Genika Astro is an image acquisition software dedicated to astronomical imaging.
It supports high speed cameras from Andor, AVT, Basler, IDS, PointGrey, QHY, Raptor Photonics, Celestron / The Imaging Source cameras and ZWO
Presentation
- High speed image recording for lucky imaging of planets, Moon and Sun
- Star occultation by asteroid with support of low noise EMCCD cameras
- Mutual phenomena between the moons of the giant planets for photometrics analysis
- Any image acquisition that requires a high precision timestamping
- Automated high resolution solar acquisition when used with Airylab's Solar Scintillation Monitor
- Image acquisition based upon an external trigger
- Any specific astronomical application with a dedicated software development
Genika Astro is a high
performance and
feature rich image acquisition software dedicated to astronomical
applications. Genika Astro is used by professional observatories in
Europe and USA, and hundreds of backyard astronomers.
Designed for both professional and enthousiast astronomers, it brings the user a unique set of features that covers all applications of the short exposure imaging :
Designed for both professional and enthousiast astronomers, it brings the user a unique set of features that covers all applications of the short exposure imaging :
- High speed image recording for lucky imaging of planets, Moon and Sun
- Star occultation by asteroid with support of low noise EMCCD cameras
- Mutual phenomena between the moons of the giant planets for photometrics analysis
- Any image acquisition that requires a high precision timestamping
- Automated high resolution solar acquisition when used with Airylab's Solar Scintillation Monitor
- Image acquisition based upon an external trigger
- Any specific astronomical application with a dedicated software development
The
wide range of camera and sensors supported matches all needs, including
CCD, CMOS, sCMOS, EMCCD and NIR sensors from AVT, Basler, IDS, TIS,
Pointgrey, QHY, ZWO and Andor products. Airylab has passed an agreement with
Raptor Photonics and Genika Astro support the full camera line,
including the NIR Ninox camera.
Genika Astro offers the best performance for direct image-to-disk recording on the market. It can sustains more than 400MB/s throughput for a long period of time, the only limit being the disk capacity. It uses the advanced data management of its sister application Genika Trigger to miminize the frame loss, or even completly eliminate it by using the FIFO dynamic buffering and two leaky bucket algorythms.
Stringent timing requirement is covered either by the use of a GPS resynchronization for a precision better than 10ms, or using the optional UTC Timebox that controls the camera shutter directly for a sub millisecond precision unique on the market, even with a laptop anywhere in the world.
We are able to develop custom features or camera support for professional abservatories, including on the fly image analysis for external appliance control such as a spectrometer or another set of cameras.
And last but not least, Genika Astro user interface has been kept simple for a fast handling on the field, even without a training.
Genika Astro offers the best performance for direct image-to-disk recording on the market. It can sustains more than 400MB/s throughput for a long period of time, the only limit being the disk capacity. It uses the advanced data management of its sister application Genika Trigger to miminize the frame loss, or even completly eliminate it by using the FIFO dynamic buffering and two leaky bucket algorythms.
Stringent timing requirement is covered either by the use of a GPS resynchronization for a precision better than 10ms, or using the optional UTC Timebox that controls the camera shutter directly for a sub millisecond precision unique on the market, even with a laptop anywhere in the world.
We are able to develop custom features or camera support for professional abservatories, including on the fly image analysis for external appliance control such as a spectrometer or another set of cameras.
And last but not least, Genika Astro user interface has been kept simple for a fast handling on the field, even without a training.
Supported camera manufacturers
Note : Genika Astro supports color sensors on Basler, ZWO and TIS/Celestron cameras
Basler 1920-155um HA image shot with Genika Astro and Airylab’s HaT 203mm high resolution Ha telescope. Simon De Visscher.
Autofocusing with an Ascom focuser
Sequencer
Ephemeris
Focuser jog
Reticle and F/D automatic detection
Focus assistant by microcontrast analysis
Spectrum ramp false colors in black color theme
Collimation assistant and PSF analysis
SER Toolbox
SER file browser
News 12/15/2016
We introduce in release 2.13 new focusing features. A new scoring for manual focusing, and a unique autofocus when an ASCOM absolute focuser is available.
