I think we somehow have wanted this (at least (1)) for years now. Unfortunately I just found even Barry's tools (Guide, section 8.2) are (sadly) no longer available. Any volunteers?

It was a blueprint, Matthew Gates filed it in 2009 (!):
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/stellarium/+spec/nebula-editor

An interactive tool for creating nebula texture sets. This includes modifying the StelSkyImageMgr class so that it can handle editing of the images sets, and allowing users to create new nebula sets, load images, manipulate their position (RE/Dec/Rotation/distortion), and generate the appropriate index files to save the nebula image set.

The code could be be done in a separated plugin.

The new JSON format allow to create multiresolution images, as described there: http://groups.google.com/group/astronomex/web/multi-resolution-image-webservice

A more advanced but very useful feature would be to provide the interface to an astrometry.net service, which automatically adjust the images position.

Skills needed: C++, Qt, GUI Design, knowledge in astronomy
Difficulty: a self contained mini-project touching various disciplines

Hello @gzotti
Just wanted to let you know that the link to the new JSON format gives a 404 error:
http://groups.google.com/group/astronomex/web/multi-resolution-image-webservice

I also tried applying to join the group but I got "error message #261 - reload" from the form :-(

Above text was copy-pasted from our previous blueprint at Launchpad. This is just to collect these ideas under this issue thread. Details of implementation will be left to whoever takes this challenge.

Ah thank you, got it.

In October 2019 we received a pretty good workflow description, now in the Stellarium User Guide.

This is a good task for the community to participate in the contribution into Stellarium. Who wants to help us?

see also #3964 (comment)