Using APT - Alignment , Focus, & Plate Solving with a DSLR
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- Опубликовано: 26 фев 2019
- My ZWO ASI1600 has been fixed so I will be back to using a monochrome camera again. Although Plate-Solving is not necessary for imaging, it makes it much easier to find dim objects and to go back to the exact framing from previous nights.
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Very helpful! I usually have to watch 2-3 videos to piece everything together, but this felt like a masterclass which covered everything I came to see.
Thanks Divye, glad it was helpful! - Good Luck!
This is such a helpful video. It's easily the clearest demonstration of the full workflow I have seen. Great work!
Thank you, Glad it was helpful Mark! - Good Luck
As always, very informative and helpful. I will be using all your tips, as I'm new to APT and plate solving.
Thanks much.
Thanks for the input.
Man you covered everything in one video. I'm very happy I found your channel. Will subscribe and keep this video in my favorites
Thanks for the comments. I am always trying pass on my experiences.
Your Ha Nebula exposure (test exposure) looks very good. I really appreciate your tutorials on APT. A very difficult topic otherwise. Even though it was supposed to be clear, forest fires in Kenora region of Ontario blanked out the stars and even the sun the last two days in the Detroit/Windsor and my area. Not kidding. Lots of clear weather stretches coming. Now we need rain
for the emerging crops!
Just recently started using APT and your videos help immensely! Thanks for taking the time to explain each piece of the imaging session. I'm still using a DSLR until I can scrape up enough for an actual astrophotography camera.
Thank you. Astrophotography is a fun hobby but it can be overwhelming at times. Good Luck.
This is the best guide I've seen! Thank you
Thanks for the input Tom.
I've been fumbling with APT for a while. Your video is SO helpful!!
Thanks. - Good Luck!
Just setting up my new gear now (WO GT81) and getting back into some astrophotography. This has been extremely helpful. Thanks for all of your tips and tutorials.
Glad to help!
This is your best video on the topic. After configuring ASPS and PS2 for APT, interrupted by a long stretch of cloudy weather it has finally cleared. Next and final step will be guiding in PhD2.
Good Luck!
very helpfull video helped me do my first plate solve and framed and focused on the pelican nebula straight away ,very helpfull to new people starting out reccomended thanks alot great stuff
Thanks
well explained and i learned a lot .. thanks.
thanks for the pointers. this helps as i am starting platesolving in APT. Just a tip. You can leave the exposure time on bulb and just type in the amount of seconds. That way you won't have to switch back and forth to bulb mode for point craft :)
Cool thanks Remco.
This was super helpful! Thank you for this :)
Thanks for the input.
Very helpful for beginners, thanks!
Thanks, You are welcome!
Excellent video
Thanks for the visit
Very useful guide. Thanks
Thanks Terry. Appreciate the comment.
Thank you for that Tutorial. I initialized APT but never worked on it. Thats look really easy to use and i want a clear sky to test it out! Thanks!
Thanks George. A little learning curve, but think it is straight forward. - Good luck.
That's awesome video....
Thanks you Syed.
Thanks a lot for your videos!!
Thanks for the comment Ricardo!
@@AstroQuest1 Thanks to you. I write from Spain. We are at home for the Coronavirus and I am learning a lot with your work 👍🏼👍🏼
@@ricardoibargoyen4331 Thanks Ricardo, we are also home for at least April 1st. - Cheers
Very helpful guide, thank you! How do you connect your computer with your eqg mount to make this work?
Hi Benjamin, the EQMOD cord plugs into the mount where the handcontroller would go on one end and the other connects to the computer (USB).
You should do one for astrocameras. I no longer take pictures with a DSLR. Too many issues with them and getting the exposures on flats right and thermal noise, especially in the summer.
Yeah, now that it is summer I may do just that. I thought using astro cameras was going to be harder but in the long run it is easier and you get better images.
Thanks! Yes, it was helpful! I do have an issue that I can't find an answer for in case you may have experienced this or anyone reading. I have a Canon 6D MkII, Redcat 51, ioptron skyguider pro and a ZWO 120mm mini guide camera. I haven't had any luck with APT other than using it for looking at my bahtinov images for focus. It seems very simple but for some reason when i try to run a session with it, it hangs up after the first frame and just say "Dithering" (And yes, I want it to dither) but it will not advance to the next frame. I've read all over the place as to why it's doing this but I've yet to come across an answer or fix. I'm also using PHD2 for guiding and it works very well for me. Obviously I have Dec turned off since I have no dec guiding on this mount. Anyway, until I can iron this out I have relegated to using my handheld shutter release and programming my sessions that way. Does anyone have any idea why APT would be hanging up on me in the dithering stage?