News 08/04/2015
Genika 2.9 brings autoguiding and the Solar Scintillation Monitor support
Now Genika can track your planet and automatically acquire
the
best images when used with a Solar Scintillation Monitor appliance.
News 18/07/2014
Genika 2.7 to support Raptor Photonics Kite EM-CCD
An agreement between Raptor Photonics and Airylab will bring the support of all Raptor cameras in Genika softwares along this year. We start with the Kite EM-CCD right away.
This version also brings a user selectable screen stretch feature for >8 bits modes, and two new rendering modes : inversed and log.
Note : Genika Astro supports color sensors on Basler, ZWO and TIS/Celestron cameras
Genika Astro features
Camera control
- Support for monochrome Andor SDK 3 (Neo/Zyla), Basler (all but camera link), IDS (All), AVT Prosilica (all), Celestron/The Imaging Source, Pointgrey (all), QHY (USB3), ZWO ASI (USB3) and Raptor Photonics (Camlink with EPIX framgrabber). Supports color Basler, QHY, ZWO and TIS/Celestron.
- Any pixel format available on the camera (8/10/11/12/14/16 bits).
- Shutter control from µs to the maximum exposure time supported by the camera.
- Gain, Black, Gamma, EM Gain, white balance...
- Binning 2x2.
- Mouse defined Area of Interest or quick preset setting.
- On the fly dark frame substraction.
- On the fly hot pixels correction.
- Image averaging.
- Shutter commanded by external electrical trigger.
- Save/load camera parameters (Basler/IDS/AVT), auto configuration saving along with an image acquisition.
- Acquisition parameters reminder in the status bar.
Image rendering
- Adjustable zoom from 25 to 200%, free with 5% increments in DirectX mode. Full screen mode. Auto fit to screen zoom.
- Programmable display and histogram refresh.
- On the fly debayer of color images for display. Can be disabled.
- DirectX rendering on GPU.
- Video stream preview, false colors mode with spectrum ramp, negative and log modes.
- Live histogram with Min, Max, Median, and Std Dev and Log mode. Horizontal/verticles levels display on the image from a selectable position.
- Selectable low/high visualization thresholds.
- Selectable analysis AoI (histogram, focusing...).
- Reticule with programmable circle and ticks in pixel or ArcSec.
- Mosaic helper.
- Low CPU utilization, advanced programming (sequential writing, heavy multithreading, double leacky bucket, DirectX rendering...).
Direct to disk
- Detachable acquisition panel.
- SER, GNK, Tangra ADV, TiFF and AVI file format for direct acquisition.
- Direct to disk or FIFO capture modes.
- Auto acquisition mode when used with a Solar Scintillation Monitor.
- SER color RAW format support in 8 and 12 bits modes.
- User defined file Prefix.
- Filter suffix, Flat and Offset file tags.
- File name timestamping, SER timestamping support.
- Txt file associated to each capture with acquisition parameters, ephemeris and seeing data (with SSM).
- Winjupos mid acquisition format in .txt file (hh :mn.d).
- Free run or frame/time limited captures.
- Fully featured repeatable multiline sequencer with focuser and filterwheel automatic control.
- Automatic focus correction at filter change during a sequence.
- On the fly image stabilization by center of gravity.
Files management
- Integrated SER file manager with preview and batch conversion to AVI, Tiff or FITS.
- Batch SER conversion to FITS (single, 3D Cube and multi images) with DATE-OBS.
- SER file timestamp correction to GPS timing (GPS required).
Advanded features
- Automatic real F/D detection.
- Quick telescope selection.
- Autoguiding through ASCOM pulse mode using center of gravity or phase correlation on object surface.
- Planets, Moon and Sun ephemerides without Internet access. Real time Alt/Az display.
- Sampling calculator and sampling advice.
- Telescope alignment assistant.
