Noise and Astrophotography | 2024-06-02

Our own Tim Hutchison will discuss the different types of signal and noise that are present in our astrophotos. We will discuss the sources of noise, how they impact our photography and what can be done to combat noise in our images.
Tim is an electrical engineer and a software engineer by training, and is a retired CEO of his own software company. Tim has always been a photography enthusiast, but became interested in astrophotography in 2018. Tim is a member of the TAIC team and has done multiple presentations on the channel, as well as having given presentations at NEAIC. He is currently operating his remote setup at the Sierra Remote Observatories, as well as multiple backyard setups. Tim and his wife live in Pittsburgh where they raised their two boys.
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[@michaelcooper6932]

Thanks Tim for a great presentation! This will change the way I look at setting up my gain while shooting different targets!

[@ccfdmd]

Great presentation!
One of the best explanations of noise I've seen.

[@terrizittritsch745]

Fabulous presentation. Many of my thoughts parallel the speakers on exposure time.. maybe because we’re both EE’s, and me being a retired semiconductor engineer. I have never understood the argument that some make about many short exposures being just as effective as fewer longer exposures, especially on dim targets for the same reasons the speaker shared. I’ll have to think more about his read noise comments. Anyway, great presentation.

[@CameronGillis]

Excellent presentation, thank you Tim and TAIC team! Lots of great and helpful information on noise in astro-imaging. In the distant future, I hope to contribute some of what I've learned over several years of astro-imaging, once I'm ready 😎 Thanks again, and keep looking up and enjoying the journey ✨️ Cheers!

[@michaelnuss7443]

Thank you Tim. Very informative and done at an interesting pace.

[@scottbadger4107]

I agree with the comments below, one of if not the best noise/exposure/calibration presentations I've seen! I have one follow on question....if you process stars and target/background separately, is there any advantage, or disadvantage, to maximizing light frame exposure length according to the brightest part of the target and letting the stars blow out, then remove the stars during processing and replace them with stars from an extra couple hours of RGB lights exposed to optimize the stars?

[@astroworldcreations2047]

Great presentation, thanks Tim!

[@astroswell]

Fantastic presentation!

[@haiderbhogadia4829]

Flats need to be taken every session to account for dust particles settling on the rig

[@timbotron4000]

I'm thinking thru the bit about cooling and dark current... if my sky brightness is at 5.16 e/pix/s and my ASI533MC never has a dark current value greater than the sky brightness/10, I should just never cool my camera?