Quick Start

Everything you need to know to get started with ALS.
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Introduction

By the end of this chapter, you will have:

  • Configured the only required settings for a quick start with ALS’s default settings.
  • Started your first stacking session and obtained your first results.

In the shoes of the character…

Throughout this journey, you will embody a new ALS user:

  • Username: Your username is astrogeek

  • System used: You use ALS on a Linux system

  • Organization of subs: Your acquisition system saves the subs in the astroshots folder of your home directory, organized by target with subs in Light subfolders.

    Example: Session on Messier 27, the subs are saved in the astroshots/M_27/Light folder.

File manager window displaying the Light subfolder within the directory astroshots/M_27/Light, showing eight FITS files

Placement of raw images

Initial Configuration

On the first start, ALS welcomes you and asks you to define two essential settings:

  • Scan folder: The folder where ALS monitors the arrival of new subs.
  • Work folder: The folder where ALS saves the produced images.
Welcome dialog box for ALS with text indicating it's the user's first use and instructions to set paths for the Scan and Work folders. An OK button is at the bottom right.

Welcome message

🖱️ Click OK to access the preferences.

Configure Critical Folders

The critical folders for ALS operation are:

  • The Scan folder: ALS monitors the arrival of new subs in this folder.
  • The Work folder: ALS saves the produced images in this folder.

Scan folder

Configure ALS to monitor the astroshots folder:

Screenshot of ALS preferences showing the General tab. A red arrow highlights the Scan folder button.

Button to set the scan folder

🖱️ Click Scan folder.... A folder selector appears…

File selection dialog box titled 'Select scan folder' with the astroshots folder highlighted under the user astrogeek directory. The Choose button is highlighted, indicating the user is about to confirm the selection.

The scan folder selector

  1. 🖱️ Select the astroshots folder.
  2. 🖱️ Click Choose.

Work Folder

Create a subfolder for ALS named als_output in your home directory:

Screenshot of ALS preferences showing the Output tab. The Work folder field is highlighted.

The file output settings

  1. Switch to the Output tab
  2. 🖱️ Click Work folder.... A folder selector appears…
File selection dialog box titled 'Select work folder' displaying the contents of the directory /home/astrogeek, showing various folders and a log file. A red arrow points to the 'Create New Folder' button, indicating the option to create a new folder.

Button to create a new folder

🖱️ Click Create new folder.

File selection dialog box titled 'Select work folder' displaying the contents of the directory /home/astrogeek. A newly created folder named 'New Folder' is highlighted in blue, ready to be renamed. The bottom part of the dialog box has fields for Directory and Files of type, with buttons labeled Choose and Cancel.

New folder ready to be renamed

A new folder appears, ready to be renamed.

File selection dialog box titled 'Select work folder' displaying the contents of the directory /home/astrogeek, including several folders and a log file. The newly created folder named als_output is highlighted, and the Choose button is highlighted, indicating the user is about to confirm the selection.

New folder renamed and confirmed

  1. ⌨️ Name it als_output.
  2. 🖱️ Click Choose.

🖱️ Switch back to the General tab.

Usage Statistics

It is very useful for us to know which versions of ALS are being used and on which platform.

Screenshot of ALS preferences showing the General tab. The Data section with Usage statistics is highlighted.

Checkbox indicating the choice to send usage statistics

We would be very grateful if you allow ALS to send us usage statistics, but we also understand that you may be reluctant to enable such a feature.

Please note that:

  • ALS will only send the following information at each startup:
    • ALS version.
    • Processor type.
    • Operating system type.
  • We do not seek to identify or geolocate the source of this information.
Click here to see how you can verify these claims yourself

ALS and our tracking tools are opensource software, their source code is publicly available.

🖱️ Once you have made your choice, click OK to confirm the preferences.

Your Very First Session

ALS main window showing a software interface for stacking astronomical images in real-time. The interface includes sections for main controls (start, pause, stop), stack settings (align, threshold), image server (start, stop), image saver (save current, save every frame), workers (queue size, status), processing (histogram, auto stretch, levels, RGB balance), and session log.

