Hey Tony. I’m really happy to see my suggestion of including the Save buttons made it as part of the new script. You’re doing a fantastic job and getting recognized more and more by the astro script titans. Keep up the good work. Another suggestion. Maybe have Starnet2 included as another option for those who don’t use StarX. Looking forward to your feedback.
Thank you! I was thinking about placing a fallback into the script and will definitely get this implemented :) Also, you had an amazing idea there and this is actually exactly what I am going to implement into the Astro Match Analysis script. Thank you for all of your support :)
As a potential enhancement, allow users to adjust how much BXT will sharpen the stellar and non-stellar data. From the video it appears that it runs at the default values (0.5 for sharpening stars and non-stellar). Also, I'm curious why you feel it necessary to enter the PSF manually instead of letting BXT calculate it automatically. Only time I would ever consider entering a value manually is if I had a starless image and I already knew the PSF for the stars and wanted to sharpen the non-stellar data. In those rare cases, entering a value manually might make sense. Otherwise, BXT uses the calculated FWHM of the image for its stellar and non-stellar sharpening. Even if you do enter a value manually and the image has stars in it, BXT always uses its own internal local PSF calculations to correct the stars. It then uses your manually entered PSF to sharpen the non-stellar data.
That is a great recommendation and will get it added to the next update :) I learned to use BlurXterminator with this method and it stayed with me since. You are correct in that it will use its own FWHM calculation for stellar and then the input for none stellar, unless automatic is checked in which it will use the internal calculation for both. I like the see what the process is using though which is why I implemented this into the script. I just like to have visuals. I hope this helps explain :)
surprised i missed the main video when it came out, looks great tony! today marks one month straight of no clear nights for me (in the second sunniest city in canada, no less!), but once i get some clear nights again this winter i’ll be sure to give your console a spin! how hard would it be to get it to integrate starnet++ instead of starxterminator?
Hi. First time I came across your scripts. They are very useful indeed, thanks for the time you devoted to this for the community! Can I ask what are the specs of the computer you use? Cheers!
Thank you and you are very welcome! Absolutely! I use an Alienware m16 for processing. It has a 13th Gen Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU and a 1TB SSD. The SSD gets full very quickly with the large files lol so I use a Western Digital Easystore 18TB external USB drive. For imaging I have a basic HP laptop to run to my acquisition software and use a 2TB SSD external USB drive to temporarily store and transfer files.
Good script Tony! Can I ask you do you calculate at FWHM and plug that into BXT rather than let BXT calculate it? For an unstretched image, I don’t use the unscreen stars in STX as I am sure I saw somewhere that unscreen should only be used for an image that has been stretched. Have you found any problems with this? Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Yes, I’ve learned BlurXterminator with calculating FWHM and plugging into the script. The value is only used by BlurX for none stellar, however, I like to have visuals of what is being used for the calculations. You have read correctly about unscreen for stretched data. What I have found, through my experience, is that if you are inserting the stars back in while linear you want to use stars image only. I usually pull the stars right before stretching so the data is stretched when I put the stars back in which is why I use unscreen and have not had any issues. On a side note, the next update will give the option for stars only or unscreen so it’ll make the script more versatile :)
Great job Tony. Question for you. Why does a high FWHM number make the frame bad to use? Is it because the stars are bloated? If so, Wouldn't the data of the DSO still be good to use?
Thank you and amazing question! High FWHM isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s lots of things that can cause a higher number such as seeing and focus to name a couple. Where you want to be a little careful is if you have a handful of frames higher than the average, or sticks out from the rest. I would select those, save them in a separate folder for further investigation. You can absolutely have a high FWHM and the DSO still be good as long as it isn’t focus. This would indicate seeing conditions caused the high FWHM. I hope this helps :)
Looks cool. Is it optimized for the latest versions of BXT and SXT? I get an error that the tensorflow pb files cannot be found for both. My install currently only has mlmodel files. *** Error: ERROR: could not find AI file: /Applications/PixInsight/library/BlurXTerminator.4.pb. *** Error: ERROR: could not find AI file: /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb
One thing I would check, as the script is to be platform independent: Hop into your file explorer and check to ensure the AI models are in the expected locations (as stated by the error code. During the installation of BlurXterminator and StarXterminator, if the files got saved somewhere else, PixInsight won’t know where to look as it is only checking one spot and give you this error. Also, if the files are in the correct location, please ensure the file case is correct. MAC and Linux are case sensitive. Correct: "BlurXTerminator.4.pb" matches the file exactly. Incorrect: "blurxterminator.4.pb" won't work on macOS/Linux if the file is named with wrong case. Same goes for StarXterminator
@@Hidden.Light.Photography Yes, MACOS. So where you have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb. I have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlmodel and /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlpackage I recently upgraded laptop and any old versions would have been deleted which is why I wondered if it was up to the latest.
