David's Astronomy Pages
Notes - Session 599.1 (2017-01-06)
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New ZWO ASI178MC camera arrived today.
| View of the ZWO ASI178MC camera | ||
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- Installed ZWO Drivers (1.2.3.24)
- Confirmed connectivity and basic
operation with SharpCap 2.9
- Confirmed connectivity and basic operation with
PHD2 2.6.2
- Confirmed that a ZWO ASI178MC FITS Image file captured & saved by SharpCap
can be opened in DeepSkyStacker
- After some work, managed to setup CCDSoft
so that it can connect to and acquire images from ZWO 178MC camera.
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Confirmed SER video produced by SharpCap can be played by SER Player
Later on confirmed further parts of workflow over the new few days:
- Stacking of 178MC
images (SER file) in AutoStakkert,
- Stacking / Processing of 178MC
images (SER file) in Registax
- Direct Transfer of a Stack from
AutoStakkert to Registax for additional processing
| First Test Shots with new ZWO ASI178MC camera (taking indoors) | ||
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| Test Image (12% size from 3096x1080
original) 13ms/0.013s, 1x1 binning, Gain 225, RAW8, Gray 8 bit (#16_41_58Z_001) (Taken with SharpCap, FITS file displayed in CCDSoft) |
Test Image (12% reduction from 3096x1080
original) 50ms/0.05s, 1x1 binning, Gain 225, RAW16 (#17_08_21Z_003) (Taken with SharpCap, FITS file displayed in CCDSoft) |
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| Colour Image | Detail of B/W plot above showing Bayer pattern | |
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| Test Image (12% reduction from 3096x1080
original) Image details as above (FITS file displayed in DeepSkyStacker with RGGB Debayering) |
Test Image (200% resize, cropped to small area) Image details as above (FITS file displayed in CCDSoft) |
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Various test shots where taken with the new ZWO ASI178MC camera looking at distant objects that can be seen from my home.
| Various Test Shots with new ZWO ASI178MC
camera (200mm lens on a tripod) |
| Wind Turbines |
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| Short Video (12% size, 3096x2080
original ) 121 x 14ms exposure, 0 gain, 1x1 binning, RAW16 2017-01-06 (#13_55_28Z) 200mm Lens on Tripod (Frames acquired with SharpCap as a SER file Animated GIF created using SER Player) |
| Trees - 680m distance |
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| 331 frames stacked (12% size) |
| Trees - 720m distance |
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| 0.02s, 3x3 binning (reduced size) |
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| 0.02s, 3x3 binning (reduced size) |
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| 0.11s, 3x3 binning (reduced size), grey scale |
| Distant Fire |
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| CMOS Image (12% size, 1544x1040 original ) 6ms exposure (single frame), 2 gain, 3x3 binning, RAW16 2017-01-06 (#13_55_28Z) 200mm Lens on Tripod (Frame acquired with SharpCap as an AVI file) |
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| First Light Images with new ZWO ASI178MC
camera (50mm lens on a tripod) |
| Moon (Phase 63%, Angular Diam 32' 20") |
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| CMOS Colour Image (cropped) 500 x 10ms exposure, 120 gain, 1x1 binning, RAW16 2017-01-06 23:24h UT (#23_24_10Z.ser) 50mm Lens on Tripod (Frames acquired with SharpCap, Frames stacked & processed in RegiStax 6) |
| Calculations (1x1 binning) : Lunar Diameter (32' 20") = 209 pixels Image Scale = 9.28 arc sec/pixel Full Chip Area (3096x2080 px) through 50mm lens = 8.0 x 5.4 degs Effective Focal Length = 53.3mm |
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| Star Field (constellation unknown) Image produced live in SharpCap using Live Stack facility with Align Star option enabled Stacks 78 x 5s exposures, 6.5 minutes total exposure) 50mm lens on a tripod with no tracking FOV 6.9 x 4.5 degrees |
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| CMOS Colour Image (28% size, original 2664x1740 / cropped from
3096 x 2080 ) 78 x 5s exposure (live stacked frames), gain 450, 1x1 binning, RAW16 Brightness, Constrast and Gamma adjusted 2017-01-06 23:10h UT (#23_07_28Z_Stack_78) 50mm Lens on Tripod [ Larger Image, 40% size ] |
| Stars trails 14 stacked but non-aligned frames acquired with SharpCap using Live Stack facility (stars are trailed as images taken with 50mm lens on a tripod with no tracking) |
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| CMOS Colour Image (12% size, cropped) 14 x 5s exposure (live stacked frames), gain 350, 1x1 binning (3096*2080 original) , RAW16 2017-01-06 50mm Lens on Tripod |
| Stars trail - detail |
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| CMOS Colour Image (cropped) Image details as above |
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| 2.5mm, 170 deg FOV, 'all sky' lens supplied with ZWO ASI178MC Camera |
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| For AllSky use it would be preferrable
if the lens produced a smaller image onto the 7.4 x 5.0mm IMX178 chip in order to capture the view down to near the horizon at the top and bottom of the image. The chip has plenty of pixels (3096 x 2080) to still preserve good resolution of the sky compared to the Oculus camera. It's not clear if the ZWO accessory lens could be moved to a position that could give a smaller image, but still be focussed at ~ infinity |
| AllSky View taken with ZWO ASI178MC colour camera
(170 deg, 2.5mm lens) 30s exposure with medium gain, single frame Glare at bottom is from Moon lying just out of frame. North is on righthand side |
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| CMOS Colour Image (25% size, 3096 x 2080
original) 30s exposure , gain 250, 1x1 binning, RGB24 2017-01-08 01:03hUT [Larger Image, 40% size] [ Full Size Image ] See Further AllSky images with ZWO ASI178MC |
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Notes taken during initial testing and operation of ZWO ASI178MC camera with different software.
