×

INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Meridian Flip not working with the Astrometry

  • Posts: 12
  • Thank you received: 0
Hi Wolfgang,

Ok, I will do it this evening.

What I understood in the logs is that he is doing the Meridian Flip, (provided if I have looked in the correct logs).

I think that only my settings are wrong because the flip works perfectly without the align function, (astrometry.

Thank you, Matthias
3 years 6 months ago #59606

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1185
  • Thank you received: 370
Hi Matthias,
sometimes it happens that the EKOS Mount controller issues a meridian flip but the mount de facto does change pier side. The reason behind this is that the meridian flip relies upon that the mount knows which pier side it should use when slewing to a certain position. As soon as the meridian is crossed, EKOS Mount simply issues a new slew to the same position expecting the mount firmware executing a pier side change.

If it is OK for your mount, you can select a certain delay to be sure that the pier side changes.

But without logs, it's difficult to guess...

Wolfgang
3 years 6 months ago #59607

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 12
  • Thank you received: 0
Hi Wolfgang,

I think I have already tried with the delay of Hour 0.1 approx. 6 minutes, if the weather cooperates this evening, I will try it again.

Sorry, I have one more question because I am not very familiar with EKOS and the logs, which logs are important for posting?

Thanks again, Matthias

Some information about my hardware:
Raspberry Pi4 software astroberry
Mount: AZ-EQ6GoTo
Cable to mount: Skywatcher EQMOD ASCOM Goto Câble
www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B0855YP9LX/ref=...04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Camera: ATIK 460EX
Guide camera Lodestar
Focuser: USB_Focus v3
Last edit: 3 years 6 months ago by Haase.
3 years 6 months ago #59609

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1185
  • Thank you received: 370
  • Posts: 12
  • Thank you received: 0
HI Wolfgang

Hopefully I have generated a log file with the correct information.

I chose a star in the near of the Meridian.
I used the Align with Capture and solve Slew to target.
I didn't take any pictures and the guiding was off.
The meridian flip was not performed.

Thank you for your support.
Matthias

File Attachment:

File Name: log_20-39-...9-09.txt
File Size:2,006 KB
3 years 6 months ago #59642
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1185
  • Thank you received: 370
Hi Matthias,
your logs show, that the meridian flip has been started and completed - but everything within 1 or 2 seconds. So obviously no pier side change has happened.

What does that mean? Well, it's at least no KStars bug, the problem is somewhere in your setup. Please check the following:
  1. Are the time and location of KStars and mount in sync? There is a KStars / INDI option to sync KStars and mount. Is it enabled?
  2. Is meridian flip enabled for your mount?

Maybe it's helpful if you increase the delay.

Hope that helps
Wolfgang
3 years 6 months ago #59645

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 12
  • Thank you received: 0
Hi Wolfgang

I got up to do the flip myself and Lo and behold!? he did the meridian flip automatically.

Now I have clouds, so I stopped my observation.

I can still see enough stars for testing again, I selected a Star in nearby the meridian to test it is works again.
Unfortunately, it he works not a second time.

Unfortunately, before I started my observation this evening, I switched off all logs.

What I not understand is why is working without Alignment, but once I activate the Alignment the Meridian Flip is not anymore working.
I use not anymore a controller for the mount, perhaps I am wrong but is in the mount are not only a controller for the stepper motor?
I arrange my equipment and then I go to my bed is 3:30am is time to sleep.

I wish you a good night,
Matthias
3 years 6 months ago #59651

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1185
  • Thank you received: 370
Hi Matthias,
did I get it right, it's the second meridian flip that does not work? There is indeed a bug in the most recent version of KStars that prevents a second meridian flip.

We are working on it. If you know how to compile from sources, you could try to use the sources from my KStars clone from invent.kde.org/wreissenberger/kstars.git using branch bugfix_mf_paused.

And do yourself a favor: leave the logs on. Using KStars is komplex and if you want to get help, you will need log files.

Wolfgang
Last edit: 3 years 6 months ago by Wolfgang Reissenberger.
3 years 6 months ago #59656

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 12
  • Thank you received: 0
Hi Wolfgang,

Sorry my English is not so good
I will try to explain the situation in a few words.

1; The Meridian Flip always works when I only use GOTO, which I tested several times a day and night.

2; The Meridian Flip never works, when I use the Align option with the solver.

3; Except this night he did the Meridian Flip correctly, the only difference to all tests before that all logs were turned off.

Matthias
3 years 6 months ago #59671

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 1185
  • Thank you received: 370
Hi Matthias,
the only thing were I'm almost 100% sure: it's not correlated whether the logs are on and off.

For the rest: please post logs, and best with verbose mode on and at least INDI and mount selected in the logging options. This is the only chance how we could drill it down, the rest is speculation...

Wolfgang
3 years 6 months ago #59672

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 12
  • Thank you received: 0
Hi Wolfgang,

Ok, For the next 3 nights the weather forecast is very bad maybe small chance from Sunday to Monday.

Matthias
3 years 6 months ago #59678

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 39
  • Thank you received: 9
Hi, only my 2 cents: meridian flip does not happen if Kstars and mount disagree about time/location. Only difference is that when you solve for slew to target, KStars *syncs* your mount to the solved coordinates; at that time, if they disagree abount time (for instance, for different treatment of Daylight Saving, that I saw happen) mount will be confused and think meridian is not where it should be.
Double/triple check time and location settings, and time/location sync between KStars and mount (you have three different options in KStars settings about that).

Hope this helps
3 years 6 months ago #59684

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 1.282 seconds