ALS ready to start its very first session

Starting the Session

ALS main controls section with the Session subsection, showing the START, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. The START button is highlighted with a red arrow pointing to it. Below, indicators for Stack size (0) and Stack exposure (n/a) are displayed. The status reads 'stopped'.

The session start button

🖱️ Click START in the session section at the top left

ALS confirms the successful session start:

ALS main controls section with the Session subsection, showing the START, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. Below these buttons, indicators for Stack size (0) and Stack exposure (n/a) are displayed. The status reads 'running' with a red arrow pointing to it.

The session control buttons and session status are updated

Session log showing informational messages with timestamps. The entries include 'Starting new session,' 'Input scanner started,' and 'Session running in mode mean with alignment True.' Buttons labeled Acknowledge, issues only, follow. Statusbar item reads : session running

The session log displays the latest events and the status bar is updated

🎛️ Now start the acquisitions with your usual system. ALS detects and processes each new sub.

As an example, we will illustrate the following sections with a session on Messier 27: ZWO ASI224MC camera, 200 x 4 sec. subs

ALS main window after processing the first sub, displaying an initial, slightly noisy image of Messier 27 nebula with scattered stars. The session log shows successful processing messages. The processing panel on the right provides histogram and level adjustments, RGB balance, and auto stretch settings.

ALS after processing the 1st sub

All new subs are first aligned to this reference and then stacked by averaging with all previously processed subs.

ALS main window after processing the 15th sub, displaying a less noisy and more detailed image of Messier 27 nebula with scattered stars. The session log shows successful processing messages. The processing panel on the right provides histogram and level adjustments, RGB balance, and auto stretch settings.

ALS after processing the 15th image. Contrast and noise improve

After each alignment and stacking of a new sub, ALS automatically adjusts the brightness and color balance before displaying the result in the central area.

As you stack more subs, you will see the result gain in contrast and detail. The grainy appearance of the sky background will gradually fade away.

Explore

Let ALS work on the subs that keep coming in and lose yourself a bit in the central area:

  • 🖱️ Zoom in and out using your mouse wheel
  • 🖱️ Navigate the image by dragging it, like with any other viewing software
  • 🖱️ Reset the zoom by right-clicking in the image

The image in the central area is instantly updated after each sub is processed, with no impact on navigation.

The Astro Live Stacker (ALS) main window after processing the 200th sub, displaying a smooth, detailed, and high-contrast image of the Messier 27 nebula with numerous stars. The session log at the bottom shows successful processing messages and the image saver panel on the left indicates that the images have been saved successfully. The right panel includes processing options such as histogram adjustments, auto stretch, levels, and RGB balance.

ALS after processing the 200th image. A beautiful, detailed, and smoothed image

This quick start guide does not cover the other features and settings of ALS. However, ALS has been designed to be very intuitive. Feel free to explore and experiment with the various controls located on the right side of the screen in the Processing section.

Stopping the Session

Our express guided tour is coming to an end, stop the current session.

Main controls section in ALS software interface, specifically the Session area showing START, PAUSE, and STOP buttons. The STOP button is highlighted with a red arrow pointing to it. Below the buttons are Stack size (200) and Stack exposure (0:13:20). The status shows 'running'.

The session stop button

🖱️ Click STOP in the session section at the top left. A confirmation window appears…

Dialog box titled 'Session stop,' asking for confirmation to stop the current session with a message: 'Stopping the current session will reset the stack and all image enhancements. Are you sure you want to stop the current session?' Below the message are a checkbox labeled 'Save result before stop' and two buttons labeled 'No' and 'Yes.' The 'No' button is highlighted in red, and the 'Yes' button is highlighted in green.

Session stop confirmation window

🖱️ Click Yes

You will find the final result of this session in the file named stack_image.jpg saved in the work folder

Conclusion

ALS is now properly configured and ready to process your subs with its defaults settings.

You have just completed your first stacking session and obtained your first result.

Next step: diving in our user guide

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