# Mac Observatory > The definitive resource for astrophotography on the Mac. Native macOS and iOS software reviews, telescope and camera guides, processing tutorials, and three original apps: Laminar, Strata, and Meridian. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About Mac Observatory URL: https://macobservatory.com/about/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T16:22:45.000Z *One backyard, one Mac, and a question nobody was answering.* I have been fascinated by space for as long as I can remember. As a kid in Houston, I joined the Young Astronauts Club at the Museum of Natural Science, went to Space Camp, and even worked at NASA while studying graphic design at the University of Houston. That design career introduced me to my first Mac — and they have been at the center of my work ever since, both professionally and in my passion for astrophotography. ![Andrew Burwell](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/about-andrew-profile.webp) Yours truly…not an actual astronaut, and not an actual space suit. The Mac has been my constant through two decades of creative and digital strategy work: art directing gaming magazines like XBOX Nation, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and Computer Gaming World, then leading creative direction and web strategy at SLB, one of the world’s largest energy technology companies. Every project, every pixel, every deliverable — all on a Mac. So when I pointed a telescope at the sky for the first time and wanted to photograph what I saw, there was never a question about what platform I’d use. The question was whether the platform would cooperate. About ten years ago, I bought my first telescope and started experimenting in my backyard in Houston — Bortle 9, the most light-polluted skies you can image under. I tethered a DSLR to my 2015 MacBook Pro and captured whatever I could point it at. Those first images were not perfect, but they lit a fire in me. They proved you do not need NASA’s equipment to photograph nebulas, galaxies, and planets. ## The story so far, by the numbers 20+ Years in Design & Strategy From art directing gaming magazines to leading global web strategy, all on a Mac. 10+ Years in Astrophotography From a DSLR on a tripod to a remote observatory 1,500 miles away. 5 Native Mac Apps Three on the Mac App Store, one in beta, one free and open source. Swift and SwiftUI throughout. No ports, no wrappers, no subscriptions. Bortle 1 Dark Sky at DSP Remote, NM Among the darkest skies in North America, operated remotely from Houston. ## From Bortle 9 to Bortle 1 Those early backyard sessions taught me two things. First, that astrophotography is an incredibly rewarding pursuit — there is nothing quite like pulling detail out of an object thousands of light-years away using equipment you set up yourself. Second, that light pollution is a formidable enemy. From my Houston backyard, I was fighting the glow of 7 million people to capture faint nebulae that were barely registering on my sensor. That fight eventually led me 1,500 miles west to Animas, New Mexico, and a remote telescope hosting facility called DSP Remote. Today, I operate a Takahashi TOA-130NFB refractor paired with a ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro camera and Chroma narrowband filters under some of the darkest skies in North America — Bortle 1\. I control the entire system remotely from Houston using N.I.N.A. imaging software, connecting from my Mac Studio, MacBook Air, or even my iPad while traveling. I also maintain a planetary imaging setup closer to home, using a Celestron EdgeHD 11” and ZWO ASI cameras for high-frame-rate capture of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and the Moon. Planetary and deep sky imaging are different disciplines with different workflows, different software, and different challenges — but they both run entirely on the Mac. ![The Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/about-crescent-nebula.webp) The Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) — an emission nebula about 5,000 light-years away in Cygnus, formed by powerful stellar winds from a massive Wolf-Rayet star. Over 20 hours of total exposure across several nights, all controlled and processed on a Mac. ## Building the Resource Early on, I found it frustratingly difficult to locate Mac-compatible astronomy tools. Forum threads were full of “just use Windows” responses. Software directories didn’t filter by platform. Developers buried macOS compatibility deep in their documentation — if they mentioned it at all. The information existed, but it was scattered across dozens of forums, developer sites, and Reddit threads, and much of it was out of date. So I created macobservatory.com, which now hosts the most comprehensive listing of astronomy and astrophotography software for the Mac. What started as a personal reference became a global resource. The site covers everything from capture and guiding software to stacking, processing, plate solving, planetarium programs, and FITS viewers — all verified for macOS compatibility, continuously updated, and independently maintained. Along the way, the site became more than a directory. I started writing tutorials, publishing equipment deep-dives, and sharing what I learned about making specific hardware and software combinations work on macOS. I run live image processing sessions, help users set up Macs with their astrophotography equipment, and recommend the best software for specific needs. Sharing this knowledge has kept me engaged in the hobby in a way that working alone never could. ## Building the Software After years of reviewing every astronomy app on the Mac, cataloging what existed and what didn't, a pattern became impossible to ignore: the gaps were not shrinking. Planetary capture had no serious native option. Planetary stacking meant running Windows emulators or fighting with Python installations. There was no clean way to manage a deep sky imaging archive on macOS without spreadsheets or folder diving. And nothing simply told you when to look up — whether tonight's sky was worth the trouble, and what was happening in it — without opening three apps to find out. So I started building what was missing. I have no formal coding background. I am a designer who taught himself Swift and SwiftUI because the tools I needed did not exist, and I was tired of waiting for someone else to build them. The Mac Observatory Suite is a family of native macOS apps built from scratch on Apple Silicon — no ports, no wrappers, no Electron shells, no subscriptions. Transit lives in the menu bar and answers the first question of any session — is tonight worth it? It folds live sky conditions and an atmospheric seeing estimate into a single glance, lists the planetary, lunar, and satellite events worth catching, and only sends an alert when a target is genuinely observable. Laminar handles planetary capture with real-time frame quality analysis, so you know your session is sharp before you stack. Strata replaces the entire Windows planetary processing workflow — AutoStakkert, Registax, PIPP — in one native app with GPU-accelerated stacking. And Meridian reads every FITS header in your imaging folders, resolves objects across 19 catalogs, and builds a searchable visual archive of your work. One more app is free and open source: Ephemeris, a native reader for PHD2 guide logs that turns raw autoguiding data into multi-session periodograms and orthogonality readouts. Mac Observatory Suite ## Built for the Mac. Built for Astronomers. Native macOS apps filling the gaps the astronomy community has been waiting for. The Observing Workflow Look Up → Capture → Process → Archive [ Transit Astronomical Events Mac App Store ](https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events/) [ Laminar Planetary Capture Mac App Store ](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) [ Strata Stack & Sharpen Public Beta ](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) [ Meridian Deep Sky Archive Mac App Store ](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) It starts with Transit: live conditions and tonight's events tell you whether the sky is worth it. From there the planetary chain takes over, with Laminar capturing and Strata stacking and sharpening on the GPU. Meridian covers the other half of the hobby, turning a deep sky imaging archive into a catalog you can actually search. Guiding Diagnostics Free & Open Source [ Ephemeris PHD2 guide log viewer: multi-session periodograms and orthogonality readouts, native on your Mac. ](https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris-phd2-log-viewer/) Swift & SwiftUI · Apple Silicon Native · Metal GPU · No Subscriptions ## My Current Setup Two Macs, Two Roles ### Mac Studio - Apple M3 Ultra - 96 GB Unified Memory - macOS Tahoe 26.3 - 2025 Model Processing Workstation — PixInsight, APP, Photoshop, Xcode, and app development ### MacBook Air - Apple M4 - 24 GB Unified Memory - 14” Display - 2025 Model Field & Travel — planetary capture, remote observatory access, light processing Previously: a 2017 iMac Pro (8-core Xeon, 32 GB RAM, external RAID). The Mac Studio replaced it at several times the performance in a fraction of the space. ## The Mac at the Center Every image I create — whether it is a nebula requiring dozens of hours of exposure or the fine detail of a distant planet — is captured, processed, and perfected on a Mac. I plan sessions in SkySafari Pro. I control my telescope and camera through KStars/EKOS. I stack and integrate data in PixInsight and Astro Pixel Processor. I refine details and color in Photoshop. And increasingly, I build the tools themselves in Xcode. For me, the Mac is not just part of my workflow. It is the heart of how I explore and share the universe. Mac Observatory exists because I believe Mac users deserve better than “just use Windows” — and because I intend to keep proving that every step of astrophotography can be done natively, beautifully, and without compromise on the platform we already love. Astrophotography from the Mac Perspective Guides • Tutorials • Native Mac Software [The Complete Guide](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) [Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) ### Start Here: Your Intro to Astronomy & Astrophotography on the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/start-here/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T15:59:01.000Z Mac Observatory is the most comprehensive resource for doing astrophotography on a Mac: software directories covering 60+ macOS applications, hardware buying guides, step-by-step tutorials, and four native macOS apps built specifically for astronomers. The site exists because too many astronomers still assume astrophotography requires Windows, and that hasn't been true for a while now. Whether you're exploring whether a Mac can handle astrophotography, searching for the right software, or ready to go deeper with tutorials and reviews, this page will point you in the right direction. Here's where to start based on where you are in your journey. Where are you in your journey? Find Your Path [ Can I do this on a Mac? Start with the complete guide. It covers what works, what's improving, and how to build a Mac-based astrophotography workflow. ](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) [ I need software and tools Browse the Mac astronomy software directory, the most comprehensive listing of every macOS-compatible astronomy application available. ](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) [ I'm set up and want to learn more Dive into reviews, tutorials, and in-depth software guides written from a Mac astrophotographer's perspective. ](https://macobservatory.com/articles/) Not sure yet? No wrong door. Every section links back to the others, and the [FAQ](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac-faq/) answers most common questions in a few sentences. ## New to Mac Astrophotography? If you're still deciding whether a Mac belongs in your imaging workflow, start with the complete guide. It covers everything from capture to processing to the current state of Mac-compatible drivers and tools. Already convinced and shopping for hardware? The buying guide breaks down which Mac makes sense for different types of imaging work. - [Astrophotography on the Mac: The Complete Guide](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) . The full picture: what works, what's improving, and how to build a Mac-based workflow from the ground up. - [Which Mac for Astrophotography?](https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/) . Hardware recommendations for field laptops, processing desktops, and everything in between. - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac-faq/) . Quick answers to the most common questions about imaging on macOS. ## Find Your Software The Mac astronomy software directory is our most-visited page, a continuously updated listing of every astronomy and astrophotography application available for macOS, organized by workflow category. It's the single best place to discover what's available, what's native to Apple Silicon, and what's worth your time. - [Mac Astronomy Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) . The comprehensive listing of macOS astronomy applications, from planetariums to image processing. - [iPhone & iPad Astronomy Apps](https://macobservatory.com/iphone-ipad-astronomy-software/) . Mobile companion apps for planning, polar alignment, weather, and more. - [Useful Astronomy Websites](https://macobservatory.com/useful-astronomy-websites/) . Curated external resources for research, data, and community. ## Mac Observatory Apps We build native macOS tools for astrophotographers, designed specifically for Apple Silicon and the workflows that have historically required Windows. - [Transit](https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events/) . Live sky conditions, a synthesized seeing score, and tonight's events in your menu bar. - [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) . Planetary capture with live frame-quality and focus tracking, and hardware-accelerated SER recording. - [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) . Planetary stacking, derotation, and wavelet sharpening, built from the ground up for macOS. - [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) . Deep sky imaging archive and catalog for organizing, searching, and revisiting your work. ## Go Deeper Mac Observatory publishes reviews, tutorials, and in-depth software coverage for the Mac astrophotography community. Whether you're evaluating a new camera, learning a processing technique, or trying to decide between two applications, there's likely something here for you. - [Reviews](https://macobservatory.com/tag/reviews/) . Honest, first-hand assessments of equipment and software from a Mac user's perspective. - [Tutorials](https://macobservatory.com/tag/tutorials/) . Step-by-step guides for capture, processing, and workflow optimization on macOS. - [Software Guides](https://macobservatory.com/tag/software/) . Deep dive coverage of key astronomy applications and how they fit into a Mac-based workflow. Frequently Asked Questions Quick answers to the most common questions about astrophotography on a Mac. Can I do astrophotography on a Mac?+ Yes. The macOS ecosystem now supports complete astrophotography workflows, from camera capture and telescope control through image stacking, processing, and archive management. Free tools like Siril, KStars/EKOS, and PHD2 cover the core pipeline, while commercial options like PixInsight and Astro Pixel Processor deliver professional-grade results. Mac Observatory's [Complete Guide](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) covers the full picture. What software do I need to get started?+ At minimum: a capture application (Laminar for planetary, KStars/EKOS or INDIGO A1 for deep sky), a stacking tool (Siril is free and handles the full pipeline), and an autoguider (PHD2) if you're doing long-exposure deep sky imaging. The [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) catalogs every option across 12 workflow categories. Which Mac should I buy for astrophotography?+ Any Apple Silicon Mac handles astrophotography well, but memory matters more than the chip. 24GB is the practical minimum: 16GB is fine for post-processing a single image but struggles with PixInsight WBPP. 48GB is comfortable for large datasets, drizzle, and 60MP sensors, and 64GB or more suits large mosaics. Apple Silicon RAM is not upgradeable, so buy more than you think you need. Mac Observatory's [buying guide](https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/) breaks down recommendations by use case and budget. Do I need Windows for any part of astrophotography?+ Not anymore. macOS has INDI and INDIGO driver frameworks that replace Windows-only ASCOM, and native or cross-platform applications exist for every stage of the imaging workflow. What remains are convenience and community gaps rather than capability gaps: N.I.N.A.'s plugin ecosystem is broader than the one around KStars/EKOS, most tutorials assume Windows software, and a few niche tools have no Mac version. The [full FAQ](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac-faq/) covers 65 questions like this in detail. Mac Observatory Astrophotography from the Mac perspective The most comprehensive resource for Mac-compatible astronomy software, hardware guides, and community perspective. [Software Directory →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) [The Complete Guide →](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) [Which Mac? →](https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/) macobservatory.com · Software, guides, and community for Mac-using astronomers ### Mac Astrophotography FAQ: Software, Hardware & Workflows URL: https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac-faq/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T15:59:49.000Z ## The Big-Picture Questions Can I really do astrophotography on a Mac?+ Yes, all of it. You can control your telescope, automate imaging sequences, guide, plate solve, stack, process, and enhance your images entirely on macOS. In areas like AI-accelerated processing, Apple Silicon Macs outperform most Windows setups. Cross-platform protocols (INDI, INDIGO, Alpaca), native automation suites (KStars/EKOS, INDIGO A1), and dedicated capture hardware (ASIAIR) make Windows optional at every step. See the [Complete Guide](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) for the full picture. What advantages does Apple Silicon give astrophotographers?+ Unified memory means the GPU and CPU share one memory pool with no copying between them. That makes GPU-accelerated tools like StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, and NoiseXTerminator faster on Mac than on most Windows systems, because CoreML uses the Neural Engine with zero configuration. Power efficiency matters too: a MacBook Air runs capture sessions all night on battery with no fan noise to affect guiding. Metal gives native apps hardware acceleration without CUDA driver complexity. Why has astrophotography software historically been Windows-only?+ Because of ASCOM. The Astronomy Common Object Model was built on Microsoft's COM framework, which made it architecturally Windows-only. Every automation package and every hardware driver was built on it, so for nearly two decades "astrophotography software" effectively meant "Windows software." That changed with INDI (cross-platform, open source), INDIGO (Mac-first), and ASCOM Alpaca (REST-based, any platform). Can I run Windows astrophotography software on my Mac?+ Boot Camp is gone on Apple Silicon. You can run Windows in a virtual machine with Parallels Desktop or UTM, but performance varies and hardware passthrough is unreliable. Most users find the native alternatives (KStars/EKOS, INDIGO A1, ASIAIR, Siril, PixInsight) work well enough that virtualization is unnecessary. For the few remaining Windows-only tools, a cheap mini PC at the telescope is more reliable than virtualizing. What is the Mac equivalent of N.I.N.A.?+ KStars with EKOS is the closest equivalent, a free and open-source automation platform that runs natively on macOS. It covers capture sequences, plate solving, auto-focus, polar alignment, guiding, mosaic planning, meridian flips, and multi-target scheduling. INDIGO A1 from CloudMakers is the premium native alternative. Both connect to equipment through INDI or INDIGO drivers. Is astrophotography on Mac more expensive than Windows?+ Software costs are comparable or lower. KStars/EKOS, Siril, PHD2, Stellarium, and ASTAP are free, and PixInsight costs the same on both platforms. The hardware costs more, and there is no Mac equivalent of a cheap field laptop. If you put an ASIAIR at the telescope, the Mac only needs to handle processing. Apple raised Mac prices in June 2026 during the memory shortage, so the hardware gap is wider than it was at the start of the year. Should I buy a cheap Windows mini PC for the telescope and keep my Mac for processing?+ Many Mac users do this and it works. A budget Windows mini PC running N.I.N.A. handles field capture while the Mac handles processing. Before you go that route, consider two things: the ASIAIR does the same job with a better mobile app and no Windows administration, and KStars/EKOS already runs natively on your Mac. The strategy is valid, but it may be solving a problem that no longer exists. What about Hackintosh?+ Don't. Hackintosh was always fragile and is effectively dead with Apple Silicon. Driver gaps, compatibility breakage, and update instability make it unsuitable for anything you need to depend on during an imaging session. Use a real Mac or a real Windows machine. Does macOS have any advantages over Windows for astrophotography?+ Several. AI tools run faster through CoreML and the Neural Engine with zero configuration. MacBook Air and Mac mini are fanless, which matters for guiding. Power management is better for field sessions. Unified memory removes the GPU memory bottleneck. There is no Windows Update rebooting the machine mid-sequence. And unattended all-night sessions need an OS that stays up, which macOS does well. How do I get started with astrophotography on my Mac?+ Start with a planetarium app to learn the sky; Stellarium is free. If you have a DSLR and a tripod you can shoot widefield tonight, no telescope required. For telescope imaging, the ASIAIR is the easiest entry point: it handles capture, guiding, and plate solving, and you control it from your Mac or iPad. For processing, Siril is free and excellent. The [Complete Guide](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) has the full walkthrough. Where can I find other Mac astrophotographers?+ The community is growing. Search "Mac" or "macOS" on Cloudy Nights, Stargazers Lounge, and r/astrophotography. The KStars/EKOS forum has many Mac users, and CloudMakers has an active community around INDIGO. Mac Observatory exists specifically to help Mac-using astrophotographers find tools, workflows, and each other. ## Software: Capture, Control & Automation What native capture software exists for Mac?+ For deep sky: KStars/EKOS (free, full automation), INDIGO A1 (native Mac, premium), CCDciel (free), and TheSky (commercial). For planetary: Laminar (Mac Observatory, native Apple Silicon), FireCapture (Java, cross-platform), AstroDMx Capture (free), and oaCapture (free). ASIAIR covers both through its app with no macOS software needed at all. Can I automate multi-target imaging sequences on Mac?+ Yes. KStars/EKOS provides multi-target scheduling, meridian flip handling, auto-focus runs, filter changes, dithering between exposures, and park-at-dawn routines. INDIGO A1 offers comparable automation, and ASIAIR handles sequences through its mobile app. All three can run unattended all night. How well does KStars/EKOS work on macOS?+ Very well. It runs natively, supports the full range of INDI devices, and installs from the KStars macOS installer. Performance on Apple Silicon is excellent and it handles multiple simultaneous device connections without trouble. The interface follows KDE conventions rather than macOS ones, which takes adjustment, but the functionality is comprehensive. Can I use ASIAIR with my Mac?