The Best macOS Software for Astrophotography: Stacking, Sharpening and More

Are you an amateur astronomer who loves capturing the beauty of the night sky but are still searching for the perfect software to streamline your astrophotography workflow? The choice of software you use can significantly impact the quality of your images, and as a Mac enthusiast, you'll be pleased to know that macOS offers a range of excellent tools for astrophotography.

Understanding the Different Types of Astrophotography

To make an informed decision, it's crucial to understand the different types of astrophotography. These include:

Solar system short exposure: Capturing fast-moving objects like planets and moons in a shorter exposure time. Deep sky objects (DSOs) long guided exposures: Capturing nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters over extended periods. Narrow field of view lunar and planetary close-ups: High detail shots of lunar phases and planets. Detailed full disk or multi-moon planetary shots: capturing Jupiter, Saturn with their moons in extensive detail. Astro photos through a telescope: Capturing images through a telescope for detailed astrophotography. Wide field shots using camera lenses: Taking broad sweeping images of the night sky.

macOS: A Comprehensive Platform for Astrophotography

Thankfully, macOS has consistently proven to be a versatile and powerful platform for all types of astrophotography. Due to its advanced image processing capabilities and user-friendly interface, macOS offers seamless workflows for various imaging techniques.

While many legacy Windows-based software solutions are available for macOS through various emulation tools, macOS-native applications often provide a more intuitive and efficient experience, especially for advanced users. Here are some of the top macOS software options for astrophotography:

Key Software for Astrophotography on macOS

1. Nebulosity and Lynkeos

Both Nebulosity and Lynkeos are highly regarded for their robust features and ease of use. These applications are excellent starting points for astrophotography enthusiasts. Craig Stark, the developer of Nebulosity, also offers PHD Push Here Dummy for guided long exposures, which is particularly useful for deep-sky imaging.

2. PixInsight

PixInsight is arguably the most powerful platform for astro image processing. It supports macOS, Linux, and Windows, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Although it can be complex for beginners, PixInsight offers unparalleled image processing capabilities and is a must-have tool for serious astrophotographers.

3. Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop, a staple on macOS, is an essential finishing tool for astrophotography. Its extensive range of tools allows you to fine-tune your images, including 16-bit deep image support. Additionally, there are now less expensive alternatives available that cater to 16-bit deep image processing.

4. AutoStakkert!2

For stacking planetary videos, AutoStakkert!2 is a great choice, provided the image dimensions are small. This lightweight Windows program can run seamlessly on macOS using emulation tools like Wine or Crossover, making it a valuable addition to your astrophotography toolkit.

Niche Tools and Comprehensive Solutions

There are also niche tools and comprehensive solutions that can complement your astrophotography workflow. For instance, planetarium and planning tools like SkySafari and AstroPlanner can share data with iOS handhelds, allowing for seamless integration between devices. These tools can help you plan your observations and guide your imaging sessions effectively.

macOS-Specific Apps and Native Suite

The macOS native app suite is quite comprehensive, offering capable programs for a wide range of astrophotography needs. However, finding answers to specific questions can sometimes be more challenging. Most astrophotographers are still tied to legacy Windows applications, so it's often easier to find help there. Nevertheless, as macOS continues to develop a complete suite of apps for amateurs, this gap is likely to narrow.

Professional applications that are Linux or Unix native are also available and can be easily recompiled for macOS, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of imaging systems.

Personal Experience and Conclusion

I have personally been exploring improvements in images captured with ultra-portable small gear using powerful image processing techniques. My needs have been well met on macOS. Here's an example image of Comet Lovejoy captured with a small telescope and an inexpensive mirrorless camera, processed on a Mac:

This image was processed using a combination of native macOS tools and specific applications mentioned above. The workflow I use for different types of images includes calibration, stacking, and sharpening to achieve the best possible results.

In conclusion, macOS offers a wide range of powerful tools for astrophotography, from professional-grade software like Nebulosity and PixInsight to the user-friendly tools like Photoshop. With the right combination of software and techniques, you can capture stunning astrophotography from your Mac, setting the standard for imaging excellence.