Our processing guides are designed to be easy-to-follow tutorials with images and instructions. Learn how to process images of the subject step-by-step and achieve a result that you can be proud of! Processing guides can be accessed with the Processing Bundle or purchased individually. This is our shortest guide, and is taken from the processing section of the Star Trails Course.

  • Lifetime access with free updates

  • Compatible across platforms (Windows, Mac, Mobile...)

  • 7 videos with commentary | Written workflow for each step

  • Written workflow for each step

Get the BEST out of your Files

Don't underestimate how much potential your data has! Don't let the hundreds of pictures you took last night go to waste! Learn to blend them all together to create a beautiful single image full of clean star trails.

Reviews

Jeff Halter

5 star rating

“It has been quite a learning curve for me because it really is hard to teach old dogs new tricks. I started in 1982 and set my scope aside in 2001. I started again in 2020 and things have really changed. This was just the thing I needed to get bac...”

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“It has been quite a learning curve for me because it really is hard to teach old dogs new tricks. I started in 1982 and set my scope aside in 2001. I started again in 2020 and things have really changed. This was just the thing I needed to get back on track.”

→Read Less

James Glucksman

5 star rating

“I've been following Antoine and Dalia for a while now, and have always enjoyed their tutorials, so when I saw they had put together this course, I was interested, but initially was unsure what I would learn from it, since I have been into astropho...”

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“I've been following Antoine and Dalia for a while now, and have always enjoyed their tutorials, so when I saw they had put together this course, I was interested, but initially was unsure what I would learn from it, since I have been into astrophotography for a little while now. Still, I decided to go ahead and it has proved to be very worthwhile! I learned quite a few new tricks, particularly on the subject of using Pixinsight, and found that I was able to go back to some of my old photos and dramatically improve them using the tips and tricks I picked up from this course. Looking forward to the future seasons!”

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Kenneth Harrison

5 star rating

“Great job covering these topics! Look forward to more great learning!”

“Great job covering these topics! Look forward to more great learning!”

→Read Less

Course Curriculum

    1. Welcome to our Star Trails Processing Workflow!

    2. Table of Contents

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. How to Navigate this Course

    4. Come Say Hello! ☕️

    5. Before We Start

    6. Download Our Raw Files!

    1. Importing and Organizing the Files

    2. Lightroom: Enhancing the Images

    1. Photoshop: Creating Star Trails & Removing Plane Trails

    2. StarStax: Creating Star Trails

    3. Photoshop: Blending a Foreground

    1. The Final Image

    2. Before you go...

    3. The Galactic Course Ultimate Bundle

    1. Transforming Star Trail Data into a Video

    2. PixInsight Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

About this course

  • $18.00
  • 16 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content

Merge Star Trails Shots in just 10 minutes

Perfect for beginners and advanced astrophotographers!

This is a short and sweet guide that will teach you the best techniques to combine hundreds of pictures very quickly! Learn to use either Photoshop of StarStax and see your star trails appear in real-time! You can then export your final result as a single image!
StarStax to merge star trails

Combine Foreground and Sky

Merge your Star Trails with a different Foreground

Not a fan of the foreground in your image? Learn how to use Photoshop to combine your star trails sky with a foreground you shot on site! Get tips to ensure the composite is as natural and accurate as possible so that your final image is true to life!
Combine Foreground and star trails sky in Photoshop

Ready to Process?

DSLR/Mirrorless Data

Whether you are planning to use your own pics or the provided files, you can be certain to get great results. Thanks to its easy-to-follow structure, you will be able to open this guide on the side every time you work on a new image until you have absorbed all the steps and techniques naturally.
Star Trails merging guide

Learn to Animate your Star Trails!

From picture to video

Done with your image? Before your discard your original files, learn an easy way to transform your data into a cool time-lapse video that also shows star trails! This makes a great and impressive animation, and only takes a few minutes to create.
Animate star trails

Full Access to the Galactic Lounge ☕️

A Space where Everyone is Welcome

Join the Galactic Lounge, a growing community for astrophotographers to connect, share tips, ask questions, and get expert help. Access a supportive forum for all things Astrophotography, share photos, and stay updated on events and announcements!
Enter the Galactic Lounge Now
Galactic Lounge Community Home page

Free PixInsight Shortcuts PDF

All the Shortcuts in One Place

Get access to a printable PDF file that lists the PixInsight Keyboard Shortcuts, all on one single sheet. This is a very useful resource to have on the side which will make your processing much faster.
PixInsight shortcuts sheet

Get the Star Trails Processing Guide Now

Instantly access our Star Trails Processing Workflow and start learning immediately!

Buy Now

Bonus Material

  • Personal Files

    This workflow contains 106 high-quality files of the night sky ready to be combined. You can download this data to practice or follow along with the guide.

  • Discount for Ultimate Bundle

    Upon completion of this course, you receive a $50 discount for access to our Ultimate Bundle - which provides access to all courses and guides, plus perks.

Antoine Grelin

Instructor Bio:

Antoine Grelin is a French-American astrophotographer and is one-half of Galactic Hunter. Along with his wife Dalia, Galactic Hunter offers astrophotography tutorials, guides, gear reviews, and complete courses for all levels of skill and equipment.
Galactic Hunter images have been featured in NASA publications, Astronomy Magazine, BBC, and PBS Television, and have been recognized with awards from APOD, Flickr Explore, AAPOD2, and more.

Antoine Grelin

Instructor

Awards & Features

Our astrophotography has been featured in the following and many more:

  • AAPOD 2 Logo
  • PetaPixel France
  • NASA Logo
  • BBC Sky At Night magazine
  • PBS Outdoor Nevada astrophotography
  • Universo Magico Logo
  • ZWO Logo
  • QHYCCD logo
  • Space Junk podcast logo
  • Star Trails astrophotography with a plane
  • Star Trails photography
  • Star Trails behind a snowy mountain

FAQ

  • Do I need my own Star Trail files to use the course?

    Not necessarily. We encourage you to use your own data, but also provide high-quality files of the night sky that we shot from the Nevada desert! You can download these files to follow along and do exactly what we do in the videos with the exact same pictures. This is great if you'd like to practice before using your own data.

  • How long will I have access to the course material?

    Courses that are purchased individually give you lifetime access with no expiry date. Bundles on the other hand, which include all courses at a low price, have a small yearly renewal fee. More info on that can be found on the bundle pages.

  • What kind of support is available if I have questions during the course?

    We receive a lot of emails and messages on social media each day from people seeking help with astrophotography. We do our best to reply to everyone, but it is not always possible. We prioritize emails from both Galactic Course members and Patreon.

  • Can I access the course on mobile devices?

    Yes, you can access the course on any device, which include computers, tablets, and smartphones.

  • Can I access the course offline?

Additional products

Our premium course and other processing guides