Astroart

Astroart is a software program for the processing and analysis of astronomical images. Its development began in 1999. The software is designed to work with images obtained by telescopes and astronomical cameras. Astroart includes tools for the calibration, alignment, and combination of night sky photographs. It supports a variety of file formats used in astrophotography. The application integrates functions for telescope and camera control. It offers algorithms for noise reduction and detail enhancement in images. Users can perform photometry and astrometry with precision. The interface is organized into modules for different tasks.

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• Image Calibration. The calibration process uses bias, dark, and flat frames. These frames are applied to light images to remove sensor noise and illumination variations. The result is a clean, scientific image ready for further analysis. Hot pixel correction is performed automatically during this stage.
• Automatic Star Alignment. The function detects stars in each frame and calculates translation and rotation parameters for precise registration. It uses a pattern-matching algorithm that works even with faint star fields. Alignment is essential for stacking multiple exposures to increase the signal-to-noise ratio.
• Image Stacking. Combines multiple aligned images into a single master image. Stacking methods include median, average, and sum. This process increases the signal of astronomical objects and reduces random noise. The function allows discarding low-quality frames before stacking.
• Planetary Image Processing. Specific tools for registering and stacking videos of planets. The algorithm selects the sharpest frames based on the quality of the seeing. It includes deconvolution functions to enhance fine details of the planetary surface.
• Convolution Filters. Applies convolution operations to enhance or suppress features in the image. Available filters are Gaussian blur, high-pass filter, and Laplace filter. Each filter modifies the spatial frequency of the image to highlight details such as nebulae or galaxies.
• Flat Field Correction. Removes vignetting and illumination inhomogeneities from the optical system. The function uses a previously obtained flat field image. The correction is mathematically precise and essential for scientific photometry.
• Variable Star Photometry. Measures the brightness of stars with high precision using photometric aperture methods. The tool compares the magnitude of the variable star with reference stars. It generates light curves and exports data in standard formats for analysis.
• Automatic Astrometry. Determines the exact celestial coordinates of objects in the image. The function compares star positions with astrometric catalogs like UCAC or Gaia. It calculates the plate solution with high precision, allowing the identification of asteroids and comets.
• Telescope Control. Integrates the ASCOM protocol for controlling the telescope mount. It allows centering objects, tracking, and creating mosaics of large sky areas. The connection is stable and supports most commercial mounts.
• Camera Control. Supports direct control of CCD and CMOS astronomical cameras. The function allows adjusting exposure time, sensor temperature, and file format. It manages automatic exposure sequences for capturing data throughout the night.
• Scripting and Automation. Includes a scripting language based on Visual Basic. Users can write macros to automate repetitive processing tasks. This allows creating customized workflows without manual intervention.
• Star Profile Analysis. Displays the intensity profile of a star in graph form. The tool measures the FWHM (Full Width at Half Maximum) to evaluate the quality of the seeing. This measurement is critical for determining image sharpness.
• Drawing and Annotation Tools. Provides functions to add scales, text, and geometric figures to images. Annotations are useful for presenting results and documentation. The elements are customizable in size, color, and style.

The development history of Astroart began in 1999 by the Italian programmer Fabio Cavicchio. The first commercial version was released at the end of that year. The software has been continuously updated for over two decades. Astroart is written primarily in the Assembler and Delphi programming languages. The use of Assembler allows for high optimization in image processing operations. Development is carried out by the company MSB Software.

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