Hi,
I have a DayStar 60 mm Scout DS Solar Telescope that I used to get reasonable images from. Now these splotches appear. They are fixed in position and on every image. If I rotate the camera (ZWO 120 MC-S) they do not move. If I rotate the diagonal they do not move. I can't rotate the scope while it is mounted.
The splotches are just the most visible part the whole field seems "dirty".
So I assume this is the scope.
Any ideas what causes it?
Splotchy Images
- Stardust5858
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Re: Splotchy Images
Definitely dust mots. Camera window or other elements in the light path need cleaning.
10ft x 6ft Solar RoR with Warm Room
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.
2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.
2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
- Stardust5858
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Re: Splotchy Images
It's usually associated with a dirty camera lens, glass window on the chip rather than the telescope optics.
10ft x 6ft Solar RoR with Warm Room
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.
2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.
2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
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Re: Splotchy Images
Exactly as Ella/Stardust5838 says, so if you rotate the camera and the Dust Bunnies - do not move, then the camera is the suspect.
A reminder then, that to always and immediately the open-end of the camera is as well as all optics - covered with the dust-caps as soon as they are opened to the elements, should deal with the problem in the first place...
Terry
A reminder then, that to always and immediately the open-end of the camera is as well as all optics - covered with the dust-caps as soon as they are opened to the elements, should deal with the problem in the first place...
Terry
- DeepSolar64
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Re: Splotchy Images
Yep. Dirt somewhere in the optical train.
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
- rsfoto
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Re: Splotchy Images
Hi,If I rotate the camera (ZWO 120 MC-S) they do not move.
This is the confirmation they are on the camera window. Also the size does confirm the distance from the window to the chip.
Dust on the front lens of the scope is not resolved. Dust in front of the Quark is also not resolved because they are far too away from the chip focus plane.
regards Rainer
Observatorio Real de 14
San Luis Potosi Mexico
North 22° West 101°
Observatorio Real de 14
San Luis Potosi Mexico
North 22° West 101°
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Re: Splotchy Images
Thank-You all so much!
I had no idea about this dust mote issue. The camera cover looked ok until I took it out (which I only learned you could do after getting to page 47 of the manual). Both sides needed cleaning. Apparently in high humidity or dew point moisture can settle on both sides of the cover.
Here is a quick picture after cleaning.
I had no idea about this dust mote issue. The camera cover looked ok until I took it out (which I only learned you could do after getting to page 47 of the manual). Both sides needed cleaning. Apparently in high humidity or dew point moisture can settle on both sides of the cover.
Here is a quick picture after cleaning.
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- After Cleaning
- After Cleaning.png (1.4 MiB) Viewed 246 times
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Re: Splotchy Images
The pic is not bad at all , in fact quite good atlguy.
Glad you found the "Dust Bunnies" and have moved them on.
"Both sides needed cleaning. Apparently in high humidity or dew point moisture can settle on both sides of the cover."
If kept covered or remaining in the EP holder/scope, cameras should normally be protected from humidity/dust, but obviously if the scope etc. is left outside (particularly in humidity above say 70%), then it should be - to bring it in-doors or at least somewhere under-cover where the humidity is much less than that.
For night-sky use particularly, when the scope etc., gets cold, then not to store it in a too-warm room at first, as condensation/damp won't do it any good...!!!
Humidity-meters are available - quite cheaply in one fashion or another, albeit not often accurate, so adjustable types are better, either electronic or mechanical.
Terry
Glad you found the "Dust Bunnies" and have moved them on.
"Both sides needed cleaning. Apparently in high humidity or dew point moisture can settle on both sides of the cover."
If kept covered or remaining in the EP holder/scope, cameras should normally be protected from humidity/dust, but obviously if the scope etc. is left outside (particularly in humidity above say 70%), then it should be - to bring it in-doors or at least somewhere under-cover where the humidity is much less than that.
For night-sky use particularly, when the scope etc., gets cold, then not to store it in a too-warm room at first, as condensation/damp won't do it any good...!!!
Humidity-meters are available - quite cheaply in one fashion or another, albeit not often accurate, so adjustable types are better, either electronic or mechanical.
Terry