There are several different types of software that you may be interested in for astrophotography:
- DSLR Camera Control
- Software-Assisted Focusing
- Image Acquisition Automation
- Image Calibration, Aligning and Stacking
- Image Correction and Enhancement
- Autoguiding Software
- Photo Utilities
- Photoshop Filters and Actions
- Tutorials on Image Processing of Astrophotos
- Planetarium Programs and Atlases
DSLR Camera Control
With camera control software, you can use your computer to control all of the functions and settings of your camera, such as setting the ISO, shutter speed, and opening the shutter.
With the current generation of Canon EOS DSLR cameras, the EOS Utility software provided by Canon with the camera will control all functions of the camera. This is accomplished through a single USB-2 Cable and includes control of the bulb setting for exposures longer than 30 seconds. This software also allows viewing of the Live-view real-time image on the computer and focusing.
With previous camera generations of Canon DSLRs (20D, 30D, 300D, 350D, 400D) and all Nikon DSLR cameras prior to D800, the camera manufacturer's software could control all camera functions except one critical one for astrophotography: the ability to shoot exposures longer than 30 seconds with the bulb setting. This major drawback necessitated the use of third-party software such as Images Plus to control the camera and access bulb exposures longer than 30 seconds through the use of a serial to bulb port cable.
So for older generation cameras, two cables were necessary for astrophotography: one USB cable to control camera functions and one serial to bulb port cable for long exposures. All of the latest Canon cameras with Live View, and Nikon D800 and later cameras, can be controlled with a single USB cable for long exposures.
Nikon camera control software does not come with the camera, it costs extra. Canon camera control software is included in the price of the camera.
Software-Assisted Focusing
The latest generation DSLR cameras allow focusing through the camera manufacturer's software. This can be done by manual focusing and visual inspection of the Live-view image on the computer, or by autofocus if the camera is shooting through an autofocus lens.
For previous generation cameras without Live-View, an image had to be downloaded to the computer and then visually examined for focus accuracy. Programs such as Images Plus or DSLR Focus could also download an image and then examine a star and give a readout of the star's diameter or brightness. This metric-assisted focusing was objective and did not rely on any visual interpretation to determine focus.
Through a process of manual trial and error, accurate focus could be achieved through software-assisted focusing.
The latest camera manufacturer's software can make focusing very easy with Live-view, however, this software does not provide any type of metric-assisted focusing for astrophotography.
Image Acquisition Automation
Serious deep-sky astrophotography requires shooting many short exposures. This can be done manually, but it is very tedious. For example, faint deep-sky objects may require several hours worth of 5 minute exposures that are later stacked or combined in subsequent image processing.
Software such as Images Plus or MaxDSLR can automate this process. You simply specify in the software that you want the camera to shoot, say, 25 exposures of 5 minutes each at ISO 1600 with a pause of 10 seconds between frames (to give the system time to download each image).
The latest software provided by Nikon and Canon also provides the functionality for this type of automated image acquisition with the latest generation of DSLR cameras.
Image Calibration, Aligning and Stacking
Advanced astronomical imaging requires the "calibration" of the raw original images. Calibration means removing unwanted fixed signals (such as thermal current and bias), and correction for signal modifications (such as vignetting) so that the raw image accurately represents the intensity of light incident on the sensor during the exposure. We will discuss these topics in detail in future sections, but right now lets just talk briefly about the software required for image calibration.
Both Canon and Nikon usually include image processing software with their cameras, but this software is for processing normal daytime images. You can not use it for image calibration, aligning, or stacking at all.
To calibrate your original raw astronomical images, you will require some type of special astronomical image processing software, such as Images Plus, MaxDSLR, AIP (Astronomical Image Processing), AstroArt, IRIS, Deepsky Stacker or Regim.
"Stacking" means combining many individual short exposures into a master image by any of several mathematical processes such as averaging, or addition. The term originates in the days of film astrophotography where images were literally stacked on top of one another to improve contrast and color.
You will also need to align your images so that the stars in them line up perfectly.
Whatever software you use for image calibration will almost certainly also do aligning and image stacking. It is possible to align and stack images in Photoshop, but for more than a couple of frames, the process is extremely tedious and not as accurate as with a dedicated astronomical image processing program.
Image Correction and Enhancement
Once your images are calibrated, aligned and stacked, you will want to correct for things such as color balance, and increase the contrast to make faint details more visible. You will probably also want to apply some type of noise reduction, and you may want to apply more sophisticated enhancement techniques.
These processes can be done in the previously mentioned astronomical image processing programs such as Images Plus, MaxDSLR, AIP (Astronomical Image Processing), AstroArt, and IRIS.
However, at this stage of image processing, many astrophotographers prefer to switch to a general image processing program such as Photoshop.
Autoguiding Software
For long-exposure deep-sky astrophotography, guiding during the exposure can be very useful in producing higher quality images. By manually or automatically following a star by making corrections in right ascension and declination higher tracking accuracy is obtained.
