Digital Exoplanet Hunting Observatory

A comprehensive astronomical image processing application for stellar photometry and exoplanet detection.

Features

• RAW Image Processing: Convert astronomical RAW images (CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG) to FITS format
• Image Stacking: Combine multiple FITS images to reduce noise and improve signal quality
• Aperture Photometry: Perform precise stellar photometry analysis using DAOStarFinder
• Metadata Preservation: Maintain EXIF data during RAW to FITS conversion
• User-Friendly GUI: Intuitive interface with progress tracking and help system

Installation

1. Install Python 3.8 or higher

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Run the application:

   python main.py

Usage

1. Opening Files

• Use File → Open Image for standard image formats (PNG, TIFF, JPEG)
• Use File → Open RAW File for astronomical RAW images
• Use File → Open FITS File for FITS astronomical images

2. RAW to FITS Conversion

1. Load a RAW file (File → Open RAW File)
2. Select Process → Convert RAW to FITS
3. Choose save location
4. EXIF metadata will be preserved in the FITS header

3. Image Stacking

1. Select Process → Stack FITS Images
2. Choose multiple FITS files
3. The application creates a mean-combined image to reduce noise

4. Aperture Photometry

1. Load a FITS file for analysis
2. Select Analysis → Aperture Photometry
3. Set parameters:
   • FWHM: Full Width Half Maximum (typical: 3-8 pixels)
   • Threshold: Detection threshold in sigma units (typical: 2-5)
4. Results are saved as CSV files containing source positions and photometry

File Structure

├── main.py              # Main application entry point
├── gui.py               # Main GUI interface
├── photometry.py        # Aperture photometry module
├── conversion.py        # RAW to FITS conversion
├── fits_handler.py      # FITS file operations
├── config.py            # Configuration and logging setup
├── requirements.txt     # Python dependencies
├── Class.spec           # PyInstaller build configuration
└── README.md           # This file

Dependencies

• NumPy: Numerical computations
• Pandas: Data manipulation
• Astropy: Astronomical data handling
• Photutils: Photometry utilities
• Matplotlib: Plotting and visualization
• rawpy: RAW image processing
• exifread: EXIF metadata extraction
• Pillow: Image processing

Building Executable

To create a standalone executable:

pyinstaller Class.spec

Tips

1. Image Quality: Use FITS format for scientific analysis
2. Noise Reduction: Stack multiple images of the same target
3. Photometry Parameters: Adjust FWHM and threshold based on your image characteristics
4. File Organization: Keep RAW files and processed FITS files organized in separate folders

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Missing Dependencies: Run pip install -r requirements.txt
2. RAW File Support: Ensure LibRaw is properly installed (included with rawpy)
3. Memory Issues: For large images, close other applications to free RAM
4. File Permissions: Ensure write permissions for output directories

Log Files

Application logs are saved in the logs/ directory with timestamps for debugging.

Version History

v2.0

• Removed authentication system
• Modular architecture with separate files
• Improved error handling and logging
• Enhanced progress tracking
• Better user interface
• Comprehensive documentation

v1.0

• Initial release with basic functionality

Authors

• M. Burhan Khan Lodhi
• Shomyal Khan
• Mushahid Zafar Jafri

Institution: University of Management and Technology, Sialkot

License

All rights reserved by University of Management and Technology, Sialkot.

Support

For technical support or bug reports, please contact the development team.