---
# System prepended metadata

title: Astrophotography Manuals

---

## N.I.N.A
1. Install and Basic Setup
    Download .exe installation file from NINA website : https://nighttime-imaging.eu/download/
    NINA support Window and Linux platform only. 
2. Brief introduction
    NINA is a well functoinal astrophotography software that supports almost evrey kind of equipments we have. It is also a totally free and friendly to begginers. We can change settings of almost everything include UI. Not only color but also how we arrange each panel position! I think you'll find out that all user have their favorite UI arrangement that is different with others.
3. Some important setting you need to know
    1. Backgrounds color
        Go to "Options" ➡️ "General" ➡️ "Primary UI colour scheme"
        (Original setting is "Light")
        ⬇️ Where "Primary UI colour scheme" is and my favorite UI "High Contrast"
        ![anydesk00004](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rkGhp3arp.png)
        ⬇️ Original UI
        ![anydesk00005](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkcKAnaHp.png)
        You can compare two UI. "Light" will be disaster to your eyes if you open up your computer in a very dark environment.
    3. Image file path and pattern
        Go to "Options" ➡️ "Imaging" ➡️ "File setting"
        You will see "Image file path / pattern" here.
        ⬇️ Where "File setting" is
        ![anydesk00006](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BJcveTTHp.png)
        - Image file path
            The default Image file path should be "C:\Users\user\Documents\N.I.N.A"
        - Image file pattern
            Some rules for naming a file:
            - ﹩﹩ARGUMENT﹩﹩ : It means it will show what the "ARGUMENT" is on the file name
            - / : Every ﹩﹩ARGUMENT﹩﹩ that is seperated by "/" will create a folder with a name by the "ARGUMENT" in front of "/". If you got two "/" in the pattern, N.I.N.A. will create a folder again in that folder you assign.
            - _ or any word : File name will show what you type.
            - Example : (This is the pattern I use. It will automatically sort image by date and then type)
           ⬇️ Image file pattern :
           ![Screenshot 2023-12-06 at 18.05.02](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rJ5wv6TB6.png)
           ⬇️ Pattern preview :
              2015-12-31/LIGHT/2016-01-01_12-00-00_M33_ACME UltraCam 1000_L_-15_10.21s_0001
    5. Palat solving 解星
        Plate solvong is one of the best feature in N.I.N.A. It makes sync and goto more easier. The priciple is you need to take a picture of where the telescope point. How it should be depends on the star magnitude in the FOV and Aperture of telescope. After taking a picture, computer will detect stars and try to match pattern with star catalog. 
        
        Setting Platesolve software inside N.I.N.A
        Go to "Options" ➡️ "Plate Solving"
        Plate solving : We can set Plate solver and other imaging parameter for plate solving. I recommand to use bin2 and the brightest filter because these could make plate solving quicker and have success rate
        Plate solver settings : Before starting to use plate solver, we need to let NINA know where the program is. Just paste the file path .exe or API key.
        ⬇️ Where "Plate solving" is
        ![anydesk00013](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rJimqXrcT.png)
        1. ASTAP
            Download link : https://www.hnsky.org/astap
            In my experience, ASTAP is good for almost any equipment. But some of which have too small FOV or f value may got fail. 
            ※You should choose the database that correspond the FOV and mag of your equipment to download. Below is a graph about the usability of every datebases.
            ⬇️ Star databases usability :
            ![astap_database_range3](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rJAHDJCH6.png)
        2. nova.astrometry.net
            You just need to go through some steps to get the plate solving service on Astrometry.net
            "Make sure your computer connects to internet when you use Astrometry.net!!!"
            (1). Sign up an account
            (2). Find your API key in the My Profile section of the dashboard
            (3). Copy it and paste to the API key blank in NINA
        3. PlateSolve 2
            According to my experience, PlateSolve 2 is designed for small FOV. Its perfomace is really amazing compare to others in this scale of FOV. It may takes longer time on handling image with large FOV and even fails.
            Download link : https://planewave.com/software/
            You need to download 3 files
            (1). PlateSolve 2
            (2). APM Star Catalog Installer
            (3). UCAC3 Star Catalog
            ⬇️ What you'll see on PlaneWave Website
            ![Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 11.41.14](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HktWw-Rta.png)
            After decompressed and intall some of them, it's almost done. We just need to configure catalog directories. Open PlateSolve 2 software and go to File ➡️ configure catalog directories... You would see a window like below.
            ⬇️ Click here!
            ![Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 11.50.09](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ryQ19WAKp.png)
            ⬇️ Set catalog directories from here
            ![Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 11.50.17](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rkQOF-RYT.png)
            APM should be inside the Program Files (x86) of C drive. Notice that it's inside a directory named Starry Ridge, not APM. UCAC3 will locate at where you decompressed it to.
            
