Astro Capture

Astro Capture: Simplify Your Astrophotography Experience

Astro Capture is designed to make astrophotography easier and more accessible. With this application, you can capture RAW images directly from your ZWO ASI astro camera using your smartphone. By connecting your smartphone to your astro camera, you can transform your astro camera into a versatile photography tool.

The primary goal of Astro Capture is to provide a user-friendly interface that allows you to shoot both video and photos, which can then be processed further on your computer. This app supports a wide range of features to ensure that you have complete control over your imaging session.

Key Features

• Image Formats: Choose between RAW8 or RAW16 formats, with support for .TIFF and .FITS files.
• Video Formats: Record in RAW8 or RAW16 format using the .SER file extension.
• Manual Controls: Manually adjust exposure, resolution, gain, offset, and binning settings.
• Multiple Frame Options: Capture single frames or multiple frames (1, 3, 10, 50, 100, 1000).
• HDR Support: Utilize HDR capabilities with +/- 1, 3, or 5 stops.
• Timelapse Functionality: Set intervals for timelapse recordings.
• Temperature Monitoring: Keep track of your camera’s temperature.
• Zoom and Panning: Navigate through your images with ease.
• Flipping Options: Choose from no flipping, horizontal flipping, vertical flipping, or both.
• Grid Display: Use a frame grid (no grid, bull’s eye, thirds grid) for better composition.
• Statistics and Histogram: Monitor min/max statistics and view histograms.
• ROI Support: Define regions of interest for detailed analysis.
• Storage Solutions: Save your images and videos to internal storage or external media like microSD cards or hard drives.
• FPS and Lost Frame Indicator: Monitor frames per second and lost frames during recording.
• Remote Shutter Control: Trigger shutter controls using the volume up button.
• Metadata and Custom Descriptions: Add metadata and custom session descriptions.
• Display Control: Adjust gamma and subsampling settings.
• Camera Control: Manage USB bandwidth and video modes.
• Gallery and Sharing: Browse your captured images and videos, and share them easily.
• Shutter Countdown: For exposures longer than one second, use a countdown timer.

Supported Devices and Systems

• Cameras: ZWO ASI USB 3.0 astro cameras supported by the official SDK (e.g., ASI 178 MM, ASI 224 MC, ASI 178 MC, ASI 294 MC, ASI 585 MC, ASI 120 MC)
• Operating Systems: Android 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14

Tips and Notes

• During video recording, you can take photos and change the region of interest (ROI).
• Video recording automatically stops when free disk space drops below 32 MB.
• Users on Android 13 and above should enable USB OTG in their system settings.
• If your device struggles with USB bandwidth, consider lowering the resolution and bit depth.
• For optimal performance, use an USB splitter with Power Delivery (PD) and a USB 3.0 data port to charge your device while recording.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I can't connect the camera to my smartphone.
A: The camera might require a high peak current, which could cause your smartphone to refuse powering it. Try connecting the cable to your smartphone first to utilize the cable’s capacitance.

For more detailed instructions, refer to the User Manual.

Please note that Majinsoft and this app are not endorsed by ZWO in any way.