Testing AstroDMx Capture for Windows using a Canon 4000D DSLR and a Skywatcher Explorer 130 PDS 130mm, f/5 Newtonian.
The implementation of manufacturer-supported DSLRs for tethering is for the capture of images. It allows the DSLR to be connected to the computer via USB and to be controlled by the computer via AstroDMx Capture, in the same way that any astronomical camera would be. All that is required for the Windows version is to change the driver. This is a simple process and the software required to do this will be available for download on the website at the same time that the Windows version is released. If for any reason the original driver is required, it is a simple matter to restore it. Full details will be given at the download site. This process is not needed for the Linux or macOS versions of AstroDMx Capture, as they do not use the driver model that Windows does.
The Skywatcher Explorer 130 PDS 130mm, f/5 Newtonian was mounted on a Celestron AVX mount and the Canon 4000D DSLR was attached via a 2” adapter.
40 x 40s exposures of The Andromeda galaxy were captured at ISO 6400 with matching dark frames using AstroDMx Capture for Windows, which treats the DSLR like any other Astronomy camera, with the camera controls under the control of the software. The Canon 4000D camera has a 14 bit ADC and the captured images were saved as both 16 bit TIFFs and also Camera RAW, which were stored in a folder of their own.
Screenshot of AstroDMx Capture for Windows capturing 16 bit Tiff files of the Andromeda galaxy.
The images were stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and post-processed in the Gimp 2.10, Affinity Photo, Fitswork and FastStone Image viewer.
Final image of M31, the Andromeda galaxy
70 x 30s exposures of M71, the Angelfish globular cluster, with matching dark frames were captured at ISO 6400 using AstroDMx Capture for Windows.
Screenshot of AstroDMx Capture for Windows capturing data on M71 with a Canon 4000D DSLR
The best 90 % of the images were stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and post-processed in the Gimp 2.10 and Affinity Photo.
The Angelfish cluster, M71
The direct implementation of manufacturer-supported Nikon and Canon DSLRs in AstroDMx Capture is an important feature that allows the use of supported cameras by astronomers to capture deep-sky images. These tests are some of the last pre-release tests of AstroDMx Capture for Windows.
AstroDMx Capture for Windows, macOS or Linux (Including Raspberry Pi) can be downloaded freely here:
https://www.astrodmx-capture.org.uk