+ Yes, and it is arguably the easiest path. The ASIAIR app runs on iOS, iPadOS, and natively on Apple Silicon Macs. The hardware sits at the telescope and handles capture, guiding, plate solving, and automation, so your Mac is just a remote control. No INDI setup, no driver installation, no configuration files. Can I control my DSLR or mirrorless camera from a Mac?+ Yes. KStars/EKOS supports Canon and Nikon DSLRs through INDI's gPhoto driver, and Sony mirrorless bodies are supported as well. ASIAIR supports most popular DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. For tethered shooting without telescope automation, Canon's EOS Utility and Nikon's NX Tether both run on macOS. What about TheSky?+ Software Bisque's planetarium and observatory control package runs natively on macOS, covering planetarium, camera control, telescope control, and automation. Note the naming: what many of us still call TheSkyX is now sold as TheSky, in Serious and Professional editions, with an Imaging bundle adding the Cameras and TPoint modules. It is commercial and current versions include a subscription element, so check bisque.com for editions and pricing. It supports ASCOM Alpaca for cross-platform device control. How do I do polar alignment without SharpCap on Mac?+ EKOS has a built-in polar alignment routine that works the way SharpCap's does: plate solve, rotate, plate solve, compute the correction. ASIAIR has polar alignment built in as well. Both are fully automated. SharpCap's implementation is excellent, but it is not the only one, and the Mac options are functionally equivalent. ## Software: Processing & Stacking Does PixInsight run on Mac?+ Yes, natively. Pleiades Astrophoto released PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart on May 12, 2026, the first macOS ARM64 build, ending five and a half years of Rosetta 2 translation. An x64 build for Intel Macs still ships alongside it. Two things to check before upgrading: 1.9.4 requires macOS 15 Sequoia or macOS 26 Tahoe, and the V8 script engine replaced SpiderMonkey, so scripts written for the old engine do not run until their developers port them. That broke a lot of tooling at launch, though most widely used scripts have been updated since. I posted the native build numbers in [PixInsight 1.9.4 native Apple Silicon benchmarks](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-1-9-4-native-apple-silicon/). Do the RC Astro AI tools (StarXTerminator and the others) work on Mac?+ Yes, and they run faster on Mac than on most Windows systems. StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, and BlurXTerminator use CoreML on macOS, which leverages the Neural Engine and GPU with zero configuration. On Windows you install CUDA, configure GPU drivers, and troubleshoot compatibility. On Mac you install the plugin and run it. Is Affinity a viable alternative to Photoshop for astrophotography?+ Yes, and the value proposition changed completely in late 2025\. Canva merged Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher into a single app called Affinity and made it free on macOS and Windows. You switch between Pixel, Vector, and Layout modes in one interface, and it is a native Mac app rather than Electron. You need a free Canva account to download and activate it, after which it works offline; the AI features require a paid Canva plan. For astrophotography, Pixel mode covers what Affinity Photo did, including 32-bit processing, starless work, and gradient removal. It still lacks Photoshop's Actions ecosystem, which matters because many astro tutorials ship as Actions. What stacking software is available for deep sky on Mac?+ PixInsight WBPP (Weighted Batch Pre-Processing) is the gold standard, handling calibration, registration, and integration in one automated script. Siril is free, open source, and runs natively on Apple Silicon with excellent stacking. Astro Pixel Processor offers a visual, node-based workflow. ASTAP provides fast stacking with built-in plate solving. All four run on macOS. Is there free processing software for Mac?+ Yes. Siril is free and open source, handles calibration, stacking, and processing, and runs natively on Apple Silicon. ASTAP is free and focuses on stacking and plate solving. GraXpert provides AI gradient removal at no cost. For planetary, PlanetarySystemStacker and LuckyStackWorker are both free. What about StarTools?+ StarTools runs on macOS and offers a distinctive tracking workflow, where the software follows signal and noise propagation through your edits and adjusts later operations accordingly. It suits people who find PixInsight's learning curve too steep. Licensing is plain: a perpetual license, no subscription, no heavy DRM, installable on as many of your own machines as you like. The free trial is fully functional except that it cannot save. Check startools.org for current pricing. What is GraXpert?+ GraXpert is a free, open-source tool for AI-powered gradient removal, taking out light pollution gradients, vignetting, and other systematic artifacts. It runs on macOS and is increasingly used as an alternative to PixInsight's ABE and DBE tools. Can I process narrowband images on Mac?+ Yes. PixInsight handles SHO (Hubble palette), HOO, and custom narrowband combinations with full channel mixing and color mapping. Siril supports narrowband processing with its own color composition tools. Photoshop and Affinity handle final color tweaking and composition. Can I build mosaics on Mac?+ Yes. PixInsight's MosaicByCoordinates and GradientMergeMosaic handle multi-panel assembly. KStars/EKOS has a mosaic planning tool that calculates panel positions and automates capture. Astro Pixel Processor also supports mosaic stitching. For large mosaics of four or more panels with drizzle, plan on 48GB of RAM or more. ## Software: Planetary Imaging What planetary capture software is available for Mac?+ Laminar is a native Apple Silicon app built for planetary, lunar, and solar capture. It offers live frame-quality and focus tracking, a session and weather sidebar with a Sky Quality score, live calibration previews for dark, flat, and hot pixel correction, and SER recording with strict drop accounting. It supports ZWO ASI, PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek and its OEM brands, and SVBONY, with generic UVC webcams and iPhone Continuity Camera supported as well. FireCapture is a popular Java-based option. AstroDMx Capture and oaCapture are free alternatives. All output SER. What is the Mac equivalent of AutoStakkert?+ The available options today are PlanetarySystemStacker (free, Python-based), Planet Stacker X (Mac App Store), LuckyStackWorker, and Siril. Strata, the Mac Observatory planetary processing app, is designed to collapse the Windows chain of PIPP, AutoStakkert, RegiStax, and WinJUPOS into a single GPU-accelerated app with derotation built in. It is available on the Mac App Store. See the [Strata product page](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) for current status. How do I do wavelet sharpening without RegiStax on Mac?+ PixInsight's MultiscaleMedianTransform and ATrousWaveletTransform provide wavelet-style sharpening, though the workflow is more involved than RegiStax. GIMP has basic wavelet decomposition plugins. Strata's Sharpen phase covers wavelets, deconvolution, Solar Tone, and Micro Contrast as deterministic GPU compute rather than AI enhancement. Is there a PIPP alternative for Mac?+ PlanetarySystemStacker handles basic SER manipulation, and Siril reads SER files and provides sorting and selection tools. Strata folds quality analysis and frame selection into its own pipeline through an Analyze phase with an interactive selection curve, so no separate preprocessing step is needed. Can I do solar and lunar imaging on Mac?+ Yes. Laminar covers solar and lunar capture alongside planetary, with the same live frame-quality and focus tracking, ROI overlay, and SER output. On the processing side, Strata's Sharpen phase includes Solar Tone and its Color phase offers lunar and solar target modes. Siril, PlanetarySystemStacker, and LuckyStackWorker also handle solar and lunar stacking today. What video formats are supported?+ SER is the standard for planetary imaging. Every Mac capture tool outputs SER and every Mac stacking tool reads it. SER supports 8-bit and 16-bit data, mono and Bayer color, with embedded metadata for observer, telescope, and timestamps. AVI is supported by some tools, but SER is preferred for its metadata. Can I stack planetary video on Mac without dedicated software?+ Siril includes planetary stacking and is free, and PlanetarySystemStacker handles stacking well. For better results, dedicated tools give you the alignment point grids, frame selection, and wavelet sharpening that general-purpose tools lack. Planet Stacker X is on the Mac App Store today. Strata is on the Mac App Store as well; see the [Strata product page](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/). ## Software: Guiding, Plate Solving & Planetarium Does PHD2 run on Mac?+ Yes. PHD2 runs natively on macOS and is the most widely used autoguiding application in astrophotography. It supports guide cameras through INDI drivers and delivers the same guiding performance on Mac as on Windows. What plate solving options exist on Mac?+ ASTAP is a fast, free local solver that runs on macOS. EKOS has built-in solving through multiple backends. CloudMakers Astrometry provides a native Mac solver, and PixInsight includes solving scripts. Astrometry.net offers cloud-based solving as a fallback, which is slower but useful when a local solve fails. Local solvers on Apple Silicon typically return in about a second. Can I auto-focus on Mac?+ Yes. KStars/EKOS has a comprehensive auto-focus routine supporting multiple focus methods (HFR, FWHM), V-curve fitting, and temperature compensation. INDIGO A1 provides auto-focus as well, and ASIAIR has it built in. All work with standard INDI and INDIGO compatible motorized focusers. Do automated meridian flips work on Mac?+ Yes. KStars/EKOS handles them automatically: it pauses the sequence, flips the mount, plate solves to confirm pointing, re-centers, and resumes capture. ASIAIR automates meridian flips too. This is essential for sessions that run unattended. What planetarium software is available for Mac?+ Stellarium is free, open source, and the most widely used, running natively on macOS. KStars includes a built-in planetarium with telescope control. SkySafari 8 covers macOS and iOS with telescope control over WiFi and is popular for visual observing and session planning. TheSky provides professional-grade charting with equipment control. Starry Night and Cartes du Ciel are also available. Can SkySafari control my telescope from my Mac?+ Yes. SkySafari 8 Plus and Pro control GoTo mounts over WiFi through INDI or ASCOM Alpaca, and version 8 added direct Alpaca camera control as well. The iOS build runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs. It is particularly useful for visual observing and target selection, though for imaging automation KStars/EKOS or ASIAIR give you more comprehensive sequence control. ## Hardware: Equipment Compatibility Will my telescope and mount work with a Mac?+ Almost certainly. INDI and INDIGO support hundreds of mounts, cameras, focusers, filter wheels, and domes. Every major mount brand is covered, including Celestron, Sky-Watcher, iOptron, Losmandy, Astro-Physics, 10Micron, and Paramount. The connection runs over USB through INDI drivers or over WiFi through Alpaca or the mount's own wireless. Check the INDI device list at indilib.org for a specific model. What are INDI, INDIGO, and ASCOM Alpaca?+ They are protocols that let software talk to astronomy hardware. INDI (Instrument Neutral Distributed Interface) is open source and cross-platform, and it is the most widely used on Mac and Linux. INDIGO is a Mac-first evolution of INDI from CloudMakers. ASCOM Alpaca is the cross-platform successor to the Windows-only ASCOM COM standard, using REST and HTTP so any device with an Alpaca driver works from any operating system. Do ZWO cameras work on Mac?+ Yes. ZWO provides native macOS drivers for ASI cameras, and all ARM64 SDK-compatible models work with INDI, KStars/EKOS, Laminar, and FireCapture. Popular models including the ASI462MC, ASI585MC, ASI290MM, ASI2600MM Pro, and ASI6200MM Pro are fully supported. The ASIAIR connects to ZWO cameras directly with no Mac-side drivers at all. Do QHY cameras work on Mac?+ Yes. QHY provides macOS drivers and their cameras are supported through INDI, so most models work with KStars/EKOS and other INDI-based software. Laminar also supports QHY directly. Check the QHY macOS compatibility list for a specific model. Do PlayerOne cameras work on Mac?+ Yes. PlayerOne provides native macOS SDK support, and models across the Mars, Neptune, and Uranus lines work with INDI and with Laminar for planetary capture. Do Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras work for astrophotography on Mac?+ Yes. Canon and Nikon DSLRs are supported through INDI's gPhoto driver for automated capture with KStars/EKOS, and Sony mirrorless has INDI support as well. ASIAIR supports most popular DSLRs. For tethered shooting without automation, Canon EOS Utility, Nikon NX Tether, and Sony Imaging Edge all run on macOS. Do Celestron, Sky-Watcher, and iOptron mounts work on Mac?+ Yes, all three are well supported through INDI drivers. Celestron mounts such as NexStar, CGX, and CGX-L connect over USB or WiFi. Sky-Watcher mounts including the EQ6-R, HEQ5, and AZ-GTi work through the SynScan protocol. iOptron mounts such as the CEM26, GEM45, and CEM70 have dedicated INDI drivers. All can be driven from KStars/EKOS, INDIGO A1, or ASIAIR. Do I need a USB hub?+ Probably. A typical rig connects three to five USB devices: camera, guide camera, mount, focuser, filter wheel. Apple Silicon Macs have no USB-A ports on the MacBook Air or the current Mac mini. A powered USB 3.0 hub is essential. Look for one with individual port switches so you can power-cycle a problem device without disconnecting everything. Do I need to install drivers on macOS?+ For most equipment, INDI drivers install automatically with KStars/EKOS. ZWO and PlayerOne provide standalone macOS drivers for their cameras. Some devices, such as FTDI-based USB-to-serial adapters, may need a manufacturer download. Compared with Windows, where every device needs its own ASCOM driver plus the ASCOM Platform, macOS driver setup is generally simpler. Can I run my imaging setup distributed, with the camera at the telescope and processing at my desk?+ Yes. INDI's client-server architecture is designed for exactly this. Run the INDI server on a Raspberry Pi or Mac mini at the telescope and connect from KStars/EKOS on your desk Mac over the local network. ASIAIR enables the same split, with the hardware at the scope and control from your Mac or iPad anywhere on the network. Can I control my telescope from my iPad?+ Yes. The ASIAIR iOS app runs on iPad and gives full control of capture, guiding, and plate solving. SkySafari on iPad controls GoTo mounts over WiFi. KStars has an iOS companion app. And any INDI-based setup can be reached from a browser using INDI Web Manager, which works on any device. ## Workflows & Setup What does a complete deep sky workflow look like on Mac?+ Plan, capture, stack, process, enhance, archive. Plan in Stellarium or SkySafari. Capture with KStars/EKOS, ASIAIR, or INDIGO A1, which handle guiding, plate solving, auto-focus, and filter changes. Stack calibration and light frames in PixInsight WBPP or Siril. Process the stretch, color balance, and gradient removal in PixInsight or Photoshop. Enhance with StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, and NoiseXTerminator. Archive and catalog in Meridian. Every step runs natively on macOS. What does a complete planetary workflow look like on Mac?+ Capture SER, then stack, sharpen, and finish. Record high frame rate SER video in Laminar, using live frame-quality and focus tracking to peak focus before you start. Stack the best frames in Planet Stacker X, PlanetarySystemStacker, or Siril, then sharpen with wavelets. Final color and level adjustments happen in Photoshop or Affinity. The whole pipeline runs on Apple Silicon. Strata is built to handle stack, derotate, sharpen, and color in one app; it is on the Mac App Store; see the [Strata product page](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/). What gaps remain between Mac and Windows for astrophotography?+ The remaining gaps are convenience and community, not capability. N.I.N.A.'s plugin ecosystem is broader than the one around KStars/EKOS. Most YouTube tutorials assume Windows software. The cheap field laptop option does not exist on Mac. Some niche tools, including specialized ASCOM drivers and certain camera SDKs, remain Windows-only. But every core capability (capture, guide, solve, stack, process, enhance) has at least one Mac solution and usually several. Can I do EAA (Electronically Assisted Astronomy) on Mac?+ Yes. EAA means live stacking short exposures to view deep sky objects in near real time. KStars/EKOS supports live stacking, and ASIAIR has a built-in EAA mode. SharpCap, the most popular EAA tool, is Windows-only, but the Mac alternatives provide equivalent live viewing. Is the Mac astrophotography community growing?+ Significantly. Apple Silicon's performance and efficiency have drawn many astrophotographers to Mac or back to it. The Mac Observatory Suite (Transit, Laminar, Strata, and Meridian) represents the first Mac-first astronomy software effort in years. CloudMakers continues to develop INDIGO, and KStars/EKOS has an active macOS contributor community. Forum threads about Mac astrophotography are increasingly solution-focused rather than "just buy a PC." Where can I get help with my Mac astrophotography setup?+ Mac Observatory for guides, the [Mac Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/), tutorials, and app support. The KStars/EKOS forums have an active Mac user community. CloudMakers at cloudmakers.eu covers INDIGO. Cloudy Nights and Stargazers Lounge are worth searching for "Mac" or "macOS" threads. Reddit's r/astrophotography has a growing Mac presence, and ZWO's own support channels cover ASIAIR and camera questions. How do I set up KStars/EKOS on my Mac for the first time?+ Download the KStars macOS installer from edu.kde.org/kstars, then install and launch it. Set your location under KStars, Settings, Set Geographic Location. Connect your equipment over USB. Open EKOS from the Tools menu, create an equipment profile, and select your INDI drivers. EKOS connects to your devices and you can start building capture sequences from there. The KStars documentation and Mac Observatory tutorials cover the process in detail. ## Hardware: Which Mac to Buy What Mac do you recommend for astrophotography?+ For processing only, with an ASIAIR at the telescope, the Mac mini M4 Pro with 48GB is the best value. For field and processing in one machine, the MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Pro, with 48GB if the budget allows. For a budget entry, the Mac mini M4 with 24GB is genuinely enough for most single-target work. See the [Which Mac buying guide](https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/) for current prices and recommendations at every price point. How much RAM do I need?+ 24GB is the minimum recommendation. 16GB works for post-processing single images but struggles with PixInsight WBPP. 24GB handles most single-target workflows. 48GB is comfortable for large datasets, drizzle, and 60MP sensors. 64GB and above is for power users working large mosaics. Apple Silicon RAM is not upgradeable, so buy more than you think you need. How much storage do I need?+ 512GB internally is the minimum and 1TB is preferable. PixInsight wants 250GB to 1TB of free swap space on fast storage, which your internal SSD provides. Use an external Thunderbolt SSD of 1TB to 2TB as a working drive for current projects, and a larger archive drive or NAS for finished data. A single night of narrowband imaging can produce 50GB to 100GB of raw FITS. Can I use a MacBook in the field for imaging?+ Yes. The MacBook Air is fanless, so there is no vibration to affect guiding, and it runs KStars/EKOS for most of a night on battery at under three pounds. Keep screen brightness low to preserve night vision, and use Accessibility, Display, Color Filters, Color Tint set to red for an astronomical red-screen mode. A MacBook Pro gives you more power and a brighter screen but adds fan noise under load. How bright is the screen at night? Will it ruin my night vision?+ Use the built-in accessibility features: Settings, Accessibility, Display, Color Filters, Color Tint, set to deep red. That turns the whole display red and preserves night vision. Drop brightness to minimum as well. Third-party red filter apps exist, but the built-in option works well and needs no extra software. How long does a MacBook battery last during an imaging session?+ A MacBook Air running KStars/EKOS with camera capture covers most of a typical session on a charge, and a MacBook Pro runs shorter under heavier load. For longer nights, or when you are powering accessories too, bring a 300Wh to 500Wh portable power station from Jackery, Anker SOLIX, or EcoFlow. If you use an ASIAIR at the telescope instead of a laptop, laptop battery life stops mattering, since the ASIAIR draws very little power. What is the cheapest way to get started with Mac astrophotography?+ If you already own a Mac, roughly $500 covers it: a ZWO planetary or small deep sky camera at around $200 to $300, an ASIAIR Mini at $249, and free software (Siril for stacking, Stellarium for planning). The ASIAIR handles capture and guiding while your existing Mac handles processing. If you need a Mac as well, see the [Which Mac buying guide](https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/) for the current entry-level pick and pricing. ## Quick Reference: Does Mac Have It? | Function | Mac Software Options | | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Planetarium / Planning | Stellarium, KStars, SkySafari 8, TheSky, Cartes du Ciel | | Capture & Control | KStars/EKOS, ASIAIR, INDIGO A1, CCDciel, TheSky | | Guiding | PHD2, EKOS Internal, ASIAIR Internal | | Plate Solving | ASTAP, CloudMakers Astrometry, Astrometry.net, PixInsight | | Planetary Capture | Laminar ★, FireCapture, AstroDMx, oaCapture | | Planetary Stacking | Planet Stacker X, PlanetarySystemStacker, LuckyStackWorker, Lynkeos, Strata ★ | | Deep Sky Stacking | PixInsight, Siril, Astro Pixel Processor, ASTAP | | Processing | PixInsight, Photoshop, Affinity, Siril, StarTools | | AI Enhancement | StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, DeepSNR | | Archive / FITS | Meridian ★, Observatory, QuickFits, SAOImage DS9 | ★ Mac Observatory Suite app · See the full [Mac Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) for complete listings. [Read the Complete Guide](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) [Which Mac to Buy](https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/) [Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) ### Which Mac for Astrophotography? 2026 Buying Guide URL: https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/ Last updated: 2026-10-01T15:42:51.000Z The best Mac for astrophotography in 2026 depends on whether you need a portable field machine for telescope control or a desktop for image processing. For most astrophotographers the Mac mini is the place to start: the M6 model with 24GB or 32GB of unified memory is now fast enough to be a primary processing machine, and the M5 Pro with 48GB handles drizzled mosaics and 60MP sensors. Pair either one with an ASIAIR or Raspberry Pi at the telescope and you never need a laptop in the field. If you do want a laptop, the MacBook Air M5 with 24GB handles both field capture and moderate processing. Price is the catch: Apple raised prices across the Mac line in June 2026 because of a global memory shortage, and the August desktop refresh pushed the Mac mini higher again. This guide covers every Mac in Apple's current lineup with recommendations by workflow and budget, updated October 2026. Recommended Retailer Agena Astro The best selection of astrophotography gear, cameras, and telescopes. Mac Observatory's recommended retailer. [Shop at Agena Astro →](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Affiliate link, which helps support Mac Observatory ## Two workflows, different demands Apple's March 2026 refresh reshaped the entire Mac laptop lineup. