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  1. Adjust focus to be ideal.
    1. We arrived at 2154.2 with a FWHM in SharpCap as 4.7 on 432 in b1
  2. We will use the “Smart Histogram brain” tool to determine optimal gain settings for the field (see below for instructions)  (https://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/4.0/#Smart%20Histogram.  You will run this once for each filter.First measure ) 
    1. Note that we needed to restart sharpcap after putting the sensor analysis files in place (see abvoe)
    2. Tools > Histogram (with sensor analysis files in place)
    3. BRAIN appears. Click it.
    4. We want to measure sky background
      1. Check Ignore Image edges/corners (we have vignetting problems)
      2. Click "Measure"
      3. Measure the sky background and note this down (with filter ID).
    MAKE SURE to check “Ignore Image Edges/Corners” because we do have vignetting problems.
      1.  
    1. Once the background is entered, select
    :
      • ‘Optimize on dynamic range’
      • Min exposure - 5 s, max exposure 2 m
      • Stacking time 20 m.
      • Read Noise Limit - 50%
      • Save screenshots of the graphs in this google folder, if there is no option to save them as e.g. PDF.


PUT USED VALUES IN PARENTHESES - e.g., rounding to units of 10 or even 50 is fine for actual observations.

FILTER

Sensor

FIELD

BGND (e/pix/s)

Rec. Gain

Rec. Exposure

Optimal Black Level

Faintest detectable source (e/pix/s)

EXAMPLE

432MM

Phi Cas

3.2

298 (300)

125 (120)

0 (0)



U

432MM

Phi Cas







B

432MM

Phi Cas






V

432MM

Phi Cas






R

432MM

Phi Cas






I

432MM

Phi Cas






U

178MM

Phi Cas






B

178MM

Phi Cas






V

178MM

Phi Cas






R

178MM

Phi Cas






I

178MM

Phi Cas







  1. Once this has been completed, go ahead and observe the field for a few (5-10) exposures in each filter according to the settings above. 

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