MantisBT - SkyChart - Issues

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

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

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.

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

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.

0002901: Rise/Set times in the Ephemeris Calendar do not use Local Horizon if that option is set in the Observatory configuration

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:28:03 +0100

A minor issue, but I just noticed when I create an ephemeris for any object (Ephemeris Calendar button) the rise/set times are always for a 0 degree (flat) horizon, even if I have "Compute rise/set times relative to this line" set in the Observatory, Horizon tab (which is a great and very helpful feature!). The rise/set times are correct on a chart, but different in the Ephemeris Calendar. I think it would make sense for consistency between the two rise/set times. Should be a pretty easy fix if you agree. There might also be a need to change the column header in the Ephemeris to add the word "Local" to rise/set if that is the time listed.

Thank you!

0002902: Recherche mise à jour logiciel impossible

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:43:25 +0100

Bien que connecté par câble Ethernet à la box, refus systématique de recherche de mise à jour. Donc impossible d'accéder aux nouvelles versions.

0002897: Decimal angle/hour coordinates

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:05:16 +0100

All angle/hour coordinates are expressed in degrees/hours, min, sec.
It would be useful to add a configuration option to express all cooordinates (both input and output) in decimal degrees/hours.

0002895: Corrupted BC/AD buttons

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:54:39 +0100

Era (BC/AD) buttons are corrupted, and difficult to be selected with the mouse.

0002876: Issuse with display of galilean moons and Titan.

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:16:51 +0100

Jupiter's moons (main example being Ganymede) do not rotate as time is advanced. If i zoom out and in again, they do update/rotate.

Ganymede also shows as transparent when in front of Jupiter - sometimes.

Regarding Saturn/Titan, Titan shows up sometimes when behind Saturn, and does not show up sometimes when in front.

When watching eclipses of Titan (shadow of Saturn crossing Titan) the image does not update as time is changed. Most of the time.

The Galilean effect also appears to be the case with 4.2, but most of these observations were made with 4.3.

Cheers

Nick

0001332: Do not display nonex objects option

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 05:01:20 +0100

When I must use 99 in magnitude filter in specific regions, many nonex objects with labels is shown. Labels nonex objects covers labels of eligible objects and there is a disorder on chart.
Regards

0001382: Interface to create nebula outlines

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 02:33:00 +0100

Is it possible to create interface to create/save and display user nebula outlines?
Another idea is to differentiate display outlines of bright and dark nebulae.
Regards

0001547: Add a way to select the displayed magnitude band at run time

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 04:43:53 +0100

If a Catgen catalog include multi-band photometry we should be capable to select which magnitude to display without the need to run Catgen again.

This can be done with a selection box in setup/catalog/catalog

0001766: Simplified deep sky searches

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 03:50:44 +0100

Hi Patrick,

to be able to search for a deep sky object there is the need for entering the exact string that identifies the catalog. Please consider that often many abbreviations are available and sometimes preferred too.
What about adding a button for each enabled catalog to simplify the advanced search? So the user, when he doesn't know the initials used by the catalog within limiting the search, can opt for the advanced search to figure out them and to easily complete the search.

Thanks
Armando

0001420: Display star HR number as "Star label" option

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 03:48:12 +0100

Add star HR number to Display>Labels>Star Label area

Perhaps another option to have the "Common name" and the associated Greek letter.

also on the same page:

the "e" on "Common Name" is cut off as is the "e" on Magnitude.
The "Label object" area appears misaligned a space or two down.

0001267: Suggestions for deep sky labels

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 03:45:46 +0100

Just two suggestions for the labels of deep sky objects. This is just my opinion; you or other users might have different views.

1. For NGC objects, remove the prefix NGC and leave just the number. For example, NGC 1234 becomes just 1234. This would reduce clutter on the chart. All printed sky atlases I know show NGC objects without the prefix.

2. Make the font used for the labels of deep sky objects the same size. Now, smaller objects have smaller font labels, larger objects have labels with larger font (see attached image). Since I am able to choose the font size for deep sky labels, I think that the labels should stick to the font size I have chosen. Again, all printed sky atlases use consistent font sizes for deep sky labels.

