Subframe Duration under These Conditions

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Jerry Gerber avatar
Hi!

I'm imaging VdB 158 tonight.   The moon is 74% full and is at a distance of a little over 112 degrees from the object.  
I plan on imaging in RGB, foregoing L due to moonlight.  This is under a Bortle 1 sky and should be very clear all night.

Is a 180" subframe exposure optimal, or should I go to 90"?

If I go to 90 seconds, then I have to use another set of 90" darks.  How will WBPP know which darks go with which lights?  I usually have all my darks in one folder but in this case the other 3 nights I've been imaging this object I've been using 180 second subs.  

Thanks!
Jerry
Well Written
andrea tasselli avatar
I wouldn't fuss around, just get what is easiest to you. At that distance I would be tempted to go 300s and damn the torpedoes.
John Stone avatar
If you want, you can install the NINA "Optimal Exposure Calculator" plugin and it will use your SharpCap sensor evaluation and a snapshot of your target to tell you the optimal exposure time (a.k.a. swamp the read noise by 10x) for that target, on that day, at that time.
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