Software for Variable Star Observers

automation of variable star patrols, imaging and photometry

Slide 1

Key features:

Once set up the Express suite provides a single click solution to all night imaging and patrolling:

  • Automatically selects the best guide star for each target, locates it, and starts guiding
  • Autoguiding by MaxIm or Automation Express
  • Integration with astroimaging software
  • Can be set to start a time series or stop if a star is found to be in outburst
  • Autofocussing supported

Photometry Express

Photometry Express performs differential photometry on CCD images to measure the brightness of variable stars.

Automation Express

Automation Express takes control of an astronomical telescope, mount, camera and filters to capture of images of an arbitrarily large list of targets.

This site is dedicated to John Moore

The Express suite was created by electronics engineer and keen amateur astronomer John Moore. John was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in April 2013 and sadly died in August 2013. Not wanting to see his work go to waste John asked a fellow member of the Farnham Astronomical Society to complete his work and put the software into the public domain. On this site you can follow our progress and download the software as it becomes available. The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License.

If you successfully download John's software and are happy to have found this site please consider making a donation - via the weblink below - to the hospice that looked after John and his family and continue to do so.

(Site created by: Peter Campbell-Burns, Farnham Astronomical Society)