From 8 Minutes to 157 Hours: One Year of Deep-Sky Imaging success with the DWARF 3
M51 was the first target with the Dwarf 3. August 2025, Alt-Az mode, 8 minutes and 30 seconds of 15-second subs on a galaxy low in the summer sky. The telescope was…
Dark Frames
Posts covering dark frame calibration on the DWARF 3, including temperature matching, exposure matching, and the effect on stacked image quality.
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M63 Sunflower Galaxy with the Dwarf 3: 4h 50m from Bortle 6
A 4 hour 50 minute integration of M63, the Sunflower Galaxy, from a Bortle 6 backyard using the DwarfLab Dwarf 3 in EQ mode with Astro filter and temperature-matched dark frames.
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M101 Pinwheel Galaxy: 6 Hours on a Face-On Spiral with the DWARF 3
A single-session DWARF 3 imaging project on M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major. 6 hours and 18 minutes of total integration at 60-second sub-exposures, gain 50, Astro filter, Bortle 6. Documents…
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Astrophotography Insights: 15 Hours on M106 and Its Companions
A three-session DWARF 3 imaging project on M106, a Seyfert galaxy in Canes Venatici. 15 hours and 31 minutes of total integration, four companion galaxies in the field including NGC 4226 at…
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Capturing M42 Orion Nebula with DWARF 3: Cold Weather and Long Integration Tips
Capturing the Orion Nebula (M42) with the DWARF 3 requires a balance between preserving the bright Trapezium core and revealing the faint outer gas clouds. In cold weather (approx. 20°F), the DWARF…
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How to Get Better Results with DWARF 3: Time, Thermal Stability, and Calibration
Getting better results from the DWARF 3 requires three things: time, thermal stability, and matched calibration frames. This guide documents the variables that determine data quality and how to control them.
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Why DWARF 3 Images Look Blurry or Noisy: Understanding Signal vs. Noise
First images from the DWARF 3 often appear noisy or faint because they are raw data measurements rather than finished photographs. To improve image quality, you must manage the signal-to-noise ratio through…