Preparing for First Light

m@rk

I will be doing AP and using my ASI224MC for the first time tonight. My target is the moon. I will be using a 12" f/4.9 goto dob in lunar tracking mode and will have a ZWO UV filter on the camera.

Which software would be best?

I am assuming that I will focus by viewing the image on screen?

Being the moon, is there any stacking or other post-processing that will need to be done?

Any tips that might save me time and frustration out in the cold?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Mark

riklaunim

m@rk wrote:

Which software would be best?

FireCapture for recording, Autostakkert2 and Castrator for stacking, then something for processing (I'm using AstraImage).

m@rk wrote:

I am assuming that I will focus by viewing the image on screen?

Yes, for ASI224 and planets you can add a Barlow - 2 - 2.5x, for Moon start without or with a weaker one. Infrared passing (instead of cutting) filter could also give better results on Moon.

m@rk wrote:

Being the moon, is there any stacking or other post-processing that will need to be done?

I stack AVI in Autostakkert and then it has to be sharpened. It can be done in Registax (wavelets) but also in Photoshop, Pixinsight or astro-applications like AstraImage.

m@rk

So here is what I did and the results.

I did not use a barlow, I did use a moon filter. I recorded using FireCapture for 60 seconds.

FireCapture v2.4 Settings


------------------------------------
Camera=ZWO ASI224MC
Filter=L
Profile=Moon
Filename=Moon_193901.ser
Date=181215
Start=193901.092
Mid=193931.613
End=194002.135
Start(UT)=013901.092
Mid(UT)=013931.613
End(UT)=014002.135
Duration=61.043s
Date_format=ddMMyy
Time_format=HHmmss
LT=UT -6h
Frames captured=3967
File type=SER
Binning=no
ROI=1296x960
ROI(Offset)=0x0
FPS (avg.)=64
Shutter=1.000ms
Gain=200
AutoExposure=off
HighSpeed=off
WBlue=95
SoftwareGain=10 (off)
WRed=52
USBTraffic=100
Brightness=1
HardwareBin=off
Gamma=50
Histogramm(min)=0
Histogramm(max)=255
Histogramm=100%
Noise(avg.deviation)=n/a
Limit=none
Sensor temperature=16.8 °C

I opened the .ser file using Autostakkert2 and followed the steps 1 & 2. To get step 3 to be enabled, I clicked on the 'Place AP Grid' button. Then I saved the image as a TIF.

I opened the TIF file in Registax and on the Wavelet tab I clicked Do All and saved the image as a BMP.

This is the result:

Not sure if the Wavelet did anything at all. I just used all the defaults in the operations. No great features selected in the shot but I guess it came out okay.

Any suggestions for next time?

riklaunim

For wavelets you have to play with those setting on the left. Starting from top they sharpen fine to thick detail with given strength. Deconvolution is easier to use as it has one strength setting and not multiple.

firstc8

Great image!

Next wait for better seeing condition and use a Barlow lense. It will be much more challenging and there is no substitute for a good seeing when zooming in.

m@rk

riklaunim wrote:
For wavelets you have to play with those setting on the left. Starting from top they sharpen fine to thick detail with given strength. Deconvolution is easier to use as it has one strength setting and not multiple.

Is Deconvolution a separate software or an option somewhere inside Registax?

@FirstC8 - Thanks!

riklaunim

Deconvolution isn't available in Registax, but it's in AstraImage (non-free). I have two articles about it:

http://www.rkblog.rk.edu.pl/w/p/processing-planetary-images/

http://www.rkblog.rk.edu.pl/w/p/stacking-and-sharpening-planetary-images-practice/

And for Moon going max resolution with Barlows isn't best on start as light diffraction makes lunar imaging on ~max telescope resolution less effective that slightly below max resolution. And then infrared filter is also welcomed ;)