@@Hidden.Light.Photography yes MACOS. so where you have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb I have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlmodel. no .pb version. I recently upgraded my laptop so I thought if .pb was from an older version of SXT and BXT I would not have them now, but it could by mlmodel is a version for latest Mac OS.
I actually just updated the operating system file definitions. You should see an update come across PixInsight next time you load it, or you can go to resources > Updates > Check for Updates and the update should pop up. I specifically defined for each OS : MAC, Linux and Windows and then modified the functions for BlurXterminator and StarXterminator to be able to use this information to pull the AI and run it. Please let me know if this works :) #ifeq __PI_PLATFORM__ MACOSX #define BLURXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "BlurXTerminator.4.mlpackage" #define STARXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlpackage" #endif #ifeq __PI_PLATFORM__ MSWINDOWS #define BLURXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "BlurXTerminator.4.pb" #define STARXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb" #endif #ifeq __PI_PLATFORM__ LINUX #define BLURXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "BlurXTerminator.4.pb" #define STARXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb" #endif
Hi, For some reason I have not been able to get the repository to show as a script on the latest version of Pixinsight (1.8 9-3) It works fine on an older version that I have on another laptop (1.8 9-2). Seems like it could be a problem with the newer PI version? Whats odd is that the HLP repository is listed as an installed update but its not showing under scripts?? I think I downloaded it before updating to the latest version of PI
I apologize about the issue you’re having. If I’m understanding correctly, the repository was downloaded and working, but then disappeared when updating the latest version of PixInsight?
@@Hidden.Light.Photography Yes i think that is what has happened but it is definitely showing as an installed update which is presumably why its not updating
Here’s what I would try as the repository is working on the newest version of PI. Go to Resources > Updates > Reset Updates I’m going off of memory here so please forgive me if I’m off a little bit. I believe there is a window that pops up about resetting updates. If it does, click ok or accept the update reset. When reset updates is done or if no window opens, close out of PI. PI will then run its update procedure and you may get a window that asks if you want to allow the application to make changes to your device. Click yes PI should restart and if it doesn’t, just open it back up. Once PI is loaded, you should get the window in the top left that says updates are available. Click that window and then run the updates as you normally would. Once that process is done, close out of PI and click yes in the window again. Once PI restarts, everything should be there at that point. Let me know how this turns out please.
Just to make sure, and I’m asking because I had the description worded poorly, are you using the following repository link? raw.githubusercontent.com/HiddenLightPhotography/HLPAstroScripts/main
Would you mind emailing a screenshot of what you’re seeing along with the error that happened on first try if you remember it please? I just tried to uninstall and reinstall it on my PixInsight and it went through ok. I double checked the repository and everything looks ok. The error or seeing what is going on should help solve Tony@hiddenlight-photography.com
I understand the concern and apologize for the current functionality when it comes to the operation of this script. In an effort to help reduce the learning of PixInsight, I chose BlurXterminator as it is a very popular, and the easiest deconvolution, method for stars available requiring very little input from the user. The next update will, however, include functionality with StarNet++ as a backup in a scenario where the user does not have StarXterminator installed. I do hope that you find the other content useful and if there’s something you don’t see that would like to see, let me know and I will do what I can to either create the content or point you in the right direction :) Clear skies!
Another thing I can think of, did you already have my repository installed? If so, all you need to do is resources > updates > check for updates as all of my scripts are contained in the same repository.
Hey Tony. I’m really happy to see my suggestion of including the Save buttons made it as part of the new script. You’re doing a fantastic job and getting recognized more and more by the astro script titans. Keep up the good work.
Another suggestion. Maybe have Starnet2 included as another option for those who don’t use StarX. Looking forward to your feedback.
Thank you! I was thinking about placing a fallback into the script and will definitely get this implemented :) Also, you had an amazing idea there and this is actually exactly what I am going to implement into the Astro Match Analysis script. Thank you for all of your support :)
Excellent 👌 encore…merci à toi…!!.cool.
Thank you, I’m happy you are enjoying the scripts :)
Great; I was finally able to install. thank you Tony for your work.