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both jumped to M5 generation silicon with faster CPUs, doubled base storage, and Wi-Fi 7, and Apple introduced an entirely new tier: the MacBook Neo, a $699 laptop powered by the A18 Pro chip. In August the desktops followed, with the Mac mini moving to the M6 and M5 Pro and the Mac Studio to the M5 Max and M5 Ultra. That gives astrophotographers more options at every budget level than ever before, though this year's price increases have taken some of the shine off the low end. Your answer depends on two distinct computing workflows: **Workflow 1: Field Capture** Running your camera, mount, guiding, plate solving, and automation at the telescope. This demands reliability, portability, and power efficiency rather than raw speed. **Workflow 2: Desk Processing** Turning hundreds or thousands of raw frames into a finished image using PixInsight, Siril, or Astro Pixel Processor. This is where RAM, CPU cores, and fast storage make a real difference. Here's the good news: dedicated devices like the ZWO ASIAIR Plus and StellarMate have replaced the field laptop for many imagers. If you're using one of these, your Mac buying decision simplifies to just a processing machine, which means a desktop makes a lot of sense. ## What Astrophotography Demands ### The Four Specs That Matter **Unified Memory (RAM)** Single most important spec. Determines stacking capacity before disk swapping. Not upgradeable on Apple Silicon. **CPU Cores** Calibration, registration, and stacking are heavily multithreaded. More performance cores mean faster WBPP. **GPU Performance** AI tools (BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, StarXTerminator) run on GPU. Unified Memory Architecture eliminates the data-copying bottleneck. **Fast Storage** PixInsight needs 250GB to 1TB of free swap space. Internal SSD for swap, external Thunderbolt for your image library. ## The Lineup | Model | Starting Price | Max RAM | Best For | | ------------------------------ | -------------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------- | | Mac mini (M6 / M5 Pro) ★ | $899 | 32GB (M6), 64GB (M5 Pro) | Dedicated processing station | | MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) NEW | $699 | 8GB | Capture and planetary processing | | MacBook Air (M5) | $1,299 | 32GB | Field capture, portable processing | | MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max) | $2,499 | 128GB | One machine for field and desk | | iMac 24-inch (M4) | $1,499 | 32GB | Casual imagers only | | Mac Studio (M5 Max / M5 Ultra) | $2,499 | 256GB (512GB due late October) | Serious processing powerhouse | ★ Top recommendation for most astrophotographers. Apple list prices as of October 2026. ### Mac mini: Pricier, but a Real Processing Machine The Mac mini isn't the easy buy it used to be. The M6 model starts at $899 with 16GB and 256GB, and the previous mini launched at $599 with the same memory and storage. The configuration I'd actually buy costs a good deal more. What changed is the chip. In [9to5Mac's testing](https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/21/m6-mac-mini-review/?ref=macobservatory.com), the M6 outscores the 12-core M4 Pro on both single and multi-core CPU work, so the entry mini now handles the calibration, registration, and stacking I used to send people to the Pro model for. Configure it with 24GB ($1,299 with 512GB) or 32GB ($1,499) and it works as a primary processing machine for heavy datasets. The limit is memory: 32GB is the most the M6 takes. Two things to know before you configure one. The SSD is soldered to the board again, so the storage you buy is the storage you keep. And the 256GB model uses a single storage chip that [tests at about half the speed](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/22/new-mac-mini-ssd-cant-be-removed/?ref=macobservatory.com) of the 512GB and larger configurations, so treat 512GB as the minimum. If you drizzle large mosaics or shoot with a 60MP sensor, the M5 Pro is the step up. It goes to 64GB with 307GB/s of memory bandwidth and Thunderbolt 5\. The 48GB / 1TB configuration comes to $2,599, which is $100 less than the M4 Pro equivalent cost after June's increase. Let your budget set the ceiling rather than chasing a number. If you're near a [Micro Center](https://www.microcenter.com/product/715409/apple-mac-mini-mhqk4ll-a-%28mid-2026%29-desktop-computer?ref=macobservatory.com), check there first. In early October the chain had the base M6 with 16GB and 256GB at $699.99 in store, $200 below Apple's price. That's the cheapest way into an M6, and 16GB covers typical processing. But it's also the configuration with the slower storage and little room for PixInsight's swap files, so budget for an external Thunderbolt SSD. The 24GB / 512GB model wasn't discounted at the time. Micro Center is also clearing out M4 Pro minis. The [48GB / 512GB model](https://www.microcenter.com/product/712767/apple-mac-mini-z1jv00027-%28late-2024%29-desktop-computer?ref=macobservatory.com) was $1,799.99, $500 less than a new M5 Pro with the same memory and storage. The M4 generation is also the last Mac mini with removable storage, so a cheaper third-party SSD upgrade is still possible later. Stock won't last. Whichever mini you choose, pair it with any 4K monitor and a Thunderbolt SSD, and you have a processing workstation that will handle everything from WBPP integrations to PixInsight post-processing to AI enhancement. [ Mac mini M6 24GB/512GB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGGHNG94?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) [ Mac mini M5 Pro 24GB/512GB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGGHNQY6?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) ### MacBook Neo: An M1-Class Mac for $699 Apple's MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro, and that is less of a compromise than it sounds. It is still Apple Silicon, running the same universal macOS apps as any M series Mac. In [Geekbench 6](https://www.bgr.com/2121533/apple-a18-pro-vs-m1-macbook-cpus-comparison/?ref=macobservatory.com) it lands about level with the M1 that launched Apple Silicon on the Mac: roughly half again faster in single core and a few percent ahead in multi core, despite six cores (two performance, four efficiency) to the M1's eight. This is an M1-class laptop for $699. I've put one to work. My daughter's MacBook Neo spent an afternoon at the telescope running Laminar with a Player One Apollo-M MINI in hydrogen-alpha, and it recorded 36,408 frames at a steady 117.5 frames per second with none dropped. [The full numbers are on the Laminar page](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/#neo). Strata is no slouch on it either for stacking and sharpening planetary data. It weighs 2.7 pounds, runs up to 16 hours on battery, and at $699, or $799 for the 512GB model with Touch ID, you won't worry about hauling it to a dark site or getting dew on it. The processor is not the compromise. The 8GB memory ceiling is, and it bites on deep-sky stacks rather than planetary ones. The honest trade-offs: Only 8GB RAM (not upgradeable), no Thunderbolt (USB-C only, with one port at USB 3 speeds and the other at USB 2), Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 7, and a 13-inch display with no ProMotion. The 256GB base model doesn't include Touch ID. These compromises are why it costs roughly half what a MacBook Air does. **Our take:** The MacBook Neo is an M1-class Mac for $699 to $799, and that is enough for planetary work from capture through processing in Laminar and Strata. Plug the camera into the USB 3 port, since the other runs at USB 2 speeds and can't carry a planetary camera at full rate. Where it runs out is deep-sky: 8GB is too little for big PixInsight stacks, so pair it with a desktop Mac if that is your workflow. [ MacBook Neo 512GB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GR6F3NC9?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) [ MacBook Neo 256GB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GR6F79MT?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) ### MacBook Air M5: Surprisingly Capable The MacBook Air M5 is a significant step up from the M4 it replaces. It starts at 512GB of storage, doubled from the M4's 256GB base, supports up to 32GB of RAM, includes Wi-Fi 7 via Apple's N1 chip, and delivers 153GB/s of memory bandwidth, a 28% improvement. The 13-inch model launched at $1,099 and now starts at $1,299 after June's increase. With 24GB of RAM, it handles KStars/EKOS capture sessions all night on battery, runs PixInsight for moderate processing workloads, and weighs just 2.7 pounds. For field capture with an INDI rig, it's hard to beat. For processing, it's adequate for most single-target sessions but will feel constrained on large mosaics or high-resolution sensor data. **Recommended configuration for astrophotography:** 13-inch MacBook Air M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, currently $1,799\. This is the sweet spot for field use: it runs capture, guiding, and light processing, with enough memory for PixInsight work on the road. If that is over budget, the 24GB / 512GB model at $1,499 keeps the memory and gives up the storage, which is the easier compromise to live with since you can add an external SSD. [ MacBook Air M5 13" on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GR1493ZV?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) [ MacBook Air M5 24GB/1TB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GR1BY1SZ?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) ### MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max: The Do-Everything Machine If you want one machine for field capture and desk processing, the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M5 Pro is the sweet spot. The M5 Pro and M5 Max use Apple's new "Fusion Architecture", two 3nm dies in a single SoC, delivering up to 18 CPU cores and significantly faster SSD speeds (up to 14.5GB/s, roughly double the M4 generation). The M5 Pro now supports up to 64GB of RAM, previously only available on M4 Max, making the 14-inch M5 Pro a legitimate heavy processing machine for PixInsight users who need deep stacks and large mosaic integrations. Base storage has doubled across the board: M5 Pro starts at 1TB, M5 Max starts at 2TB. All models include Thunderbolt 5 and Wi-Fi 7. The 16-inch M5 Max is the most capable laptop for astrophotography processing available on any platform, but it now starts at $4,899\. Consider whether a Mac mini at home plus a MacBook Air in the field might serve you better for less. Also note: the base M5 MacBook Pro, which shipped in October 2025 rather than alongside this year's Pro and Max models, has only Thunderbolt 4 and starts at $1,999\. For astrophotography the MacBook Air M5 at $1,299 is the better value unless you specifically need the XDR display and active cooling. [ MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro 24GB/1TB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GR17YNHL?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) [ MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro 48GB/1TB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTWW52DT?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) ### iMac 24-inch: Beautiful, But Compromised The iMac 24" has a gorgeous display and a clean all-in-one design, but its 32GB RAM ceiling makes it hard to recommend for serious astrophotography. If you're doing light processing on integrated images and don't plan to run heavy WBPP jobs, it's fine. But for the same money, a Mac mini with more RAM and a 4K monitor gives you more processing headroom. ### Mac Studio: The Processing Powerhouse The Mac Studio moved to M5 in September, and the price of memory has changed who should buy one. At Apple, the M5 Max model starts at $2,499 but locks you to 36GB, and getting 64GB requires the 40-core GPU version at $3,499\. [Micro Center](https://www.microcenter.com/product/715407/apple-mac-studio-mhl64ll-a-%28mid-2026%29-desktop-computer?ref=macobservatory.com) changes the entry math. In early October my local store had the 36GB model at $1,999.99 for in-store purchase, with a dozen on the shelf, which makes it the cheapest way into a Studio. If you need 64GB, the 40-core model is the Studio I'd recommend for astrophotography: twice the GPU cores of the best M5 Pro mini, up to 614GB/s of memory bandwidth, and room for any single target workflow. I can't recommend the M5 Ultra beyond its entry configuration. The base model is $5,499 with a 30-core CPU, 96GB, and 1TB, and it's Apple's most powerful Mac. Going to 256GB adds $4,000, more than a whole M5 Max Studio costs, and Apple hasn't priced the 512GB version it promised for late October. Those upgrades make sense for running large AI models locally, not for processing astro data. Availability is the other problem: when I checked Apple's store in early October, M5 Ultra orders were quoting February 2027. [ Mac Studio M5 Max 36GB/512GB on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGKSQMX6?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) ## My Picks Field and Planetary, Under $800 MacBook Neo 512GB A18 Pro / 8GB, $799, capture, telescope control and planetary processing Pair with a desktop Mac for deep-sky processing Best Value, Under $1,500 Mac mini M6 32GB / 512GB, $1,499, plus a 4K monitor and a Thunderbolt SSD Tighter budget: M6 24GB/512GB ($1,299) Deal: M6 16GB/256GB, $699.99 in store at Micro Center Recommended, $1,500 to $3,000 Mac mini M5 Pro 48GB / 1TB, $2,599, for drizzled mosaics and 60MP sensors Laptop alt: MacBook Air M5 24GB/1TB ($1,799) Deal: Mac Studio M5 Max 36GB, $1,999.99 in store at Micro Center Pro Processing, $3,000 to $3,500 MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Pro 48GB / 1TB, $3,099, field and desk in one machine Desktop alt: Mac Studio M5 Max 64GB/512GB ($3,499) Maximum Power, $4,500 and up MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Max or Mac Studio M5 Ultra From $4,899 for the 16-inch M5 Max, or $5,499 for the M5 Ultra Studio at its base 96GB. Skip the Ultra memory upgrades. Ultra orders were quoting February 2027 in early October ## The RAM Question Buy more RAM than you think you need. You cannot add more later. Apple Silicon unified memory is soldered to the chip, so there is no upgrade path. | RAM | Use Case | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 8GB | MacBook Neo only. Enough for telescope control, capture and planetary processing in Strata. Too little for deep-sky stacking in PixInsight. | | 16GB | The baseline for processing. Handles PixInsight, Astro Pixel Processor, and Photoshop for typical workflows. | | 24 to 32GB ★ | The sweet spot for most imagers. Comfortable for single target stacks, ordinary WBPP runs, and running a few apps at once. On an M6 Mac mini, enough for a primary processing machine. | | 48GB | Comfortable insurance. Large WBPP with drizzle, and sensors of 60MP and above. | | 64GB and up | Ideal for serious processing or running local AI models alongside your imaging workflow | ## Storage Strategy The good news: Apple doubled the starting storage across the entire 2026 laptop lineup. MacBook Air M5 now begins at 512GB, and MacBook Pro M5 Pro starts at 1TB. For most astrophotographers the base storage on a MacBook Air is now workable, enough for your OS, key applications, and a working set of imaging data. Upgrading to 1TB remains the recommendation if you want to keep multiple imaging sessions on your laptop without external storage. The MacBook Neo and the 256GB Mac mini are the exceptions. Both are tight, and the mini's 256GB model is also its slower storage configuration, so budget for 512GB or plan on an external SSD. Your internal SSD should have ample free space for PixInsight's swap files, so plan for 250GB to 1TB of swap depending on your dataset sizes. For your image library, use a 1TB or 2TB Thunderbolt SSD as your working drive for current projects, and a larger archive drive or NAS for completed data. 250GB Minimum free SSD space for PixInsight swap 1TB Recommended working drive 50 to 100GB Per night of narrowband imaging OWC Envoy Pro FX 2,800MB/s, IP67, Thunderbolt. Excellent for desk or field. [ OWC Envoy Pro FX on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YMR64RT?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) Samsung T7 Shield 1,050MB/s, IP65, USB 3.2\. Affordable and tough for field use. [ Samsung T7 Shield on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VLHR4JC?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Software Reality Check Native Apple Silicon Siril, Affinity, KStars/EKOS, PixInsight, Laminar, Strata, Meridian, TheSkyX Rosetta 2 (works well) Astro Pixel Processor, StarTools GPU-Accelerated AI BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, StarXTerminator Windows Only N.I.N.A., DeepSkyStacker, SharpCap PixInsight now runs natively on Apple Silicon. Pleiades Astrophoto released 1.9.4 Lockhart on May 12, 2026, the first macOS ARM64 build, ending five and a half years of Rosetta 2 translation. If you are still on 1.9.3 or earlier you are leaving performance on the table. I benchmarked the native build on my Mac Studio M3 Ultra and wrote up the numbers here: [PixInsight 1.9.4 native Apple Silicon benchmarks](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-1-9-4-native-apple-silicon/). One caveat before you upgrade: 1.9.4 replaced the old SpiderMonkey script engine with V8, so some third party scripts need a one line change from their developers to keep working. ## Field Power If you're running a MacBook at the telescope rather than an ASIAIR or StellarMate, you'll need to think about power. A typical imaging rig draws 80 to 150W total across mount, camera, guide camera, dew heaters, and laptop. The MacBook Air offers 6 to 10 hours of realistic field life running KStars/EKOS, enough for most sessions without external power. But if you're powering mount and accessories too, a portable power station makes sense. [ Jackery Explorer 500 v2 (512Wh LiFePO4) on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SM5HBK1?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) [ Anker SOLIX F1200 (1,229Wh) on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBLSWNLZ?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) For most people, an ASIAIR Plus at roughly $200 to $300 at the scope eliminates the need for a laptop in the field entirely. Your Mac stays at home for processing. ## When to Buy Apple's 2026 refresh is complete for now. The MacBook Air M5, MacBook Pro M5 Pro and Max, and MacBook Neo shipped in March, and the new Mac mini and Mac Studio followed on September 22\. The complication is still price. Apple raised prices across nearly the entire Mac and iPad line on June 25, 2026, citing memory and storage costs driven by AI datacenter demand, and the new Mac mini and M5 Ultra Studio arrived priced higher again. If you need a machine now, buy it. There is no announced reason to expect prices to fall. Two things are still in motion. [Apple says](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/08/apple-introduces-new-mac-studio-with-m5-max-and-m5-ultra/?ref=macobservatory.com) the 512GB M5 Ultra configuration arrives in late October, and M5 Ultra orders were already quoting February 2027 when I checked in early October. On the laptop side, [MacRumors lists](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/28/12-new-things-from-apple-this-october/?ref=macobservatory.com) an M6 iMac, an M6 14-inch MacBook Pro, and an OLED MacBook Pro redesign with M5 Pro and M5 Max as rumored for late 2026\. If the 14-inch M5 Pro is your pick, waiting a few weeks is reasonable. Before you order from Apple, check Micro Center. Its in-store prices undercut Apple by $100 to $500 on several desktops, though not every configuration is discounted. **Check Micro Center First** | Model | Apple | Micro Center (in store) | | ----------------------------------------- | ------------ | ----------------------- | | Mac mini M6, 16GB / 256GB | $899 | $699.99 | | Mac mini M6, 16GB / 512GB | $1,099 | $999.99 | | Mac mini M6, 24GB / 512GB | $1,299 | $1,299.99 | | Mac mini M5 Pro, 24GB / 512GB | $1,699 | $1,699.99 | | Mac mini M4 Pro, 48GB / 512GB (clearance) | Discontinued | $1,799.99 | | Mac Studio M5 Max, 36GB / 512GB | $2,499 | $1,999.99 | In-store prices seen in early October 2026\. Micro Center pricing varies by store and changes often. Check Apple's refurbished store, where machines carry the full warranty at up to 15% off. With new prices up across the line, previous generation M4 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro machines are a better relative value than they were six months ago. Stock moves quickly. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about choosing a Mac for astrophotography. Is 8GB of RAM enough for astrophotography on a Mac?+ 8GB handles field capture, whether that's KStars/EKOS, INDIGO A1 or Laminar running your equipment, and it handles planetary processing in Strata. It is not recommended for deep-sky processing: stacking in Siril, PixInsight or Astro Pixel Processor benefits from 16GB minimum, with 24GB or more for larger datasets. Apple Silicon RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded later, so buy more than you think you need. Mac mini or MacBook for astrophotography?+ If you use an ASIAIR or Raspberry Pi at the telescope, a Mac mini is the better value, with more RAM per dollar and desktop-class performance for processing. If you need a laptop at the scope for direct equipment control via INDI or INDIGO, a MacBook Air M5 with 24GB handles both field capture and moderate processing. Many astrophotographers use both: a Mac mini at home for heavy processing and a MacBook Neo or Air in the field for capture. Should I get the M6 or M5 Pro Mac mini for astrophotography?+ For most imagers, the M6\. In [9to5Mac's testing](https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/21/m6-mac-mini-review/?ref=macobservatory.com) it beats the 12-core M4 Pro on CPU, and with 24GB or 32GB it works as a primary processing machine for $1,299 to $1,499\. Choose the M5 Pro if you drizzle large mosaics or shoot with a 60MP or larger sensor: it goes to 64GB, has more CPU and GPU cores, and adds Thunderbolt 5\. The 48GB / 1TB configuration is $2,599\. Whichever you pick, get at least 512GB, because the storage is soldered and the 256GB model is slower. Can a MacBook Air handle PixInsight?+ Yes. PixInsight has run natively on Apple Silicon since version 1.9.4 Lockhart, released in May 2026\. With 24GB RAM and the M5 chip, a MacBook Air handles typical single-target stacking and processing workflows. The limitation is large mosaics and drizzle integration, which benefit from 48GB or more. For heavy processing a Mac mini M5 Pro or Mac Studio is a better fit, but the Air works well for on-the-go processing and field use. Is the MacBook Neo good enough for astrophotography?+ Yes, for capture and planetary work. Its A18 Pro benchmarks about level with an M1 in multi core and well ahead in single core. Mac Observatory recorded 36,408 frames of hydrogen-alpha solar video on one in Laminar with zero dropped frames, and Strata handles planetary stacking on it. The limit is 8GB of RAM with no upgrade path, which rules out heavy deep-sky processing in PixInsight. For that, pair it with a desktop Mac. How much storage do I need for astrophotography?