SharpCap
SharpCap is tightly integrated into all aspects of our observing hardware allowing us to:
Precisely calibrate our telescope position with exceptional accuracy so our telescopes track precisely with the motion of the Earth.
Adjust exposure times, gain, camera temperature and dozens of other settings of our ZWO ASI 2600 camera.
Select from any of our 7 different camera filters.
Reset the position of our telescope from where the system is currently pointing to the actual position of the object with pinpoint accuracy.
Cost: $15/year
SharpCap is tightly integrated into all aspects of our observing hardware allowing us to:
Precisely calibrate our telescope position with exceptional accuracy so our telescopes track precisely with the motion of the Earth.
Adjust exposure times, gain, camera temperature and dozens of other settings of our ZWO ASI 2600 camera.
Select from any of our 7 different camera filters.
Reset the position of our telescope from where the system is currently pointing to the actual position of the object with pinpoint accuracy.
Cost: $15/year
STELLARIUM
Stellarium is free/open source software that we use to develop and carry out our observation plan and to select a DSO (Deep Space Object) to observe and then to 'slew' (move) the telescope to that object.
We can also:
Determine the magnitude, size and transit times of the object
Determine the type and characteristics of the object
Determine the degree to which the position of the object contributes to the 'seeing' of the object based on the thickness of the atmosphere at that position overhead
Cost: Free
Stellarium is free/open source software that we use to develop and carry out our observation plan and to select a DSO (Deep Space Object) to observe and then to 'slew' (move) the telescope to that object.
We can also:
Determine the magnitude, size and transit times of the object
Determine the type and characteristics of the object
Determine the degree to which the position of the object contributes to the 'seeing' of the object based on the thickness of the atmosphere at that position overhead
Cost: Free
PHD2 - Tracking Software
PHD2 works with our ZWO mini 120 HD Camera to make minute changes to the position of the telescope mount.
PHD2 will automatically select a particular star or we can manually select another star for tracking if we wish. PHD2 then sets a cross-hair on that star and precisely adjusts the mount every 2 seconds to keep that star centered. Those tiny adjustments (in tenths of pixels) to the mount ensure that our images are as detailed as can be (recall that the main camera is 6400 pixels wide and 4800 pixels in height) -- That means during in 60 minute exposures we usually achieve less than 1 pixel of drift!
PHD2 works with our ZWO mini 120 HD Camera to make minute changes to the position of the telescope mount.
PHD2 will automatically select a particular star or we can manually select another star for tracking if we wish. PHD2 then sets a cross-hair on that star and precisely adjusts the mount every 2 seconds to keep that star centered. Those tiny adjustments (in tenths of pixels) to the mount ensure that our images are as detailed as can be (recall that the main camera is 6400 pixels wide and 4800 pixels in height) -- That means during in 60 minute exposures we usually achieve less than 1 pixel of drift!
The Ascom software represent open-source 'drivers' that communicate between the Telescope Mount (hardware) and the various software that needs to 'talk' to that mount: SharpCap, Stellarium and PHD2 all have to communicate with the mount and they do that using the Ascom software.
Generally speaking the Ascom software works mostly behind the scenes and the only time we have to work with it directly is when we have to change our tracking from 'Siderial' (Stars, galaxies and other Deep Sky Objects), "Solar" (for photographing the sun), "Lunar" (for tracking the moon) and customized (for comets)
Generally speaking the Ascom software works mostly behind the scenes and the only time we have to work with it directly is when we have to change our tracking from 'Siderial' (Stars, galaxies and other Deep Sky Objects), "Solar" (for photographing the sun), "Lunar" (for tracking the moon) and customized (for comets)
The FocusLynx Commander is the FIRST piece of software we fire up to run our gear. We basically connect it to our auto-focuser hardware and it runs *mostly* seamlessly in the background although we usually make a few adjustments using SharpCap to match existing atmospheric conditions
Photoshop
Photoshop is an immensely powerful photo/imaging software. It is the same software that Imaging Analysts at NASA use to process pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
We use the same methodology that those analysts use:
We take black and white images but use very narrow color filters to only let specific colored photons into the camera
Then we use photoshop to enhance the image brightness, contrast etc.. to bring out faint details
Then we colorize those images into Red/Blue/Green images
The final step involves layering those separate images to allow the colors of the different wavelengths of light to blend.
Those steps are just as complicated as they seem and take a lot of practice!
Photoshop is an immensely powerful photo/imaging software. It is the same software that Imaging Analysts at NASA use to process pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
We use the same methodology that those analysts use:
We take black and white images but use very narrow color filters to only let specific colored photons into the camera
Then we use photoshop to enhance the image brightness, contrast etc.. to bring out faint details
Then we colorize those images into Red/Blue/Green images
The final step involves layering those separate images to allow the colors of the different wavelengths of light to blend.
Those steps are just as complicated as they seem and take a lot of practice!