How to Create a Dark Frame Library in NINA and PixInsight! 

Nope, no negative effect at all. That’s exactly why we have cooled cameras! I shoot darks at 20°C ambient temperature and image typically around 25-0°C ambient, as long as the weathers good!

@@ColeRees Perfect! Thank you! I appreciate it!

Sounds like you’re using a DSLR. Since your DSLR cannot be reliably temperature-controlled, you have to do things differently. Taking them every time is important. In those scenarios, I would take my darks when I’m done shooting a target at night (when it’s still cold and dark outside). Since the camera I am demonstrating in this video has active cooling regulation, I can take my darks whenever I want. I cool the camera sensor down to -10°C and now it matches the exact settings I image at night with. I think some DSLRs like my a7iii take a dark after every light and auto-apply it. Could be wrong about that though! To answer your question about ISO, yes. You need to shoot at the same ISO/gain as what you imaged the stars with. In fact, everything about the sensor settings must match. Temperature, gain, exposure length, binning, etc. things that don’t matter would be f ratio and focal length.

You can go 24 hours straight, no problem. For me 294 it will take me 2-3 days to get everything for my narrowband. Now I typically just shoot 5 min subs for NB though so I will only create one for that and then a few for broadband between 30-120 seconds