Downloading and installing the PlaneWave PlateSolve3 solver package


PlateSolve3 (PS3) is a proprietary plate-solving application developed by PlaneWave Instruments, with Dave Rowe as its author. It is provided free of charge as a courtesy by PlaneWave Instruments. The solver is distributed as a standalone executable, operating independently of other software packages.


PS3 is a very robust solver that excels at solving images from telescopes with long focal lengths and limited star fields, effective even when only a handful of stars are visible. It solves both “near solves” (when approximate coordinates of the image center are known) and blind solves (no prior coordinates) extremely quickly.


PS3 comes as a package, including the solver and its required catalogs, which are modified versions of UCAC4 and Gaia DR2. Users must configure catalog directories once by starting the PS3 executable, which is explained in this section. PS3 requires no Internet access during its solving operation.



Downloading the PlaneWave PlateSolve3 package


We do not distribute the PS3 solver package. If you own one of the PlaneWave mounts, you already may have the solver installed on your PC. If not, there are multiple locations on the Internet from where you can download the distribution package. This includes a/o



The distribution comes as a ~3.9 GB zip file, containing one folder called PlateSolve3. The contents of that folder look as follows:




    • PlateSolve3.exe is the actual solver. Make sure you are working with version 3.82
    • Kepler contains UCAC4 catalog files adapted for usage by PS3
    • UD Catalog contains Gaia DR2 catalog files adapted for usage by PS3
    • PlateSolve3_Instructions.txt can be ignored




Installing the PlaneWave PlateSolve3 package


Simply unpack the PlateSolve3 folder of the above zip file to a new folder of your choice, e.g., C:\PlateSolve3.82. We strongly recommend to NOT create this folder under your Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders, as those require specific access rights.


After unpacking, you can remove the zip file from your PC.


Once unpacked:


  1. Launch the PlateSolve3 executable. If Windows displays a "Windows protected your PC" warning, click More info, then select Run anyway to continue and start the program.

  2. PlateSolve3 will now open in a window with a blue background. Alongside it, a Select Catalog Directory window appears. This window has two sections: one for choosing the path to the UCAC4 catalog, and another for the Gaia DR2 catalog.



  3. In the Select Catalog Directory window, use the upper Browse button to set the UCAC4 catalog path to your Kepler root folder. The window will close automatically once the folder is selected.

  4. To configure the GAIA DR2 catalog, go to File > Configure Directory to reopen the window. Then, use the lower Browse button to select your UD Catalog folder.

  5. The Select Catalog Directory window now should look as follows. Verify that each entry shows a green Status: OK message to confirm the configuration is correct.



  1. Close the Select Catalog Directory window. Go to View → Parameters to set your Default Location.
     

Do not modify any of the other parameters. 




  1. When done press File > Exit  which will store your changes in a PlateSolve.cfg file in your PS3 folder.



Setting up PlateSolve3 for use in Phoranso


With PS3 now fully configured, the last step is to instruct Phoranso where your PS3 executable is located. This step has to be done once only. In Phoranso, open File > Settings > Astrometric solver. Select PlateSolve3 from the drop down:



The last step needed is to press the … (3 dots) button and to navigate to the PlateSolve3 solver executable within your PS3 folder, e.g., C:\PlateSolve3.82. 


Phoranso automatically saves your selection and you are now ready to start using the PS3 solver, in exactly the same way as any of the other supported solvers.