by jst200 » 20 Mar 2018, 13:26
Hi Han,
I saw your post in the APT Forum about using ASTAP to write a PlateSolve solution into a .fit file (
http://aptforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php ... ead#unread). I followed your instructions and it worked perfectly.
This got me looking at HNSKY. Again, with a bit of research I worked out how to show the .tif image in HNSKY and then create a Mosaic Plan around it.

So far so good! The only think I haven't worked out so far is how to move the scope to the next mosaic location - other than to place the mouse in the centre of the rectangle and select "Right Mouse button > Telescope > Slew to Mouse position". Is there a better way?
Anyway, to my request...
Currently, as I understand it, each time APT makes a call to ASTAP (renamed PlateSolve2.exe), after a successful solve, ASTAP will create a file called "...TemporaryStorage\ImageToSolve.fits", which can then be read into and displayed in HNSKY. This is certainly what I see.
Now, each new solve overwrites the file "ImageToSolve.fits".
I think, but am not certain, if this is then read into HNSKY the previous .fits image disappears, because that contents no longer exists. Even if it doesn't, then if for some reason HNSKY has to be restarted only the latest .fits image can be imported. It also means there is no list of files that can be selected in ASTAP to create a mosaic.
What would be great would be an option to increment a count in the filename "...TemporaryStorage\ImageToSolve.fits". So, for example if the file already exists, then "ImageToSolve-1.fits" is created, then "ImageToSolve-2.fits", etc. This would allow all completed parts of a mosaic to be displayed in HNSKY. It woud also, I think, allow ASTAP to be used to stack the images.
I hope this makes sense!
Thanks, Jim
Hi Han,
I saw your post in the APT Forum about using ASTAP to write a PlateSolve solution into a .fit file ([url]http://aptforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1678&e=1&view=unread#unread[/url]). I followed your instructions and it worked perfectly. :D
This got me looking at HNSKY. Again, with a bit of research I worked out how to show the .tif image in HNSKY and then create a Mosaic Plan around it. :geek: So far so good! The only think I haven't worked out so far is how to move the scope to the next mosaic location - other than to place the mouse in the centre of the rectangle and select "Right Mouse button > Telescope > Slew to Mouse position". Is there a better way?
Anyway, to my request...
Currently, as I understand it, each time APT makes a call to ASTAP (renamed PlateSolve2.exe), after a successful solve, ASTAP will create a file called "...TemporaryStorage\ImageToSolve.fits", which can then be read into and displayed in HNSKY. This is certainly what I see.
Now, each new solve overwrites the file "ImageToSolve.fits".
I think, but am not certain, if this is then read into HNSKY the previous .fits image disappears, because that contents no longer exists. Even if it doesn't, then if for some reason HNSKY has to be restarted only the latest .fits image can be imported. It also means there is no list of files that can be selected in ASTAP to create a mosaic.
What would be great would be an option to increment a count in the filename "...TemporaryStorage\ImageToSolve.fits". So, for example if the file already exists, then "ImageToSolve-1.fits" is created, then "ImageToSolve-2.fits", etc. This would allow all completed parts of a mosaic to be displayed in HNSKY. It woud also, I think, allow ASTAP to be used to stack the images.
I hope this makes sense! :?:
Thanks, Jim