Astrophotography Software

There are now hundreds of astrophotography related software tools. Here we will list the most popular for the typical amateur enthusiast. Generally, you get what you pay for, but there are also some excellent free (really, totally free) choices. The software reviewed here will equip you to:
-     Image Capture:
        -    Set-up a exposure sequence ( # of images, exposure duration)
        -    Preview captured images
        -    Focusing aides (not all have this feature)
-    Post-Processing
        -    Calibrate (darks, bias, flat frames) images
        -    Align multiple images
        -    "Stack" (combine) into a single image
        -    "Stretch" (brightness/contrast), basic noise reduction, sky-glow reduction
-    Autoguide

If you plan on acquiring a purchased solution, we suggest you give serious thought to your future needs as many buy a less expensive tool only to find that they need to buy the more expensive one later on.

If you are a beginner using a DSLR camera, we suggest you start with the FREE software such as Deep Sky Stacker or RegiStax . Generally, free software works quite well, but support (learning aids, tutorials, etc.) is lacking and most do NOT permit the use of the "Live View" feature of DSLR cameras (MaximDL and ImagesPlus do). The good news is that there are literally hundreds of Newsgroups that will help you with any questions.

Having said that, if you are confident that you can put in an effort to get beyond the "learning curve" (lots of patience required) we strongly suggest buying ImagePlus software (see description below). The learning curve will be "less steep" without breaking the bank.

In addition to the software tools listed here, Adobe Photoshop should be considered a mandatory prerequisite. Photoshop is typically used as the final step in processing astronomy images. If you are new to Photoshop, we suggest that you enroll in a basic Photoshop class available in many communities as a common "continuing education" course and is fairly inexpensive. Photoshop is very "powerful" and as such can be quite complicated to learn if you don't have a good understanding of the most basic functions.

Before buying any software, we do suggest you prioritize your investments in this order:
1) DSLR Camera with "Live View" - Canon is the most popular for good reason. Nikons do work but can't do a proper "dark frame".
2) Equatorial "Go-To" Mount - You can do it with a "fork-mount" (wedge required) but it is considerably more difficult. Many of us have "been there, done that".
3) Guide Camera & Scope - even a well aligned mount can't do exposures greater than 30-60 seconds without one. Consider the KWIQ Guider Package.
4) Laptop computer - nothing fancy, Netbooks work fine. The LCD display on your camera just isn't good enough for previewing (focus, framing) dim objects
5) Software

Backyard EOS Image capture only:  $ 24.00

This is a pretty slick image capture software that is specically designed for Canon EOS cameras. It has some nifty features such as:

• Frame & Focus: Measures and displays star size permitting fine focusing

• Integrated with PHD Guiding software and permits "dithering". Dithering is a technique used by the Pros that shits the mount a few pixels between each image and prevents "hot pixels" from appearing in the final "stacked" image.

This software is perfect for the astrophotography beginer and at ony $ 24.00 it is a bargain!

The only downside is that it does NOT include any post-image-capture features such as calibration (darks, bias, flats), align and stack. But there is plenty of free software, such as Deep Sky Stacker, that can do that.

Images Plus - Image capture, post-processing $ 230.00
Images Plus is likely the most popular software choice for beginners and intermediate astrophotographers. It is also the easiest to learn thanks to the video tutorials and an intuitive user interface. The software is frequently updated to accommodate new cameras coming on the market and software upgrades are reasonably priced.

Image capture and post-processing tools are similar to MaximDL and it also an "autofocus" feature that works great and even includes temperature compensation capability (motorized focuser required).

Camera capture accommodates most cameras including DSLR and CCD Colour/Monochrome with motorized filter wheel support and CCD temperature control.

While the camera capture function does support monochrome cameras, most would agree that MaximDL is better suited to post-processing of monochrome (LRGB) images.



Nebulosity - Image capture, post-processing $ 60.00

Nebulosity is a fabulous, inexpensive, package developed by Craig Stark who is also the developer of many popular FREE tools such as PHD Guiding and Craterlet (a fantastic webcam capture tool perfect for imaging Planets).

