https://github.com/benjuan26/openskystacker
Multi-platform stacker for deep-sky astrophotography.
https://github.com/benjuan26/openskystacker
astrophotography photography science scientific-computing
Last synced: 3 months ago
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Multi-platform stacker for deep-sky astrophotography.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/benjuan26/openskystacker
- Owner: BenJuan26
- License: mit
- Created: 2017-03-20T03:45:57.000Z (over 8 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2021-03-01T01:56:17.000Z (over 4 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-05T19:34:14.579Z (6 months ago)
- Topics: astrophotography, photography, science, scientific-computing
- Language: C++
- Homepage:
- Size: 124 MB
- Stars: 102
- Watchers: 13
- Forks: 14
- Open Issues: 7
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# OpenSkyStacker
Multi-platform stacker for deep-sky astrophotography.
[](https://travis-ci.org/BenJuan26/OpenSkyStacker) [](https://codedocs.xyz/BenJuan26/OpenSkyStacker/) [](https://coveralls.io/github/BenJuan26/OpenSkyStacker)
OpenSkyStacker assists in the processing of deep-sky images. *Stacking* in this context means taking the average of several exposures of the same object to reduce the noise and boost the signal-to-noise ratio. This is especially helpful in the field of astrophotography because many objects of interest are so dim that, without processing, they might be indistinguishable from noise.
## Download
[Download here](https://github.com/BenJuan26/OpenSkyStacker/releases) for Windows and Mac. Linux users can [compile from source](https://github.com/BenJuan26/OpenSkyStacker/wiki/Build-from-source).
## Getting started
To start stacking, load your images using the buttons to the top-right. For an explanation of light frames, dark frames, etc., I would recommend [DeepSkyStacker's page on the matter](http://deepskystacker.free.fr/english/theory.htm).
When you load light frames, the first one is set as the reference image by default and displayed in bold. You can choose a different reference image by selecting it from the list, right-clicking, and selecting `Set As Reference` from the menu. Images can be checked or unchecked to include or exclude them from stacking.
To stack the checked images, click the `Align and Stack` button. You'll be prompted where to save the resulting image, which is always a 32-bit TIFF file, and the stacking process will begin.
### Troubleshooting
If you're met with an error or if the resulting image looks skewed or undesirable, try changing the star detection threshold using the `Options` button. You can see how many stars are detected at the current threshold by clicking the `Detect Stars` button. You should aim for about 60-80 detected stars for the best results.
**Note**: OpenSkyStacker uses stars for alignment, so it is unsuitable for planetary, lunar, or solar stacking.
## Command Line
The command line program is `openskystacker-cl`.
```
Usage: openskystacker-cl [options]
Multi-platform deep-sky stacker for astrophotography.
Options:
-v, --version Displays version information.
-h, --help Displays this help.
-f Image list JSON file.
-s Detect and print the number of stars in the reference image
with the given threshold, then exit. Ignores all other options
except -f and -t.
-o Output image file.
-t Star detection threshold (1-100). Default: 20
-j Number of processing threads. Default: 1
```
On Mac, the command-line binary is located inside the application package at `OpenSkyStacker.app/Contents/bin/openskystacker-cl`. To make it more portable to run, you might want to put a symbolic link into a system directory. Example:
```bash
ln -s OpenSkyStacker.app/Contents/bin/openskystacker-cl /usr/local/bin/openskystacker-cl
```
It can then be run anywhere with `openskystacker-cl`.
## Build from source
See the [wiki page](https://github.com/BenJuan26/OpenSkyStacker/wiki/Build-from-source) for instructions to build OpenSkyStacker from the source code.