The popular AutoIntegrate.js script by Jarmo Ruuth has been updated to include both BlurXTerminator and the new Spectrophotometric Color Calibration process that were both recently introduced. Although these are just a couple of checkboxes and fields to fill-in, these represent a major update to both AutoIntegrate.js and PixInsight. The colorful image to the right, NGC 3621, was color calibrated using SPCC; there are rich colors throughout the image.

BlurXTerminator

When selecting this option under Other parameters in AutoIntegrate.js, this executes BlurXTerminator just before stretching occurs. You can also apply BlurXTerminator to your non-linear image by selecting the Sharpening option under the Extra processing section – AutoIntegrate.js ignores the iterations parameter if you select the BlurXTerminator option.

You can control the settings used by BlurXTerminator under the Saturation, noise reduction and sharpening settings, located under the Processing tab.

SpectrophotometricColorCalibration using AutoIntegrate.js

SpectrophotometricColorCalibration, or SPCC, is an advanced color calibration process which uses the Gaia catalog, which is the most precise and large spectrophotometric catalog in the history of astronomy. The SPCC process provides the most accurate color calibration for your images based on the Gaia catalog and filters used by the Gaia space telescope.

This advanced option is available in AutoIntegrate.js when used in conjunction with the Image solving and color calibration settings under the Processing tab.

If your FITS files have the coordinates of your target, AutoIntegrate.js will fill in the RA, Dec, and focal length parameters under the Image solving and color calibration settings. If the options are blank, search for your target and supply the telescope’s focal length for plate solving to succeed. A successful plate solution provides the basis for SPCC to work.

Note that SPCC is not run on narrowband images and when it executes, it only affects the RGB image (not the luminance).

Conclusion

In this article, you learned about how to use AutoIntegrate.js with BlurXTerminator and the new SPCC process in PixInsight.