And the
winner is...
2008: PHD Guiding - Reader’s Choice Gear of the Year for 2008 on Cloudy Nights
2007: The results are in from the 2007 AstroPhoto Insight survey run by SkyInsight and in the category of Guiding Software, there was a stand-out winner - PHD Guiding. Out of over 700 votes, PHD Guiding came in #1, beating the second most popular piece of software, the de facto standard Maxim DL, by over 50%. In fact, it did better than ACP, Astro IIDC, Equinox, Guide Dog, GuideMaster, K3CCDTools, Maxim Essentials, Maxim DSLR, and Meade Envisage... combined! I knew many people used PHD Guiding, but to say I was stunned at these results is an understatement on a grand scale. I wrote PHD Guiding to take the hassle out of accurate autoguiding and I give it away free as a way to help pay back the amateur community I've gotten so much from. With results like these, it's clear PHD Guiding has helped a lot of amateurs enjoy the hobby more and take better shots. Thank you all for helping make PHD Guiding what it is today.
2008: PHD Guiding - Reader’s Choice Gear of the Year for 2008 on Cloudy Nights
2007: The results are in from the 2007 AstroPhoto Insight survey run by SkyInsight and in the category of Guiding Software, there was a stand-out winner - PHD Guiding. Out of over 700 votes, PHD Guiding came in #1, beating the second most popular piece of software, the de facto standard Maxim DL, by over 50%. In fact, it did better than ACP, Astro IIDC, Equinox, Guide Dog, GuideMaster, K3CCDTools, Maxim Essentials, Maxim DSLR, and Meade Envisage... combined! I knew many people used PHD Guiding, but to say I was stunned at these results is an understatement on a grand scale. I wrote PHD Guiding to take the hassle out of accurate autoguiding and I give it away free as a way to help pay back the amateur community I've gotten so much from. With results like these, it's clear PHD Guiding has helped a lot of amateurs enjoy the hobby more and take better shots. Thank you all for helping make PHD Guiding what it is today.
Despite actually having a Ph.D., I've always had a tough time figuring out which way North is in the guide frame, whether an axis is mirrored (and if so, which one), how that's affected by camera rotation, how many arcseconds per pixel I'm actually running at (especially since a "2x" barlow isn't always 2x), etc. This is especially tough when standing out in a cold field late at night when all you really want to do is stay warm and collect good images of your DSO.
In PHD Guiding, all calibration is taken care of automatically. You do not need to tell it anything about the orientation of your camera, nor do you need to tell it anything about the image scale. The automatic calibration routine takes care of this for you. Odds are you won't ever need to set a single parameter. Just select your star and hit "PHD Guide" and let the software take care of it.
See submitted sample shots from users of PHD Guiding and sample shots from PHD and EQMOD
PHD Guiding (v1.11) is free. PHD is actually even better than free. The core of PHD Guiding is even open source. While a more advanced version of PHD Guiding is possible in the future as an affordable, but commercial product (at the moment, I have no plans for such a version), the basic version as distributed here is freeware (and will stay as such). Donations to help support PHD Guiding and its development are certainly appreciated. Like Public Radio, you decide if you want to contribute and how much.
Looking for the Meade ASCOM driver from Jonathan that actually works on your #497 Autostar controller?
Features
• Windows and OS X (Universal)• Simple, clean interface designed for ease of use.
• Arbitrary camera orientation, pixel size, scope focal length, etc. measured during automatic calibration process.
• Guides through ASCOM's PulseGuide commands for lag-free, accurate commands on a wide range of mounts (Windows)
• Guides through ShoeString Astronomy's GPUSB (Windows & OS X) and GPINT (Windows) ST-4 style adapters for lag-free, accurate commands on a wide range of mounts
• Guides through Pierro Astro's USB Guiding interface to support a wide range of mounts
• Guides through Astro Gene's GCUSB ST4 interface to support a wide range of mounts (Windows:ASCOM and OS X)
• Guides through mounts connected to Equinox 6 (OS X)
• Guides through camera's onboard output port if present
• Supports the following cameras:
- ASCOM v5 compliant cameras (Windows)
- Atik 16 series, and Generation 3 series (Windows)
- CCD-Labs Q-Guider (Windows)
- DCAM compliant Firewire (OS X)
- Fishcamp Starfish (Windows and OS X)
- Meade DSI series: I-III, color and Pro (Windows and OS X)
- MagZero MZ-5 (Windows)
- Orion StarShoot DSCI (Windows)
- Orion Guider (Windows)
- Opticstar PL-130 / PL-130C
- SAC4-2 (Windows)
- SBIG (Windows and OS X, but see Help for details)
- Starlight Xpress SXF / SXVF / Lodestar
- The Imaging Source (Windows and OS X)
- Webcams (short and long-exposure - parallel port, serial port or LXUSB, Windows).
