M31: Seeking Improvements in Astrophotography
Here's a recent capture of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). I know there's some dust on my camera, but I've cleaned it for the next session. I'm looking for ways to improve this image and my overall astrophotography process.
Acquisition Details:
- Lights: 30 frames, ISO 800, 1 minute exposure each.
- Calibration Frames: 10 darks, 50 bias, 20 flats.
- Focusing: Primary focus was used.
Hardware:
- Mount: Celestron Advanced GT Mount
- Telescope: Orion Starblast 6
- Autoguiding: Orion Starshoot Autoguider with a 70mm GSKYER scope.
Software:
- Guiding: PHD2
- Processing: Siril
Feedback and Areas for Improvement:
I've received some excellent feedback and want to address these points:
- Flats: The consensus is that my flat frames are crucial for removing dust artifacts and gradients. I'll be reviewing my flat frame acquisition process, potentially adjusting tablet brightness or exposure times (my current 1/4000s might be too short). Using a white t-shirt for diffusion is also a recommended technique.
- Dithering: Incorporating dithering into my guiding sequence is suggested to significantly reduce noise. I'll be looking into how to implement this with PHD2.
- Exposure Time: Increasing the overall exposure time per frame might yield a better signal-to-noise ratio.
- Calibration Frame Refresh: It's recommended to refresh calibration frames periodically, especially darks and bias frames. Flats may be usable for longer periods as long as the imaging train remains unchanged.
- Camera and Processing: Understanding the specific camera used and how processing is handled in Siril are also key areas to explore for further optimization.
I'm eager to apply this advice and share my next M31 capture!
