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Section 5 - Advanced Imaging Techniques
Page 36
what alignment operations were done to the individual components of IMAGE
to achieve the end result. In the following discussions this track list file will be
referred to as TRACK.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as many times as desired for all the objects you wish to
image, each time choosing a set of corresponding new names for the IMAGE and
TRACK files.
6. You will now create a combined flat field image for each Track and Accumulate
image you captured. Invoke the Add by Track List command. The software will
bring up a file directory dialog showing all the track list files. Select the TRACK
file corresponding to the image you wish to correct. The software will load the
TRACK file and present you with another file directory dialog showing all the
images. Select the appropriate FLAT image. The software will align and co-add
the FLAT image using the same operations it performed on the Track and
Accumulate image. Finally save the combined flat field image using the Save
command. In the following discussions this combined flat field image will be
referred to as COMBINED-FLAT. Repeat this step for each of the TRACK files
using a corresponding name for the COMBINED-FLAT image.
7. You will now flat field correct the Track and Accumulate image with the
combined flat field image. Use the Open command to load the IMAGE file, then
use the Flat Field command. The software will present you with a file directory
dialog where you should select the corresponding COMBINED-FLAT image.
After the software has finished correcting the image you can view the results
and save the flat field corrected image with the Save command. This image will
be referred to as the CORRECTED-IMAGE file. Repeat this step for each of the
IMAGE files using the corresponding COMBINED-FLAT image.
At SBIG we have adopted the following naming convention for our various image and related
files. If it helps you organize your files please feel free to adopt it or any method you feel helps
sort out the process of naming files:
Image type Name
Uncorrected image (IMAGE) XXXXXXXX. (blank extension)
Flat field file (FLAT) FLATXXXX. (blank extension)
Track list file (TRACK) XXXXXXXX.TRK
Combined flat field (COMBINED-FLAT) FLATXXXX.C
Flat field corrected image (CORRECTED-IMAGE) XXXXXXXX.F
5.8. Tracking Functions
The CCDOPS software allows your ST-7E/8E/9E to be used as an autoguider or self guided
imager. It does not function as a stand-alone autoguider like the ST-4, but instead requires
using a PC to perform the function. These cameras have considerably better sensitivity than
the ST-4.
CCD autoguiders alleviate you from having to stare down the eyepiece for hours at a
time while guiding astrophotographs. They are not the end-all, cure-all approach to telescope