Polar Aligning Including PHD2
Some of the concepts behind Polar Alignment, and examples from PHD2 Drift Align and Polar Drift Align. Come with your questions and answers about Polar Alignment.
For chat https://www.testing.theastroimagingchannel.com/
Open Session on Platesolving.
Open Q&A session discussing platesolving.
For chat goto https://www.testing.theastroimagingchannel.com/
Simple Pixelmath Operations in PixInsight
David Ault will present on Pixelmath in PixInsight.
Presentation...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CM3WM2eS5L-F71bQ9ySKg0mtTzqXnVfs/view?usp=sharing
Capturing Comet 46P with a Static Tripod...
Capturing comet 46P with a static tripod, tracked OTA and piggy backed lens
We will discuss 3 potential ways of capturing a moving target, like comet 46P. The first will be using a static tripod, camera and lens to capture a wider field view. The second will be using a traditional tracked mount and OTA to capture a closer in view of the target. Lastly we will discuss the benefit of using a piggyback mount to add a different focal length to the OTA. We will discuss the software used to obtain and image the target, track the section of the sky and lastly some of the processing done to create the slideshows. All of this will be from a relatively novice perspective.
Presented by Ryan Blankenship
Open Session: Processing
An open session on processing...
Gaston Baudat from Innovations Foresight
Gaston will present on some of his new products.
https://www.innovationsforesight.com
Open Session
An open session
Live data sharing and processing.
In this session, we'll embrace the rabbit hole. We'll pick some random data and do a walkthrough of it during the session.
If we get multiple people processing, we can see how everyone differs in their routines.
Please feel free to chat or volunteer data.
What Works and does not work in SGP--A Group Discussion
A group discussion on SGP.
Moderated by Alex McConahay
Astro Pixel Processor Demonstrated by Mabula Haverkamp
Mabula Haverkamp will demonstrate his astrophotography processing program Astro Pixel Processor.
https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/
Comparing Alex's NGC7000 results...
In this session we'll compare our results on the NGC7000 data. We'll discuss challenges, and the techniques we used to overcome them.
Take part in the conversation on theastroimagingchannel.com
Processing Alex McConahay's NGC7000 Data
In this session, we'll walk-through a processing of Alex McConahay's data.
Please download it and give it a shot. Next week, we'll compare everyone's processing.
The data is available for download here...
https://app.box.com/s/fzh9e4bzwa90cna2g993pmxtui2h4xuq
Open Session on Astrophotography
An open session. Suggest topics, share issues or just chat.
Open Session: Mounts
An open session discussing mounts.
Remote Observatories: What Goes Into It
Terry Robison will discuss challenges, expectations, equipment requirements and considerations, power, comms, and protection of equipment of remote observatories.
What are you working on?
Share your current works in progress, and let us help you work through any issues you may be having.
Open Session: Ask Away!
Ask your questions in regards to anything astronomy or astrophotography.
Share Your DIY Projects
Share your DIY astrophotography project. Whether it's a mini PC, a battery, distribution panel, let us see it!
The live room link will be shared at the beginning of session.
Open Session
Suggest topics for discussion on our website chat.
Q&A on Single-Board-Computers in Astrophotography
Jasem Mutlaq, developer of INDI, KStars, and StellarMate, will answer questions on using Single-Board-Computers, like the Raspberry Pi, for astrophotography.
Jasem has presented previously on his all-in-one automated acquisition hardware, Stellarmate.
https://www.stellarmate.com/
Open Discussion
Suggest topics in our website chat.
www.theastroimagingchannel.com
PixInsight Fundamentals and Horizons with Adam Block
A demonstration of some modules concerning topics such as LRGB combination, Selective Rejection, DBE, and perhaps Pixel Math.
Presented by Adam Block
https://www.adamblockstudios.com/
https://www.adamblockstudios.com/articles/Astro_Imaging_Channel
Open Q&A
Ask any question regarding anything astrophotography.
Open Session: Milestones
An open discussion on milestones and issues you've overcome.
Open Session: Starting out in Astrophotography
An open session on Starting out in Astrophotography. Or suggest other topics to discuss.
Introduction to optimal auto - guiding: How to get the most from your set - up
The goal is to discuss the basics behind auto-guiding, mainly the choice of the optimal aggressiveness and exposure time, the nature of the errors and how the close loop system does behave depending of the type of perturbations.
This lecture aims to provide people with more inside on most auto-guiding software for making the right choice for a given setup and sky (seeing).
Presented by Gaston Baudat
Astrophotography Joyride: A Newbie's Perspective
Molly Wakeling will present on her experiences as a new astrophotographer.
Cary Cleborad will present on Optical Structures
Optical Structures owns Astrodon, Farpoint, JMI and a few other brands.
