Taking flat frames the morning after

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jazzin United States of America
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Taking flat frames the morning after

#1

Post by jazzin »


Last night the automation worked!

I set a sequence in SGP to take 40 - 6 min subs on M51 and went to bed. Woke up this morning to find the entire sequence completed. However, since I went to bed, I wasn't able to take any flat frames. My thought process is I will just shoot them this morning after the dew dries from my scope.

How do you handle this? I know they won't work as good as if I had shot them right after the lights had finished but I need my sleep.
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Re: Taking flat frames the morning after

#2

Post by starfield »


Do you use a light panel? I've collected flats before with my flat pane or even taken them back in the house using my light panel. Key is that you don't want the image train to change. It's important that the rotation of the camera doesn't change, if it does thing won't line up. Taking right after is the best for sure, but if not just try and grab them as soon as you can before the rotation of the camera changes or dust starts moving around.
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Re: Taking flat frames the morning after

#3

Post by AstroBee »


jazzin wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 1:21 pm I know they won't work as good as if I had shot them right after the lights had finished but I need my sleep.
There's no reason to shoot flats immediately following the lights if you don't move anything in the imaging train. As long as the camera position, rotation etc. stays the same you could do them next month if you like. Of course, a month later there's a possibility of dust on the outer objective or the mirror changing...

I usually take mine before the imaging session begins just as it's getting dark but not quite dark enough yet to start my main imaging sequence.
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Re: Taking flat frames the morning after

#4

Post by Graeme1858 »


High humidity here doesn't allow full automation! I usually have to get the hair drier out every half hour or so. But it does mean I'm up and about when the session ends so I do the flats and flat darks then. As they're short duration exposures they don't take long and NINA automates the procedure.

If you shoot them in the morning when you get up they should be fine.

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KathyNS Canada
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Re: Taking flat frames the morning after

#5

Post by KathyNS »


No problem. If the gear is still set up, just dry off the dew with a hair dryer and shoot the flats.
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Re: Taking flat frames the morning after

#6

Post by FRAZ »


Agree with AstroBee,

If you are particular and want extreme results then take flats in sessions. Focus shift can make a difference too but just hit your targets first and seek perfection later.
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