TakMan

Hi Freddie Thanks for the reply and apologies for the lateness of my acknowledgment. I'm not an experienced solar (or deep sky) imager, yet I'm interested in learning 'best practise' and find it fascinating the different approaches to get the best results/most out of a given system. Firstly, can I ask, do you use any aperture mask for your AR152, or run it at the native f/6.5 ? OK, to your reply! Correct, well sort of! I usually keep Gamma at neutral (1), so 'off' and modify that later in Photoshop if I wish as part of my own process. I always thought that was the 'right' way to do things. I did attempt a few tests though last time out, reducing Gamma between 0.7-0.9 for some Proms and increasing Gamma up to 1.3 for disk images to add a bit more density/contrast. This was after reading the new 'Solar Astronomy' book published by Axilone (edited by Christian Viladrich - who is an experienced imager over on SolarChat). Specifically for my camera (Basler aca1920-155), he suggested that his testing showed the camera applied any Gamma setting before the analog to digital conversion which had no effect on quantisation noise - Page 318), so could be a legitimate tool for capture. I'm still going through my own data and think I will stick to a neutral Gamma setting at acquisition (although I can't see anything wrong with the data captured with Gamma modified) and just adjust Gamma to help locate prominences and achieve focus. I'm definitely going to have to try your method next time out! I went the other way.... If using Mono12 I have Gain right up around 18.5 db and with Mono8 it's 30.5 db (db is now Basler's own Pylon software sets it - I'm on Mac and Phyon is the only software that supports the camera... although I am looking at a Windows gaming laptop to move to Firecapture at some stage). These gain figures are not arbitrary but were settled on after loads of testing (well I ran the tests and processing in ImageJ and @vlaiv - of course!) did the data analysis to find the lowest noise for each using documentation from Basler and cross reference with the ZWO174 that uses the same chip. I actually find Mono12 to produce cleaner data. There is less noise (and less vertical chip structure) in the dark 'space' regions when imaging proms. The offset is that Mono12 only runs to 110fps, produces larger files and require longer exposures (9-12ms). Mono8 runs at 2-3ms and hits the full 165fps. But., unlike your findings: I need a minimum of 150-200 frames to stack in Mono12 to suppress the noise (usually choose 250-300) and 300-500 in Mono8. I felt I was on the right track as I capture 3-4000 frames in a 22-30 second capture run (so 10-15% chosen to stack) and then later read the same in the Solar Astro book "300 to 600 images for Ha disk images and 300 to 900 images for Ha prominences" - page 332... I was also aiming for filling the histogram up to 80%, but have found this can clip the bright regions! Having read (and re-read) your reply, I will definitely have to give your method a go. Perhaps I'll drop the gain down to a point where I can still capture at 2-5ms and take it from there (perhaps 5-10ms under better seeing). I presume you use flats to remove any non-uniformity of your Quark..? Do you use BIAS (or dark frames) to calibrate the flats and/or the light frames...? Lastly, I posted a few RAW data sets saved out of AS!3 over on my original thread. Could I trouble you (when/if) you have time to take a look - I'd be very interested to see your take on processing my data! Enjoy the rest or your Bank Holiday, clear skies... Damian

Thanks all 😀 Here is the same feature, just a bit later... AR2993 / 2994, 10.27 BST, Best 400 / 3000 Mono12P - 10000ms Full size jpeg attached - do the double-click As I'd be interested to see what others could manage with the same data, attached is the untouched file out of AS!3. All I've done is kill the dead space on the histogram. 15 as 14_lapl3_ap6281.tif Plus a 300 and 500 stack (not touched the histogram). Please feel free to have a play and post back... would love to get some pointers - I'd really like to know how folks get their shots so 'smooth' (Freddie!) ?? 300 frames: 15 as 14_lapl3_ap6281.tif 500 frames: 15 as 14_lapl3_ap6281.tif If you'd prefer a stack of 200 or 600, pm me! Damian

Nice detail and contrast in that shot.... especially towards the limb... 👌

That’s lovely Freddie… Could I trouble you for some acquisition and also processing details please…. If you are prepared to share..? I’d be interested to know how many frames you stack from your total and the sort of settings you use in AS!3 (size of alignment points and quantity) as I’m new to that version… I’ve been using the setting where it adds multiple sized points over each other - running into the 4-5 thousand - which takes ages on the wife’s Ryzen 5 laptop (can’t get AS!3 to work under WINE on my Mac). Will be keeping this as a reference shot for my own data! Damian

Super fine structure and details across the FOV 👌 😀

After Freddie's input yesterday, I've had a second go - same data... This is more like my usual solar processing... not as 'dramatic' as my first attempt, but there is definitely more detail within the core region of the sunspots... perhaps there is a happy medium between the two (which I'm yet to find!) D

That’s worth noting Freddie - thanks for the constructive feedback - this image is darker than my usual posting, so I’ll revisit and perhaps post another…. Me trying too much to replicate a more expensive 0.3A Solar Spectrum! Clear skies… Damian

