Resources
This page features various technology services I use for astrophotography, from stacking software to control software that runs my mounts.
Full suite
ASI Studio
Free suite of software for ZWO line of products. Includes planetary, deep space and meteor capture, live stacking, and both deep sky and planetary stacking.
free
Control software
AllSky
Software suite for monitoring a camera set up to continuously monitor the sky using a wide angle, fish-eye style lens. Provides timelapses and detects meteors.
free, raspberry-pi
Tools
AstroBin
Free (adds benefits with a subscription) web-based gallery that is useful for both storing images and related capture information and finding examples of images based on the target and equipment used.
free, subscription, web
Stacking and processing
AstroPixel Processor
Tool that excels in stacking images from varying exposures and focal lengths or different sessions and filters. Modest suite of post-processing tools included.
fee
Stacking and processing
AstroSurface
Incredibly fast tool for lucky imaging and planetary processing. Also handles deep sky objects and stacking.
free, planetary
Plate-solving
Astrometric Stacking Program (ASTAP)
Fast plate-solving (requires database download) that integrates with most software. Also does stacking and live stacking.
free
Control software
Astronomy Common Object Model (ASCOM)
A universal set of drivers to control various pieces of astrophotography hardware.
free, windows
Tools
Astronomy tools
Suite of calculators and field of view utilities to help maximize use of your lens and sensors (cameras).
free, web
Processing
AutoStakkert!
Stacking software for planets and lunar/solar surfaces. See also AstroSurface.
free, windows, planetary
Control software
CPWI (Celestron)
Control software for Celestron mounts. Includes planetarium. Integrates with ASCOM.
free
Tools
FastStone image viewer
Fast and efficient image viewer, resizer, and touch-up tool that supports a huge variety of image formats.
free, windows
Aquisition software
FireCapture
Software for imaging planets, the sun, and the moon using the 'lucky imaging' technique.
free, planetary, fee
Acquisition software
Nighttime Imaging N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A.)
N.I.N.A. offers a broad variety of capabilities. The toolset spans from choosing, framing, focusing, centering and imaging one or multiple targets and much more.
free
Plate-solving
Nova (astrometry.net)
Powerful free plate-solving tool that is slower than other methods but accurately solves more images than any other tool that I am aware of. Also has a developer API for integration.
free, web
Planning software
PhotoPills
The cure for a good photograph. This is the ultimate photo planning software!
fee
Stacking and processing
PixInsight
My 'gold standard' for astrophotography. PixInsight is to astrophotography what Photoshop and Lightroom are to more traditional photography. Steep learning curve but incredible suite of modules.
fee, trial
Deep Sky Workflows
PixInsight Scripts (source)
Scripts for balancing color channels, generating luminosity masks, and more. Link to source code.
free
Deep Sky Workflows
PixInsight scripts (repo install)
This link is what you use in PixInsight as the repo source to auto-add the scripts.
free
Processing
Planetary Image Pre-Processing (PIPP)
Pre-processing for lucky imaging. Image detection, surface detection, centering, leveling, and more. Discontinued, but download is available via Player One site. See AstroSurface for a supported program that does the same only better and faster.
free, windows, planetary
Processing
RegiStax
Planetary post-processing tool for aligning and sharpening images.
free, windows, planetary
Stacking
Sequator
Free software for stacking images. Specializes in widefield images taken with mirrorless and DSL cameras.
free, windows
Acquisition software
SharpCap
Easy and flexible capturing tool. Sensor analysis, focus guide, polar alignment, imaging sequencing, and more.
free, fee, trial, windows, subscription
Full suite
Sony Imaging Edge Desktop
Free suite of software for Sony cameras. Has remote control, software-based intervalometer, browsing and editing tools. Not available on Linux.
free
Planning software
Stellarium (software)
Planetarium software that provides a 3D view of the sky, shows you a field of view based on your camera and lenses, and integrates with various acquisition software and mounts.
free
Planning software
Stellarium (web)
Web-based version of the popular planetarium software
free, web
Planning software
Telescopius
Very helpful software to plan targets. You can choose the type, see how it will change altitude and decide what times to image, and even see a field of view. Also very helpful for planning mosaics.
free, web
Processing
Topaz DeNoise AI
Denoise software (noise reduction/image repair)
fee, windows, sub, trial
Processing
WinJUPOS
Includes ephemerides (see how a planet is rotated and the orbital positions of its moons) and de-rotation (for longer exposures, projects your image and re-aligns it based on timestamps). Also runs on Linux.
free, planetary
fee - fee version of software exists | free - software is free or a free version exists | planetary - software targets planetary imaging | sub - software is subscription based | trial - software requires a fee but has a free trial available | web - software is available on the web | windows - software is windows only | raspberry pi - software is raspberry pi only
