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We stand with the peace-loving people of the world. Continue to our Homepage Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. "The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." — Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994

Welcome to PixInsight University, your go-to resource for mastering PixInsight! These tutorials are designed to help you learn specific processes, scripts, and techniques with ease. Whether you’re exploring best practices in our PixInsight Today section or diving into new features in PixInsight Updates, we’ve got you covered. With concise tutorials typically running 3 to 10 minutes, you’ll gain actionable insights to enhance your astrophotography journey. Let’s get started! PixInsight University Welcome to ‘PixInsight University,’ your go-to source for mastering PixInsight! Our comprehensive tutorial series are designed to help you learn PI’s most effective processes, scripts, and techniques with ease. Whether you’re exploring the foundational ‘PixInsight Today’ section or catching up on the newest features in ‘PixInsight Updates,’ we’ve got you covered! These short, focused tutorials respect your time, providing you with actionable insights to enhance your images. Let’s get started! Your PixInsight University subscription includes: PixInsight Today PixInsight Today’ replaces our earlier ‘PixInsight Foundations’ series. Think of it as a third edition of Warren Keller’s seminal book, Inside PixInsight, reimagined as video tutorials! As its name implies, ‘PixInsight Today’ highlights only PI’s most modern and useful tools, whether native or third-party. While not as in-depth as the old, 3-part ‘Foundations’ series, Warren digs just deep enough into his recommended tools, to guide you through both pre- and post-processing in a chronological, easily digestible way. PixInsight Updates With the constant improvements and changes made to PixInsight, ‘PixInsight Updates’ are less formal, off-the-cuff series, with Warren and Ron providing timely updates on the very latest versions of processes, scripts, and techniques. We've designed this series to mirror a typical processing workflow. Unlock the full potential of PixInsight with PixInsight University, featuring over 175 videos . This comprehensive series is your ultimate resource for mastering PixInsight, with tutorials that are concise, focused, and actionable. Whether you’re learning specific processes or advanced techniques, PixInsight University offers the guidance you need to elevate your astrophotography. Subscription $99.99 Yearly Subscription Purchase Page

Photons to Photos #27 The Flaming Star Nebula in Monochrome HaLRGB Unlimited Access $35 USD Purchase < Back From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrates a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Warren and Ron use various processes, scripts, masks and settings in context. About the Workshop In Photons to Photos # 27 , Warren will process an image of IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula. This monochromatic HaLRGB data was generously provided by our friend by Mike Miller at Sierra Remote Observatories with a SV152 refractor. This beautiful nebula is well-positioned for capture in late winter and spring in the northern hemisphere. WHAT YOU’LL GET Beginners will get a glimpse at some advanced tools and techniques that will be covered in upcoming workshops. Seasoned image processors will pick up new ideas and techniques to expand their toolkit and improve your results. All attendees of these workshops will receive the following: A PixInsight project containing all images and icons used during the workshop UNLIMITED ACCESS to a video recording of the workshop Your Instructor Warren Keller Warren Keller is an internationally renowned astrophotographer, author, and educator, celebrated for his expertise in astronomical image processing. He authored Inside PixInsight, a definitive guide to the software, and co-founded IP4AP.com, providing tutorials that have guided thousands in astrophotography. Beyond imaging, Warren is a musician and has contributed to the astronomy community through lectures, workshops, and collaborations with leading astronomical organizations.

