ZTF plug-in error

[dbenn]

@yorkpf reports on the AAVSO forum https://forums.aavso.org/t/new-star-from-ztf-photometry-produces-http-error-code-400/4041 that the ZTF plug-in is yielding a 400 error for ZTF18abcxlta.

I note that the VOTable response contains the error:

  UsageFault: Internal error (invalid TAP query)

From looking on the ZTF web site, I'm wondering whether the minimum cone search radius has changed. There could be some other breaking change to the API.

[dbenn]

I note however that selecting and entering an Object ID works for this object, 1837102100018050 in this case.

[orionlee]

FYI, ZTF cone search still works when using Python astroquery.ipac.irsa.Irsa.query_region() (against the TAP server https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP at HTTP level).

[yorkpf]

Thanks for chasing this down, David. Your “workaround” of using the Object ID seems to work for me, although it takes a bit longer than using the “New Star from ZTF Photometry” plug-in (when it is working properly of course) - you need to enter all of the relevant object IDs in separate loads (which the plug-in does with a single load). BTW, how did you come by your Object ID of 1837102100018050 ? I have attached a page showing the results of my ZTF search using coordinates and it does not seem to be in the list. “Long time no key” : Nice one 😀. I’ve had a bit of a break from astronomy, but I am now back, just doing some simple data mining of the VSX - missing periods, mostly. Cheers Paul 

…

On 12 Mar 2026, at 10:42 pm, dbenn ***@***.***> wrote: dbenn left a comment (AAVSO/VStar#560) <#560 (comment)> I note however that selecting and entering an Object ID works for this object. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#560 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ASK654HRFM7IXVSHF2VU26D4QKWD7AVCNFSM6AAAAACWPTQSROVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DANBWGQ3DGNRXGU>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.

[mpyat2]

Hi folks,

Right now I tried the ZTF18abcxlta object:

and the plug-in works:

But I must say that the ZTF website quite often has a very long delay. If this happens, the VSX link (External links->Location(ZTF)->Go) does not work either.

Using ObjectID might help (ZTF skips several steps like finding object's coordinates, extracting the list of IDs, etc)

[dbenn]

Confirm. Still working. Thanks @mpyat2

Wonder whether setting a (longer or user selectable) timeout would help?

[mpyat2]

I thought about making the query asynchronous with the ability to interrupt #541
It sometimes hangs and totally blocks VStar (the site has a very long latency quite often)

[mpyat2]

As a workaround the user may copy the URL and paste it into the browser. Then copy the result into a text file and use the file plug-in (ZTF photometry)

[dbenn]

As a workaround the user may copy the URL and paste it into the browser. Then copy the result into a text file and use the file plug-in (ZTF photometry)

I used the copied URL to look at the VOTable error response noted above, which was also useful.

This New Star from ZTF File option in the file chooser that allows a downloaded ZTF file to be opened, could also be extended to allow multiple files to be selected via: public boolean isMultipleFileSelectionAllowed().

[yorkpf]

Thank you both for your efforts.

The New Star from ZTF Photometry now works for me also, even using the VSX name - so, a bit mysterious. I can't help wondering whether somehow the situation in the Middle East contributed to delays that resulted in a timeout? I had no problems with it prior to all the M.E. turmoil starting.

Anyway, It's a very handy plugin that saves a lot of work in building text files etc, which tends to be error-prone and time-consuming.

I'm aware of the alternate approaches such as "New Star for ZTF Photometry File" and "New Star from Flexible Text format file" and I have used them in the past but they are nowhere near as satisfactory as Max's "new" plug-in.

I regard the occasional timeouts as tolerable (provided that they don't last for days!) as the data mining stuff I am working on is not urgent.

I am left wondering whether a fix is worth the effort, if this was just a "one-off".

Paul

[dbenn]

@yorkpf yes it’s one of those things. So many things we could improve/fix. Max has pointed to a possibility. If it was happening often I’d say we’d be inclined to do something sooner rather than later. Keep us posted if you see it more often.

I’m inclined to add the multiple file selection improvement to the file chooser version of the plugin anyway.