DeepSkyStacker

5.1.5 Astrophotography stacking app for Windows

Daniel Gardner

Software for astrophotography that aligns and stacks multiple images to reduce noise and enhance image quality.

Free and open source astrophotography processing software download, reviewed by Daniel Gardner
Process pictures taken by astro-photographers to determine the dark, flat - Screenshot of DeepSkyStacker
Clear-cut interface - Screenshot of DeepSkyStacker
Customize advanced options for deep sky images - Screenshot of DeepSkyStacker
User interface - Screenshot of DeepSkyStacker
DeepSkyStacker screenshot
DeepSkyStacker screenshot
DeepSkyStacker screenshot
DeepSkyStacker screenshot
DeepSkyStacker screenshot
DeepSkyStacker screenshot
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Process and stack photos of the night sky and astrophotography.

DeepSkyStacker is a high-powered software tool created to satisfy the demands of astro-photographers who want to process deep sky images with ease.

It has a user-friendly interface that takes on a large window structure, providing easy access to images in different file formats, including JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, and RAW images.

Advanced features for pictures of the night sky

This software tool is more than just another run-of-the-mill picture editor, as it offers a host of advanced features to get the best out of your deep sky pictures. It allows users to select a reference frame from the images, which can be converted to light, dark, dark flat, flat, or offset/bias frame without breaking a sweat.

Images can be registered by computing the offsets and stacked later. Furthermore, star masks can be created, and the star detection threshold can be adjusted to reduce noise by applying a median filter.

Astrophotography stacking and image optimization

Advanced users will love the myriad of options that DeepSkyStacker offers, allowing users to customize the levels for the red, green, and blue channels, luminance (darkness, midtone, highlight), and saturation.

Plug in your raw pictures to develop them

The software can also process RAW images with ease, providing users with a range of options, including auto or camera white balance and selecting the Bayer matrix transformation mode from bilinear interpolation, AHD interpolation, Bayer Drizzle algorithm, and creating super pixels from the raw Bayer matrix.

The result

This powerful tool is quite stable and has an impressive response time, with low CPU and RAM usage. In conclusion, DeepSkyStacker is a software application that satisfies the needs of astro-photographers and offers advanced features to ensure deep sky images are processed to the highest standard.

Features of DeepSkyStacker

  • Advanced settings: Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation.
  • Alignment: Automatically align images for sharp detail.
  • Automated image calibration: Reduce noise, enhance details.
  • Automatic cropping: Crop images without manual effort.
  • Batch processing: Automate tasks, save time.
  • Digital masking: Selectively combine images.
  • Flexible workflow: Import, process, export images.
  • Image analysis: Measure stars, nebulae, galaxies.
  • Image correction: Remove vignetting, correct distortion.
  • Image format support: RAW, FITS, TIFF, JPEG.
  • Image preview: View before/after stacking.
  • Image processing: Apply filters, HDR, tone-mapping.
  • Multi-core support: Speed up image processing.
  • Stacking: Combine multiple shots into one.
  • Star detection: Detect stars in dark frames.

Compatibility and License

DeepSkyStacker has been released under a BSD license on the Windows operating system from graphics software. This means you can download, install, run and share this program freely without any restrictions. Unlike GPL software, the source code isn't necessarily available.

What version of Windows can DeepSkyStacker run on?

DeepSkyStacker can be used on a computer running Windows 11 or Windows 10. Previous versions of the OS shouldn't be a problem with Windows 8 and Windows 7 having been tested. It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit downloads.


Filed under:
  1. DeepSkyStacker Download
  2. Free Graphics Software
  3. Open source and GPL software
  4. Portable Software
  5. Astrophotography Processing Software
DeepSkyStacker has been picked by our editors as very good.
DeepSkyStacker has been tested for viruses and malware.
We have tested DeepSkyStacker 5.1.5 against malware with several different programs. We certify that this program is clean of viruses, malware and trojans.