Raspberry support for FireCapture v2.6 and ZWO cameras !
| Compatibility |  FC v2.7.15 (x64) |
 FC v2.7.15 (x64) |
 FC v2.7.15 (x64) |
FC v2.7.15 (aarch64) |
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 Altair |
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 ASCOM |
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 Basler |
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 FLIR/FlyCap |
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| FLIR/Spinnaker |
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 LUCID |
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 NexImage |
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 OGMA |
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 PlayerOne |
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 QHY |
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 Skyris |
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 SVBony |
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TIS |
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 Touptek/Omegon |
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 ZWO ASI |
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Older Versions
Developing software is mostly fun, but it also takes up nearly all of my spare time. If you find FireCapture useful and would like to support me in continuing development you're welcome to donate a small amount of your choice.
Starting with version v2.5 FireCapture comes with a built-in plugin interface giving access to image data and the possibility for extending functionality. You're invited to create and share your own plugins with the community. Let me know and I'll add them to the list of available plugins. Please check the tutorial below on how to create plugins.
Terms of service: I'm not responsible in any way for the plugin content and of any of the linked sites. The plugins themselves are copyrighted by their respective authors.
| Plugin | Author | Description | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blur Capture Limiter | Alex Jarosch | Calculates a frame blur measure based on the Laplacian operator and its variance. Allows setting a threshold above which frames are recorded. |  |
| DynamicPopfilter | Anthony Wesley | The DynamicPopfilter plugin divides the image into a grid of tiles measuring 9x9 pixels in size, and the brightest pixel in each tile is then replaced by the average of its 8 neighbors. The starting point (ie top left corner) for the grid is varied randomly from one frame to the next to be sure that this process doesn't introduce any detectable pattern. It's recommended that this plugin is used for mono cameras, or colour cameras operating in RAW mode. It doesn't support RGB colour images. | |
| EdgeDetection | Stephen Wong | A simple edge detection plugin using Sobel operator. The plugin will visualize and display the edges of the objects, which helps on achieving precise focus on targets such as moon craters and planets. |
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| FlareDetect | Joachim Stehle | FlareDetect provides the possibility of automated image recording sessions based on the current X-ray flux. It uses flux data of the GOES satellite provided by the Space Weather Prediction Center. | |
| Flash Detection Software (FDS) | NOA/ESA | The Flash Detection Software (FDS) is a tool for detecting impact flashes on the Moon developed by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) for ESA courtesy of Alceste Bonanos, Stefanos Achlatis, Georgia Christofidi and Ivi Chatzi. The software was developed and tested for lunar impact flash observations, however, its use on planets (e.g. Jupiter, Mars) is encouraged. | |
| ImageInfo | Carsten Bauer | Provides isoline image, cross section intensity plot and evaluation data helpful for focusing. Detects planet in the image and prints values like diameter, isoline distance, upward slope etc. |
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| MoonPanoramaMaker | Rolf Hempel | Python application for the automatic exposure of moon panoramas. MoonPanoramaMaker covers the current Moon phase with an optimal grid of single views and automatically steers the telescope mount and camera during their exposure. | |
| PEAAnuts | Cpt.B. | Live stacking and sharpening plugin. Performs live stacking and sharpening together with a stream preview and analysis tool which is helpful for focusing and other tasks for quantifying data quality | |
| Solar Seeing Monitor | Joachim Stehle | DIY Solar Scintillation Seeing Monitor which measures solar seeing for capture control. | |
| Solar Monitor | Paul De Backer | Solar Monitor - A plugin that monitors the output from a Solar Scintillation Seeing Device and can trigger capture depending on seeing results. | |
Create profiles for your capture targets and store all camera settings
Define your own set of filters
Various interfaces to connect your scope
Wide range of motorized filterwheels supported
Fully customizable horizontal and vertical toolbar
Fully customizable UI, different L&F and night mode colors
Keep the planet on the sensor during capture
Show ephemerides and calculate effective focal-length
History of all capture details
Automated image capture
Take automated timelapse series
Log file including all camera and capture parameters
It was back in 2008 when I got hold of a SONY newsletter announcing a new CCD sensor (ICX618) which promised fantastic sensitivity. Still working with an old webcam those days I instantly had the idea of replacing the webcam sensor with the new SONY sensor. It took weeks and dozens of emails to get the confidential spec of the new sensor. When I saw the sensitivity values it was clear: I had to have this sensor! The Basler Scout scA640 was the first machine vision camera on the market using this sensor and when I bought it the nightmare began: the included software was useless for planetary imaging and running the camera with the VRecord webcam tool was a complete PITA. Bugged by the inability to store even the basic camera settings I decided developing my own capture software.
What started as a solely private project soon turned into higher gear when fellow astronomers saw the software and insisted on getting it. I decided to make it public, included new camera interfaces and after years of continuous development FireCapture has evolved to one of the leading planetary capture tools. Developing the thing is only one part of the story: with a supportive community of users behind me I always had the feeling of someone 'looking over my shoulder' during the countless hours of programming. I can't mention all but just want to say:
Thank you guys !
