I have these vertical modulation bands on my images. I have ruled out the calibration files by using WBPP without calibration files and the bands are still in my images. I also created new flats making sure my flat exposure times are >2s. Also created new dark and bias calibration frames. My equipment is as follows: Camera: SBIG STF8300 Mono with filter wheel and off axis guider Mount: Skywatcher EQ6RPro Telescopes (happens no matter what telescope): WO Redcat 51 (the images submitted are images with this scope) Askar FRA500 RC8 I use Pixinsight and photoshop for processing. Does anyone have any ideas to steer me in the right direction? Please let me know how you want some sample images. One sub?, stacked?
Hi Gary. Please upload some sample images using the [Upload a File] button at the lower right hand side next to [Post Reply]. Ideally, we'd want: Unprocessed FITS images, binned 1x1, taken with CCDOps or MaxIm DL and not proces- we want the original, raw, untouched images that have not been proceseed in PixInsight or Adobe Photoshop. Bias frame Light frame - eg 30s or whatever exposure length shows it. Dark frame - eg 30s - same length as above. Software information: What is the SBIGudrv.dll driver version - you can get this from SBIG Driver Checker on the first screen. Usually it will say 5.1.1.0 or 4.99 Build 7. What software did you take the images with? e.g. CCDOPs 5.66 Build 1 or MaxIm DL Pro 7.2.2 or whatever you used to get the image.
Can I use the single sub where the camera is being driven by NINA? I'll give you all the other items. My calibration files are also taken in NINA.
Gary, I can't use or open XISF files - as stated above, we need FITS images - the astronomy standard, set by NASA and used by astronomers worldwide. NINA can save FITS images. XISF is a PixInsight proprietary format only - and it is not compatible with anything other than PixInsight (and I think NINA might be able to produce them).
I converted to FITS from within Pixinsight. Does this have the meta data you need or do I need to image with FITS header directly from NINA? Here is one file for an example. TS
Ok, I can read the file now. 1. I don't see any vertical banding. 2. There's a normal amount of glow on the left edge. 3. Suggestion: Also, if you're in Florida, you could probably cool the camera down a bit more - maybe to -10C or so at night. SET-TEMP = 0. / [degC] CCD temperature setpoint CCD-TEMP = 0.189018727865133 / [degC] CCD temperature 4. There's a problem with the data - EGAIN can't possibly be zero. Can you shoot an image in NINA and see what it shows in the FITS header? e.g. the file has: EGAIN = 0. / [e-/ADU] Electrons per A/D unit I can't measure it with garbage values. 5. NINA can save in FITS directly - it might be worth shooting a sample 30s dark and sending over. Otherwise, you can get a FREE DEMO of MaxIm here: https://diffractionlimited.com/maxim-dl/ Scroll down to the tabs, and click on FREE TRIAL Also, what version of NINA are you running? They had a problem with some obsolete drivers and runtimes shipping with NINA. I don't know if they fixed it. If you have Nina 64-bit, check the version of SBIGUDRV.DLL in this folder: C:\Program Files\N.I.N.A. - Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy\External\x64\SBIG It should be 5.1.1.0. If it isn't, replace it with the one in this Zip file. https://cdn.diffractionlimited.com/down/sbigudrv-win-x64-5.1.1.0.zip
Colin, I am going to wait for a clear night and do some more imaging with FITS turned on. I did find the power cable to the camera not completely screwed tight. Could that cause an issue? Anyway, thanks so much for your help and I'll do each thing you suggested above. My Camera can only go as low as -1.9C for some reason. It won't go below that so it can't achieve -10C. I did update the driver, which was version 4.9.9.8. I have set NINA to capture FITS files.
The camera's maximum cooling temperature is based on the amount change in temperature - called "Delta T" - that it can do. e.g. 25C to 35C Delta T, depending on the vintage of the camera, altitude, humidity, how clean the fan and heatsink are, and power supply. So if it's +10C outside (50F), with a delta T of 25C, that would get down to -15C (10 - 25 = -15). With the STF, after a few years, the centre pin in the camera's power connector gets a bit squished, and doesn't make solid contact with the power cable. The easy fix is to spread the two leaves of the centre pin using a tiny flat blade jeweller's screwdriver. If the power supply connector isn't pushed in and screwed down, that can also lead to issues. I've also seen some third party power boxes that don't supply enough current or voltage, so the cooler and fan won't run optimally.
You wrote: "4. There's a problem with the data - EGAIN can't possibly be zero. Can you shoot an image in NINA and see what it shows in the FITS header? e.g. the file has: EGAIN = 0. / [e-/ADU] Electrons per A/D unit" Even when I get a NINA imaged with the FITS file configured instead of the Pixinsight format, the header for EGAIN parameter still shows 0.0. I assume that now my FITS files created directly from NINA will be of no use?
I am waiting for a clear night to test things out again. Maybe the power cable was the issue, not being secure to the SBIG. Waiting to reimage before I take any more of your time.
I know but if the problem is solved, no need to send you anything. I do have bias, darks, and flats already as FITS if you still want to take a look now just to see if you spot anything.
