We present AstroWISP: a collection of image processing tools for source extraction, background determination, point spread function/pixel response function fitting, and aperture photometry. AstroWISP is particularly well-suited for working with detectors featuring a Bayer mask (an array of microfilters applied to each detector pixel to allow color photography), such as consumer DSLR cameras. Such detectors pose significant challenges for existing tools while offering a much cheaper alternative to specialized devices. As a result, consumer DSLR cameras with Bayer masks are often underutilized for precision photometry. \astrowisp{} addresses this limitation in an effort to democratize precision photometry and support broader community participation in research. We demonstrate that our tools produce high-precision photometry from such images, enabling the use of such devices for detecting exoplanet transits. We package our tools for all major operating systems to ensure accessibility for amateur astronomers.
@article{arxiv.2507.14289,
title = {Tools for High Precision Photometry from Wide-Field Color Images},
author = {Kaloyan Penev and Angel Romero and S. Javad Jafarzadeh and Olivier Guyon and Wilfred Gee and Preethi Krishnamoorthy},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.14289},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
Accepted for publication in AJ, 9 pages, 5 figures