Image processing software (for deep sky)

Hi all,

I'm just starting out on the imaging front, and I'm very happy with
RegiStax for processing planetary and lunar images. However, I'm
really interested in imaging DSOs, and RegiStax doesn't seem to cut
it in that department. At the moment, I'm limited to 15-second
exposures which, if I understand correctly, need to be stacked
differently in order to combine such faint images into something
brighter.

I've downloaded evaluation versions of Images Plus and Registar, but
haven't had much luck with them. Images Plus tends to hang if I open
more than a few large images at once, and Registar doesn't seem to
want to register/align my rather noisy images. It gives me the
feeling I'm doing something fundamentally wrong, as I've heard many
good things about these products - if this is the case any pointers
would be appreciated!

I have a 2Ghz, 512Mb PC with both Windows XP and Linux on it, which
I figured should be adequate, even if it's not super fast when it
comes to this kind of application. I also have a dual processor
Linux box, so something that would run on that would be ideal. Maybe
some kind of plugin for the Gimp or something?

So, basically, I was wondering what the rest of you use and/or
recommend for aligning/stacking this sort of images. I already have
plenty of tools for processing the resulting combined image, so I
can do without those particular features.

Cheers,

Steve

So, basically, I was wondering what the rest of you use and/or
recommend for aligning/stacking this sort of images. I already have
plenty of tools for processing the resulting combined image, so I
can do without those particular features.


Hi:

I don't do a whole lot of deep sky work, being mainly a planetary imager. But
Registax has worked fine for me for the deep sky images I've taken of late. I
suggest you might give it another try.

If you want something else, take a look at Stellar Magic:
http://home.att.net/~laser_diagnostics/newfile.html, which is free and
effective.

Then there's Iris http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/us/iris/iris.htm which is
HIGHLY effective, but with a somewhat steep learning curve.

Finally, another excellent choice is K3CCD Tools: http://www.pk3.org/Astro/,
which is highly capable and easy to learn and use.



Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

Rod Mollise wrote:
So, basically, I was wondering what the rest of you use and/or
recommend for aligning/stacking this sort of images. I already
have plenty of tools for processing the resulting combined
image, so I can do without those particular features.

Hi:

I don't do a whole lot of deep sky work, being mainly a planetary
imager. But Registax has worked fine for me for the deep sky
images I've taken of late. I suggest you might give it another
try.

Hi Rod,

Whilst Registax works fine for the brighter objects, I'm after
something that will stack some rather faint, short exposures into
something resembling one longer exposure. Unless I'm missing an
option somewhere, Registax only has one stacking algorithm which
appears to be based on some sort of averaging function.

I checked out the other programs you linked to, and they look like
they'll do what I'm after. Given our weather at the moment, I should
at least have plenty of time to try them out!

Thanks,

Steve

"Rod Mollise" wrote

So, basically, I was wondering what the rest of you use and/or
recommend for aligning/stacking this sort of images.....

.........

Then there's Iris http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/us/iris/iris.htm which
is
HIGHLY effective, but with a somewhat steep learning curve.


Guys,

I've used IRIS for around 5 years and find it one of the best deep sky
CCD image processing programs. It has features that can't be found in other
programs. I've used CCDsoft and MaxIm, but I really like IRIS. One of the
reasons it's difficult to learn is that it is so powerful. And Besides, the
price is right!

I also use AIP4WIN, mostly for color combine processing. AIP4WIN came
with an excellent book on image processing. It is currently out-of-print,
but a 2nd edition is due out shortly. I did see a copy of the old
book/program on the shelf at High Point Scientific about two weeks ago. See:
http://www.willbell.com/aip/index.htm

Since you run Linux you might want to use the completely free program
IRAF. This is the program used by most professional astronomers and it has a
reputation for being difficult to learn and use. But, again, the price is
right! Link: http://iraf.noao.edu/

George Normandin