20 January 2021: Soon to be released APP 1.083-beta2 : improved comet registration, updated tools, new Star Reducer Tool and more...
16 November 2020 - Wouter van Reeven has officially joined the Astro Pixel Processor Team as a moderator on our forum, welcome Wouter 🙂 !
31 July 2020 - Comet Registration video tutorial using APP 1.083-beta1 released.
30 July 2020 - APP 1.083-beta1 has been released introducing Comet processing! This 1st beta has comet registration. The stable release will also include special comet integration modes.
I don't know of other people use Pentax's astrotracker function (haven't seen anyone), but it's quite fun.
I made this image of M82 with a static mounted Pentax dslr on a tripod (nothing else). The camera calculates sensor translation and rotation based on build in gps and compass. I use an 'old' manual achromat lens (SMC-A 200/4) fitted with a baader contrast booster.
Seeing was 'so so'. Ursa Minor's dimmest star Eta Umi was just barely visible. Milky way was invisible (bortle scale6/7).
APP processed this stack of 47 lights, ISO 3200, f5.6, with 25 bias', 25 flats, 25 darks. Postprocessing done in affinity photo.
Very interesting, didn't know about that indeed. What is the exposure limit etc, I guess still about 15 seconds per image?
For this example lights were taken with an exposure time of 20 seconds per image. Depending on quality of calibration (gps/compass), focal length and location of the subject, theoretical exposure times can go up to one and a half minute (200mm lens, limited by translation and rotation of the sensor). Practically, I never managed above 50" without ending up with unwanted trails. I am generally happy when I manage 20 or 30" exposure times. Other focal lengths will result in other exposure times.
That's certainly impressive for a non tracked setup, thanks, nice to know.
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