Seeking advice regarding dust on QHY600M sensor and sensor window.
This is one of those “The enemy of good is better” stories. I am truly embarrassed and feeling very sad.
Several days ago I noticed ice crystals on my QHY600M sensor window. So I used the desiccant tube to dry out the sensor chamber. Afterwards, I noticed a dark blob in lights and flats. It was large, irregular, and very dark, so I figured it was most likely the black foam that is present inside the sensor chamber to (ironically) keep dust out of the chamber when the desiccant tube is placed. I opened the sensor chamber and discovered that the black foam was, in fact, brittle and crumbling. So I removed the foam (I’m using a small piece of PEC-PAD in the desiccant tube instead). I cleaned the sensor, sensor window (outside and inside surfaces) and reassembled. Now, instead of one large spot I have dozens of smaller, lighter spots. I tried several times and this Lum Flat represents the best I can get. Unfortunately, even though it looks spotless immediately after cleaning (looking through magnified loops), dust accumulates on the sensor and window while I’m reassembling everything. The smaller, darker spots are likely on the sensor. The medium sized spots are on the sensor window, and the few large spots are on the filter.
From looking at the flat, does it appear that the dust is significant enough to affect images and should I send the camera to QHYCCD to be cleaned?
Thank you,
Robert
📷 Dust Issue_LumFilter.jpeg