        Above is the three plate solver I have used. There isn't a big gap in accuracy. The biggest difference is about solving speed. Below is the ranking of speed under different FOV.
        1. ~13.2'*13.2'
            PlateSolve2 > ASTAP > Astronomy.Net
        2. ~3.5º*2.5º
            ASTAP >>> PlateSolve2

    4. Framing assistant
        ![anydesk0011](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BknwEoLHC.png)
        Framing assistant is a good tool for us on framing. We just need to type in width and height of camera, pixel size and focal length. NINA will simulate the FOV automatically. If we are observing at which is no internet, we can download "Offline Sky Map" beforehand. You can find it at the page you download NINA installing file. It was just a 2GB file, but it rises to 3.3GB right now (2024/6/12).
        Download link : https://nighttime-imaging.eu/download/
        
        After download the file, copy file to  C drive folder of NINA. Get the file path of it and paste to blank in Options ➡️ General ➡️ General ➡️ Sky Survey cache folder.
        ![anydesk00011](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BkqGqqIH0.png)
        Some tips in framing assistant 
        1. Searching some objects in "Coordinates" needs to use NGC catalog 
        2. You can set mosaic panel and Rotation in "Targets"
        3. NINA can determine rotation of camera for you by plate solving. You just need to click "Determine rotation from camera"
        4. Slew to target have 3 options
            (1). Slew and center : Autocenter after slew to the target
            (2). Slew : Slew only
            (3). Slew, center, and rotate : Autocenter include rotate to desire angle if you have a rotator.
        5. "Add target to sequence" can bring all center coordinate of framing you want to sequence
    5. Sky Atlas Image Repository 
        🚨 This repository has been taken down!! 🚨
        ![anydesk011](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/S1UuNoUrA.png)
        Sky Atlas is a tool that can filter the target for you. I usually don't use it because other apps like Sky Safari Pro are more convenient.
       
       Sky Atlas Image Repository is also a file you can download from website, but it just disappears!!! (2024/6/12)
    6. Meridian flip
        NINA could do Meridian flip automatically and we just need to set some parameter. The oringinal setting is good enough to most of us. Below, I will explain how to set parameters for users who use The Sky X (TSX) to control the equator.
        - The Sky X
            - Go to "Bisque TCS ➡️ Parameters" and change "Flip Hour Angle" to "0". This parameter control the distance between the real meridian(yellow line on the star chart) and the one that TSX recognized.
            ![BisqueTCS_parameters](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ry43LqnLR.png)
            - Go to "Bisque TCS ➡️ Utilities" and change "Mount Slew Limit" to "+-0.5hr". This parameter control the limit of mount will stop tracking.(red and blue regoin on the star chart)
            ![BisqueTCS_utilities](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BydRIq2UA.png)
            ⬇️ Star chart we see in TSX
            ![TSX_starchart](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/B1uWP5nLR.png)
        - NINA
        Change setting with picture below 
        ![NINA_mf_setting.png](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/rJQB8qnIR.png)
4. Useful Plugins 
    1. Hocus Focus
        ![Hocus_focus](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BJbXwsLSC.png)
        Hocus Focus is the best plugin that I have used in NINA. It really did a great job on star detection. It has higher sensivite than detector of NINA. In a color or LRGB mono images may not see big difference, but it really reduce exposing time of focus frame with a narrowband filter. In the past, it takes me 15 sec to take a frame with Ha 7nm filter, but it only need around 6 for Hocus Focus and it even detects more stars.
        
        You could install it from "Plugins". Installing may need to restart NINA.
        After installing, we need to change Star Detector, Star Annotator and Autofocus option in Options ➡️ Image options. Change all of three from "NINA" to "Hocus Focus"
        ![anydesk00013_e](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ByWbwjUrC.png)
    2. Three Point Polar Alignment (TPPA)
        TPPA is a well-known method to do polar alignment. This plugin could communicate between every equipment to get data of three points.
        
        The way to install TPPA is similar to other plugin. Just click "install" on the upper-left corner and restart NINA may be required.
        ![TPPa](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SJb4FF2LR.png)
        Steps that TPPA needed under auto mode is very simple. All you need to do is hit the "▶️ Play" bottom and wait TPPA to do all three point. Make sure your equipment won't be entangled by any cable because TPPA usually excuted right after we assemble the equipment that are not tested. Once TPPA done the job is your turn, use adjustment screws on the equator to minimize "Azimuth and Altitude Error". Make sure TPPA has take a new photo and recalculate the error before you excute next adjustment. I usually try to minimize the error to arcsec level. This would be a little diffcult to begginers, but try to get familiar with the step size and you will do this much quicker next time! 😎
        
        ※Tips : 
         - You could put the polaris into FOV of your polar scope before using TPPA.
         - Some equator would move both Ra and Dec axis while slewing. No matter they recieved a Ra only signal or not. After my experinment, I would recommand using mannual mode to move beteen each point. This may highly improve your polar alignment accuracy.
         - After the initial measure with large error, you should run the process again because it couldn't calculate precisely after such large movement.
## Phd2
Phd2 is a free open source software for guiding. You can create profile for your differnet rig and connect them like how you do in NINA.
Download link : https://openphdguiding.org
1. Meridian Calibration (Recommand for observatory usage!)
    Before Phd2 start guiding, it usually needs to do calibration first. For observatory, we could do this just one time and use the calibrated profile for a long time.
    You could find the "Meridian Calibration" tab inside "Tools"

