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Weird Ring Artifacts on M45 using Pixinsight WBPP

Jay Landis
in PixInsight
All,

After running my files through WBPP, the masters have a residual circular pattern that is not corrected by the flats. The data is from a ZWO ASI2600MM Pro at 100 gain, -10C. The filters were Astronomik 36mm DeepSky RGB. The telescope was an Esprit 120 using a Starizona 0.65x Apex-L focal reducer. I corrected the backfocus and tilt using spacers and the ZWO M54 tilter sandwiched between the camera and filter.

Here is a link to a folder where one can view the raw flats, flat darks, and lights. The 120 sec darks were part of a dark library from April 2023. I also included the WBPP output of Master and Logs.

I would appreciate any help and insights.


Thank you in advance,

Jay Landis

Comments

  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    Hi Jay,

    Did you read this thread?

    I do not think this is a filter issue...I would suspect it is simply the nature of the optics of this refractor. Do you have evidence that this statement is not true?

    As a side note... I am aware that a certain genius (Russ Croman) is likely training his AI to eliminate this kind of artifact as well. So a future advancement perhaps.

    Also..the star profiles look a little odd. Are you certain there was no dew/frost? (Do you need to recharge your dessicate?) 

    -the Blockhead 
  • Jay Landis
    Blockhead,
    I am sorry I was not clear.  I meant the circular gradients around all the images where it is vignetted in some of the corners, then light, then a dark ring, then neutral in the middle.  I do not get this effect with the Ha images and flats. I hope this makes it clearer.
    Jay

  • Jay Landis
    Adam,

    I had read the CN article before when I was troubleshooting what turned out to be diffraction rings with my Astronomik narrowband filters on my EdgeHD. 

    As far as the star profiles, they would change shape slightly as I worked on getting the backfocus and tilt correct for a particular filter (Red). Even when it is nearly perfect, there is still some distortion. There were some slight changes when changing filters as well. 

    I live in a very humid environment, 1/2 mile from the Pacific Ocean just south of the LAX airport in a city called El Segundo, CA. It is not unusual for me to have 99 percent relative humidity all night with my dew heaters cranked all the way up. I will try recharging the desiccant and see if it helps. I never had these star profile distortions when using my EdgeHD with the same level of saturation. As you say, it may just be a feature of my Esprit and the focal reducer critical focus zone.

    I use Russ's products and sing his praises every time. His latest AI works well. It has done a better job in fixing some elongation than before.

    Jay
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