Photons to Photos #34 The Rosette Nebula in HaRGB with Two Imaging Rigs Unlimited Access $35 USD Purchase < Back From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrates a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Warren and Ron use various processes, scripts, masks and settings in context. About the Workshop In Photons to Photos # 34 , Ron will work up an HaRGB image of the Rosette Nebula, which is well-placed for imaging in December and January. The RGB data was made with a Takahashi FSQ-106 and QHY367C Pro one-shot color camera The Ha data was acquired as a two-panel mosaic with an Esprit 150 and a QHY16200 CCD camera. Ron collected this data in late 2021 from his home observatory, located about a 2 hour drive north of Buffalo, NY. ________________ This workshop continues our very popular “Photons to Photos” series. From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrate a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Ron and Warren use various processes, scripts, masks, and settings in context. WHAT YOU’LL GET Beginners will get a glimpse at some advanced tools and techniques that will be covered in upcoming workshops. Seasoned image processors will pick up new ideas and techniques to expand your toolkit and improve your results. All attendees of this workshop will receive the following: A PixInsight project containing all the master images and icons used during the workshop An opportunity to win a door prize from our generous sponsors UNLIMITED ACCESS to a video recording of the workshop Your Instructor Ron Brecher Ron Brecher is an award-winning astrophotographer based in Guelph, Ontario, known for his stunning deep-sky images and expert use of PixInsight. A PixInsight Ambassador, he offers one-on-one tutoring and writes for top astronomy publications. When not imaging the cosmos, Ron is a toxicologist, musician, and passionate educator.

Photons to Photos #33 NGC 247 - The Needle's Eye Galaxy Unlimited Access $35 USD Purchase < Back From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrates a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Warren and Ron use various processes, scripts, masks and settings in context. About the Workshop In Photons to Photos # 33 , we’ve got something special lined up for you. Masters of PixInsight is proud to announce a new partnership with SWOS — Stan Watson Observatory South , home to some of the finest deep-sky imaging data on the planet. This workshop is extra special because attendees will receive the full NGC 247 data set from SWOS — taken under the pristine skies of the Chilean Andes using a 24” PlaneWave telescope and Moravian C5 camera. It’s a jaw-dropper. ________________ This workshop continues our very popular “Photons to Photos” series. From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrate a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Ron and Warren use various processes, scripts, masks, and settings in context. WHAT YOU’LL GET Beginners will get a glimpse at some advanced tools and techniques that will be covered in upcoming workshops. Seasoned image processors will pick up new ideas and techniques to expand your toolkit and improve your results. All attendees of this workshop will receive the following: A PixInsight project containing all the master images and icons used during the workshop An opportunity to win a door prize from our generous sponsors UNLIMITED ACCESS to a video recording of the workshop Your Instructor Warren Keller Warren Keller is an internationally renowned astrophotographer, author, and educator, celebrated for his expertise in astronomical image processing. He authored Inside PixInsight, a definitive guide to the software, and co-founded IP4AP.com, providing tutorials that have guided thousands in astrophotography. Beyond imaging, Warren is a musician and has contributed to the astronomy community through lectures, workshops, and collaborations with leading astronomical organizations.

Photons to Photos #7 HaL + OSC RGB Processing Unlimited Access $35 USD Purchase < Back From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrates a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Warren and Ron use various processes, scripts, masks and settings in context. About the Workshop M13 is arguably the finest globular cluster in the northern hemisphere, and is well placed for imaging in the late spring and early summer. In Photons to Photos #7 you can watch over Warren's shoulder as he processes a One-Shot Color image of the Hercules cluster from start to finish. WHAT YOU’LL GET Seasoned image processors will pick up new ideas and techniques to expand their tool kit and improve their results. Beginners will get a glimpse at some advanced tools and techniques that have been covered in previous workshops. If you’re new to PI, we suggest viewing or attending the Newbie series first. Attendees of this workshop will receive the following: A PixInsight project containing all images and icons used during the workshop UNLIMITED ACCESS to a video recording of the workshop Your Instructor Warren Keller Warren Keller is an internationally renowned astrophotographer, author, and educator, celebrated for his expertise in astronomical image processing. He authored Inside PixInsight, a definitive guide to the software, and co-founded IP4AP.com, providing tutorials that have guided thousands in astrophotography. Beyond imaging, Warren is a musician and has contributed to the astronomy community through lectures, workshops, and collaborations with leading astronomical organizations.

