FAQ
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarf3/permalink/1065473043061283/?rdid=nrksFpt9vnaCL8YK#DWARFLAB DRACO – FOLLOW-ON FAQ / OFFICIAL CLARIFICATIONS - VOLUME #2
Thanks again to everyone who submitted follow-up questions after the initial DRACO FAQ.
I compiled many of the most common questions from the community and sent them directly to DWARFLAB for clarification.
Below is what they can currently confirm.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Some technical details, operating limits and software functions are still being finalized. Where that applies, I’ve clearly noted it rather than filling in the blanks with assumptions.
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🔹 1. EQ MODE – WHEN IS IT NEEDED?
DRACO can normally operate in Alt-Az mode.
EQ Mode is available for users who want additional stability during longer exposures and multi-frame stacking.
You do not need a separate EQ mount or astrophotography wedge. The app will guide you through adjusting DRACO to the proper angle.
Still being finalized:
• Exposure threshold where EQ Mode becomes recommended
• Recommended targets/use cases
• Alignment tolerance requirements
For now, there is no reason to assume EQ Mode will be required for normal use.
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🔹 2. CAN I USE MY OWN TRIPOD?
Yes.
DRACO has:
• One 3/8-inch mounting thread
• Two 1/4-inch mounting threads
• Included tripod uses a 3/8"-16 connection
DRACO weighs approximately 5.5 kg, so any third-party tripod should provide stable support for that weight.
A separate wedge is not required for EQ Mode.
Still being finalized:
• Official minimum tripod load rating
• Recommended tripod/head combinations
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🔹 3. BATTERY LIFE / EXTERNAL POWER
DRACO includes a built-in:
🔋 77 Wh / 10,000 mAh / 7.7 V battery
Current estimate:
➡️ Approximately 5 hours in Astronomy Mode
The active cooling system currently has a relatively small impact on battery consumption.
DRACO can also operate while connected to external USB-C power, allowing you to continue imaging while supplying power.
Maximum charging power is 36 W.
Detailed runtime testing is still being finalized for:
• 300-second exposures
• Dual-camera operation
• PhotonLink
• Very cold temperatures
• Different USB-C PD power profiles
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🔹 4. HOW DOES SENSOR COOLING WORK?
The telephoto CMOS sensor is actively cooled to reduce thermal noise.
Heat produced by the system is also used to help prevent dew formation on the optics.
Still being finalized:
• Maximum cooling below ambient temperature
• User-selectable temperature settings
• Cool-down / stabilization time
• Exact temperature-control behavior
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🔹 5. WHY ONLY 128 GB OF STORAGE?
DRACO includes 128 GB of internal storage.
Actual usable storage will be slightly less because part of the space is reserved for the system.
Deep-sky images using 2×2 binning are approximately:
📷 12 MP / 4096 × 3072
A single uncompressed 16-bit Bayer FITS frame is approximately:
➡️ 24 MiB / about 25 MB
So roughly:
➡️ 100 RAW frames = 2.4–2.5 GB
That does not include thumbnails, metadata, stacked outputs or other processed files.
JPG, PNG and TIFF sizes will vary.
⚠️ External SSDs and USB flash drives are not supported as direct acquisition storage.
File management will generally follow the same workflow as existing DWARF products.
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🔹 6. HOW DO I DOWNLOAD RAW / FITS FILES?
JPG and other Gallery results can be viewed and downloaded through the app.
Original files such as:
• Individual RAW/FITS frames
• Stacked FITS/TIFF files
• Complete shooting folders
can be accessed through a computer connection, similar to DWARF 3 and DWARF Mini.
The exact app download/export options for each file type will be documented in the DRACO User Guide.
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🔹 7. WILL DRACO FITS FILES WORK WITH SIRIL, PIXINSIGHT, DSS, ETC.?
Yes.
DRACO FITS files will follow the same general external-processing workflow as current DWARF products.
They can be used with software including:
• Siril
• PixInsight
• AstroPixelProcessor
• DeepSkyStacker
The telephoto sensor uses a BGGR Bayer pattern.
Relevant metadata will be stored with the files so third-party software can properly debayer and process the data.
More detailed file documentation will come later.
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🔹 8. HOW DOES THE SHO EDITION WORK?
With the SHO Edition, filter selection and data collection are automated.
DRACO automatically uses:
• Hα + O III
• S II + O III
to collect the required datasets.
The system then separates and combines the:
• S
• H
• O
information automatically.
Current published bandwidth is approximately 13 nm per channel.
Still being finalized:
• Manual filter controls
• Individual channel export
• Recommended gain settings
• Recommended exposure settings
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🔹 9. IF STELLAR STUDIO CAN MAKE A HUBBLE PALETTE, WHY BUY THE SHO EDITION?
This is an important distinction.
The SHO Edition physically captures real S II, Hα and O III filtered data.
Stellar Studio can also use Hα and O III data to create an SHO-style / Hubble Palette color mapping.
Those are not the same thing.
Stellar Studio is remapping available channel data into an SHO-style color palette.
The SHO Edition actually captures real S II data through the dedicated S II + O III filter.
Still being finalized:
• Channel-mapping controls
• Strength adjustments
• Individual-channel export options
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🔹 10. HOW DO CALIBRATION FRAMES WORK?
