MantisBT - Issues

0002921: Consistant progress display of guide/finder camera exposure time

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:12:30 +0200

When looping through exposures from the finder and guider camera, the progress indicator of the camera is not displayed at a consistent location and, depending on the chosen tab, not displayed at all. When for instance doing an AutoFocus the exposure progress is not shown at all. In the tabs where it is shown it is shown at different locations. It would be appreciated if an exposure progress bar could be added next to the exposure progress bar of the main camera. Being able to see this progress is especially useful when working with long exposures (e.g. 30s).

0002922: Add indicator in split guider/finder view to show which image is (or not is) being refreshed

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:12:08 +0200

When using the split finder/guider window two images are shown to the user. Currently it is, however, not possible to tell which one is recent and which one is old. It would be good to make it clear that an image has recently been (or soon will be) refreshed, and/or to indicate which image is old (old being older than the image in the other pane).

A few suggestions:
- a small red dot in a corner or along the edge of the window that is not currently being refreshed and a green one in the other
- greying the window that has the oldest image of the two (i.e. adding a grey layer with transparency)

Nicolàs

0002919: Spectroscopy, ghost stars supression for focusing and solving.

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:11:35 +0200

For bright stars, a reflection on the slit glas results in two ghost stars with a different focus point. This is problematic for focusing and solving.

To fix this there are two options:

1) Focus on the brightest star only. This will not help for solving but in some case solving could cope with ghost stars.
2) Blackout the ghost star above and below using a software routine.

Which option to implement? 1) or 2) or both?

For 2) I have developed a simple brute force procedure which works. I will attach it later.

0002920: When changing AutoFocus settings in preferences, the ROI and binning are lost

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:50:51 +0200

In spectroscopy set-up with the same camera for finding and guiding, and a ROI and binning set for this camera, the ROI and binning settings get lost when after a focus run the autofocus settings are changed in the preferences. This issue happens at approximately 90% of the times this is done. It can be restored by dis- and reconnecting the guider/finder camera, although sometimes a full restart of CCDciel is required.

Nicolàs

0002898: Some minor compile problems

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:10:48 +0200

Noted the following after a fresh code download:

1) Laz_synapse is not in CCDCielcomponents v0.0

2) In cu_tpcserver

line 202, if ClientSock<>NoSocket then

I get the following compiler error:
cu_tcpserver.pas(202,24) Error: Range check error while evaluating constants (-1 must be between 0 and 18446744073709551615)

0002896: SVBony powerbox switch

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:09:26 +0200

I couldn't connect to the SVbony SV241Pro powerbox (https://www.svbony.com/products/sv241-remote-astro-power-controller) using ASCOM. It shows an error: "ASCOM.SVBONY.Switch: Connection error: Method 'Connect' is not supported by automation object"

The ASCOM driver is installed, and I can connect it from Astro Photography Tool (APT). Also, if I use INDI (running on Raspberry Pi), I can connect to it from CCDCiel running on Windows.
But I couldn't change values in the PWM fields in the switch window. They always immediately return to default values. The only option is to set it directly in the INDI server settings.

0002893: Draw concentric circles in a transparent, moveable, screen overlay to show photometry apertures

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:04:44 +0200

When taking images for asteroid photometry the target passes close to a star. It would be very helpful to have a moveable, transparent overlay of concentric circles to show where my photometric apertures will be. I can then determine if the asteroid is passing too close to a star and stop imaging that asteroid and move to a different asteroid while waiting for the first asteroid to move far enough away from the problem star.

I have done something like this in SkyChart by creating 3 finder circles in the Eyepiece tab of the Display menu The 3 circles represent my photometric central aperture, the "dead zone", and the outer background sky anulus. I then lock on the asteroid and advance the time to see if it passes too close to a star. The only problem here is sometimes the asteroid isn't exactly where the orbit places it ,even updating the orbits for that day. It would be very helpful to place my 3 aperture circles over a star in the asteroids path and I can wait and watch to see if the asteroid gets too close.

I don't know how many others this feature might help, or how difficult writing the code would be, so I can understand if it goes to the bottom of the list. Thank you for your consideration and for creating SkyChart and CCDCiel, the only programs I have used for 10+years of asteroid tracking (an I've tried several others). The programs are amazing, wonderful, reliable, easy to use .... (insert endless complements here).

Thanks you.

0002914: Sequence overwrites file with the same filename.

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:01:29 +0200

This one is weird.

I am running CCDciel 0.9.93-3961 on Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS on an ARM (aarch64) processor on INDI 2.2.0. I have noticed this for awhile and haven't ever looked into it, so I'm sure the issue has existed on prior versions as well.

I have a QHY533M camera.

