Astrophotography module: how to use it?

[apalazzi]

Hi,

I´ve compiled and installed the astro module https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=18515.0 on my camera (EOS 500D) , the module loads, everything seems fine and I've activated the ¨star focus" setting; however I don't see any indication on how to use the "star focus" in the LV screen... is there someone that knows how to use it?

Thanks
Andrea

[apalazzi]

For the record, it turns out that the focus feature is disabled when the LV gain is active - which I keep at level 3 or 4, otherwise I can't see any star at all...

Andrea

[Lucagw]

Hi Andrea,
Can you help me compiling astro module for my 600d?
I would like to test it but with my ml version experimental lua -fix. 2020 i think old astro.mo don't work.
Thanks you in advance
Luca

[yourboylloyd]

You guys would probably get some faster support if you asked these questions in Discord. The Astro module is really old so I'm not sure if the people who created that module are even active today, but they may be able to point you in the right direction. https://discord.gg/H7h6rfq

[Walter Schulz]

Kitor and names_are_hard are active here, too.
I suppose there may be a reason they haven't jumped in yet.

[names_are_hard]

I just don't have any experience with it.  So I have as much information as apalazzi, I'd have to read the forum thread and the source to understand what it's supposed to do, which I assume they've already done.  And I don't have a camera to test it on.

[Lucagw]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I already joined Discord, will try to find useful info there...
I am pretty new with ml, and with my 600D (bought second hand for make astrophotograpy) so i have to start from 0.
I learned a lot in these days but still have a long journey to do...
I am a little confused with the quantity of infos spread in all threads, anyway because i have some experience in photography, electronics, linux and computer, i learn fast.
I think the next step is to decide what is the correct ml version for me and then learn how to compile it for my 600d to maximize personalization with modules and scripts.
At the moment i tried a old stable and then switched to the experimental lua_fix from 2020, both working perfect, of course the second with lot of functions....
So will ask in discord (with the name pharmaweb) what i need for compiling and where to find sources.
If someone need a 600d user for testing I am here....

[Lucagw]

Done some research.
Copied astro.mo in my module folder and loaded. As expected ML tells old API so the module don't work.
But find that some recent build have astro.mo , if i remember well the  minimal build  for 40d in Github.
It's compiled for another model but maybe if i extract the module alone it work on my camera (40d is digic 4 also?)

[names_are_hard]

Modules can work on multiple cameras, and should safely fail to load if they're not compatible (whether this is *true* depends on the developer and the code...).

The "old API" message is not about Digic generation, but about age of the ML build.  You can probably safely try this module and see if it works.

[Lucagw]

Also the astro module compiled for 40d don't work showing old api . Keep researching one correct for 600d.

[names_are_hard]

It's old.  The solution is to rebuild it.  Do you know where the code is?

[Lucagw]

i put the source here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F0cnV0nM8mzl2re2F6MQVKtqWSUAnTLv?usp=share_link
Maybe can you help me in compiling just the module for experimental lua-fix build?

[names_are_hard]

That let me find what I assume is the actual source: https://bitbucket.org/xaint/magic-lantern-astro-module/src/master/

It compiled easily for me.  What have you tried?

[Lucagw]

I find what seems an uptaded version with some additional work here:
https://github.com/jmheder 
The file vxworks_1.0.6.zip contains all the last revision.Before i tried to copy astro.mo in my sd card, but not worked because oldAPI. Then downloaded the sources... Now i am asking a little help to compiling the module. I don't have yet an environment for compiling. I have a fresh ubuntu pc to start with or if you can share with me the one youhave compiled i will appreciate so much.

[Lucagw]

If you think it's not viable, i will be more than happy if you can help me in setting up my machine for compiling... I have read one how to but i haven't clear how to install the gcc arm compiler, transfer the branch experimental-lua-fix in local etc.
Or i can compile directly on github?

[Lucagw]

I find what seems an uptaded version with some additional work here:
https://github.com/jmheder 
The file vxworks_1.0.6.zip contains all the last revision.Before i tried to copy astro.mo in my sd card, but not worked because

compared the two versions, the more recent just have a small difference needed for eos 40d, the code is almost the same

[names_are_hard]

The module I built won't work for you, it's based on a different repo and the API version isn't compatible.

You probably don't want Heder's version, 40D is very different from your camera.

Anyone got a dev environment for heptapod that can build this module against lua_fix branch?

[Lucagw]

Downloaded and extracted a tar file with branch lua_fix in my home dir/magic-lantern-branch-lua_fix
go to platform/600D.102
run make zip
compiling stopped with:
arm-none-eabi-ld: shoot.o:/home/luca/magic-lantern-branch-lua_fix/platform/600D.102/../../src/shoot.c:1857: multiple definition of `wb_kelvin_ph'; lens.o:/home/luca/magic-lantern-branch-lua_fix/platform/600D.102/../../src/lens.c:1623: first defined here
make: *** [../../src/Makefile.src:203: magiclantern] Error 1

how to solve the error?

[names_are_hard]

This is because you are using a build environment that is newer than the heptapod code expects.  As previously suggested on Discord, you are choosing to make your life difficult by using a modern distro.  Using an older distro will remove this problem.

If you search discord for wb_kelvin_ph you will find the solution to this problem.

[Lucagw]

Finally build astro.mo for 600D and branch lua_fix.
Copied in module directory in my sd card and it works!

The module, once activated, create 3 new lines in the bottom of focus menu:
Star focus
Polar alignment
Color scheme

Once selected, with the Q button you can choose different settings...

Star focus: to accurately adjust your focus to the star.
You have 3 settings:
Mode: 2 options: 0...255(RGB) or RAW
Star thresold: with right arrow (fine settings) 1 to 10%, with left arrow (coarse setting)  change troggle between actual setting and 15% (max value).
Background level: from 1 to 70% (default 60%). The percentage of false pixels on LV screen during measurement.

Polar alignment: to help you to polar align your equatorial mount. Must have aligned you field of view on LV screen before.
You have 2 settings:
Hemisphere: Nothern/ Southern  (choose according to the Hemisphere you are)
Tutorials: on/off (Guide you to the process with messages)

Color scheme: you can choose from Dark red (useful in the night to keep eye adapted to low light,  because red light don't interact with eyes as other wavelenght) and Default (back to your normal color scheme). Warning: the first time you select this menu it will change automatically to dark red, go to a dark room to see how to switch to default.

How to use: (theoretically, i still have check in progress)

Set up your tripod, mount, telescope and camera on field (i assume you work with the camera mounted on the telescope), make a 2 star alignment.

Point on a bright star near the target you want to shoot. I.e. if you want to shoot to M42 choose one star of Orion's belt. Made a manual focusing

Next align your field of view with the Right Ascension mouvement of your mount (RA): Put a cropmark or a grid in the screen and check that moving your RA , the star is at the same distance from grid line in both end of the screen, if not adjust the camera angle accordingly (rotating T2 adapter).

Then activate Polar alignment and follow instructions (of course you know what is polar alignment). When aligned your setup switch off and set your focus 

Activate star focus and adjust manually your focus. On LV screen you have a circle on the center and a bar in bottom left. Move the circle on the star and focus for minimum bar level. Zoom focus must be disabled. Disable starfocus when done.

Done. Move the mount to the target for starting your photo session.

Hope this help someone interested in.... (my 2 cents because i am 0 in programming skills).
To the dev i can said that this module works in 500D 550D and 600D. Works in 40D with a little mod.
Thanks to names_are_hard and kitor who adviced me.