help starting with asi294

[larrym1972]

i bought a asi294mc I did some imaging. few images turn out ok anther did not. i was wonder is a guide or chart i could go by to get right  setting the gain and exposure time.  

i only four clears sky a month if im lucky six. i got about 100 degree of sky about 6.5 hours  because of mountain an trees

i use linux ubuntu 16.04 i used AstroDMx for capture. Siril for stacking. the next time im using FireCapture 

M27 The gain at 70% and 5 frame at 20 sec

M57 Gain 70% one frame of 30 sec

 

NGC6543 Gain 70% 15 frame of 20 sec

 

M106 gain 70% 15 frame at 30 sec

i had brighten up to bring out the detail 

[mikeyj1]

You don't mention which scope you are using, but based on the Field of view its a long focal length, so SCT?  if it's operating at F10 (no reducer), then you need a lot more 'data' (time) on exposures (make it 150 frames of 15 secs and see how it looks)

The dark smudges on the frames are dust or marks on the lens or mirror.  you will need 'Flats' to get rid of that.  I'm not familiar with Linux or Siril, but the basics wont change..stacking and calibrating frames together

[larrym1972]

it is celestron sct 11"  i am getting a focal reducer in couple weeks

Edited March 2, 2019 by larrym1972

[Hughsie]

SharpCap is a free piece of image capturing software. It has a tool called  Sensor Analysis which can be run in 15 minutes and will provide read noise for various gain settings on your camera.

Once you have run this my understanding is that SharpCaps “smart historgram”  and brain will provide details of appropriate settings for the camera.  I am very much finding my feet with this and further details can be found at https://www.sharpcap.co.uk/sharpcap/features/smart-histogram

Also the author of SharpCap gave a great presentation on whether long exposures are necessary: