SUMMARY If the cursor coordinates do not refer to a listed object, a 'Center and Track' will go to wrong coordinates (not where the cursor was) STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. place mouse cursor on some part of the sky without an object 2. RMB, Select 'Center and Track' 3. Check the position of the center OBSERVED RESULT The tracked position is not where I clicked EXPECTED RESULT The exact position where I clicked should be centered (and tracked) E.g., I go to Cederblad51, JNow: 05h 31m 26s 12° 10' 03" J2000: 05h 32m 34s 12° 10' 52" AzAlt: 68° 45' 57" -11° 58' 24" This is no listed object, RMB menue says 'empty sky' I select 'Center and Track', and check the center coordinates JNow: 05h 32m 33s 12° 11' 05" J2000: 05h 33m 40s 12° 11' 52" AzAlt: 68° 59' 07" -11° 36' 51" So it seems it goes to the J2000 coordinates in the Jnow system.... SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Linux/KDE Plasma: (available in About System) KDE Plasma Version: 5.65.0 KDE Frameworks Version: 5.65.0 Qt Version: 5.13.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION KStars from git, 3.4.0-978_gc035e1135
I confirm the problem on the 2020-02-23T18:06:10Z build of Kstars 3.4.1, installed through the ppa:mutlaqja/ppa repository on Kubuntu 19.10. I have been observing this strange behaviour for a few months: was it fixed in the git version? Plasma: 5.16.5 KDE Framework: 5.62.0 Qt: 5.12.4
The bug is still there in 3.5.6 (PPA repository on Ubuntu 21.10).
Interesting, it could be that, or the de-precessing an empty point failed. I see this as a low-hanging fruit, anyone wants to take a stab at fixing it from the code?