Believe it of not, it could be a bad USB cable. I would aslo post this on the APT FB page or the APT Forum. The creator of APT or another developer often answers these questions. - Good luck.
@@AstroQuest1 Yep! Just after I posted this I found that forum. I think I found the problem but I haven't tested it yet. It appears port 4400 is what we should be using and several people were having similar issues. Mine was set to port 4300 so hopefully that fixed it. If not I'll post a dump of my software and let "Yodda" look at it. I didn't even know that forum existed. Thanks for the reply!
@@EODHammer Yeah I found the Forum to be quite helpful. I hope that does it. - Cheers
Nicely done...useful for both DSLR and dedicated astrocams. I like how you go through the whole sequence. Now, could you please get rid of the clouds in my area?
I'll start working on that next...
While you are at it you can clear my skies as well lol lol
Excellent demonstration of what we can do :)
For years, I use APT, and now, by the use of GoTo++, you con directly point any object's coordinates entered in the fields coordinates. The mount goes to the object, there is an automatic plate solve, and, if too much pixels far of the target, the mont initiates AUTOMATICALY another move, and new picture, and new platesolve, until "Goto++ finished" :)
By the use of Stellarium, you can point any object (planet, comet, unknown star), SpaceBar to center (important) and in PointCraft, Shift+Clic on "Objects" : the coordinates fields are automaticaly writen with the coordinates indicated in Stellarium :) .
Then GoTo++ and just wait on the vocal message "GoTo++ finished". That's pretty cool with new APT versions ;)
Thanks for the comments and tips Charles.
Very good video and good explanation without hype. However as far as I can determine, I need to use PHD2 and this requires a guide scope, which I don't have. Is there any way to get the guiding to work with just a DSLR? Thanks.
You do not need to guide it will warn you that it is not guiding but it should still work.
Great video! I am a newbie to the hobby and just purchased an Explore Scientific EXOS2-GT mount. Question I have is can this be done facing south east? It would be so convenient to use it from my south facing patio. I have no visual to the north because my apartment building is in the way. Thanks!
Yes you can, but you need to do what is known as drift alignment in place of polar alignment. Once that is done Plate Solving will work fine. Good Luck
Really enjoying these videos. I'm new to APT and have a question about plate solving. Does plate solving eliminate the need to do the one, two, or three star alignment on the mount? It seems like it but just want to make sure. Thanks.
It does. It just needs to get to a target and once you sync the mount it is all set. If I need to, I do a 1-star just to get to a star and plate-solve on it. Once that is done, the mount is aligned but you have to press the sync button.
@@AstroQuest1 Fantastic! Thanks for the quick reply.
Just to verify, after you plate solved and clicked sync in the Gear tab that sync the coordinates to the mount correct?
That is correct (or that is how it is supposed to work). - good luck
I'd like to know how you just started PHD2 and it worked I've been battling with it for 2 months and just get star lost.
Yeah it can be frustrating trying to first use it. Make sure your camera settings correct and also the telescope focal length is correct. Also, for exposures I have good luck with 2 or 3 second exposures. - Good Luck
I load my image in apt or take an exposure then click point craft>solve or blind solve, i get an error "no image loaded".
Interesting issue. I would put this question on to the APT Forum or FB Page as I am stumped. The developers usually get back to you very quickly. Good Luck
I live under bortle 9 sky. Will 2 sec exposure enough for solving ?
Hard to say. You will have to experiment. I use 5 sec and I have bortle 5. good luck.
Can u use this tool to polar align with a computer-connected DSLR when can't see Polaris?
At last I knew, you cannot use APT to polar align. I used to use Sharpcap along with APT to polar Align but you needed Polaris for that as well - they may have changed that. NINA has a new 3-pt method which you do not need Polaris nor is it needed for the ASIAIR. - Cheers
Do you have to set your camera to Bulb prior to hitting GoTo++ in Pointcraft if you are using an astrocamera?
Dan Kahraman yes, my Dslr is set to bulb
@@AstroQuest1 The Bulb setting doesn't apply to CCD or CMOS cameras and prior to going to GoTo++ in Pointcraft....
is there no way to use the lens focuser to auto focus ?
