--- title: 'Astronomy Links' url: 'https://casazza.net/Home/astronomy/astronomy-links' markdown: 'https://casazza.net/Home/astronomy/astronomy-links.md' date: '2026-10-26' description: '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 teles…' taxonomy: category: - astronomy tag: - links - resources - catalogs - legacy --- # 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](https://pifinder.org):** Open-source, hands-free plate-solving device designed for Dobsonian and visual telescopes. - **[N.I.N.A. (Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy)](https://nighttime-imaging.eu):** 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)](https://cleardarksky.com/):** The gold standard for astronomical weather and seeing forecasts across North America. - **[Tonight's Sky](https://tonightssky.com/):** Custom visual observability and target planning tool built to calculate aperture thresholds under real sky conditions. - **[SpaceWeatherLive](https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/):** Real-time solar activity, coronal mass ejections, and aurora forecasts. - **[NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/):** Primary source for space weather metrics and geomagnetic storm alerts. - **[Heavens-Above](https://www.heavens-above.com/):** Detailed satellite tracking, ISS pass predictions, and bright event charts. - **[Seiichi Yoshida's Weekly Comets](http://www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html):** Up-to-date visual magnitudes and ephemerides for active comets. - **[Fourmilab Your Sky](https://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/):** 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](https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/):** High-resolution satellite overlays for locating dark sky sites and monitoring light encroachment. - **[David Lorenz Dark Sky Maps](https://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2006/overlay/dark.html):** Classic VIIRS and legacy light pollution overlays mapped directly onto Google Maps. - **[SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space)](http://www.seds.org/):** Foundational deep-sky databases including detailed Messier and NGC target profiles. - **[Sky-Map.org (Wikisky)](http://sky-map.org/):** Interactive, zoomable sky map overlaying survey imagery across deep-sky catalogs. - **[Cartes du Ciel (Skychart)](https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start):** Outstanding open-source planetarium software for scope control and charting. - **[SkyTools](https://skyhound.com/skytools.html):** Comprehensive visual and photographic target planning and logbook software. --- ## Astrophotography, Capture & Post-Processing Core utilities for image acquisition, guiding, alignment, and image reduction: - **[AstroBin](https://www.astrobin.com/):** The primary image hosting and technical database for astrophotographers worldwide. - **[N.I.N.A. (Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy)](https://nighttime-imaging.eu/):** Advanced, open-source astrophotography suite for full equipment orchestration. - **[PHD2 Guiding](https://openphdguiding.org/):** Open-source autoguiding software essential for long-exposure imaging. - **[DeepSkyStacker](https://deepskystacker.free.fr/):** Pre-processing and stacking software for deep-sky calibration frames. - **[RegiStax](http://www.astronomie.be/registax/):** Wavelet alignment and stacking tool optimized for planetary, lunar, and solar detail. - **[PIPP (Planetary Image Pre-Processor)](https://sites.google.com/site/astropipp/):** Utility designed for cropping and pre-filtering planetary and solar video frames. - **[BackyardEOS](https://www.otelescope.com/store/category/2-backyardeos/):** Dedicated camera control software for Canon DSLR astrophotography. - **[ExCalibrator](http://bf-astro.com/excalibrator/excalibrator.htm):** Photometric color calibration tool using star flux data from astronomical surveys. - **[Scott Rosen's LLRGB Primers](http://www.astronomersdoitinthedark.com/):** 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)](https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/):** Real-time solar imagery and coronagraph feeds observing the sun 24/7. - **[NASA Spitzer Space Telescope](https://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/):** Mission archive and infrared survey imagery. - **[Chandra X-Ray Observatory](https://chandra.harvard.edu/):** High-energy astrophysical research and X-ray target galleries. - **[NASA+](https://plus.nasa.gov/):** 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)](http://ghaas.org/):** My original home astronomy club in Pennsylvania where my adult journey began. - **[Gary Honis Memorial Archive](https://garyhonislegacy.com/):** Hosted legacy site preserving Gary Honis's DSLR modification guides, cooling tutorials, and equipment guides. - **[Astromart](https://astromart.com/):** premier classified marketplace for buying and selling tested, pre-owned astronomical gear. - **[Cloudy Nights](https://www.cloudynights.com/):** The largest global discussion forum, equipment review site, and classified marketplace for amateur astronomers. - **[Surplus Shed](https://www.surplusshed.com/):** Outstanding source for inexpensive surplus optics, lenses, eyepieces, and mechanical hardware. - **[Galaxy Zoo (Zooniverse)](https://www.galaxyzoo.org/):** Citizen science platform helping professional astrophysicists classify galaxy morphologies. --- ## Navigation - Parent: [Astronomy](https://casazza.net/Home/astronomy.md) - Previous: [Solar Eclipses: 2017 & 2024](https://casazza.net/Home/astronomy/solar-eclipses.md)