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- Select ZWO
ASI178MC camera from 'ZWO ASI Cameras' section (not from the 'DirectShow
Cameras' section).
This is to allow direct access for best
performance and control of the camera
- USB Port on camera corresponds
to bottom side of image.
- Need to set ImageType to RGB24 in order to
produce colour .png files, otherwise .png files are B/W with a Bayer
Pattern.
- Maximum Frame Rates
30 fps at 3096x2080, 8 bit, (Full Size, raw8)
17
fps at 3096x2080, 8 bit, (Full Size, rgb24)
21 fps at
3096x2080, 8 bit, (Full Size, mono8)
18 fps at 3096x2080,
16 bit, (Full Size, raw16)
58 fps at 1920x1080 (rgb24), Turo USB 40
116 fps
at 1280x1024, 8 bit (rgb24), Turo USB 40, High Speed Mode
116 fps at
1280x1024, 8 bit (raw8), Turo USB 40
126 fps at 640x480, 8 bit (raw8),
Turo USB 40
Hardware Binning 2x2
38 fps at 3096x2080 / 1544x1040,
8 bit (Full FOI, raw8), binning 2x2
Later
23 fps at 3096x2080, 8 bit, (Full Size, raw8),
Turbo USB 40
30 fps at 3096x2080, 8 bit, (Full Size, raw8), Turbo USB 60 -
fps frame rate can be speed up using Turbo USB slider.
24 fps at 3096x2080, 8
bit, (Full Size, rgb24)
24 fps at 3096x2080 / 1544x1040, 8 bit, (Full Area,
rgb24), binning 2x2 (software)
24 fps at 3096x2080 / 1544x1040, 8 bit, (Full
Area, rgb24), binning 2x2 (hardware)
- SharpCap CPU 20% when previewing pictures at 30 fps
- Output files in CCDSoft
Mono8 .fts files view ok in CCDSoft, Raw8
files show Bayer pattern
2x2 Hardware Binned Raw8 file, shows Bayer
pattern
32 bit file can be opened in CCDSoft (image displays ok but histogram doesn't show a proper histogram graph)
- SharpCap 2.9 Prone to frequent crashes (need to learn what not
to do !) and hope bugs will be released in future versions
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Debayer Preview (set to either 'On' or 'Force RGGB')
- Preview Image is coloured, but captured images/video may not necessarily be
in colour.
- Video colour and video file format is dependant on the Capture
Format setting
- RAW8 produces an AVI video file
containing B/W frames displaying a bayer pattern.
- RGB 24
produces an AVI video file containing Colour frames.
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RAW16 produces a SER video file containing Colour frames (playable using
SER Player as 16-bit RGGB)
- Video file sizes are enormous
- 73 frames (1x1,
3096x2080) captured using RAW16 format, produce a SER file with filesize 896 MB
- 96 frames (1x1, 3096x2080) captured using RGB24 format, produce an AVI
file with filesize 1.7 GB
- When Output Format is set to 'Auto'
- exposures of <5s will
be saved to a video file
- exposures of >=5s will be saved as an
individual file
- RBB and Mono at 8 bits will be saved to either
AVI or PNG (depending on exposure length)
- 16 bits per pixel or
Raw Modes will be saved to SER or FIT (depending on exposure length)
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The bias offset is adjusted with the "Brightness" setting
- To speed up FPS
- adjust the USB traffic value
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adjust the zoom function to see it helps
- select Debayer Off (it
takes up CPU time
Misc Notes
- Software Binning performs a sum, whilst Hardware binning gives average
(jneed to check)
- Check stability of mean Bias values in a sequence of Bias
files
- White Bal (R) 60
- White Bal (B) 80
the cooled version has different back focus distance
the 2.5mm lens is CS
lens whose back focus distance is 12.5mm
what you need is a C lens whose back
focus distance is 17.5mm
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- Not yet used, the interface look more complicated that SharpCap's
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- Select 'ZWO ASI Camera' from camera list
- Image displays in B/W.
