26 replies to this topic

[Tailspin45]

My SolarQuest mount does a great job carrying and tracking my little Lunt LS-40/B600. But as an alt/az mount, field rotation is a problem when trying to create a timelapse.

 

I've tried registering and de-rotation SER video and TIFF images with ASK!3, imPPG, winJUPOS, ASTAP, SIRIL, AffinityPhoto, Photoshop, and a few other programs that don't spring immediately to mind. But without success.

 

Registration works well in several apps, but de-rotation in most of the programs is designed for star fields.

 

Registax comes close, but I haven't found the right formula.

 

Anyone have any suggestions (that doesn't include buying a GEM mount)?

Edited by Tailspin45, 19 April 2022 - 06:59 PM.

[gustavo_sanchez]

Have you tried the method shown here?

https://www.astrobin...with-az-mounts/

[lemonde]

My SolarQuest mount does a great job carrying and tracking my little Lunt LS-40/B600. But as an alt/az mount, field rotation is a problem when trying to create a timelapse.

 

I've tried registering and de-rotation SER video and TIFF images with ASK!3, imPPG, winJUPOS, ASTAP, SIRIL, AffinityPhoto, Photoshop, and a few other programs that don't spring immediately to mind. But without success.

 

Registration works well in several apps, but de-rotation in most of the programs is designed for star fields.

 

Registax comes close, but I haven't found the right formula.

 

Anyone have any suggestions (that doesn't include buying a GEM mount)?

I also want to know this.

[rigel123]

Can't help you, when I first started DSO imaging I used an Alt/Az mount since I didn't know any better and several programs worked with rotating the images for alignment but never tried it with solar images.  All of mine are done on an EQ mount now.  Have you tried PIPP?  I don't know if that has an option but also I'm thinking if there are no spots on the surface (not a problem at the moment) that any software would have a difficult time latching onto a structure that it could use for derotation of the image.  The Advanced setting in AS!3 that Gustavo sent the link for looks like your best chance for it to work.

[Tailspin45]

Have you tried the method shown here?

https://www.astrobin...with-az-mounts/

Yes, thank you. Spent a couple hours trying to make it work—it looks like it should—but no success.

 

With 300 frames, touching each one for winJUPOS measurements is out of the question.

 

So far, Photoshop seems to do the best de-rotation job, but I haven't figured out how to create a layer mask for an animation to cover up the distracting rotation frame edges. But I'm close. 

[Siderius]

I have been trying to solve this problem in a systematic way because I collect several hundred more frames on each clear day with a wind-tossed, open-loop, alt/az tracking mount. 

 

I'm intrigued with the possibility that there is a de-rotation function autostakkert, but when I look at the implementation, it's clear that there is more work to be done if there is to be the general utility I seek. It looks to me like what has been implemented might be suitable for a single video clip, but isn't practical for a whole day's observations.

 

 

I don't mind entering my latitude and longitude (though it's in the EXIF data of each frame), but I'd like to see radio buttons for popular solar system objects and have AS compute the target's location for each frame and apply a parallactic angle correction. With the frames aligned, I can scroll my animations and study them in much more detail than scanning the hurky-jerky raw stream.

 

But, I don't want to be seen as complaining about excellent free software. 

 

[Niklasgunner]

 

I have found a very good way of image tracking in Davinci Resolve that doesn't take too much work, but requires some knowledge of the video editing program and also a half decent PC. But I'm very happy with my result.

 

 

Edit: I'm heading off to bed, but if you are interested I can make a step by step guide on how I did this, you can export the video out of davinci resolve using .avi uncompressed (or good ol mp4)

Edited by Niklasgunner, 20 April 2022 - 05:22 PM.

[lemonde]

 

 

I have found a very good way of image tracking in Davinci Resolve that doesn't take too much work, but requires some knowledge of the video editing program and also a half decent PC. But I'm very happy with my result.

 

 

 

Edit: I'm heading off to bed, but if you are interested I can make a step by step guide on how I did this, you can export the video out of davinci resolve using .avi uncompressed (or good ol mp4)

 

Wish you can do a youtube tutorial. Thank you very much!

[gustavo_sanchez]

I have found a very good way of image tracking in Davinci Resolve that doesn't take too much work, but requires some knowledge of the video editing program and also a half decent PC. But I'm very happy with my result.



Edit: I'm heading off to bed, but if you are interested I can make a step by step guide on how I did this, you can export the video out of davinci resolve using .avi uncompressed (or good ol mp4)

I would be very interested as well.

[Niklasgunner]

https://www.youtube....h?v=sMCvCGC_GvU

Here it is

 

Edit:

and here is the result of my imaging yesterday, with rotation fixed using davinci resolve

Edited by Niklasgunner, 21 April 2022 - 04:37 AM.