+ A single night of narrowband imaging generates 50 to 100GB of data. Your internal SSD needs 250GB to 1TB of free space for PixInsight's swap files, plus room for your OS and applications. A 1TB internal SSD is the recommended minimum for a processing machine. For your image library, use an external Thunderbolt SSD as a working drive and a larger archive drive or NAS for completed data. ## The Bottom Line The Mac mini M6 with 32GB is now a real primary processing machine at $1,499, even if it's no longer the bargain the M4 was. Step up to the M5 Pro with 48GB ($2,599 with 1TB) if you drizzle mosaics or shoot 60MP. For laptops, the MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Pro with 48GB is still the do-everything machine at $3,099, and the MacBook Neo handles capture and planetary processing for $699\. At the top end, the M5 Max Mac Studio with 64GB at $3,499 is the smart buy. The M5 Ultra only makes sense in its $5,499 base configuration, and you'll wait months for one. [ Browse the Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) [ Read the Complete Guide](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/) [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Our Partner Agena AstroProducts carries a wide selection of telescopes, mounts, cameras, filters, and accessories for visual and imaging astronomers. Shopping through our link supports Mac Observatory at no extra cost to you. [ Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ### Useful Astronomy Websites URL: https://macobservatory.com/useful-astronomy-websites/ Last updated: 2026-03-19T01:16:49.000Z A curated directory of the most useful astronomy and astrophotography websites, organized by category. Whether you're planning your next imaging session, processing data, researching equipment, or learning new techniques, these resources will help you get the most out of your time under the stars. ## 1. Planning & Observation Tools - [Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree An outstanding all-in-one observation planner. Find deep-sky objects, plan imaging sessions with your specific equipment, check object visibility, and generate field-of-view previews. The best free planning tool available for astrophotographers. - [Astronomy.tools](https://astronomy.tools/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A collection of practical calculators for astronomers including a field-of-view calculator, telescope simulator, eyepiece comparison tool, and imaging camera sensor analysis. Great for equipment planning and comparison. - [Astrometry.net](https://nova.astrometry.net/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Upload any astronomical image and this service will automatically identify the objects and star field, providing precise coordinates and annotations. Invaluable for plate-solving images and identifying unknown objects in your photos. - [Stellarium Web](https://stellarium-web.org/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A browser-based planetarium that renders a realistic sky from any location and time. Excellent for quick session planning, identifying objects, and checking rise/set times without installing software. - [PhotoPills](https://www.photopills.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Freemium A powerful photography planning app with dedicated tools for astrophotography, including Milky Way visibility, moon phase planning, star trails simulation, and augmented reality sky views. Essential for nightscape photographers. ## 2. Web-Based Processing Tools - [Eise.app](https://eise.app/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree A browser-based planetary image stacker that runs entirely in your web browser. Upload your planetary video frames and stack them without installing any software. An excellent lightweight alternative to desktop stacking applications for lunar and planetary work. - [PixInsight Online Calculators](https://pixinsight.com/resources.html?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Free online tools from the makers of PixInsight, including SNR calculators, subframe exposure calculators, and other utilities that help you optimize your imaging sessions and processing workflow. ## 3. Weather & Observing Conditions - [Astrospheric](https://www.astrospheric.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFreemium Purpose-built weather forecasting for astronomers. Provides detailed cloud cover, transparency, seeing, humidity, and dew point forecasts specifically designed for planning observation and imaging sessions. - [Clear Dark Sky](https://www.cleardarksky.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free The classic astronomer's weather forecast for North America. Provides hourly predictions for cloud cover, transparency, and seeing in an easy-to-read chart format covering 48 hours ahead. - [Clear Outside](https://clearoutside.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A worldwide astronomical weather forecast service with detailed hourly predictions for cloud cover at multiple altitudes, transparency, seeing, wind, temperature, and humidity. Works globally, unlike some North America-only services. - [Light Pollution Map](https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree An interactive world map showing light pollution levels based on satellite data. Essential for finding dark sky locations near you, with overlays for Bortle scale, artificial sky brightness, and SQM readings. - [Dark Site Finder](https://darksitefinder.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Another excellent light pollution mapping tool with a clean interface. Helps you locate dark sky sites and provides driving directions, making it easy to plan trips to darker locations for better observing and imaging. - [Meteoblue Astronomy Seeing](https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/outdoorsports/seeing?ref=macobservatory.com)Freemium Professional-grade atmospheric seeing forecasts showing turbulence at different altitudes. Particularly useful for planetary and lunar imaging where atmospheric seeing is critical to image quality. ## 4. Image Hosting & Community Galleries - [Astrobin](https://www.astrobin.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFreemium The premier image hosting platform built specifically for astrophotography. Upload your images with full technical details, browse an enormous gallery of community images, and get feedback. Includes equipment profiles, imaging session logs, and IOTD (Image of the Day) awards. - [Telescope Live](https://telescope.live/?ref=macobservatory.com)Freemium A remote telescope network that lets you acquire data from professional-grade telescopes at dark sky sites worldwide. Browse and process shared datasets or schedule your own observations without owning equipment. - [NASA APOD](https://apod.nasa.gov/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day features a different astronomical image or photograph each day, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A daily source of inspiration and education since 1995. ## 5. Forums & Communities - [Cloudy Nights](https://www.cloudynights.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree The largest and most active astronomy forum on the internet. An invaluable resource for equipment reviews, troubleshooting, technique discussions, and community support. The classifieds section is excellent for buying and selling used equipment. - [r/astrophotography](https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A thriving Reddit community dedicated to astrophotography. Members share images with required equipment and processing details, making it an excellent resource for learning techniques and getting feedback on your work. - [r/telescopes](https://www.reddit.com/r/telescopes?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A welcoming Reddit community focused on telescopes and visual astronomy. Great for equipment recommendations, beginner questions, and observation reports. The community maintains helpful buying guides for every budget level. - [Stargazers Lounge](https://stargazerslounge.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A friendly UK-based astronomy forum with a global membership. Active discussions on imaging, visual observing, equipment, and DIY projects. Known for its welcoming community and helpful members. ## 6. Data, Catalogs & Archives - [SIMBAD](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree The definitive astronomical database maintained by the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, containing data on over 20 million objects. Look up any celestial object to find coordinates, identifiers, measurements, and bibliography references. - [Aladin Sky Atlas](https://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/aladin.gml?ref=macobservatory.com)Free An interactive sky atlas that allows you to visualize and explore astronomical images from major surveys, overlay catalog data, and cross-match objects. Available as both a web app and desktop application. - [VizieR](https://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Access to over 20,000 astronomical catalogs with a unified query interface. Search for photometric data, proper motions, spectral classifications, and more across the most comprehensive collection of astronomical catalogs available. - [NASA SkyView](https://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A virtual observatory that generates images of any part of the sky at wavelengths from radio to gamma-ray. Access survey data from dozens of major astronomical surveys all through a single interface. - [DSO Browser](https://dso-browser.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A comprehensive deep-sky object database with detailed information, images, and observing notes for thousands of nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. Excellent for finding your next imaging target. - [NGC/IC Project](https://www.ngcicproject.org/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free A comprehensive database dedicated to the NGC and IC catalogs, providing accurate positions, identifications, and historical notes for thousands of deep-sky objects cataloged since the 19th century. ## 7. Equipment Research & Reviews - [Agena AstroProducts Guides](https://agenaastro.com/articles?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree Detailed buying guides and educational articles covering telescopes, eyepieces, filters, and accessories. Their guides are notably unbiased and thorough, helping you make informed equipment decisions regardless of where you buy. - [Starizona Resources](https://starizona.com/resources?ref=macobservatory.com)Free In-depth guides on CCD/CMOS imaging, telescope optics, filter selection, and astrophotography techniques. Their Hyperstar and optical accessory guides are particularly valuable for imagers. - [High Point Scientific Hub](https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub?ref=macobservatory.com)Free An astronomy knowledge center with product comparisons, how-to guides, and video reviews. Their side-by-side equipment comparisons and beginner-friendly articles make complex purchasing decisions more approachable. - [ZWO](https://www.zwoastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free The official site for ZWO, one of the most popular manufacturers of astronomy cameras, filter wheels, and the ASIAIR imaging controller. Find specifications, firmware updates, software downloads, and user galleries. - [QHYCCD](https://www.qhyccd.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Official site for QHYCCD cameras and accessories. Browse their range of cooled and uncooled astronomy cameras, download drivers and software, and access technical specifications for their imaging products. ## 8. Learning & Tutorials - [Astro Backyard](https://astrobackyard.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree Trevor Jones's comprehensive astrophotography resource with tutorials, equipment reviews, and processing guides. His approachable style and backyard imaging philosophy make astrophotography accessible to beginners while still offering value to experienced imagers. - [Deep Sky Workflows](https://deepskyworkflows.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Detailed processing tutorials and workflows for deep-sky astrophotography. Covers step-by-step processing in popular software packages with an emphasis on getting the most out of your data. - [Galactic Hunter](https://www.galactichunter.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Astrophotography tutorials, target guides, and processing walkthroughs with a focus on deep-sky objects. Each target guide includes recommended equipment, camera settings, and detailed processing steps. - [Seti Astro](https://www.setiastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free Free astrophotography tools and processing tutorials. Known for developing useful standalone utilities for noise reduction, star removal, and other processing tasks that complement mainstream software. ## 9. Object Discovery & Citizen Science - [CDS Suite](https://cds.u-strasbg.fr/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree The Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg provides an integrated suite of tools including SIMBAD, VizieR, and Aladin. The portal offers unified access to the world's most comprehensive astronomical data services, essential for serious object research. - [Zooniverse](https://www.zooniverse.org/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free The world's largest platform for people-powered research. Participate in real astronomical research by classifying galaxies, searching for exoplanets, identifying craters, and contributing to dozens of active science projects. - [AAVSO](https://www.aavso.org/?ref=macobservatory.com)Freemium The American Association of Variable Star Observers coordinates and collects variable star observations from amateur astronomers worldwide. Contribute scientifically valuable data with your own equipment and join an international observing community. ## 10. Space Agencies & Professional Resources - [NASA APOD](https://apod.nasa.gov/?ref=macobservatory.com)RecommendedFree NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day has featured a new astronomical image with an expert explanation every day since June 1995\. An unparalleled archive of astronomical imagery and accessible science writing. - [NASA Image Gallery](https://images.nasa.gov/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free NASA's official image and video library with hundreds of thousands of media files from across the agency's missions. Search and download high-resolution images from space telescopes, planetary missions, and more. - [ESA/Hubble](https://esahubble.org/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free The European Space Agency's portal for Hubble Space Telescope imagery, news, and educational resources. Browse stunning high-resolution images, press releases, and learn about ongoing Hubble science programs. - [James Webb Space Telescope](https://webbtelescope.org/?ref=macobservatory.com)Free The official site for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope featuring the latest infrared images of the universe, mission updates, science results, and educational content about the most powerful space telescope ever built. ### Laminar - Planetary Capture URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/ Last updated: 2026-10-09T02:29:38.000Z [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/laminar.png)Laminar](#laminar) - [Speed](#speed) - [Focus](#focus) - [Filters](#filters) - [Solar](#sun) - [Compatibility](#compatibility) - [FAQ](#faq) [Buy $34.99](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) ![Laminar app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/laminar.png) Laminar Planetary, lunar and solar capture for Mac # Catch the steady seconds. The air above your telescope settles for a moment, then boils again. Laminar is planetary, lunar and solar capture made for the Mac, built so you are recording at full speed, in focus, with the right filter, when that moment comes. [ Get Laminar on the Mac App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) $34.99 once, no subscription. macOS 15 or later on Apple Silicon. ![Laminar recording Saturn at 35 frames per second on a ToupTek G3M678C, with auto tracking, the frame quality graph, zero dropped frames and clip 4 of a six-clip Saturn derotation sequence running](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/laminar-laminar-saturn-sequence.webp) 10 camera brands, plus webcams and iPhone 24 filter wheel drivers built in 29 focuser drivers built in Native Swift and Metal Capture speed ## Smaller frame. Faster camera. More lucky frames. Seeing sharpens for a few milliseconds at a time. Every extra frame you record is another chance to catch one of those instants. Draw a region around the planet and Laminar hands the camera a smaller window to read, so the frame rate climbs. There is no cap in the app: the ceiling is your camera. Recording runs apart from the preview, so a busy screen never costs you a frame. On our bench: a ToupTek G3M678C recorded about 385 fps at 320 × 240 with zero dropped frames, and a QHY5III ran at 94.8 fps with a region against 42 fps full frame. ![Jupiter in Laminar's live preview](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-jupiter-tracked.webp) 3840 × 2160 Full frame 50% 25% 320 × 240 Pixels per frame 8.29 M Data per frame, RAW8 8.3 MB Share of the sensor read 100% The planet is turning while you record. Laminar keeps time. Jupiter spins once every ten hours, so detail smears after about a minute. Pick Jupiter, Saturn or Mars and the capture clock shows the recommended limit, then warns you as you pass it. 0 s60 s, recommended for Jupiter90 s, warning120 s Disk safety ## Laminar does the disk math before your drive runs out of breath. A fast planetary camera can write faster than a USB stick or a tired external drive can keep up. Laminar tells you before you press record, not afterwards. - **Learns each drive's real speed.** No benchmark to run. Every big capture teaches Laminar what that particular disk sustains. - **Warns you in plain words.** "Will buffer about 2 GB", or "exceeds free space", with the fix one click away. - **Never loses a frame silently.** If the disk still falls behind, Laminar writes at the disk's pace and counts every skipped frame, in the app and in the capture's record. Internal SSD Older external SSD USB stick Capture Session LimitSecsFrames Duration20 sec Capture rate: **139 MB/s** Storage required: **2.8 GB** Macintosh HD sustains this rate comfortably. Apply Recommended Limit ● START CAPTURE Rates from a real 117 fps solar session at 1164 × 1016\. Drive speeds are examples. Real-world performance ## Apple's most affordable laptop. Zero dropped frames. You don't need a Mac Studio in the back garden. We took a MacBook Neo out for an afternoon of hydrogen-alpha solar imaging with a Player One Apollo-M MINI, and let Laminar's own capture records keep score. **36,408**frames recorded **0**frames dropped **117.5**frames per second, held steady **43.1**GB written, about 139 MB/s Ten captures on 30 August 2026, including one unbroken 90-second clip of 10,568 frames, at 1164 × 1016 RAW8\. Figures from the capture records Laminar wrote alongside each file. Focus aids ## Focus by the numbers, not by squinting. At high magnification a shimmering planet never looks sharp to the eye. Laminar measures fine detail in every frame it analyzes and draws it live, so you can see the best focus instead of guessing at it. ![Saturn in the preview, changing sharpness as the focuser moves](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-saturn.jpg) FRAME QUALITYTracking target Peak **0%**Average **0%**Current **0%** Try it: step the focuser ↑ ↓ 12,350 ### Three lines, one answer Green is each frame. Yellow is the three-second average, the line you focus on. Gray dashes mark the best focus of the session. ### It follows the planet The measuring box rides along with the tracked disc, so a nudge of the mount or SCT mirror flop doesn't send the graph to zero. ### Honest about the whole run "Recent above average" shows how much of the last minute and a half beat your running average, a quick read on whether the seeing is getting better or worse. Tracking ## Click a crater. Laminar won't take its eyes off it. Planets are found and followed automatically. On the Moon and the Sun there is no single disc to follow, so you click the feature you care about, and Laminar's GPU matches it frame after frame, keeping focus measured on the detail that matters. ![Jupiter with Laminar's automatic tracking box](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-jupiter-tracked.webp)Auto Track **Planets, automatically**Found by brightness, measured from its limb, followed by its center. ![A lunar crater held in Laminar's surface tracking box](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-moon-tracked.webp)Locked **A crater on the Moon**Click it once. The box stays on it as the field drifts. ![A sunspot group held in Laminar's surface tracking box in hydrogen-alpha](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-sun-tracked.webp)Locked **A sunspot on the Sun**Surface tracking works the same way in daylight. Filter wheels and focusers ## Change filters. Keep focus. Red, green, blue and methane filters don't focus at the same point. Laminar remembers the difference for each one and moves the focuser for you when the wheel turns. - **Per-filter focus offsets.** Refocus once on a filter and Laminar offers "Update Red offset (+6)", saving your correction for next time. - **Per-filter camera settings and flats.** Exposure, gain and white balance come back with each filter, and the matching flat is applied. - **Hands on the keyboard.** Keys 1 to 9 choose a slot, the arrow keys step the focuser, and Stop is always one shortcut away. - **No server to install.** Wheel and focuser drivers are built into Laminar. Plug in over USB, choose Connect All Devices, and start. ![Laminar's Equipment tab with a Player One Phoenix filter wheel on IR 685nm, slot 5 of 8, and a MoonLite focuser at position 1,490 with In, Out, Stop and Go To controls](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/laminar-laminar-equipment-panel.webp) The Equipment tab: wheel, focuser and offsets in one place. ![Laminar's filter popover over the preview, listing eight named filters on a Player One Phoenix wheel with Lum UV/IR active](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/laminar-laminar-filter-popover.webp) Or switch filters from the toolbar without leaving the preview. Screenshots from a night on Saturn and Neptune, 7 October 2026, with a Player One Uranus-M. Sequences ## A full color set before the planet turns. Build a sequence once, or start from the Jupiter, Saturn and Mars templates. Laminar turns the wheel, applies each filter's focus offset, waits for things to settle, restores that filter's settings and records, then does it all again for the next color. Jupiter LRGB Jupiter Saturn Mars Striped gaps: wheel turn, focus offset and settle Color set: 150 s of recording Returns to the first filter when the run ends Clip lengths are Laminar's built-in LRGB templates. Sequences can also repeat for a set count, until a time, or for a total duration, and resume after a restart. ![Laminar's sequence menu listing derotation sets for Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, a Jupiter rotation animation, a seeing sampler, solar time-lapses and a Venus UV cloud animation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/laminar-laminar-sequence-templates.webp) ### More than color sets. Start from an example and make it yours: derotation sets that split a long session into clips the planet won't smear, rotation and cloud animations, a seeing sampler that runs through the night, and solar time-lapses. Capture records ## Every Laminar clip remembers exactly how it was made. Next to each SER file, Laminar writes a small record of the session: the camera, exposure, gain and region, frames written and dropped, the weather, and, with a wheel and focuser, the filter's name, wavelength and slot, the focuser position and the offset it applied. Strata reads it, so your processing starts with the facts instead of a guess. { "capture": { "target": "Sun", "frames_written": 7046, "frames_dropped": 0, "stop_reason": "time_limit", "midpoint_at": "2026-08-30T19:19:15.828Z" }, "camera": { "vendor": "playerOne", "model": "Apollo-M MINI", "pixel_size_um": 4.5, "bit_depth": 12 }, "capture_settings": { "exposure_ms": 1.156, "gain": 0, "roi": { "width": 1164, "height": 1016 }, "sensor_temperature_c": 44.3 }, "weather": { "conditions_score": 60, "dew_spread_c": 10.0, "source": "Apple Weather" } } ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/strata.png) **Laminar Capture**Read by Strata on import Target Sun Camera Player One Apollo-M MINI Frames 7,046 written, 0 dropped Exposure and gain 1.16 ms, gain 0 Region 1164 × 1016 Conditions 60, dew spread 10 °C Filter Name, wavelength and slot, with a wheel Excerpt from a real capture record, 30 August 2026\. Files are SER, so they also open in AutoStakkert!, PIPP, RegiStax and Siril, and names can follow WinJUPOS time conventions. ![The full solar disc in hydrogen-alpha with prominences on the limb](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-sun-halpha-color.webp) The Sun in hydrogen-alpha, 28 June 2026\. Captured in Laminar, stacked in Strata from the best 57% of frames. Solar imaging ## By day, a solar observatory. The Sun asks for the same things as the planets, only more of them: very short exposures, high frame rates, a feature that won't sit still, and optics that leave uneven light across the field. Laminar handles each one. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-sun-tracked.webp) ### Follow the active region Click a sunspot or filament and surface tracking holds it while the quality graph measures focus right there. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-laminar-sun-preview.webp) ### Flatten the etalon's gradient Record a flat in the built-in wizard and Laminar corrects uneven illumination live, in the preview, and in the file if you choose. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/laminar-laminar-active-sequence.webp) ### Time-lapse a flare as it happens A sequence can record a short clip every minute for ninety minutes, then pause, skip or resume without losing its place. Strip ROI Spectroheliograph spectrum, illustration Spectroheliographs ### Draw a strip on the spectrum. With a Sol'Ex or another spectroheliograph, the image you need is one thin line of the spectrum, read as fast as possible while the Sun drifts across the slit. Drag a strip right onto the absorption line in the live preview, fine-tune it with handles or exact numbers, and save it as a preset. Laminar snaps every preset to what each camera can actually read, so a strip set up on one camera works unchanged on the next. Filter records carry H-alpha, calcium K and H, sodium and helium lines with their wavelengths. Before you set up ## It checks the sky before you haul the scope out. Laminar scores tonight's conditions from Apple Weather and shows the next six hours hour by hour, so you know whether to set up now, wait an hour, or stay in. - **Cloud by altitude.** Low, mid and high cloud separately, because thin high cloud ruins a night differently from a low deck. - **Dew watch.** The gap between temperature and dew point, with a warning before your optics fog. - **The Moon's say.** Phase, rise and set, so you know when it will brighten the sky or be up for imaging. Weather **60**Conditions **40**Next 6 h Session outlook 151617181920 Cloud cover41% Low (below 1.8 km)36% High (above 6.3 km)4% Spread (T − Td)10 °C Values from the 30 August solar session. Compatibility ## Laminar works with the gear you already own. Native camera support for ten astronomy brands, and filter wheel and focuser drivers built right into the app. No Windows, no Wine, no separate server. Cameras Filter wheels Focusers ### ZWO ASI Every Apple Silicon compatible USB model, from the ASI462MC and ASI585MC to the ASI290MM and ASI174MM. Supported ### Player One Mars, Neptune, Uranus, Apollo and more. Our solar images come from an Apollo-M MINI. Supported ### QHY The QHY5III planetary series through to larger sensors, with region capture and RAW16. Supported ### ToupTek ATR and G3M series, with the camera's own color processing or pure raw Bayer, your choice. Supported ### ToupTek family brands Altair Astro, OGMA, Omegon, MallinCam and RisingCam, each through its own brand's driver. Supported ### SVBONY SV305 and SV305C PRO, SV505C, SV705C, SV605 and SV905C. Supported ### iPhone and webcams Clip your iPhone to the eyepiece with a phone holder and capture through Continuity Camera, perfect for quick snaps of the Moon. Standard USB webcams work too. Supported ### Tested on our bench ASI462MC, ASI294MM, ASI6200MM Pro, Uranus-C PRO, Sedna-M, Apollo-M MINI, G3M678C, SV305C PRO, QHY5III715, QHY5III678, an iPhone and a USB webcam. Not supported: Celestron NexImage and Skyris cameras, and ZWO's Wi-Fi cameras and the ASIAIR, which don't connect to a Mac over USB. iPhone and webcam capture has fewer controls than an astronomy camera, with no capture region, white balance or cooler control. - ZWO EFW Tested in LaminarUSB, found automatically - Player One Phoenix Tested in LaminarUSB, found automatically - Astroasis OasisUSB, found automatically - Atik EFW2USB, found automatically - Finger Lakes InstrumentationUSB, found automatically - Moravian Instruments SFWUSB, found automatically - Starlight XpressSX USB, Mini with OAG and Maxi - PegasusAstro IndigoChoose the serial port - OptecChoose the serial port - QHY CFW1, CFW2 and CFW3Choose the serial port and model - Brightstar Quantum and Orion NautilusChoose the serial port - TrutekChoose the serial port - XagylChoose the serial port - ToupTek-compatible wheelsToupTek, AltairAstro, BacCam, Bresser, MallinCam, Meade, OGMA, OmegonPro, RisingCam, Orion StarShootG and SVBONY - Manual filter wheelsLaminar asks you to confirm each position 24 driver modules, based on INDIGO 3.0\. Being on this list means the driver is included, not that every model has been tested in Laminar. Wheels built into Atik, Moravian, QHY, QSI and SBIG cameras aren't controlled yet. - MoonLite Tested in Laminar - ZWO EAF - Askar WAF - Astroasis Oasis - ASTROMECHANICS - PegasusAstro DMFC - PegasusAstro FocusCube v3 - PegasusAstro Prodigy Microfocuser - Deep Sky Dad - Celestron and PlaneWave EFA - Shoestring FCUSB - FLI - AGadget FocusDreamPro - iOptron iEAF - LACERTA Motorfocus - LakesideAstro - Lunatico Astronomia - myFocuserPro2 - Rigel Systems nFOCUS - Rigel Systems nSTEP - Optec TCF-S - Optec FocusLynx - PrimaluceLab focuser and rotator - QHY Q-Focuser - RoboFocus - Baader SteelDriveII - USB\_Focus v3 - MJKZZ and WeMacro rails 29 driver modules, based on INDIGO 3.0\. Controls follow what each device reports: moves, Go To, Stop, zero, travel limits, and speed, backlash and temperature where available. Focusers built into cameras, power boxes and mounts aren't controlled yet. The details ## Everything else a planetary imager asks about. Live calibration Darks, flats and hot pixels corrected in the preview as you frame, and in the recording if you want. Guided wizards build the masters, and a library picks the right one by gain, exposure, temperature, filter and region. Bring your FireCapture and SharpCap masters with you. ### SER, RAW8 or RAW16 Standard files for Strata, AutoStakkert!, PIPP, RegiStax and Siril. ### WinJUPOS-ready names Files can be named by the capture's UTC midpoint, ready for derotation. ### Quick Look for SER Press Space on a capture in the Finder to see what's inside. ### Snapshots Save the next frame as JPEG, 16-bit TIFF or PNG for a quick share. ### Every bright target The Sun, the Moon, and Mercury through Neptune, each remembering its own settings. ### Six languages English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. ### Equipment profiles that do the optics math Describe your telescope, Barlow or reducer, camera and filters once. Laminar works out focal length, f-ratio, image scale and field of view, and writes them into every capture record. ### Built for the Mac, all the way down Swift, SwiftUI and Metal on Apple Silicon. Shortcuts actions to start and stop sequences, and a keyboard shortcut for everything you reach for in the dark. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/laminar.png) ## Be ready for the steady seconds. $34.99One-time purchase on the Mac App Store. No subscription, no in-app purchases. [Get Laminar on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) Requires macOS 15 or later and an Apple Silicon Mac. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/strata.png)**Then stack it in Strata**Stack, derotate and sharpen, reading every Laminar capture record.](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png)**Get all four in the Field Kit**Laminar, Strata, Meridian and Transit for $99.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/mac-observatory-field-kit/id6798291569?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Questions, answered. Which cameras work with Laminar? ZWO ASI, Player One, QHY, ToupTek, SVBONY, and the ToupTek family brands Altair Astro, OGMA, Omegon, MallinCam and RisingCam, all through their manufacturers' own drivers. Your iPhone works too: attach it to the eyepiece with a phone holder and Laminar captures through Continuity Camera, as it does from standard USB webcams. Celestron NexImage and Skyris cameras aren't supported. Does Laminar control my filter wheel and focuser? Yes, since version 1.9\. Laminar includes 24 filter wheel driver modules and 29 focuser drivers, so there's nothing else to install. It moves the wheel, applies each filter's focus offset, restores that filter's camera settings and flat, and can run whole LRGB sequences on its own. Manual wheels work too, with a prompt to confirm each position. Does it autofocus? Not yet. Laminar gives you a live focus measurement to focus against, remembers the focus offset for every filter, and applies those offsets automatically when the wheel turns. Can I use it with a spectroheliograph like a Sol'Ex? Yes. Draw a narrow strip on the spectral line in the live preview, save it as a preset, and record at the high frame rates a small region allows. Captures are standard SER files for your spectroheliograph software. A dedicated spectroheliograph mode isn't part of Laminar yet. Does it control my mount? Not yet. Laminar tracks the target in the image for focus and framing, but it doesn't move the mount. What Mac do I need? Any Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 15 Sequoia or later. Intel Macs aren't supported, because Laminar is built on Apple Silicon and Metal from the ground up. Will my captures work with AutoStakkert!, PIPP, RegiStax and WinJUPOS? Yes. Laminar records standard SER files that those tools open directly, and it can name files by the capture's UTC midpoint for WinJUPOS derotation. Strata, also from Mac Observatory, reads Laminar's capture records for even more context. How is it different from FireCapture or SharpCap? SharpCap has no Mac version, and FireCapture runs on the Mac through Java. Laminar is written natively for macOS and Apple Silicon. It also learns each drive's real write speed and reports every skipped frame, tracks surface features on the Moon and Sun, and writes a capture record that travels with every file into Strata. Does it work with the ASIAIR or ZWO's Wi-Fi cameras? No. Those connect over Wi-Fi rather than USB to a Mac, so Laminar can't reach them. Is there a subscription? No. Laminar is a one-time $34.99 purchase on the Mac App Store, or part of the $99 Mac Observatory Field Kit with Strata, Meridian and Transit. ### Strata: Planetary Processing URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T16:00:22.000Z [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/strata.png)Strata](#strata) - [Analyze](#analyze) - [Stack](#stack) - [Sharpen](#sharpen) - [Derotate](#derotate) - [Color](#color) - [FAQ](#faq) [Buy $34.99](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strata-planetary-stacking/id6761143633?ref=macobservatory.com) ![Strata app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/strata.png) Strata Planetary, lunar and solar stacking for Mac # Thousands of frames. One perfect planet. No single frame from last night is sharp. Graded, aligned patch by patch and stacked, together they can be. Strata takes you from a folder of captures to a finished planet, Moon or Sun, in one window, on your Mac. [ Get Strata on the Mac App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strata-planetary-stacking/id6761143633?ref=macobservatory.com) $34.99 once, no subscription. macOS 14.6 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel. ![Strata preparing a Strata Warp stack of Saturn, with the grid of alignment points over the planet and rings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-stack-ap.webp) From one video to thousands Seven steps, one window Every heavy step on the GPU No AI, only your data The whole workflow ## Seven steps. One window. No Windows. Planetary processing used to mean a relay of Windows programs, one for each step, often inside a virtual machine. Strata puts the whole chain in order, left to right, and keeps every step's work so you can go back and change your mind. **Import**SER, AVI and stills **Analyze**Grade every frame **Stack**Align and combine **Derotate**Merge several stacks **Sharpen**Pull out the detail **Color**Align and balance **Export**Save and remember ![Strata's Import screen, ready for a capture, a night's videos or a folder](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-import.webp) Drop in one capture, a whole night's videos, or a folder. One video goes straight into the pipeline, a still opens at Sharpen, and a night of videos lets you choose: compare them, process them all, or derotate and combine. SER from Laminar, FireCapture or SharpCap, and AVI from the ASIAIR and ASICap. ![Strata analyzing every frame of a lunar capture, with its quality curve and frame selection](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-analyze-moon.webp) Every frame is scored on the planet, Moon or Sun itself, not the empty sky around it. You see the whole capture as a quality curve, and Strata suggests how many frames to keep as a starting point. ![Strata's alignment point grid over Saturn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-stack-ap.webp) A grid of alignment points lets each small patch of the image line up on its own, because the air never distorts the whole disc the same way. ![Four Jupiter stacks being combined in Strata's Derotate step](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-derotate.webp) Combine several stacked captures of a spinning planet into one, with the rotation between them taken out. ![Saturn in Strata's Sharpen step with its wavelet layers](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-sharpen.webp) Wavelets, deconvolution, Solar Tone and Micro Contrast, all previewed live on the GPU as you move a slider. ![Jupiter in Strata's Color step](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-color-jupiter.webp) Line up the red, green and blue channels, balance the color, and bring out the Moon's minerals or the Sun's texture. ![Strata's Export step with a finished solar image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-export-sun.webp) Save TIFF, PNG, JPEG or FITS, named your way, with the capture time and processing written into the file. Analyze ## Which capture was the good one? You recorded twenty clips while the seeing came and went. Strata grades every frame of every clip and ranks the night, best first. - **Graded on the subject.** Strata measures sharpness on the planet, Moon or Sun itself, with the sky subtracted, so a dark background can't flatter a soft frame. - **The best captures of the night, first.** Batch Analysis ranks every capture against the night's best, so you process the keepers and move the rest to the Trash in one click. - **You decide how many frames.** Take Strata's suggestion as a starting point, or choose a percentage or an exact frame count. Frame Selection Keep the best **20%** Frames kept 3,587 Of 17,934 Weakest kept 71% Frame count from a real 17,934-frame Saturn capture at 49.8 fps; the quality curve is an illustration. Drag to choose what you keep. ![Strata's Batch Analysis ranking fourteen solar captures from one session, best first](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-batch.webp) Batch Analysis puts the best captures of the night at the top. Here, fourteen solar captures from one session, each with its quality curve and how many frames are worth keeping. From a single video to a scientific program ## Two thousand solar videos. One night. One Mac. Strata handles anything from one video of Jupiter to the most demanding scientific workflows. Sven Kohle, a solar imager in Germany, records calcium K all day, every day, and processed it for years in Planetary System Stacker. He sent us a night of captures, and his logs helped make Strata four times faster. **1,999**SER videos, zero failures **524,447**frames at 3400 × 3400 **6 TB**of data, read once **Under 5 h**start to finish, down from 19.6 hours > “I am so impressed. Real time DAS processing with max Warp-Speed, GPU could do even more with faster disks. This is fantastic.” Sven Kohle, solar imager, Germany A Mac Studio with Apple's 2022 M1 Ultra and a direct-attached drive array, on Strata 1.2.1\. The full run took 4 hours 59 minutes, and reading the data from disk accounted for about 4.2 of them, so today's Apple silicon and faster storage have room to go further still. [Read the whole story](https://macobservatory.com/strata-1-2-1-solar-batch-performance-drizzle/) Stack ## The air bends every patch differently. Strata aligns every patch. Turbulence doesn't just shift the planet, it warps it, a little differently in each corner of every frame. Strata lays a grid of alignment points over the target and lines each one up on its own before anything is added together. ![Strata's alignment points over Saturn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-saturn-apgrid.webp) **Planets.** Alignment points only where the planet is, stacked patch by patch. ![A dense grid of Strata alignment points across the Sun, with Strata Warp aligning frames](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-sun-apgrid.webp) **The Sun and Moon.** A grid across the whole surface, warped into place one smooth correction per frame. ### Simple Average A quick baseline Shifts each frame as a whole and averages. Fast, and useful to compare against. ### Strata Warp The default Every alignment point is matched frame by frame. Planets are stacked patch by patch with soft blending; the Moon and Sun are gently warped into place, one smooth correction per frame. ### Strata Warp+ When you want every last detail Chooses the sharpest frames for each patch separately, because the steadiest moment for one crater isn't always the steadiest for the next. A little more fine detail, for a few times the processing time. ### It sizes the grid for you Automatic alignment point sizing picks a size for the target and the night, with a Poor Seeing profile for rough air. ### Real drizzle 1.5×, 2× and 3× drizzle that places every pixel where it landed, not an upscale. With your telescope described, Strata tells you whether your image is undersampled and suggests a factor. ### A capture that drifted Normalize Capture throws out frames where the target clipped the edge, drifted, blew out or went black, and follows a target that wandered across an untracked field. Sharpen ## Drag across the Moon. A good stack is soft by nature. Sharpening brings back what the stack gathered. Strata previews every change live, so you stop exactly where detail ends and artifacts begin. ### Wavelets Six layers from finest detail to broad structure, each with its own strength and noise control. ### Deconvolution Reverses the blur your optics add. Strata calculates the blur from your telescope, camera and filter, so it restores what was lost, right up to your equipment's limit, without inventing anything. ### Solar Tone Made for hydrogen-alpha and calcium K, lifting faint structure without losing the prominences. ### Micro Contrast A last finishing pass that recovers the smallest detail after everything else. ![Lunar craters straight from the stack, before sharpening](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-moon-before.webp) ![The same craters after wavelet sharpening in Strata](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-moon-after.webp) Stacked Sharpened ↔ Lunar craters, before and after wavelet sharpening in Strata. Derotate ## Jupiter won't hold still. Combine it anyway. Each capture has to be short, because the planet is turning. Stack several of them, and Strata merges the stacks into one image with the rotation taken out, for more signal than any single capture could give. - **Two to ten stacks at once.** Drop in stacked images of the same session, even at different sizes. - **Time from the files.** Capture times come from SER recordings, from Strata's own exports, or from FireCapture, SharpCap and AutoStakkert! file names. - **Saturn, rings and all.** Strata measures the rings' tilt and the globe's shape, and turns the planet beneath rings that stay put. ![Strata combining four Jupiter stacks](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-ui-derotate.webp) Color ## Finish every target the way it deserves. Planets, the Moon and the Sun each need something different at the end. Strata's Color step knows which one you're working on. Planets The Moon The Sun ### Line up the colors the air split apart. Near the horizon the atmosphere acts like a weak prism and separates red from blue. Strata detects the offset to a fraction of a pixel and puts the channels back, then balances the color, sets the levels and adds saturation to taste. ### Bring out the Moon's minerals. Mineral Enhancement exaggerates the Moon's faint natural colors, the blues of titanium-rich seas and the browns of the highlands, with highlight protection so the bright craters don't blow out. ### Give a monochrome Sun its color. Solar cameras record in gray. Choose from ten solar palettes, from classic hydrogen-alpha and calcium K to false color, or duplicate one and edit its color stops. Hydrogen-alpha Calcium K White light Sodium D and six more, including false color ![Jupiter after color alignment and balance in Strata](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-jupiter.webp) ![The Moon before and after Mineral Enhancement in Strata](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-moon-split.webp) ![The Sun in gray and after the hydrogen-alpha palette in Strata](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-sun-halpha.webp) ![The Sun in gray and after the calcium K palette in Strata](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-cak-split.webp) ![The Sun in gray and after the white light palette in Strata](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-sun-whitelight.webp) ![The Sun in gray and after the sodium D palette in Strata](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-sun-sodium.webp) Better with Laminar ## Strata already knows how you captured it. Laminar writes a small record beside every capture. Strata reads it on import, so the details you'd otherwise type in are already there, and they change how Strata processes the image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/laminar.png)Laminar CaptureWritten by Laminar beside every capture Target Sun, hydrogen-alpha Camera Player One Apollo-M MINI Frames 7,046 written, 0 dropped Telescope From your equipment profile Filter Name, wavelength and wheel slot Conditions 60, dew spread 10 °C What Strata does with it - **Picks the target** and the solar wavelength, ahead of any guess from the file name. - **Attaches your equipment,** or creates a profile from what Laminar recorded. - **Tunes the drizzle advice** and the deconvolution blur to your optics and wavelength. - **Shows the filter and wheel slot** on the capture card. Strata works with captures from any SER-writing app. The Laminar record is a bonus, not a requirement. [About Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) ![The full solar disc in hydrogen-alpha with prominences on the limb](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-sun-halpha-color.webp) The Sun in hydrogen-alpha, 28 June 2026\. Stacked with Strata Warp from the best 57% of frames, sharpened and colored in Strata. Solar and lunar ## From a gray disc to the Sun you saw. Solar and lunar captures fill the frame, carry texture everywhere and often drift. Strata treats them as surfaces, not discs: a smooth correction across the whole field, sharpening tuned for fine texture, and color that looks like the Sun you saw. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-sun-sodium.webp) ### Every solar filter Hydrogen-alpha, calcium K and white light each get their own defaults, from how frames are scored to how they're sharpened. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-sun-solartone.webp) ### Prominences protected Solar Tone lifts the disc's faint structure while Background Protection keeps prominences at the limb intact. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/strata-res-moon-split.webp) ### A sharper, truer Moon Wavelets tuned for lunar detail, then Mineral Enhancement for color, with every step undoable. ## Mac astronomers, finally at home. ★★★★★ > “What used to take me entire evenings is now done in minutes.” Hardy36, Mac App Store, Switzerland ★★★★★ > “Very fast processing times compared to other options, a more intuitive interface, and superior results.” agavephoto, Mac App Store, United States ★★★★★ > “Finally I can process my planetary and solar pictures on a Mac in way I was always hoping for.” HobbyAstro, Mac App Store, Switzerland The details ## Everything else you'll ask about. Record once, replay all night Every setting from Analyze to Export saves as a processing profile. Drop up to ten captures on Import, or point Strata at a whole folder of videos or images and let it work through thousands of files unattended, each processed exactly as you set it up. ### Rescue a broken capture The SER Utility diagnoses a damaged file and writes a repaired copy, leaving the original untouched. ### Quick Look for SER Press Space on a capture in the Finder to see a frame and its details, in color for color cameras. ### Equipment that does the math Describe your telescope, Barlow, camera and filters once. Strata works out focal length, f-ratio and image scale, the right drizzle factor, and the exact deconvolution blur for your optics. ### Exports that remember TIFF, PNG, JPEG or FITS, with the capture time and every processing setting stored in the file. ### Compare as you go Original, Enhanced and Comparison views in every step, and a bypass switch on every control. ### No AI Nothing is invented. Every pixel of detail comes from your own frames. ### Built for the Mac, all the way down Metal on the GPU for every heavy step, Apple Silicon and Intel, and the look of macOS 27\. In English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. Compatibility ## Strata opens what your camera app saves. ### SER video Versions 2 and 3, 8 and 16-bit, mono, color and RGB, from Laminar, FireCapture, SharpCap and others. ### AVI video Uncompressed 8-bit AVI from ZWO's ASIAIR and ASICap. ### Still images TIFF, PNG, JPEG and single-image FITS, straight into Sharpen or Derotate. ### Your Mac macOS 14.6 or later on Apple Silicon or Intel, with a Metal graphics processor. Compressed video (MP4, MOV, MJPEG), FITS cubes and captures from CMYG color sensors aren't supported. Mosaics and deep-sky images are outside what Strata is for. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/strata.png) ## Turn last night into your best image yet. $34.99One-time purchase on the Mac App Store. No subscription, no in-app purchases. [Get Strata on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strata-planetary-stacking/id6761143633?ref=macobservatory.com) Requires macOS 14.6 or later. Apple Silicon or Intel. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/laminar.png)**Capture it in Laminar**Planetary, lunar and solar capture that hands Strata everything it recorded.](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png)**Get all four in the Field Kit**Strata, Laminar, Meridian and Transit for $99.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/mac-observatory-field-kit/id6798291569?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Questions, answered. Can Strata replace AutoStakkert! and RegiStax? For most planetary, lunar and solar work, yes. Strata grades and stacks captures with alignment points, like AutoStakkert!, and sharpens with wavelets and aligns color channels, like RegiStax, in one app on your Mac. It doesn't let you place alignment points by hand yet. Is it a replacement for WinJUPOS? Partly. Strata combines two to ten stacked images of a rotating planet into one, measuring the rotation from the images themselves and the capture times in the files. It doesn't do WinJUPOS's measurements, map projections or derotation of whole videos. What's the difference between Strata Warp and Strata Warp+? Strata Warp, the default, aligns each patch of the image on its own. Strata Warp+ goes further and picks the sharpest frames for each patch separately, for a little more fine detail at a few times the processing time. Do I need Laminar? No. Strata reads SER files from any capture app, and AVI files from the ASIAIR and ASICap. If you capture with Laminar, Strata also reads its capture records and fills in your target, filter and equipment for you. What can I process? Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Neptune, the Moon, and the Sun in hydrogen-alpha, calcium K and white light. Does Strata use AI? No. Every step is conventional image processing on your own frames, so no detail is invented. Can it fix a damaged SER file? Often. File > Inspect SER File reports what's wrong and can save a repaired copy, for example when the frame count or time stamps are broken. Your original is never changed. Can I process several captures the same way? Yes. Save your settings as a processing profile, then drop up to ten captures on Import, or choose File > Process Video Folder (or Process Image Folder) to run a whole folder unattended. Sven Kohle processed 1,999 solar videos in one run. Does it work on Intel Macs? Yes. Strata runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 14.6 or later and a Metal graphics processor. It's fastest on Apple Silicon. Does it work offline? Yes. Everything happens on your Mac. Is there a trial or subscription? There's no subscription: Strata is a one-time $34.99 purchase on the Mac App Store, or part of the $99 Mac Observatory Field Kit. ### Meridian - Deep Sky Imaging Catalog URL: https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/ Last updated: 2026-09-27T17:35:23.000Z [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/meridian.png)Meridian](#meridian) - [Identify](#identify) - [Catalog](#catalog) - [Plan](#plan) - [Statistics](#stats) - [Your files](#files) - [FAQ](#faq) [Buy $34.99](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meridian-deep-sky-catalog/id6759272712?ref=macobservatory.com) ![Meridian app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/meridian.png) Meridian Deep-sky imaging archive for Mac # Every night you've imaged. In one place. Years of subs, calibration frames and finished images, scattered across folders and drives. Meridian reads them all, works out what you photographed, and turns your archive into a catalog you can browse, search and plan from, without changing a single file. [ Get Meridian on the Mac App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meridian-deep-sky-catalog/id6759272712?ref=macobservatory.com) $34.99 once, with Family Sharing. macOS 14 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel. ![Meridian's catalog page for B 163 in the Elephant's Trunk, with the finished image, 60.2 hours of integration across 10 sessions, and the objects in its field](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-b163.webp) 41,731 objects from 19 catalogs Reads FITS and XISF headers Never changes your files Private, on your Mac A real archive ## Nine years of imaging. Counted in seconds. This is the archive behind Mac Observatory: remote imaging from a Takahashi under Bortle 1 skies, and years of backyard work before it. Meridian found every target and totaled every hour. **289**targets **6,233**hours of integration **85,243**frames **1,234**imaging sessions April 2017 to September 2026, from Meridian's Statistics view. On a tester's Mac, a first scan read 32,388 frames in about 50 seconds from an internal SSD. Spotlight ## Seven years of NGC 1333\. One answer. Search your Mac for a target and Spotlight finds the folders: one from 2017, one from 2019, another in 2023, and again in 2024, each named a little differently. Meridian's result sits on top and pulls them together. - **Every session, one target.** NGC 1333, a cluster and nebula in Perseus, with 36.1 hours in total and the filters you used. - **No app to open first.** Your targets and equipment are in Spotlight, so the answer is a keystroke away. ![Spotlight search for NGC 1333: Meridian's result shows the target with 36.1 hours in total, above four folders of the same target from 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2024](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-spotlight-ngc1333.png) Automatic identification ## It knows what you photographed. Folder names drift and typos creep in. The coordinates your capture software writes into every frame don't. Meridian matches them against 41,731 cataloged objects and puts each target in its place. - **Every name, one target.** M31, M 31, NGC 224 and Andromeda Galaxy all land on the same page. - **What else is in the frame.** Each target lists the other cataloged objects inside your field of view. - **You have the last word.** Reassign, merge or rename a target, with undo. Corrections live in Meridian, never in your files. Search M31 M 31 NGC 224 Andromeda Galaxy You typed **M31** **M 31**Andromeda Galaxy, galaxy in Andromeda *M 31* *NGC 224* *UGC 454* *PGC 2557* Illustration. Search matches spacing, catalog numbers and common names the same way everywhere in Meridian, including ⌘K and Spotlight. PGC*16,133* NGC*7,561* UGC*6,015* IC*4,932* Abell*2,710* Lynds dark (LDN)*1,766* Lynds bright (LBN)*1,061* Barnard*340* Sharpless*299* RCW*177* Cederblad*163* Arp*127* van den Bergh*126* Messier*108* Hickson*75* Collinder*73* Trumpler*34* Stock*21* Melotte*10* Nineteen catalogs, 41,731 objects, cross-referenced with the Caldwell list, all stored on your Mac. Before you import ## No two archives look alike. One rule makes sense of them. Everyone files their data differently, by year, by night, by rig, by target. Meridian needs just one thing to understand yours: each target in a folder of its own. We call it the atomic folder, and Meridian shows you the recommended layout before your first scan. My Archive 2025*Year folders are skipped* M31*The atomic folder: one target* Lights*FITS or XISF, with pointing in the headers* Darks, Flats, Bias M31-final.jpg*Finished images live with their data* NGC 7000 Jupiter*Named by its folder* 1. **One target per folder.** Everything under a target's folder, every session, calibration frame and finished image, belongs to that target. A mosaic's panel folders stay one target. 2. **Finished images with their data.** Keep your JPEGs, TIFFs and PSDs inside the target's folder and they become its versions. 3. **Start small, then expand.** Add one year or one drive first, see how it lands, then add the rest. **Avoid folders that hold many targets.** A folder per night or month, such as 2025/October with ten objects inside, becomes a single target. So do grouping folders by rig or object type above your targets. Give each object its own folder underneath first. Meridian warns you when frames in one folder point to different parts of the sky, and never moves a file itself. [Read the full guide to organizing your astrophotography library](https://macobservatory.com/organize-astrophotography-data-library-mac/) ### Reads best FITS and XISF captures from N.I.N.A., SGPro, Voyager, APT, KStars and Ekos, the ASIAIR and smart telescopes, with the telescope's pointing in each file. Meridian identifies these on its own. ### Identified by folder name The Moon, Sun and planets have no fixed coordinates, so a folder named Jupiter, Saturn or Moon files your planetary and lunar images under that target, even when it holds only finished images. ### Needs a hand DSLR frames converted to FITS usually carry no pointing, and may look like processed files. Choose Import Anyway, and they're filed by folder name until plate solving with your own Astrometry.net key finds the real target. ### Can't read yet Camera RAW files (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW and others) are listed but not cataloged. Neither are tile-compressed FITS (.fz) or iCloud files that aren't downloaded to your Mac. The Catalog ## Every target. Everything about it. Open a target and it's all there: your finished image, hours by filter, each setup you used, every session and its seeing, and all the versions you've processed over the years. B 163 M 45, every version B 32 ![B 163 in Meridian's catalog: 60.2 hours from 10 sessions and 738 frames, with the objects in its field](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-b163.webp) 60.2 hours over ten sessions and 738 frames, with every cataloged object in the field listed underneath. ![The Pleiades in Meridian's catalog, with a gallery of every processed version](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-m45-versions.webp) Every version you've processed of a target sits in one gallery, so you can see how your processing, and your data, has grown. ![B 32 in Meridian's catalog, a dark nebula with its integration and sessions](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-b32.webp) Sort and filter the whole catalog by object type, catalog, constellation, telescope, camera, focal length or imaging filter. Wish List ## Know what to shoot tonight, and what will fit. Build a list of targets you want. Meridian tells you which are up tonight, which are in season, and which of your telescopes and cameras will frame each one. - **Tonight at a glance.** Best months, peak altitude, hours above 30°, transit, rise and set, and a 24-hour altitude chart with twilight. - **Field-of-view fit for every rig.** Each of your setups, checked against the target's size, with the frame drawn on a real sky image. - **Sort by what matters now.** Visible Now, Best Tonight or In Season, from any of your observing sites, all calculated offline. - **It notices when you're done.** Targets earn an Imaged badge once they turn up in your archive. M 30 M 2 ![M 30 in Meridian's Wish List with tonight's altitude and field-of-view fit for seven setups](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-m30-wishlist.webp) ![M 2 in Meridian's Wish List, already imaged, with its visibility and field-of-view fit](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-m2-wishlist.webp) My Sky ## Your whole archive, on the sky. Every target you've imaged, marked on an interactive sky atlas and colored by how complete it is. Browse a catalog like Messier and see at a glance how many you've captured, and which are still missing. ![Meridian's My Sky view with Messier targets marked across the Milky Way](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-mysky.webp) Sky surveys from DSS2, 2MASS, WISE and Mellinger. The survey images load over the internet; everything else works offline. Statistics ## See your imaging life at a glance. Hours by month and by filter, your best nights of seeing, where your time goes by object type and constellation, and how each setup has earned its keep. For all time, a single year, or one piece of equipment. All time One year Targets and seeing Equipment and health ![All-time statistics: 289 targets, 6,233 hours, 85,243 frames and 1,234 sessions](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-stats-all.webp) All time: 289 targets and 6,233 hours, with every month's imaging and the time spent in each filter. ![Statistics for 2025, month by month](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-stats-2025.webp) One year: how many nights you got out, your average and longest sessions, and where the hours went. ![Statistics by object type and constellation, with seeing by season and the best nights](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-stats-fwhm.webp) Targets and seeing: hours by object type and constellation, measured seeing by season, and your five best nights. ![Equipment usage, exposure profile and archive health](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-stats-equipment.webp) Equipment and health: hours per setup, your typical exposure and gain, data volume, and calibration frames or missing files that need attention. Equipment ## Your gear, already listed. Meridian builds your equipment list from the telescope, camera and focal length in your file headers. No setup, no typing. - **Forgiving by design.** A focal length logged as 754 mm one night and 756 mm the next is still the same telescope. - **Tidy it your way.** Rename a setup, merge duplicates by dragging one onto another, and add a photo of the rig. - **Every setup's story.** Image scale, sessions, hours, and every target it has captured. ![An EdgeHD 1100 and ZWO ASI2600MM Pro setup in Meridian's Equipment view, with its sessions and targets](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-equipment.webp) Your files, untouched ## Meridian reads. It never writes. Your archive is years of clear nights. Meridian never moves, renames or modifies a file. Every correction you make lives only in Meridian's catalog. - **Drives come and go.** Unplug an external drive and its targets are marked unavailable, then come back when you reconnect it. - **It knows what to skip.** Processing outputs from PixInsight, Siril and Astro Pixel Processor, and thumbnail folders from the ASIAIR and APT, stay out of the way. WBPP masters are recognized. - **Previews in the Finder.** Press Space on a FITS or XISF file for a stretched Quick Look preview, and see real thumbnails in Finder windows. ![Meridian's Source Files view with the file tree and the details of an M33 image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/meridian-ui-sourcefiles.webp) The details ## Everything else you'll ask about. Plate solving, when you need it For frames with no pointing data, such as DSLR shots, Meridian can plate solve to find out what's in them, using ASTAP on your Mac or an optional Astrometry.net account of your own. It can also check every target's coordinates. ### ⌘K search Jump to any target or setup from anywhere in Meridian. ### New files, one command After a session, Scan for New Files adds only what's new. ### Seeing, measured Star size and roundness from your subs, so you can compare nights. ### Finished images JPEG, PNG, TIFF and PSD files in a target's folder show up as its versions. ### Private No account, no analytics. Your location stays on your Mac. ### Fast on big archives A rescan of 122,919 files took 86 seconds on a tester's Mac. ### Built for the Mac Swift and SwiftUI, Metal for thumbnails and star measurement, and a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Compatibility ## Meridian reads what your capture software writes. ### Captures FITS and XISF lights, darks, flats, bias and masters, including compressed XISF. ### Finished images JPEG, PNG, TIFF and PSD, gathered as each target's versions. ### Capture software N.I.N.A., SGPro, APT, KStars and Ekos, the ASIAIR, and smart telescopes like Seestar and DWARF. ### Your Mac macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel. Not yet supported: camera RAW files (CR2, NEF, ARW and others) and tile-compressed FITS (.fz). Meridian catalogs your planetary and lunar finished images by folder name; to stack planetary videos, use [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/meridian.png) ## Give your archive the catalog it deserves. $34.99One-time purchase on the Mac App Store, with Family Sharing for up to six people. No subscription, no in-app purchases. [Get Meridian on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meridian-deep-sky-catalog/id6759272712?ref=macobservatory.com) Requires macOS 14 or later. Apple Silicon or Intel. > “Fully satisfied with this app which fills a gap in my set of astrophotography software. A must have.” ★★★★★ jcj2249, Mac App Store, France [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/ephemeris.png)**Check your guiding with Ephemeris**Free and open source: read your PHD2 guide logs on your Mac.](https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris-phd2-log-viewer/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png)**Get all four in the Field Kit**Meridian, Laminar, Strata and Transit for $99.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/mac-observatory-field-kit/id6798291569?