Forecast a sunny start... blighted with thin cloud, gusts of wind and not the best seeing... but wanted to have a crack at the huge active region I've been following on GONG, here and SolarChat... since it appeared over the horizon last week! Received an AiryLab SSM to help me judge the seeing conditions since my last solar imaging run (I can't use it to trigger the Mac software at the moment... whilst Firecapture does run on Mac, it doesn't support the camera!) So I have it hooked up to Paul De Backer's OS X Solar Monitor software Loads of data to go through, wanted to test a few things out.... trying to subdue an internal reflection (when imaging proms), reducing Newton Rings, Changing the gamma at capture... Camera/Quark connection, etc.... I also have a heat sink inbound for the camera coming from Basler for the next time out and I've added a sunshield to keep the camera in the shade.... Basler '174' > Quark Chromo > TEC140 > Baader D-ERF. Used the wife's Windows laptop to run AS!3, then back onto the Mac for ImPPG (running in WINE) sharpening and then into good ole Photoshop. Captured in Basler's own Pylon software on Mac. BIAS and Flat frame (bag) calibrated. Guided by an Hinode Solar Guider. Ran the TEC140 at a reduced 125mm f/7.8 and with the Quark's 4.3x internal telecentric, that presents f/33.7 at the etalon - Rupert/Astrograph suggests that may eek out an extra 0.1A from my Q.... so a bit more contrast, plus I've tried some different capture and processing techniques after reading (still going through) the newish Solar Astronomy book published by Axilone. Clear skies, Damian As usual (for reference), the closest (by UT/GMT time) GONG image. …and sunspot identification from the SOHO website: AR2993 / 2994, 8.57 BST, Best 500 / 3000 Mono12P - 12000ms - Average Seeing 1.58 arc-seconds approx over 30 seconds Full size jpeg attached - do the double-click

I agree, super granulation on that image 👍 D

No worries Pete, it made me add a note to that image that I should have done the first time round! No, I’m Mac based - of course I could try it under some sort of emulation or dual boot, etc…. But really Photoshop should be able to cope with such things!? Damian

Some nice detail there, especially right into the brighter regions. Full cloud here north of Birmingham…

Thanks Pete... I did edit my original post though after your reply to make it more obvious that the full disk image was not my own. I don't have a set-up to manage that with a Quark! ...and after responding to Yawning Angel's mosaic thread to say I didn't have much luck with stitching my panoramic goes together... ...I had another go with more data from the 1st and this time Photoshop obliged! AR2978 / 2981 (and surrounding area), 8.47-8.54 BST, Best 250 - 3 pane Full size jpeg attached - do the double-click

Great set of images Steve, really like the colours of the 4th-5th versions. 😀👌 D

A forecast sunny few hours this morning - first solar action since July last year! A bit rusty on acquisition, processing, etc - don't think the seeing was as good as hoped (think Charl thought the same) and so far, they aren't my best work.... still going through the data though - hope to find that super seeing! But something to do when off with the dreaded Covid (the wife a bit worse than me, although I think I'm a day or so behind her...) Basler '174' > Quark Chromo > TEC140 > Baader D-ERF. AS!2 > ImPPG > Ps. Captured in Basler's Pylon on Mac. 3000 images captured per set, Mono 12P (max 110fps - although some sets were down to 60fps), Flat frame (bag) calibrated - although I can still detect some Newton Rings going on - a tad annoying, but hey-ho, no darks. Guided by an Hinode Solar Guider. Will revisit this thread to post the rest later... unless I head off to bed early… so will have something to do for the ole birthday tomorrow! Clear skies, Damian As usual (for reference), the closest (by UT/GMT time) GONG image. …and sunspot identification from the SOHO website: AR2978 / 2981, 9.10 BST, Best 250 Full size jpeg attached - do the double-click AR2975 / 2976, 9.03 BST, Best 250 Full size jpeg attached - do the double-click

That’s an improvement on mine - nicely done 👍 I had a look out last night… lovely and clear, could see so many stars! I think mine has suffered from the transparency levels. Should have tried a comparison last night - but the wife and I have gone down with the dreaded Covid so decided against that and went out this morning in the sunshine to grab some solar Ha instead! Thanks for posting Sam. Damian

Very nice, I've never had much luck getting Ps to stitch together my Quark mosaics - so kudos to you for a seamless job!

Thanks for the reply Sam Would be interested to see your results… please drop me a link if you have processed… Clear (and transparent!) skies… D

