Sequence Generator Pro - Flat Frame Calibration Wizard

[@rayjohnson7437]

Hi Amy - my first ever comment on any KZbin channel! Had to say thank you for an excellent video on how to take flats with a CCD/CMOS astronomy camera, really clear instructions, a real lesson in how to make really helpful astrophotography videos, outstanding work. I have used this technique today on my own system, worked great!

[@AmyAstro]

Wow what a huge compliment. Thank you. I'm so happy the video was useful for you! Best of luck and clear skies!

[@mrabentley8631]

Thanks Amy. Your video was the clearest I had looked at and helped me take my first set of flats with SGPro. Keep up the good work. Cheers. Al in UK.

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you so much! Let me know if you need any other videos.

[@damienf4581]

Hi Amy - congratulations, your videos are excellent. Thanks for taking the time to do them. I've just started using SGP and am about to purchase PixInsight. Your tutorials are clear and concise, and already are a great help. Please keep them coming. PS - your astro rig is really neat. Cheers!

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you so very much! I will do my very best to keep up the videos. Let me know if there is a topic you are curious about and I will add it to my video list. I love my rig. Took a long time to get here, but would not change a thing...Well till the next cool gadget comes out.

[@damienf4581]

@@AmyAstro Thanks for your reply Amy - while I've got you - I'll be trialing PixInsight for a while and my first question is - Master calibration frames produced in other programs (DSS or Astro Pixel Processor - which I've been using) - I'm guessing they can't be used in PI due to format incompatibility?

[@AmyAstro]

@@damienf4581 That is an interesting question as I have not tried it. Earlier this week someone asked about doing the pre-processing in APP to the non-linear state, and struggled getting PixInsight to see changes. That turned out that APP left the file as a TIFF. When he re-saved the image in PI as an XISF everything worked out. I asked a fellow KZbinr in my Astro club. He will verify for us soon. The belief is if the calibration master is a .FITS file it should work. Check out kzbin.info/door/ita66DPcWcayccTii0NIgg in the mean time.

[@damienf4581]

@@AmyAstro Thanks Amy! I've fortunately kept my original darks so it's no drama redoing them in PI just for practice anyway. I've been going though you other vids and they'll really help me get going with processing. So much to learn!! Cheers

[@damienf4581]

Opps - sorry, dyslexic post - what you get for not wearing your glasses!!

[@dionisiochavez9570]

Thanks for the tutorial.

[@AmyAstro]

😀You are very welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

Boy , you have a very nice looking setup, so organized. My scope looks like an octopus exploded on it. You sure seem to know SGP real well. I am just learning but my cam had to go back to the shop but should be getting it back soon, Now I have to relearn what I was starting to get in the past. Thanks for a good video. I learned a lot Steve

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you so much. Hope your camera returns soon! SGP is Awesome!

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

@@AmyAstro Thanks it should .. I was just starting to get nice images ... Spg and had the limited Pixinsight so now I have to buy that one. Just starting to watch your pix video.. I use 294mcpro color cam , I did not want to go all that filter stuff and the extra expense

[@AmyAstro]

@@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer Yeah it was a tough call to go mono. Extra work for sure. Get the steps down with an OSC camera then it is just rinse and repeat the same steps for each filter.

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

@@AmyAstro Did you ever do a video for OSC in PIX, would like to see it if you did. Also I cant watch you when I am a little sleepy, your voice is to calming , I feel asleep and had to start it again... Lesson learned

[@AmyAstro]

@@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer too funny. Guess I need to livin' up some. Yes there is an OSC video where I processed the Crab Nebula. Check the playlists it is a 4 part series. Better drink extra coffee. Process your image along side me.

[@jackfitzmier6178]

Another nice video, Amy. I have been thinking about flat panels, and have (perhaps incorrectly) assumed that they HAD to be done in the field. Your video suggests that I have an incomplete picture. I know that the flats must be taken at the same focus (and rotation, though I am rotation-less) for each filter. I did not realize, however, that one could record the exact focus position for each filter and then do the flats later, not in the field. I am not using SGP, but rather SkyX Pro. I am going to have to see if I can get it to record my focus spot. Seems to me like taking flats the day after -- or whenever after -- is a big advantage over having to take them in the field. Really instructive vid. Turns out you are not an excellent photographer, but a good teacher, too. I can spot them a mile away! Cheers and thanks again!

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you so much Jack. If you are using an electronic focuser you should be able to get the position. I embed mine in the file name just to make life easy. I need to check out the SkyX Pro software. I've heard good things about it.

[@scalemodelenthusiast1633]

Thank You for this video great help!

[@AmyAstro]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidemancini7853]

Hi Amy,great work,i was wonder what gain have you used?i am using a one shot camera QHY168C,thx

[@AmyAstro]

Davide Mancini for the first year with my OSC I was using gain of 0 and Offset of 50. The HDR settings. Recently with my mono camera I’ve been using Gain of 139 and Offset of 21 Unity Gain. I have another video about what gain is. I only learned this recently. I referenced a great article that explains it fully. Check it out.

[@davidemancini7853]

@@AmyAstro Thx:)

[@davidemancini7853]

@@AmyAstro i meant for the flat frame,are you using the same setting that you use for the light?

[@AmyAstro]

Davide Mancini yes I use the same gain/offset for calibration and light frames.

[@robertpotter8055]

Hi Amy, thanks very much for the awesome videos ! I was hoping you would comment on the readout value you use for your flats. I have the same camera and I've heard and read everything from using 10,000 adu all the way up to about 35,000 adu. I have had some reasonable success with 20,000 - 24,000 adu values. Thanks for your thoughts.BobBTW, your setup really is nice !

[@AmyAstro]

Thank you. I typically shoot for an ADU of 30,000 plus/minus 500. When I do the flat wizard I will get the times for LRGB first, then do the NB filters. Sometimes I have to adjust the ADU to get it to work.

[@DSPRemote]

Very nice job. What mini PC did you go for and how do you like it? I am thinking of replacing my laptop with one.

[@AmyAstro]

The computer below is what I have been using for the last year. The main requirements when I was looking were, Win 10 PRO, 64GB storage minimum, 3 USB ports. The 64 GB is because of windows updates. the 32GB is not large enough to handle them. 3 USB ports were for a dedicated line to the camera, one for a powered usb hub. The other was for an external usb antenna. I needed a stronger signal to inside the house. Window 10 Pro was for using remote desktop protocol. The best option if you are at a location with no internet. I carry my router with me and everything works great. I've attached it with heavy duty velco tape and an extra velcro wrap around the dovetail bar for good measure. Very sturdy. Thank you for the question. Hope this helps. N34 Windows 10 Pro Mini PC Celeron Processor 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, DIY SSD, HD 4K Intel Quad Core CPU up to 2.2GHz, 4W SDP, 1000M LAN, Dual Band WiFi, BT 4.2, HDMI&VGA by MINISFORUM smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F73ML9P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@DSPRemote]

@@AmyAstro Thank you for all the info. I am checking it out now.