SMA Astrophotography SIG - Introductions

Hi my name is Brett Joslin. I have been a member of SMA since January 2025. I joined to meet others near me with similar interests in astrophotography. I started nature photography in 2019 which I still love today. I took my first milkyway picture in 2020 then I was hooked. I started with a few small trackers like the move shoot move and upgraded to the iOptron Sky Guider Pro. Well from there I just needed more. 2022 I took my first wide DSO and I have been broke since then 😅.

I have been trying to build a nice rig over the last few years and still need some more equipment like a dedicated Astro camera, filter wheel, and filters. As of today I am limited by some old gear but all in due time then the sky is the limit. My interest right now with AP are pretty pictures, more or less fine art AP. A few examples on Astrobin would be Blueseed and Chris Lichtblau . They have a fine art quality that I aspire to have. The attraction is composition, aesthetics, and color. With that said I am open minded to other astronomy which is another reason I joined SMA, maybe I will discover another interest. I have a ton to learn yet and eat sleep and breath photography and astrophotography.


My Equipment:

Mounts

• Software Bisque Paramount MyT
• iOptron SkyGuider Pro

Telescopes

• Celestron Edge HD 11” (2800mm F/10, 1960mm F/7, & 540mm F/1.9)
• Radian Raptor 61 (275mm F/4.5)

Camera

• Astro Modified Canon 6D

Guide Camera

• ZWO ASI120
• PlayerOne Xenia-M

Software

• Software Bisque The SkyX
• PixInsight
• Adobe Photoshop

I am on the dark side, a dreaded Mac User. I have been my whole life since I went to school for Graphic Art. All my electronics are Apple so for now I may be sticking with it even though I might be shooting myself in the foot. A good reason for a Mac is I can used my laptop at my mount and then go inside to my computer for my imaging runs. Much warmer there.  Currently I am limited by my MacBook Pro, it’s outdated 2010 and having some bugs with the minor automation The SkyX does for my nightly imaging runs. I can image but it’s slowly taking days off of my life 🤣. I’m looking forward to collaborate with the SMA imagers!

P.S. Unfortunately last night I came to the realization I need to upgrade the Macbook which will set me back from the astronomy camera and filters. Looking for a used Apple Silicon MacBook to run the SkyX and potentially Kstars for automation. Let me know if you know anyone that has a used MacBook at a reasonable price. I have been looking on FB Marketplace but scared of it.

Dean Ostergaard:

Brett Joslin:
I am on the dark side, a dreaded Mac User.

I'm not sure this is the dark side. I'm a Mac user too, but for Astro I do make some compromises.

I like KStars when I can get it to run. Some options to consider . . .

• Get a mini PC MeLE Quieter 3Q or similar with a high performance M.2 SSD The MeLE came with Window 11 Pro. (Just a bit over $200 for both PC & Drive)
• Run N.I.N.A., PHD2, ASCOM, etc.
• Get a BuckEye Stargazer mount and dovetail saddle for the MeLE. (They make Losmandy D and Vixen styles). (Or just use velcro tape.)


• Get a StellarMate mini PC or a RaspberryPi or a mini PC like the MeLE and buy StellarMate OS.
• If you go the R-PI route don't skimp on the speed and quality of the Pi model or micro SSD cards.
• This system is a Linux variant and Runs KStars and INDI
• Has a Tablet / Phone App that you can use to control everything - much like the ASIAIR but more powerful.

I use the first option and run Remote Desktop to control the PCs from my Mac. I just installed a N.I.N.A. plugin called Touch N' Stars which provides a Web UI to control N.I.N.A. remotely from my iPad or iPhone. They also have an Android App. I haven't used it for real yet but the Web UI or App will be handy so I don't have to disconnect my MacBook Pro (2017) from the monitors and drives to drag it out for polar alignment and guide camera focusing.

I try to keep each OTA set up so that all I need do is change the imaging train (Cam, FW, etc.) An EAF and PC stay with each OTA. Then I can mount and unmount the whole thing as a unit. Plus when I get another mount I'll be able to run two at once.

BTW welcome to the club and the group! Glad to have you!

To be honest I was feeling discouraged and sort of dead in the water, now you have me thinking. My MacBook is a 2010 (10.13.6) and obsolete for the most part. I'm running an old version of The SkyX which I like and is the only software I have experience with other than an ASIAir which I still have. I saved the ASIAir for the smaller scope which I intend on using together. 

I just bought a Pegasus Astro Pocket PowerBox which is $324. I also have the Pegasus USB Control Hub which I was also going to use with the smaller scope but can switch it back to my primary scope. I bought the Power Box because I wanted to consolidate my dew heater. I eliminated using a Thousand Oaks Dew Heat Controller to a Jakery.  This dew controller was annoying because I had a thick and short wire hanging from my scope. 



I need to figure something else out here and your suggestions are within my budget. The StellarMate Pro 128gb is $599 and means I can return and eliminate the PowerBox I just bought. I also have a new iPad Pro which I can consider to bring in the mix if I have to but would like to avoid this if possible. I Also have an old iPad but that may be limited by its age.

I really like the SkyX especially because it has TPoint modeling and it is built to go with the Sb mounts. The only downside to this software is the lack of automation and sky graphics. The graphics are a minor issue for me.  The SkyX is compatible with Mac linux and Windows so some of your suggestions are also possible if I wanted to use that. Someone on the forums for Software Bisque suggested getting a Mac mini which Best Buy has the M2 chip on sale for $399 but this would leave me without a monitor.

Since my primary rig is sort of potable I would want a computer at the mount especially for polar alignment. If I do I can still have the option to use my iMac inside. 

What do you think Dean? You said you run a "remote desktop" with your Mac. Is that a parallel or special software? How do you do polar alignment?

Thanks for your suggestions and help!

Brett Joslin:
Hi my name is Brett Joslin....

Great examples of the Heart and Soul in RGB btw.  One of my favorite targets.  

Do you have all the Edge 11 accessories, reducer and Hyperstar?  Have you tried much deep sky with it?

Jeremy Wright:

Brett Joslin:
Hi my name is Brett Joslin....

Great examples of the Heart and Soul in RGB btw.  One of my favorite targets.  

Do you have all the Edge 11 accessories, reducer and Hyperstar?  Have you tried much deep sky with it?

Hi Jeremy, not sure how I missed your post here sorry about that. Yes I do have both the hyperstar and .7 reducer For that scope. As of now since I bought it second hand I have only used the reducer. The guy I bought it from sold a ton of accessories with it even an older model Moonlite focuser. I plan on using everything but felt I was learning too many things at once and didn’t want to create different circumstances that could cause problems that I needed to figure out. Plus shooting with the reducer is great!