Nebulosity has most of the features as ImagesPlus but is not quite as slick. Many astrophotgraphers use Nebulosity for camera capture in combination with FREE image processing (Deep Sky Stacker for example) software for post processing.

Nebulosity also has several unique features that are quite handy:
- "Frame and Focus" is a very handy tool for performing the mount alignment process where you use your camera instead of an eyepiece (much more accurate).
- Universal FITS file conversion. For example, FITS files created by MaximDL are NOT compatible with ImagesPlus but Nebulosity can convert them to either format.

A big bonus is that software upgrades are FREE. At only $ 60.00 for a new user license, Nebulosity is a handy thing to have even if you decide to purchase one of the higher-end products.


 

MaximDL - Image capture, post-processing, observatory automation $ 199 - $ 599
MaximDL is without doubt, the most powerful (and expensive) software suite available. It is also the most popular tool used by serious amateurs and professional institutions. Like other software tools, it has image capture and post-processing functions but it also incorporates (Pro/Suite versions only):
- Built-in planetarium (connects to your mount)
- Focus automation (ASCOM focus motor required)
- Plate-solve (perfects your mount go-to accuracy)
- Instrument rotator automation (ASCOM motor required)
- ASCOM Dome automation

Even if you don't have a permanent observatory with motorized dome automation, the benefits of some of the automation features cannot be underestimated. For example, centering your object in the image frame can be quite time consuming. When MaximDL connects to your camera and mount MaximDL is able to analyze ("plate-solve" via Pinpoint plug-in) the stars in a 10 second image and compares it to a star catalogue and is able to calculate what movement of the mount is needed to centre the object.

Another feature unique to MaximDL is the ability to align images for stacking even after a "meridian flip" or images gathered over different dates. This is possible because when MaximDL is connected to the mount, each image file includes data about the mount position (RA/DEC co-ordinates). Later, when you are ready to align/stack your images MaximDL can use mount position data to align stars in each image even if the image frame is not an identical field of view.

MaximDL is also able to integrate with other software such as FocusMax, TheSky, CCD Autopilot, ACP.


Deep Sky Stacker  - Post-processing $ FREE!

Deep Sky Stacker is a single purpose program. It does image calibration, align, combine, it works just as well as the purchased software. It is primarily used with DSLR or "OCD" (CCD single shot colour) cameras.

It does NOT do image capture or post-processing "digital development". It is strictly a align & stack tool. But many astrophotographers who already own purchased software prefer the result they get from DSS. A common problem is where multiple images experienced an interruption and the object has drifted. But Deep Sky Stacker does an amazing job at figuring out how to line the stars up and produce an amazing image.

Deep Sky Stacker LIVE is also included in the FREE software. This is handy because as new images are download new images are "stacked" so you get an even better preview of what your final image will look like. Each new image makes the preview better and better.


                          


PHD Autoguiding  - $ FREE!

PHD stands for "Push Here Dummy" and it is without a doubt, one of the best inventions ever devised! 9 out of 10 astrophotographers use the excellent FREE software to perfect mount tracking during long exposure astrophotography.

Most first-time users are get confused about how to get it running for the first time because they expect it to be more complicated than it really is. The camera connects to your computer (USB) and the guide cable to the guide port on your mount. When you start-up PHD and connect the camera and mount, you simply let it start taking a picture every 1-3 seconds. Pick a semi-bright star and click on it. Then click on the "PHD" button and it will begin doing a "calibration".

What is calibration? PHD needs to calculate the orientation of your camera (there is no "right-side-up") vs. the RA/DEC position. So it simply goes "pushes" the mount in one direction and calculates the direction and distance that the star moved. It does several iterations of this in all 4 directions. It can take 5-10 minutes to calibrate and when its finished it now knows how much, and in which direction to move the mount during actual guiding.

It just doesn't get any easier than this and it's FREE!