When I run a sequence to get 100 darks, I sometimes get something like 99 or 98 images instead of the full 100. Looking at the logs I do not see any errors, but I DO see something rather peculiar. The same image name is sometimes used for subsequent writes.

For example, here's a snip of the log that shows the filename 20260426_045024_100s_60_-10C_Dark.tif is used for two separate writes happening at 2026-04-25T23:50:25.347 and again at 2026-04-25T23:52:06.437.

2026-04-25T23:47:02.632 1: Saved file /home/setnes/Sessions/20260425/Dark/20260426_044520_100s_60_-10C_Dark.tif
2026-04-25T23:48:43.332 1: Starting Dark exposure 36/100 for 100 seconds
2026-04-25T23:48:43.875 1: Saved file /home/setnes/Sessions/20260425/Dark/20260426_044702_100s_60_-10C_Dark.tif
2026-04-25T23:50:24.591 1: Starting Dark exposure 37/100 for 100 seconds
2026-04-25T23:50:25.347 1: Saved file /home/setnes/Sessions/20260425/Dark/20260426_045024_100s_60_-10C_Dark.tif
2026-04-25T23:52:05.992 1: Starting Dark exposure 38/100 for 100 seconds
2026-04-25T23:52:06.437 1: Saved file /home/setnes/Sessions/20260425/Dark/20260426_045024_100s_60_-10C_Dark.tif
2026-04-25T23:53:47.146 1: Starting Dark exposure 39/100 for 100 seconds
2026-04-25T23:53:47.696 1: Saved file /home/setnes/Sessions/20260425/Dark/20260426_045206_100s_60_-10C_Dark.tif
2026-04-25T23:55:28.386 1: Starting Dark exposure 40/100 for 100 seconds
2026-04-25T23:55:29.033 1: Saved file /home/setnes/Sessions/20260425/Dark/20260426_045347_100s_60_-10C_Dark.tif
2026-04-25T23:57:09.521 1: Starting Dark exposure 41/100 for 100 seconds

0002917: Spectroscopy, focusing with single star. Remove the saturation check.

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:45:00 +0200

This night I have tested with Nicolàs the blackout of the ghost stars generated by the spectroscopy slit. This look promising but the major problem was that focusing on a single bright star results mostly in saturation and error "No star found". We had to reduce the exposure time to 0.001 seconds and gain from 300 to 3 to get it working. So extreme values. Focusing with 0.001 second exposure als introduces seeing effects.

Ignoring bright stars for multi star focusing is fine since there are always fainter stars. But for single star focusing, there is no alternative star. So I assume it is better to remove this saturation for single star focusing.

0002918: Le menu texture s'affiche très partiellement

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:08:51 +0200

Bonjour,

J'ai installé l version 9.0 du logiciel Atlas Virtuel de la Lune sur mon PC Windows.

Le menu "Texture" s'affiche très mal, et je ne peux accéder aux réglages, ce qui m'empêche de zoomer comme je le voudrais. Voir la capture d'écran jointe. Noter que les autres menus s'affichent correctement.

Les paramètres système de mon ordinateur sont aussi donnés en pièce jointe.

Merci d'avance pour votre aide.

Bien cordialement.
Eric Giraud.

0002890: Configuration Options Spurious Changes

Fri, 01 May 2026 22:49:22 +0200

Hi

I'm trying to set up a 'printable' chart and so change configuration items to make it easier to read in a small format. However when I say change the width of constellation lines it also re-enables planets even though I have dis-abled them, and when I change say the star 'size' it re-sizes the constellation lines to 1pt when I previously had set them to 4pts. As if the code sometimes goes to reset some other disconnected config item.

Also as I have to save the Config INI file and rename it so I can use it at a later time it would be good to be able to Save and Reload Config INI Files via the Config Interface.

Thanks

Terry

0002891: Display Automatic Sky Colour

Fri, 01 May 2026 22:38:44 +0200

Hi again!

Different issue. When I use the Automatic Sky Colour it is showing the December sky colour lighter than September. Hopefully see attached screenshot comparing 15th Sep 26 with 15th Dec 26. The last time I was producing these printable charts the sky colour worked as expected - darker in winter lighter in summer.

