Gina's DIY All Sky Cam - Complete Redesign

[Gina]

This is better - probably a case of getting gain and exposure right   BTW the picture is upside down   I've just got the camera on its pole resting against the living room window.  If I turn the camera to make the image right way up the weight of the solar film causes the shutter to open partly.   All associated equipment indoors.

The tiny PCB USB hub works with the QHY5 with Linux but not with Win 7.  The Arduino is OK with Win 7 - not tested with Linux as I haven't yet developed a Linux control app.

[Gina]

Camera and pole now stuck out the window on the south side so doesn't have the window glass and secondary double glasing to look through.  Still with shutter closed and solar film over sensor.  I think the solar film is reducing the clarity of the image - it seemed much better without.

I think I'll go out and put the pole on the obsy corner post as the ASC appears to be working properly.  I may focus with the Asus (Win 7) and view with the Dell (Linux Mint and oacapture) then once I've set focus I can unplug the focus USB and plug in the camera into the Asus and Win 7 with PHD2 until it gets really dark and then SharpCap.

[JamesF]

Ah, yes, the QHY5 is  known to have a few odd "features" such as the one you showed.  I'm not aware that anything can be done to fix it.

James

[Gina]

It only shows sometimes on oacapture but I haven't seen it at all with the PHD2 or SharpCap under Win 7.

[Gina]

Well, it's back up in position and everything is working   WooHoo :) The Dell is now working with TeamViewer (also the Asus).  I can get pixel focus on my weather station pole which might be alright for stars too but I'll know when the stars appear   Here is a screenshot via TeamViewer of the oacapture image and controls.  It's dark enough for the shutter to be open automatically and this pic is without the solar film filter.

My VB focussing app as designed for my triple scope imaging rig.  With single imagers the scope selection radio buttons do nothing - they are ignored.

[Gina]

A star and Venus (I think) now showing   Plus some "nice" clouds

[Gina]

Another capture with the maximum exposure oacapture can currently give.

[JamesF]

I can increase the exposure time limit if necessary.  It's somewhat arbitrary for the QHY5.

James

[Gina]

I was able to refine the focus slightly on a star - it was about 3 steps out.

[Gina]

I can increase the exposure time limit if necessary.  It's somewhat arbitrary for the QHY5.

James

That would  be useful James   I go up to something like a minute in SharpCap.  An extra range of 10-100s would be great   I have increased the gain to pull out more stars but this is causing funnies - I think more exposure is what's really wanted.

I shall be going over to Windows imaging shortly (now that I'm satisfied with the focus) for the extra exposure - sorry...

[JamesF]

I've increased the upper limit by a factor of 10 for the next release.

Does that pattern go away if you leave the camera for a few exposures?

James

[Gina]

Great   I look forward to that

If you mean leave it running, no.  I haven't tried disconnection and then trying again.

[JamesF]

I mean leave it running and connected up with the application running.  I have a vague recollection of seeing that second pattern once, but I have a feeling it disappeared and after that I wasn't sure what had caused it or even if I'd imagined it.

James

[Gina]

SharpCap at 60s exposure.  Lots of cloud now - obscuring the stars   Noise and hot pixels now showing but I think dark frame subtraction would help with this.

[Gina]

And here's a stack of 3 subs of 20s for comparison.  Not a lot of difference AFAICS.  The fixed pattern noise is the main problem rather than random noise.  So dark frame subtraction is more important than the ability to stack frames it seems.  Unfortunately SharpCap doesn't have dark frame subtraction.

[Gina]

I mean leave it running and connected up with the application running.  I have a vague recollection of seeing that second pattern once, but I have a feeling it disappeared and after that I wasn't sure what had caused it or even if I'd imagined it.

James

Yes, that's what I thought and no, the pattern doesn't disappear.

[Gina]

SharpCap 5x12s subs.

[Gina]

SharpCap 3x10s subs.  One thing I like about Sharpcap is that is has a Frame exposure progress bar (green, bottom right).

I've noticed that the focus has gone off slightly.  The stars of The Plough are showing again but are no longer pin sharp   Maybe I should add the temperature control

[Gina]

Daytime image now - captured with PHD2 0.1s with solar film - sunny with plenty of cloud about.  I see no way any capture software could handle the immense contrast provided by having the sun in the image but I would love to be proved wrong   I'll pop out and switch imaging to the Dell Linux Mint oacapture setup shortly

[Cath]

Multi-scale Adaptive Contrast Enhancement is the first thing that comes to mind Gina .. maybe one for the forums coders to think about on a rainy day

[Gina]

Multi-scale Adaptive Contrast Enhancement is the first thing that comes to mind Gina .. maybe one for the forums coders to think about on a rainy day

That sounds good Cath   Wonder what James thinks

[Cath]

'phurp' ?

[JamesF]

'phurp' ?

Far too deep and well-considered for me at this stage of a Friday morning, Cath

James

[Cath]

lol

It's often something that might follow a dose of Rubarb or Beans

[Gina]

Cloud covering the sun now...  Back to my preferred software and OS   oacapture on the Dell laptop