开云体育

I *just* started using SIRIL.? I use Deep Sky Stacker (free also) for pre-processing images.? Last week I dedicated our one clear night to imaging the M-63 galaxy.? When I went to use DSS I discovered that over half the images were unviewable/random color! noise.? I tried using the the GIMP (free photoshop kinda like) and it showed the images being ok... but I wasn't positive as older versions of GIMP show FITS files in three color bands RGB and the latest one showed just one image.? So I went looking for a Fits viewer and stumbled on SIRIL.? As with most software, it has a bit of a learning curve, but I've been able to process my first 90 images and the results are great.? Next up I will do all the images.? Now, mind, I don't know why DSS shows corrupted files while SIRIL doesn't, I'm just saying that perhaps I've discovered a bug in DSS.? DSS is so easy to use whilst SIRIL takes some learning, and SIRIL REQUIRES biases, darks,flats, and lights - DSS does not.

Oh, and on a similar topic... if you have a ZWO ASI294MM Pro cooled camera (this applies to others like the B&W models) be aware that images less than 3 seconds are basically useless.? HUGE amount of noise.? I've noticed that I cannot use biases in preprocessing because I end up with unusable processed images.? I just learned this about the 294.? So - to remedy it, it is recommended to use 3 sec dark flats instead of biases.? I tried folding my white t-shirt in half (4 layers) and even in relatively dim light I could only achieve 1 sec images with the correct histogram.? So I'm making an LED "light" box that I should be able to get 3 second exposures using.

Also regarding the 294 - supposedly there is a software update that quadruples it's resolution - ie files go from 11M to 49M in size.? I haven't chased it down yet... I've got to get my light box done first.

Cheers!

Sarah Matthews, a YouTuber, has posted a good video on image processing using SIRIL, and other free SW.

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Geoff McLean
McLean Research Associates
Lead Night Sky Ranger, The Last Green Valley
NASA Solar System Ambassador
Adjunct Professor of Astronomy, Connecticut College