I have put together new functionality in KStars, a way to plate-solve fits images loaded in the FITSViewer. This is something that has been requested on this forum from time-to-time. 

I view this mostly as a way for folks to debug their Ekos plate-solving or star-detection issues. See the screenshot below.



In short,

• Load an image into a FITS Viewer.
• Open the sliding panel on the left part way, click on Plate Solving, and resize the windows appropriately.
• Experiment with the parameters available (Use Scale, Use Position, the scale and RA/DEC positions, choose a profile and/or edit it)
• Click Solve, and the image is solved and the solution presented in the Scale and RA & DEC and Angle boxes.
• If you enable "Mark Stars" above the image window, you will also see the stars that were detected.

Check out the section in the KStars online handbook for more details: docs.kde.org/trunk5/en/kstars/kstars/too...l#fits-viewer-solver

This is currently available in the beta software, and should be released as part of the next release, version 3.6.8.

Hy

Nice previously I was using Load and Slew option in align module.

Fantastic job, thanks for that !

Also the PA has a great added value !
Suggestion: maybe rename angle in PA, then it is even more consistent with the align module.

I am unable to load this viewer. The system is Linux and I am running the latest release from copr. The viewer button from the main menu appears but is inactive.
Thanks, Dan

@Dan, this is in the beta software. Will be released in 3.6.8.
Instructions for getting the beta (nightly, unstable) releases for testing are in indilib.org/download.html

@Fitchie Good suggestion. Renamed it to PA (Position Angle) and converted it appropriately--same as align's UI.

Thank you. Kstars reports the version number I am running is 3.6.8.
The packages are pulled daily and built. They are through COPR. I think I have this right.
I am able to use the fits viewer from EKOS camera and focus. I am not able to access the viewer srom the main EKOS control panel.
Thanks again, Dan

Sorry, am not familiar with COPR.
Hy

Dan,
You need to go KStars | File | Open Image