Problem with PhotometricColorCalibration

[djohnson3]

I have never been able to get PhotometricColorCalibration to work.  In my last attempt, it appears that it was able to obtain an astrometric solution, but I keep getting these errors:

Writing output file: C:/Users/David/AppData/Local/Temp/PCC_G_EX3XAEGSLZ0W.csv
*** Error: Failure to process image file 'C:/Users/David/AppData/Local/Temp/PCC_G_EX3XAEGSLZ0W.xisf': TypeError: area is null

and then

Processing image C:/Users/David/AppData/Local/Temp/PCC_B_8DJ7SDVWD3P9.xisf

Reading image:
C:/Users/David/AppData/Local/Temp/PCC_B_8DJ7SDVWD3P9.xisf
Loading image: w=4656 h=3520 n=1 Gray UInt16
7 image properties
5525 FITS keyword(s) extracted.
* Loaded astrometric solution:
Reference matrix (world[ra,dec] = matrix * image[x,y]):
 -2.05253442e-06  +1.12534380e-03  -1.97565273e+00
 -1.12531102e-03  -2.08886406e-06  +2.62362946e+00
WCS transformation ...... linear
Projection .............. Gnomonic
Projection origin ....... [2328.203800 1759.845700]px -> [RA:  3 46 57.721  Dec: +24 07 02.70]
Resolution .............. 4.051 arcsec/px
Rotation ................ -89.895 deg
Transformation errors ... ex=1.82e-12 ey=2.27e-12 px
Observation date ........ 2000-01-01 12:00:00
Focal distance .......... 193.48 mm
Pixel size .............. 3.80 um
Field of view ........... 5d 14' 22.3" x 3d 57' 40.2"
Image center ............ RA:  3 46 57.766  Dec: +24 07 03.52
Image bounds:
   top-left ............. RA:  3 38 07.606  Dec: +26 43 19.58
   top-right ............ RA:  3 38 26.395  Dec: +21 29 23.65
   bottom-left .......... RA:  3 55 50.458  Dec: +26 42 52.57
   bottom-right ......... RA:  3 55 26.648  Dec: +21 28 57.71

Reference image: PCC_B_8DJ7SDVWD3P9
Star search aperture: 2.00 pixels
1 view(s)
0 star(s)
0 PSF fittings
*** Error: Failure to process image file 'C:/Users/David/AppData/Local/Temp/PCC_B_8DJ7SDVWD3P9.xisf': Could not locate any stars in the image

[RickS]

Can you plate solve the image (or the registration reference image) with the ImageSolver script?  It's a good idea to do this as a separate step anyway since you may want to run PCC multiple times.

[djohnson3]

Yes, I can.

[RickS]

Have you tried using the "Acquire from image" button to get the plate solve result into PCC?  If that fails as well perhaps you could upload an example somewhere and send me a link?  PM me if you don't want to make the data public.

[dhb2206]

Have you tried adjusting the Log Sensitivity in the advanced plate solving section?

[M44DSW]

Hi, I've been reading this with interest as I have the same problem. I have been using PCC with great effect but I now have an image I cannot get the script working for. I get the same error below. I have manually plate solved and tried adjusting the Log sensitivity to no effect. I have also tried other servers in case that was the issue which it was not. any ideas? The image can be found here --> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gazL2wTbmW8D_Cntbmw5k4zA6H8kqfqx/view?usp=sharing

Processing image /var/folders/rg/fwbcn1ws2993fms4yqw7nlg80000gn/T/PCC_R_5K417V31VL4V.xisf

Reading image:
/var/folders/rg/fwbcn1ws2993fms4yqw7nlg80000gn/T/PCC_R_5K417V31VL4V.xisf
Loading image: w=4878 h=3220 n=1 Gray UInt16
8 image properties
245 FITS keyword(s) extracted.
* Loaded astrometric solution:
Reference matrix (world[ra,dec] = matrix * image[x,y]):
 -5.65300037e-04  -1.30528232e-03  +3.48011010e+00
 +1.30400234e-03  -5.65585344e-04  -2.27045233e+00
WCS transformation ...... 2-D surface splines
Projection .............. Gnomonic
Projection origin ....... [2439.331300 1609.733000]px -> [RA: 19 31 56.757  Dec: +23 27 47.42]
Resolution .............. 5.119 arcsec/px
Rotation ................ 66.542 deg
Transformation errors ... ex=0.000283 ey=0.000456 px
Observation date ........ 2018-07-16 05:15:59
Focal distance .......... 193.42 mm
Pixel size .............. 4.80 um
Field of view ........... 6d 56' 9.8" x 4d 34' 42.7"
Image center ............ RA: 19 31 56.823  Dec: +23 27 48.29
Image bounds:
   top-left ............. RA: 19 46 48.395  Dec: +21 09 27.13
   top-right ............ RA: 19 35 10.950  Dec: +27 31 59.42
   bottom-left .......... RA: 19 28 53.579  Dec: +19 22 59.97
   bottom-right ......... RA: 19 16 33.579  Dec: +25 40 35.65

Reference image: PCC_R_5K417V31VL4V
Catalog APASS already loaded
Catalog APASS size: 0 objects inside the image

Catalog stars: 344
Star search aperture: 2.00 pixels
1 view(s)
0 star(s)
0 PSF fittings
*** Error: Failure to process image file '/var/folders/rg/fwbcn1ws2993fms4yqw7nlg80000gn/T/PCC_R_5K417V31VL4V.xisf': Could not locate any stars in the image

[Juan Conejero]

Disable the Automatic limit magnitude option and just leave the default 12 limit magnitude value. Then PCC works nicely for your image. See attachment.

The automatic limit magnitude algorithm uses a relatively simple empirical formula where the field of view is the main variable. This may fail for some wide field images like this one, especially for images covering high density star fields near the Milky Way. In such cases just disable this option and enter a reasonable limit magnitude value (the default value of 12 usually works).

[M44DSW]

Juan once again thank you for knowledge on this, works a treat  8)