Cosgrove’s Cosmos

Astrophotography Software

These are FREE astrophotography tools I have built to support practical imaging work. Some are PixInsight Scripts, and some are browser-based tools. These are tools that I wanted for my own use but I am happy to share them with the broader astrophotography community

Current Utilities

These are the tools currently available on the site. More will be coming…

Cosgrove's Cosmos Software

Free Software for Astrophotographers

I develop PixInsight scripts for image processing and browser-based utilities for exploring color, exposure, spectral response, equipment, and imaging-system tradeoffs. These are approaches that have worked well in my own astrophotography workflow, freely shared so others can experiment and adapt them to theirs.

PixInsight Scripts Installed directly into PixInsight for hands-on image processing.

Interactive Explorers Browser tools for learning, testing ideas, and understanding imaging behavior.

Planning & Equipment Tools Utilities for comparing systems, exposures, platforms, and workflows.

PixInsight Scripts

Tools Built for the Processing Workflow

These full PixInsight scripts are designed to become part of the hands-on image-processing workflow, with interactive previews, astrophotography-focused controls, and direct full-resolution output.

Free PixInsight Script Color Refinement

Astro Color Mixer

Refine hue, saturation, and luminance in stretched RGB astrophotography images using astro-focused color regions, range targeting, real-time preview, histogram, polar plot, probe feedback, and layered adjustment passes.

Hue Saturation Luminance Range Mask Real-Time Preview

Explore Astro Color Mixer

Free PixInsight Script Requires PixInsight 1.9.4

Astro Contrast Enhancer

Bring Texture, Clarity, Dehaze, protected local editing, star and background protection, comparison, and real-time preview together in one focused late-stage contrast workflow.

Texture Clarity Dehaze Local Editing Protection Tools

Explore Astro Contrast Enhancer

Browser-Based Utilities

Explore Ideas Without Installing Software

These tools run directly in a web browser. They are intended for learning, planning, comparing systems, and exploring astrophotography concepts interactively.

Interactive Processing & Learning Tools

Spectral Learning Tool

Astro Spectral Explorer

See how target signal, sky glow, light pollution, filters, sensor response, and OSC Bayer sampling combine to shape the data captured by an astrophotography system.

Open Utility

Astro Color Mixer browser utility screenshot

Browser Color Explorer

Astro Color Mixer — Browser Edition

Explore astrophotography color refinement in a browser-based environment with hue, saturation, luminance, range targeting, histogram, polar plot, and probe feedback.

Open Browser Edition

Exposure Learning Tool

Astro Exposure Explorer

Think through subexposure choices by balancing read noise, sky background, target signal, saturation risk, and practical imaging conditions.

Open Utility

Planning, Comparison & Equipment Utilities

Comparison Tool

Astro System Compare

Compare astrophotography systems side by side to reveal differences in scale, sampling, field coverage, and broader imaging tradeoffs.

Open Utility

Profile Utility

Astrophotographer Profile Summary

Build a concise, organized summary of equipment, telescope platforms, workflow, and imaging approach in a format that is easier to review and share.

Open Utility

Platform Builder

Platform Card Builder

Create polished telescope platform cards combining equipment details with computed focal ratio, image scale, field of view, and guide relationships.

Open Utility

All tools are free. They reflect approaches and workflows that have worked well for me, rather than a claim that there is one right way to process, plan, or configure an astrophotography system.