Image above by Jorge Segura - probably one of the best planetary imagers I know!
Astrophotography can be divided into a few main types:
Planetary imaging
Deep-sky imaging including widefield imaging
Bightsky landscape including Milkyway images
Let me try and focus on the fist two; planetary and deep sky.
While planetary astrophotography focuses on capturing images of objects within our solar system, such as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Moon, and the Sun, deep-sky astrophotography allows amateur astronomers and astrophotographers to image distant celestial objects like galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Each branch of astrophotography requires slightly different software to process the images to get the best images of the data taken.
Software for astronomy processing and planetary images
Planetary astrophotography would typically involve capturing high frame-rate videos of planets and then using software to select and extract the sharpest and best frames to then 'stack' them together to produce a high-quality image.
I'll run through a few of the different types of software available to you to help with the process of getting amazing images of planets and deep sky objects. Most of these I have used and still use on a regular basis.
Best for: Planetary and lunar image stacking and sharpening
RegiStax is probably one of the most popular software programs for processing planetary images. It allows you to stack video frames and apply sharpening to bring out the finer details of planets, the Moon, and even the Sun (DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN THROUGH A TELESCOPE without appropriate filters).
Key Features
- Free to use
- Sharpening tools for fine detail enhancement
- Multi-point alignment for improved stacking accuracy
Why Beginners Like It
RegiStax simplifies planetary image processing by offering easy-to-use stacking and sharpening tools. Its wavelet sharpening feature is especially useful for bringing out surface details on planets like Jupiter or Saturn. This software is only available for PC and not Mac computers.
Best for: Automatic stacking for planetary and lunar images
AutoStakkert is designed to automatically choose the sharpest frames from a video and stack them into a final image. It is often used in conjunction with RegiStax, where AutoStakkert handles the stacking, and RegiStax is used for sharpening.
Key Features
- Free to use
- Automatic frame selection and stacking
- Multi-point alignment for improved accuracy
Why Beginners Like It
AutoStakkert makes the process of stacking pretty simple, allowing beginners and experts alike to produce clearer planetary images without needing to manually select frames. It’s a great tool for anyone capturing video of planets.
Best for: Processing both planetary and deep-sky images
Siril is a hugley versatile astrophotography software package that can handle both planetary and deep-sky image processing. For planetary imaging, Siril can convert video files into frames and then stack them, offering tools for post-processing as well. I have used this software a few times and I know a few friends who swear by it.
Key Features
- Free and open-source
- Video-to-frame conversion for planetary processing
- Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Why Beginners Like It
Siril provides a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate. It’s also one of the few free programs that can handle both planetary and deep-sky image processing, making it an excellent option for those looking to try both types of astrophotography.
Best for: Video capture for planetary and lunar imaging
While FireCapture is technically a video capture tool, it’s worth mentioning for planetary imaging because it offers specialised settings tailored to capture high-frame-rate video files of planets like Jupiter and Saturn etc. You can then export these videos to software like AutoStakkert! and RegiStax for processing.
Key Features
- Free to use
- Capture videos optimised for planetary photography
- Automatic tracking and stabilisation during capture
Why Beginners Like It
FireCapture is often used by planetary astrophotographers to ensure they capture high-quality, high-frame-rate videos. This software works seamlessly with AutoStakkert! and RegiStax for the next stage of your astro image processing workflow.
Software for Processing Deep-Sky Images
Deep-sky astrophotography involves capturing long exposures of distant celestial objects like galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. This requires stacking multiple frames to reduce noise and enhance detail. Below are some of the best software tools for processing deep-sky images.
Best for: Image stacking and noise reduction for deep-sky objects
DeepSkyStacker is a widely used software for stacking deep-sky images. It combines multiple exposures to reduce noise and improve detail, making it ideal for capturing objects like galaxies and nebulae.
Key Features
- Free to use
- Stacks light, dark, flat, and bias frames
- Basic post-processing options
Why Beginners Like It
DSS is known for its simplicity and effectiveness. It automates much of the stacking process, allowing beginners to focus on capturing quality images and letting the software handle noise reduction and detail enhancement. This software is also only avaulabel for PC and I use it a a lot.
Best for: Complete deep-sky processing workflow, including stacking and calibration—
AstroPixel Processor (APP) is designed for astrophotography and offers an all-in-one solution for stacking, calibrating, and processing deep-sky images. It supports advanced features like mosaic creation and multi-band processing, making it versatile for both wide-field and detailed astrophotography.
Key Features
- Complete stacking, calibration, and post-processing workflow
- Tools for multi-channel processing and mosaics
- Batch processing capabilities
Why Beginners Like It
APP is user-friendly and allows beginners to perform all necessary post-processing steps within a single platform. Its powerful features make it a great option for both novice and intermediate astrophotographers. This software is available for mac and PC users.
Best for: Advanced deep-sky image processing
PixInsight is considered one of the most advanced tools for deep-sky astrophotography. While it has a steep learning curve, it offers complete control over the entire processing workflow, from stacking and calibration to noise reduction and colour adjustment.
Key Features
- Advanced tools for stacking, calibration, and noise reduction
- Powerful post-processing options
- Batch processing and scripting capabilities
Why Beginners Like It
Although Pixinsight has a steep learning curve it offers precision and flexibility unmatched by other software. Beginners who are serious about improving their deep-sky images often turn to PixInsight as they gain more experience.
Best for: User-friendly deep-sky image processing
StarTools is the new kid on the block and designed specifically for astrophotography and offers a range of tools to make deep-sky image processing easier. It provides modules for noise reduction, sharpening, and colour correction, with an interface aimed at making complex tasks simpler for beginners.
Key Features
- Specialised tools for deep-sky image processing
- Modules for star removal, sharpening, and noise reduction
- Free trial available
Why Beginners Like It
StarTools simplifies many of the technical aspects of astrophotography image processing, allowing beginners to enhance their deep-sky images without needing in-depth knowledge of astrophotography.
Best for: Fine-tuning deep-sky images with detailed editing
While not specifically built for astrophotography, both Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo are powerful image-editing tools that can be used to fine-tune deep-sky images. I find myself sometimes using Photoshop's built-in Theycamera Raw to reduce the noise a little more when I export my images from Pixinsight. Photoshop and Affinity Photo also provide detailed control over colour, contrast, and sharpness, making them perfect for the final touches on my astrophotography images.
Key Features
- Layer-based editing for advanced workflows in astronomy image processing
- Extensive tools for brightness, contrast, and colour adjustments
- Supports advanced post-processing techniques like star reduction and noise removal
Why Beginners Like It
Both Photoshop and Affinity Photo offer immense flexibility for beginners and advanced users alike. Affinity Photo is a budget-friendly alternative to Photoshop, offering similar features at a one-time purchase cost.
My preference is towards taking images of deep sky objects, but whether you're focusing on planetary or deep-sky astrophotography, the right software can make a huge difference in the quality of your final images.
If you're a beginner I would suggest starting with simpler programs and gradually beginning to explore more advanced options as you gain experience. Pixinsight has probably the largest learning curve, but no matter which type of astrophotography you choose to undertake, the key is to experiment with different software packages, practice consistently, and enjoy the process of bringing your amazing images of the night sky to life through your images.
Other software is available for planetary imaging and deep sky stacking and processing and include: StarTools, Winjupos which is de rotation software and mostly used for planets like Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, Sequator, AstroPixelProcessor
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