Help a beginner

[ChrisV]

I've been live video viewing with small 1/3" astro cameras and more recently DSLRs. For this I've been doing short exposures (5-60sec) with high gain/ISO and stacking with sharpcap and astrotoaster to get live(ish) images.

I might be stupid but I wanted to try some longer exposures on my dslr to try out some AP. I would only be doing it with my short focal length refractor, not on my SCT (that seems a bridge too far). I can get reasonable 2min unguided subs and have now got a guidescope/PhD working (I think). So I have some equipment basics sorted (naive) and I can find pile of useful info to improve the hardware side of it (especially my mount).

But, software. I want to find somewhere that has some dummies advice on the software involved in capturing and processing. There's a myriad of stuff out there and I can't make any sense of it -PI, nebulosity ....

So, can anyone help !
What should I look at trying and what uptodate resources are out there. Or should I stick with what I have = sharpcap, astrotoaster, DSS plus I have photoshop (thanks work) and some freeware.

In ignorance, Chris

[barx1963]

Hi Chris.
Different packages do different things. If looking for camera control with a dslr, then BackyardEOS or BackyardNikon work well. I started with Backyard EOS and PHD and just used the handset to point the mount.
then I went to EQMOD that acts as an interface between a planetarium program and your mount so you can get rid of the handset, but does require some hardware. If your laptop has Bluetooth, I found the Shoestring Bluetooth adaptor very good.
SEquence Generator pro is another option which will control your camera and lots of other gear while also interfacing with PHD2 to allow automated meridian flips and a host of other functions.
Nebulosity can do both image acquisition and processing. PIxinsight is mainly processing but I believe it is moving into camera control (or so I am told).
Malcolm

[ChrisV]

Malcolm

I'm using EOSutilities with astrotoaster now. And i have my mount bluetoothed to skysafari.

Thanks for that about the sgp nebulosity etc. MAybe I'll look and see what others use for their great shots here

Chris

[poppasmurf]

I recently moved over to APT AstroPhotography Tool for image aquisition and love it. It supprorts both DSLR and CCD with mount control and plate solving among other useful tools for focus etc.

Shane

[sil]

I suggest you need to develop a workflow. Think of it like a flowchart. In simplest form it might be:

[capture data] -> [process data]

Then you break each step down and refine them bit by bit , then end result being a better final image. Depending on your definition of a better image. It could be something that accurate measurements be made from or just yet another pretty picture.

The solution is more a solution that works for YOU, it may not be the best solution but it gets you to an end result. Software will likely depend on how you capture and in what forms. There is no ultimate solution just try lots of packages and follow tutorials and take notes.

[KWR]

As a recent adopter of Astro Photography Tool, I can agree with Shane's comments, it's a very good tool that has a bunch of very useful advanced features. Although, as you start off into program controlled capture it can be kept very simple and you can just integrate new processes as you become comfortable with each of the features. Just using it as your DSLR capture program can improve your efficiency during a session, and when the same program can also take care of focusing, plate solving, dithering and the like, it becomes a very powerful piece of software. As Sil mentioned, the development of a workflow shouldn't be overlooked, things can get complicated quickly when you start to add new routines. Jim Solomon's AP cookbook (http://www.saratogaskies.com/articles/cookbook/index.html) is getting a bit dated now, but this was my bible many years ago with respect to a good capture routine.

I'm going down a development path for a simple 1100D and an 80mm scope that started with basic camera control, and now adding functions as they become necessary or useful.


APT DSLR control
EQMOD (Umbrella PC mount control solution, hand controller delete)
Guiding solution
Planetarium program
EQMOD/Planetarium mount control (click and point control of mount)
APT Plate solving (good for framing and fine syncing of the mount)
APT Auto focusing

Not looking too closely at the processing side yet, not until producing good consistent data becomes the norm.

G