New Flats Question :)
- JayTee
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Re: New Flats Question :)
Sensor cleaning is only a factor if you turn off your camera in the middle of your imaging session. Personally, I don't turn my camera off in between my lights and my flats. I'm trying to get everything using the same conditions so that my flats actually do their job.
Turning off sensor cleaning makes sense if you have a permanent set up and you never separate or change the orientation of the camera with regards to the scope. I dream of having a permanent set up, I'm not there yet.
Cheers,
JT
Turning off sensor cleaning makes sense if you have a permanent set up and you never separate or change the orientation of the camera with regards to the scope. I dream of having a permanent set up, I'm not there yet.
Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°
Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°
Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."
- fatboy1271
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Re: New Flats Question :)
That makes sense JT; however, I do have the 70D set to power off after a half hour of inactivity. I generally don't remove the camera from theJayTee wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:22 pm Sensor cleaning is only a factor if you turn off your camera in the middle of your imaging session. Personally, I don't turn my camera off in between my lights and my flats. I'm trying to get everything using the same conditions so that my flats actually do their job.
Turning off sensor cleaning makes sense if you have a permanent set up and you never separate or change the orientation of the camera with regards to the scope. I dream of having a permanent set up, I'm not there yet.
Cheers,
JT
fat
OTAs: Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Edition / The Little Guy (Celestron 90SLT)
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Gear: Canon 70D / Hutech LPS-D1-48 / ES 2" Field Flattener / QHY PoleMaster / Celestron GPS / ZWO ASI120MC / Orion 50mm Guide Scope / ZWO EAF
Software: CPWI / PHD2 / N.I.N.A / Stellarium/StellariumScope/Remote Control / PI / RegiStax 6 / AutoStakkert!2 / PIPP | Retired? BackyardEOS Premium
EPs: Stock Celestron 9mm and 24mm / Celestron Omni 32mm (I love this one!) / Celestron X-Cel LX 3x Barlow (I think 2X would have been smarter...)
Support Staff (Loved Ones!): CeCe, Ro, and Geno
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Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Gear: Canon 70D / Hutech LPS-D1-48 / ES 2" Field Flattener / QHY PoleMaster / Celestron GPS / ZWO ASI120MC / Orion 50mm Guide Scope / ZWO EAF
Software: CPWI / PHD2 / N.I.N.A / Stellarium/StellariumScope/Remote Control / PI / RegiStax 6 / AutoStakkert!2 / PIPP | Retired? BackyardEOS Premium
EPs: Stock Celestron 9mm and 24mm / Celestron Omni 32mm (I love this one!) / Celestron X-Cel LX 3x Barlow (I think 2X would have been smarter...)
Support Staff (Loved Ones!): CeCe, Ro, and Geno
Let's Go Pens!!!
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Re: New Flats Question :)
Patrick,
Are you powering you camera with external power? If not, you really should. It has several advantages:
1) It makes your camera lighter
2) Your circuitry will generate less heat
3) You don't have to worry about running out of battery "juice" in the middle of an imaging run
4) And you don't need to auto-power-down if you don't want to
Cheers,
JT
Are you powering you camera with external power? If not, you really should. It has several advantages:
1) It makes your camera lighter
2) Your circuitry will generate less heat
3) You don't have to worry about running out of battery "juice" in the middle of an imaging run
4) And you don't need to auto-power-down if you don't want to
Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°
Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°
Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."
- fatboy1271
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Re: New Flats Question :)
Hey JT,
Yes, I have a power adapter! I've been using it for years. Using BYEOS the auto shutoff never kicked in. UsingNINA I would get disconnected all the time. I set it to 30 minutes so at the end of a NINA Sequence it shuts off after a half hour. It's probably better this way as that allows me to sleep a little longer and the camera isn't just draining power, even though it's a small amount.
Patrick
Yes, I have a power adapter! I've been using it for years. Using BYEOS the auto shutoff never kicked in. Using
Patrick
OTAs: Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Edition / The Little Guy (Celestron 90SLT)
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Gear: Canon 70D / Hutech LPS-D1-48 / ES 2" Field Flattener / QHY PoleMaster / Celestron GPS / ZWO ASI120MC / Orion 50mm Guide Scope / ZWO EAF
Software: CPWI / PHD2 / N.I.N.A / Stellarium/StellariumScope/Remote Control / PI / RegiStax 6 / AutoStakkert!2 / PIPP | Retired? BackyardEOS Premium
EPs: Stock Celestron 9mm and 24mm / Celestron Omni 32mm (I love this one!) / Celestron X-Cel LX 3x Barlow (I think 2X would have been smarter...)
Support Staff (Loved Ones!): CeCe, Ro, and Geno
Let's Go Pens!!!
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Gear: Canon 70D / Hutech LPS-D1-48 / ES 2" Field Flattener / QHY PoleMaster / Celestron GPS / ZWO ASI120MC / Orion 50mm Guide Scope / ZWO EAF
Software: CPWI / PHD2 / N.I.N.A / Stellarium/StellariumScope/Remote Control / PI / RegiStax 6 / AutoStakkert!2 / PIPP | Retired? BackyardEOS Premium
EPs: Stock Celestron 9mm and 24mm / Celestron Omni 32mm (I love this one!) / Celestron X-Cel LX 3x Barlow (I think 2X would have been smarter...)
Support Staff (Loved Ones!): CeCe, Ro, and Geno
Let's Go Pens!!!