[torsinadoc]

https://www.youtube....h?v=sMCvCGC_GvU

Here it is

 

Edit:

and here is the result of my imaging yesterday, with rotation fixed using davinci resolve

Wow. Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing

[Tailspin45]

https://www.youtube....h?v=sMCvCGC_GvU

Here it is

Fantastic! Your tutorial is excellent, and Davinci Resolve is amazing (and free)!

 

Anyone who uses a SolarQuest mount will be thrilled to have this de-rotation solution!

 

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and time.

Edited by Tailspin45, 21 April 2022 - 09:03 AM.

[nicknacknock]

https://www.youtube....h?v=sMCvCGC_GvU

Here it is

 

Edit:

and here is the result of my imaging yesterday, with rotation fixed using davinci resolve

Many thanks! Picking up my SolarQuest mount tomorrow morning

[gustavo_sanchez]

I don't use a SolarQuest mount, but a iOptron AZMP. I guess this works for all alt-az mounts, so this is awesome.

[gustavo_sanchez]

This post is going straight to the "Best of Solar" pinned thread. Such a brilliant tutorial.

[lemonde]

https://www.youtube....h?v=sMCvCGC_GvU

Here it is

 

Edit:

and here is the result of my imaging yesterday, with rotation fixed using davinci resolve

Brilliant tutorial! Thank you so much!

[Tailspin45]

Picking up my SolarQuest mount tomorrow morning

After using one for about a year, a few observations:

• Using the 8 AA batteries make setup a snap--just turn it on.
• The batteries last longer than I expected—at least 20 hours of use. But don't forget to turn the mount off at the end of a session.
• With the legs retracted the mount is sturdier and will fit in the back seat of a car without disassembly, so "grab and go" is a reality.
• An A/C adapter means you never have to worry about losing power mid-timelapse, but an new set of batteries before a lengthy session or a solar transit means you don't have to worry either. However the whole kit is less portable; I bought an adapter but never use it.
• Don't set up too close to a building or it will have trouble finding satellites—but you don't need to be in the middle of a field.
• Point the scope a few degrees east of the Sun when you turn it on, otherwise it will  go the long way around looking for it.
• You may need to adjust the solar finder so it matches the optical tracking. 
• Slewing eats up batteries, tracking uses very little power.
• Solar tracking is excellent unless clouds interfere. If they go away quickly the mount will re-center, otherwise you'll have to shut down and restart.
• If it hasn't acquired the satellites and started pointing within about 5 minutes try turning it off and on again.
• It doesn't always level the scope first, presumably because the sensor decided it is close enough.
• Once you manually center the Sun, double click the on/off button and the Sun will be dead center every time you turn the mount on. It's uncanny how well it works.
• SharpCap's "Seeing triggered capture" allows you get just the best images. Then when you process and select, say, the best 10% you get best of the best.
• I bought a small $21 clip-on sport umbrella that is very portable and provides good shade for computer and me without jiggling the scope and camera when fastened to the arm of a chair or edge of a table.
• I also bought a 30' powered USB cable so I can sit indoors or in a vehicle out of the sun. Much easier to see computer screen. 
• Visit https://transit-finder.com. If you have patience, an ISS solar transit will eventually occur nearby. It's great fun to catch something traveling at 17,500mph that is hundreds of miles away (slant range, up). A fast camera such as the ASI174MM is recommended.

Edited by Tailspin45, 22 April 2022 - 08:41 AM.

[nicknacknock]

Thanks much for the tips. I had one before, but there are some great suggestions in your post to try out!

 

[Tailspin45]

I had one before

Yike! Sorry!

 

At the risk of further hijacking this thread, do you have any other tips?

[nicknacknock]

You pretty much nailed it!

[Tailspin45]

https://www.youtube....h?v=sMCvCGC_GvU

Here it is

Ta-dah! Tutorial was very easy to follow. Thank you.

 

https://youtu.be/CATYenF4zTE

 

Now I need to capture a good timelapse series!

[fiston]

Excellent tutorial!  thanks for sharing.

[Niklasgunner]

Ta-dah! Tutorial was very easy to follow. Thank you.

 

https://youtu.be/CATYenF4zTE

 

Now I need to capture a good timelapse series!

Nice timelapse, awesome that it worked!

In my opinion, Davinci is one of the best free editing softwares out there, it's amazing that it is free.

 

 

After trying a few differently processed stacks, I found that sometimes the tracking using the planar tracker can fail. In which case selecting a different tracking area, making it smaller/bigger, did eventually still work. This part might require a bit of trial and error.

Edited by Niklasgunner, 22 April 2022 - 03:38 AM.

[Niklasgunner]

Did another one, the stabilization in davinci resolve works very well for full disk timelapses too

Edited by Niklasgunner, 25 April 2022 - 03:13 AM.

[Flyman9495]

Does the Solar quest keep the image in the centre for a long time or are you having to re centre regularly is there a way to keep it centred, ie must be level or just by double clicking the on button keeps it centred. Does the balance of the scope on the Solarquest makes the image move etc. Great video.