Software 101

Software is one of the key pieces that allow our setups to work properly.  This software is very specialized and allows all of our equipment to talk to each other and work harmoniously throughout the night in order to find, track and image our target selection.  Remember, we are imaging items in the night sky that, in cases of deep sky imaging, we cannot see!  The good news is most of this software is actually FREE to download and use!

The first piece of software that we employ is a network hub called ASCOM.  ASCOM is a connection point for all of the software we will run, from imaging software all the way to guidance systems.  Every piece of software you employ is connected to ASCOM.

Next, we will have a telescope driver.  This driver is what connects your telescope mount to the computer if you have a computer driven mount such as the Celestron AVX or Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro.  This is especially important to have if you plan to deep sky image as this makes the work of finding what you cannot see and track it to a very high degree of accuracy possible and even easy!  The telescope driver you choose will depend on the mount you have, for example, the Celestron AVX mount will use CPWI whereas the Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro can use either EQMOD or Green Swamp Server.  What you choose will be dependent on what you have as well as what is compatible with your operating systems as well as comfort of use.  

One we have our mount driver, we will have a host program such as NINA (Night-Time Imaging N Astronomy).  NINA is especially easy to use and learn and this is the exact program that I teach due to how user friendly it is.  NINA will host everything you do with your telescope through the ASCOM network, and you will summon all of your other software, with the exception of your mount driver, through NINA.  NINA will call into action all of your equipment, including your mount itself and command every piece of hardware throughout the night, making sure you have your final image.  This is all controlled through your settings within NINA as well as how you have your imaging sequence set up. 

You will have camera drivers if applicable, which allow your computer as well as NINA and ASCOM to communicate with and operate the camera in order to capture your vision.

If you are using an electronic auto focuser, you will have drivers for that as well which will allow NINA to operate the focuser via ASCOM.

If your mount isn't the best tracker, you will employ a guidance system such as PHD2 which is also controlled by NINA using ASCOM.  Guidance systems are basically a camera attached to a miniature telescope.  That camera will lock onto a distant start within the field and monitor the drift or movement of your telescope.  As the star drifts, PHD2 will send small movement commands called guide pulses to your mount telling your mount it is drifting and to come back so your target stays aligned and on course.

What is probably the most important part of a picture?  How it is framed!  Proper framing can really catch someone's attention.  There is even software for this task if you are using an automatic field rotator.  An automatic field rotator works with the camera and NINA to assist with framing your target EXACTLY how you chose for it to be framed.  NINA will command the telescope to a specific area of the sky that you choose.  Your camera will take a picture of what it sees and report back to NINA.  NINA will analyze the picture and determine where in the sky the telescope is pointed and say either "ok, you're good" or "you think you are here, but you are actually over there.  I need you to move x amount of degrees in DEC and RA" and then repeat until the telescope is exactly where it is supposed to be.  The rotator is very similar except NINA will determine the rotational angle of the field and use the rotator to rotate the camera until the correct rotational orientation as chosen by you is achieved!

I have a full video series going over software as well, so please check that out to learn all about the software you will be employing.  As always, if you have any questions, please ask!  See the link below for my complete software series.