Aurora Flatfield Panels

[strongmanmike]

Gerd Neumann has just released a new product for creating accurate flats that some of you may be interested in.

Prices range from EU$59 to suit 100mm scopes to EU$399 to suit a 420mm scope.

These should be good if you want to save space in the car (like I need to) and are perfect for attaching to a wall of your observatory too.

Aurora Flatfield Panel (http://www.gerdneumann.net/v2/english/eng_aurora_flatfield_panels.html)

Mike

[Hagar]

Hi Mike this technology has been around for quite some time and is readily available in Australia. The EL sheets are available from some grapic arts places or from wholesalers who nearly all sell to the general public. Google "Electro luminecent sheet"
The guff regarding the colour is a bit of a non requirement as flats are either converted to or kept as greyscale images so all that is required is an even light source. I have had one for a few years now and use a sheet of white perspex on one side as a diffuser and a sheet of ply on the other for strength.
I also belive you can now get a dimmed version where in the past you had to use a tuned inverter to lower the light output.
See: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=37978

[Dennis]

Thanks for the details Mike and thanks for the additional information Doug; I was considering another iteration of my home built white LED flat field box and these panels look an interesting alternative and affordable with the current exchange rate..

@ Mike – I assume that you use one of Gerd’s new Aurora Flatfield Panel? If so, how fragile are these in terms of shipping from Germany to Australia – did you have any concerns when you received yours?

Are they robust enough to withstand the rigours of packing and unpacking loaded vehicles with tons of astro gear and the relatively rough handling they might encounter?

Cheers

Dennis

[multiweb]

Thanks for the link Mike. Interesting read and affordable pricing too. I have an EL-sheet already and have been using it for years now but I liked the part about the panel light spectra. Something that is overlooked and assumed when talking about EL-Sheets. I have no idea if my 'white light' is redder, or bluer or greener. Will you be buying one for your 12"? Looking forward to the report. :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Interesting product.

I have always used white Tshirt flats at dusk or dawn for years usually with no problems. Although if you miss dusk it can hold up processing your images.

The ability to shoot flats at any time could be handy though.

How do you find the flats from your light box? Accurate?

Accurate flats with the CDK17 are more vital than with other scopes I have used.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Yes I will be using one of these with the new 12" Astrograph but it is not here yet...Of course I don't need it yet :P

I will surely report on it once it arrives though.

Greg, I think the largest Aurora is 420mm diam and would thus be a little too small for your scope? (close)

My currect Astro Handy light box has been a dream for the past 3 years, I can't contact Rich Handy these days though, I think he may have gone out of business..?

Mike

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mike. I'll follow it up at some point.

Cheers,

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Yeh I think you are mostly right Doug but my understanding is that many EL panels emmit their light at some narrow emission line wavelengths, the total energy mixes up to a bulish-white to the human eye but if you try to shoot through a narrow band filter like H-alpha with these panels no light will strike your chip. In a nut shell, for broadband imaging most EL panels might work but for narrow band imaging this is not the case.

Just need to get the right type I think?

Mike




Hi Dennis

You ask a good question and one I considered for sure (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/104160129):rolleyes:

The Aurora's are made of a hard plastic with a hard plastic frame edging. In the photos on Gerds site they look like pretty robust units..? I am sure if packed right and then with a little care once here they will be fine.

Having said that I haven't received mine yet :)

Mike

[Geoff45]

I use an EL panel from elec2go@aol.com and it manages the Ha OK, but needs a longer exposure--15 sec with Ha as opposed to 6 sec with green.
Geoff