Weird artifact in CLSCCD images that won't calibrate away

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Leela.Astro.Imaging avatar

Hello,

I’m attaching two quick images taken on the same night (two different objects, saved as JPGs for size) - one HA, one CLSCCD filter (OSC camera). Flats taken with a panel that same night. If you look in the CLSCCD image, about a third of the way down the diagonal line that connects the top left and bottom right corners, you’ll see a dust bunny. That’s not there in the HA image.

Has anyone experienced s/t like this, or know what may be going on?

The only thing I can think of is that it is something on the CLSCCD filter (although that has been closed in a filter wheel for months). If it was on the objective or the sensor, it would show up on both. (I actually took images on two nights, cleaning the objective after their first night, and taking flats again on the second night and the same thing happens).

So it can only be on the CLSCCD filter right? I haven’t opened it up yet, but before I did that I thought I’d check to see if anyone else has ever experienced s/t like this? (SHouldn’t the flat calibration still remove it even if its just s/t on the CLSCCD filter? The FW and objective haven’t been opened for months, and this has never happened before).

Many thanks for any insights!

Vin

CLSCCD:📷 lbn_538_for Abin post.jpglbn_538_for Abin post.jpg

HA:

📷 LDN_909_for Abin post.jpgLDN_909_for Abin post.jpg

Helpful Engaging
Mikołaj Wadowski avatar

Some dust must’ve shifted on the CLSCCD filter, either mid-session or after session before flats. It might be possible to use old flats to get rid of it.

Leela.Astro.Imaging avatar

Mikołaj Wadowski · Sep 24, 2025 at 02:10 PM

Some dust must’ve shifted on the CLSCCD filter, either mid-session or after session before flats. It might be possible to use old flats to get rid of it.

Thanks Mikolaj. I tried that with a couple of older flats and sadly no joy. I’ll have to hope that GIMP can come to the rescue, and also perhaps open up the FW to take a look at what’s going on w that filter.

Cheers

andrea tasselli avatar
I'm sure Graxpert would improve things quite a bit, then just a bit of cloning…
Leela.Astro.Imaging avatar

andrea tasselli · Sep 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM

I'm sure Graxpert would improve things quite a bit, then just a bit of cloning…

Thanks Andrea - tried that and it stays as stark as before. I think it will indeed come down to cloning in Gimp to erase that bunny - frustrating (feels a bit like cheating!).

Bob Lockwood avatar
If you have Photoshop you could do a SXT, then use the clone stamp to replace the background.  Not sure if Gimp dose this, don't have it.

andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli · Sep 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM

I'm sure Graxpert would improve things quite a bit, then just a bit of cloning…

Thanks Andrea - tried that and it stays as stark as before. I think it will indeed come down to cloning in Gimp to erase that bunny - frustrating (feels a bit like cheating!).

Oh, well... As for cloning, if you have another image of the same field you could used THAT as the source of the clone and you can do that in PI, too.
Leela.Astro.Imaging avatar

Thanks both. Andrea sadly I don’t have another image. But Bob your idea of using clone stamp on the starless image is ingenious - I will try that. (It would never have struck me! In the past when I’ve used GIMP’s clone stamp, I’ve always done it on the final image and so had to tread very gingerly around stars…oops)

Well Written Respectful
Scott Badger avatar

Leela.Astro.Imaging · Sep 26, 2025, 09:14 AM

Thanks both. Andrea sadly I don’t have another image. But Bob your idea of using clone stamp on the starless image is ingenious - I will try that. (It would never have struck me! In the past when I’ve used GIMP’s clone stamp, I’ve always done it on the final image and so had to tread very gingerly around stars…oops)

You can use the same technique to repair minor stacking issues; remove the stars, clone over the edge artifacts, and replace the stars. Saves you from cropping an entire image due to stacking artifacts in a single channel.

Cheers,

Scott

Well Written Concise