PixInsight version 1.9 (Lockhart) released

PixInsight has released version 1.9 of its comprehensive image processing software platform. Under the codename Lockhart, the software contains a range of new functionality and improvements. These include:

• MultiScaleGradient, a new background gradient removal tool

• Image Synchronization, a much improved way to compare different views

• Fast Drizzle, a way to largely accelerate the drizzle process

• Faster and more robust platesolving

• Drag-and-drop of astrometric solutions

• Improvements in WBPP and FBPP

• Many more smaller improvements and bug fixes

After initial release there were a lot of bug reports from Mac-users, with a range of issues they ran into, including application crashes. So it may be worthwhile keeping a backup solution available as you upgrade. The PixInsight team has been very diligent in addressing the issues and have already issued two new releases with bug fixes. The official release as of this writing is 1.9.2.

PixInsight is a paid application. The upgrade to version 1.9 is free for licensed users and can be downloaded from the software distribution page. Anyone who wants to check out PixInsight, can request a trial license.