APT User Guide - Point Craft & Plate Solving

Astro Photography Tool Video User Guide
Point Craft & Plate Solving
Point Craft & plate solving are an important part of automating an imaging session. It is used for getting right on target, a powerful feature if incorporated during an imaging session through a plan or Session Control. It also forms a vital part of auto-meridian flips (AMF) - they will fail without effective plate solving. It can also be used for polar alignment using PAPS. And combing Goto++ with Aim can enhance the framing of targets, especially if you don't want to be directly on a single target, maybe to get multiple targets in one image.
Online written guide - Point Craft & Plate Solving
www.astrophotography.app/user...
APT Links
Homepage: astrophotography.app/
Forums: aptforum.com/phpbb/
User Guide: www.astrophotography.app/user...
Support APT!
Having alternatives drives progress!
astrophotography.app/alternat...
00:00 Intro
01:15 Object Browser Settings
03:40 Point Craft Settings
09:18 Point Craft Buttons
12:20 Full Blind Plate Solving
14:55 Auto Plate Solving
17:10 Using Aim

[@andysimmons9571]

Thank you for all your work.

[@Heidi507ify]

Thank u mate you are the best🌠 happy new year

[@joancatala]

Yeeeeahhhhh 😍 Thanks for your work !!!! Very helpful video 👏👏👏

[@SCAmateurAstro]

I knew you were waiting for this one... 😉

[@Puffer001]

Cheers for all the videos, ps stop sending your clouds over to nz

[@SCAmateurAstro]

😂 Yeah, clouds aren't good but I have to send them somewhere - looks like another new moon I won't be imaging... But I'm currently changing my setup, switching from a refactor to a newt so that new purchase will probably see another 3 months without clear skies.

[@yvangarcia3535]

Very useful. I take a lot of notes to be able to make some observations. I was wondering: can we use it also to follow asteroids ? I want to apply for the MPC code. I was thinking to use first Stellarium to send instructions to the amount to slew to the target (I would make a list of the asteroids in To Do). Then, to be sure that I am on the target, then a platesolving. Do you think it would work ?

[@SCAmateurAstro]

APT doesn't really care what it's pointing at, it just needs coordinates. As long as you can provide accurate coordinates you can use PointCraft (GoTo++ or Aim) to get right on target, even with comets/asteroids.

[@robertovolpini9359]

Hello, another interesting video! thanks
It is possible to move the telescope using the stored image on the IMG foleder? do we need Aim? or...
Thanks again, see you next video
Roberto

[@SCAmateurAstro]

Hi Roberto. Yes, you can use a stored image. Here is how to do it...
- Open Point Craft first
- Load the exposure from the IMG tab. If it's a FITS file with the coordinates stored they will be loaded into the RA/Dec automatically so just solve the image, otherwise you can blind solve it.
- Once the image is solved, in the GoTo++ section click on the 'Solved' button to fill the coordinates.
- Click on the GoTo++ button - you will get a pop-up asking if you want to sync the scope, select NO. It is important NOT to sync the mount if using a previous image!
Goto++ will now move your mount to the solved position. Once done, you can now sync the mount if you wish. And you're done.

[@robertovolpini9359]

@@SCAmateurAstromassive thanks again for your work on APT and support given

[@robertovolpini9359]

@@SCAmateurAstro done it, it works! thanks 🙏😉

[@ryanhogg6556]

Mate what did you do to get all the circulars on your image ? Is this something that was added on the new update?

[@SCAmateurAstro]

Hi Ryan, I was using the simulator for this & the circles are just what's on the image database that it uses.