    1. Read the instruction carefully and go next step
    2. Point the telescope toward meridian on one of the pier side. Phd would like ot use the star that is close to celestial equator. Make sure both *Dec.* and *Time angle* box is green. It means current orientation of telescope meets the requirement of Phd2.
    3. Once Phd2 done the calibration like it usually do, change the side of pier and then calibrate again.
    4. After calibration for each side, you can enjoy the calibration data everytime without wasting time on calibration!

    ※Tips : Saving a screenshot of your calibration data to prevent Phd2 forget it. Sometimes it won't use the existing data and start doing a new calibration. All you need to do is stop guiding and go to "Tools ➡️ Modify Calabration data ➡️ Restoring Calabration data" to restore it.
2. Dark library
    Thanks to dark library, Phd2 can do preprocessing each frame before detect star and guide.
    
    You can create a dark library at "Darks ➡️ Darks library...". Follow the the instruction and Phd2 would take 10 frame for each exposure time in the range you set.

    ***🚨 Put the lens cover up before start taking darks!! 🚨***
3. SNR and FWHM curve
    In the setting beside the guiding figure, you could turn on SNR and FWHM curve. With this Feature, we could know the change of these two index frame by frame.
## The Sky X 
The Sky X, short for TSX, is a software develop by Software Bisque. It's a charged software and would be include in package when you buy Paramount Mount series.
1. TPoint 
    T point is a feature that perform accurate telescope pointing in TSX. It could highly improve pointing accuracy of the telescope. Take a telescope with a FOV about 10'*10' for example, the telescope could point to where I want at the first slewing. This really help me a lot on occultation observation. I don't need to concern about the pointing because it must be inside the view. Let's build up the pointing model together!
    1. Make sure you have set the Reduction to "None" to avoid any mis-calibration. Then Take a photo anywhere in the sky and save it.
    ![Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 15.26.28](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkZtrCbdgg.png)
    2. After exposure, it'll pop up a window with photo. Right click on the image and click "To image link". 
    ![Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 15.21.24](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HyDmUCW_eg.png)
    3. Cauculating the image scale(fov per single pixel) with any software beforehand. Fill in and try solving. If it can't be solved, try "All Sky" for substitution and read the correct image scale. After examination of Image Link, we can setup the automaic calibration know.
    ![Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 15.29.24](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HJpvDRWdxl.png)
    5. Go to "Telescope ➡️ TPoint Add On"
    6. Click "New" in the list of TPoint Add On Setting.
![Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 22.51.46](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ByU13SBwyx.png)
    3. Go to "Calibration Run" tab and click "Automated Calibration"
    ![Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 22.58.14](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkzV6HrDyg.png)
    4. In the Automated Calibration window, we have three tab. First, set up the willing parameter to take picture for platesolving. Set "Image Scale" carefully because image link would use it to do platesolving.
    5. In Create Pointing Targets tab, we could set up how many point we would like to add on pointing model and also the distribution of those point. We could adjust the limiting border by dragging and also add points at anywhere by clicking. For a permanently observatory, I recommand around 100 points. It depends how precise you want and how many time you have .
    ![Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 23.02.30](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/BkhNRrrvJg.png)
    6. After decide how many point we want, it's time to run it automattically. Click "Run" and make sure everything works well.
    ![Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 23.02.41](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HkalJLHDyx.png)
    7. All of the previous steps is just collecting the pointing data we need. After that, we need to calculate the Super Model. Go to Model tab in TPoint Add On window and click "Super Model". It'll calculate itself, then we just need to click "Apply". We'll start using the pointing model!!
    ![Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 23.11.50](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ryrax8BPkx.png)
    8. For Paramount series mount, we could get polar alignment adjustment advice in the Polar Alienment tab. It tells us how many tics we need to rotate for both Azimuth and Elevation.


    ※Cautions : For those who had language other than English in timestamp (ex: 八月 07 2025), we shouldn't autosave the image under a date-based subfolder. Just create a new folder for TPoint and assign the path. This could be set in the Autosave page of camera tab in TSX.
    ![Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 15.03.58](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HyRDx0WOle.png)

    Tutorial video of TPoint by Software Bisque team : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cy9pKSLwXk&list=PL-irAKNzAzo4PVf00lF26Jzoi2UDobkI2
    
    
2. Connect to Nina
    

## Driver
ASCOM
Temma by takahashi
    Phd2校正
Hubo-i
iOptron
ASCOM Telescope Driver for TheSky.
Canon
    一定要全關

## AnyDesk
無人值守

## Chrome Remote Desktop