(no colour display which is ok for autoguiding)
- Certain on-the fly
changes are possible during an autoguiding run
a) The 'Use
Subframes' option (Advanced Setup/Camera Tab) can be toggled on/off (quite
a nice feature)
b) The 'Search Region' size (Advanced
Setup/Guiding Tab) can be made smaller/larger (a nice feature, but
be careful of increasing region so much that a brighter offset star becomes
included in search region,
autoguiding will jump to this
new star)
c) The 'Exposure' (pull-down list) can be
changed (quite a nice feature)
- Live Stacking looks a really neat tool for realtime
- Questions
- how are bookmarks used?
- what is 'Enable Server' ?
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Guiding Assistant doesn't work with simulator. Does it work with live
camera ?
- I encountered a problem whereby I couldn't connect to ST-10 CCD camera
using CCDSoft after previously
having the camera connected in PHD2.
I put this down the robust way in which I closed PHD2. The camera should
probably be disconnected using PHD2 software, before closing the
appliction.
- Dark Defects Map can be made quite quickly. This ensures that
autoguiding isn't upset by hot pixels.
Used
Hot Pixel defect list are stored in
C:\Users\..Username..\AppData\Local\phd2\darks_defects
- Entering a larger search region is helpful if the scope produces large
tracking errors and/or the image scale is very small.
- Setting 'Assume Dec
orthogonal to RA' is helpful if the scope has large periodic error or you're
dealing with very bad seeimg
FireCapture Notes
- Select "ZWO" from camera interface options
- Software gives a warning on
opening "You're running an ASI camera. Take care with the USBTraffic setting.
Whenever you see broken/split frames or image hangs try reducing the USBTraffic
value using the cog-wheel button".
- Much more complicted interface
(where to start ?)
- Camera Temperature 30 -39 degC
- Software doesn't
seem to be able to save images as FITS (apparently this is only an option with
ASI178MM, monochrome camera).
- AVI, SER and BMP are the only save format
options.
- Toolbar can be user configured.
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- Confirmed that a ZWO ASI178MC FITS Image file captured & saved by
SharpCap can be opened in DeepSkyStacker
- DeepSkyStacker Live monitors
a folder for new images and stacks them based on specified criteria.
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RAW16 FITS files will by default display as B/W images showing a Bayer pattern.
To display them in Colour go to Options/Settings/Raw & FITS DPP Settings, and
check the option 'Monochorm 16 bit FITS Files are RAW files created by a DSLR or
a colour CCD camera'. Ensure Camera field shows 'Generic RGGB' (the Bayer
format used by ASI178MC)
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- Select 'ZWO ASI178MC'
from Camera Selector list than appears when software is started
- Software
halts with Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Libary error: "This application has
requested the Runtime to terminate it i an usual way. Please contact the
application support team for more information." MetaGuide process uses
private memory of 1,725,744 K (very large number for a process that's just been
opened).
If laptops WebCam is selected instead of the ZWO camera, MetaGuide
starts up ok. (MetaGuide Process Private memory 119,348K)
- AstroGeeks Yahoo
groups contains a
post that describes exactly this problem where Metaguide is crashing with
the latest ASI USB3 high resolution cameras. The solution given was to use the
latest drivers from ZWO (V1.3.9.8). The author of the post was using
Meteguide V5.2.9 (Beta Version) (available at (http://www.astrogeeks.com/Bliss/MetaGuide)
- Checked driver installed for ZWO ASI178MC from Driver CD supplied with the
camera. It was v1.0.0.3, dated 2014-11-23 (from SuZhou ZWO Co. Ltd).
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Downloaded Driver: ZWO ASI Camera driver Setup V1.3.12.28 from First Optics ZWO
Cameras.
