×

INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

Live stacking methods?

  • Posts: 333
  • Thank you received: 92

Replied by han on topic Live stacking methods?

This evening, I had a chance to test the ASTAP live stacking during some clear sky moment between the clouds. Noted the following:

- Stacking works well!
Only there is something wrong with star detection because it didn't work well with H-alpha images and the normal stack routine has not problem with them.
- The switch-over between two different object doesn't work proper. While slewing the incoming images confuse the program. For the time being I just had to stop imaging.
- Unicode fonts didn't work well with my Win7 system.
- Memo containing the fits header is flashing too much.

Improvements will come.

Han

One example made during strong wind:
41x10 seconds live stacking with ASI1600 and HEQ5 mount. No guiding. No darks No flats.

The following user(s) said Thank You: Jasem Mutlaq, AstroNerd, Jose Corazon, Avocette
Last edit: 4 years 5 months ago by han.
4 years 5 months ago #44791
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 333
  • Thank you received: 92

Replied by han on topic Live stacking methods?

Except the switch-over, the other problems should be fixed in v0.9.281. But more testing is required. This is an early release to test the concept.

Han
4 years 5 months ago #44793

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 447
  • Thank you received: 30

Replied by T-Studio on topic Live stacking methods?

Mr.han

live stacking for EAA, please check Sharp CAP for windows app.
A slider that adjusts the brightness and color of the stacked images can be used conveniently for viewing.
4 years 5 months ago #44796

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Replied by Jasem Mutlaq on topic Live stacking methods?

wow these are impressive results indeed!! Really looking forward to integrating this feature as well with KStars, just after I finish the ASTAP astrometry integration. Great work Han!
4 years 5 months ago #44803

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 333
  • Thank you received: 92

Replied by han on topic Live stacking methods?


I will do. But sliders are already available.

I'm trying to modifying an application which was designed to stack images from a stationary telescope with guiding. No guiding is no problems as long you keep the exposures short. Currently there is a concept problem that the application doesn't know what's happening with the telescope. When your continuous imaging and move the telescope you get something like this:




This will stack since a part of the exposure is good but somewhere halfway the operator decided to slew. But this will spoil the stack. Looking into the FITS header of CCDCiel there is no keyword I could use to identify the start slew halfway the exposure. So you either have to 1) suspend imaging automatic after a slew command or 2) add information to the header indicating the mount has moved or 3) ASTAP reads out the mount position. 4) stop manually the exposures

This is something for Jasem (Kstars) and Patrick (CCDCiel) to advice. Step 3 is a big step, so option 1) or 2) look the better option. Option 1) looks to me the best option since imaging and slewing doesn't make sense and any image will be worthless. Maybe this is already available in Kstars, I'm not familiar with it.

Han
4 years 5 months ago #44806
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 333
  • Thank you received: 92

Replied by han on topic Live stacking methods?

Fixed some run time problem with ASTAP release v0.9.282. This version processes all my images from last night, good or bad. :)

Han
The following user(s) said Thank You: T-Studio
4 years 5 months ago #44807

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 210
  • Thank you received: 104
Han, this look very good!

You can detect if the telescope as moved with the RA and DEC FITS keyword.
But it is necessary to compare with some tolerance because the mount driver can update the coordinates after pulse guide command.

This is probably the most universal way to deal with the problem. For example many people doing EAA use the telescope handpad to move the telescope and the imaging application is not aware of that.
But the most reliable is a Start/Stop button in the stacking application, so it not stack until the user finish to center the object and sometime focus manually.

Patrick
4 years 5 months ago #44809

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 278
  • Thank you received: 17

Replied by S on topic Live stacking methods?

A 'simpel' levels with histogram is very convenient for adjusting the stacked image.
4 years 5 months ago #44811

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 333
  • Thank you received: 92

Replied by han on topic Live stacking methods?


I already compar the FITS header position with 0.2 degrees accuracy. Smaller offsets will be stacked without problems assuming the image is covering an area of 0.5 degrees or larger

I just did a test with CCDCiel imaging and slewing at the same time . If the mount is moved during exposure, the FITS file is written with the latest position in the header. That's good. So it means that I have to skip an image with a new position. Currently in ASTAP live stacking an image with a new position is used as the first and reference image. That's why it goes wrong. I will fix that in version 0.9.283

Hopefully Ekos does the same (writing the actual mount position at the moment of saving)

That's already available.

