MAY 4 2026: APP 2.0.0-beta44 has been released !
New improved internal memory controls should now work on all computers
May 1 2026: APP 2.0.0-beta43 has been released !
Improved internal memory controls (much more stable and faster on big datasets), fixed CPU image viewer, fixed Narrowband extraction demosaic algortihms.
Apr 29 2026 APP 2.0.0-beta42 has been released !
New improved Normalization engine, Fixed random crashes in integration, fixed RGB Combine & Calibrate Star Colors, fixed Narrowband extraction algorithms, new development platform with performance gains, bug fixes in the tools, etc...
Apr 14 2026: Google Pay, Apple Pay & WeChat Pay added as payment options
Update on the 2.0.0 release & the full manual
We are getting close to the 2.0.0 stable release and the full manual. The manual will soon become available on the website and also in PDF format. Both versions will be identical and once released, will start to follow the APP release cycle and thus will stay up-to-date to the latest APP version.
Once 2.0.0 is released, the price for APP will increase. Owner's license holders will not need to pay an upgrade fee to use 2.0.0, neither do Renter's license holders.
Hello,
This is not necessarily APP issue since I got the same result with Siril.
I decided to post here nonetheless since I didn't get anything helpful at Cludynights.
Got a new ASI2600MC camera to replace the one which just died (also ASI2600MC).
Collected Bias, Dark and Flat correction frames and composed Masters (in APP).
Used those correction Masters for 3 targets over four nights.
Worked OK.
With the 4th target I decided to collect new Flats.
To my surprise they didn't work right.
Old Flats still work OK.
New flats don't work with any of those 4 targets.
Same software (APP), same scope (RC6), same flat panel and brightness, same exposure time.
Same everything but the result is very different.
Tried different exposures, new Bias and even DarkFlats - same outcome.
The only peculiar thing about this: everything is 2x2 binned.
I don't normally do this but had to match binning with the Splinter galaxy I shot in 2023.
Integration with old flats:
Integration with new flats:
Stretched in APP (15% BG, 3 sigma, 2.5 base).
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Max
Max
I don't have a good answer for you, but I can offer some comments.
First - if you look closely, the first image has the exact same issue as the second - its just a lot fainter. So there's probably something wrong with both the old and the new flats - its not a new problem.
I have seen something similar before, and I never completely got to the bottom of it. But my working theory is that it is caused by internal reflections on the interior wall of the scope. I suspect that it is because the light from the flat panel is not coming in parallel. Instead, the light from one side of the panel bounces off the other side of the scope and creates a circular distortion that is different to the light path of a distant object (stars). In support of this - you can see the the effect of the spider support for the secondary. Its clear that most telescope geometries do not significantly suffer from this. Perhaps your rc6 is an exception.
If this idea is right then a solution may involve changing the light source for the flats so that the light comes in in a more parallel way. Perhaps move the panel further from the scope (maybe with a dew shield), or try sky flats. If you choose to try this and it does work I'd be interested in hearing back from you.
Remember, this idea is unproven and I may be completely wrong. If anyone has a better idea I'd like to hear it.
regards
JC
