Astrophotography Calibration Explained

Update May 21!
I am slowly in the process of demonetizing all my videos, I was never in it for the money or the glory. I just like to help people. This way you can rest assured i'm not making a video only to trigger an algorithm or as click bait. I have been a bit disillusioned with it all lately, and hopefully this will help.
Instead if you wish to support me you can buy me a coffee or beer instead :) entirely your choice though!
www.buymeacoff...
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In this video i discuss the different types of calibration frames:
Darks
Flats
Flat Darks
Bias
and what they correct for and how to take them.
A note with regards to target ADU for the flats, this depends on the Astro camera you use. The camera in the video is a 12bit camera, thus the true adu I’m aiming for is 2000. Other cameras with higher bit depths will be different. Please watch the flats and maths video on how to work it out :)
Also the examples in the video use sharpcap, however...if you use other software the same principles are easy to apply. One important note though, don't mix calibration files from different software etc.
I also suggest watching the following videos for extra information, the flats video is particularly important :)
Stacking, the beginners guide:
• Astrophotography Stack...
Flats for astrophotography, lets do the maths:
• Flats for astrophotogr...
Sensor glows in astro cameras, how to fix it:
• Sensor Glow in Astro C...
Equipment shown in video:
Altair 269C Pro Tec : www.altairastr...
Star Adventurer: www.altairastr...
Altair 60EDF Deluxe Telescope: www.altairastr...
Altair MiniGuider 32: www.altairastr...
Disclosure: Bear in mind that the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through it to make a purchase I will earn a few pennies (at no cost to you) which in turn helps to support my astro gadget habit and keep all the reviews coming :D

[@ncironjohn4336]

That was perhaps the simplest, but most useful explanation of Darks, Flats and Biases I've been looking for. Cheers.

[@I_Spaced_Out]

The people who dislike this video are the same people who claim their sensors dust bunnies as newly discovered dark nebulae

[@stoicbloke]

Thanks, Stace. Very well explained for us beginners.

[@davemoss6743]

Great explanation of the calibration files. Thanks very much.

[@derekrobson8855]

Great tutorial Stace. Nice pace, audio and video crisp and easy to hear with no distracting sounds.

[@AllanStaib]

Thanks for this! I'm going to go look for the other video you mentioned to understand why you are looking for the specific true ADU figure before taking the flats.

[@astronomyforbeginners-a4b-217]

This is excellent Stacey, very well put across and simplified. It's like being back at school.

[@AstroStace]

Glad it was helpful! thanks for the great feedback!

[@perak2006]

This is the first video of yours that I've watched, and I can tell you that this is the best explanatory video I've seen. Thank you very much for the clear, concise, and easy to understand information.

[@endakelly4890]

Brilliant Stacey, complex topic explained so simply. Well done! Thanks for sharing.

[@AstroStace]

You're very welcome! glad it helped!

[@davepastern]

the problem I have with using an iPad for flats is that the panel is NOT illuminated evenly - it may look like it, but it isn't.

[@tamrich7762]

Well explained Stacey! Thank you for sharing your video,this will be a big help to beginners, stay safe and clear skies.

[@AstroStace]

Thanks Tam!

[@stephenolley8277]

Great video Stacy - thankyou. Flats were the issue for me - you've now answered 2 main questions 👍

[@michaellewis4732]

Great way to explain calibration frames in a very easy to understand way.

[@danoptical2382]

Hi, I'm new, I'd like to ask, do these operations also need to be done for photos of planets or the Moon? what type of noise is present in these cases, given that I take short-term photos?
Thank you

[@sampowell8347]

Great video it really helped also can you do a review of the altair 60 telescope think about getting one

[@danielmunozluna4666]

Hello Stace. Tablet flats works great for me. Better than tshirt flats. Thanks for the tip. Say hello to Luna.

[@GaryMCurran]

Interesting. Helps clear up some misconceptions I had. The Dark frames are a pain, though, if you're doing 300 second exposures instead of 30 second exposures.
You did a great job explaining this.

[@AstroStace]

Thanks Gary, they are indeed :) it’s one of the main reasons I went for a cooled camera. So I could set the temperature and do at my leisure

[@billlachenmeyer7506]

Really helpful. I'll start using dark flats right away and for the first time I understand how to get the correct adu value for flats. thanks Stace.

[@Thorcita]

This is great information. Exactly what I was looking for and explained amazingly. Thank you, Stace!

[@AstroStace]

No problem :) glad to help!

[@simonhall2505]

Absolutely loved this! Thank you! Hope
You’re safe and well. Si :)

[@flanerpete2040]

Excellent explanation video! Thanks, Stacey :-) Pete...

[@AstroStace]

Thank you 😊

[@enriqueboeneker]

Awesome video, Stace! I learned a thing or two about calibration frames today. I’m affraid I’ll use some information in my own Spanish speaking audience channel. Thanks for sharing!

[@AstroStace]

Thank you Enrique! :)

[@nomesc3074]

Great video 👍

[@AstroStace]

Thank you Astro-Nome!

[@stormingbarney4498]

Just what I was looking for - thanks!

[@hymanmj]

Good one (again) Stacey - every day is a school day! :)

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Excellent tutorial Stace!

[@AstroStace]

Thank you Ray!

[@psiddarth3581]

Great video 👌👏

[@AstroStace]

Thank you 👍

[@stevesealey8793]

Thanks Stacey I'll give it a go.

[@AstroStace]

:) let me know how you get on!

[@davepastern]

I presume that I need to do darks, flats (and dark flats if you want of course) and bias frames for each filter - LRGBSHO, correct?

[@AstroStace]

Darks are for the sensor :) so you only need different sets of darks if you change settings etc. So if all your filters are done at the same settings ie temp, exposure length , gain, black offset then you only need one set of darks.
Flats and flat darks are for the imaging train, so you will need a set for each filter

[@davepastern]

@@AstroStace black offset? I've never heard of that. I'm still trying to get some gear for my rig, but hoping to figure things out and start LRGB imaging (will be unguided as no guide scope/camera yet - it's one of the things I still need to get).

[@AstroStace]

Some software calls it black level :) some call it offset . I was just trying to cover all bases :)

[@davepastern]

​@@AstroStace I know what black level is, at least from a normal terrestrial photography point of view.

[@steveg4iwr]

Thanks Stacey.

[@AstroStace]

You are welcome! :)

[@SirVenox]

Thanks for the video! I dont know but Flats never worked for me using sgpro. I will try the ipad method with sharpcap.

[@AstroStace]

Bear in mind you can’t mix and match calibration frames from different programs. I used sharpcap as an example really, have a look at my flats and maths video to try and help you work it out for sgpro :)

[@SirVenox]

@@AstroStace Im curious! I dont know what it is. Something has to work out for me! When I add flats, the illumination on the edges get worse. Even calibrating with dark flats. Ill try anything :D

[@matthilton8959]

How do you work out the ADU if I'm using APT?

[@AstroStace]

Depends on the camera sensor, manufacturer etc: my flats and maths video will help :) it should have flashed up on this video when it got to the flats part

[@stevebbdotcom]

Thanks Stacey :)

[@robsbackyardastrophotograp8885]

I love the style!

[@AstroStace]

Cheers Rob! :)

[@marlonmc8080]

I use my iPad to take Flats xD and works very well xD

[@AstroStace]

glad to hear i'm not the only one! :)