Acquisition Best Practices Recorded Workshop Purchase This newer addition to our beginner series will help you get optimum results acquiring your imaging data. We’ll look at imaging strategies that will make the best use of your equipment, given the realities of your imaging conditions. Some of the topics we'll cover include: Optimizing image scale Camera readout mode, gain, and offset settings Choosing an exposure lengths Acquiring calibration frames: how, how many, how often? Monochrome Strategies: RRR-GGG-BBB vs RGB-RGB-RGB Mosaics- one pane each night vs all frames each night Acquiring RGB stars for Narrowband images Focusing: how, how often? Rotators- to rotate or not? Guiding – how good is good enough? WHAT YOU’LL GET Attendees of this workshop will receive the following: Image files that are used in the virtual workshop Updated process icon set to use on your own data An opportunity to win a door prize from our generous sponsors Unlimited Access $35.00 USD Purchase

New to PixInsight? In our follow-up to 'PixInsight for Newbies' this 2 hour pre-recorded Workshop continues with processing technique that will get you processing your astrophotography images in no time! Next Steps for Newbies Recorded Workshop Purchase This is a continuation of our PixInsight for Newbies workshop. Now that you've begun to harness PixInsight’s powerful toolkit, it’s time to take it up a notch. In 'Next Steps for Newbies,' Ron and Warren will expand on the basic workflow with the following powerful tools and techniques for both One-Shot Color (OSC) and Monochrome cameras: Adding CosmeticCorrection to preprocessing to eliminate hot pixels Superior background modelization with DynamicBackgroundExtraction Spectrally-based color balance using PhotometricColorCalibration Making a mask for precision noise reduction and color saturation Whether you use an OSC or a Monochrome camera, these enhancements to your workflow will help you get the most from your nights under the stars. WHAT YOU’LL GET Attendees of this workshop will receive the following: Two full data sets including lights, darks, biases, and flats EXPANDED process icon sets to use on your own data An ENHANCED basic workflow to help you create your own great images _______________________________ Warren Keller and Ron Brecher have teamed up to deliver a series of information-packed Virtual Workshops covering deep-sky image processing with PixInsight. Each session will help you learn about the most important tools and settings needed to create jaw-dropping astrophotos. Working with Ron and Warren, and practicing with the resources provided, will help you move confidently from beginner to experienced user. Unlimited Access $35.00 Purchase

Weighted Batch Preprocessing Script & Fast Batch Preprocessing Deep Dive Recorded Workshop Purchase The powerful WBPP and FBPP and scripts are the most streamlined way to perform preprocessing in PixInsight. “Preprocessing” refers to all the steps required to make one or more master images from a set of sub-frames (“subs”). The masters output by WBPP are the starting point for rendering beautiful deep-sky images in PixInsight. In this workshop, Ron and Warren will show you how to get the most out of these scripts whether you are using monochrome, OSC or DSLR data. They’ll show you how, as the “conductor,” WBPP controls all the players in the preprocessing “orchestra,” ensuring that each plays their part correctly. In addition to explaining the script’s interface and its basic use Warren and Ron will demonstrate: CosmeticCorrection – Preparing mono and OSC icons for WBPP to use Setting Default Quality – Set up WBPP to balance quality and speed to suit your needs LocalNormalization – Using the interactive checkbox to get control over the reference frame Exposure Tolerance – combining – or not – exposures of different length. Sub-frame Weighting Options -- default and custom options Preparing to Drizzle – When to activate the Drizzle checkbox Grouping Keywords – Working with complex data sets Managing Your Output – What should you keep? What can be safely discarded, and when? WHAT YOU’LL GET Attendees of this workshop will receive the following: Unlimited access to workshop video, PixInsight project and icons used in the workshop An opportunity to win a door prize from our generous sponsors _______________________________ Warren Keller and Ron Brecher have teamed up to deliver a series of information-packed Virtual Workshops covering deep-sky image processing with PixInsight. Each carefully-planned session helps you learn about the most important tools and settings needed to create jaw-dropping astrophotos. Working with Ron and Warren, and practicing with the resources provided, will help you move confidently from beginner to experienced user. Unlimited Access $35.00 USD Purchase