- Baskevo
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Re: New Flats Question :)
Good point JT! What I was doing was tearing down and bringing everything in side to do my calibration frames, so the automatic sensor cleaner would go off during that time, which is why I think my flats were not working. I started doing the flats and bias frames outside, but I'm still turning off the automatic sensor cleaning just in case, and I'll do the manual sensor cleaning before each session
Another thing I noticed was when I have my white balance set to daylight, for some reason the histogram on the flats change slightly from each flat to flat, which I don't know if that's a problem or not, but when I set it to automatic, it's the exact same color/brightness each time... I don't know if that will help me but I thought I'd give it a try! I took a bunch of sets of flats last night to test and see which ones work best.
Another thing I noticed was when I have my white balance set to daylight, for some reason the histogram on the flats change slightly from each flat to flat, which I don't know if that's a problem or not, but when I set it to automatic, it's the exact same color/brightness each time... I don't know if that will help me but I thought I'd give it a try! I took a bunch of sets of flats last night to test and see which ones work best.
-James W.
Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope
Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope
Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
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Re: New Flats Question :)
A couple of pointsBaskevo wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2019 1:53 am and I'll do the manual sensor cleaning before each session
Another thing I noticed was when I have my white balance set to daylight, for some reason the histogram on the flats change slightly from each flat to flat, which I don't know if that's a problem or not, but when I set it to automatic, it's the exact same color/brightness each time... I don't know if that will help me but I thought I'd give it a try! I took a bunch of sets of flats last night to test and see which ones work best.
1) No need to manually clean your sensor before each session. As long as your flats are good, the donuts should correct out. I haven't cleaned my sensor in 3 years.
2) The white balance shouldn't matter at all if you're shooting in RAW. The white balance is only applied to a processed RAW image.
Personal equipment: TEC 140 F7 on Astro-Physics Mach 1 mount. Camera QSI 683ws7. Guide with Vario guiding scope
Shared equipment through Star Shadows Remote Observatory through PROMPT/ CTIO/Chile 16" RCOS 16803 chip
Shared equipment through San Diego Astronomy Society 14" RC with 16803 chip on a paramount
Software (for my stuff) PemPRO, SGP, PHD, Focus Boss, ASCOM, and Pixinsight on the other end.
Shared equipment through Star Shadows Remote Observatory through PROMPT/ CTIO/Chile 16" RCOS 16803 chip
Shared equipment through San Diego Astronomy Society 14" RC with 16803 chip on a paramount
Software (for my stuff) PemPRO, SGP, PHD, Focus Boss, ASCOM, and Pixinsight on the other end.
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Re: New Flats Question :)
Thanks for clarifying that, Stuart! I have a massive dust donut that keeps showing up in my images, I think it's in my telescope where I can't get at it, so I'm glad my flats work now! lolStuart wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2019 8:11 pmA couple of pointsBaskevo wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2019 1:53 am and I'll do the manual sensor cleaning before each session
Another thing I noticed was when I have my white balance set to daylight, for some reason the histogram on the flats change slightly from each flat to flat, which I don't know if that's a problem or not, but when I set it to automatic, it's the exact same color/brightness each time... I don't know if that will help me but I thought I'd give it a try! I took a bunch of sets of flats last night to test and see which ones work best.
1) No need to manually clean your sensor before each session. As long as your flats are good, the donuts should correct out. I haven't cleaned my sensor in 3 years.
2) The white balance shouldn't matter at all if you're shooting in RAW. The white balance is only applied to a processed RAW image.
So should I adjust the white balance in my light frames before stacking? Or does it not matter?
-James W.
Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope
Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope
Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
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Re: New Flats Question :)
As long as your flat has the same dust donut it should flatten out fine. It is important to calibrate your flats correctly, however. Not sure what you use for processing.Baskevo wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:49 am
Thanks for clarifying that, Stuart! I have a massive dust donut that keeps showing up in my images, I think it's in my telescope where I can't get at it, so I'm glad my flats work now! lol
So should I adjust the white balance in my light frames before stacking? Or does it not matter?
In terms of the white balance, don't mess with it. It doesn't matter. The white balance is applied to the RAW image to display a .jpg. You're not working with jpgs, but with RAW images. You're not hurting anything by messing with the white balance but it's a waste of time.
The only time a white balance is an issue is if you have a modified
Personal equipment: TEC 140 F7 on Astro-Physics Mach 1 mount. Camera QSI 683ws7. Guide with Vario guiding scope
Shared equipment through Star Shadows Remote Observatory through PROMPT/ CTIO/Chile 16" RCOS 16803 chip
Shared equipment through San Diego Astronomy Society 14" RC with 16803 chip on a paramount
Software (for my stuff) PemPRO, SGP, PHD, Focus Boss, ASCOM, and Pixinsight on the other end.
Shared equipment through Star Shadows Remote Observatory through PROMPT/ CTIO/Chile 16" RCOS 16803 chip
Shared equipment through San Diego Astronomy Society 14" RC with 16803 chip on a paramount
Software (for my stuff) PemPRO, SGP, PHD, Focus Boss, ASCOM, and Pixinsight on the other end.
- Baskevo
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Re: New Flats Question :)
Cool good to know. I was using Deep sky stacker before, but I've been going through light vortex astronomy's guide, and it's giving me way better results. I don't know if DSS calibrated the flats or not, but I am definitely calibrating them now.
Thanks again for the help Stuart!
Thanks again for the help Stuart!
-James W.
Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope
Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope
Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
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