Thanks

Terry Webb

0002915: Internal guider, zero line is no longer visible.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:40:41 +0200

Internal guider, zero line graph is no longer visible. It is omitted. See screenshots:

0002916: Textfehler

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:00:09 +0200

Der Text im Mondbild zu dem Mons Rümker ist falsch. (Mons Rmker)

0002913: Mauvais guidage avec le guideur interne de CCDciel

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:37:06 +0200

Bonjour Patrick,
J'essaye d'utiliser CCDciel en spectro mais je n'arrive pas à bien faire fonctionner le guideur interne malgré une calibration réussie. Ma monture est une ZWO AM5 qui présente peut être des particularités pour le guideur interne ? Quoi qu'il en soit, je ne rencontre pas de soucis avec PHD2 avec une calibration dans les mêmes conditions, une étoile proche du croisement équateur celeste/méridien côté est.
Il y a un point qui m'échappe, je n'ai pas à renseigner la focale. J'imagine que le calcul se fait automatiquement connaissant la taille des pixels et suite à astrométrie ? Toutefois, la page Advanced du guider me remonte un pixel scale de 9"/px au lieu de 0.8 (newton 150/750 + ASI290M (2.9µm)).

Merci d'avance pour votre aide !
Jean-Marc

0002911: Cannot download data from MPC due to SSL/TLS support

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:57:07 +0200

Hello,

When trying to update the orbital elements for asteroids using the "Download MPC data" panel, after connecting to www.minorplanetcenter.org:443, i got "Error: 500: SSL/TSL support is not compiled".

Is this a limitation of version 4.2 (i'm using 4.2.15 obtained from the latest stable deb pkg) ?
Should I upgrade to 4.3 ?

Jocelyn

0002912: CCDCiel can not locate app dir after update

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:56:28 +0200

I've recently had to install the latest beta (0.9.94-4026), in order to have to have CCDC write astrometry data in FITS header, as suggested in Issue #0002869 (this did work in latest stable release).
Now, when launching the app, I get a popup saying "Can't locate the CCDciel directory. Please try to reinstall the software".
This does not prevent to use the application (and, yes, this fixed the FITS header pb) but I suspect this will cause problems (for ex the log says "Error loading focus star list in /usr/bin/data/stars/....".
Is there a way to fix the location of this app dir directly ?

0002907: Slider to rotate CCD fields

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:54:44 +0200

I'd like to request, if possible, to add a slider (or better, a popup slider from the left toolbar) to quickly rotate CCD fields.

Currently I have to open the fields settings and manually write a rotation value (for each field) and click apply. It would be so useful to me, to check whether an object fits in the field, to quickly rotate the field with a slider, without open the settings every time. I don't mind if the slider rotates all fields at once. I think the rotation scale can be just 0-90, unless you want to take into account offsetted fields that would require a 0-359 rotation.

0002904: Indistarter not connecting to cameras or EAF

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:50:44 +0200

Hi,
I've been having problems connecting my devices through Indistarter. The issues are probably because I'm not familiar with setting up networks. I'm using ccdciel and so there need to connect my devices via indistarter. I was using kstars/ekos before. My setup uses M1 Mac mini running Tahoe OS and I'm remotely controlling my devices on a rpi running stellarmateOS 2.0.1 - I believe running the latest indi libraries.

Currently my issue is that when I run Indistarter it connects to the server but only the mount (ZWO AM5) and manual filter connect. My two playerone cameras (capture and guiding) don't connect and the ZWO EAF won't connect. However they do connect via ekos and kstars. I'm posting some terminal information that may help below.

Thank you,
Eli

I Have indistarter set as
Host: stellarmate.local
Port: 5624
Username: stellarmate
Local and remote port: 7624

This is what I get when I run indiserver via ekos/kstars:

(base) eliron@Elis-Mac-mini ~ % ssh stellarmate "ps aux | grep indiserver"

stellar+ 8953 0.3 0.0 3752 1680 ? S 02:53 0:00 bwrap --args 39 -- indiserver -u /tmp/indiserver6093 -p 7624 -m 1024 -r 0 -v -f /tmp/indiFIFO
stellar+ 8968 0.2 0.0 3760 1492 ? S 02:53 0:00 bwrap --args 39 -- indiserver -u /tmp/indiserver6093 -p 7624 -m 1024 -r 0 -v -f /tmp/indiFIFO
stellar+ 8969 1.1 0.1 11696 5520 ? S 02:53 0:00 indiserver -u /tmp/indiserver6093 -p 7624 -m 1024 -r 0 -v -f /tmp/indiFIFO
stellar+ 9024 0.0 0.0 5352 2856 ? Ss 02:53 0:00 bash -c ps aux | grep indiserver
stellar+ 9026 0.0 0.0 5032 1476 ? S 02:53 0:00 grep indiserver
(base) eliron@Elis-Mac-mini ~ %

This is what I get from indistarter:

