AstroPhotography Tools and Helps

[JimFox]

Please add any links you may know of that have been helpful to you.

Being able to preplan is huge, I like this website Astronomy Tools to be able to plug in my scope and camera and see how a DSO will frame up. I know Stellarium also offers this, but I can't get Stellarium to work for me.
astronomy.tools

 

[CRTAstro]

In Stellarium if you create your sensor and telescope and accurately enter the data in the Oculars area (click the spanner at top right) you should get a frame like this around your chosen target when you choose Image Sensor Frame icon, top right second from the left. Then use the arrow controls to select appropriate options

 

[JimFox]

I will have to try that Carlos. I know I did in the past, and just couldn't get it to work, or it wanted me to pay something in order to work... But that looks cool.

 

[ozzey1]

I want to implement a good auto focusing routine into my imaging.
Focus Max and perhaps others requires a particular brightness star and slews to that star then does the focus routine.
I would prefer a system that does not move and focuses based on multiple stars in the current view.

What software does that?

 

[JimFox]

I want to implement a good auto focusing routine into my imaging.
Focus Max and perhaps others requires a particular brightness star and slews to that star then does the focus routine.
I would prefer a system that does not move and focuses based on multiple stars in the current view.

What software does that?

Welcome to FocalWorld! What a great question.

I am using the ASIAir along with the ZWO EAF, and it will autofocus right where it is. If I am imaging the Jellyfish nebula for example, I have it set up to check focus once an hour, it doesn't move it picks a star in the current view it has and focuses on that.

@Mike Lewis and @CRTAstro might know of specific software that does what you are requesting.

 

[Mike Lewis]

I want to implement a good auto focusing routine into my imaging.
Focus Max and perhaps others requires a particular brightness star and slews to that star then does the focus routine.
I would prefer a system that does not move and focuses based on multiple stars in the current view.

What software does that?

@ozzey1 - The free software N.I.N.A. works on the full FOV to use the HFR of the entire view and runs V-Curve focusing. You can set it up to refocus based on time ('NINA please refocus every xx minutes'), based on HFR ('NINA please refocus if my star sizes increase by some percentage'), based on temperature change ('NINA, please refocus whenever the temperature changes by xx degrees') - well, you get the idea, very flexible. In addition to the autofocusing support, it can control pretty much every other aspect of your imaging sessions from planning, framing, guiding, sequencing, automatically meridian flipping, etc. etc. etc. - and did I mention it is free? I threw a donation at the developer, but that is optional. In any case, it would know how to talk to your EAF (with the right drivers installed) and would certainly take care of your having to move to a bright star to refocus problem you are describing, so go check it out. I now use it exclusively, and run my planetarium software in the background (TheSkyX...)

ML

 

[CRTAstro]

@ozzey1 - The free software N.I.N.A. works on the full FOV to use the HFR of the entire view and runs V-Curve focusing. You can set it up to refocus based on time ('NINA please refocus every xx minutes'), based on HFR ('NINA please refocus if my star sizes increase by some percentage'), based on temperature change ('NINA, please refocus whenever the temperature changes by xx degrees') - well, you get the idea, very flexible. In addition to the autofocusing support, it can control pretty much every other aspect of your imaging sessions from planning, framing, guiding, sequencing, automatically meridian flipping, etc. etc. etc. - and did I mention it is free? I threw a donation at the developer, but that is optional. In any case, it would know how to talk to your EAF (with the right drivers installed) and would certainly take care of your having to move to a bright star to refocus problem you are describing, so go check it out. I now use it exclusively, and run my planetarium software in the background (TheSkyX...)

ML

@ozzey1 Like Mike I also use NINA for acquisition. You can also tell NINA to use a crop ratio so it doesn't use the whole screen for the AF routine (in case you have some wonky stars at the edges). This can also speed up the AF routine a bit.

 

[JimFox]

This is a great filter reference.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/775235275932996/permalink/5843940212395785/?mibextid=W9rl1R

 

[chuckp]

I've taken almost every object of interest in the Northern hemishere so I decided to join Telescope Live to get some shots from the south. I'm also tired of the sky glow from the lights and moisture in the air that Florida has to offer, It is great for planetary and solar imaging but horrible for deep sky. I also have to deal with living in a Bortle 8 area. Here are some of my shots from Telescope live. Instead of uploading all the shots you can just use this link. https://pbase.com/hobbynaut/remote_observatory_images
if you want to see a larger image just click on the large thumbnail.

Here is the link to Telescope Live https://telescope.live/home

If anyone is interested to try Telescope Live you get a one week free trial and I have a referral code you can use to get a 20% discount for the first year. You pay by the month and you can cancel any time no questions asked. They also have monthly contests that you can win up to 100 free credits.