AstroImageJ
ImageJ for Astronomy

Click for other screenshots of AstroImageJ in use

The latest version has many features to enhance astronomical image processing, especially for photometry. These include a versatile image display, time-series stacks, a link to Astrometry.net for adding coordinates, built-in AstroCC to set and time and place, links to Simbad for object identification, and exoplanet model fitting. It is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux by downloading an installation package . After installation, the built-in Help->Update option keeps your version current.

• Runs on Linux, Windows and Mac OS
• Provides an interactive interface similar to ds9
• Reads and writes FITS images with standard headers
• Allows FITS header viewing and editing
• Plate solves and adds WCS to images seamlessly using the Astrometry.net web interface
• Displays astronomical coordinates for images with WCS
• Provides object identification via an embedded SIMBAD interface
• Aligns image sequences using WCS headers or by using apertures to correlate stars
• Image calibration including bias, dark, flat, and non-linearity correction with option to run in real-time
• Interactive time-series differential photometry interface with option to run in real-time
• Allows comparison star ensemble changes without re-running differential photometry
• Provides an interactive multi-curve plotting tool streamlined for plotting light curves
• Includes an interactive light curve fitting interface with simultaneous detrending
• Allows non-destructive object annotations/labels using FITS header keywords
• Provides a time and coordinate converter tool with capability to update/enhance FITS header content (AIRMASS, BJD, etc.)
• Exports analyses formatted as spreadsheets
• Creates color images and with native ImageJ processing power
• Optionally enter reference star apparent magnitudes to calculate target star magnitudes automatically
• Optionally create Minor Planet Center (MPC) format for direct submission of data to the MPC
• Recently added when you update to the daily build after installation --
• Nearby eclipsing binary star identification from expected depth versus light curve RMS table for TESS follow-up
• Delta-magnitude versus RMS plot
• Enhanced contrast controls
• Annotations are retained when placing apertures
• FITS header search feature

• Download an installation package
• Utility programs for use with TESS data

An article on AstroImageJ appears in the Astronomical Journal (2017). Additional details on the user interface are available through astro-ph in reference 1701.04817v1. The User Guide may be downloaded here.

Comments, requests for help and new features, and bug reports should be posted to the AstroImageJ Forum.

AstroImageJ is ImageJ with astronomy plugins and macros installed. It includes tools based on the Göttingen ImageJ astronomical resources with additions we find useful. Because it was necessary to modify the original ImageJ code to enable some of these features, this package should be installed in its entirety.

AstroImageJ is open source software and is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. It incorporates ImageJ components which are in the public domain.

• Open Access article from the Astronomical Journal (2017) -- AstroImageJ: Image Processing and Photometric Extraction for Ultra-Precise Astronomical Light Curves
• Expanded version of the AIJ article on astro-ph with explanations of many functions
• Download an installation package of AstroImageJ - then update to latest version and features after download with Help->Update
• Release notes for the latest version and updates of AIJ
• Forum for AIJ users
• Most recent User Guide for AIJ
• Example data for User Guide Chapter 10 tutorial (4.5 GB tar.gz or zip file)
• Dennis Conti's Practical Guide to Exoplanet Observing
• Resources for ImageJ and Java