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Questions, answered. What does Meridian do? It reads the headers of your FITS and XISF files, works out which target each one shows, and builds a catalog of everything you've imaged: hours, sessions, equipment, seeing and finished images. It also plans what to image next, and it never changes your files. Do I need to reorganize my folders first? Usually not. Meridian expects one folder per target, and year folders above them are fine. If you keep one folder per night with several targets inside, those targets can merge; the [library guide](https://macobservatory.com/organize-astrophotography-data-library-mac/) shows the layouts that work best. Does Meridian modify my imaging files? No. It never moves, renames or changes a file. Every correction you make, from renaming a target to merging equipment, is stored only in Meridian's own catalog. How does it know what I photographed? From the coordinates your capture software writes into each frame, matched against 41,731 objects from 19 catalogs. If a frame has no coordinates, it uses the folder name, and plate solving can fill in the rest. Does it pick up new files automatically? After an imaging session, choose Scan for New Files (Shift-Command-R) and Meridian adds only what's new. Drives you unplug are remembered and come back when you reconnect them. Does it work with N.I.N.A., the ASIAIR and smart telescopes? Yes. Meridian reads the FITS and XISF files they write, including from Seestar and DWARF smart telescopes, and skips the thumbnail folders the ASIAIR and APT create. Do I need ASTAP? No. Plate solving is optional and only matters for frames with no pointing data, such as DSLR shots. You can use ASTAP on your Mac, or an Astrometry.net account of your own. Does it need an internet connection? No. Scanning, identification, planning and statistics all work offline. Only the sky survey images in My Sky and Astrometry.net solving use the internet. How is it different from PixInsight or Siril? They process images. Meridian keeps track of them: which targets you've shot, for how long, with which gear and in what conditions, and where every file is. They work well together. How long does the first scan take? It depends on your drive. On an internal SSD a tester's 32,388 frames took about 50 seconds; larger archives on slower drives take a few minutes. Does it work on Intel Macs? Yes. Meridian runs on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Does it catalog DSLR RAW files? Not yet. Camera RAW files are listed but not cataloged; support is planned for a future version. DSLR frames converted to FITS can be brought in with Import Anyway, and filed by folder name until plate solving identifies them. Can it catalog the Moon and planets? Yes, by folder name. Solar system targets have no fixed coordinates, so a folder named Moon, Jupiter or Saturn becomes that target, even if it holds only finished images. Is there a trial or subscription? No subscription: Meridian is a one-time $34.99 purchase on the Mac App Store, shared with up to six family members, or part of the $99 Mac Observatory Field Kit. ### iPhone & iPad Astronomy Software URL: https://macobservatory.com/iphone-ipad-astronomy-software/ Last updated: 2026-03-19T01:16:42.000Z A comprehensive directory of astronomy and stargazing apps for iPhone and iPad. From planetarium simulators and astrophotography tools to satellite trackers and smart telescope companions, these apps cover every aspect of amateur astronomy on iOS. ## 1\. Planetarium & Sky Simulation ### SkySafari 8 Free / Plus $15 / Pro $40 The gold standard iOS planetarium. The free tier covers casual stargazing; Plus adds an expanded database of deep-sky objects and telescope control; Pro delivers a professional-grade catalog of over 100 million stars, advanced planning tools, and full observatory-level telescope integration. ### Stellarium Mobile $5 / Plus $19 The mobile port of the beloved open-source desktop planetarium. Offers a beautifully realistic sky rendering engine, deep-sky object overlays, and an intuitive interface. The Plus version adds an extended star catalog, deep-sky survey imagery, and advanced observing tools. ### Sky Tonight Freemium Developed by the Star Walk team, Sky Tonight combines a real-time sky map with a built-in astronomical calendar and event notifications. Its clean interface makes it easy to find planets, constellations, and satellites, with premium unlocks for advanced data and an ad-free experience. ### Night Sky Free / Subscription \~$6/mo An Apple Design Award winner that leverages ARKit for immersive augmented-reality stargazing. Features include a detailed solar system orrery, ISS notifications, city light-pollution overlays, and Apple Watch complications. The subscription unlocks premium AR tours and expanded content. ### Star Walk 2 Freemium A long-running favorite with a gorgeous visual style. Point your device at the sky to identify stars, constellations, planets, and satellites in real time. In-app purchases unlock extended deep-sky content, 3D models of celestial objects, and remove advertisements. ### Sky Guide $3 + IAP A polished, offline-capable star chart that works without Wi-Fi or cellular. Known for its smooth interface, time-travel feature, and curated astronomical event notifications. In-app purchases add constellation artwork, space missions, and enhanced solar-system exploration. ### Luminos Paid A powerful planetarium app designed with serious amateur astronomers in mind. Features include SIMBAD database integration, advanced telescope control via ASCOM/INDI, eyepiece simulation, observing-list management, and detailed ephemeris data for planning sessions. ### Celestron SkyPortal Free Celestron's free planetarium and telescope-control app. Powered by a SkySafari engine, it offers a real-time sky chart, object identification, and wireless alignment and GoTo control for compatible Celestron telescopes including NexStar and Evolution series. ### Our Galaxy Free An interactive 3D visualization of the Milky Way that lets you fly through our galaxy, exploring star clusters, nebulae, and the galactic structure from perspectives impossible to achieve from Earth. A great educational companion for understanding cosmic scale. ### Moon Globe HD Paid A detailed, interactive 3D atlas of the Moon built from NASA imagery. Explore craters, mare, and Apollo landing sites with high-resolution surface textures. Includes nomenclature overlays, libration simulation, and the ability to view the Moon's phase for any date. ## 2\. Weather & Observing Conditions ### Astrospheric Free / Pro Subscription Purpose-built for astronomers, Astrospheric delivers highly accurate cloud-cover forecasts, transparency and seeing predictions, smoke and humidity overlays, and dew-point alerts. The Pro tier provides extended forecasts, multiple saved locations, and advanced atmospheric data layers. ### Clear Outside Free A popular UK-origin weather service tailored for astronomers. Provides hour-by-hour forecasts for cloud cover at multiple altitudes, transparency, seeing, humidity, and wind. The clean interface makes it easy to identify optimal observing windows at a glance. ### Xasteria Free An astronomy weather app that aggregates data from multiple sources to generate a composite observing-conditions forecast. Displays cloud cover, seeing, transparency, jet-stream position, moon phase, and darkness hours in a single streamlined dashboard. ### Scope Nights Paid Designed specifically for telescope users, Scope Nights evaluates weather conditions against your observing preferences and provides a simple go/no-go recommendation. Factors in cloud cover, humidity, wind speed, temperature drop, and dew point for your saved locations. ### Good to Stargaze Freemium Gives you a quick stargazing viability score based on current and forecasted conditions at your location. Considers cloud cover, moonlight, light pollution, and atmospheric transparency. Premium features unlock extended forecasts and custom location alerts. ### My Aurora Forecast Freemium A must-have for aurora chasers. Tracks real-time Kp index, solar wind speed and density, Bz orientation, and NOAA OVATION aurora-oval maps. Push notifications alert you when geomagnetic activity spikes and aurora visibility reaches your latitude. ## 3\. Dark Sky & Light Pollution ### Dark Sky Finder Paid An essential tool for locating dark observing sites. Overlays the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness (Bortle scale) on an interactive map, helping you find the nearest dark-sky locations. Save favorite sites and get directions for your next observing trip. ### Light Pollution Map Freemium Visualizes global light-pollution data on a zoomable map using multiple data layers including VIIRS satellite measurements. Identifies Bortle class zones, helps plan dark-sky travel, and includes SQM (sky quality meter) overlays. Premium unlocks additional map layers and offline access. ## 4\. Smart Telescope & Hardware Companion Apps ### ASIAIR Free (requires ZWO hardware) The companion app for ZWO's ASIAIR smart controller. Provides complete remote control of your imaging rig including camera settings, plate solving, autoguiding, polar alignment, mosaic planning, and automated imaging sequences—all from your iPhone or iPad. ### Seestar Free The control app for the ZWO Seestar S50 smart telescope. Handles device setup, GoTo targeting, live stacking, image processing, and sharing. Its streamlined interface makes deep-sky astrophotography accessible to complete beginners with minimal learning curve. ### Unistellar Free Controls Unistellar's eVscope and eQuinox smart telescopes. Features autonomous field detection, Enhanced Vision live stacking, citizen-science campaign participation (exoplanet transits, asteroid occultations), and a curated catalog of recommended targets based on your location and conditions. ### Singularity (Vaonis) Free The companion app for Vaonis Stellina, Hyperia, and Vespera smart telescopes. Manages automated observation sequences, real-time image stacking, frame calibration, and social sharing. Includes a curated observation catalog and automated mosaic mode for wide-field imaging. ### DWARF Lab Free Controls the DWARF II and DWARF3 smart telescopes. Provides GoTo navigation, automated tracking, live stacking for deep-sky and planetary imaging, time-lapse creation, and panoramic stitching. Supports both astronomical and terrestrial observation modes. ### Celestron Origin Free The dedicated app for Celestron's Origin smart telescope. Handles intelligent GoTo alignment using plate solving, automated imaging and stacking, image processing with AI-enhanced detail, and an integrated catalog that recommends the best targets for your sky conditions. ### ASI Studio Free ZWO's image processing and device-management companion app. Allows review and post-processing of images captured with ASIAIR and Seestar devices, basic stacking and enhancement, and firmware updates for ZWO cameras and accessories. ## 5\. Astrophotography & Camera ### NightCap Camera Paid A specialized long-exposure camera app for iOS with dedicated astronomy modes. Features include star-trails mode, meteor-capture mode, ISS detection, light-boost processing, and the ability to shoot extended exposures by stacking frames—all using just your iPhone camera. ### AstroShader Freemium An astrophotography post-processing app built for mobile workflows. Provides star-color calibration, gradient removal, noise reduction, histogram stretching, and narrowband palette mapping. Designed to handle the unique challenges of astronomical image processing on iPad and iPhone. ### PhotoPills $10 The ultimate planning tool for landscape astrophotographers. Includes sun/moon/Milky Way position calculators, augmented-reality alignment views, exposure and hyperfocal calculators, star-trails and time-lapse planners, and detailed ephemeris tables for any location and date. ### The Photographer's Ephemeris Paid A map-centric planning tool for natural-light and night-sky photography. Visualizes sun, moon, and Milky Way positions on a 3D terrain map, helping you determine exactly when and where celestial objects will align with landscape features at your chosen location. ### SpiralCam Free A free camera app designed for afocal astrophotography—capturing images through a telescope eyepiece with your iPhone. Includes alignment aids, exposure controls optimized for bright objects like the Moon and planets, and basic stacking to improve image quality. ## 6\. Satellite & ISS Tracking ### Space Station Passes Free A focused, no-frills app for tracking International Space Station flyovers. Provides accurate pass predictions with start/end times, maximum altitude, brightness estimates, and directional information. Push notifications ensure you never miss a visible ISS pass from your location. ### ISS Detector Freemium Tracks the ISS and other bright satellites including Starlink trains, the Hubble Space Telescope, and Tiangong. Features include pass predictions, AR sky overlay for locating objects in real time, weather-aware filtering, and alerts. Premium unlocks additional satellite databases and features. ## 7\. Planning & Utilities ### PS Align Pro Free / Pro A polar-alignment aid that helps you achieve accurate polar alignment using your iPhone's sensors and camera. Identifies Polaris or Sigma Octantis, calculates offset from the celestial pole, and guides real-time adjustment—invaluable for setting up equatorial mounts in the field. ### Observer Pro Paid A comprehensive observing-session planner for serious visual and imaging astronomers. Create and manage observing lists, track objects across the night, log observations with notes and sketches, and plan sessions around moon phase, object altitude, and transit times. ### astronomy.tools Free (Web App) A browser-based toolkit accessible from any iOS device. Includes a field-of-view calculator for matching cameras and telescopes, an eyepiece simulator, a telescope comparison tool, a limiting-magnitude estimator, and collimation aids. Bookmark it for quick access in the field. ### Telescopius Freemium (Web App) A powerful browser-based observation planner that works well on iPad. Search a vast object database, visualize framing with your exact imaging setup, generate observing lists based on altitude and timing, and access community-curated target recommendations. Premium adds advanced planning features. ### Astro Locator Paid Helps you locate deep-sky objects by providing detailed finder charts and star-hopping routes from naked-eye reference stars. Particularly useful for observers using non-GoTo telescopes or binoculars who want to manually navigate to faint targets. ### MeteorActive Free A dedicated meteor-shower tracker and calendar. Provides detailed information on upcoming showers including peak dates, expected ZHR (zenithal hourly rate), radiant positions, and best viewing times. Factors in moon interference and your local conditions for realistic expectations. ### Double Stars Paid A specialized catalog and observing guide for double and multiple star systems. Browse curated lists of the finest visual double stars, sorted by constellation, separation, and magnitude. Includes detailed information on each pair, finder charts, and observation logging. ### Gas Giants Free A focused utility for Jupiter and Saturn observers. Displays real-time positions of Galilean moons, Saturn's ring tilt, Great Red Spot transit times, and shadow-transit predictions. An essential quick-reference tool for planetary observing sessions. ## 8\. Education & Reference ### NASA Free NASA's official app delivers the Astronomy Picture of the Day, live ISS tracking, mission updates, launch schedules, a vast image and video library, and on-demand NASA TV streaming. An essential companion for staying connected with space exploration and astronomical discoveries. ### Exoplanet Free An interactive catalog and 3D visualization of every confirmed exoplanet. Explore planetary systems, compare exoplanet properties, view discovery timelines, and fly through a realistic model of the solar neighborhood. Updated regularly as new discoveries are confirmed. ### Solar Walk 2 Paid + IAP A stunning 3D solar-system simulator and encyclopedia. Fly between planets, moons, asteroids, and spacecraft with photorealistic rendering. Includes detailed information panels, historical mission trajectories, real-time orbital positions, and educational content about each celestial body. ### Astrophotography on the Mac: The Complete Guide URL: https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-on-the-mac/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T15:59:00.000Z macOS supports complete astrophotography workflows in 2026, from telescope control and camera capture through image stacking, processing, and archive management, using free and commercial software that runs natively on Apple Silicon. The INDI and INDIGO driver frameworks replace Windows-only ASCOM, and applications like KStars/EKOS, INDIGO A1, PixInsight, Siril, and Astro Pixel Processor cover every stage of the imaging pipeline. This guide explains what changed, what works, and how to build a Mac-based astrophotography workflow from scratch. You don't need a PC to do astrophotography. Here's why, and how, the Mac is a fully capable platform for every part of the hobby. > "Just get a Windows laptop. Astrophotography on Mac is not practical." > > — Cloudy Nights forum > "The software ecosystem is Windows-only. You'll fight compatibility issues the entire time." > > — Stargazers Lounge forum > "I love my Mac for everything else, but for astrophotography I had to buy a dedicated Windows machine." > > — Reddit r/astrophotography > "ASCOM doesn't run on Mac. That's pretty much the end of the conversation." > > — Cloudy Nights forum > "Use whichever platform sparks joy. The tools exist on both sides now." > > — Cloudy Nights forum (2024) ## Why the "Get a PC" Advice Persists ### ASCOM and the Windows Monoculture In the early 2000s, the astronomy community standardized on ASCOM, the Astronomy Common Object Model, for hardware communication. ASCOM was built on Microsoft's COM (Component Object Model), which meant it was fundamentally, architecturally Windows-only. Every telescope mount, every camera, every focuser, every filter wheel that wanted to work with automation software needed an ASCOM driver, and ASCOM drivers only ran on Windows. Recommended Retailer Agena Astro The best selection of astrophotography gear, cameras, and telescopes. Mac Observatory's recommended retailer. [Shop at Agena Astro →](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Affiliate link. Helps support Mac Observatory This wasn't a choice. It was the only option. ASCOM became the universal standard because there was no cross-platform alternative, and it worked well enough that no one had reason to build one. For nearly two decades, "astrophotography software" effectively meant "Windows software." ### Boot Camp Was a Band-Aid For years, Mac users had a workaround: Boot Camp. Apple's dual-boot utility let you install Windows on a separate partition of your Mac's drive and reboot into it when you needed Windows-only astronomy software. It worked. You were running real Windows on real hardware, so there were no performance penalties or compatibility issues. But Boot Camp died with Apple Silicon. When Apple transitioned from Intel to its own ARM-based chips in 2020, Boot Camp was eliminated entirely. The M1 chip couldn't run x86 Windows natively, and Apple had no interest in maintaining a compatibility layer for a competing operating system. For Mac users who had relied on Boot Camp for astrophotography, the transition felt like losing a lifeline. ### Big-Name Software Stayed Windows-Only The most popular automation and capture tools in astrophotography (N.I.N.A., Sequence Generator Pro, SharpCap, DeepSkyStacker, AutoStakkert) remain Windows-only to this day. These are excellent, mature applications with large user communities and extensive plugin ecosystems. Their developers built on Windows frameworks and have little incentive to port to a platform that represents a small fraction of their user base. When someone asks "what software should I use?" on a forum, the answers are overwhelmingly Windows-centric because that's what most people use. It's not wrong, just incomplete. ### Forums Have Long Memories Forum threads don't expire. A post from 2018 saying "there's no way to do astrophotography on a Mac" still appears in search results in 2026\. The advice was accurate when it was written, but the landscape has changed dramatically in the last three years. Apple Silicon, cross-platform protocols, and a wave of new Mac-native software have fundamentally altered what's possible. The forums just haven't caught up. ## What Actually Changed ### The Rise of INDI and INDIGO INDI (Instrument Neutral Distributed Interface) emerged as the open-source, cross-platform answer to ASCOM. Originally developed for Linux, INDI runs natively on macOS and supports hundreds of astronomy devices: mounts, cameras, focusers, filter wheels, domes, weather stations, and more. Where ASCOM uses Windows COM objects, INDI uses a client-server architecture over TCP/IP, which means it works on any operating system. INDIGO, developed by CloudMakers, took the cross-platform concept further. Built as a Mac-first evolution of INDI, INDIGO is designed from the ground up for modern operating systems with a focus on performance and reliability. It shares device compatibility with INDI while adding its own driver framework optimized for macOS. | Feature | ASCOM | INDI | INDIGO | Alpaca | | -------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ | -------------- | | Architecture | COM/DCOM | Client-Server TCP/IP | Client-Server TCP/IP | REST/HTTP/JSON | | Platforms | Windows only | macOS, Linux, Windows | macOS, Linux, Windows | Any | | Mac Support | ✗ None | ✓ Native | ✓ Native (Mac-first) | ✓ Via network | | Device Support | Extensive (20+ years) | 400+ devices | INDI-compatible + native | Growing | ### ASCOM Goes Cross-Platform: Alpaca Even ASCOM itself has evolved. ASCOM Alpaca replaces the Windows-only COM architecture with a REST/HTTP/JSON protocol that works over a network. Any device with an Alpaca driver can be controlled from any operating system, macOS included. ASCOM's own Alpaca showcase lists N.I.N.A., SkySafari on iOS and Android, and Cartes du Ciel and CCDciel across Linux, macOS, and Windows. The ASCOM Initiative now tells developers plainly that if they are writing a driver or an application, they should write it for Alpaca rather than classic COM. There is a practical detail worth knowing if you already own ASCOM-only equipment. Alpaca and classic COM are fully interoperable, and a middleware package called ASCOM Remote exposes unmodified Windows devices and their existing drivers to Alpaca-capable applications on macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. So a mount whose only driver is a Windows ASCOM driver can still be reached from your Mac, provided a Windows machine somewhere on the network is running ASCOM Remote. It is a bridge rather than a native solution, but it means older gear is not automatically a dead end. ### KStars/EKOS: The Free Powerhouse KStars with EKOS is a free, open-source imaging automation platform that runs natively on macOS. It matches N.I.N.A.'s core capabilities: capture sequences, plate solving, auto-focus, polar alignment, guiding, mosaic planning, meridian flips, and multi-target scheduling. It connects to equipment through INDI drivers, which means it works with the same cameras, mounts, focusers, and filter wheels that INDI supports. For Mac users, KStars/EKOS is the most direct equivalent to N.I.N.A. It's not a compromise. It's a genuinely capable automation suite that happens to run on the platform you already use. ### CloudMakers and INDIGO A1 CloudMakers' INDIGO A1 is a native macOS imaging suite built specifically for Apple Silicon. It provides a polished, Mac-native interface for equipment control, capture sequencing, and automation, using the INDIGO protocol for device communication. For users who prefer a native Mac experience over KStars' cross-platform interface, INDIGO A1 is the premium option. ### The ASIAIR Revolution ZWO's ASIAIR is a standalone computer that sits at your telescope and handles all equipment control, capture, guiding, and plate solving. You control it from an iOS or iPadOS app, which runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs. The ASIAIR eliminates the need for any desktop software at the telescope entirely. Your Mac becomes a remote control, not a tethered capture machine. For many imagers, especially beginners and intermediate users, the ASIAIR has been the most impactful change in the Mac astrophotography landscape. It sidesteps the entire ASCOM/INDI question by putting a dedicated Linux computer at the scope and giving you a beautiful native app to control it. ### Apple Silicon Changed Everything Apple's transition to its own silicon wasn't just a chip swap. It fundamentally changed what a Mac can do for astrophotography processing. The unified memory architecture means the GPU and CPU share the same memory pool, eliminating the data-copying bottleneck that slows down GPU-accelerated processing on traditional architectures. ### Apple Silicon Benefits for Astrophotography Unified Memory GPU and CPU share the same memory pool. AI tools run faster because model and image data are already in GPU-accessible memory. Neural Engine Dedicated hardware for ML inference. CoreML tools run with zero configuration: no CUDA, no driver management. Power Efficiency MacBook Air runs KStars/EKOS and captures all night on battery. No power station needed. Silence Fanless operation on MacBook Air and Mac mini. No fan noise at the scope, no vibration to affect guiding. StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, and BlurXTerminator actually run faster on Apple Silicon Macs than on most Windows systems. The CoreML framework automatically uses the Neural Engine and GPU with zero configuration. On Windows, you need to install CUDA, configure GPU drivers, and troubleshoot compatibility. #### StarXTerminator on Mac 1. Install PixInsight 2. Install StarXTerminator 3. Run it 3 steps, done #### StarXTerminator on Windows 1. Install PixInsight 2. Install StarXTerminator 3. Check GPU compatibility 4. Install NVIDIA CUDA toolkit 5. Install cuDNN libraries 6. Configure environment variables 7. Update GPU drivers 8. Troubleshoot if CUDA version doesn't match 8 steps, and hope it works ## The Complete Mac Astrophotography Workflow Here's every category of astrophotography software available on the Mac in 2026\. This isn't a "maybe someday" list. These are tools you can download and use today. | Category | Mac Software | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Planetarium | Stellarium, SkySafari 8, KStars, TheSky, Cartes du Ciel | | Equipment Control | KStars/EKOS, INDIGO A1, ASIAIR, CCDciel, TheSky | | Planetary Capture | Laminar ★, FireCapture, AstroDMx, oaCapture | | Guiding | PHD2, EKOS