Great news and you are very welcome :)
Really nice, Tony. Excellent job. Thanks a million. FWIW, I had no issues downloading and installing the script.
Thank you!! I’m happy the repository worked for you and I hope you enjoy the scripts :)
As a potential enhancement, allow users to adjust how much BXT will sharpen the stellar and non-stellar data. From the video it appears that it runs at the default values (0.5 for sharpening stars and non-stellar). Also, I'm curious why you feel it necessary to enter the PSF manually instead of letting BXT calculate it automatically. Only time I would ever consider entering a value manually is if I had a starless image and I already knew the PSF for the stars and wanted to sharpen the non-stellar data. In those rare cases, entering a value manually might make sense. Otherwise, BXT uses the calculated FWHM of the image for its stellar and non-stellar sharpening. Even if you do enter a value manually and the image has stars in it, BXT always uses its own internal local PSF calculations to correct the stars. It then uses your manually entered PSF to sharpen the non-stellar data.
That is a great recommendation and will get it added to the next update :) I learned to use BlurXterminator with this method and it stayed with me since. You are correct in that it will use its own FWHM calculation for stellar and then the input for none stellar, unless automatic is checked in which it will use the internal calculation for both. I like the see what the process is using though which is why I implemented this into the script. I just like to have visuals. I hope this helps explain :)
surprised i missed the main video when it came out, looks great tony! today marks one month straight of no clear nights for me (in the second sunniest city in canada, no less!), but once i get some clear nights again this winter i’ll be sure to give your console a spin! how hard would it be to get it to integrate starnet++ instead of starxterminator?
Thank you! I’m sorry to hear about the clouds :( I actually have Starnet++ integration in the works on the next update :)
Hi. First time I came across your scripts. They are very useful indeed, thanks for the time you devoted to this for the community! Can I ask what are the specs of the computer you use? Cheers!
Thank you and you are very welcome! Absolutely! I use an Alienware m16 for processing. It has a 13th Gen Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU and a 1TB SSD. The SSD gets full very quickly with the large files lol so I use a Western Digital Easystore 18TB external USB drive.
For imaging I have a basic HP laptop to run to my acquisition software and use a 2TB SSD external USB drive to temporarily store and transfer files.
Good script Tony! Can I ask you do you calculate at FWHM and plug that into BXT rather than let BXT calculate it? For an unstretched image, I don’t use the unscreen stars in STX as I am sure I saw somewhere that unscreen should only be used for an image that has been stretched. Have you found any problems with this? Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Yes, I’ve learned BlurXterminator with calculating FWHM and plugging into the script. The value is only used by BlurX for none stellar, however, I like to have visuals of what is being used for the calculations. You have read correctly about unscreen for stretched data. What I have found, through my experience, is that if you are inserting the stars back in while linear you want to use stars image only. I usually pull the stars right before stretching so the data is stretched when I put the stars back in which is why I use unscreen and have not had any issues. On a side note, the next update will give the option for stars only or unscreen so it’ll make the script more versatile :)
Great job Tony. Question for you. Why does a high FWHM number make the frame bad to use? Is it because the stars are bloated? If so, Wouldn't the data of the DSO still be good to use?
Thank you and amazing question! High FWHM isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s lots of things that can cause a higher number such as seeing and focus to name a couple. Where you want to be a little careful is if you have a handful of frames higher than the average, or sticks out from the rest. I would select those, save them in a separate folder for further investigation. You can absolutely have a high FWHM and the DSO still be good as long as it isn’t focus. This would indicate seeing conditions caused the high FWHM. I hope this helps :)
@@Hidden.Light.Photography It explains a lot. Thanks Tony.
You are very welcome :)
Looks cool. Is it optimized for the latest versions of BXT and SXT? I get an error that the tensorflow pb files cannot be found for both. My install currently only has mlmodel files. *** Error: ERROR: could not find AI file: /Applications/PixInsight/library/BlurXTerminator.4.pb. *** Error: ERROR: could not find AI file: /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb
It should be optimized for latest versions. What operating system are you running?
One thing I would check, as the script is to be platform independent:
Hop into your file explorer and check to ensure the AI models are in the expected locations (as stated by the error code. During the installation of BlurXterminator and StarXterminator, if the files got saved somewhere else, PixInsight won’t know where to look as it is only checking one spot and give you this error.
Also, if the files are in the correct location, please ensure the file case is correct. MAC and Linux are case sensitive.
Correct: "BlurXTerminator.4.pb" matches the file exactly.
Incorrect: "blurxterminator.4.pb" won't work on macOS/Linux if the file is named with wrong case.