- Ran new driver setup. The driver now shows as v1.0.0.4, dated
2014-11-24
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- CCDSoft5 wasn't
able to immediately gain access to the ZWO 178MC camera, but it can be made to
access the camera using an ASCOM link (see below)
- Instructions for getting CCDSoft5 to be to connect
to and take pictures with ZWO 178MC camera are as follows:
1) Obtain and
install CCDSoft™ ASCOM Camera Plug-In for CCDSoft
We need to add AscomCCDSoft.dll to
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Software Bisque\CCDSoft Version 5\Camera Plug Ins"
folder.
This was obtained via an installer at
https://www.bisque.com/sc/members/evwark/files/AscomCCDSoft.zip.aspx
Downloading
the zip file 'AscomCCDSoft.zip' and executing the enclosed nstaller
'AscomCCDSoft.exe' created a folder at
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Software Bisque\CCDSoft Version 5Camera Plug Ins"
containing two files: 'AscomCCDSoft.dll' and 'README
CCDSoftAscom.txt'
I believe this folder location is an installation
error, so I copied AscomCCDSoft.dll file to
"C:\Program Files
(x86)\Software Bisque\CCDSoft Version 5\Camera Plug Ins"
(The offical
Installer seems to be one that can be downloaded from
http://www.ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Plugins.htm
however downloading and executing the installer from this location produced
errors do to with folder path
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Software
Bisque\CCDSoft Version 5;C")
2) Install "ASICamera ASCOM"
We need to run "ASICamera ASCOM Setup.exe"
that comes in the ASCOM folder contained on the ZWO 'Driver CD'
(You may or
may need to install the ASCOM Platform. I didn't but it may already have been on
my computer).
3) Finally open CCDSoft5 and select/connect to the ZWO ASI178MC camera
From CCDSoft's Camera Control / Setup, select
'ASCOM Camera'
Clicking on (camera) Settings. This gives the ASCOM Camera
Chooser, from where we can select 'ASI Camera (1) '
or 'ASI Camera (2)'.
Having choosen one of these options, click on Properties to see 'ASI Camera
Setup V6.0.2.13'
If the camera is plugged into a USB port we should see 'ZWO
ASI178MC' as a connected camera.
Adjust properties for camera as required
(i.e. image type, gain, offset etc)
Click OK twice to return
to the Camera Control / Setup tab. Now click on Connect
- The above instructions should also work for other ZWO cameras.
- I found
the best image type to use was Raw16 with the MonoBin option. This
produced smooth black/white images in CCDsoft
(Y8 could be used
without MonoBin option (smooth but lower quality). However using Raw16 without
MonoBin produced B/W images with a Bayer pattern. Raw8 pictures without MonoBin
also produced images with Bayer pattern unless binning of 2 or greater was
used.)
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- A full size video of
ASI178MC images (3096x2080) cannot be played at 100% zoom or indeed any zoom
setting greater than the maximum size available the application window on the
screen. On my laptop (screen resolution 1920x1080) the maximum zoom
setting is 44%.
- SER Player provides good control on frame playback rate,
and offers the ability to play video in reverse , or play back and forth from a
particular frame point.
- If 'Enable Debayering' option is unchecked in
Tools/Processing frames are shown in B/W with a Bayer pattern.
- Several
processing options available for Gain/Gamma, Colour Channel Alignment ,
MonoChrome Conversion and Frame Crop.
- Several Save Frames Options (Save to
SER, Save to AVI, Save to Animated GIF, Save to Images)
with
options to select Frame range, to apply processing and adjust certain header
fields (Observer, Telescope)
- Save To Images can save as .jpg, .bmp, . png,
.tiff
- When saving frames as individual image files, ensure to tick the
'Apply Processing to Frames Before Saving' option in order to get colour images,
otherwise 178MC images will be saved as B/W images displaying a Bayer pattern.
AmCap Notes
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- AutoStakkert - Guides & Tutorials
http://www.autostakkert.com/wp/guides/
- Open SER file containing
frames captured by SharpCap or other capture program
- Use Analyse button to
analyse each frame for quality image, and place them in ranked order
- Define
Stack options.
- More than one stack option can be defined (eg P10, P30, P50,
50 frames, 100 frame)
- Use More Files options to send stack to Registax for
further processing (eg. Wavelet processing)
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- Very useful for batch conversion/resizing of images of
various types to other types, for example
a) produce Colour .PNG
files from set of Raw16 .FIT files,
b) resize a set of .jpgs to
smaller size for publishing
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| This Web Page: | Notes - Session 599.1 (2017-01-06) |
| Last Updated : | 2023-10-27 |
| Site Owner : | David Richards |
| Home Page : | David's Astronomy Web Site |