- PSF analysis tools including entropy, FFTD and FFTI with frequency filtering, and FWHM.
- Customizable filter/barlow/AoI list. List editors included.
- Focus wizard with micro-contrast and image slopes analysis and visualization and noise analysis.
- Automatic autofocus with an ASCOM absolute focuser.
- Automatic focus adjustment on filter change (requires ASCOM focuser and filterwheel).
- ASCOM filter wheel and focuser control.
- Focuser jog window.
- Selectable color themes.
- Online automatic software updates.
- Included support tool.
- High DPI aware application for Windows 8 and 10.
- Complete user manual in English and French.
SDK external DLL
- Visual Studio 2015 C# templates for DLL called on display event or at image reception event.
- External DLL is instanciated and can have its own windows, threads, methods, members...
Requirements
- Compatible camera (see matrix)
- Camera supplier .NET SDK installed
- ASCOM plateform for mount, filter wheel and focuser control.
- C2D CPU or better
- Recommanded SSD disk subsystem
- Windows Vista, 7, 8.1 or 10 (32 or 64 bits)
- .NET 4.61 client
Licensing
Genika Astro Std can support all cameras but Andor and Raptor. The license is bound to your camera(s) (up to 3) so you can use Genika on several PC as long as you use the same camera(s).
When ordering through Paypal, please provide your email address along with your cameras serial numbers. A license file will be generated and sent to you.
Try the application
You can try the application without license to check if it does support your camera. The record feature and the SER toolbox won't be available though.
Download Genika Astro
Download Genika 2.13 32bits
Download Genika 2.13 64bits
Camera control
- Support for monochrome Andor SDK 3 (Neo/Zyla), Basler (all but camera link), IDS (All), AVT Prosilica (all), Celestron/The Imaging Source, Pointgrey (all), QHY (USB3), ZWO ASI (USB3) and Raptor Photonics (Camlink with EPIX framgrabber). Supports color Basler, QHY, ZWO and TIS/Celestron.
- Any pixel format available on the camera (8/10/11/12/14/16 bits).
- Shutter control from µs to the maximum exposure time supported by the camera.
- Gain, Black, Gamma, EM Gain, white balance...
- Binning 2x2.
- Mouse defined Area of Interest or quick preset setting.
- On the fly dark frame substraction.
- On the fly hot pixels correction.
- Image averaging.
- Shutter commanded by external electrical trigger.
- Save/load camera parameters (Basler/IDS/AVT), auto configuration saving along with an image acquisition.
- Acquisition parameters reminder in the status bar.
Image rendering
- Adjustable zoom from 25 to 200%, free with 5% increments in DirectX mode. Full screen mode. Auto fit to screen zoom.
- Programmable display and histogram refresh.
- On the fly debayer of color images for display. Can be disabled.
- DirectX rendering on GPU.
- Video stream preview, false colors mode with spectrum ramp, negative and log modes.
- Live histogram with Min, Max, Median, and Std Dev and Log mode. Horizontal/verticles levels display on the image from a selectable position.
- Selectable low/high visualization thresholds.
- Selectable analysis AoI (histogram, focusing...).
- Reticule with programmable circle and ticks in pixel or ArcSec.
- Mosaic helper.
- Low CPU utilization, advanced programming (sequential writing, heavy multithreading, double leacky bucket, DirectX rendering...).
Direct to disk
- Detachable acquisition panel.
- SER, GNK, Tangra ADV, TiFF and AVI file format for direct acquisition.
- Direct to disk or FIFO capture modes.
- Auto acquisition mode when used with a Solar Scintillation Monitor.
- SER color RAW format support in 8 and 12 bits modes.
- User defined file Prefix.
- Filter suffix, Flat and Offset file tags.
- File name timestamping, SER timestamping support.
- Txt file associated to each capture with acquisition parameters, ephemeris and seeing data (with SSM).
- Winjupos mid acquisition format in .txt file (hh :mn.d).
- Free run or frame/time limited captures.