To clarify it for some users. Live stacking will be processing files using a dedicated directory. (Like the Windows application "deepSky stacker live") There is no link to a camera or mount. Actual imaging should be done by Ekos, CCDciel or any other application. The ASTAP live stacking program will just load and stack the available images in the dedicated directory. If all images are processed it will wait for more. Exposures should be 2 second or longer. It is not suitable for planetary imaging. If a new position is detected in the FITS header, it will start a new stack. To identify processed and unprocessed files, the processed file will get the .fts extension. Images will be stacked correctly independent of shift, rotation or flipped. The stacked image will be displayed after each addition and the image quality with the number of images added. It will work for unguided images as long the exposure times are short. The ASTAP viewer will work effectively like a slow scan video camera.

Han
The following user(s) said Thank You: T-Studio
Last edit: 4 years 5 months ago by han.
4 years 5 months ago #44813

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 407
  • Thank you received: 74
Some personal observations - sorry but it was a Windows version of ASTAP running on my test rig - an older AMD A6 8GB Win 10 64bit with SSD. I used a DSLR and no Scope set up. Old stored images were used for he live stack. Nothing else out of the normal being used except MQTT broker on Windows!

1. Too complicated IMHO - by that I mean you just need to set the folder where the images are going to be stored and allow the user to end the session and change the stacking source does matter that the scope has slewed in the mean time as I would expect the Live stacking to "Lag" behind by a number of images anyway - ok more difficult when using automated sequence. Plus Astrotoaster allows a fair amount of simple changes,in real time, to the stack (well the viewers displayed image) just by using simple sliders on various parameters via a simple cild window called "Col Adj" - something like that would be great in ASTAP

2. On my test rig ,which runs DSS Live and Astroaster ok ,I was unable,once live stacking started, to do anything within ASTAP as it kept displaying the dreaded revolving circle and "no responding". Task Manager showed very high processor usage but no more than either DSS or Astrotoaster - figure shown was around 34% with only 2.7gb out of 7gb of memory used.

3. I could not find a way to just monitor RAW (CR2 files) as per DSS etc and let ASTAP do the conversion if required to FITS. I know ASTAP will convert RAW files to FITS for normal stacking,

4. Personally I would prefer the Live Stacking to be a separate application and NOT part of ASTAP - simple and clean which both DSS Live and Astrotoaster are ,even though they use DSS in the backgound - but I never need to start or see DSS !

5. The ability to reject some images in the Live Stacking list and restack would be nice.

As I say this is my EAA personal observations and know it will be used in other ways ,so it is a blinkered view :-)

Plus what is the hardware testing set up beings used by others - RPI ? or other - obviously running ASTAP on new faster kit and maybe Linux OS would my problem as noted by point (2) but would be interested on what others are using during this test / development phase.
RPI3 Ubuntu 16.04 / AMD desktop Kstars under Ubuntu 16.04 Mounts :azeq6 ,SWAZGoTo

RPI3 Fedora testing out on AMD desktop Fedpra 28 - running kstars 2.9.4 , Indilib 1.7.4 ?????
4 years 5 months ago #44816

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 447
  • Thank you received: 30

Replied by T-Studio on topic Live stacking methods?

Thank you for a wonderful job.

Many people running EAA with SharpCap enjoy using an automated deployment platform such as AZGTI.

After introducing the target object while watching the live view, press the stacking button to start stacking.

Stacked images are adjusted manually (in color, brightness, etc.) in real time with a slider, etc., and they are having fun.

When moving the target, press the stop button to stop the stack before moving.

Q. Can the following items be realized with this stacking function?

1. Stacking using live view video.

2. Adjust brightness and color in real time during stacking.

I checked the updated app, but it looked like a stacking method to load a saved still image. (It is similar to the function of AstroToaster.)

It will be even better if the above 1.2 features are also added.
4 years 5 months ago #44817

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 333
  • Thank you received: 92

Replied by han on topic Live stacking methods?

Unfortunately video is not possible. ASTAP live stacking is similar in function as AstroToaster&DSS. There are no functions to read cameras and there are no plans to add them. ASTAP could be used as an addition to existing programs like Ekos & CCDCiel.

Adjustment of brightness and colour is possible during stacking. See sliders in the top of viewer. However if used in auto mode [low,medium, high, gamma setting] there is no need to change them. To save the result you could pause/stop the stacking and save the viewer image as FITS/PNG/TIFF for further processing. You can also live zoom in and focus on existing details.

Version 0.9.283 is now released. If no more bugs are found, this should be the version for the next days. Then I will compile for Raspberry Pi and hopefully it is fast enough. The MacOS version I will do tonight.

The only remaining question for Ekos is if the FITS file are saved with the lastest ra,dec readings. This is required for the correct functionality. As soon the ra, dec changes that image is skipped. The next image is used as reference for the new stack.

Han

The following user(s) said Thank You: T-Studio
Last edit: 4 years 5 months ago by han.
4 years 5 months ago #44820
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 1.221 seconds