Problems with DeepSkyStacker

[Keithp]

Hi All,

From my first imaging session last night/this morning I've got my best set of images (only 6 plus one dark) and trying to put them through DSS just to get some experience with using it.

I'm having what appears to be a major problem though. I've attached smaller versions of two of the images, they are all 180 secs including the dark.

I load the images and the dark into DSS, select check all and save file list then Register checked pictures. On the Advanced tab I move the slider and then click compute number of detected stars. At this point using the RAW files I'm lucky if I get 2! Tried it with a set of TIFs of the same images and I can get anywhere between 2 and in excess of 2000!

Using the TIF versions it goes off and does it's thing and everytime comes back with a message along the lines of 'only 1 of the 6 images will be stacked. Increase the star detection threshhold etc.'

When I did let it stack with just 1 image as it got towards the end I get an 'Out of memory' error...everytime. I'm using version 3.3.0 of DSS.

Any ideas anybody?

Regards

Keithp

[Psychobilly]

DSS can be very fussy about having "round" stars...

Aa for the out of memory... check diskpace and see where DSS is "storing" its intermedeate files...

Peter...

[Keithp]

Cheers Peter, found out where it's doing the processing, local_settings\temp folder, cleared it all out and this time it got further but just as I thought it was going to finish..bam 'Out of memory' error.

I also tried with two TIFs that I modified using MartinBs excellent guide on sharpening stars up but still the same problem with it only attempting to stack with one.

Regards

Keithp

[adamsp123]

Are you using 2x drizzle, that chews memory so turn off.

Try the subs only, settings say - Light,median or kappa sigma, per channel backgound calibration and under options select none, when finished the run, play with colour sliders to get a brightish image and with the luminosity try and get a pic that has a reasonably dark background but clearly show the object/stars save, play some more save again.

Then process the saved tiffs with paintshop/photoshop.

[Dave]

I had that problem a while ago. I found that the tick box Save Output under Stacking Parameters was unticked. When it was ticked, it then worked no problem. Which begs the question, Why does it have a tick box that disables the process?

Dave