(base) eliron@Elis-Mac-mini ~ % ssh stellarmate ls /tmp
IndiStarter.fifo
cached_wifi
chunked_uploads
indiFIFO
indiserver.log
pkg
plasma-csd-generator.XCWYyh
pymp-n7t1oo61
sddm-auth-cc918d3c-6cec-4152-9bd1-e3bf56f3fb79
systemd-private-fe2cc1f46598437e9555391c8323cf23-bluetooth.service-ntRDCq
systemd-private-fe2cc1f46598437e9555391c8323cf23-dbus-broker.service-Dx1aSB
systemd-private-fe2cc1f46598437e9555391c8323cf23-nginx.service-yNkOIn
systemd-private-fe2cc1f46598437e9555391c8323cf23-polkit.service-sKHko0
systemd-private-fe2cc1f46598437e9555391c8323cf23-systemd-logind.service-gIqWa4
systemd-private-fe2cc1f46598437e9555391c8323cf23-upower.service-uB9L4N
xauth_eRNbGB
zwo

0002910: CCDCiel does not copy dark theme from LinuxMint

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:42:09 +0200

Hello,

Having recently installed CCDCiel under LinuxMint (22.1) for asteroid imaging, I've noticed that setting a "dark" theme in the OS (for ex Adwaita-sombre) does not affect the display of CCDCiel panels (which remain white - a pretty annoying feature when working at night). From issue #0002860, i guess that some themes may be "CCDCiel-compatible", some others not. How do i know which one are ?

The Theme selection panel in LinuxMint shows approximately 50 themes, most of them being qualified as Gtk3, Gtk2 and some Xfwm4 (from a recent issue i guess this may play a role).

I use CCDciel v 0.9.94-4026 (latest) under LinuxMint 22.1 with Xfce WM.

Thx for your help

Jocelyn

0002909: Connecting to telescope

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:27:07 +0200

Hi Patrick,
I use CCDciel to connect to Skychart and select the telescope interface to connect automatically to the mount on startup.
I have set up the default profile in CCDciel to run simulation devices to try out the various features of both CCDciel and Skychart.

I notice that if I switch profiles from simulation to my equipment the telescope no longer automatically connects and I have to manually select the correct mount (EQ6 in my case) from the simulator which is shown and vice versa.

This is really not a problem but I just wanted to know if that is how it is supposed to work or should it automatically change the telescope name to the selected mount in the device profile in CCDciel.

It is not an issue as it is easy to change but I would be grateful if you could clarify this.

The more and more I use your programs the more I love it so a big thank you for all your efforts and never ending support. It is very much appreciated.
Regards Rob

0002899: Faster TIFF unit

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:25:33 +0200

For ASTAP I have developped a TIFF unit which can save/load monochrome and colour 16 and 32 bit float TIFF files. The advantage using this unit for CCDCiel would be that it is faster then current FCL image (and handle 32 bit but that would not be interesting for CCDCiel)

Would you be interested in replacing FCL image (FPReadTiff, FPWriteTiff, FPTiffCmn) in cu_fits? See attached unit_tiff. If so I could work on it.

cs, Han

0002905: ccdciel 0.9.93: read FL&ap. from INDI CCD driver, not telescope, since INDI 2.0.5

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:25:03 +0200

Since INDI 2.0.5, the scope configuration for focal length and aperture is located in the INDI CCD driver, and no longer in the telescope INDI driver. I've attached an INDI config screenshot to show the location.

In the astrometry preferences in ccdciel, there is an option to read the focal length "from the telescope driver", and when it is set, it does indeed try to read the settings from the INDI telescope driver, where they don't exist. This should be updated to read from the INDI ccd driver.

0002908: ccdciel 0.9.93: histogram is displayed incorrectly after new image capture

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:17:39 +0200

Having updated to 0.9.93 recently, I am trying it out for imaging for the first time tonight. All is working fine as far as I can tell, except for a small detail in the histogram display: after finishing a new capture, the displayed histogram fior the mew image is all squished up in the left-hand corner. However the stretching range is displayed correctly, and is applied correctly to the new image (screenshot 1). Toggling the "show full histogram range - show clipped to data" button twice, fixes the histogram display (screenshot 2).

0002903: adding new IAU stars common names in Skychart

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:17:05 +0200

Trying to bring new names from source master data available at https://exopla.net/star-names/modern-iau-star-names/

The source data has many HR numbers missing and many v faint stars now given names. With friend's help got magnitude column and then HR numbered stars separated manually. What to do about faint stars that really do not have HR numbers may be next thing to think but for now trying to bring 401 stars list (file attached) that are bright and do have HR numbers.

Tried to mod StarNames.txt file but csv output from excel created tab separated instead of 4 spaces separated text file. Skychart did not display new names with that file but surprisingly displayed and searchable all names that come by default. So are there multiple files to be modded for this?

For now would like to have 401 stars list shared below to show up.