Flats and weather rant !!!

[kirkster501]

Tonight got 40 x 150 sec exposures of M31 and they are all good with nice round stars etc. I then Got to end of my darks. Was just about to start flats and only needed 5 mins more and heavens opened. Had to rip everything up and get it into garage. So all that data and No flats So I tried to set up in garage but camera had slightest rotated on the FR/FF so I assume will not align with the data properly.

Is it worth me using my flats from the other night do you think? Surely better than nothing and worth a go?

Rgds, Steve

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[StuW]

you could always try making some virtual flats.

[davew]

Plan.... Take some more flats the best you can or use the old ones. Nothing to loose either way. I know you're not supposed to move anything but now you have just give it a go.

The alternative is no flats.

Dave.

[kirkster501]

I'll give it a go later when I am home I am now a flats convert now I know what they are and what they do! Whether my iPad method is any good is another story....

[kirkster501]

The replacement flats do not work. Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!! They do not align with the lights and so do not cancel out properly. Well, what a waste, other than for the experience! One go at flats and I am completely converted and on message - they make the world of difference to images I have found.

[dph1nm]

They really should work for vignetting if the camera is rotated at roughly the same angle. I only take flats about once every few months - I just make sure the camera is on the scope each night at what, by eye, looks the same angle. Dust bunnies are a different matter, but my 1000D never has any (has some auto cleaning thing for the sensor which seems to do a fantastic job).

NigelM

[kirkster501]

Well, I think the Vignetting is fixed but there are smudges that proper flats would have cleared.

Anyway, this is what became of it, Thoughts welcomed...

Rgds, Steve

[Gina]

posted in error

[K3ny0n]

What steps are you doing Steve with your iPad

when taking your flats if you don't mind me asking. I might try it myself.

Rob.

[kirkster501]

Hi Rob,

There is a flats tool in the APT software.

What I do is put a white T shirt over the front of my scope and smooth it out so there are no wrinkles. Then I get a pure white screen up on my iPad - o as near to white as possible (email gives a nice white screen) and put it on top of the T-shirt and hold it there by hand. Then I fire the APT flats profile off and grab 20 or so in two mins. It seems to work well. Not sure what the experts would say.

Rgds, Steve

[K3ny0n]

Thanks Steve.

I'll have to download APT and give it a try when I get my imaging gear, thanks again bud.

Rob.

[kirkster501]

You are welcome . Of course, it goes without saying that the iPad needs to cover the end of the scope - which is easy with a 3-4 inch refractor. With a large SCT or Newtonian the iPad woudl not be big enough to cover the front of the scope.... You would have to experiment if you have that setup - maybe it woudl still work...

I am a new found flats enthusiast. I wondered what it was all about until I started to take pictures without them. The flats get rid of imperfections, smudges and marks (within reason) in the imaging train just brilliantly.

I am a beginner AP'er myself so my ideas could be just none-sense of course!

Steve

[K3ny0n]

It's one huge learning curve so I'm just trying to get as much info before I get my imaging setup. I'm looking to get the ed80 st80 piggyback so I think my iPad would fully fit.

I've also got to think about wether to keep or sell my current setup, 200p on a EQ5.

Rob.

[kirkster501]

The 200p is meant to be a super scope for AP. Indeed, its an option I am considering for deeper views.

The ED80/ST80 combo is excellent and was recommended to me by giants such as Olly and Steve Richards. You won't be disappointed !!!