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Original image
Original image minus dark frame
Look at the two images above. The top image is the original image as it came out of the
camera. The bottom image has had the average of 5 dark frames subtracted from it. Note that
the bright pixels have been virtually eliminated leaving a smooth black sky background.
Flat fields
Flat fields are used to correct for any irregularities in your optical system, such as vignetting or
dust motes, and to adjust for any pixel non-uniformity inherent in the CCD. Pixels in a CCD all
respond slightly differently to light, typically within 1% to 2% across a CCD.
All optical systems have a “signature” which gets recorded on the CCD. This unique signature is
caused by how light travels through the telescope illuminating the CCD and how each pixel
responds to that illumination.