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Table of Contents
Congratulations on your purchase of a Flat Cap Gaussian diffuser for
creating flat fields to correct dust spots, vignetting, and filter
nonuniformity. Please read this manual before using the product.
. Please read this manual before using the product.
Before using the Flat Cap, please perform a light leak test
your normal imaging configuration including solar filter and camera. Then
your normal imaging configuration including solar filter and camera. Then
cover the front of your telescope with a dust cap or dark cloth. Seal any
cover the front of your telescope with a dust cap or dark cloth. Seal any
sources of light that show up on camera images.
We recommend fixing any interference fringes by tilting the camera off
axis using our Interference Eliminator, available in T or C mount.
axis using our Interference Eliminator, available in T or C mount.
Next, center and focus on the Sun. Install the Flat Cap as the frontmost
optical component, and increase your exposure time by a factor of
about 100. Capture flat frames using your favorite capture software,
Capture flat frames using your favorite capture software,
then remove the Flat Cap and return the exposure time to normal.
then remove the Flat Cap and return the exposure time to normal.
Warnings:
The FlatCap is NOT a solar filter, and MUST be used in combination
with a safe solar filter when observing the Sun.
For assistance:
Call:
1 (866) 680-6563
Email: service@daystarfilters.com
Visit:
http://www.daystarfilters.com
DAYSTAR FILTERS
FLAT CAP
to correct dust spots, vignetting, and filter
Flat Cap Gaussian diffuser for
perform a light leak test by setting up
, and MUST be used in combination
by tilting the camera off
as the frontmost
by a factor of
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for DayStar Filters FLAT CAP
Summary of Contents for DayStar Filters FLAT CAP
- Page 1 Interference Eliminator, available in T or C mount. axis using our Interference Eliminator, available in T or C mount. Next, center and focus on the Sun. Install the Flat Cap as the frontmost as the frontmost optical component, and increase your exposure time by a factor of by a factor of about 100.
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Page 2: Cautions And Warnings
Cautions & Warnings: The Flat Cap is NOT a solar filter and MUST be used in combination with a safe solar filter or dedicated solar telescope. Observing the Sun through the FlatCap without a separate solar filter will result in BLINDNESS and/or severe equipment damage. - Page 3 Daytime Usage: The Flat Cap is sold by the inside diameter of its cap, in millimeters. To determine which size of Flat Cap to purchase, measure the outside diameter of the frontmost component of your telescope setup. If you are using a DayStar ERF, this will be the metal cell that holds the yellow or red glass.
- Page 4 Nighttime Usage: The Flat Cap can be used for nighttime flat fields by back illuminating it with a bright object. The Moon works well, as does twilight sky. Bright lights like street lights or house lights can also be used. Very bright planets such as Venus and Jupiter may work in some scenarios.
- Page 5 Common Image Defects: Dust spots Dust spots will show up as dark circles or rings in the image. Their size depends on how far forward they are in the optical train. Small spots are typically on the camera cover window, while larger spots are probably on rear mounted solar filters, focal reducers, or diagonal...
- Page 6 Rings. The standard solution is to tilt the camera off perpendicular from the optical axis, destroying the parallelism. With DayStar filters and common cameras, 2 to 5 degrees of tilt is typically used. Flat fields will not adequately correct degrees of tilt is typically used. Flat fields will not adequately correct...
- Page 7 Full disk imagers will need a more severe blur, where no sharp features are visible when inspecting it with the eye. Large blurs as in the Flat Cap and full disk scenarios will require a significantly longer exposure time because sunlight is blurred over such a large area.
- Page 8 - A jet-stream moving overhead can also hurt seeing conditions even on a clear day. DayStar Filters are high power viewing platforms and this high resolution can be susceptible to seeing issues. Solar Observers using high powered, high resolution telescopes and DayStar filters should heed daytime seeing.
- Page 9 Solar Imaging Tips: Daystar recommends MONOCHROME imaging whenever possible for best results. The recent availability of CCD cameras and DSLR cameras has offered a simple opportunity solar observers to image Hydrogen Alpha with a Digital SLR camera. Please be advised, however, that due to the nature of monochromatic light and its effects on a CCD camera, certain negative effects are likely to occur.
- Page 10 Exposure time: Imaging solar vs. nighttime astrophotography is very different. Dark sky imaging requires long exposure times to capture enough light. Solar imaging offers ample light, so exposures should be very short. Plus, fluctuations in seeing dictate that short <1/10 second frame rates will be better, as seeing cells move quickly to distort the image and can come and go during a long exposure.
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Page 11: Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting: Image goes completely dark: Increase your exposure time by a factor of 100. Still getting regular lines: Interference fringes / Newton’s Rings must be corrected by tilting your camera off perpendicular from the optical axis by 2 to 5 degrees. Use our Intereference Eliminator, available in T or C mount. -
Page 12: Warranty
DayStar, or (C) serviced or repaired by someone other than the DayStar Filters Service Center for a defect or malfunction covered by this warranty. This warrantee includes shipping to and from any point inside the United States.
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