Pixilated images.

denababy

This is getting ridiculous, if its not one problem it's another. Thanks to you people I've just resolved the polar align issue, I had the wrong focal length figure so the aap would not plate solve. My issue now is that the images I took with my zwo 2600 camera that I purchased a few weeks ago are very pixilated, if that's spelt right, is there a problem with the camera or, most likely, something I've done wrong? Please help again.

johnpd

You sure are having fun. Post an image so we can take a look at it. Are these saved .FITS images that you are processing outside the ASIAIR? What are you using to view them?

JohnD

Tech@ZWO

Could you send us single frame in fits format for analysis? thank you.

denababy

Thanks for your replies, here is a screen shot, hope your can see it ok and advise.

Kevin_A

Do you have camera binning on or maybe just give us abit more information on your aquisition software etc.

denababy

Hello, I bin at 1, the image above is a single image with no processing, crop or anything done to it. I have a zwo2600 camera, a Sharpstar field flattener/ reducer the specific one for Sharpstar. 94. I use a zwo ASIAIR plus to control everything.

Kevin_A

denababy try changing both the power supply and cable and data cable.

Tech@ZWO

denababy Can you please share the fits with us? via google drive or other cloud drives, thank you.

denababy

I hope I've done it and you can see it. I've ordered a new data cable and dew band to put around my field fattener/reducer as well as having my Jackery batteries on charge.

denababy

Kevin_A

denababy is that a screen shot of the jpg or fts file?

johnpd

You need to upload a .FITS file to an online storage site as ZWO requested and give them a link so they can access it and review it.

JohnD

Corsair

Could you please list your equipment in this way:

Mount:
OTA/Telescope:
If used, Reducer/Flattener:
Main Camera:
If used, Guide Scope:
If used, Guide Camera:
Any other equipment (EAF, EFW, Dew heaters, etc):
ASIAIR model and firmware version:

Could you also say or show :

How do you have everything connected with USB/data cables?
How do you have everything powered?

Could you also post:

Screenshots of the ASIAIR screen that show the issue you are having?
Screenshots of your Main Camera settings from the ASIAIR?

denababy

Hi, here is the list of my kit.
AM5 mount on a T40 tripod. Sharpstar 94 edph main scope, Sharpstar field flattener/ reducer specific one for my scope, ZWO 2600mc pro camera, skywatcher evo guide scope with a ZWO 120 mini camera, ZWO EAF, two dew heaters one on the main scope the other one my guide scope, ASIAIR Plus I’m not sure of the firmware version.For connections I use the relevant cables that came usually they have usb connectors that go into the ASIAIR, with the various pieces of kit also for main power I use the Sparking cable. Power is two Jackery 240 batteries
Please look at a previous post and there is a screen shot of one of the images. Main camera settings are/ were gain 100 exposure 120 seconds and a tides turned on.
I’m not on my laptop so screen shots of the aap are not possible.
Hope this is what you are asking for.

Corsair

denababy

Equipment

Mount: AM5 mount on a T40 tripod

OTA/Telescope: Sharpstar 94 edph

If used, Reducer/Flattener: Sharpstar field flattener/ reducer specific one for my scope

Main Camera: ZWO 2600mc pro camera

If used, Guide Scope: skywatcher evo guide scope

If used, Guide Camera: ZWO 120 mini

Any other equipment (EAF, EFW, Dew heaters, etc): ZWO EAF, two dew heaters one on the main scope the other one my guide scope

ASIAIR model and firmware version: ASIAIR Plus I’m not sure of the firmware version

USB/Data Cable Connections and Power Connections (9. and 10.)
For connections I use the relevant cables that came usually they have usb connectors that go into the ASIAIR, with the various pieces of kit also for main power I use the Sparking cable. Power is two Jackery 240 batteries

Screenshots of issue and main camera settings
Please look at a previous post and there is a screen shot of one of the images. Main camera settings are/ were gain 100 exposure 120 seconds and a tides turned on.
I’m not on my laptop so screen shots of the aap are not possible.

Just to confirm from points 2 and 3: are you running at f/5.5 with a focal length of 517mm?

When you are next able to - could you try taking a shot in Preview Mode? Make sure not to zoom in on the picture or anything. Once the shot is done - take a screenshot of the whole ASIAIR screen. It would look like the following (just with the image you took instead of the default background):

This way we can see exactly what you are seeing as well as see what firmware version you are running, the gain of the camera, the temperature of the camera and the histogram distribution. You could also have the Guide Graph showing as well.

Also take a few screenshots of the Main Camera settings like this:

Thanks.

denababy

Hi, the very next time I get the chance I’ll try and do as you suggest. The focal length had been reduced to 414 which is the number I have put into the aap, although at first the system told me that the number was wrong but it solved and carried out the Polar Alignment ok.

Corsair

denababy ah. So based on what I was able to calculate here - https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ - that would mean you have a:

Reducer/Flattener: 0.8x Reducer

This would bring down the focal length from 517mm to 414mm.

However - in the ASIAIR it is recommended that you set the focal length by making the focal length of the Main Camera to 0. You then go into Preview Mode, take an exposure, then press Plate Solve. If it plate solves successfully it will say so AND set the focal length for you. Always go with what it sets.

denababy

Thanks I’ll try that next time.

denababy

Hi, I did as was suggested and everything worked ok. I’m going to see if I can process the images tomorrow, it depends whether the images are pixelated or not. I had my batteries on charge for days up until about 5 mins before I connected everything. I’ll let you know how I get on tomorrow. It’s about ten fifteen and I’ve captured about 95 two minute subs so let’s hope it’s not been a waste of time!

denababy

Hello all, well that turned out to be another night wasted, the images are just the same, pixilated. I had my batteries on charge and I added a new data cable for the camera (zwo 2600 mc pro) even put new dew band around the field flattener/ reducer 0.8, but it made no difference, I’m not even going to bother to stack them. When I was capturing the images of Lower’s Nebula, each one looked ok on the iPad screen but when I looked at them on my laptop, I’ve tried two laptops, they were very pixilated. In the past I’ve imaged quite a lot with no problems so the next thing I’ll try t is to swap out the 2600 for my zwo294 mc pro. I would like to show pics of the various settings in the ASIAIR plus, but don’t know how. I’m writing this on my Apple IPad.