image in the 35 years at the eyepiece.

Since starting Eaa I have spent more time with the telescope than I did in the previous 20 years.

The changes I have seen in the sport in that year are Amazing.  

My original EAA goal and expectation was just to see some detail in tougher Messier Galaxies and maybe some NGC's.  I really did not even plan on saving images. From a look into AP about the end of the last century,  I had in my head that imaging would be beyond me both in time and tech. 

 

I feel that one year ago these database files may not have carried as much interest to many.   But, the evolution of Sharpcap and other Eaa stacking programs and Cameras has put items in these databases in the reach of someone like me with basic equipment and little knowledge of the intricacies of imaging.  

So Cool,  So much to Learn.

 

Thank You Guys

Mike in Oregon

Edited by OregonSky, 22 June 2023 - 03:45 PM.

[nother]

Hi,

 

did anybody already mange to create a catalog for PGCs (or galaxies in general) that goes deeper than the PGC18 catalog that was shared here?

 

Best, Chris

Edited by nother, 12 August 2023 - 09:53 AM.

[steveincolo]

Hi,

 

did anybody already mange to create a catalog for PGCs (or galaxies in general) that goes deeper than the PGC18 catalog that was shared here?

 

Best, Chris

You can do an SQL search from Hyperleda and get results in csv format for SharpCap.  I think Robin did warn about performance issues with large catalogs.  Jocular has a Hyperleda catalog that goes to mag 20, at least, but it's in a binary format for performance.