Replaced the median composition algorithms with variations on truncated mean that should result in slightly better results. Added support for 32-bit floating point output. This should improve image quality when there are a large number of input images and the noise in the input images is small. 32-bit output is off by default. It can be turned on in settings. See details online before turning it on--32-bit float data is not well supported in many image editing apps. Added support for lens distortion correction when processing RAW images. Lens distortion correction is off by default. See details online before turning it on. Bug fixes and significant internal changes to facilitate future upgrades. See full details at https://sites.google.com/site/starryskystacker/new-in-version-1-5

Improved alignment with images that are very noisy. EXIF data is no longer required in the image files but is highly recommended. If there is no EXIF data several parameters describing the camera have to be guessed. Sometimes the guess is wrong resulting in poor performance. Fixed a problem that could occur when there are mutually contradictory metadata values in the EXIF data. The minimum supported OS version is now macOS 10.14.6. It was macOS 10.11. The Apple development tools no longer support OS versions before 10.13 and recommend 10.14.6.

Reduced memory usage, particularly in the case where intermediate results are stored in a temp file instead of in memory.

• The alignment algorithm has been replaced. The new algorithm works much better with images that have few sharp stars to align. It is also much faster. • The limits on the values for white balance during RAW conversion have been broadened to support the use of light-pollution filters. • Fixed some issues with saving the preferences. • Fixed a some UI issues with the image classification panel.

Built for M1 Macs. I do not have an M1 Mac and cannot test this. Please send me mail if you have an M1 Mac and experience any difficulties. Fixed a problem that could occasionally cause a crash on start up when running on macOS 11. Minor UI changes to work better with macOS 11. Other minor bug fixes and UI adjustments.

New in version 1.4.0 - RAW files are now supported for a wide range of cameras. - A novel processing technique for dark frames has been added that results in very good correction of hot pixels and sensor glow with a small number of dark frames. - The workflow part of the user interface has been updated. - A problem with crashing when run on certain combinations of operating system and graphics hardware has been fixed. Full Details: https://sites.google.com/site/starryskystacker/new-in-version-1-4

Fixed an error that would cause a failure to align under certain combinations of lens focal length, sensor physical size and sensor pixel count. Failure was very likely with a telescope and a crop frame sensor. Added a check box at the bottom of the open panel that overrides any lens information in the EXIF data. This is useful to telescope users in two cases: you are using a smart phone or some other camera that always puts a focal length in the EXIF data with a telescope, you always use a telescope and are tired of typing "1000" into the pop-up dialog that asks for lens focal length.

Pinch zooming is now supported. Zoom level is displayed as a percentage, and can be typed in. Display update for almost all tasks is much faster, especially for MacOS 10.14 (Mojave) and later. Composition is more than 2x faster than version 1.2. Alignment is faster than version 1.2. Improved alignment where there are few stars to align (e.g., corners with vignetting). Changing images (with next/prev and arrow buttons) can be slightly slower. (This is a trade off with faster drawing in general). Minor bugs fixes and UI improvements.

Variable levels of zoom are now supported. A new composition algorithm has been added that may have lower noise under some conditions. Various fixes and improvements. Details here: http://sites.google.com/site/starryskystacker/new-in-version-1-2

Fixed some errors with computing and reporting required temporary file space. Fixed a problem dealing with incomplete EXIF data from some older cameras.

Fixed an error that would cause incorrect behavior when running on versions of the operating system prior to 10.13 while processing images that did not have the lens focal length in the Exif information.

- Fixed an error that could cause a crash when processing certain images using temp files. - Reduced the maximum amount that exposures can very within a group of images before warning the user. The maximum was set too high, occasionally resulting in artifacts in the final image without first warning the user.

- Very large numbers of images can now be stacked on computers with little memory because temporary files will be used instead of memory, if necessary. - Improved alignment under a wide range of conditions. - If the focal length of the lens is not found in the EXIF information the user is required to type in the focal length of the lens. - If the stars were not tracked accuratly the user is now required to check a box at the bottom of the open panel so that the alignment process can adapt to larger differences between images.

- Fixed errors creation of master flat-field frames and reporting of errors in input files that could cause a crash.