Software suite for imaging

[Davros]

So after a couple of years of trying to get all of my dominoes lined up on a mac system using free astro imaging software i am temporarily throwing in the towel. I want to get something up and running ahead of Astrofest so i can gather some photons effectively. I have an old PC lappy sitting here that i can use for the project. Can anyone give me a list of freeware to suit a basic imaging setup. I currently use an ED80 with a Canon 30d and will hopefully be guiding (new experience) through a finder guider with a Toucam. As always any bit of help is greatly appreciated.

[whzzz28]

For free you can used PHD to do your guiding, and Stark Labs also has a basic program, DSLR Shutter, that will allow you to take a set amount of exposures.
It's very basic software though so don't expect much.

Im not sure what else is around in terms of free, maybe some others can help, otherwise:
http://www.stark-labs.com/index.html
If you have a few dollars to spare then a Nebulosity license is pretty cheap ($80), and it works well for DSLR work.

[Poita]

I have Mac and PC and honestly in that timeframe, I'd go nebulosity on the mac. You can try it out for free and see if it works for you, and if you buy a licence you can install it on both platforms.

Pixinsight is hard to go past, but also really hard to use as a first stop.

[Grimmeister]

Hi Mick,

I have a set up not that far removed from yours and I use the following software:


EQMOD (with ASCOM Platform for Telescope Control)
EQPAD (Plugs into EQMOD to give you control of the telescope with a game pad).
Cartes Du Ciel (Free Sky Chart Software that is ASCOM Aware).
PHD Guiding (Again Free and plugs into ASCOM for pulse guiding).
Backyard EOS (to control Camera and Imaging Sessions, your camera would need a serial adaptor to control Bulb Mode, alternativly just buy a bulb timer for your camera, its also quite cheap)
Alignmaster (to help with polar alignment as it is ASCOM compatible, easy to use and cheap).
The paid for software comes with Trials so you can check them out prior to purchase (just google the name and you will find them).

As for MAC or PC, I am a PC man so I can only vouch for this software on a PC. But if you have an old Lappy it should easily run this stuff as it's not that taxing on a computer.

I hope this helps? I am in Brisbane so if you got really stuck I could catch up with you help get it all working.

Cheers

Anthony

[Davros]

Thanks guys
I will be starting to set up this little lappy tomorrow in the constant drizzle and cold weather.

[alistairsam]

Hi
I'd go with stellarium, (update all 9 catalogs), stellarium scope using eqascom, phd, backyard eos
You can also very easily use the canon camera control software that does just about everything for capture
I find CDC not very friendly in terms of navigation but that's just my personal opinion
What mount do you have
You can always run parallels on a Mac and run windows software
You can also add the stellarium textures and graphics from the threads here that display images of objects
Edit: alignmaster as well. Both alignmaster and BEOS are low cost, well worth it
Both have 30 day trials as well

[Davros]

I am running a HEQ5 and an ED80 with a Canon 30D hanging off it. I have been previously using the Canon software for the image capture and i am happy enough with that. I am also using Stellarium on the Mac. I need PC guiding software to control the mount i guess. Everything else i can run through the mac. As long as i can get the mount tracking and guided through the PC.

[Dr. Washington]

I highly recommend AstroPhotography Tool -http://www.ideiki.com/astro/Default.aspx, amazing program that automates image capture for Canon DSLR's and has many useful features.

[Poita]

Personally I would upgrade the guidecam to one that works with OSX.
This page has some nice links for PC and MAC software.

http://astronomyonline.org/AstronomySoftware.asp#Apple

[Davros]

Unfortunately the budget fairies say that isnt going to happen for a loooooong time.