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Python tools for hobby-astrophotography

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astrotools

Python tools for astro-photography. Strongly tailored to my personal hardware setup.

M3

Requirements

  • Python 3.6+
  • numpy and Pillow for image processing
  • skimage, simple-pid and PySerial for tracking and motor control
  • matplotlib and influxdb for analytics
  • astrometry.net image calibration CLI tools (specifically solve-field)
  • astropy for FITS files

Dockerization is planned and will happen on a cloudy day.

the tools

HTI - Human Telescope Interface

HTI

This is a web application with a rich set of features for controlling a telescope and capturing image data. It is built with Flask and React and is best run on a desktop machine.

Notable features and integrations:

  • Images are captured via INDI
  • Mount is controlled via serial port (interfaces with Arduino to control stepper motors)
  • Current celestial coordinates are computed using the Astrometry CLI
  • An SQLite database is used to store a target catalog (e.g. NGC objects)
  • Guiding is done via a control loop featuring a PID controller for each axis

The HTI is ever-evolving, and may not be very useful to others as a whole just yet.

CLI tools

analyze.py

Performs image calibration and computation of metrics such as brightness and sharpness. Data is written to disk and InfluxDB.

stack.py

Stacks a series of images into a single image. Notable features:

  • Image alignment
  • Darkframe correction
  • Flatframe correction
  • Filter shaky frames
  • Auto-crop most exposed region
  • Gamma correction
  • RGB, Greyscale or R/G/B