Astrophotography Resources & Tools
The right tools can make astrophotography easier to plan, capture, and process.
This page brings together useful software, apps, websites, downloads, and references for every stage of the process, from choosing a target and controlling an imaging session to stacking and processing your final data. Some resources are free and others are paid
Planning & Sky Tools
Planning an imaging session involves more than finding a clear night.
These tools can help you choose a target, understand when and where it will be visible, preview your field of view, check sky conditions, and see what other astrophotographers have captured with similar equipment.
Stellarium
Explore the night sky, check target visibility, and preview the field of view of your telescope and camera.
AstroBin
Research equipment combinations, targets, and real images captured by other astrophotographers.
Light Pollution Map
Compare sky brightness around your location and find darker areas for observing and astrophotography.
Weather & Astronomy Apps
Find useful apps and tools for checking observing conditions, following the Moon, navigating the night sky, and planning your next imaging session.
Capture & Control
Astrophotography software can control much more than the camera. Depending on your setup, it can handle focusing, plate solving, guiding, sequencing, dithering, filter changes, meridian flips, and other parts of an automated imaging session.
ZWO ASIAIR
Control compatible cameras, mounts, guiding, focusers, filter wheels, and imaging sequences from a phone or tablet.
The ASIAIR combines equipment control, guiding, plate solving, focusing, and automation in one streamlined system designed for portable astrophotography setups.
N.I.N.A
Control and automate a Windows-based setup with tools for sequencing, plate solving, focusing, camera control, and equipment integration.
Astro Photography Tool
Control DSLR and dedicated astronomy cameras with tools for focusing, plate solving, dithering, sequencing, and calibration frames.
Sequence Generator Pro
Control and automate imaging equipment and sequences, including cameras, mounts, focusers, filters, and other supported devices.
PHD2 Guiding
Autoguiding software that communicates with your telescope mount to improve tracking accuracy during long-exposure imaging.
SharpCap
Capture images and use tools for focusing, framing, plate solving, polar alignment, and astronomy camera control.
FireCapture
Capture high-frame-rate planetary, lunar, and solar data with a wide range of supported astronomy cameras.
Practice Your Image Processing
Download real astrophotography data and use it to practise stacking and processing techniques before applying them to your own images.
Processing Software
Astrophotography processing can involve several different stages, including calibration, stacking, stretching, colour correction, noise reduction, star processing, and final adjustments. Some programs are designed specifically for astronomical data, while others are general photography tools that fit naturally into an astrophotography workflow.
Photoshop
Flexible image-editing software for stretching, masks, colour adjustments, star reduction, selective edits, and final image finishing.
PixInsight
Dedicated astro software for calibration, stacking, colour correction, gradient removal, noise reduction, and detailed image processing.
DeepSkyStacker
Free Windows software for calibrating, registering, and stacking deep-sky image data for further image processing.
Siril
Free astrophotography software for calibration, registration, stacking, colour correction, and processing deep-sky image data.
Astro Pixel Processor
Astrophotography software for calibration, registration, stacking, image integration, mosaics, and processing complex imaging data.
ASIStudio
A free collection of ZWO astronomy applications for capturing, viewing, stacking, and working with images from supported astronomy cameras.
AutoStakkert!
Stacking software designed primarily for high-frame-rate planetary, lunar, and solar imaging. The best frames can be aligned and combined.
RegiStax
Free software commonly used for stacking and sharpening planetary and lunar images, particularly through its wavelet sharpening tools.
Supporting Tools
Adobe Bridge
Review, organize, compare, and manage large sets of astrophotography files before and during processing.
Adobe Lightroom
Organize, edit, and make final adjustments to wide-field astrophotography and nightscape images.
DSLR Camera Modification
Modifying a DSLR camera can improve its ability to capture the red hydrogen-alpha light emitted by deep-sky nebulae. Whether you’re considering a DIY modification or a professional service, these resources can help you explore your options.
Modifying a DSLR isn’t necessary to get started in astrophotography. However, if you regularly photograph emission nebulae, it can be a worthwhile upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to some of the most common questions about astrophotography software.
Astrophotography Books
Explore our favourite astronomy and astrophotography books for learning the night sky, understanding equipment, capturing images, and developing your skills.
