There are many different types of software for both image acquisition and image processing. I have compiled a detailed list of software in the resources section of this website.
You will use image acquisition software to control your imaging sequence, dithering, guiding, and even to plate-solve images on your tracking mount.
There are devices like ZWO ASIAIR, StellarMate, and Primaluce Labs EAGLE that allow you to control your equipment remotely versus having to go outside to make adjustments.
Image stacking software handles the important pre-processing stages of your image editing. When you have successfully integrated and calibrated your master file, you can move on to the image processing stage.
Image processing software such as Adobe Photoshop or PixInsight allows you to control every aspect of your image, from star size to color balance and saturation.
I recommend choosing software that you are comfortable with and that fits your budget. If you are a beginner, choose one that has a lot of online resources to help you through the learning process.
A screenshot from DeepSkyStacker while pre-processing an image.
In this beginner-friendly image processing tutorial, we will use Adobe Photoshop to take an astrophotography image from its raw state to a finished master file for sharing. The post-processing stage of astrophotography is an exciting experience because it is when you finally get to enjoy the deep-sky object you have captured, up-close. This is a…
In this post, I’ve rounded up a list of useful astronomy apps for your mobile phone or tablet. If you’re looking to inject a little more astronomy into your iPhone or Android Device (I personally use a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra), the following list of apps should come in very handy. I’ve reached out to…
The ZWO ASIAIR Plus is the third generation of the popular ASIAir wireless controller. This tiny red aluminum box aims to replace your laptop computer, imaging software, USB hubs, power supply, and even your WiFi connection. The goal of this device is to make collecting images of deep-sky objects (or planets) easier, and automated. You…
The goal of Topaz Labs DeNoise AI is to reduce digital image noise while preserving detail and increasing image sharpness. If you’re no stranger to astrophotography image processing, that almost sounds too good to be true. I was skeptical of the application myself but now find myself using it in some capacity for every astrophoto…