Live Stacking takes the StellaVita App 2.0 astrophotography experience to the next level!
With the latest Live Stacking feature, StellaVita App 2.0 transforms traditional deep-sky imaging into a more intuitive workflow. Instead of waiting until the imaging session is over to stack and process your photos on a computer, you can now watch your image improve frame by frame while you're still capturing.
The result?
A faster workflow, instant previews, and more confidence during every imaging session.
Why Live Stacking?
Traditional deep-sky astrophotography usually requires capturing all light frames first, then transferring the images to a computer for stacking, calibration, and noise reduction.
With StellaVita App 2.0 Live Stacking, the stacking process begins during image acquisition. Each captured frame is automatically aligned, stacked, and processed in real time, with the continuously improving image displayed directly on your mobile device.
As more frames are added, the signal-to-noise ratio increases, revealing finer details and cleaner structures.
This means you can:
- Preview your final image while you're still capturing.
- Eliminate the need to export images for quick viewing.
- Reduce post-processing time for casual imaging sessions.
- Instantly evaluate focus, exposure, polar alignment, and framing.
- Avoid wasting hours collecting unusable data.
- Build higher-quality datasets for later advanced processing.
How to Use Live Stacking
Step 1. Prepare Your Equipment
Before starting Live Stacking, make sure:
- Your telescope and mount are properly set up.
- Focus has been accurately adjusted.
- Polar alignment has been completed.
- The target object has been centered using GoTo.
Step 2. Preview and Adjust Imaging Parameters
Switch to Single Frame mode in the lower-left corner of the app. Capture a few test exposures to fine-tune the exposure time, gain, and other imaging parameters, ensuring your target is properly framed before proceeding.
Step 3. Capture Calibration Frames
To achieve clean and accurate stacking results, capture calibration frames before imaging your Light Frames. StellaVita App 2.0 supports Flat, Dark, and Bias Frames, which help correct sensor read noise, dark current, vignetting, dust shadows, and other optical artifacts, resulting in higher-quality stacked images.
Capture Procedure:
Switch to Stacking Mode, then tap Stacking Settings.
Select the calibration frame type you wish to capture and specify the number of frames.
Recommended exposure settings:
- Bias Frames: Use the shortest available exposure time.
- Dark Frames: Use exactly the same exposure time as your Light Frames.
- Flat Frames: Adjust exposure so the histogram average is approximately 25,000–40,000 ADU, producing an evenly illuminated frame without overexposure.
StellaVita App 2.0 can also automatically recommend an appropriate flat-frame exposure, eliminating repeated trial-and-error adjustments.
Once configured, tap the Capture button.
The app will display preparation instructions for each calibration frame type.
For example:
- Bias Frames: Cover the telescope before capturing.
- Flat Frames: Point the telescope toward the zenith or use a dedicated flat panel.
If you'd like to export every calibration frame afterward, simply enable Save Single Frames before capturing.
For maximum efficiency, you could capture calibration frames before guiding begins. Once guiding is stable, those calibration masters can be selected directly when Live Stacking starts.
Changing to another calibration frame type requires resetting the capture progress.
Step 4. Start Live Stacking
Under Light Frames, select the calibration master files you have captured. After confirming the imaging parameters and stacking settings, tap the Capture button to start Live Stacking. StellaVita App 2.0 will continuously capture Light Frames, automatically align each exposure, and accumulate them into a stacked image while displaying the live result on the screen in real time.
Calibration File Naming
Calibration files follow a consistent naming convention for easy identification:
- LS indicates a Live Stacking image.
- MasterFlat or MFlat indicates the completed Master Flat.
- Other master calibration files follow the same naming convention.
After you select and enable the calibration frames in Stacking Settings, StellaVita App 2.0 automatically verifies that they are compatible with the current imaging settings. If any parameters—such as exposure time, gain, image resolution, offset, or camera temperature—do not match, the app displays a warning before Live Stacking begins.
Step 5. Monitor Your Image in Real Time
During stacking, StellaVita App 2.0 displays:
- Current frame type
- Number of completed frames
- Estimated remaining time
- Live histogram
You can also adjust the histogram stretch at any time to better reveal faint structures and improve the preview.
Saving Your Images
Live Stacking provides two output formats for different workflows.
- Save to Mobile Device (JPG)
Images saved to your mobile device are exported as JPG files.
These images have already been processed through stacking, noise reduction, and basic image optimization, making them ready for immediate viewing, sharing, or posting on social media.
- Save to StellaVita App 2.0 Device (FITS)
Images stored on the StellaVita App 2.0 device are saved as stacked FITS files.
These remain linear, unprocessed astrophotography data, making them ideal for advanced post-processing with desktop software such as PixInsight, Siril, or DeepSkyStacker.
All Live Stacking files can be found under:
Images → Internal Storage → Live Stacking
Experience Smarter Deep-Sky Imaging
By integrating stacking directly into the imaging process, StellaVita App 2.0 makes deep-sky astrophotography more intuitive, efficient, and reliable.
Instead of waiting until you're back at your computer, you can evaluate image quality instantly, reduce failed imaging sessions, and achieve higher-quality results with greater confidence.
As StellaVita App 2.0 continues to evolve, we're committed to making astrophotography simpler, smarter, and more enjoyable for everyone—from beginners to experienced imagers.