Cant platesolve this image in any of the three color channels for the life of me

Solved with default settings using GAIA DBs

I'm assuming you're using Pixinsight, any time I've had problems this script has bailed me out. Seti Astro's Blind Solver 2000. Found with a ton of his other great scripts at his repository: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/setiastro/pixinsight-updates/main/

I downloaded your file and had no problems plate solving in PI using the supplied information. I have had quite a few of my mine that I couldn't plate solve as well though. I was not able to find a reason why on mine.

Do not understand you difficulties I solved this image without any difficulties. Check if Astrometry's path to GAIA remains valid and you have star data baises available



Here is the result:
"

Creation time ............ 2025-04-21 12:43:24 UTC

Creation software ........ PixInsight 1.9.3 / ImageSolver 6.3.1 (Windows)

Reference catalog ........ Gaia DR2

Linear transformation matrix (native[l,b] = matrix * image[x,y]):

+1.52203949e-05 +1.27316586e-04 -2.04341516e-01

-1.27280188e-04 +1.52156085e-05 +2.33772442e-01

WCS transformation ....... DDM thin plate spline

Control points ........... 78

Spline lengths ........... l:78 b:78 X:78 Y:78

Projection ............... Gnomonic

Projection origin ........ [1999.960854 1365.896841] px -> [RA: 11 05 45.514 Dec: -0 01 33.15]

Resolution ............... 0.462 arcsec/px

Rotation ................. -96.825 deg

Reference system ......... ICRS

Observation start time ... 2025-01-07 00:38:55 UTC

Observation end time ..... 2025-02-05 02:16:15 UTC

Geodetic coordinates ..... 7 48 00 W 31 12 00 N 2800 m

Focal distance ........... 2073.65 mm

Pixel size ............... 4.64 um

Field of view ............ 30' 46.2" x 21' 0.9"

Image center ............. RA: 11 05 45.514 Dec: -0 01 33.15 ex: +0.000555 px ey: +0.002776 px

Image bounds:

top-left .............. RA: 11 04 56.599 Dec: +0 12 26.47 ex: -1.180681 px ey: -1.724249 px

top-right ............. RA: 11 05 11.124 Dec: -0 18 04.42 ex: +2.069252 px ey: -1.214467 px

bottom-left ........... RA: 11 06 19.898 Dec: +0 14 55.43 ex: -1.159855 px ey: +0.119755 px

bottom-right .......... RA: 11 06 34.545 Dec: -0 15 34.31 ex: +1.104271 px ey: +0.116841 px"

Did you try to "Search" for the name of the object?
This often makes it possible for the IS to solve the file.
If i do the "Search" for the NGC 3521 - the IS easily resolves the PHOTO.

I had the same experience of others. PI plate solved the image without problem. NGC 3521 as the central galaxy.

I solved the problem by first doing the plate solve with the ASTAP program and then setting Pixinsight's Image Solve to the following mode: On line Catalog must be selected, then Gaia Dr2 and reporting the coordinates provided by Astap.

Check your GAIA configuration.  GAIA takes two sets of data files: DR3 and DR3/SP.  The first set is used for plate solving, the SP set includes spectral data for color calibration.  If you assign one set of files to the other list, it causes glitches on some images.