Stuart1971

there is also an aberration inspector in pixinsight, it’s worth trying that too…👍🏻

well, from what I have read, the darkest area should be in the middle, and then the lighter areas usually will be concentric around that. gradually getting lighter towards the outside, but an ideal optical system should show the same uniform colour all across the image…

Hmmmm, now that is showing bad tilt…so not sure what is going on there….

I did try a low wattage bulb to start with, and has been said, I had an issue with it melting a small hole on my cover, it’s difficult to keep the cover from always touching it, but I guess if you did not use a cover then no issues, but I would….to keep the heat more controlled around the area you need it to be…

Hello, I used to do something similar before my obsy build, and found that in your storage box, if possible get a cheap cover for the kit, and fit a long dew strap around it and leave in low all the time, this will keep the temp under the cover higher than ambient, and worked a treat for me, never had any damp or condensation of any sort…. I had my dew strap wrapped around the mount, so the heat would rise up, and just had it on for 12 hours overnight…. HTH

Lovely image, but I agree with @Shibby overdone with the noise reduction, has left the focus a bit too soft, and also made the image look a tad plasticky for my taste….

That’s a very good result….👍🏻

See here, and scroll down to CCD inspector section… https://www.hnsky.org/astap.htm#inspector

CCD inspector under the tools menu, you need a RAW image not debayered, and then click on the test button….👍🏻

The question i was asking at the start, was whether the curvature which I know is present, would skew the tilt figures, and make it show worse that it actually was….but I guess imaging in real conditions will answer this ….👍🏻

Hi The test is in all except the focuser, which as you say could introduce some tilt, but my tak focuser is adjusted pretty well and firm, as I like it like that, also I have enough spacers fitted so the focuser only moves out about 10mm when in focus, so am limiting this happening….but you are correct about ASTAP, as I tested 10 images from the same night, and the results ranged from No tilt 5%, to severe tilt 33% 🤔 But they did all show mild curvature, hence me getting the new flattener…

Well in my case, the tilt has now been adjusted out, but not tried imaging since, so I have no idea how it will change the curvature due to not using a flattener….

I personally did have tilt on the sensor, and all corrected now with home built laser tilt jig….👍🏻

I second what @scotty38 said above, but get the proper Velcro branded pads, as they are the best for stickiness, if that is a word…. These are what I use https://www.amazon.co.uk/VELCRO-Brand-Superior-Holding-Indoors/dp/B00186Q5WW/ref=sxin_17?asc_contentid=amzn1.osa.82fb7141-e425-4de1-997f-db7a2d6822f2.A1F83G8C2ARO7P.en_GB&asc_contenttype=article&ascsubtag=amzn1.osa.82fb7141-e425-4de1-997f-db7a2d6822f2.A1F83G8C2ARO7P.en_GB&content-id=amzn1.sym.b65affc6-55c5-4c62-b2ac-14e87b4f4c31%3Aamzn1.sym.b65affc6-55c5-4c62-b2ac-14e87b4f4c31&creativeASIN=B00186Q5WW&crid=2H0XZ496ZC1AV&cv_ct_cx=Velcro+pads&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osa.82fb7141-e425-4de1-997f-db7a2d6822f2.A1F83G8C2ARO7P.en_GB&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_we=asin&cv_ct_wn=osp-single-source-pecos-desktop&keywords=Velcro+pads&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B00186Q5WW&pd_rd_r=19ab78b5-7a38-40af-863e-766d902895a5&pd_rd_w=waTrG&pd_rd_wg=6sD8W&pf_rd_p=b65affc6-55c5-4c62-b2ac-14e87b4f4c31&pf_rd_r=AEJAPNER4723PE1BW4J8&qid=1666256344&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0Ljk1IiwicXNhIjoiNC45NiIsInFzcCI6IjQuOTMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=velcro+pads%2Caps%2C85&sr=1-1-5897fe0a-dc16-4e79-b453-1709d39a586b&tag=mumsnetosp-21

They don’t, but it doesn’t hurt to do so….👍🏻

Super image…👍🏻 I had similar issues to you when I used a Lodestar x2, in the end I sold it and bought the ASI174m mini, and wow, what a difference that made, with the smaller pixels and at least twice the sensitivity, it just made all the difference….I ended up putting it down to the big 8.5 micron pixels of the lodestar, just not suiting my set up, I image at 1.72”/pixel, and guide at 3.75”/pixel

Yes, and both Noise X and Star X are fantastic tools…as you have found out…👍🏻

No you don’t, you can use it wherever you like once paid for, just pick the download link to suit….👍🏻

Wow, love it, the detail is superb, can’t wait to see the finished image, I have never done very well at all on this target… Have you plucked up the courage to delve into PI yet, you won’t regret it, i promise you…👍🏻 There are some great new drag and drop one click tools coming out for PI, created by a guy called Bill Blanshan in the USA, and wow do they simplify things even more… Check this out for an example…

Wow, brings back memories, my first car, and it was that colour too….without the rust, I might add….

Beautiful, and no, you are not the only one who sees the car on fire, I saw it as soon as I read what you had written….👏🏻👍🏻

Very nice indeed, I think maybe there is some more faint detail to be brought out there too, but superb all the same….👏🏻👍🏻

There is also a script in PI for specifically this purpose, called “Remove magenta stars” which also works very well 👍🏻

Hmmm, I feel for you, but am at a loss, as to what you are asking or wanting from us here in the UK….or is this just a vent post….? 🤔🤔

Ah, ok…🤔🤔