StarTools

Is binning percent linear with resolution? For example, Let’s say you’re shooting with a resolution of 0.5”/pixel and you think 1.5”-2.0”:pixel is more reasonable. Would you bin at 25% to 33%? Or maybe a little less (50%) to allow for deconvoltion?

Thanks, Wayne

whixson wrote:Is binning percent linear with resolution? For example, Let’s say you’re shooting with a resolution of 0.5”/pixel and you think 1.5”-2.0”:pixel is more reasonable. Would you bin at 25% to 33%? Or maybe a little less (50%) to allow for deconvoltion?

The scale/noise reduction percentage is an indication for the percentage of X and Y axis resolution reduction. Total resolution reduction is that number squared. E.g. if you reduce X and Y resolution by half, you end up with an image that is a quarter of the resolution.

It tends to be reasonably easy to eyeball how far you and/should go with binning your dataset; look at any star that is not overexposed (e.g. a "small" star). Now make sure that such a star has a stellar profile that is at least clearly visible across 3x3 pixels (e.g. has a central core and clearly is seen to taper off in all directions).