More CCD stack advice

[graham.hobart]

I just followed the basic processing work flow for CCDstack word for word and stacked just ten frames after calibrating and it looks to me that it is not registering them correctly- there are multiple stars overlaid and blurred in the summed image.
I think there may be an issue with the STARSNAP select stars for registration etc bit. I am using a trial copy of CCDSTACK2.
I can post the picture later but has anyone encountered this before when following the basic guidelines?
Thanks Graham

[graham.hobart]

see what I mean!!!:eyepop:

[RickS]

I've only ever used CCDIS for registration in CCDStack and it just worked...

[graham.hobart]

Rick is that an option on the registration pop up menu? I am not sure what you mean..

[graham.hobart]

Hi Rick CCDIS is only available if CCD stack and CCD inspector are both installed and therefore I think I need to buy the full programme as I have the trial version now :sadeyes:

[gregbradley]

Sometimes if one of the subs is a long way off being aligned or perhaps upside down compared to the others it can fail.

You can select stars manually and that is more fool proof. Or you can move the offending sub/s manually so its closer then do it again as you did.

Greg.

[RickS]

Might be possible to do this with a trial version of CCDInspector but I'm not sure...

[Rigel003]

Starsnap doesn't always work if the subs have some variance. You can get around it with manual methods but it's a hassle. After purchasing CCDStack you can also purchase the CCDIS/P plugin for an extra $89. Well worth it - it guarantees super accurate subpixel registration every time with one click of the mouse. There's a demo here http://www.ccdware.com/products/ccdinspector/CCDISdemo/CCDISdemo.html

[gregbradley]

I have had it happen occasionally that CCDIS/P fails to align every image. But usually its something like a dud exposure that is smeared because of wind of autoguiding failure/cloud etc.

Greg.

[LewisM]

On a related issue, I can not get FFT registration to work - I continually get an "Exocortex error" - anyone know what this is and why? I looked online for anything like an exocortex dll or something, but came up blank.

The CCDIS alignment works superbly (I have all the CCD Wares stuff on my system - cost just a little - OUCH!), as do Star Match, Star Snap and Manual, but not FFT.

Am I missing out on much? :)

Graham, do a blink of all your selected images, and you can usually weed out the offender. Sometimes easier to see the offender AFTER registering and BEFORE stacking.

[gregbradley]

Yes I am getting that as well. Must be a bug. You don't need that if CCDIS is working as that does the best job.

It does require though that the subs are not too far apart or you are not trying to align subs with a couple of dodgies in there.

Greg.

[LewisM]

Thanks Greg - I never got a response from CCDWares, so just shelved that option and use the others, which are so effective.


It's still buggy with OSC CCD's, but still miles ahead of DSS, which I have grown to dislike VERY much. Having said that, there is a slight difference in price point :)

[graham.hobart]

I got it to work on ten subs with FFT.
But I think you are right about the subs not being totally aligned. I looked at my stack of 60 subs and 20 or more were taken after I crossed the meridian so inverted. Will try again with just the obviously aligned ones.

[gregbradley]

Yes I noticed CCDstack does not seem to like colour images as much as mono.

Greg.