Error System.Dynamic etc. coming from TheSky

[Arto Oksanen]

I am getting this error with all plans and also with the web interface:

Logging to C:\Users\sirius\Documents\ACP Astronomy\Logs\20191028\20191028@204029.log
Initializing AcquireSupport V8.2.14
Telescope is ACP->Driver for telescope connected through TheSky, driver V3
Dome is MaxDome
MaxIm DL is version 6.20
Imager is SBIG Universal
Selecting filter Luminance from previous ACP run at 20191012@113843 UTC
Imager readout modes:
0 is Raw
1 is Raw w/RBI pre-flash
Autoguiding is disabled
Calculated unbinned plate scales (arcsec/pix): H = 0.55 V = 0.55
Calculated field of view (arcmin): H = 37.4 V = 37.4
Plate solving with UCAC4 (questionable for pointing)
This is AcquireImages V8.2.1
Hardware pier side reporting is available.
Compiling plan...
(using ACP Plan Compiler V8.1.0)
Warning at line 5: #sets 1 is unnecessary
(5) -> #sets 1


Total warnings 1
----------------------------


...plan OK!
This plan has 3 live target(s), 30 images
There are 15.0 min. of actual imaging time
Image file set-numbers start with 517
Starting run for plan KIC8462852.txt...
==== Starting target KIC8462852 ====
;#waituntil 1,22:00:00
(turning tracking on for live image(s))
Start slew to KIC8462852...
(wait for slew to complete)
(slew complete)
(request plan-start pointing update)
Ready for KIC8462852 (# 1 of 3 in set 1)
KIC8462852 will be repeated 10 times.
=== Starting target repeat 1 of 10 ===
Selecting B filter (1) for imaging
Pointing update: Wait and flip if within 120 sec of flip point
[flip check: Tn=420s HAc=17284s GW=T HAz=17704s DWz=T WF=no]
Updating pointing...
(taking 5 sec. exposure, Luminance filter, binning = 4)
(using Raw readout mode)
(starting exposure)
(exposure complete)
(exposure complete and image downloaded)
Image finished
Plate-solve pointing image.
1250 image stars found
4984 catalog stars found
Solved! 255 stars matched.
Average residual is 0.19 arcsec.
Pointing error is 15.635 arcmin @ angle 219.91
True focal length is 3392.7 mm.
True binned plate scales (arcsec/pix): H = 2.19 V = 2.19
True image center (J2000): 20h 05m 19.4s 44° 15' 24.17"
Imager sky position angle is 356.1 deg.
**Script Error (Tracking has been stopped)**
Source: System.Dynamic
Message: Objektin viittaukseksi ei voi määrittää objektiesiintymää. (Sorry for the Finnish "Object reference not set to an instance of an object.")
Location: line 1533 column 33.

What is wrong? This is the first try with clear sky and real telescope (Paramount ME/TheSkyX) and CCD (SBIG STX-16803 / MaxImDL6). Everything worked with the simulators.

arto

[Bob Denny]

Source: System.Dynamic

This is coming from TheSky X. Try starting TheSky X by hand and connecting to the Paramount by hand. then connect from ACP. Does that make a difference?

[Arto Oksanen]

I will try. What is it trying to do? Slewing did work and also taking a pointing image so ACP is talking to TheSkyX (10.5.0 build 10305).

arto

[Bob Denny]

I will try. What is it trying to do?

TheSky? I don't know. I was guessing as to the cause and I see now what you mean. I wasn't at my best yesterday, it was a long day ha ha. I see you copied and pasted from the console. No time stamps. I might be able to better guess what ACP is doing with a complete copy of the ACP run log. They are in Documents\ACP Astronomy\Logs\yyyymmdd. Please attach one with the error in your original post <-- link to attaching instructions. I think you have a Paramount and thus you cannot sync? Do you have the "inhibit sync" option in TheSky set? It appears the error is coming when ACP is adjusting after the plate solution. Maybe it is trying to Sync? But the info at the beginning of the Log will help me.

The System.Dynamic, though, is definitely the signature of errors coming from within TheSky.

Here is a map to some info you might want to review.

Snap1.jpg

[Arto Oksanen]

That was it! One small step closer to the working setup. Our sky is now clouded so no more playing with the settings tonight.

Why ACP says now that it cannot use ACP pointing model with this mount? It would be much easier to set up the ACP model than training the TPOINT model.

arto

[Eric Dose]

Arto, are you new to the Paramount? Practically all Paramount users run and use TPoint models, as I did when I had mine. The mount performs much better with TPoint engaged--your pointing errors will go from 15 arcminutes I see in your log to 0.4-1 arcminute. And it verifies polar alignment at the same time.

You could run a short 20-minute model now (new moon), and a longer model during full moon (you'll lose a few points but that doesn't matter).

[Bob Denny]

AH! Eric’s answer jogged my memory. The Paramount cannot be used from an ASCOM client program (not just ACP but all other ASCOM client programs) without a TPOINT model. That’s the error you get. I now remember finding this out a while back. I also found another thread where “jostling the cables” fixed it, which. Is amazing actually.

Plus Eric is right, you’ll not get all of the performance the Paramount can give unless you have a TPOINT model.

[William Bristow]

That is the initial 10.5.0 release version of TheSkyX that you are using Arto, 10305 goes back to late 2016 I think.

Since that initial release there have been several changes to the internal T-point model sync / external software non T-point sky model, and fixes for bugs in the software socket interface plus many other fixes and improvements (though most of these you will not access when under ACP control).

If you have an active Software Bisque subscription then the current daily build release, 12304, is stable with ACP, this is the release I am running with an original Paramount MX.

http://www.bisque.com/sc/media/p/45603.aspx

William.

[Bob Denny]

As always, thank you William!