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Cursor Coordinates

Originally from ticket #5435.

Something that should be simple... I need to get the coordinates (R.A. & Dec) of the cursor position. I have the option enables info display in the Cursor Tracking section of preferences, but whenever I get anywhere near a star or other object, the info display changes to that object. This makes it impossible to get the coordinates for anything near an object. Like a supernova near a host galaxy -- it switches to the coordinates for the galaxy, which is useless. As an alternative, displaying the coordinates of the screen center would work, since I can center any point of interest, but I can't finad a way to do that either.

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10 comments

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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Matt,

    I'm not clear about what the issue appears to be.  If you move the arrow over an object the pop-up HUD info will give you the RA & Dec of the cursor position.  Perhaps you can give me a specific example of two stars, or the supernova and galaxy, and let me see if I can reproduce the issue.


    Maybe you need to zoom in more, to create a better separation between objects, so that the arrow can clearly identify the main object of your interest?


    You can right click on any object and choose "Center".  Then look in the Gaze (top right corner of screen).  By default it show Alt/Az for the centered object.

    You can also open the FOV tab (left hand bar) and open a FOV indicator to show what is centered in Starry Night.

     

  • 0
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    Matt M

    >> If you move the arrow over an object the pop-up HUD info will give you the RA & Dec of the cursor position.

    No, it doesn't.  It gives you the RA and Dec of the object.  If you move the cursor slightly when not over an object, i.e.; when the object shown in the HUD is "Celetial Sphere", then it updates the coordinates as you move.  If you move the cursoe slightly while over an object, then it does not update and only displays the RS and Dec of teh object.

    >> Maybe you need to zoom in more

    Zoom has no effect because the object gets larger propotionally.

    >> You can right click on any object and choose "Center".  Then look in the Gaze (top right corner of screen).  By default it show Alt/Az for the centered object.

    Again, that gives you object coordinates, not cursor coordinates.  And the Gaze display is of no use since it does not include minutes and seconds.

    >> You can also open the FOV tab (left hand bar) and open a FOV indicator to show what is centered in Starry Night.

    The camera FOV indicators, which is what I regularly use, do not include a center marker.  So it would be a guess as to where exactly one is centered.

    Here is an example.  I put the cursor on three locations in the Pleiades.  Screen capture does not capture the cursor itself, so I added a small yellow crosshair showing where I was pointed.  As you can see, the HUD only shows the object coordinates, not the cursor.




    sn1.png
  • 0
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    Matt M

    Excuse the typos!  Should read:

     If you move the cursor slightly while over an object, then it does not update and only displays the RA and Dec of the object.

  • 0
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    Dave Whipps

    Matt,

    I agree that this is frustrating. I think the one way that you can get what you want is to start turning off databases in the Options panel on the left, so that Starry Night is not confused by what you're "aiming at."  Extended objects / images in particular can overlap and wreak havoc on the mouse cursor (HUD) automatic function.

    (Another thing you can do is to switch to the "Arrow" tool, in the tools popup on the left side of the starry night toolbar, just to the left of date/time. It won't make it any more precise, but it'll make it easier to see where you're aiming.)

    Open up the Options panel. Start with the "Deep Space" and "Other" groups and turn off any databases that you don't need at the moment. If the cursor is still showing the position of an object you don't want... keep trying.

  • 0
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    Matt M

    Dave -

    This is no help.  I turned off just about all the databases and I still get "Pleiades" in the example I posted previously.  The only way I get the HUD to display "Celestial Sphere" and the current cursor coordinates, is to also turn off "All-Sky Image" and "Stars".  Now I get the cursor coords, but on a completely black display so I can't see where I am pointing.

    This is hard to beleive.  Getting the R.A. and Dec. of a point in the sky is such a basic function!

    Here is a real-world example.  I placed my cursor over the location of a recent supernova in M51.  The cursor itself does not show in a screen capture, so it is indicated by the yellow lines.  With everything turned off except the all-sky background image, I only get the coordinates of M51, not the cursor and supernova.

    Please tell me there is a plan to fix this.  Just put the cursor coordinates in the context menu when I right-click.




    Screen Shot 2012-04-19 at 7.46.14 PM.png
  • 0
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    Dave Whipps

    Matt,

    I'm sorry for all the frustration. Before we go any further, can you confirm the version you're running? (As before, make sure that all layers in "Deep Space" and "Other" are off.)

    So, I've managed to set things up in a way that I think will get you what you want.

    Open Preferences > Cursor Tracking (HUD).

    Make sure that your settings have: "These keys are down" checked and only the Control key is checked. (You can use any one of these keys.) Make sure to un-check "Mouse is idle for."

    Close the preferences. Setup the view the way you want and hold Control (or whatever key you chose) and mouse over the sky. You should only get the object info when precisely over the object. Otherwise you'll get info for the celestial sphere.

    See my screenshots attached. As you noted, the cursor isn't included, but I placed it at the exact mark of the yellow arrow in your screenshot, while holding down Control.

    If all of this fails, I'd be happy to use our "Remote Tech Support" software to access/control your machine, to see if I can set things up for you. If that's something you'd like to try, let me know.

     

    - Dave 




    PrefsForHUD.jpg
    HUDShowingSphereCoords.jpg
  • 0
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    Matt M

    I have version 6.4.3.

    When I set everything up as you suggest, the cusrsor display still switches to M51 as soon as I get anywhere near it.




    m51.png
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    Dave Whipps

    Ok. At this point what I'd recommend is that we setup a remote support session, when I briefly take over your computer and see if there's anything I can do. Are you up for that? If so, are you free anytime during the day to try this out?

  • 0
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    Matt M

    Sure.  What system do you use for remote access?  I am on a Mac, so Skype or iMessage are possibilities.  I should be available this afternoon. 

  • 0
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    Dave Whipps

    We use TeamViewer. 

    (Get TeamViewer QuickSupport)

    http://www.teamviewer.com/en/download/index.aspx

    I'm on East coast, and not generally available after about 6:30 Eastern.

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