Astrophotography Beginners Training - Part 11 - Shooting Theory

In this part of our Astrophotography Beginners Training, we cover all the theory you need to know to shoot - from the Lights to all the different calibration frames - the Darks, the Bias, the Flats and the Dark Flats.
#astrophotography #Stargazing #NightSky
Join my Patreon site for downloading the booklet with all the course content and for getting cutting edge news about Astrophotography software and equipment, early access without commercials and tons of supporting documents: www.patreon.co...
If you buy any equipment you may consider these three shops - by using the links below you support the channel:
Agena Astro: agenaastro.com...
High Point Scientific: www.highpoints...
Astroshop.eu: www.astroshop....
LINKS TO RESSOURCES:
All about Luminance: • LUMINANCE - Do You Rea...
Create Flats with NINA: • Make Perfect FLATS The...
Calibration Frames by / @cuivthelazygeek: • EVERYTHING about calib...
All about SNR by / @deepskydetail : • Are accurate predictio...
And all about SNR by / @dylanodonnell : • Why SNR is Misundersto...

[@OldGirlPhotography]

It's interesting that on the subject of calibration frames, the only type not subject to debate and differing opinions are flat frames. In light of the differing opinions, I've decided that I will shoot all types of calibration frames, once per season, for each of my two scopes, for each exposure length I use. That way, I will have everything no matter what the most recent guidance/advice is. I don't disassemble my scopes, so am trusting the files to be valid for several months. I also shoot all my calibration frames on days when I'm not shooting lights - of course, taking into account the temperature. Remember most of us are making pretty pictures for sharing on social media. This seasonal strategy works perfectly for that purpose and for me is the right balance of effort and result.

[@thomascollins8743]

Hi Sasha, is part 12 not uploaded yet? I cannot find it on your channel. Great videos! Thanks for posting them!

[@viewintospace]

Sorry, Parts 12-15 are still not done yet - Part 12 should be available within a week

[@thomascollins8743]

@@viewintospace Thank you! Thought I was going crazy looking for them!

[@frankm81m82]

If you don’t use darks you must use bias instead to remove offset

[@viewintospace]

Fully agree!

[@jesuschrist2284]

Should i still be using darks and biases with a cooled imx533 color?

[@viewintospace]

If you are dithering (which you should anyway) you can stop taking darks.

[@jesuschrist2284]

@@viewintospace ty

[@jesuschrist2284]

@@viewintospace ty

[@PhilippeNoth]

Hi Sasha, Thanks for all your work and the knowledge you are sharing. Last year, I have been shooting with an OSC ASI533 and a WO73 scope. (This year I shot almost exclusively with a Seestar 🤭but this is another story. I’ll just mention that by making the acquisition step so easy, it helped me a lot to focus on learning PixInsight.) My question is: I am not keen to go mono because I love simplicity, but I’d like to have more leeway in processing (e.g. using the Hubble palette). Next year, would it make sense to shoot OSC with the 2 Askar filters D1 and D2: one night with D1, one night with D2 on the same target? Then combine them in PI?

[@viewintospace]

Let me give you my answer in 2 parts: Part 1: The Askar Duo - D1/D2 is a great option to shoot SHO with a OSC camera. It does not have to be 2 nights - in can also be half a night one filter, and then the other... (depends on the lenght of the night...) Part 2: I tell you a secret - shooting mono is simpler/easier than with these 2 filters. I would rather see the Askar/OSC option as a great compromise for people who can not afford shooting mono, but if we are talking simplicity, there is nothing easier than having one filter per emission - stack and and you are ready...

[@PhilippeNoth]

@@viewintospace Thx Sasha for confirming that adding Askar Duo in the workflow would be beneficial for better images. I don’t mind time and complexity in front of the computer since I am an IT geek. I am less confortable with the complexities of a rig: size of filter wheel, additional cables… So glad recent mounts do not need counterweights and polar align is computer-assisted. And so thankful to have platesolving! Might change my mind about mono in 5 years, who knows?

[@anata5127]

Heavy trace will not destroy a frame if you know how to use PixInsight. Even your picture among stars will not destroy frame, your picture will be rejected by WBPP, if setting is right. Exposure time and integration time cannot be precisely calculated, it could only be estimated; the rest is gradual accumulation of data until desired results are achieved. Next, “going longer frame exposure doesn’t give benefits except stacking “. Incorrect! Every frame has noise. More frames, more noise. Moreover, there are such dim objects that you will not see anything after 3 min exposure. You have to go for longer exposure frames. Next, guiding beyond 3 min is problematic for long focal length scopes. Yes, it is. But, sometimes you have no choice, or selection of targets could be limited.