Hello from North Texas, USA

Software Bisque TheSky INDI Library Ekos Backyard Astrophotography Introductions
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Wade Prunty avatar
Wade Prunty avatar
Hello folks, this is my first time checking out the forum. I live in the DFW area of Texas (Bortle 9) and shoot out of my front and back yard. Front yard shooting means I have to stay up with the equipment all night, and I just finished a 21 day front yard project, so I'm worn out. I've been imaging since February of this year, and have learned a lot from the Clear Skies Network Twitch channel. Also, I'm either using an ASIAIR Pro on an iPad or TheSky and Ekos on a Mac mini. Apple user…WHAT WHAT!  smile
Daniel Erickson avatar
Daniel Erickson avatar
Greetings, Wade. I like the images you've posted so far… I started in February, too, and have had a RedCat since June…still with my Canon camera, but I am an Apple guy, too! Not easy for us, is it? How do you like the ASIAir/iPad combo?

Clear Skies,
Daniel
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Wade Prunty avatar
Wade Prunty avatar
Hi Daniel. Thanks! Yeah, I'm using the SpaceCat for wide field imaging and I love it. I also uses a few Canon DSLRs, and have taken some great photos with them. The M42 I posted here on Astrobin was taken with a Nikon D750 DSLR. As for the ASIAIR/iPad combo, I think it is the best all-around imaging experience available. Everything is done from one app, and it actually feels like it was written in the 21st century. There are some things missing from it, like observatory controls and support for non-ZWO equipment like astro cameras and focusers, so unfortunately it's not for everyone, but every astro app developer needs to take a hard look at it and realize the user experience it provides is what the newer generations of astrophotographers are looking for. I also use Ekos, which pretty much supports everything, and I love it, but I even think they need to move their app to more of an ASIAIR app experience. So, if you use ZWO equipment, or even DSLRs that they support, I think you'd really enjoy the ASIAIR Pro.

Clear Skies!
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Daniel Erickson avatar
Daniel Erickson avatar
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm so happy to hear your endorsement. I'm sticking with my Apple products, so my options are–as you know–narrower…and I never want to schlep a laptop around anywhere (besides, I'd have to buy one!).  I'm glad that the ASIAir is working so well for you; will undoubtedly be my direction, as well… eventually…. :-)

CS,
Daniel
Wade Prunty avatar
Wade Prunty avatar
FYI, Ekos runs on macOS, so if you're ever looking for a fully automated process, its out there for Mac users.

Daniel Erickson avatar
Daniel Erickson avatar
Thanks! I will investigate further–I hadn't heard of Ekos until you brought it up! smile
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