DRACO automatically captures Dark frames in real time and applies:
• Dark calibration during Live Stacking (Telephoto)
The built-in Dark mechanism applies to the telephoto camera, similar to how the MINI functions.
Dark temperature matching, creating dark profiles or calibration management will generally follow the same mechanism used by previous DWARF products.
A quick clarification regarding Telephoto and Wide-Angle Darks on DRACO:
Telephoto---
For the Standard Edition:
• Telephoto uses internal DARK filter, similar to Mini process
*no need to use any external filter*
For the SHO Edition:
• Telephoto uses internal DARK filter, similar to Mini process
*no need to use any external filter*
Wide-Angle---
For **BOTH** Standard and SHO Edition:
• Wide-Angle uses internal ND Filter (ND: OD 5 @ 400 ~ 1000 nm)
• The arm will be rotated down and closed, blocking any additional light.
• Wide-angle Dark frames can then be captured.
Manual Dark Library management options have not yet been published.
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🔹 11. HOW DOES GUIDING WORK WITH 300-SECOND EXPOSURES?
DRACO includes integrated guiding and supports individual exposures of up to:
⏱️ 300 seconds
Guiding is handled automatically during the normal imaging workflow.
Pro Mode allows control over settings including:
• Exposure
• Gain
• Filters
• Other imaging settings
Still being finalized/documented:
• Guiding graphs
• Manual guiding parameters
• Guide-star failure behavior
• Exact relationship between 300-second exposures and EQ Mode
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🔹 12. HOW DOES FIELD DEROTATION WORK?
DRACO includes physical field derotation with approximately:
➡️ ±90° of mechanical travel
Still being finalized:
• Long continuous-session behavior
• Automatic reset behavior
• Interaction between derotation and EQ Mode
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🔹 13. WHAT IS DRACO'S LIMITING MAGNITUDE?
DWARFLAB has not published an official limiting-magnitude value yet.
Actual performance will depend on:
• Sky quality
• Seeing
• Target type
• Exposure length
• Total integration time
• Stacking quality
DWARFLAB plans to share more real-world examples involving:
• Faint galaxies
• Planetary nebulae
• Comets
• Asteroids
as testing continues.
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🔹 14. WHAT DAYTIME / TERRESTRIAL FEATURES ARE INCLUDED?
DRACO supports:
📷 Photo
🎥 Video
🌄 Panorama
⚡ Burst
⏱️ Time-lapse
with both the telephoto and wide-angle cameras.
Astronomy modes include:
🌌 Deep Sky
🌌 Milky Way
⭐ Star Trails
☀️ Solar
🌙 Lunar
Dedicated bird, wildlife and general-object tracking features have not yet been confirmed.
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🔹 15. ETHERNET / USB / NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
DRACO supports:
• USB 3.0
• Wired Ethernet connectivity through USB
This is intended to provide a more stable network connection and more efficient data transfer, especially for longer or remote imaging sessions.
Example USB-C/Ethernet Dongle:
https://www.belkin.com/....../usb-c-to....../INC019btBK.html**self purchase** - DWARFLAB has not confirmed yet if they will offer it as an accessory purchase
Final documentation will explain:
• Local Ethernet control
• Router configuration
• Network file access
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🔹 16. PHOTONLINK / PHOTONVERSE REMOTE CONTROL
PhotonLink allows DRACO to be remotely controlled through the DWARFLAB app.
The owner will also be able to invite other users to participate in remote operation.
Still being finalized:
• Account requirements
• Invitation method
• Simultaneous viewer limits
• Control permissions
• Revoking access
• Connection-loss behavior
• What DRACO does if the network connection drops
These details will be covered in the User Guide.
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🔹 17. WHEN WILL DRACO SHIP?
Orders placed during September 2026 are currently expected to ship:
📦 Within approximately two months of the order date
Actual delivery timing may vary based on:
• Production
• Warehouse allocation
• Customs
• Regional logistics
Orders through authorized retailers may follow different timelines depending on their inventory allocation and fulfillment process.
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🔹 18. DUTIES, TAXES AND IMPORT FEES
For direct DWARFLAB orders shipped to:
🇺🇸 United States
🇪🇺 European Union
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
applicable taxes are collected before shipping under DWARFLAB's current logistics policy.
Customers in other regions may still be responsible for:
• Customs clearance
• Import duties
• Local taxes
• Brokerage fees
Authorized retailers follow their own local tax and fulfillment policies.
For specific order or country-related questions, contact DWARFLAB directly so they can confirm what applies to your order.
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🔹 19. WHAT COMES WITH DRACO? IS THERE A CASE?
The current package includes:
• DRACO
• Tripod
• USB-C data cable
• Cleaning cloth
DRACO will also have a foam-lined travel carrying case.
Photos and final details will be shared later.
Other accessories are still being finalized or not confirmed, including:
• Power accessories
• Protective covers
• Dew-control accessories
• Tripod upgrades
• Additional mounting hardware
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📌 FINAL NOTE
These answers came directly from DWARFLAB in response to the follow-up questions submitted from the community.
There are still some specifications and software behaviors being tested, documented or finalized.
If something above says “still being finalized,” that simply means there is not a definitive answer available yet.
As more information becomes available, we can continue updating the FAQ instead of filling the gaps with rumors, assumptions or speculation.
Hopefully this clears up a good portion of the recurring DRACO questions we’ve been seeing