Back then no, However, that may be possible now depending on your camera and lens. One way to find out is post the question to the APT FB page or the Forum. They usually get back to you really soon. - Good Luck
Could you make a video tutorial about DARV TOOL?
Not familiar with that one.
How do you get your DSLR to be so relatively noiseless? I attempted this last night and had nothing but noise all across the screen
I use ISO 1600 or 800, the images have plenty of noise to start but I do a lot of processing...
Is the image of Aldebaran from your DSLR or a hypercam?
Sorry for the late reply, That is from my Canon T3i/600D.
Can you use plate solving using an ST4 cable with your HEQ5?
Yep, that is what I did originally. - Good Luck
AstroQuest1 awesome, thanks! To guide without an ST4 do you use EQMOD?
@@300BLKSUBSONIC Yes
So this requires a goto mount ? Sorry if it’s dumb I’m kind of new to this. I’m planning on buying a telescope with no GoTo. Any advice on how to find DSOs and Planets ?
Hello. I am afraid so. GoTo is highly recommended for imaging. It all depends on what you want to do. That said, I use a Telrad reflux finder (telradfinder.com/) or Rigel red dot finder (www.amazon.com/Rigel-Systems-QuikFinder-Reflex-Sight/dp/B006IJECSI) useful for locating pointing the scope if you know where the object is (Stellaium is good for that). Celestron has new Starsense telescope and mounts where you can connect your cellphone to the mount and locate objects. - Good Luck
I'm having an issue with Plate solving where I get an error that says Point Craft Error Can't move telescope when going through the Goto++ process. I can blind solve an image, sync the coordinates, select an object from the catalog click goto the scope will move at that point but not after it solves the first image. Can anyone help?
Hi, Just to be clear, after it is solved you press the sync button, and then while still in Pointcraft you select the object and press GoTo++ from the Pointcraft menu. Do you use a DSLR or CMOS? I know Pointcraft will solve in live view but should the live should be turned off for the final GoTo++. If that doesn't work you might want to post this to the APT Facebook page, the developer's of the program often respond to questions very quickly. - Good Luck.
In manual shoot setting set iso to at least 1600 this does help
I noticed that you let the latitude and longitude in the default position. Should it I change it to my location
Simple answer, yes. Good luck.
Thanks . I'm new using APT and plate solving.. your videos have been extremely helpful. I just need some clear skies to hone the skills you taught me.
Thanks
@@frankconte2 Thanks Frank. I appreciate your comments and yes we all could use some clear skies. - Good Luck.
What if you have excellent polar alignment but when you go to a bright star it isn't in your FOV? I had not set the parameters in settings for the focal length of the scope, pixel size or the size of the chip (length and width) of the camera. in mm. Is this why Pointcraft didn't work work me? Later I used astronomy.net to upload my images and it plate solved for me. I had significant pointing errors. I gather sync gets rid of the cone error between where the mount versus the OTA/camera are pointing....
Hi Dan, 1) after your polar alignment is set, 2) then do a quick 1-star alignment, 3) set the focus, 4) finally plate-solve. In order for the Plate-solving to work the camera settings should be set. - Good luck.
@@AstroQuest1 Yes camera settings (dimensions of the chip in mm, pixel size) and the focal length in mm of your scope or lens used. I didn't have any of these in the camera and lens profiles. I am excited to give it another go!
What are you using for guiding? When I selected my guide camera in PhD2 it threw out the imaging camera in APT. I had selected the guide camera and connected it in ASCOM Bresser mount. Both of my cameras are Altair cameras. BTW I was successful in imaging although I couldn't guide. A few rough patches in plate solving that is why I am watching this important video of yours.
HI Dan, I use the QHY 5LII planetary camera for guiding and the ZWO ASI1600 for imaging. I think your difficulty is because you are using the same brand camera for imaging and autoguiding. I have seen post about this on the Forum.
I think there is some setting you need to adjust in APT. To fix this I refer you to the APT FB page or the APT Forum (aptforum.com/phpbb/), Ivaylo usually responds directly with the solution. I might be in the same boat soon as I plan to get a ZWO ASI guide camera. Good Luck Kurt
@@AstroQuest1 Same brand but two different cameras: The Imaging is the Altair Hypercam PRO TEC 183C, The guiding camera is the GPCAMv2 AR0130 Mono. I will try "on camera" plugging the ST4 cable into the ST4 port on the mount.
Ivaylo thinks it is because I chose the ASCOM Bresser Mount option that I had this trouble. Another idea I had is to centre the star in the the guide camera after the one star alignment and see if that same star will be visible in the fov of the guide camera then I can go to Pointcraft and follow your video ( the 17 minute one).
