VideoStack For Planet Manual

Thank you for using VideoStack for Planet iOS app. It is an easy way to stack your video frames into a single photo. Stacking is a way to combine the images so that noise is removed in the final image. See below 2 photos of 1 frame vs 40 frames.



Previously, in order to image a planet, it is quite a long workflow. You have to take a video on your camera, upload to your computer, and use PIPP > Registax > GIMP to crop, stack and process the video frames. Now you can do it on your phone conveniently.

Direction:

1. Use videoCam iOS app to take a short video of the planet with your telescope. You will need at least 130mm telescope to see some details on Jupiter. In the app, adjust the exposure, frame rate and ISO so that you can see some details on the planet and start to record a video. Save the video to your phone album. Alternatively, you can use phone native camera to record a video. However, it has less control over the video parameters. 

2. Trim your video on your phone to about best 3 seconds (For a start.) Use videoStack Planet iOS app to open the trimmed video file. Drag the slider to determine how many frames you want to stack. It will process the frames and combine them. Experiment with it to get the best result. Save the photo to your phone album. 

3. Use waveletCam iOS app to open the stacked image. Drag the sliders to reveal the detail and structure of the image. Wavelet image processing is a powerful tool that does the magic. Watch second video below! 

Video:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y3PnTAFuDU

2. https://youtu.be/OnmLWXBs2Dw 

If you have any problem stacking your video, please do not hesitate to write to me at ustransit74@gmail.com and attached your short video. I will stack the video and provide an update to the app.

Tips:

1. To find your target quickly with your telescope, use FinderCam with Plate Solving app at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/findercam-with-plate-solving/id1541018483

2. You can take video in a manual telescope or a goto telescope. For manual telescope, videoStack will analyse each frame quality, track and center the planet as it floats across the field.

3. To bring out the detail and structure of the planet, use waveletCam app at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/waveletcam-image-processing/id1642594450

4. If you want to stack galaxy, nebulae or Milky Way, use VideoStack for Galaxy app at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/videostack-astrophotography/id1614868155.


A User Experience Forum:

A UK user has managed to use videoStack and waveletCam to photo the Saturn, Jupiter and surprising beautiful Mars. Visit below link. 

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/405879-stacking-app-on-iphone-saturnjupitermars/

 

Problem & Solution:

If you encounter crashes during the app, send me a email at ustransit74@gmail.com with your video attached. Most cause for the crashes is due to the video. I will look into your video frames and provide an app update that work with your video.

Past video fails can be any reason. eg. The planet does not appear in the first frame in the video. Beside sending the video to me, you can try trimming your video at other point of time in the video. It may the crash. 

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