- Fully featured repeatable multiline sequencer with focuser and filterwheel automatic control.
- Automatic focus correction at filter change during a sequence.
- On the fly image stabilization by center of gravity.
Files management
- Integrated SER file manager with preview and batch conversion to AVI, Tiff or FITS.
- Batch SER conversion to FITS (single, 3D Cube and multi images) with DATE-OBS.
- SER file timestamp correction to GPS timing (GPS required).
Advanded features
- Automatic real F/D detection.
- Quick telescope selection.
- Autoguiding through ASCOM pulse mode using center of gravity or phase correlation on object surface.
- Planets, Moon and Sun ephemerides without Internet access. Real time Alt/Az display.
- Sampling calculator and sampling advice.
- Telescope alignment assistant.
- PSF analysis tools including entropy, FFTD and FFTI with frequency filtering, and FWHM.
- Customizable filter/barlow/AoI list. List editors included.
- Focus wizard with micro-contrast and image slopes analysis and visualization and noise analysis.
- Automatic autofocus with an ASCOM absolute focuser.
- Automatic focus adjustment on filter change (requires ASCOM focuser and filterwheel).
- ASCOM filter wheel and focuser control.
- Focuser jog window.
- Selectable color themes.
- Online automatic software updates.
- Included support tool.
- High DPI aware application for Windows 8 and 10.
- Complete user manual in English and French.
SDK external DLL
- Visual Studio 2015 C# templates for DLL called on display event or at image reception event.
- External DLL is instanciated and can have its own windows, threads, methods, members...
Requirements
- Compatible camera (see matrix)
- Camera supplier .NET SDK installed
- ASCOM plateform for mount, filter wheel and focuser control.
- C2D CPU or better
- Recommanded SSD disk subsystem
- Windows Vista, 7, 8.1 or 10 (32 or 64 bits)
- .NET 4.61 client
Licensing
Genika Astro Std can support all cameras but Andor and Raptor. The license is bound to your camera(s) (up to 3) so you can use Genika on several PC as long as you use the same camera(s).
When ordering through Paypal, please provide your email address along with your cameras serial numbers. A license file will be generated and sent to you.
Genika
time unlimited license is 70€
That opens all further updates as well.
For Genika Astro Pro with Andor and Raptor camera support, please contact us.
That opens all further updates as well.
For Genika Astro Pro with Andor and Raptor camera support, please contact us.
You can try the application without license to check if it does support your camera. The record feature and the SER toolbox won't be available though.
Download Genika Astro
Download Genika 2.13 32bits
Download Genika 2.13 64bits
Basler 1920-155um HA image shot with Genika Astro and Airylab’s HaT 203mm high resolution Ha telescope. Simon De Visscher.
Autofocusing with an Ascom focuser
Sequencer
Ephemeris
Focuser jog
Reticle and F/D automatic detection
Focus assistant by microcontrast analysis
Spectrum ramp false colors in black color theme
Collimation assistant and PSF analysis
SER Toolbox
SER file browser
News 08/11/2017
Jocelyn Sérot releases the first public plugin for Genika. Live Speckles calculates in real time the power spectrum and the auto correlation of a double star.
News 07/12/2017
Release 2.13.4.0 now supports QHY cameras, including color sensors.
Jocelyn Sérot releases the first public plugin for Genika. Live Speckles calculates in real time the power spectrum and the auto correlation of a double star.
News 07/12/2017
Release 2.13.4.0 now supports QHY cameras, including color sensors.
News 1/13/2017
Release 2.13.2.0 now offer the possibility to make our own DLL for image processing in Genika. You can develop an instanciated DLL with its own windows, threads, methods and members. The DLL entry methods are called by Genika. Two VS2015 C# projets examples are included, from that you can use any library and language.
Release 2.13.2.0 now offer the possibility to make our own DLL for image processing in Genika. You can develop an instanciated DLL with its own windows, threads, methods and members. The DLL entry methods are called by Genika. Two VS2015 C# projets examples are included, from that you can use any library and language.