Decided to try something a bit different for 'Galaxy Season' as my focal length is rather limited. So a bit of a challenge... Abell 31 / Sharpless Sh2-290 / PK 219 +31 / ARO 135 Was keen to process and see what had been captured... Had hoped for a tad more, but the three nights last week (Thursday 24th - Saturday 26th), whilst clear and without the moon, were not very transparent - could only just make out Leo and couldn't even see Cancer naked eye - I blame it on all this sand folks have been talking about in the sky! Despite the lack of the moon, working in Ha was a better choice under the conditions than imaging in broadband... Hope to try and get some OIII for this very faint object (which is supposed to be stronger than the Ha), perhaps even SII in the future Perhaps my time was wasted on this target, but here's 11Hrs - 33x 1200sec exposures (the individual light frames showed hardly anything of the nebula), from my back garden in Lichfield, Staffs. Chroma 50mm unmounted 3nm Ha, dark and flat frame calibrated + dark flats Aligned/stacked in APP. Post-processed in Ps and stand-a-lone StarNet++ (V1) on OSX. FSQ106ED @ f/5 - Atik 16200M (running at -20ºC), Atik OAG/SBIG-ST-i Do the clicky thing for the full size jpeg (slight crop after stacking) An ancient planetary nebula at the foot of Cancer (below open cluster M67), discovered in 1955 by George Abell. Estimated to be 2,000 light years away. Although it is one of the largest planetary nebulae in the sky - nearly the size of the better known Helix Nebula, it is pretty dim... makes my last target, the Jellyfish Nebula look positively bright by comparison! The nebula is moving through space at high speed. The direction of this motion is defined by a wide bow shock where the nebular gas and dust is compressed by the interaction with the interstellar medium. Gas heading in the opposite direction is moving downwind, and remains relatively untouched, making that boundary diffuse in comparison. Thanks for looking, clear skies... Damian

All. sorted thanks to Patrick Chevalley (the developer) and Han59 on SGL For future reference, the remedy: The CCDciel configuration file was corrupted by the crash. The program makes a backup copy that can be used to recover. Use Windows Explorer to open the directory show in the screenshot, or type directly this path to the Explorer: %LOCALAPPDATA%\ccdciel\ In this directory delete the file ccdciel.conf Then copy ccdciel.conf.bak and rename as: ccdciel.conf Try CCDciel to see if it starts...

Can anyone help a Mac user with this Windows 7 (32bit) issue please...? I had a great night's imaging last night, but at the end when closing down, I think CCDciel hung.... On shutdown the machine showed some sort of 'dos' screen. On start-up this evening it also had another 'dos' style screen. Once the laptop had then booted up, CCDciel would not start up and I got this message: SkyChart / Cartes du Ciel loads up, plus PHD2, I can connect to the mount via ASCOM. I found the 'properties' for the drive and ran 'DiskUtility' or whatever it's called. Still no joy, so I updated CCDciel to the latest version and I still get this same message. What am I doing wrong..?! Being a Mac user, I've no idea where to start with this! Hope ysomeone can help....? Regards, Damian

That’s super. Really like the choice of colour - often I find this palette slightly ‘acidic’, but the greens and golds have worked well - a nice sense of depth… Some fantastic detail, especially in the bright ridge (that the horse’s head protrudes from) and in the 🔥 region. Personally would just remove the few stars at the top. Will be downloading this for future reference! Clear skies… Damian

😀 Take one pack of Jelly and add 15 hrs of time to help it set.... My longest integration through one filter.... It's been a slog what with our weather, but I'm happy with the end result. Over the period I've really been able to better understand the new software suite I've moved to, my gear, plate-solving, I've settled on multi-star guiding in PHD2 as that appears to offer a small improvement to the overall guide trace and RMS figure... and 'Han59' has helped me dial in the autofocus routine making it more robust/reliable.... so time well spent! I've managed to start both the OIII and SII, but it'll be next year now when I get the rest to make up a final image... 🤞 Perhaps a OSC CMOS would have been a better idea stuck onto the 106's F/R ! The progress to date can be found here: So, 45x 1200 seconds, Chroma 50mm unmounted 3nm Ha, dark and flat frame calibrated + dark flats Aligned/stacked in APP. In fact, I gave APP 47 files to go through that I was happy with and let it choose the best 45 to pre-process and stack. FSQ106ED @ f/5 - Atik 16200M (running at -20ºC), Atik OAG/SBIG-ST-i Post-processed solely in Ps (no Topaz - I tried the demo of DeNoise AI once again - and hated it, much preferring what can be done via the tools in Photoshop itself - perhaps it's just me!!!) and stand-a-lone StarNet++ (V1) on OSX. Tried to get V2 to work, but turns out it requires the latest OSX (only released in mid-Jan 22) and I'm not interested in upgrading (and being Apple's guinea pig, as I use the machine for graphics and need all the other software to still work!) A pity the developer decided to go that route, but V1 works OK with my data thankfully. Data was super easy to work with, very little noise reduction used to get to this point. Of course, there is noise, but I think once the other channels are added and colour introduced, quite a bit will be masked. Will probably reprocess anyway as I've lost a bit of detail in the bright upper left edge of the Jelly that I can see better on my previous go! Damian Do the clicky thing for the full size jpeg (slight crop after stacking)

That’s a very good point Steve! If you don’t have a guide lock position to arbitrarily shift / dither…. was dithering taking place in the first place…?!

The choice to only dither in RA is to help those folks with mounts that perhaps don’t play nicely when the guide star in Dec is thrown (with a dither set to both axis) - perhaps taking an age to recover. Especially those that have the PHD quide setting changed from ‘auto’ to North or South only guide commands. That helps if you end up in a constant backlash battle and then the mount is jumping from one side to the other…

Looking great - a positive start to a nice little project (even if it takes until next year!) D