The ModernAstrophotographyControl Suite
Capture, automate, and analyze your deep-sky imaging sessions from a beautiful web interface. Open-source core with professional plugins for serious astrophotographers.
Everything you need
A complete imaging platform
From GoTo to guiding to stacking — every piece of the astrophotography workflow in one cohesive, modern interface. All features below are included in the free, open-source core.
Capture & Imaging
Full Camera Control
Exposure, gain, offset, binning, ROI, cooling with temperature control. INDI, ASCOM Alpaca, and DSLR/Mirrorless (CR2/CR3/ARW) support.
Live Stack Preview
Sub-pixel alignment and sigma-clip stacking in real time. Watch your deep-sky target emerge as frames accumulate.
FITS Viewer + Histogram
Full-featured viewer with zoom, pan, auto-stretch, and WCS overlay. Per-channel RGB histogram with log scale and presets.
Frame Analysis
HFR, FWHM, star count, and 3x3 tile distortion computed per frame. Blink comparator to spot tracking issues instantly.
Flat Wizard & Calibration
Auto-exposure flat wizard targets your ideal ADU. Dark/flat calibration library manages master frames by temperature, binning and gain.
Image Annotation
WCS overlay with catalog labels directly on your frames. Identify objects, verify pointing, confirm framing — all in the viewer.
Automation & Control
Advanced Sequencer
Multi-target sequences with conditions, triggers, nested loops, and per-filter offsets. Checkpoint recovery after power loss.
Auto Meridian Flip
Detects HA limit, flips, re-solves, re-centers, re-starts guiding — completely unattended. Configurable hour angle and direction.
Autofocus (V-Curve)
Automated V-curve focusing with temperature compensation and per-filter offsets. Backlash management and customizable step sizes.
Weather & Safety
Weather station integration monitors temperature, humidity, wind, clouds, and rain. Automatic park and dome closure when conditions are unsafe.
Dome & Rotator
Full dome control with shutter, azimuth tracking, and park. Rotator with absolute/relative positioning and sync-to-angle.
CLI Scripting
Run sequences from the command line with --run-sequence, --profile, --exit-after-sequence. Perfect for headless remote rigs.
Planning & Navigation
Interactive Sky Map
WebGL sky with 100M+ stars, 530+ DSOs (Messier/Caldwell/NGC/IC), 35 constellations, planets, Milky Way, and time travel simulation.
Target Scheduler
Plan multi-night sessions. Scheduler picks the best target based on altitude, moon distance, horizon profile, and observation priority.
Remote Browser Control
Access the full UI from any device on your local network. Phone, tablet, or laptop — no installation needed on the client.
Polar Alignment Wizard
Automated capture-solve-rotate-solve workflow. Computes altitude and azimuth error with directional correction arrows.
Framing Assistant
Load DSS survey images with your FOV overlay directly on the sky map. Frame your target perfectly before starting the sequence.
Session Reports
Automatic nightly reports with HFR trend, guiding RMS, frames by filter, and OAL XML export for your observation log.
24+ features in the free core · 145+ API endpoints · 289 backend tests · 3 languages
Interface
Built for the modern astronomer
Every panel is purpose-built. Dark-themed, information-dense, and designed to work in the field at night.
Interactive 3D sky map with Three.js. Search 100M+ stars, NGC/IC catalogs, 35 constellations with FOV overlay and GoTo commands.
See it in action
One interface, full control
Watch a complete imaging session — from polar alignment to the first stacked result — all from the browser.
Demo video coming soon
Full walkthrough of a deep-sky imaging session
Desktop App
Tauri native app for Linux & Windows. Lightweight, fast, auto-updates.
Browser Control
Access the full UI from any device on your local network. Phone, tablet, laptop.
Remote Access
Pro Relay plugin for secure access from anywhere. No port forwarding needed.
Community
Trusted by astrophotographers
Early adopters from around the world are already imaging with OpenSkyLab.
“I switched from KStars/Ekos after 5 years. The web UI is a game changer for my remote rig setup — I can control everything from my phone browser on the same network. Setup took 10 minutes.”
Ricardo M.
Deep-sky imager · Sao Paulo, Brazil
“Finally a cross-platform alternative that doesn't feel like it was built in 2005. The sky map alone is worth it — WebGL rendering with 100M stars is insanely smooth. And it actually runs on my Linux mini-PC.”
James W.
Remote observatory operator · New Mexico, USA
“The advanced sequencer with conditions and triggers replaced my entire NINA workflow. Auto meridian flip + re-center + re-guide without touching anything. I just check the results in the morning.”
Elena K.
Narrowband imager · Bavaria, Germany
“As a developer, the plugin SDK is exactly what I wanted. Rust traits for device abstraction, clean API, MIT license. I built a custom weather integration for my Davis station in a weekend.”
Thomas L.
Software engineer & astrophotographer · Melbourne, Australia
“The polar alignment wizard saved me so much time. Three captures, automatic solve, clear correction arrows. My alignment error went from 5 arcmin to 0.3 arcmin in one session.”
Marco P.
Portable rig user · Tuscany, Italy
“I was skeptical about yet another astro software, but the FITS viewer with auto-stretch and WCS overlay is actually better than what I was using. The live stack preview is addictive to watch.”
Sophie D.
Astro club president · Provence, France
Get started
Download OpenSkyLab
Free, open source, and runs entirely offline. No account required.
Linux
AppImage · Deb · RPM
All features · Recommended
Windows
NSIS Installer · MSI
ASCOM support included
macOS
DMG · Homebrew Cask
Apple Silicon + Intel
System Requirements
Want to build from source or contribute?
View on GitHub