News 12/15/2016
We introduce in release 2.13 new focusing features. A new scoring for manual focusing, and a unique autofocus when an ASCOM absolute focuser is available.
News 9/27/2016
Release 2.12 makes Genika Astro application aware for high DPI screen. Genika won't appears blurry anymore on Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 on a large high DPI screen.
Other enhancements and perfomance gains, espacially on the FIFO buffer management.
A pause button is back in freerun mode.
Histogram and levels have been modified for color cameras, the histogram now shows all three layers separatly when the debayer is active.
You may generate a contact mail from Genika when you have a bug or an issue. Genika will automatically attach information files to the mail.
Release 2.12 makes Genika Astro application aware for high DPI screen. Genika won't appears blurry anymore on Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 on a large high DPI screen.
Other enhancements and perfomance gains, espacially on the FIFO buffer management.
A pause button is back in freerun mode.
Histogram and levels have been modified for color cameras, the histogram now shows all three layers separatly when the debayer is active.
You may generate a contact mail from Genika when you have a bug or an issue. Genika will automatically attach information files to the mail.
News 4/22/2016
Release 2.11 is here. New list editors, quick telescope selection, quick preset AoI, selectable color themes, auto zoom mode...
Genika user interface evolves for more comfort !
Release 2.11 is here. New list editors, quick telescope selection, quick preset AoI, selectable color themes, auto zoom mode...
Genika user interface evolves for more comfort !
News
16/09/2015
Release 2.10 brings a better color camera management, PointGrey GigE and ZWO ASI USB3 camera support.
Release 2.10 brings a better color camera management, PointGrey GigE and ZWO ASI USB3 camera support.
It is now possible to use
the excellent IMX224 sensor within Genika.
News
29/07/2015
Pointgrey is back in Genika Astro.
Pointgrey is back in Genika Astro.
PointGrey support was a
strong request
from US and UK users who wanted to be able to use Genika and its SSM
connection for the automatic acquisition mode with their PGR camera.
Genika Astro supports monochrome USB2/USB3 and GigE interfaces.
This release also adds a powerful phase correlation guiding mode to guide on solar or lunar features. No need for a separate guider anymore in solar imaging anymore.
Genika Astro supports monochrome USB2/USB3 and GigE interfaces.
This release also adds a powerful phase correlation guiding mode to guide on solar or lunar features. No need for a separate guider anymore in solar imaging anymore.
News 08/04/2015
Genika 2.9 brings autoguiding and the Solar Scintillation Monitor support
News
03/02/2015
Genika 2.8 to support Raptor Photonics Falcon, Owl and Ninox
Genika 2.8 also brings amongst other features and improvments a new FIFO buffer mode when it is critical to not lose a single frame.
All FITS export have been revamped to comply with cFITSIO, including DATE-OBS field. FITS supported formats are Single FITS, 3D Cube FITS and multi image FITS. All this new format target astronomical applications such as mutual phenomenons on Jupiter moons and asteroides transits.
It is now possible to reclock precisely SER, FITS and ADV files with a precision better than 10ms.
Genika 2.8 to support Raptor Photonics Falcon, Owl and Ninox
Genika 2.8 also brings amongst other features and improvments a new FIFO buffer mode when it is critical to not lose a single frame.
All FITS export have been revamped to comply with cFITSIO, including DATE-OBS field. FITS supported formats are Single FITS, 3D Cube FITS and multi image FITS. All this new format target astronomical applications such as mutual phenomenons on Jupiter moons and asteroides transits.
It is now possible to reclock precisely SER, FITS and ADV files with a precision better than 10ms.
News 18/07/2014
Genika 2.7 to support Raptor Photonics Kite EM-CCD
An agreement between Raptor Photonics and Airylab will bring the support of all Raptor cameras in Genika softwares along this year. We start with the Kite EM-CCD right away.
This version also brings a user selectable screen stretch feature for >8 bits modes, and two new rendering modes : inversed and log.