Same goes for StarXterminator
@@Hidden.Light.Photography Yes, MACOS. So where you have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb. I have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlmodel and /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlpackage I recently upgraded laptop and any old versions would have been deleted which is why I wondered if it was up to the latest.
@@Hidden.Light.Photography yes MACOS. so where you have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb I have /Applications/PixInsight/library/StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlmodel. no .pb version. I recently upgraded my laptop so I thought if .pb was from an older version of SXT and BXT I would not have them now, but it could by mlmodel is a version for latest Mac OS.
I actually just updated the operating system file definitions. You should see an update come across PixInsight next time you load it, or you can go to resources > Updates > Check for Updates and the update should pop up. I specifically defined for each OS : MAC, Linux and Windows and then modified the functions for BlurXterminator and StarXterminator to be able to use this information to pull the AI and run it. Please let me know if this works :)
#ifeq __PI_PLATFORM__ MACOSX
#define BLURXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "BlurXTerminator.4.mlpackage"
#define STARXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.mlpackage"
#endif
#ifeq __PI_PLATFORM__ MSWINDOWS
#define BLURXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "BlurXTerminator.4.pb"
#define STARXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb"
#endif
#ifeq __PI_PLATFORM__ LINUX
#define BLURXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "BlurXTerminator.4.pb"
#define STARXTERMINATOR_AI_FILE "StarXTerminator.lite.nonoise.11.pb"
#endif
Hi, For some reason I have not been able to get the repository to show as a script on the latest version of Pixinsight (1.8 9-3) It works fine on an older version that I have on another laptop (1.8 9-2). Seems like it could be a problem with the newer PI version? Whats odd is that the HLP repository is listed as an installed update but its not showing under scripts?? I think I downloaded it before updating to the latest version of PI
I apologize about the issue you’re having. If I’m understanding correctly, the repository was downloaded and working, but then disappeared when updating the latest version of PixInsight?
@@Hidden.Light.Photography Yes i think that is what has happened but it is definitely showing as an installed update which is presumably why its not updating
Here’s what I would try as the repository is working on the newest version of PI. Go to
Resources > Updates > Reset Updates
I’m going off of memory here so please forgive me if I’m off a little bit. I believe there is a window that pops up about resetting updates. If it does, click ok or accept the update reset.
When reset updates is done or if no window opens, close out of PI. PI will then run its update procedure and you may get a window that asks if you want to allow the application to make changes to your device. Click yes
PI should restart and if it doesn’t, just open it back up. Once PI is loaded, you should get the window in the top left that says updates are available. Click that window and then run the updates as you normally would. Once that process is done, close out of PI and click yes in the window again. Once PI restarts, everything should be there at that point.
Let me know how this turns out please.
@@Hidden.Light.Photography That worked! Thank you so much! I was reluctant to try it before but I trust your advice so went ahead.
Awesome job! Yes, it can be scary to reset updates and I used to hesitate with it as well. Thank you for trusting me, that means a lot :)
I added the repository but it failed. …???
same
What is the error message you’re getting?
Just to make sure, and I’m asking because I had the description worded poorly, are you using the following repository link?
raw.githubusercontent.com/HiddenLightPhotography/HLPAstroScripts/main
Retired a few time updates
Now no errors but no downloads.
Did not install.
Correct repository ✔️
Unsure why
Would you mind emailing a screenshot of what you’re seeing along with the error that happened on first try if you remember it please? I just tried to uninstall and reinstall it on my PixInsight and it went through ok. I double checked the repository and everything looks ok. The error or seeing what is going on should help solve
Tony@hiddenlight-photography.com
Error message: Network error. Code 400
Thank you for sending the error. This is usually due to not recognizing the URL. How did you copy and paste the repository into PixInsight?
only $300 and you too can process stars!
I understand the concern and apologize for the current functionality when it comes to the operation of this script. In an effort to help reduce the learning of PixInsight, I chose BlurXterminator as it is a very popular, and the easiest deconvolution, method for stars available requiring very little input from the user. The next update will, however, include functionality with StarNet++ as a backup in a scenario where the user does not have StarXterminator installed. I do hope that you find the other content useful and if there’s something you don’t see that would like to see, let me know and I will do what I can to either create the content or point you in the right direction :) Clear skies!
Yes it fails, I tried it.
What is the error message that’s coming up?
Another thing I can think of, did you already have my repository installed? If so, all you need to do is resources > updates > check for updates as all of my scripts are contained in the same repository.