@@dankahraman354 Thanks for the updates Dan. I am interested in the outcome. I hope you have some clear weather to test this. - Cheers Kurt
This is a dumb question probably. Would this be the same process if it was my first time using the program?
Not a dumb question at all. Probably not, I did not start plate solving until much later. I would try making sure everything else works first and image something easy to find like Pleiades or Orion.
Yeah I meant doing a first time star alignment in apt. I’ve been using SharpCap and astrotilla. But need to switch because of the new mount. I’m using the exos 2 pmc - eight. I’m having to use a wireless connection through ascom POTH. which sounds terrible for Astro but haven’t had any problems with connection yet. Going to stick over to wired but don’t have time to configure yet.
@@chuck3814 Yeah if it works it is tough to switch.
AstroQuest1 I should be able to test it tomorrow night. Hopefully I don’t have too much trouble with my star alignment. If you have any pointers. I would greatly appreciate it!
@@chuck3814 Just go through it slowly and don't hurry. You may find you still might do something wrong, but if you do, don't worry because you won't break anything. - Good Luck
Hi! I am trying to connect my explore scientific iexos 100 pcm 8 mount with APT and everytime I click on Connect Scope i hear a weird soind but doesen't connect, and I have everything just right in ascom etc, I can even see my moint's name, and still would not connect. Can you help me with that ? Thanks a.lot
Hi Arpad, I have been usoing NINA lately sI am probably not the best person to ask - I would post this on the APT Facebook page or APT Forum. The developers get back to you quickly. That said make certain everything in ASCOM is correct, particularly the Baud Rate, may want to truy different values. Since APT recognizes it, the com port is probably correct which is usually the problem. - Good Luck
@@AstroQuest1 thank you!!
are you viewing this through the DSLR camera or a guide camera?
I was using the DSLR, the guide camera images were shown on PhD2!
@@AstroQuest1 great. I am fairly new to Astro Photography. I am using the Star Adventurer pro, and I just set up my auto guiding. It works well so far. But I didn't know about APT, just downloaded it and set it up. Looking forward to trying this, Looks like it will make it much easier to find objects I want to photograph.
@@AstroQuest1 And I use sharp cap for polar alignment, very easy to use and works well
@@-WhizzBang- Sounds cool, Good Luck
@@AstroQuest1 is it worth paying for the full version of APT, or can you do what you need with the trial version?
Why don't you just goto++ in the first place? Seems a huge waste of time using goto, then solving, then goto++ to center when goto++ will do that straight away.
It would not be plate-solved by doing that. The mount would not be synchronized with the star atlas and the actual coordinates. Once it is plate-solved it is much more accurate and if you move to another location and go back that night or another, the location is saved. That is just sync it and it will align it automatically.
@@AstroQuest1 that's exactly how I do it. I check polar alignment, then as long as I'm pretty much in the home position I just sent the goto++ command to a star to focus. I have it to auto sync on goto++. Then when focused I goto++ to the object I want to image.
That was great learning for me until you got to phd2 guiding,then I was just lost. Pity
Glad I could help partially Martin! PhD2 guiding as with guiding itself comes with experience. Don't worry about the guiding yet until you become fluent with all the other stuff (there is a lot to it) 30-sec to 1-min exposures without guiding are fine. Once you get familiar with using the program after a few nights, try it again and things will probably make more sense. Good luck
@@AstroQuest1 will do. Last night I actually took a few exposures of m31,it was my first time! Was super happy. But I was using asiair(also for the first time). I’m not sure i like asiair because it’s on my iPhone and too small screen etc. so I’ve ordered a mini pc/ssd hard drive and I’m going to remotely control it from my laptop. Because by the time I was finished last night I was bloody freezing lol. I’m trying to think ahead, and I’m not a spring chicken anymore so tend to feel the cold as I’m getting older so hopefully remotely controlling everything from my shed or house will be better
I really like the content but the audio is punishing. Your videos would benefit from some gain limiting. Watching the audio meter on your capture tool show it maxing out about 60% of the time. Reducing the input volume would be a huge help. The information related to APT is tremendously helpful for those of us who are getting familiar with this software.
Thanks for the feedback David. Yes my earlier videos especially suffer from noise fluctuation. I use an iphone and the computer mic - that video was was made was using my now retired 10 yr old computer. I think I have been doing a better job with the newer videos. A good mic would help. - Good luck with APT