How to set my sextractor's cfg file?

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Edward Smith

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Aug 8, 2023, 12:17:16 PM8/8/23
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Hi,
I want to use sextractor and it was downloaded successfully. However, when i run "time solve-field -D $DEMODIR --crpix-center --overwrite --use-source-extractor \
--no-plots --no-verify --no-remove-lines \
--corr none --match none --new-fits none --rdls none --solved none --index-xyls none \
-L 0.897903 -H 1.340788 --source-extractor-config ../default.sex \
--uniformize 0 $DEMODIR/demo.fits \"
there is some error:
$ ./demo.sh
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/bin:/home/hyayh/Astrometry.net-0.92/workdir/bin
Reading input file 1 of 1: "/home/hyayh/Astrometry.net-0.92/workdir/demo/demo.fits"...
Extracting sources...

> WARNING: default.sex not found, using internal defaults

----- Source Extractor 2.25.0 started on 2023-08-08 at 16:13:54 with 1 thread

----- Measuring from: demo.fits
      "Unnamed" / no ext. header / 2064x1386 / 16 bits (integers)
(M+D) Background: 4111.52    RMS: 224.21     / Threshold: 336.315    
      Objects: detected 2995     / sextracted 2060            

> All done (in 0.2 s: 7223.9 lines/s , 10736.8 detections/s)
Sorting brightness using MAG_AUTO and BACKGROUND columns failed; falling back to MAG_AUTO.
Reading sort column "MAG_AUTO"
Sorting sort column
mmapping input file
Copying table header.
Writing row 0
Done
Solving...

It remind me that Sorting brightness using MAG_AUTO and BACKGROUND columns failed; falling back to MAG_AUTO. Is it a mistake that i should solve?

What's more, there is warning: default.sex not found, using internal defaults. In order to make it right, i made my own configuration file.But there is error appearing then:
./demo.sh
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/bin:/home/hyayh/Astrometry.net-0.92/workdir/bin
Reading input file 1 of 1: "/home/hyayh/Astrometry.net-0.92/workdir/demo/demo.fits"...
Extracting sources...
----- Source Extractor 2.25.0 started on 2023-08-08 at 17:12:59 with 1 thread

> Reading detection filter
> *Error*: cannot open default.conv

augment-xylist.c:591:backtick Failed to run command: source-extractor -c ../default.sex -CATALOG_TYPE FITS_1.0 -CATALOG_NAME /tmp/tmp.xyls.FAWzVu /home/hyayh/Astrometry.net-0.92/workdir/demo/demo.fits
 ioutils.c:568:run_command_get_outputs Command failed: return value 1

The domo.sh inludes my cmd-line. What can i do to solve it? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated,
Thank you

Dustin Lang

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Aug 8, 2023, 12:43:13 PM8/8/23
to Edward Smith, astrometry
Hi,

It looks like your default.sex specifies a "default.conv" file which does not exist.

The "Sorting brightness using MAG_AUTO and BACKGROUND columns failed" is actually due to a bug in solve-field (it shouldn't try doing that), but the behavior it does is fine.

cheers,
dustin



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Edward Smith

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Aug 9, 2023, 3:08:35 AM8/9/23
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Thank you, Dustin
I have no idea how to get the filter file “default.conv”.Could you tell me a way to do that? In addition, can i change the defualt.sex,default.param or default.conv so that i can increase the effeciency of solving plate? (e.g. reduce the number of source extracted)
According to your answer,  i don't need to care the error  "Sorting brightness using MAG_AUTO and BACKGROUND columns failed", do you mean this?
Grateful for your time

Dustin Lang

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Aug 9, 2023, 8:46:38 AM8/9/23
to Edward Smith, astrometry
for details on how to set Source Extractor settings.
There are also multiple manuals and an infinite number of web pages about SE setup.
cheers,
dusitn

Edward Smith

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Aug 9, 2023, 11:31:01 PM8/9/23
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Hi,
It helps a lot.When i change to 5x5 filter file, there is error:
> Reading detection filter
> *Error*: not a suitable filter in default.conv
How do i solve it?
Thank you!

Dustin Lang

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Aug 10, 2023, 7:48:04 AM8/10/23
to Edward Smith, astrometry
I just copy-and-pasted from that post into a file named default.conv and it worked...

default.conv

Wayne Green

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Aug 10, 2023, 8:40:45 PM8/10/23
to Dustin Lang, Edward Smith, astrometry
Hey,

The sources are at:


I find it good to take the time and modify the default.sex file to reflect my
telescopes. This accomodates seeing etc. 

--W




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-- W

Edward Smith

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Aug 14, 2023, 4:42:38 AM8/14/23
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Hi,everyone
I found the .conv files and use them successfully . Actually, my goal is to minimize resolution time as much as possible.
May i change the information of default.sex, default.param or default.conv to make it happen? Or i can say, what information is related to the efficency of sex's extract source. I have tried to replace the default.conv with a gauss filter:

CONV NORM
# 7x7 convolution mask of a gaussian PSF with FWHM = 4.0 pixels.
0.047454 0.109799 0.181612 0.214776 0.181612 0.109799 0.047454
0.109799 0.254053 0.420215 0.496950 0.420215 0.254053 0.109799
0.181612 0.420215 0.695055 0.821978 0.695055 0.420215 0.181612
0.214776 0.496950 0.821978 0.972079 0.821978 0.496950 0.214776
0.181612 0.420215 0.695055 0.821978 0.695055 0.420215 0.181612
0.109799 0.254053 0.420215 0.496950 0.420215 0.254053 0.109799
0.047454 0.109799 0.181612 0.214776 0.181612 0.109799 0.047454

What's more, i turn down the cfg parameters such as FILTER, CLEAN with N and enhance the DETECT_THRESHOLD to 3. They works but  of course this will be at the expense of detection completeness and reliability. Do you have any other advices for me?
Thanks always!

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