Visible Sky for Plate Solving

[clupus]

I'm operating from a SkyPod and although I can move it fully off, using it from the normal open position is much easier on my back.

Question: How much of the sky needs to be visible in order to do a plate solve?

Hank

[Hamza Touhami]

Well that depends what you need to do. Typically when you take an image and ask PRISM to do a plate solve, it takes that image, extracts all the stars and compares it to the star catalog you chose to use. I use a dome which has a slit and plate solving is never a problem.

So to answer your question, not much. Just enough to get a full picture with enough stars for PRISM to go to work for you.

[clupus]

Perfect! Now I know that I don't have to fully open the Pod.

Thanks, Hamza