Planetary System Stacker
Open-source software for stacking astronomical images of planets, moon, and sun using lucky imaging techniques.
What is Planetary System Stacker?
PlanetarySystemStacker is an open-source software application that produces sharp images of planetary system objects—such as the moon, sun, and planets—from many seeing-affected frames using the "lucky imaging" technique. It automates frame ranking, alignment, and stacking to enhance image quality, delivering results comparable to established commercial tools. The software supports both video files and directories of still images as input.
Amateur astronomers, astrophotographers, and researchers who need to stack planetary, lunar, or solar images to overcome atmospheric distortion and improve clarity.
It provides a free, platform-independent alternative to commercial stacking software like AutoStakkert!3, with a modern GUI, efficient Python-based processing, and flexible command-line support for automation workflows.
Overview
Produce a sharp image of a planetary system object (moon, sun, planets) from many seeing-affected frames according to the "lucky imaging" technique.
Use Cases
Best For
- Stacking lunar images to reveal fine surface details
- Processing solar photographs to reduce atmospheric blur
- Creating sharp planetary images from video captures
- Automating lucky imaging workflows via command line
- Comparing results with AutoStakkert!3 for quality validation
- Handling large datasets with configurable memory buffering
Not Ideal For
- Astrophotographers focusing on deep-sky objects like galaxies or nebulae
- Users needing real-time or live stacking capabilities for observational use
- Teams requiring extensive third-party plugin ecosystems or software integrations
- Environments with strict memory limitations, as high buffering levels demand significant RAM
Pros & Cons
Pros
Uses OpenCV and numpy for fast processing, speeding up execution for large datasets through optimized array handling.
Features a user-friendly graphical interface that prioritizes usability, making it accessible to amateur astronomers and researchers.
Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS where Python 3 is available, offering flexibility across different operating systems.
Supports command-line usage from version 0.8.0, enabling integration into automated workflows for batch processing.
Allows adjusting buffering levels from 0 to 4 to balance RAM usage and processing efficiency, catering to various system capabilities.
Cons
The primary discussion forum is currently in German only, with an English branch in preparation, which may hinder non-German speakers seeking help.
While Windows has an installer, other platforms require manual Python and dependency setup via pip or source cloning, which can be challenging for less technical users.
Specifically designed for planetary system objects (moon, sun, planets), so it lacks features for other astrophotography types like deep-sky imaging.
Efficient execution relies on keeping image data in memory, and high buffering levels can require substantial RAM, potentially limiting use on systems with low memory.
Open Source Alternative To
Planetary System Stacker is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
SirilRegistering, stacking, and post-processing, specially tailored for noise reduction and improving the signal-to-noise ratio
PixInsightAdvanced image processing software platform. Very powerful but the user interface is intimidating
EiseBrowser-based planetary stacker with no installation required
BlurXTerminatorAn AI based deconvolution tool. Currently only available as a process module plug-in for PixInsight
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