B How often do you re-acquire dark and bias frames?

  • B
  • Thread starter Thread starter Andy Resnick
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bias Frames
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the frequency of updating dark and bias master frames for astrophotography. Users suggest that re-acquiring these frames should be done periodically, especially if the camera sensor may degrade over time. Many recommend updating a few times a year, particularly for those who shoot regularly. The ease of generating new frames with cooled CCD cameras is highlighted, as it allows for quick and efficient updates. Regular updates can help maintain image quality and accuracy in astrophotography.
Andy Resnick
Science Advisor
Education Advisor
Insights Author
Messages
7,689
Reaction score
3,773
Semi-random question: I generated dark and bias master frames (and from those, bad pixel maps) about a year ago. I'm sure my camera sensor has degraded over time.. b/c entropy... and so I'm wondering if it's worthwhile to create a new set. How often do you 'update' your dark and bias master frames?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Perhaps a few times a year when I'm regularly shooting. I have a cooled CCD camera, so making a new set of dark and bias frames is trivial. I just set my camera up inside during the day and let it go to town taking as many exposures as I want.
 

Thread 'How feasible is home radio astronomy?'

Is a homemade radio telescope realistic? There seems to be a confluence of multiple technologies that makes the situation better than when I was a wee lad: software-defined radio (SDR), the easy availability of satellite dishes, surveillance drives, and fast CPUs. Let's take a step back - it is trivial to see the sun in radio. An old analog TV, a set of "rabbit ears" antenna, and you're good to go. Point the antenna at the sun (i.e. the ears are perpendicular to it) and there is...
View full post »

Thread '3I/ATLAS, Interstellar Comet'

3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and formerly designated as A11pl3Z, is an iinterstellar comet. It was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station at Río Hurtado, Chile on 1 July 2025. Note: it was mentioned (as A11pl3Z) by DaveE in a new member's introductory thread. https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/brian-cox-lead-me-here.1081670/post-7274146 https://earthsky.org/space/new-interstellar-object-candidate-heading-toward-the-sun-a11pl3z/ One...
View full post »

Similar threads

I CCD Readout Noise vs Temperature
Replies
11
Views
3K
I How to do the Dark Frame Subtraction? (camera imaging)
Replies
16
Views
3K
B Infrared Detectors & The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
4
Replies
152
Views
10K
Using a CCD camera to solve physics problems
Replies
3
Views
3K
Book Review: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Replies
19
Views
7K
B How do the candidates for Dark Energy 'work'?
Replies
4
Views
2K
How Does Flickering Light Influence Our Brain's Perception of Image Brightness?
Replies
8
Views
4K
I How do the collider experiments measure the mass of the W boson?
Replies
4
Views
4K
Q: Deep Sky Stacker hints & tips
Replies
1
Views
5K
How Do You Calculate Proton Beam Energy in a Lab Frame?
Replies
7
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top