0002879: Message erreur lors de la recherche d'objet par Internet Ned, Simbad, Vizier

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:58:56 +0100

Bonjour
Depuis quelques jours lorsque je lance une recherche par internet j'obtiens systématiquement l'erreur suivante :
Connect cds.u-strasbg.fr:80 La recherche en ligne a échoué!
A priori je n'ai rien changé dans le logiciel et il ni a pas eu de mise à jour de l'OS. J'ai reinstallé Carte du Ciel mais rien n'a changé.
Je suis preneur de toutes solutions pour résoudre se problème. Sachant que pour le reste je n'ai pas constaté d'autre bug.
Amicalement

0002880: Suite au passage version 4.3 plus d'affichage des galaxies PGC et UGC

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:58:31 +0100

Bonjour
Je tourne en rond depuis plus d'une heure en cherchant sur la documentation et sur le net mais je ne trouve pas de réponse. J'ai installé hier la version 4.3 (comme mon précédent message). Sauf que je ne peux plus voir les galaxies UGC et PGC en representation graphique rouge sur la carte. J'arrive à les trouver en les cherchant dans la barre des recherches mais impossible de voir leur contour et leur nom sur la carte. Alors qu'avec l'ancienne version je les voyais parfaitement. Il est à noter que pour les galaxies IC, NGC et Messier celles ci apparaissent normalement.
Amicalement

0002868: Compass display erratic.

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:57:51 +0100

Hi Patrick,
Minor issue, I tried the compass display and it seems erratic not pointing in the correct direction.
Occasionally, depending on the field of view it seems to function as I would expect.
Change the field of view and it starts pointing erratically again.
Cheers Rob

0002757: Enable SIN Slant orthographic projection for Field Number 7, 8 , 9 and 10

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:52:43 +0100

Skychart does not allow allow to set the projection for field number 7,..,10 to SIN Slant orthographic projection.
I manipulated for curiosity the skychart.ini and set:

[projection]
ProjName1=SIN
ProjName2=SIN
ProjName3=SIN
ProjName4=SIN
ProjName5=SIN
ProjName6=SIN
ProjName7=SIN
ProjName8=SIN
ProjName9=SIN
ProjName10=SIN

to enable it. I personally find the SIN Slant orthographic projection the most human intuitive projection. Would it be possible to enable this projection also for the Field Numbers shown above? When using the above 'hack' the background of objects below horizon is not properly set.

0002872: Improve 180 degree skydome projection with stereographic

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:45:57 +0100

Constellations near horizon necessarily distorted. Improved with steriographic projection as in Stellarium

0002866: Selecting connect telescope when connected causes crash

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:25:52 +0100

Hi Patrick
I set Sky chart to connect to telescope on opening.
If I select the connect telescope icon when connected Sky Chart crashes.
Same if connect telescope is selected from main menu.
I do not seem to be able to disable this setting nor see telescope control panel any more.

Regards,
Ron

0002865: Caused crash of SkyChart

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 12:13:28 +0100

Dear Patrick,
I (foolishly) updated to the latest version of Tahoe 27.0.1.
I ran CCDciel, Sky Chart, and Indiserver, which had previously ran fine in Sequoia.
Everything seemed to be OK but I added a driver to indistarter and I think I caused the telescope to disconnect the telescope simulator driver to disconnect from Skychart. Then a crash of Skychart happened.
I closed everything down and tried to run the set up again and I could no longer connect my canon 6D as the access to the port was denied. The 6D was shown as connected in indistarter.
To be honest I am not sure of the sequence that caused the crash but I did copy the crash report.
I also had a violation message of indistarter.
Both are attached below.
Regards,
Rob

0002861: Create local horizon line from horizon picture (for accurate rise/set times)

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:09:59 +0200

I am trying to create a horizon line file (azimuths, altitudes) from a panorama picture. I am using a night time allsky image trying to line up things on the image (trees, roof tops, etc.) with bright stars on the image - (e.g. Capella is just coming out of the trees at this date and time, Vega is about to go behind the roof at...., etc.), then use CDC to get the altitude and azimuth for the horizon line file. My goal is to get accurate rise/set times - when does so and so come out of the trees, etc... I believe CDC does not use a horizon picture for calculating rise/set times, CDC must have a file listing azimuth, altitude.

Perhaps a "easy" way to do this would be to create a horizon picture then display it in CDC - pretty easy to do, already explained in the CDC help docs. Then enter a "record horizon file mode" or something like that, and click along the horizon image to create a file of azimuths, altitudes, that can be used to get the accurate rise/set times?

All this to help answer the questions - "when does it come out of the trees, or when does it disappear?", which I am constantly asking myself, and I imagine others are also.

Many thanks!