Astrophotography Tools

Astrophotography Tools & PixInsight Scripts

Download practical astrophotography software for safer capture nights, faster frame review, and cleaner deep-sky imaging workflows.

Explore AstroFileSync for automated file backup, Astro Frame Selector for scientific subframe analysis, and AstroProcessAtlas for PixInsight history reports, stage comparisons and workflow replay.

PixInsight Scripts

AstroProcessAtlas script icon

PixInsight processing history

AstroProcessAtlas

Free, open source · MIT license

Trace your astrophotography processing from original channels to the final image. AstroProcessAtlas turns the available history of your open PixInsight images into an interactive HTML report with process parameters, image connections, masks and comparisons between any two stages. Save your own image connections and export supported processing steps as a script to replay in PixInsight on a new image.

Source code & documentationDownload latest release

Explore Your Processing Workflow

  • Interactive workspace history tree with original inputs and connection provenance
  • Collapse branches, follow ancestors and focus on related images
  • Readable process parameters with expandable details
  • Compare any two stages using synchronized selectors or drag and drop
  • In-image before / after slider, shared zoom and enlarged comparisons
  • Save manual connections locally and export or import them as JSON
  • Recorded mask information and previews of available masks
  • Processing summary, search and synchronized image / tool filters
  • Export selected supported steps as a PixInsight replay script on a new image
  • Choose PixelMath inputs, palette channels and historical masks for replay
  • Color-coded replay readiness, manual choices and unsupported steps
  • Supported HistogramTransformation and CurvesTransformation PixelMath equivalents
  • Portable HTML reports with embedded thumbnails
  • English and Greek report interface
  • MIT open source license and PixInsight repository updates

Install In PixInsight

  1. Copy the repository URL and add it in Resources → Updates → Manage Repositories.
  2. In Preferences → Security, allow unsigned update repositories and execution of unsigned scripts.
  3. Check for updates, confirm the unsigned repository, install and restart PixInsight. Run Utilities → AstroProcessAtlas.

Current repository packages target PixInsight 1.9.3–1.9.4. Updates use the normal PixInsight update mechanism.

Inside an AstroProcessAtlas Report

Screenshots from an example workflow. Open any screenshot to view it at full size.

Image and process tree in an AstroProcessAtlas example report
Image and process tree

Follow processing steps, image references and masks, with unrelated branches dimmed.

Process parameters and previews in an AstroProcessAtlas example report
Process parameters and previews

Inspect parameters alongside an in-image before / after comparison.

Enlarged before / after comparison in an AstroProcessAtlas example report
Enlarged before / after comparison

Inspect changes with synchronized zoom and pan.

Stage selection and manual connections in an AstroProcessAtlas example report
Stage selection and manual connections

Choose stages to compare, add connections and export or import them as JSON.

Export workflow for replay in an AstroProcessAtlas example report
Export workflow for replay

Review step readiness and required inputs before downloading the replay script.

Masks and readable curves in an AstroProcessAtlas example report
Masks and readable curves

Review available masks, connection provenance and plotted curves.

Copyable PixelMath expressions in an AstroProcessAtlas example report
Copyable PixelMath expressions

Copy supported transformation expressions for individual color channels.

AstroProcessAtlas Questions

What is AstroProcessAtlas?

AstroProcessAtlas is a free, open source PixInsight script that turns available processing histories into an interactive HTML report with an image dependency graph, process parameters, masks, comparisons between stages and workflow replay export.

How do I install AstroProcessAtlas in PixInsight?

Add https://www.yoruhikari.gr/pixinsight/astro-process-atlas/ in Resources → Updates → Manage Repositories, check for updates, install and restart PixInsight. Allow unsigned update repositories and execution of unsigned scripts in Preferences → Security. The current package targets PixInsight 1.9.3–1.9.4.

Can I repeat my processing in PixInsight?

Export selected supported steps as a replay script that works on a new image. Replay supports processes such as PixelMath, Invert, MultiscaleLinearTransform and recorded palette combinations. Choose prepared inputs and masks when prompted. Some scripts require manual settings; results depend on the supplied image and mask versions, tool versions and recorded parameters.

Can I save my own image connections?

Yes. Save manual connections locally in the report, or export them as JSON and import them again. These connections help document your workflow without changing the PixInsight image histories.

Can it recover every processing step and historical image?

Recovery depends on the histories and pixels available in PixInsight. Closed images, historical mask pixels and unrecorded script inputs may be unavailable. Possible connections are explicitly marked as unconfirmed.

Windows Applications

AstroFileSync application icon

ASTRO FILE SYNC

Built for long imaging sessions and unattended backup workflows.

AstroFileSync works especially well alongside NINA, but it can be used with any capture application that writes images to a monitored folder.

The synchronization engine runs as a Windows Service, allowing it to continue working quietly in the background even when the dashboard is hidden.

Download AstroFileSync

Copies Files Only When Ready

AstroFileSync checks that a file has stopped changing and is fully available before starting a transfer. This helps prevent incomplete or corrupted backups without interrupting the imaging session.

Designed For Capture Nights

The app is lightweight enough for imaging computers running NINA, PHD2, guiding software, device-control tools, and other astronomy utilities at the same time.

Verified Backups

Optional SHA-256 verification can confirm copied files after transfer, adding confidence when backing up valuable subframes during a long session.

Drive Reconnection Recovery

If a destination drive or network location becomes unavailable, AstroFileSync can recover when the destination comes back online.

Astro Frame Selector application icon

Deep-sky frame quality analysis

Astro Frame Selector

Free Windows x64 application

Astro Frame Selector is a free Windows application designed to simplify one of the most repetitive parts of deep-sky astrophotography: deciding which light frames are actually worth stacking.

It analyzes an entire imaging session automatically, measures multiple aspects of image quality, compares frames within the right session and filter context, and helps separate them into Keep, Review, and Reject categories.

In plain terms: Astro Frame Selector is an astrophotography frame selection tool for Windows, built to reduce manual subframe inspection without blindly sacrificing good data.

Download Astro Frame Selector

Scientific Decision Engine

The app evaluates focus, FWHM, PSF quality, star shape, tracking, motion, noise, gradients, transparency, clouds, and calibration anomalies instead of relying on a single score.

Keep / Review / Reject Workflow

High-confidence frames can move quickly into Keep or Reject, while uncertain or borderline exposures remain available for human judgement.

Autonomous Session Selection

Version 7 introduces safe automation signals that show how much of a dataset can be handled automatically and how much still deserves attention.

Offline Personal AI

A controlled learning system can adapt recommendations to your decisions while keeping astrophotography frames local with no cloud upload required.