Autoguiding involves using a separate CCD or Webcam to monitor a stars position and then send corrections to the telescope's mounting to guide or follow the star with high accuracy to compensate for inaccuracies in the mount's tracking.
SBIG used to make the ST-4 and ST-V which were stand alone autoguiders which did not require a computer. These units have been discontinued but can be found used on Astromart.
CCD cameras and webcams can be also be used as autoguiders, but software, such as GuideDog and PHD, is required to run on a computer that interfaces between the autoguider and mount.
Photo Utilities
These programs perform useful functions like allowing you to open FITS format files, perform noise reduction, and create thumbnails for indexing and archiving.
Photoshop Filters and Actions
These filters and actions work inside of Photoshop and perform specialty functions for astronomy, such as gradient and noise reduction.
Tutorials on Image Processing of Astrophotos
Tutorials in book and video format teach you how to do astrophotography, and use programs such as Images Plus for image calibration and Photoshop for image correction and enhancement.
Planetarium Programs and Atlases
Planetarium programs and atlases let you find out what is up in the sky, and plan your observing and astrophotography session.
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Astronomical Software For the PC
- DSLR Camera Control
- IRIS Freeware - DSLR control, image acquisition automation.
- APT (Astro Photography Tool) - Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation.
- BackyardEOS Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, drift alignment assist.
- Nebulosity Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, image calibration, image processing.
- Images Plus Camera Control Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation, calibration, image processing.
- Sequence Generator Pro - Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation.
- AstroArt Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, focusing, autoguiding, calibration, image processing.
- Maxim DL Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, autoguiding, focusing, image calibration, image processing.
- digiCamControl Freeware - Camera control for most recent model Nikons DSLRs.
- PalmDSLR Freeware - DSLR control with a Palm computer.
- Software-Assisted Focusing
- Focus Max Freeware - Focusing software that automates focusing if you have a motorized focuser that works with Maxim DL or CCD Soft.
- APT (Astro Photography Tool) Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation.
- BackyardEOS Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, drift alignment assist.
- Nebulosity Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, image calibration, image processing.
- Images Plus Camera Control Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation, calibration, image processing.
- Sequence Generator Pro - Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation.
- AstroArt Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control and image processing.
- AstroArt Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, focusing, autoguiding, calibration, image processing.
- Maxim DL Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, autoguiding, focusing, image calibration, image processing.
- Image Acquisition Automation
- DSLR Shutter Freeware - image acquisition automation.
- APT (Astro Photography Tool) - Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation.
- BackyardEOS Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, drift alignment assist.
- Nebulosity Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, image calibration, image processing.
- Images Plus Camera Control Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation, calibration, image processing.
- Sequence Generator Pro - Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation.
- AstroArt Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, focusing, autoguiding, calibration, image processing.
- Maxim DL Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, autoguiding, focusing, image calibration, image processing.
- Image Calibration, Aligning and Stacking
- Deepsky Stacker Freeware - Image calibration, alignment, stacking.
- Regim Freeware - Image calibration, alignment, stacking.
- IRIS Freeware - DSLR control, image acquisition automation .
- RegiStax Freeware - for stacking planetary images shot with webcams.
- Nebulosity Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, image calibration, image processing.
- AIP (Astronomical Image Processing) Commercial Software - Image calibration, correction, enhancement.
- Images Plus Camera Control Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation, calibration, image processing.
- PixInsight Commercial Software - Image calibration, correction, enhancement.
- AstroArt Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, focusing, autoguiding, calibration, image processing.
- Maxim DL Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, autoguiding, focusing, image calibration, image processing.
- Image Correction and Enhancement
- IRIS Freeware - Image Processing.
- GIMP Freeware - Image Processing.
- Nebulosity Commercial Software - Image Processing.
- AIP (Astronomical Image Processing) Commercial Software - Image Processing.
- Images Plus Camera Control Commercial Software - DSLR control, focusing, image acquisition automation, calibration, image processing.
- PixInsight Commercial Software - Image Processing.
- AstroArt Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, focusing, autoguiding, calibration, image processing.
- Maxim DL Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, autoguiding, focusing, image calibration, image processing.
- Photoshop CS6 Retail Commercial Software - Image Processing.
Autoguiding Software
- GuideDog Freeware - Autoguiding.
- PHD (Push Here Dummy) Freeware - Autoguiding.
- Metaguide Freeware - Autoguiding.
- Guidemaster Freeware - Autoguiding.
- AstroArt Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, focusing, autoguiding, calibration, image processing.
- Maxim DL Commercial Software - DSLR and CCD control, image acquisition, autoguiding, focusing, image calibration, image processing.
- Photo Utilities
- Dark Master Freeware - Sort Dark frames by EXIF temperature data
- EXIF Reader Freeware - Reads EXIF data, such as shutter speed, ISO, aperture, date and time of photo that is stored in the image file. Also a thumbnail and image viewer.
