For the last five years I have used my MallinCams to not only enhance the live views of Deep Sky Objects, but to create images of them. I have employed a variety of techniques including VHS tape, Hi-8 tape, DVD recorders and USB/PC Card Devices to save the observing sessions and then an array of software packages to (1) convert the videos to a compatible format for frame extraction, (2) eliminate duplicate frames from the videos, (3) grab, align and stack the image frames, and (4) post-process the composite into the final image. Creating a picture of an observed DSO was laborious and was always done after the observing session was over. Deepsky Imaging greatly simplifies the process. It is a stand alone program that allows me to grab frames, and align, stack and tweak them into a final image – all while I continue to observe.

March 2009 - Jack Huerkamp