Hi Karl,
Thanks for the skinny on the presence/abscence of specialsed software.
I am familiar with most of the objects you have outlined.
However, if you look at the footage I uploaded to youtube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G4QrQezZqME
you might like to offer a suggestion.
Also, this is the best sky/star background I can get with this lens.
I will have to get a much bigger lens/mirror if I wish to increase the frame rate and still see the stars with a 15mm lens-wide bacground..