Plate Solving and The PinPoint Astrometric Engine
Bob Denny developed the first totally automated plate solving engine, PinPoint, 18 years ago and it has evolved considerably since. We've seen others come along like Astrometry.net (including ANSVR), Astro Tortilla, and Platesolve3. Bob will describe the plate solution process, the sorts of things that can create difficulties, all-sky solving, automatic optical distortion correction, and some of the things that make all of these tools different. If all you want is an accurate center-point for telescope pointing, then any of them will do. But there are so many more uses for astrometric and brightness/flux measurements, and that's where they differ, and where PinPoint really differs. This is intended to provide understanding of plate solving and make any of these tools more useful. We'll cover the common causes of solving failures, but if you are having specific bugs or problems with your plate solving software, please address these issues directly with the providers.
Deconvolution Using PixInsight - Getting the Milk Out of the Coffee
Deconvolution is the process of separating two signals. In deep sky imaging, we want to separate the signal from the stars from the blurring introduced by the atmosphere. Since stars are far enough away to be point sources of light, the way a star's light is spread out in an image -- the Point Spread Function -- can be used to mathematically describe how the atmosphere has blurred the image. With this information it's possible to deblur our image revealing the details lost to atmospheric turbulence . Ron will explain deconvolution and provide a demonstration using PixInsight. He'll also explain the difference between deconvolution and sharpening, and where each fits in an image processing workflow.
Presented by Ron Brecher
Open Discussion: Processing Techniques
An open discussion on processing techniques.
Some Processing and NEAF Discussion
Were you at NEAF? What was cool? Share photos or information on this years hot products.
and well do some processing.
Steve Sagerian's latest project
Steve Sagarian shares his latest project; a solar powered observatory power source.
SGP: Advanced Sequencing / Lessons from The Messier Marathon: Pt 2
Alex McConahay will show some of the advanced sequence building techniques available in Sequence Generator Pro. These include using other programs to select targets, importing targets to SGP, arranging the sequence of targets, and controling the timing of the session. These techniques are fundamental to anyone wanting to get the most out of Sequence Generator Pro, but especially useful to those trying to get all 110 Messier objects in one night!!!
Part 2/2
SGP: Advanced Sequencing / Lessons from The Messier Marathon
Alex McConahay will show some of the advanced sequence building techniques available in Sequence Generator Pro. These include using other programs to select targets, importing targets to SGP, arranging the sequence of targets, and controling the timing of the session. These techniques are fundamental to anyone wanting to get the most out of Sequence Generator Pro, but especially useful to those trying to get all 110 Messier objects in one night!!!
Crescent Nebula Processing Challenge
Sharing results of everyone's processing job on last weeks Crescent Nebula data.
Crescent Nebula Procesing Walkthrough and Challenge
During today's session. I'll provide some data for us all to process over the week and we'll compare our results and techniques next week.
Link to Shared Data: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xwpZrAaYcmFeHcKdNE7Bf9SGqwdQb7p0
Open Session: The Artist's Touch
An open session on what specifically you do to your images to give it a unique look. Or maybe you think they shouldn't look unique. How does artistic interpretation of objects impact astrophotography?
Take part in the discussion...
theastroimagingchannel.com
Easy as PI: Pixinsight by Warren Keller
Warren Keller presents on PixInsight. Astronomy processing software for astro imaging.
Possible topics include PCC, LN, Large-Scale Pixel Rejection, SubframeSelector moving from script to PCL.
Warren's IP4AP website - https://www.ip4ap.com/
Upcoming PI Workshop - https://www.ip4ap.com/Workshops/spring-2018-buffalo-ny-workshop
Open Session: What would you do different?
An open discussion on your imaging system and what changes you would make.
Open Session: Darker Skies
Open discussion on the benefits of driving to darker skies to image.
Open Discussion: Visual Astronomy vs Astrophotography
How is visual astronomy different then astrophotography? Did you start with visual? Why do you prefer astrophotography?
Open Discussion: Automation
An open discussion on automating your astrophotography session.
Open Discussion: Tips for Beginners
An open discussion on astrophotography tips for beginners.
Suggest topics or take part in the conversation on our website.
www.theastroimagingchannel.com
Backlogs and Some Processing
I'll cover some stuff on backlogged data and attempt to process on of my backlogged images.
Open Session...
What did Santa bring you this year?
Flat Fielding Basics
Presented by Alex McConahay
Losmandy G11 Mount
CJ Wagner will present on his experience with his new Losmandy mount.
Open Session
Suggest your own topics on in chat on our website.
www.theastroimaginchannel.com
About Prima Luce Labs by Filippo Brasaschia
A session all about European based astronomy vendor Prima Luce Labs.
Presented by Filippo Bradaschia