Chefgage

Nice single frame though. I had the same issue the other night. Got all set up, started imaging and then it starting raining! One minute clear skies (and clear all night according to the apps) and the next rain. And then typically after putting everything away the clouds disappeared. Managed better last night in that I got 3 hours on the Orion nebula and then when that disappeared over the houses I got another hour on the rosette.

Well I am currently imaging and can now confirm that the asiair can definitely platesolve a previous nights image. Before I went out I deleted all the images off the card bar one. This image was from last week. Then when I had got set up I viewed the image on the asiair via the app and clicked the goto button. The mount then slewed and platesolved to the target based on last week's image. The only thing it does not do is give you the camera rotation angle of the image from last week. It will only give you the angle from a current image. But going forward this is not a problem. You only have to remembe or right down the angle and use this on the next session of that target.

That's basically how I use to use mine with my star adventurer and Canon 209D. With the lens mounted as normal to the camera it is rather from heavy but it still worked ok.

The first one for me (as in your re-processed). The sky back ground looks more natural and not mottled. The mottling is something I have struggled with when processing but I am getting better slowly.

As the title says, decided to treat myself to a new camera, the ASI294mc-pro colour camera. Thought it was about time I got myself a dedicated astro cooled camera. Only managed about 45 minutes on M42 before the clouds rolled in. But initial impressions are very promising. Capture info HEQ5 Pro mount Skywatcher 72ED Refractor ASIAIR pro ASI294mc-pro colour camera Optolong L-Enhance filter ZWO ASI120mm mini guide scope Gain 120 EXP 180s Lights 14 Darks 20 Flats 20 Total exposure time 42 minutes Stacked and processed in Pixinsight.

I am sure this is the case. I am going to check it later.

That's sounds like what I am after. I did not realise it gave you an angle. I suppose even if I did not note down the co-ordinates and angle the night before or the session before it would only be a case of platesolving an image from a previous session viewed on the asiair to get that information.

Trying to come up with a title that makes sense! I have a 294mc-pro camera that is controlled from a asiair pro. The question is let's say I want to add some more images to a project of the horse head nebula. It's been a while and my camera has been rotated a few times. With the asiair I can plate solve to the last image I took but how do I get the orientation correct. I suppose I could look at the last image taken and keep rotating the camera until it looks about right but there must be a better way??

I do not use the same scope (I use a 72ed) but I got myself a losmandy type dovetail bar. My asiair is now mounted on the underside of the bar effectively underneath the focuser if that makes sense. The losmandy is the wide 30cm version which has a lot of pre-drilled and tapped holes. So I now have my scope, finder scope, asiair pro, Pegasus power box micro and cabling all mounted to the dovetail bar. Makes the whole set up easy to move as I can now move the bar from the mount with everything still attached.

From what I now understand. When you are adding new data you are re-stacking the old data with the new. So your first set of lights are calibrated with the calibration files you took originally. Then in the second group tab you put your new lights and new calibration files. DSS will then calibrate each set of lights with their corresponding calibration files. DSS then stacks all the lights from both groups together giving you one master light that you can then post process.

Thanks, that sounds simple enough. Just need some more clear nights to add to the data

What defects should I be on the look out for?

I have the exact same issue. I put it down to tilt. I too use the exact same image train as you. I do have an adapter from Flo that does away with the thumb screws that hold in the field flattener. You unscrew the black round connector with the thumb screws in the 72ed and replace it with an adapter that the field flattener can screw into. Not sure if this fixes the tilt issue as I have not tried mine yet. The only issue is then you cannot rotate the camera for framing. But as you have a rotator this might be an option.

So for example then for two nights of imaging you would use group 1 and group 2 tabs and then process as normal. If say a couple of weeks later you get another night on that same target would you then re-stack everything i.e. put the first nights lights,darks,flats,bias in group 1, second night in group 2 and the new data in group 3 and then re-stack?

Ah I see. Thanks for explaining that.

The reason being I have not got round to learning how to do it in pixinsight. I really need to get on with that.

What is your reasoning for taking that many flats (256)? Interested as I only take 20 usually.

Thanks. I will have a look at that tomorrow.

What's the best way to analyse the darks, flats etc.. I have taken. Obviously I can just stack them all with the lights in dss and process in pixinsight as normal and see what the resultant image looks like. But is there a way to analyse the flat frame to see if it has been taken correctly. Same with the dark frames?

Hello all. Searched through the threads but could not find the answer to this. I can stack my lights, flats and darks from two different nights in dss and process them in pixinsight. I know how to do that. But for example if I want to keep adding to this project how is it best to add more data to the project using dss? I have a cooled camera (294mc-pro) so I can have a dark library. I take all my subs at the same exposure. So let's say a few weeks later I take some more data (lights and flats) that I want to add to the project. Is it best to just re-stack the images using the group tabs in dss (darks in the main group to calibrate across all groups) for ALL the data (the original data plus the new data). I don't want to stack the stacks. I understand I will be re-processing the data which is good as it gives me a comparison between the processed image of the first two nights and the new image contains the new data.

That's what I was thinking of doing. But I ended up mounting it on the underside of the dove tail bar. I have a skywatcher losmandy type that has many holes. Makes a quite nice neat solution.

The holder can be removed but the screw you are talking about I take it is the small black Allen bolt which has the same on the other side? If so I think this is part of the focuser which the two Allen bolts stop the focuser travel when fully out.

The first image struck me as some sort of end of world scenario. Looks to me like billowing fire coming from the skies to end us all. Very nice image 👍

Just what I am after. Next purchase I think

Arrived a day early, thanks Flo and Mr DPD driver! Zwo asi294mc-pro, two dew heaters and a filter. More new toys to add to the list. Need to get the rig built back up for some imaging. We have had 4 days of perfect nights (baring the moon). The big box had the usual 'may contain clouds' sticker on it. This time the clouds must have escaped the box as tonight is cloudy