Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- procedure [2022/09/03 02:07] – admin
+++ procedure [2022/09/15 08:27] (current) – admin
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+==== Astroimaging procedure in outline ====
+<a2s>
+.-----------------------.
+| Equipment Assembly    |
+'-----------------------'
+</a2s>
+  - Place and level the mount (typically 10 - 25kg)
+  - Polar align the mount
+    * Polar telescope built into the mount (2 minutes, accurate enough)
+    * Optimizing star drift in the eyepiece (15 minutes)
+    * Software assisted (15 minutes, most accurate)
+  - Place the telescope
+  - Attach the filter wheel and camera
+  - Connect electronic cables
+<a2s>
+.-----------------------.
+| Startup               |
+'-----------------------'
+</a2s>
+  - Open the scripting application (more later)
+  - Connect to the mount, focuser, filer wheel and camera drivers
+  - Take a test image
+  - "plate solve" to confirm celestial coordinates
+  - Synchronize the mount to the coordinates
+<a2s>
+.-----------------------.
+| Imaging               |
+'-----------------------'
+</a2s>
+  - Slew to target
+  - Select a filter (L, R, G, B)
+  - Autofocus
+  - Take a set of long exposure images (typically 5 - 15 minutes each)
+  - Periodically plate solve and re-slew to target (tracking errors)
+  - Periodically refocus (changes in temperature, equipment flex)
+<a2s>
+.-----------------------.
+| Calibration Run       |
+'-----------------------'
+</a2s>
+  - Dark frames with the shutter closed (subtract out CCD "dark current")
+  - Flat frames against a uniform sky (divide out vignetting in illumination)
+<a2s>
+.-----------------------.
+| Image Processing      |
+'-----------------------'
+</a2s>
+  - Specialized astronomical image processing software
+----
+-> [[software | Software components]]
+<- [[astroimaging| A brief introduction to astroimaging]]