Curated Astronomy Resources

A hand-picked collection of high-value astronomical databases, software documentation, observing tools, and legacy community sites.

Open-Source Hardware & Software

• PiFinder Project: Open-source, hands-free plate-solving device designed for Dobsonian and visual telescopes.
• N.I.N.A. (Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy): Open-source equipment control and sequence suite for astrophotography.

Weather, Ephemeris & Sky Conditions

Tools for tracking atmospheric transparency, seeing conditions, and real-time solar or satellite activity:

• Clear Dark Sky (Clear Sky Clocks): The gold standard for astronomical weather and seeing forecasts across North America.
• Tonight's Sky: Custom visual observability and target planning tool built to calculate aperture thresholds under real sky conditions.
• SpaceWeatherLive: Real-time solar activity, coronal mass ejections, and aurora forecasts.
• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center: Primary source for space weather metrics and geomagnetic storm alerts.
• Heavens-Above: Detailed satellite tracking, ISS pass predictions, and bright event charts.
• Seiichi Yoshida's Weekly Comets: Up-to-date visual magnitudes and ephemerides for active comets.
• Fourmilab Your Sky: Interactive sky map generator tailored to any location on Earth.

Dark Sky Mapping & Target Planning

Reference maps, planetarium software, and target selection databases:

• Light Pollution Map: High-resolution satellite overlays for locating dark sky sites and monitoring light encroachment.
• David Lorenz Dark Sky Maps: Classic VIIRS and legacy light pollution overlays mapped directly onto Google Maps.
• SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space): Foundational deep-sky databases including detailed Messier and NGC target profiles.
• Sky-Map.org (Wikisky): Interactive, zoomable sky map overlaying survey imagery across deep-sky catalogs.
• Cartes du Ciel (Skychart): Outstanding open-source planetarium software for scope control and charting.
• SkyTools: Comprehensive visual and photographic target planning and logbook software.

Astrophotography, Capture & Post-Processing

Core utilities for image acquisition, guiding, alignment, and image reduction:

• AstroBin: The primary image hosting and technical database for astrophotographers worldwide.
• N.I.N.A. (Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy): Advanced, open-source astrophotography suite for full equipment orchestration.
• PHD2 Guiding: Open-source autoguiding software essential for long-exposure imaging.
• DeepSkyStacker: Pre-processing and stacking software for deep-sky calibration frames.
• RegiStax: Wavelet alignment and stacking tool optimized for planetary, lunar, and solar detail.
• PIPP (Planetary Image Pre-Processor): Utility designed for cropping and pre-filtering planetary and solar video frames.
• BackyardEOS: Dedicated camera control software for Canon DSLR astrophotography.
• ExCalibrator: Photometric color calibration tool using star flux data from astronomical surveys.
• Scott Rosen's LLRGB Primers: Excellent processing tutorials covering DSLR workflow and advanced color synthesis.

Space Science & Solar Observatories

Direct access to space-based observatories and solar monitoring hardware:

• SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory): Real-time solar imagery and coronagraph feeds observing the sun 24/7.
• NASA Spitzer Space Telescope: Mission archive and infrared survey imagery.
• Chandra X-Ray Observatory: High-energy astrophysical research and X-ray target galleries.
• NASA+: Official NASA live streaming, mission coverage, and media archive.

Community, Clubs & Equipment

Clubs, marketplaces, DIY optics, and citizen science initiatives:

• GHAAS (Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society): My original home astronomy club in Pennsylvania where my adult journey began.
• Gary Honis Memorial Archive: Hosted legacy site preserving Gary Honis's DSLR modification guides, cooling tutorials, and equipment guides.
• Astromart: premier classified marketplace for buying and selling tested, pre-owned astronomical gear.
• Cloudy Nights: The largest global discussion forum, equipment review site, and classified marketplace for amateur astronomers.
• Surplus Shed: Outstanding source for inexpensive surplus optics, lenses, eyepieces, and mechanical hardware.
• Galaxy Zoo (Zooniverse): Citizen science platform helping professional astrophysicists classify galaxy morphologies.