I need some general advice concerning plate solving in PI. I have the gdr3sp-1.0.0-s-01 and gdr3sp_1.0.0-s-02 files downloaded. I’m getting astrometric fails at the end of stacking. Also get fails when I run solver or spcc. The image(s) solve fine if I export them and solve directly in ASTP so I don’t think it’s an image issue. What am I missing?
Plate solving failures in PI
Well Written Respectful
Assuming you configured the astrometry server correctly (is it?) check you got the FL or image scale correctly and the right seed (as well as the catalog selected, not auto) in the solver as shown below:
What Andrea said above, plus:
I have the gdr3sp-1.0.0-s-01 and gdr3sp_1.0.0-s-02 files downloaded.
“gdr3sp”-s — note “sp” — are spectrophotometric catalogs, these are used by SPCC. You need plain “gdr3” catalogs for plate solving. Make sure Process → Astrometry → Gaia → Settings (wrench key) have them hooked up.
Helpful Concise
andrea tasselli · Mar 15, 2026, 06:40 PM
Assuming you configured the astrometry server correctly (is it?) check you got the FL or image scale correctly and the right seed (as well as the catalog selected, not auto) in the solver as shown below:
It wasn’t, see below…
Aleksey Shipilëv · Mar 15, 2026, 06:49 PM
What Andrea said above, plus:
I have the gdr3sp-1.0.0-s-01 and gdr3sp_1.0.0-s-02 files downloaded.
“gdr3sp”-s — note “sp” — are spectrophotometric catalogs, these are used by SPCC. You need plain “gdr3” catalogs for plate solving. Make sure Process → Astrometry → Gaia → Settings (wrench key) have them hooked up.
That was it, working great now, thanks!
Tony Gondola:
It wasn’t, see below…
*So you didn't configure the astrometry solver correctly as you had the wrong files.
Gaia catalog path not configured
In PixInsight you must manually point to the catalog.
Have him check:
Process → ImageSolver → Wrench Icon → Star Catalog
Check this out too.
Helpful
andrea tasselli · Mar 15, 2026, 07:49 PM
Tony Gondola:
It wasn’t, see below…
*So you didn't configure the astrometry solver correctly as you had the wrong files.
Yes
Luis Bracero · Mar 15, 2026, 08:10 PM
Gaia catalog path not configured
In PixInsight you must manually point to the catalog.
Have him check:
Process → ImageSolver → Wrench Icon → Star Catalog
Check this out too.
Hi Luis,
You're probably trying to help, but this answer sounds like it was generated by AI and is full of inaccuracies that will only add to the confusion!
1) ImageSolver isn't a process, it's a script.
2) The wrench icon you're referring to isn't in ImageSolver, but in the Gaia process.
3) There is no setting called Star Catalog
Nico
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