• Guiding in RA and Dec
• Intelligent automatic unidirectional and manual unidirectional Dec guiding modes
• Automatic sizing and stretching of guide image for display purposes.
• Image noise reduction with or without dark frames
• Real-time plotting of performance
• Freeware
Download PHD Guiding v1.11 (Windows 2000/XP* and OS X 10.4-10.6**)
* If using on Windows 9x, ignore any install errors. Whether it will work or not depends largely on the driver for your webcam. Don't say I didn't warn you.
** May work in 10.3.9, but I doubt it.
History 1.10.11
All updates from 1.10.1 to 1.10.10 (Pre-releases)1.10.10 (9/8/09) - Pre-release
- More fixes for non-US customers that use commas in decimals (1.10.10a)
- Fix for non-US users so that log file will still use commas as delimiters and periods for decimal points in all locales
- Fix for lingering “garbage” on screen
1.10.9 (8/12/09) - Pre-release
- Crosshair changed to better click on stars
- Update code to reset lock position on start of guide
1.10.8 (8/2/09) - Pre-release
- Fixed GC USB ST4 adapter (1.10.8b - OS X)
- Fixed bug in star-finding routine that would lead to occasional dropped stars (1.10.8a)
- Updated star finding routine to deal well with large stars
- Added manual calibration entry routine (Ctrl-M or Tools menu)
1.10.7 (8/1/09) - Pre-release
- Clear button added to graph view
- RMS (RA) report added to graph view
- Updates to Dec resist switch - will decided on a side sooner
- Updates to Dec lowpass. New "slope" parameter included to help
keep constant, slow drift from building up (default value is 5)
- Huge number of internal updates to support OpenPHD's compile on
Linux
- Source of initial OpenPHD Linux code (core code now under BSD open
source license).
1.10.6 (6.20.09) - Pre-release
- Fixed ASCOM code to deal with drivers that report image size as Y,X vs. X,Y (e.g., QHY)
- Added suport for Atik "Generation 3" cams (314, 4000, etc. - TEC if avail, high-speed preview mode).
- Update internals to wxWidgets 2.9
1.10.5 (6/8/09) - Pre-release
- Work-around for SBIG ST-402 on Mac
- Support for GC USB ST-4 adapter (Mac)
- Updated dark routine to help prevent over-subtraction of dark
1.10.4 (4/30/09) - Pre-release
- Fixed bug in setting Max Dec duration
1.10.3(4/20/09) - Pre-release
- Link to Microprojects Equinox added (Mac). You can now send guide commands to the mount attached in Equinox (bringing a whole host of mounts into play for the Mac)
- Dark frame mode now takes and averages 5 darks instead of just 1
- Pixel squaring added as-needed on SX cams
- Fixed some bugs in the usability of the auto-find-star routine
- Fixed display for for low-res screens (e.g. 800x480 monitors)
- Updated Dec guide routines. All algorithms now have a "Max dec duration" parameter to limit things. The "resist switch" algorithm has been substantially re-tuned to be more intelligent as well.
1.10.2 (3/9/09) - Pre-release
- Added ASCOM v5 camera support (Windows)
1.10.1 (12/20/08) - Pre-release
- Update to modified DSI driver on Windows
- Opticstar 130C added
1.10.0 - Full release
- Fixed bug in Star Profile that could cause crash
- Updated Help file
- Auto-star select routine added. Right now, it will try to find the best star if you pull it down off the Tools menu or if you hit its shortcut key (Alt-S)
- Hitting Stop should free up Neb if aborting during a dither command
- Fixed high-dither command to do the +/- 2 pixels it should do. Was doing +/- 1.5. Also, setup for larger dither commands
1.9.2 (11/12/08) Pre-release
- If "onboard camera" selected on mount, will automatically connect to "mount" when connecting to camera.
