Hi Han

I downloaded the G18 package and copied the 280 g18 files in the database /opt/astap.
I deleted the older v17 files.
The ASTAP.app works well on both sets v17 and g18
However this didn't improve the situation with the KStars/ASTAP solver : "2020-04-20T09:59:10 Solver failed. Try again."

I don't think that upgrading from v17 to g18 is the explanation of the failure in KStars because ASTAP.app works with v17.

Let's further investigate. For the image which fails, could provide me with two files from the the following path

\tmp

The image with a name similar like: fitsZ13964.fits
The astap report file: solution.ini

Han

Han,
Sorry I could find a file solution.ini

But I uploaded a folder "Test Files.zip" containing 2 files M101.fits and M106.fits : dl.free.fr/tt9pzyXJ6

Both files are solved by ASTAP.app. Very very fast using the V7 set or the G8 set.

Using KStars / ASTAP with the V7 or G8 sets: M101.fits = failed, and M106.fits = solved

I remarked that KStars / ASTAP took a longer time than ASTAP.app to solve M106.fits

I hope this helps

Okay the images are good and solving directly in ASTAP is no problem. It must be your settings in Ekos. Normally I could see the command-line in the test file solution.ini at \tmp

Most likely it's the down-sampling. You should keep the image size fed to ASTAP above 1080 x960 pixels. Check these settings:

Downsampling to 2. I have removed the auto check mark. No idea what's doing but keep it at 2:


ASTAP settings. Downsampling at 0 which is automatic or simple at 1:

I followed your indications except for "-r 30 -z 0 -speed auto" because this setting returned to "-r 30 -speed auto"

The file M101.fits failed, the file M106.fits solved as earlier.

The image size was 4656 x 3520 for both frames

Yes that's fine. The problem is that some users have the habit to bin the images down to something like 600x400 pixels for quick download and Astrometry.net will solve it. ASTAP is a different program and it can't compute those images. ASTAP requires some resolution and also the intensity of the stars. With the intensity it can separate the bright from the faint stars. An other problem for solving is severe stretching but that doesn't happen in Ekos. ASTAP works well with raw images and resolutions above 1080 x 960 pixels.

Han

Okay your running on the Mac. Can you provide me with the image mention in this command line:



So the file in /private/var/folders/2b/...........................

There you will also find the solution.ini Attach that one also. (Should contain the same command as in your screenshot)


Han

OK that was difficult but I found the file

Good but the FITS file is missing. Can you upload it somewhere? :

/private/var/folders/2b/5hc0l8dw8xl0g30059b1n9180000gn/T/fitsYeFVEO.fits

Regards, Han

The missing file : You already downloaded the folder "Test Files.zip" containing 2 files M101.fits and M106.fits : dl.free.fr/tt9pzyXJ6

_Light_M101.fits is M101.fits