DwarfLab Dwarf mini - Mosaic Mode

Introduction | First Experiences with the Mosaic Mode | ... | First Conclusions | Links

In progress

On this page, I describe my experiences with the mosaic mode of my electronic refractor telescope Dwarf mini 30 mm/150 mm (f/5).

See also:

 

Introduction

         

Photo: My Dwarf mini (Jan 2026)

The Dwarf mini has an IMX 662 sensor with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a field of view of 2.14° x 1.20°. On the one hand, this is quite large, but because of the "towel format" it is often unfavorable for many objects because they are at an angle or are too large for the image field. Luckily, the Dwarf mini also offers a mosaic mode, which allows you to achieve larger image fields. The image field can be extended in both directions up to a factor of 1.8.

The Dwarf mini's mosaic mode works completely differently than that of Vaonis: several "panels" are simply recorded, which are later stitched together and post-processed using Stellar Studio. You only get a so-called "preview" that still shows seams at the overlaps (this should change at some point in time...). Because of the overlap of the panels, only a factor of 1.8 is achieved instead of a factor of 2. According to my first experiences, joining the panels in Stellar Studio works very well - at least when it is available. I also had the case that Stellar Studio did not want to work due to server problems in China...

For reasons of time, I have so far only recorded 2-panel mosaics in a ratio of 1:1.8, which then creates an almost square image field of a good 2° x 2° (almost like my Vespera Pro - this has an image field of 1.6° x 1.6° in "normal mode")

There is one important point to keep in mind when it comes to mosaics: mosaics must be recorded in EQ mode! This requires a tripod with a corresponding tilt head (not a ball head!), such as the one from DwarfLab (which I own), or one with a wedge. So you cannot just place the Dwarf mini on the floor or an a table in EQ mode like you can in AZ mode... I cover EQ mode on the EQ mode page, so I will not write anything about setting it up here. This is best done before you go into mosaic mode (it may not be accessible in AZ mode...).

To set up a mosaic, go to the Atlas. There is an icon for mosaic settings in the top right corner. If you click on it, a window will appear in which you can set the mosaic size.

Photo: setting the frame for a mosaic

I do not want to write more about mosaic mode, because it is explained in the Dwarf mini manual...

Below I present my first mosaic photos!

 

First Experiences with the Mosaic Mode

Since mosaics are only optimally assembled with Stellar Studio, I do not show any unedited images.

Jan 21, 2026

I trained the EQ and mosaic modes on NGC 1499 and NGC 2024/B 33; the EQ mode did not succeed, but the observations were OK, why ever...

    

NGC 1499, processed with Stellar Studio and further processed, original

  

NGC 2024/B 33, processed with Stellar Studio and further processed, original

Feb 5, 2026

    

M 31, Feb 5, 2026 - 50 min, mosaic, processed with Stellar Studio, further processed, original

  

M 45, Feb 5, 2026 - 50 min, mosaic, processed with Stellar Studio, additionally post-processed and denoised (TP), original

Feb 7, 2026

    

M 42/43, 50 min, mosaic, processed with Stellar Studio, original

  

NGC 2244, 50 min, processed with Stellar Studio, original
    

NGC 2244, 50 min, processed with Stellar Studio and additionally strongly processed, original

  

NGC 2064 with NGC 2261, 50 min, processed with Stellar Studio and additionally processed, original

Feb 9, 2026

    

IC 405/410, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 60, processed with Stellar Studio, original

  

IC 405/410, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 60, processed with Stellar Studio and further post-processed, original
    

IC 405/410, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 120, processed with Stellar Studio, Original

  

IC 405/410, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 120, processed with Stellar Studio and further post-processed, original
   
   

IC 405/410, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 120, processed with Stellar Studio and further post-processed strongly, original
    

NGC 2237/2244, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 120, processed with Stellar Studio, original

  

NGC 2237/2244, 50 min, mosaic, gain 120, processed with Stellar Studio and further post-processed, original
    

NGC 2264, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 120, processed with Stellar Studio, original

  

NGC 2264, 50 min, DuoBand filter, mosaic, gain 120, processed with Stellar Studio and further post-processed, original

 

First Conclusions

In progress

Once you have learned how to set up the EQ mode, entering mosaic mode is easy, at least once you know which icon to click to set up the mosaic.

Out of convenience, I have so far only used mosaics with an 1:1.8 aspect ratio because this results in a nearly square image field of approximately 2° x 2° due to the "towel format" of the sensor. This gives me two "panels" that slightly overlap and are photographed alternately.

So far I have usually exposed for 30 seconds per individual frame (sub), which results in an integration time of 50 minutes for 2x50=100 exposures. The actual observation time is of course significantly longer for various reasons (dithering, skipped frames). In any case, these settings gave me a comfortable introduction to shooting mosaics!

More to come as soon as I gain more experience!

 

Links

 

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19.02.2026