- Star "mass" now added to log file
- Able to save images of star + box + crosshair as JPEGs during guiding (Tools menu). Known bug on OS X: color not present in saved images.
1.9.1 (10/4/08) Pre-release
- (1.9.1a Windows only) Fix for >1 Starlight Xpress camera
- Added Star profile viewer to the Tools menu
- Fixed bugs for Meade and Firewire (TIS) cameras on OS X
- Fixed bug that could lead to missing Dec values in log files if using North or South-only guiding
- Fixed bug that would ignore dark frames on several cameras
- Fixed bug that would keep exposure durations from being changed while guiding.
1.9.0 (8/28/08)
- Added timestamp to log file when logging manually enabled
- Poor star box changed to dotted line and good star green brightened to better see w/red lith. Other color / red-lith tweaks as well.
1.8.6 (7/17/08) - Pre-release
- Updated color scheme to make osc-index visible
- Updated dithering code for Neb2-RC1
1.8.5 (7/9/2008) - Pre-release
- Updated star-finding routine for enhanced precision in the face of noise
- Color of RA line changed in graph so it will show up with red lith over screens
- Set to flash a very dark red instead of a bright red when star is lost to show up better on red lith-covered screens
- Server log will only show up if "Enable Debug Logging" is selected (and can only appear when the server is started).
1.8.4 (only released with Neb2 betas)
- Graph set to have dark background
- Enable Server entry set to save/restore across sessions
- Default exposure duration set to 1s on startup
- Can now go directly from Loop to Guide without hitting Stop
- Distance criterion set to max-out at 25 pixels
- Default Calibration step sized increased to 750 ms from 500 ms
- Default Minimum Motion dropped to 0.15 from 0.25
- Updated to latest Atik / Artemis code (3.13) and bug fixed with connecting to these cameras with other FTDI devices present.
1.8.3 (4/2/2008) - Pre-release
- Support added for SXV / SXVF cams including the Lodestar. Both Mac and Windows.
- Setpoint.exe bug fixed -- Most DLLs set to delay-load. Users of the SAC4-2 will still have issues if running setpoint.exe. This is a camera driver issue, not a PHD issue.
v1.8.2 (3/16/08)
- Graph log bug fixed (1.8.1)
- Meade DSI III driver updated
v1.8 (3/12/08)
- Graph of recent history added (Tools menu)
- Opticstar PL-130 and Meade DSI III support added (Opticstar is on Windows only)
- Updated to new libraries for Fishcamp Starfish
- Updated docs
- Debug logging mode put in (Tools menu)
- Server mode (for link to Nebulosity v2) in place but not very functional
v1.7 (12/4/07)
- Leopard-compatible
- The Imaging Source (TIS) camera fixes (Windows) to support more models
- DCAM / Firewire fixes (OS X) to support more models
- Manual Guide moved to new Tools menu
- Various overlay options added (bullseye, coarse grid, and fine grid) in Tools menu
- Button added to take (and use) dark frames and Tools entry to clear dark frame
- QGuide code updated with version 1 of a horizontal line remover algorithm
- Max Cal Step Duration increased to 10s
- Tools menu item added to clear dark frame
- Fixes to recording of RA_Dist and DEC_Dist in logfile
v1.6
- Full Vista compatibility (no longer need XP SP2 mode) - v1.6.1
- WDM (webcam) handling altered for more intelligent handling of dropped frames vs. dim frames
- Noise reduction modes added (2x2 mean, 3x3 median)
- Atik 16 series support added (Windows)
- Option for subframe / ROI download only on cameras that support this (So far: Atik, SBIG). Subframes will be shown when a star is selected (Shift-click to clear selection)
- CCD Labs QGuide code altered to use new drivers from Tom Van den Eede. This driver must be used if you use a QGuide now.
- Audible alert added when guiding and guide star lost
- Dialog added to let you manually move the scope (at guide speed). See Mount menu.
- QGuide code updated for better stability
- GPUSB code updated on Macs to work with newer GPUSB adapters
- MagZero MZ-5 support added
- DCAM / Firewire library on Macs updated
- Long-exposure parallel ports can now be reconfigured prior to connection
v1.5
- Entire rewrite of the Dec guiding routines to better track large amounts of Dec drift while still attempting to stay on the same side of the gear in "Auto" mode
- User has choice between the original Dec guide method ("Lowpass filter") and this new Dec guide method ("Resist switching") in the Advanced panel.
