Combine FITS from AsiAir, Ekos, Voyager and NINA

Import FITS metadata from AsiAir, KStars/Ekos, Voyager and NINA into one archive with the free DeepSkyLog Uploader or the command-line tool.

Every capture program writes a bit different FITS headers, and when you change software you usually end up with separate folders and separate notes. DeepSkyLog reads the metadata of AsiAir, KStars/Ekos, Voyager and NINA files into one archive, and you browse it by target, filter and equipment.

Two import tools

The DeepSkyLog Uploader is a free desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. You choose your folders and press Scan; it measures the stars in every light frame, groups the frames by target, night and equipment, matches each group to your DeepSkyLog location and equipment, and uploads them. When you open it again, it offers to scan the folders that gained frames since. See the DeepSkyLog Uploader guide.

The batch upload command-line tool runs on Windows, Linux and macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). It is one file, nothing to install. Use -dir to point it at a folder, or add -tui to review and select the frames before they are uploaded. It is a good choice for scripts, scheduled syncs and files on a NAS.

The Uploader works on every plan, including Free; the command-line tool needs a paid plan or the trial. Importing in the web browser is free too, see import FITS from the browser. Downloads and setup are in getting started.

Doing the import

Do the first import with one target from one night. Select the matching equipment and location, then look at the target, filters and metadata in the web app. When it looks right, import the rest in batches, one batch per equipment and location. A mixed archive assigned to a single setup is hard to clean afterwards. Use the same target names in all your software, so the frames land in the right project.

Some values will be missing. HFR, FWHM, eccentricity, guiding and weather depend on what your software recorded, and an import cannot recreate a guiding history that was never written. AsiAir, for example, does not write star metrics into the headers. The DeepSkyLog Uploader measures HFR, FWHM and eccentricity on your computer before the upload, so those frames arrive with star metrics anyway.

When the import is done, check the target, location and equipment of the new projects and set goals per filter. For new captures, connect the NINA plugin.