Image Solve Failures on Polar Align

[Altair8861]

Describe the bug
When selecting 9 point alignment model and executing, mount correctly cycles through points but none of exposures solve using ASTAP

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:
Focus scope using Bahtinov mask, Luminance Filter
Launch MW4
Connect to camera
Verify focal length
Go to Modeling Tab->Generate Build Points and select 9 points
Within Modeling Tab select Model Build and Program->Run

Expected behavior
After running 9 point alignment model, 0 points in model. Checking Message Tab all points failed (screenshots below)

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Desktop (please complete the following information):
Windows 11
MW4 3.2.4
ASTAP 2023.11.17 D50 database

Additional context
Initial failure was using previous ASTAP and S17/H18 database, updated to latest ASTAP 2023.11.17 and D50 database. Solving still failed.

Loading image files into MW4 and solving with ASTAP appears to work. Also able to capture and solve images in NINA using ASTAP. Performed Autofocus in NINA and re-ran MW4, images still fail to solve.

[mworion]

Setup seems to be ok, for checking the plate solve actions, could you post the log file of that run (under /log) ?
Thanks in advance.
Michel

[Altair8861]

Ok, these were found under Windows_Scripts->Log.

The November 28 file should be the failure, the September 24th file should have been a success.

Other than moving the mount physically, no other changes I can recall.

mw4-2023-09-24.log
mw4-2023-11-28.log

[mworion]

HI,
I see that your second attempt was defect, hence one point from 09-24 was also not solved.
Actually ASTAP is using the H17/H18 Database as the D50 is not found (location ?).
To find more out, please post on of the failing images (zip it and drag it here) and raise the log level for MW4 to debug (and post this log here). It seems that there might be two separate folder of ASTAP to be used ?
Michel

[Altair8861]

Attached are images from the failed align last week. Looking at them, it appears they are blank frames. Tuesday night will be clear, should be able to make another attempt.
Nov228_fail.zip

[Altair8861]

Here is the debug log from a few moments ago - the camera is shooting but not recording.

Focus was done with a Bahtinov mask using NINA to control the camera. Worked fine.
mw4-2023-12-06.log

[mworion]

Hi,
checked the log, is says error code 2 from ASTAP, which means not enough stars found, which fits to the observation of black frames. I checked them with Pixinsight, there is nothing in. The header data in the file seem to be OK.
Michel

[Altair8861]

That is what I see also. For some reason, MW4 is controlling the camera using the ASCOM driver (for example, I can activate the cooling fan) but it does not appear to be taking the image - nothing to plate solve.

[mworion]

That looks strange.
As you are using NINA as well, the ideal config together with MW4 would be:

• Enable API server in NINA
• Set Camera to NINA controled
• Connect all devices you in NINA (at least Camera, Mount)
• Do things within MW4 as it uses the camera through NINA
  Actually with the ASCOM driver the image content is black, which leads to an incompatibility issue.
  Please keep in mind that the camera could not be connected to NINA and MW4 at the same time. As there is a resource conflict (even if you are using Native driver in NINA).
  So either you connect in MW4 and disconnect in NINA before (and vice versa) or you are using the camera from MW4 through NINA, which mean that only NINAcontrols the camera.
  Hope this helps.
  Michel

[shine1532]

I have the same problem from yesterday. I have been using it without any problems for a few years, but after updating to the latest version, the same problem as Altair8861 has been occurring since yesterday. I've been using NINA with MW4.
Even when only MW4 - v.3.2.4 is running without running the NINA program, the image data taken by the camera does not appear on the imaging screen at all.
Can you explain more about "enable API server in NINA. Set camera to NINA controlled"?

[mworion]

Hi,
In nightly it is a separate Plugin, whereas in official 2.x build you find it under system tab in NINA.

But anyhow I published a 3.2.5, which should be better.
Michel

[shine1532]

Thank you, Michael!
After upgrading to 3.2.5, it works again.
MW4 is a really cool integrated system. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you very much.
Young

[mworion]

Thanks for the feedback.