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Excessive Light & Sensor Damage

ZWO ASI2600MM Pro CMOS Remote Astrophotography
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Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
I have an ASI2600MM camera at a dark site.  I was having some guiding issues last night so I wrote to the tech at the observatory, thinking he would check in the morning for cable snags. Instead, he restarted NINA and my sequence.  He let the sequence run without stopping it and unfortunately 5 of the 5-minute subs were taken long after astronomical dawn and some even after civil twilight.  Obviously the subs show nothing but white light.

 How likely is this to damage the sensor or other electronics in the camera?
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Alan Rockowitz avatar
Alan Rockowitz avatar
Not at all likely.
Francesco Meschia avatar
Francesco Meschia avatar
Unless an unfiltered image of the Sun ended up on the sensor, I don’t think there’s any damage.
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Patrick Wood avatar
Patrick Wood avatar
Provided your scope wasn’t pointed directly at the sun, it’s fine.
Robert Lowenthal avatar
Robert Lowenthal avatar
Not likely, unless the telescope was pointed toward the sun (without a solar filter).
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Dark Matters Astrophotography avatar
Dark Matters Astrophotography avatar
Not at all. 

You can use an ASCOM Safety mode driver to alert your imaging system that the roof has closed to prevent this in the future. DSP Remote has an Alpaca based service that shares safety data. If you are having trouble setting it up, I believe Andrew is still at DSPR and can help you.

Also of note, Sky Flats are quite popular and are taken prior to roofs closing so you really have nothing to worry about.
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Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Agree with all the above Jerry. To add to the safety monitor suggestion, my sequences also have a "Loop until astronomical or nautical dawn" conditions too regardless of the safety monitor. I'd be happy to help you with the safety monitor at DSPR if you like.
Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Thanks everyone for letting me know.   I have a "Loop until tracking reaches 25 degrees".   When I create a sequence I always calculate how many subs I can take before astronomical dawn begins.   Because the sequence was restarted late into the night, the camera kept imaging even though tracking had stopped.  I'm not sure if the tech restarted the sequence I had programmed or whether he used his own sequence.
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I_Cruz avatar
I_Cruz avatar
As has been said above, not an issue unless the camera was pointing directly at the Sun.

Prevention is the key, ensure that your NINA sequence includes instructions that stop the image acquisition before sunset and after sunrise.
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Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
Dark Matters Astrophotography:
Not at all. 

You can use an ASCOM Safety mode driver to alert your imaging system that the roof has closed to prevent this in the future. DSP Remote has an Alpaca based service that shares safety data. If you are having trouble setting it up, I believe Andrew is still at DSPR and can help you.

Also of note, Sky Flats are quite popular and are taken prior to roofs closing so you really have nothing to worry about.

Yes, I have the ASCOM safety mode driver and NINA knows when the roof closes and the advanced sequencer is programmed to stop tracking and wait until safe.
But in this case, the roof was open, as it doesn't close for a while after sunrise so people can take flats. 

When I program the sequence to take X number of subs, I always calculate to make sure I have plenty of time before astronomical dawn begins.   In this case, a sequence (not sure exactly which sequence was restarted) kept imaging long after astronomical dawn, something I always make sure doesn't happen.
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Ashraf AbuSara avatar
Jerry Gerber:
Thanks everyone for letting me know.   I have a "Loop until tracking reaches 25 degrees".   When I create a sequence I always calculate how many subs I can take before astronomical dawn begins.   Because the sequence was restarted late into the night, the camera kept imaging even though tracking had stopped.  I'm not sure if the tech restarted the sequence I had programmed or whether he used his own sequence.

The problem with calculating number of subs before dawn is if the roof goes unsafe for a while and your sequence pauses, and then goes safe again few hours later, your sequence will continue the determined number of subs before.  Just add a second loop condition "loop until astronomical dawn" to your loop conditions in addition to your preferred alt limit condition to ensure it never happens again.
Jedadiah Ashford avatar
Jedadiah Ashford avatar
I've been doing this for over 2 years with my 2600MM, I don't like astronomical light, so I often have it just scheduled through the morning. No issues for years, and no difference between older and newer images or performance.