SGP scraps the scale

The last two sessions I have used SGP, I get this strange problem. In the equipment profile manager camera settings, the scale is set and saved as 0.26 arcsec/ pixel.

When I platesolve the first time it seems to do a clean solve. Second time, I get an error which complains that the scale is incorrect and solving fails. When I look in control panel > camera settings, the scale is in fact incorrect. It has gone. So I re enter my FL = 3128mm and pixel size of 3.69 and calc, then save sequence and all’s well again.
I did a snip of the error mesage if it helps, it’s in my remote observatory at mo.
edit - platesolver is ASTAP
thanks for reading.
Paul

Are you running the beta version or the production version?
@Ken fixed this a couple betas ago, although if I recall correctly, the scale was only removed after a failed plate solve.

Eric C

I downloaded the production version 4.4.1. 1441 . Do I need to download a Beta?
thanks for help,
Paul

Only you can answer that, but I’ll say the beta seems to be as stable as the production version, but with fewer bugs.

I guess what I meant was ‘does a beta solve the problem I identified’. Thanks for help.
Paul

At this point I think that the beta is pretty stable (especially given the number of 4.4 bugs it addresses)

thanks Ken, I’ll go ahead…

Hi,

I can confirm that exactly the same error occurs for me about every second time I try to center my scope on an object with SGP and do the related plate solve. The scale setting is simply gone and has to be re-entered. So the bug is not specific for Paulkirk. I am also on release 4.4.1. 1441 .
Yours,
Rolf J, Huddinge, Sweden

Rolf,
Any chance you can upgrade to the latest 4.5 beta? I’m curious if it also has the problem.

Eric C

Just to report that the issue is still present in the Beta I have : 4.5.0.1527 It occured three tmes in my last imaging session 30-4-25.

Paul

Hi Paul,

In version 4.5.0. are you setting the image scale using Control Panel → Plate Solver → Image Scale? I’m using v4.5.0.1527 & PlateSolve3 with no issues.

Mike

Hi,

Yes in control panel, not sure where in CP, but not the place you have identified though.

The issue is definitely there in my beta number provided, three times in three solves. As I click ‘sync’ the message pops up and the PS is halted until I enter the scale and retry. I use ASTAP NOT native and SGP complains about the image scale before it launches ASTAP. I’ll post a snip of the error.
in case it heps, FL is 3128 and pixel size is 3.69um giving image scale ~ 0.2

The image scale is set in ASTAP settings too.
Paul

Rolf,
Paul,
Try displaying the info in the control panel while you do a plate solve and see when the numbers disappear. For example, when the image is downloaded, when the solve finishes, when you close the solve window, etc.

I’ll have to give up with the beta I’m afraid, as ‘centre now’ does not work.

Plate solve worked without the scale entry problem, but ‘centre now’ consistently fails.

Once I click ‘centre now’, it goes through process of solving the reference frame etc, but then I get a message which is hard to read because it disappeared so quickly, ‘centre failed’ and the window will not close, so I have to run windows task manager to end SGP.

I can provide logs if it helps.

Paul

Yes, logs would be ideal. If an issue with centering exists in the beta this is the first report of it. While it’s not impossible that it’s a centering bug, it’s more likely to be an issue with sequence migration from 4.4. to 4.5.

Log link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pRCRAkYrAj1Qv27ZZ3B9ky2RruI3HB0U?usp=sharing

I wonder if what happened was a modal box informing that the centre had failed was hidden behind the target settings dialog, which didn’t allow the target settings dialog to be dismissed. Just a thought.
Paul
ps relevant log is for night of 4th May

It’s not out of the question. This is an ongoing issue for many years that somehow seems worse in recent months. I’ll take a look thru.

Actually… Maybe the correct logs are not present in that set? None of the 4 show any attempt at centering. In terms of logs on the night of May 4, one of the 4 is from May 4, but ends at 18:12. Maybe the logs after that are what you are after?