- Dec now respects the "Minimum Motion" parameter
- Greater precision in star location, especially on Orion Starshoot cameras, resulting in more accurate guiding
- Initial (beta level) support for Firewire / DCAM cameras from The Imaging Source (cameras other than the DM_21F series - i.e., those with exposure durations longer than 1/30s) on Windows and OS X.
- Log file now has date stamp in name
- Fixed bug in connecting to SBIG USB cameras
v1.4
- SBIG support (Win & OS X): USB, Ethernet, and Parallel (parallel only on Windows). Note, only 1 CCD may be used on dual-CCD cameras, so if you use 1 in PHD, the other will not be available to other programs.
- Fishcamp Starfish support (Win & OS X)
- CCD Labs QGuide support (Win)
- Fixed minor bug in saving LXUSB's read delay across sessions
- Option to disable the actual guide output commands during guiding added to Prefereces. Useful for generating unguided periodic error curves on your mount.
- Impatient instructions updated
- Bug fixed that kept 0x278 from working as LE adapter address
v1.3
- When star is lost during guiding, button bar will flash red
- Detects small displays (e.g. 800x600) and scales to fit
- Buttons automatically enabled and disabled appropriately
- Can no longer attempt to calibrate w/o a guide star selected
- Search size now customizable (Advanced dialog) and default expanded slightly
- Advanced dialog redone with automatic sizers
- Mounts that do not support IsPulseGuiding (but do support PulseGuide) handled gracefully. Will turn off movement check (and alert user) but operate just fine.
- Max duration taken to 10s
- OS X version supporting DSI cameras and GPUSB output
- Stop button now far more responsive
v1.2
- DSI support improved. Can select from any connected DSI. (If using Envisage as well, please uncheck the "Live" preview for the camera you are using in PHD or enjoy the show as both programs fight for the image).
- Log file improved. One line per frame (both RA and DEC commands on the same line) and timestamps inserted.
v1.1
- Support for the Meade DSI, DSI Pro, DSI-II, and DSI-II Pro added (kudos to Sean Prange for the low-level work)
- Slider in control panel on the bottom of the screen now controls screen / image gamma (brightness). Position will hold across sessions.
- Advanced panel now has setting for the minimum star movement tolerance (values are in fractional pixels). The default is the star must move 0.25 pixels before a guide command is sent, but any value may be used. This value will hold across sessions.
- Installers reworked to better support Win2k and Win9x. Some cameras will not work on Win9x, however. If you get an error on installation, please upgrade to the lastest Service Pack.
- Dec calibration routine tuned to better take out backlash prior to calibration
- Dec guiding now has 4 modes: Off, Auto (as in previous versions), North, and South
- Font size increased and stable across monitor settings
- Individual frames can be saved in FITS format
- Abort/Stop button more responsive
- Logging of guide commands turned off by default
v1.0
- Logic of serial port long-exposure webcam control fixed
- SNR threshold for star detection adjusted to work better with Orion StarShoot
v1.0 RC2
- Serial port support for long-exposure webcams
- Timing of long-exposure webcams tweaked for fewer dropped frames (Please set your camera's FPS to 5)
- Camera Setup button for webcams moved to main screen
- Documentation updated
v1.0 RC1
- Long-exposure webcams (SAC7, Atik, SC-1 or 1.5) added with control either via the parallel port or via the ShoeString LXUSB
- SAC4-2 support enhanced by up to 2s real exposure duration
- Short-exposure webcams set to have 3 frame minimum for noise / dropped frames purposes
- Visual indication (box turns from green to orange) if its not sure where the star is (dropped frame, poor SNR) during guiding and during star selection.
v 0.9.0
- GPUSB (ShoeString USB adapter) support added
- GPINT (ShoeString parallel port version) support added
- "Mount" menu added to let you choose which kind of mount the connect routine will go to
- Dec backlash taken up before Cal begins
- If Dec cal fails, will turn off the feature, alert the user, but init guiding in RA only
- All values on the Advanced menu and selection off the Mount menu saved across sessions
v0.8.0
- Support for older "VFW" style webcams and video capture cards added
v. 0.7.1
- Multiple WDM devices now let you choose which one to use
- Saturated stars now show warning in Status Bar
v. 0.7
- Initial beta release