- FITS Liberator Freeware - FITS file format image handling software.
- Noiseware Community Edition Freeware - Noise Reduction software
- Background Subtraction Toolkit Freeware - Remove gradients and vignetting.
- IrfanView Freeware - Image viewer.
- Picassa Freeware - Thumbnail and Image Viewer and database
- ThumbsPlus Commercial Software - Thumbnail viewer and database.
- Photoshop Filters and Actions
- Tutorials on Image Processing of Astrophotos
- Planetarium Programs and Atlases
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Astronomical Software For the Mac
- DSLR Camera Control and Focusing
- DSLR Shutter Freeware - image acquisition automation.
- Nebulosity Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, image calibration, image processing.
- iAstrophoto Freeware - Digital camera focus and control software for Canon astrophotography using Macintosh OS X.
- Astro IIDC Commercial Software - primarily for planetary imaging.
- Astronomical Image Processing Programs
- Keith's Image Stacker Commercial Software - For stacking planetary images.
- Lykenos Freeware - Planetary image stacking and processing.
- Astrostack Commercial Software - Image stacking and processing.
- Nebulosity Commercial Software - Camera control, focus, image acquisition automation, image calibration, image processing.
- PixInsight Commercial Software - Image Processing.
- General Image Processing Programs
- Photo Utilities
- FITS Liberator Freeware - FITS file format image handling software.
- iPhoto Bundled with New Macs, or available as part of iLife Commercial Software - image viewer, database, and image editing.
- Photoshop Filters and Actions
- Astronomy Tools Commercial Software - Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions for various astrophoto techniques.
- Annie's Astro Actions Commercial Software - Astrophotography specific Photoshop actions.
- Noise Ninja Commercial Software Noise Reduction filter.
- Tutorials on Image Processing of Astrophotos
- Planetarium Programs, Atlases, Etc.
- Stellarium Freeware - Desktop planetarium and space simulation.
- Celestia Freeware - Desktop planetarium and space simulation.
- AstroPlanner Commercial Software - Planning, logging, telescope control.
- Equinox6 Commercial Software - Desktop planetarium, telescope, webcam and focuser control.
- The SkyX Commercial Software - Desktop Planetarium.
- Starry Night Commercial Software - Desktop planetarium.
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Prices on all commercial software are subject to change without notice.
Note that you should be able to run any of the Windows programs listed above on your Mac with OS-X and software like Parallels or VMware Fusion.
Midnightkite also has a nice collection of links to lots of other astronomical related software for a variety of operating systems.
Recommended - Budget Software
Cartes du Ciel Freeware planetarium and telescope control.
IRIS Freeware - Iris pretty much does it all for image calibration and stacking. It is very powerful but is difficult to use because it involves the use of command lines.
Deepsky Stacker Freeware - Image calibration, alignment, stacking.
Dark Master Freeware - Sort Dark frames by EXIF temperature data.
PHD (Push Here Dummy) Freeware - Autoguiding software.
Noiseware Community Edition Freeware - Noise Reduction software.
Background Subtraction Toolkit Freeware - Remove gradients and vignetting.
GIMP Freeware - GIMP (GNU Image Processing) is an open-source software program for image correction like Photoshop. It runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Picassa Freeware - Thumbnail and image viewer and database. You can add keywords and captions to your images, and then use them to search for a particular image.
IrfanView Freeware - Image viewer and more.
Recommended - Retail Software
Images Plus Commercial Software - DSLR camera control, image acquisition, focusing, calibration, alignment, stacking, processing and enhancing astrophotographs. If you can only afford one program, this is the one to get.
Backyard EOS - DSLR camera control, image acquisition, focusing, plate solving. Very reasonably priced with a great interface that is easy to use.
AstroPhotography Tool - DSLR camera control, image acquisition, focusing, plate solving. Very reasonably priced with a very good interface that is easy to use.
Photoshop CS6 Retail Commercial Software
Noise Ninja Commercial Software - Noise Reduction filter for Photoshop. Automatically analyzes the noise structure in images and removes it. With extensive controls if desired.
GradientXTerminator Commercial Software - Removes vignetting and gradients.
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Images Plus
I use Images Plus and recommend it highly for camera control, imaging automation, image calibration, aligning and stacking.
One thing to think about when buying software for astronomical image processing is the type of support that is available for it. For example, Images Plus author, Mike Unsold, writes and supports Images Plus as his full time job. He will personally answer questions about the program on the Images Plus Yahoo group. He is constantly updating it with new features and support for new cameras. He has extensive video tutorials available with the program showing how to use it.
Images Plus will not only control all of your camera's functions through your computer, it will also help you focus your camera. Once you have acquired your images, it will calibrate and align them with a couple of clicks of your mouse. Then you can use it to apply advanced techniques such as digital development and deconvolution.
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*Prices and availability of all items are subject to change without notice by the vendors and manufacturers.
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