Astrophotography happens at night, but the work begins long before the sky gets dark. From weather checks and moon phases to target planning and polar alignment, the success of an imaging session often depends on what you did in the hours – or even days – before you set up.
Thankfully, there are a few apps and pieces of software that make this easier. These are not just handy extras. For many astrophotographers, they are part of the routine – quiet companions that help remove guesswork and bring more clarity to every step of the process.
Whether you are using a DSLR on a star tracker or a dedicated astro camera on a mount, these tools can help you make better decisions and spend more time actually imaging.
Weather And Sky Conditions
Before anything else, you need to know if the night is worth setting up for. Clear skies are not guaranteed, and cloud forecasts can change quickly. A reliable forecast app helps you avoid wasted nights.
Clear Outside
A favourite in the astrophotography community. Offers detailed hour-by-hour forecasts, including cloud cover, seeing conditions, moon illumination and satellite passes. Easy to read at a glance.
Meteoblue
More technical, but offers high-resolution sky charts and astronomical seeing data. Ideal if you want to dig deeper into conditions.
Met Office
For a general forecast, especially wind and cloud cover, the UK’s own service is often the most local and accurate.
Planning Your Targets
Knowing what to image – and when – is just as important as knowing how. These apps help you choose deep sky objects, frame them correctly and decide when they will be high in the sky.
Stellarium
One of the most widely used astronomy planning tools. Available on desktop and mobile. Stellarium lets you preview the night sky from your location, see when objects rise and set, and even simulate your camera and telescope field of view.
SkySafari
A mobile-friendly alternative with a rich database of targets and telescope control features for supported mounts. Also includes observing lists and visibility alerts.
Telescopius
A free web-based planner that shows what’s visible tonight, helps you frame targets, and generates framing previews based on your camera and telescope combination. Ideal for deciding what to shoot before you go outside.
Polar Alignment And Star Tracking
If you are using a star tracker or equatorial mount, accurate alignment is key. These apps make that process quicker and more reliable.
Polar Scope Align Pro
Designed for star trackers like the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer. Shows you exactly where Polaris should appear in your polar scope reticle, based on your time and location.
SynScan App
For users of Sky-Watcher GoTo mounts, this app allows full wireless control, including assisted polar alignment routines, target selection and slewing.
ASIAir
If you are using ZWO hardware, the ASIAir app handles guiding, imaging, polar alignment and filter control – all from your phone or tablet. It turns a complex setup into a streamlined experience.
Focusing And Framing
Accurate focus and framing can be hard to judge at night. These tools help you get it right – before you start your exposure.
Bahtinov Mask Assistant (built into apps like SharpCap or NINA)
If you use a Bahtinov mask, software focus aids will show a numerical readout of focus quality, making it easier to dial in sharp stars.
Frame And Focus Tools (NINA, APT, SharpCap)
If you are using a dedicated astro camera, these applications offer live preview, histogram analysis and framing assistance so you can align your target precisely.
Stacking And Processing
Once the night’s imaging is complete, the right software helps you turn raw data into something beautiful.
DeepSkyStacker
Free stacking software for Windows. Aligns and integrates multiple frames, including light, dark, flat and bias. A must-have for beginners.
SiriL
A cross-platform tool that offers stacking, calibration and basic post-processing features. Lightweight and powerful.
Photoshop, Affinity Photo or GIMP
Used for final image processing – stretching contrast, adjusting colour balance and cleaning up your final image.
Final Thoughts: Make The Most Of Clear Skies
The best imaging sessions are not just about gear – they are about preparation. These apps help you make smart decisions, focus more quickly, align with confidence and choose the right targets at the right time. They free you up to enjoy the sky, rather than wrestle with it.
You do not need all of them at once. Start with one or two that match your current setup, and build from there. Over time, they will become part of your quiet routine – trusted tools that help you make sense of the night.