Photons to Photos #1 LRGB Processing Virtual Workshop Unlimited Access $35 USD Purchase < Back From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrates a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Warren and Ron use various processes, scripts, masks and settings in context. About the Workshop Watch Warren work his magic on a set of monochrome LRGB masters, taking it through linear and non-linear processing, ending with a jpg he’d be proud to share with friends or online. WHAT YOU’LL GET Seasoned image processors will pick up new ideas and techniques to expand their tool kit and improve their results. Beginners will get a glimpse at some advanced tools and techniques that have been covered in previous workshops. If you’re new to PI, we suggest viewing or attending the Newbie series first. Attendees of this workshop will receive the following: A PixInsight project containing all images and icons used during the workshop UNLIMITED ACCESS to a video recording of the workshop Your Instructor Warren Keller Warren Keller is an internationally renowned astrophotographer, author, and educator, celebrated for his expertise in astronomical image processing. He authored Inside PixInsight, a definitive guide to the software, and co-founded IP4AP.com, providing tutorials that have guided thousands in astrophotography. Beyond imaging, Warren is a musician and has contributed to the astronomy community through lectures, workshops, and collaborations with leading astronomical organizations.

Photons to Photos #6 One-Shot-Color Processing Unlimited Access $35 USD Purchase < Back From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrates a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Warren and Ron use various processes, scripts, masks and settings in context. About the Workshop In Photons to Photos # 6, you'll look over Ron's shoulder while he processes a monochrome LRGB data set from scratch. The subjects are two iconic springtime galaxies that are well-placed for northern imagers in March and April: the Whale and the Hockey Stick. Ron will start with monochrome L, R, G and B masters and finish with a JPEG that's ready to share on the web. WHAT YOU’LL GET Seasoned image processors will pick up new ideas and techniques to expand their tool kit and improve their results. Beginners will get a glimpse at some advanced tools and techniques that have been covered in previous workshops. If you’re new to PI, we suggest viewing or attending the Newbie series first. Attendees of this workshop will receive the following: A PixInsight project containing all images and icons used during the workshop UNLIMITED ACCESS to a video recording of the workshop Your Instructor Ron Brecher Ron Brecher is an award-winning astrophotographer based in Guelph, Ontario, known for his stunning deep-sky images and expert use of PixInsight. A PixInsight Ambassador, he offers one-on-one tutoring and writes for top astronomy publications. When not imaging the cosmos, Ron is a toxicologist, musician, and passionate educator.

Photons to Photos #8 M101 - HaL + OSC RGB Processing Unlimited Access $35 USD Purchase < Back From time to time, Warren or Ron demonstrates a complete workflow from beginning to end. The other instructor monitors the chat box and answers questions on-the-fly. This allows participants to see the entire post-processing workflow from beginning to end, learning how Warren and Ron use various processes, scripts, masks and settings in context. About the Workshop M101 lies off the handle of the Big Dipper. This beautiful grand-design spiral galaxy is well placed in the northern sky all night long in late spring and early summer. In this workshop Ron will blend luminance- and Ha-filtered masters from his mono camera and 6” scope with one-shot color data from his 4” refractor to capture the essence of this object. This workshop will include demos of some recent enhancements to PI and the latest add-ons, including NoiseXterminator. WHAT YOU’LL GET Seasoned image processors will pick up new ideas and techniques to expand their tool kit and improve their results. Beginners will get a glimpse at some advanced tools and techniques that have been covered in previous workshops. If you’re new to PI, we suggest viewing or attending the Newbie series first. Attendees of this workshop will receive the following: A PixInsight project containing all images and icons used during the workshop UNLIMITED ACCESS to a video recording of the workshop Your Instructor Ron Brecher Ron Brecher is an award-winning astrophotographer based in Guelph, Ontario, known for his stunning deep-sky images and expert use of PixInsight. A PixInsight Ambassador, he offers one-on-one tutoring and writes for top astronomy publications. When not imaging the cosmos, Ron is a toxicologist, musician, and passionate educator.