Image artifacts

[mkalika]

Hi,

I have some artifacts in my lunar photos and I am trying to understand what might be the root cause.

By artifacts I mean 2 small and dark rings, marked in yellow squares.

Here's is a list of my equipment:

ZWO ASI130MM camera

2X barlow lens1.25"

Orion Variable Polarizing Filter

Skywatcher 150/750 newtonian scope on EQ3

Could it be because of small dust particles? Focuser issue? Not perfectly collimated scope? 

I will appreciate any help...

Thank you!

[johnrt]

Looks like dust bunnies to me.

[jambouk]

They look to be a very similar place on the two images. Dust bunnies somewhere in the light path i'd say.

James

[mkalika]

Thank you! 

Is it OK to clean a lens and filter using lens cleaning pen or I should use another cleaning method instead?

[cgarry]

Getting rid of dust bunnies can be a real pig.  I find I often introduce new bunnies while cleaning my sensor.

When you have got the sensor as clean as you can, it might be worth using flat calibration frames prior to stacking to remove these artefacts.  You can use the latest version of PIPP to apply the calibration frames.

Cheers,

Chris

[mkalika]

Thank you, Chris! I would rather say it is an elephant... 

[Pete Presland]

definitely dust bunnies, i would use a hand air blower myself.

[D4N]

They look too diffuse to be on the sensor itself, they could however be on the glass window of the camera or something else very close to it.

I found I had a couple of flecks of dust on mine when I got it but they came off easily.

TSED70Q, iOptron Smart EQ pro, ASI-120MM, Finepix S5 pro.

[astrofox]

Dust absolutly. If I am not carefull my Lodestar is covered in them.

[todd8137]

Dust on the system get a gentle blower

[stepping beyond]

I use a  syringe with a big ball on it " gives just enough air pressure to blow debris off." Any drugstore stocks them.