What is DeepSkyLog?
DeepSkyLog is an astrophotography data management tool that helps you organize, track, and analyze your imaging sessions. Whether you’re using NINA, AsiAir, or manually uploading FITS files, DeepSkyLog keeps everything in one place.
Who is DeepSkyLog for?
DeepSkyLog is aimed at astrophotographers who want to:
- Keep track of all their imaging sessions
- Organize frames by project, target, and equipment
- Monitor equipment performance and usage
- See mosaics on a sky map and visualize sky coverage
- Track imaging goals and progress
Do I need special equipment?
DeepSkyLog works with any astrophotography setup. You can:
- Integrate directly with NINA imaging software
- Upload FITS metadata files manually
- Import from AsiAir or other platforms
- Track any telescope, camera, or filter setup
Features & Functionality
What file formats are supported?
DeepSkyLog supports:
- Metadata extraction from standard FITS headers
- Batch imports from acquisition software
Can I organize frames into projects?
Yes! Projects are the core organizational unit in DeepSkyLog. You can:
- Group frames by target object (e.g., “M31 Andromeda”)
- Associate equipment profiles with each project
- Set imaging goals and track progress
- View all sessions for a specific project
Does DeepSkyLog support multiple imaging locations?
Absolutely. You can create location profiles for:
- Your backyard observatory
- Remote imaging sites
- Club observatories
- Each location tracks its own statistics
What is the Sky Map feature?
Our Sky Map uses Aladin Lite integration to:
- Visualize target positions
- Show frame coverage on the sky
- Show mosaic layouts
NINA Integration
How does the NINA plugin work?
Our NINA plugin automatically uploads new frames metadata after each exposure (the actual image data is not uploaded, just the metadata), assigns frames to the Equipment and Location, and updates project statistics in real-time.
See the NINA Integration guide for installation and configuration details.
Do I need to keep NINA running?
Only during imaging sessions. The plugin uploads frames metadata as they are captured, so once your observatory PC shuts down after sunrise, you’ll still have access to the session insights.
Can I use DeepSkyLog without NINA?
Yes! While NINA integration is convenient, you can:
- Upload FITS files manually through the web interface
- Use our desktop uploader tool. The desktop tool can monitor a folder and sync files in real time. The application can also calculate HFR metrics (star size) if the value is not present in the FITS metadata — handy when syncing files from AsiAir.
Equipment & Tracking
How do equipment profiles work?
Equipment profiles let you:
- Define telescope, camera, and filter combinations
- Track usage hours for each item
- Monitor performance metrics (HFR, guiding stats)
- Associate equipment with specific projects
Can I track multiple telescopes?
Yes! You can create unlimited equipment profiles for different setups. This is perfect if you have multiple telescopes or cameras, different imaging rigs, or borrowed equipment.
Mosaics
What are mosaics in DeepSkyLog?
Mosaics let you group multiple projects that together cover a larger area of the sky. DeepSkyLog can automatically detect mosaics from your project names and visualize the full sky coverage on the sky map.
See the Mosaics guide for naming patterns, auto-detection, and panel positioning details.
Collaboration
How does collaboration work?
You can open any project to multiple contributors. Team members upload frames to the same project, and every frame is tagged with its contributor. You control access via four roles: Owner, Admin, Member, and Viewer.
See the Collaboration guide for setup instructions, role details, and automatic frame routing.
Pricing & Billing
Is there a free trial?
Every new account gets a free trial with:
- 20 projects
- 4,000 frames (200 per project)
- All features unlocked
What happens after the trial?
After the trial, your account moves to the Free plan — 20 projects, 200 frames per project, sky map and weather. If you need more, the Full plan is $5.99/month for unlimited projects, frames, and all features.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover) and PayPal. Payments are processed securely through Paddle, which handles all tax/VAT compliance automatically.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes, you can cancel at any time. Your account remains active until the end of your billing period, then reverts to the Free plan. Your data is kept for 30 days after cancellation.
Technical Support
How do I get help?
- Docs: Browse the Documentation for guides and references
- FAQ: You’re already here!
- Email: support@deepskylog.space
Do you have an API?
Subscribers have API access for automated uploads, custom integrations, data exports, and third-party tools.
Getting Started
How do I sign up?
- Visit app.deepskylog.space
- Create your account (email verification required)
- Set up your first location and equipment profile
- Start uploading frames!
See the Getting Started guide for a full walkthrough.
Do you offer onboarding help?
Yes! New users get a welcome email with a quick start guide, an interactive tutorial in the app, and sample data to explore features (log in as demo/demo).
Still have questions? Contact us