Why can't I plate solve this image in PixInsight? [Deep Sky] Processing techniques · AmyWarble · ... · 6 · 308 · 0

I captured this 4 nights ago (on 4/13/2025), but no matter what I do, I can't plate solve it in PixInsight.  I am using my local GAIA DR3 database files.  My focal length is 840mm and pixel size is 3.76 μm.  My GPS coordinates are approximately 86W by 35N.

Astrometry.net solved it in 4 seconds: https://nova.astrometry.net/user_images/12422025#annotated

This link is the full XISF file with my GPS coordinates removed:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/du426kcy9z2ahuzj1yrsi/masterLight_BIN-1_6248x4176_EXPOSURE-120.00s_FILTER-Green_mono_autocrop.xisf?rlkey=b8o75zn0rvdfheu0r8qolmxxm&st=1t4h44v1&dl=0

What do I need to do in PixInsight to plate solve this?  I've tried noise reduction and gradient removal, but nothing works.  I captured LRGB and none of them can be plate solved, and I don't know why.

Processing script file: C:/Program Files/PixInsight/src/scripts/AdP/ImageSolver.js

* Code signature verified:
script-id : ImageSolver
developer-id : PTeam
timestamp : 2025-04-02T16:51:57.069Z
Detecting stars: 100%
1764 stars found

DynamicPSF: Global context
1 view(s)
1764 star(s)
1763 PSF fittings
149.177 ms
* Removed 12 conflicting sources (0.69 %)
* Search quadtree generated with 1751 objects, 21 node(s), height = 3
* Star matching tolerance: 2 px

Gaia: Global context
4.200 us

Searching for optimal magnitude limit. Target: 2205 stars

Gaia: Global context
136.089 ms
m = 13.34, 50 stars

Gaia: Global context
309.465 ms
m = 19.47, 548 stars

Gaia: Global context
314.046 ms
m = 22.53, 549 stars

Gaia: Global context
341.802 ms
m = 24.06, 549 stars

Gaia: Global context
366.903 ms
m = 24.82, 549 stars

Gaia: Global context
349.207 ms
m = 25.21, 549 stars

Gaia: Global context
308.206 ms
m = 25.40, 549 stars

Gaia: Global context
338.869 ms
m = 25.49, 549 stars

Gaia: Global context
328.318 ms
m = 25.54, 549 stars

 * Using an automatically calculated limit magnitude of 25.54.
Seed parameters for plate solving:
Center coordinates: RA = 11 20 15.664, Dec = +13 35 28.50
Resolution: 0.923 as/px

Gaia: Global context
Executing Gaia DR3 search command…
1523 sources found.
322.592 ms

Catalog Gaia DR3 (XPSD): 1523 objects.

StarAlignment: Processing view: integration_autocrop2
C:/Users/amywarble/AppData/Local/Temp/stars-001.csv:
Scanning star data: done
153 stars.
integration_autocrop2:
Structure map: done
Detecting stars: done
1767 stars found.
Minimum star size: 3 px
* Computing global linear transformation.
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

77 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.

* Previous attempt failed - this is try #2
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

77 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.

* Previous attempt failed - this is try #3
* Reference image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

45 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.

* Previous attempt failed - this is try #4
* Reference image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

11 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.

* Previous attempt failed - this is try #5
* Reference image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done


** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #6
* Reference image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #7
* Reference image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #8
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

77 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #9
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

77 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
*** Error: Unable to find an initial linear transformation.
<* failed *>

* Previous attempt failed - trying with mirrored reference coordinates.

Gaia: Global context
Executing Gaia DR3 search command…
1523 sources found.
324.774 ms
Catalog Gaia DR3 (XPSD): 1523 objects.

StarAlignment: Processing view: integration_autocrop2
C:/Users/amywarble/AppData/Local/Temp/stars-001.csv:
Scanning star data: done
153 stars.
integration_autocrop2:
Structure map: done
Detecting stars: done
1767 stars found.
Minimum star size: 3 px
* Computing global linear transformation.
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

75 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #2
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

75 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #3
* Reference image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

53 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #4
* Reference image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

14 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #5
* Reference image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #6
* Reference image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #7
* Reference image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #8
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

75 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #9
* Target image: limiting to 191 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

75 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
*** Error: Unable to find an initial linear transformation.
<* failed *>

* Previous attempts failed - trying again assuming apparent coordinates.

Gaia: Global context
Executing Gaia DR3 search command…
1552 sources found.
315.369 ms
Catalog Gaia DR3 (XPSD): 1552 objects.

StarAlignment: Processing view: integration_autocrop2
C:/Users/amywarble/AppData/Local/Temp/stars-001.csv:
Scanning star data: done
187 stars.
integration_autocrop2:
Structure map: done
Detecting stars: done
1767 stars found.
Minimum star size: 3 px
* Computing global linear transformation.
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

73 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #2
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

73 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #3
* Reference image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

52 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #4
* Reference image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #5
* Reference image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #6
* Reference image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #7
* Reference image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #8
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

73 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #9
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

73 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
*** Error: Unable to find an initial linear transformation.
<* failed *>

* Previous attempt failed - trying with mirrored reference coordinates.

Gaia: Global context
Executing Gaia DR3 search command…
1552 sources found.
325.784 ms
Catalog Gaia DR3 (XPSD): 1552 objects.

StarAlignment: Processing view: integration_autocrop2
C:/Users/amywarble/AppData/Local/Temp/stars-001.csv:
Scanning star data: done
187 stars.
integration_autocrop2:
Structure map: done
Detecting stars: done
1767 stars found.
Minimum star size: 3 px
* Computing global linear transformation.
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

71 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #2
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

71 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #3
* Reference image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 125 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

62 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #4
* Reference image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 60 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

12 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #5
* Reference image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 30 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #6
* Reference image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 15 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #7
* Reference image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
* Target image: limiting to 8 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

** 0 star pair matches found - need at least 3 matched stars.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #8
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

71 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
* Previous attempt failed - this is try #9
* Target image: limiting to 233 brightest stars.
Matching stars: done

71 putative star pair matches.
Performing RANSAC: done
** RANSAC: Unable to find a valid set of star pair matches.
*** Error: Unable to find an initial linear transformation.
<* failed *>

*** Error: The image could not be aligned with the reference star field.
Please check the following items:
    The initial center coordinates should be inside the image.
   The initial image resolution should be within a factor of 2 from the correct value.
   If you use an online star catalog through the VizieR service, consider using the Gaia DR3 catalog with local XPSD databases instead.
   If the image has extreme noise levels, bad tracking, or is poorly focused, you may need to adjust some star detection parameters.

I… guess?  I can plate solve other images.  Just not this target.

That did it.  I'm not sure what happened but re-downloading the entire GAIA database did the trick.

This master image also can't be plate-solved. Trying all inputs, but it does not work. Help needed thanks.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/17suvnRndA8O5DFQysIVCsAlthYH3nBMZ/view?usp=sharing