brownrb1

I got my Alpy 600 and measured the distance from the mirror to the ZWO178mm and it is actually less than than the length of the ZWO helical focuser. Dug up some old parts and was able to get the image. Out tonight and will try to get some spectra. Dick

Hello, I'm in the process of assembling a Star'Ex spectrograph. I have a ZWO 178mm and a ZWO helical focuser. I can see the slit clearly with an eyepiece but unable to see the slit with the ZWO 178 mm camera with 2.4 micrometer pixels. Dick

At some point I will upgrade to another camera for spectroscopy. Would the Atik ACID7.1 be a good choose? Dick

Vega08082020.pdf I was able to attach the profile using REPLY. Dick

Hi, I finally was successful in using Demetra in acquiring and doing the data reduction of a star, which, not surprising, was Vega. My main obstacle, before, was calculating the SMILE in the GEOMETRY section, but it worked this time. When I did the RESPONSE the IR didn't look quite right, but otherwise things seemed to work. I wanted to attach a copy of my profile, but when I clicked CHOOSE FILES nothing happened. It was the first time that I used the guiding module and my mount was tracking well enough that Vega stayed in the slit during the entire exposures, which were 5-15 s frames. To get the exposure I took single exposures and increased the time until I got an over saturation warning and then decreased to the last exposure time. My focusing could have been better. I then tried Beta Lyrae, since I was in the neighborhood, got a couple of under exposed spectra, and no success doing the data reduction. Again, since I was in the neighborhood, I got a quick shot of M 57 and was not able to use Demetra to get a profile, but used RSpec with some success. It was a bit noisy, exposure off, but my first spectrum capture of an extended object. Next on my list is learning to use PHD 2 to help in tracking. Thanks Dick

Hi, I think you're correct-I spent today setting up and focusing my guiding module. Dick

Hi, I've just started learning Demetra to reduce my data and get spectra profiles. I had previously posted a profile of Vega and, attached here, a profile of Beta Lyrae. In both cases, the wavelength of absorption and emission lines were off. What could I do to correct this? Thanks Dick

Hi Again, While I like my Atik Infinity for images , the resolution is not that great. I was thinking that I use my ZWO 178 mono for calibration and the Infinity for images and see how that works. Dick

I've been trying to learn how to use the ISIS program to do data reduction on my spectra and have been making some progress. When I get to PROFILE I get this profile (which is attached) of spectrum from my Alpy calibration lamp. I acquired the calibration spectrum using different exposures - 10s, 20s, 60s, and 120s. This profile is from 10s exposure, but they are all about the same. I use an Atik Infinity monochrome camera. The resolution of the profile is not what I expect. been

Hi Nicolas, Attached is 1 of 6 images of P Cyg and the 1 image of Alpy calibration images. I also got 7 bias frames, darks, and flats. Dick pcyg_A_Object_60s_20200809_051952-2.fit vega 2_Calibration_120s_20200729_162339-1.fit

Hi Again, Here's a profile of a spectrum I got last night and when I did the data reduction the same thing happened with 'Geometry' but the wavelength seems to be fairly close. Dick Vega_4.pdf

Here's thw Calibration screen Calibration.pdf

Hello Nicolas, Thanks for you input. I've just started using Demetra and really like it. I was our last night and used Demetra to get some spectra using it to get correct exposure and focusing work well. I use a 10" Meade SCT with f/6.3 reducer, Atik Infinity monochrome camera and the Alpy Calibration module. I'm not comfortable using the guiding module yet , so I used the small slit to get my bias frames, darks, flats, and calibration and put them in a file. I use the 3mm hole to get my spectra. When I do the data reduction and get to "Calibration" I click "Geometry", then 'Tilt'-"Calculate"-"Detect" and that works fine. I the do "Smile"-"Calculate"-and when I click"Detect" a screen shows 'Warnin-Invalid Search' I then enclose one of the bright vertical line and then"Preview" and nothing happens. I run them anyway and get yellow warnings. I checked "Calibration"->"Run" and it said "Image wavelength correct" and the Calibration srceen is attached Thanks Again Dick Calibration.pdf

Vega (1) .pdf Hi, After correcting some glitches with my Alpy-Camera I imaged a spectrum of Vega the other night and got my Masters and calibration from Alpy calibration module. I think that I will enjoy using Demetra to do data reduction. Hopefully I will be out tonight and get spectra of various stars and use Demetra to get their profiles. Attached is a screenshot of the profile of Vega. Thanks Dick

Hi Olivier, Attached are 2 raw images-a 10 s expoure and a 60 s exposure. Both are from Shelyak calibration. Thanks Again Dick

Sorry-pressed wrong key-correct one was entered and can be seen above this one. Dick

Hello, I was loading my bias, darks,flats, and calibration. With the calibration I got a response "Information-failure o load required images for processing step eShelCalibX". I have an Alpy 600 using the standard 25 um slit, Alpy calibration module, Atik Infinity monochrome camera-90s fits exposure. Any ideas what the problem might be? I'm trying to figure out ISIS and Demetra. Thanks Dick

Hello Nicolas. I downloaded the newest Demetra program I moved 6 images of P Cyg from the other night that are good fits images. I the acquired my bias, darks, flats and calibration frames. I kept acquired calibration at different exposures. At 180 s and 10 s I would get no calibration profile when I checked 'calibration' and got a fairly good profile at 60 s, but then it noted that 'the process stopped while computing wavelength calibration'. Thanks Dick

Hello, I've just started to try and learn how to use ISIS-I have V5.9.3. For starters I have a fits image of Vega and a file on Desktop named Vega_06_29_2020 with that image. On SETTINGS I enter [Alpy 600(without calibration module)] and on WORKING DIRECTORY I find the file on Desktop and enter it. I then go to IMAGE and click on [SEARCH/File] icon, click on 'Vega_06_29_2020' and the spectrum appears on the screen, along with 'Vega_6_29_2020' in 'Image Name'. I then click on 'Display' and I get an error ' X file c:\users.... not found'. Any tips on what to do? Thanks Dick

Hello Pierre, Thanks for response. I not quite sure what a "working directory" is. I have some files with spectra that I have captured and placed in folders-B Spectra, WR Spectra, etc. I then placed these files into a file named "Spectra" and then placed "Spectra" as my working directory. Clearly I'm not doing this correctly. Again Thanks Dick