Internal, ASIAIR Internal | | DSO Stacking | Siril, PixInsight, Astro Pixel Processor, ASTAP, Affinity | | Planetary Stacking | Strata ★, PlanetarySystemStacker, Planet Stacker X, Siril, LuckyStackWorker | | Processing | PixInsight, Photoshop, Affinity, Siril, StarTools, GraXpert | | AI Tools | StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, DeepSNR | | Archive & FITS | Meridian ★, Observatory, SAOImage DS9 | ★ Mac Observatory Suite app · [See the full Mac Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) PixInsight, the industry-standard deep sky processing platform, now runs natively on Apple Silicon. Pleiades Astrophoto released 1.9.4 Lockhart on May 12, 2026, the first macOS ARM64 build, ending five and a half years of Rosetta 2 translation. Worth knowing before you upgrade: 1.9.4 requires macOS 15 Sequoia or macOS 26 Tahoe, and it swapped the old SpiderMonkey script engine for V8\. Scripts written for the old engine do not run, which broke a lot of third party tooling when 1.9.4 landed. Most widely used scripts have been ported since, but check anything you depend on before you commit. Adobe Photoshop and Affinity both run natively on Apple Silicon as well. And the RC Astro AI tools, StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, and NoiseXTerminator, require zero configuration on Mac, running through CoreML with automatic GPU and Neural Engine acceleration. [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Our Partner Agena AstroProducts carries telescopes, mounts, cameras, eyepieces, filters, and accessories from all the top brands. Great prices, fast shipping, and genuinely knowledgeable support. [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ## The Honest Assessment: Where Windows Still Has an Edge It would be dishonest to pretend everything is perfect. There are areas where Windows still offers advantages, not in capability but in convenience and community. | Area | Status | Mac Alternative | Notes | | ------------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | N.I.N.A. | Windows only | KStars/EKOS, INDIGO A1 | Plugin ecosystem, community size | | SharpCap Polar Alignment | Windows only | EKOS PA, ASIAIR PA | Equivalent capability exists | | Community Knowledge | Windows-centric | Growing Mac community | Most tutorials assume Windows | | The $200 Field Laptop | Windows advantage | ASIAIR ($249 to $349) | Mac laptops cost more | | Legacy Software | Windows only | Modern Mac alternatives | Some niche tools have no Mac version | **The bottom line:** these are convenience and community gaps, not capability gaps. Every step of astrophotography can be accomplished on a Mac today. ## The Workflows That Work Three proven paths from capture to finished image, all running entirely on macOS. Beginner · Free software ### ASIAIR Workflow ASIAIR Siril Affinity Intermediate · About $540 ### KStars + PixInsight KStars/EKOS PixInsight RC Astro AI tools All-Native Mac ### Mac Observatory Suite INDIGO A1 Laminar Strata Meridian Swift/SwiftUI · Metal · No subscriptions ## The Software Keeps Coming The Mac astrophotography ecosystem is growing faster than it ever has. The Mac Observatory Suite now spans four steps: Transit watches conditions and tonight's sky events from the menu bar, Laminar handles planetary capture, Strata takes those captures through stacking and sharpening, and Meridian catalogs a deep sky FITS archive. Planet Stacker X brings dedicated stacking to the Mac App Store. GraXpert offers AI-powered gradient removal. LuckyStackWorker and PlanetarySystemStacker provide additional planetary stacking options. Every year, the list grows. Every year, the gaps shrink. The trajectory is clear: the Mac is becoming a first-class platform for astrophotography, not because Apple is pushing for it, but because developers are building what the community needs. ## The Bottom Line Can you do astrophotography on a Mac? Yes, all of it. - ✓Control your telescope, mount, camera, focuser, and filter wheel - ✓Automate multi-target imaging sequences all night - ✓Guide with sub-arcsecond accuracy - ✓Plate solve in seconds - ✓Capture planetary video with real-time quality analysis - ✓Stack deep sky and planetary data with GPU acceleration - ✓Process with the industry's best tools (PixInsight, Photoshop) - ✓Run AI enhancement with zero-config Neural Engine acceleration - ✓Manage your imaging archive with intelligent cataloging - ✓Do it all without a single Windows partition, VM, or workaround The software is here. The hardware is here. The workflows are proven. The only thing that hasn't caught up is the advice. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about doing astrophotography on a Mac. Can I do astrophotography on a Mac?+ Yes. macOS supports complete astrophotography workflows in 2026: telescope control, camera capture, autoguiding, plate solving, image stacking, and processing all run natively on Apple Silicon. Free tools like KStars/EKOS, Siril, and PHD2 cover the core pipeline. Commercial options like PixInsight and Astro Pixel Processor both ship native Apple Silicon builds and deliver professional-grade results. What replaced ASCOM on Mac?+ INDI and INDIGO are cross-platform driver frameworks that replace Windows-only ASCOM on macOS. INDI supports 400+ astronomy devices and powers KStars/EKOS. INDIGO, developed by CloudMakers, is a Mac-first framework that powers INDIGO A1\. Both communicate with telescopes, cameras, focusers, filter wheels, and other equipment natively on macOS. ASCOM's own Alpaca protocol also adds cross-platform support via REST/HTTP. What is the Mac equivalent of N.I.N.A.?+ KStars/EKOS (free, open-source) and INDIGO A1 (native Mac, free with optional paid modules) are the closest equivalents. Both handle capture sequences, plate solving, autofocus, polar alignment, autoguiding, mosaic planning, and meridian flips. KStars/EKOS uses INDI drivers; INDIGO A1 uses the INDIGO framework. The [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) covers all options. Does PixInsight run on Apple Silicon Macs?+ Yes, natively. Pleiades Astrophoto released PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart on May 12, 2026, the first macOS ARM64 build, ending five and a half years of Rosetta 2 translation. An x64 build for Intel Macs still ships alongside it. Two things to check before upgrading: 1.9.4 requires macOS 15 Sequoia or macOS 26 Tahoe, and the new V8 script engine replaced the old SpiderMonkey engine, so scripts written for the old engine do not run until their developers port them. That broke a lot of tooling at launch, though most widely used scripts have been updated since. Mac Observatory's [PixInsight deep dive](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-on-the-mac-the-definitive-deep-dive/) covers the full Mac experience. Is Apple Silicon good for astrophotography processing?+ Yes, and in some cases better than Windows. Apple Silicon's unified memory architecture eliminates the GPU/CPU data-copying bottleneck, and the Neural Engine accelerates AI tools like StarXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, and NoiseXTerminator with zero configuration via CoreML. On Windows, the same tools require CUDA installation and GPU driver management. MacBook Air's fanless design and all-day battery life also make it ideal for field use at the telescope. [Browse the Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) [Which Mac Should I Buy?](https://macobservatory.com/which-mac-for-astrophotography/) ### Mac Astronomy Software — The Complete Directory URL: https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/ Last updated: 2026-04-05T21:47:44.000Z The macOS ecosystem now supports complete workflows for planetary imaging, deep sky astrophotography, and observatory automation. This directory catalogs every astronomy and astrophotography application available for the Mac — from free, open-source tools to professional-grade commercial suites. ## 1\. Planetarium & Sky Simulation - **Stellarium** — *Recommended* · Free / Open Source - **SkySafari 7 Pro** — *Recommended* · Paid - **Starry Night** — Paid - **Cartes du Ciel** — Free / Open Source - **HNSKY** — Free - **AstroGrav** — Paid - **Our Galaxy** — Freemium ## 2\. Telescope & Mount Control - **TheSkyX** — *Recommended* · Paid ## 3\. All-in-One Imaging Suites - **KStars / EKOS** — *Recommended* · Free / Open Source - **INDIGO A1** — *Recommended* · Paid / Mac Native - **CCDciel** — Free / Open Source ## 4\. Image Capture - **Laminar — Planetary Capture** — Mac Observatory · Free / $34.99 Pro - **AstroDMx Capture** — Free - **FireCapture** — Free / Java-based - **Open Astro Project** — Free / Open Source ## 5\. Autoguiding - **PHD2 Guiding** — *Recommended* · Free / Open Source ## 6\. Stacking & Calibration - **Strata — Planetary Stacking** — Mac Observatory · Free Beta - **SiriL** — *Recommended* · Free / Open Source - **ASTAP** — *Recommended* · Free - **Affinity Photo** — Paid - **PlanetarySystemStacker** — Free / Python-based - **LuckyStackWorker** — Free / Java-based - **Planet Stacker X** — Free / Mac Native - **Starry Sky Stacker** — Paid / Mac Native - **StarStaX** — Free - **Startrails Creator** — Paid / Mac Native - **oaLive** — Free / Open Source ## 7\. Image Processing - **PixInsight** — *Recommended* · Paid - **Astro Pixel Processor** — *Recommended* · Paid - **StarTools** — Paid - **Seti Astro's Editing Suite** — Free - **GraXpert** — Free / Open Source - **StarNet++** — Free - **DeepSNR** — Paid - **Topaz Photo** — Paid - **AstroImageJ** — Free / Java-based ## 8\. Planning & Observation Logging - **Meridian — Deep Sky Imaging Archive** — Mac Observatory · Free Beta / $34.99 Pro - **AstroPlanner** — Paid - **Observatory** — Paid / Mac Native - **UrukFSP** — Paid ## 9\. FITS Viewers & Utilities - **CloudMakers FITS Preview** — Free / Mac Native - **SAOImageDS9** — Free - **QuickFits** — Paid / Mac Native - **QFitsView** — Free - **CloudMakers Astrometry** — Free / Mac Native - **SER Player** — Free - **PHD2 Log Viewer** — Free - **Collimation Aid** — Paid / Mac Native - **Night Vision** — Paid / Mac Native ## 10\. Driver Platforms — INDI & INDIGO - **INDIGO Server** — Free / Mac Native - **INDIGO Control Panel** — Free / Mac Native - **INDIGO Dashboard** — Free / Mac Native - **INDI Library** — Free / Open Source - **INDI Web Manager App** — Free / Open Source - **INDIStarter** — Free / Open Source ## 11\. Hardware-Specific Software - **ASI Studio / ZWO** — Free - **PoleMaster / QHY** — Free - **iOptron iPolar** — Paid / Mac Native - **QSEye / QSI** — Proprietary - **Open PECTool** — Free / Open Source - **MountWizard4** — Free / Open Source ## 12\. Legacy / No Longer Maintained - **CloudMakers AstroTelescope** - **CloudMakers AstroImager** - **CloudMakers AstroDSLR** - **CloudMakers AstroGuider** - **INDIGO to Go** - **Nightlight** - **Keith's Image Stacker** - **Planetary Imager** - **Open Nebulosity** - **Lynkeos** - **Tycho** --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can you do astrophotography on a Mac? Yes — and the ecosystem is stronger than most people realize. Between INDI/INDIGO driver platforms, native capture tools, and professional processing suites like PixInsight, macOS now supports complete astrophotography workflows without virtualization or Boot Camp. ### What's the best free astrophotography software for Mac? KStars/EKOS for capture and telescope control, SiriL for stacking and calibration, and PHD2 for autoguiding. Together these three free, open-source applications cover the entire imaging pipeline. ### Is PixInsight available on Mac? Yes. PixInsight runs natively on macOS and has been optimized for Apple Silicon. It is widely considered the gold standard for deep sky image processing. ### Can I control my telescope from a Mac? Yes. The INDI and INDIGO driver platforms provide macOS-compatible drivers for most modern telescopes, mounts, cameras, filter wheels, and focusers. TheSkyX also runs natively on Mac. ### What's the difference between SiriL and PixInsight? SiriL is free and open-source, focused primarily on stacking and calibration with solid processing capabilities. PixInsight is a paid, professional-grade image processing suite with a deeper toolset for noise reduction, deconvolution, and color calibration. Many astrophotographers use both — SiriL for pre-processing and PixInsight for final image processing. ### Do I need Windows for planetary imaging on Mac? Not anymore. Laminar (Mac Observatory) handles planetary capture natively on macOS, and Strata — also from Mac Observatory, now in public beta on TestFlight — handles stacking, wavelet sharpening, derotation, and export. The entire planetary imaging pipeline — capture, stacking, and sharpening — can be completed on a Mac without any Windows tools ### Laminar Privacy Policy URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T12:47:14.000Z *Last updated: August 2026* ## Overview Laminar is a planetary imaging capture application developed by Mac Observatory (Andrew Burwell). We respect your privacy and have designed Laminar to collect the minimum data necessary to function. **The short version:** Laminar does not create accounts, does not track you, does not use analytics, and does not sell or share your personal information. Your imaging data stays on your device. --- ## Data We Access ### Location Data **What:** Your approximate geographic coordinates **Why:** To fetch local weather and seeing forecasts for the Sky Quality, Seeing, and Transparency readouts **Where it goes:** Sent to Open-Meteo (api.open-meteo.com) for weather data and to 7Timer (7timer.info) for the seeing and transparency forecast. Nowhere else. **Stored:** Not stored permanently by Laminar; held in memory and refreshed as needed Laminar requests a deliberately coarse location fix, accurate to roughly 100 meters. Once you grant location access, weather and seeing data refresh automatically: on a new location fix, after you move about a kilometer, and on a periodic timer while the app is running. Denying location access is the way to stop this; Laminar still runs, and the weather, Sky Quality, Seeing, and Transparency features are simply unavailable. Open-Meteo's privacy policy: [https://open-meteo.com/en/terms](https://open-meteo.com/en/terms?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Camera Access **What:** Video feed from a connected astronomy camera, a USB Video Class (UVC) webcam, or an iPhone or iPad used as a Continuity Camera **Why:** Core functionality, previewing and capturing planetary images **Where it goes:** Nowhere. Video data is processed locally and saved to files you specify. **Stored:** Only when you initiate a capture, saved as SER files to your chosen location Laminar talks to astronomy cameras through vendor driver libraries from ZWO, Player One, QHY, ToupTek, and SVBONY, and to webcams and Continuity Camera devices through Apple's AVFoundation. No camera driver in Laminar is configured for or has been observed to perform any network activity, and no frame data is transmitted anywhere. ### Files and Metadata **What:** SER video files with optional metadata (observer name, telescope, timestamp) **Why:** Industry-standard format for planetary imaging **Where it goes:** Saved locally to a folder you choose **Stored:** Entirely under your control The observer name and telescope fields are optional and only included if you configure them in Settings. ### Diagnostic Logs **What:** Technical logs recording app operations, errors, and camera communications **Why:** Troubleshooting issues **Where it goes:** Stored locally inside Laminar's sandbox container, or a folder you choose **Stored:** On your Mac, with automatic cleanup after seven days Logs record your coordinates rounded to about a kilometer, along with the nearby place name, so a support session can tell which forecast the app requested. Logs are never sent automatically. If you contact support, we may ask you to share logs voluntarily to diagnose problems; exporting them writes a zip file to a location you pick. --- ## Data We Do NOT Collect - Personal accounts or login information - Analytics or usage tracking - Advertising identifiers - Crash reports (unless you choose to share via Apple) - Any data from your captures or images - Contacts, calendars, or other personal data --- ## Third-Party Services Laminar uses two third-party data services, both free, keyless, and account-free: | Service | Purpose | Data Sent | | ---------- | --------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Open-Meteo | Weather data for the Sky Quality score | Approximate location (latitude/longitude) | | 7Timer | Astronomical seeing and transparency forecast | Approximate location (latitude/longitude) | Both receive only coordinates so they can return a forecast for your area. We chose them specifically because they do not require user accounts or API keys and have a privacy-respecting approach. See Open-Meteo's terms at [https://open-meteo.com/en/terms](https://open-meteo.com/en/terms?ref=macobservatory.com) Laminar also uses Apple system services: Core Location for the location fix, Apple's geocoder to turn coordinates into a nearby place name for display, and StoreKit for the App Store purchase. These are governed by Apple's privacy policy. Laminar contains no analytics SDK, no crash reporting service, and no third-party advertising libraries. --- ## Data Storage and Security - All capture data remains on your device - Laminar is sandboxed per macOS security requirements - We have no servers that receive or store your data - Location is queried live and not persisted to settings or data files --- ## Children's Privacy Laminar does not knowingly collect any personal information from children under 13\. The app does not require accounts or collect personal data beyond the location functionality described above. --- ## Your Choices - **Location access:** Can be granted or denied in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services - **Diagnostic logs:** Can be deleted from the log folder shown in Settings → Diagnostics - **Metadata:** Observer and telescope fields are optional --- ## Changes to This Policy If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we will update the "Last updated" date and, for significant changes, notify users through the app or our website. --- ## Contact For privacy questions or concerns: **Email:** support@macobservatory.com **Website:** [macobservatory.com](https://macobservatory.com/) **Developer:** Andrew Burwell, Mac Observatory --- ## App Store Privacy Labels For transparency, here is how we respond to Apple's App Store privacy questions: **Data Used to Track You:** None **Data Linked to You:** None **Data Not Linked to You:** Coarse location (for weather and seeing forecasts only) --- *Mac Observatory · [macobservatory.com](https://macobservatory.com/)* ### Laminar Support URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-support/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T23:13:01.000Z *Last updated: 2026-08-21* Need help with Laminar? This guide explains how to get support, collect diagnostic information, and report issues effectively. --- ## Getting Help Before contacting support, try these resources: 1. **User Guide** — Check the User Guide for feature explanations and the Troubleshooting section 2. **Features documentation** — Review Features to understand capabilities and limitations 3. **Enable logging** — Turn on diagnostic logging to capture detailed information about any issues 4. **Shortcuts and interval capture (Laminar 1.7.1 and later)** — The [Laminar Interval Capture shortcut](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-interval-capture-shortcut/) page covers timed clip sequences, the download, and the Start Capture and Stop Capture actions Laminar 1.7.1 provides to the Shortcuts app; Laminar's built-in Help has the full reference under **Shortcuts & Automation** If you're still stuck, we're here to help. The most effective support requests include: - A clear description of the problem - Steps to reproduce the issue - Your exported diagnostic logs --- ## Diagnostic Logging Laminar includes a built-in logging system that records detailed information about your sessions. This is invaluable for troubleshooting issues that are difficult to describe or reproduce. ### Enabling Logging 1. Open **Laminar > Settings** (or press **Cmd+,**) 2. Select **Diagnostics** in the sidebar 3. Check **Enable Diagnostic Logging** Logging is enabled by default. If you previously disabled it, re-enable it before attempting to reproduce an issue. ### Log Levels | Level | Description | When to Use | | ------------ | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Standard** | Key events and errors | Normal use — captures connection events, capture settings, and errors | | **Verbose** | Includes performance sampling every 5 seconds | When investigating performance issues, frame drops, or tracking behavior | For most issues, **Standard** logging is sufficient. Switch to **Verbose** if you're experiencing: - Unexplained frame drops during capture - Performance degradation over time - Focus tracking not behaving as expected - Memory or CPU concerns ### Log Storage Logs are stored in Laminar's sandboxed application support directory. You don't need to navigate there directly — use **View Log Folder** in Settings > Diagnostics to open it in Finder. Each session creates a separate log file named: `Laminar_YYYY-MM-DD_HHmmss.log` **Automatic cleanup:** Log files older than 7 days are automatically deleted to save disk space. The total log folder is also capped at 100 MB. ### Viewing Logs 1. Open **Laminar > Settings** 2. Select **Diagnostics** 3. Click **View Log Folder** This opens Finder to the log directory where you can view individual log files. --- ## Exporting Logs When contacting support, export your logs as a ZIP file for easy sharing. ### How to Export 1. Open **Laminar > Settings** 2. Select **Diagnostics** 3. Click **Export Logs...** 4. Choose where to save the ZIP file 5. Attach the ZIP file to your support request The export includes all log files from the past 7 days, packaged into a single `Laminar_Logs_YYYY-MM-DD.zip` file. ### When to Export Export logs **immediately after** experiencing an issue. Logs contain timestamped events, so the closer to the problem the better. If you wait too long: - Relevant logs may be cleaned up (after 7 days) - Many sessions may accumulate, making it harder to identify the relevant one --- ## What Logs Contain Understanding what's in your logs helps you provide context and protects your privacy. ### System Information Each session records: - Mac model (e.g., "MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023)") - Chip (e.g., "Apple M3 Pro") - RAM amount - macOS version - Available disk space ### Session Events | Category | Information Logged | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Camera** | Connection attempts, camera model, serial number, sensor resolution, USB version, disconnection events | | **Preview** | Start/stop events, resolution, format, display mode | | **Capture** | Target, format, exposure, gain, ROI, frame count, dropped frames, file size, duration, output path | | **Weather** | Fetch attempts, location coordinates, any errors | | **Errors** | SDK error codes, USB errors, write failures, disk space warnings | ### Performance Data (Verbose Mode) When using verbose logging, additional samples are recorded every 5 seconds: - CPU usage percentage - Memory usage - Cumulative dropped frames - Sensor temperature ### What Logs Do NOT Contain - Personal files or documents - Camera images or video data - Passwords or credentials - Browsing history or other application data Logs only contain Laminar operational data. You can open any `.log` file in TextEdit to review its contents before sharing. --- ## Submitting a Support Request ### What to Include For the fastest resolution, include: **1\. Problem Description** - What were you trying to do? - What happened instead? - Does it happen every time, or intermittently? **2\. Steps to Reproduce** - Step-by-step instructions to recreate the issue - "It just doesn't work" makes troubleshooting difficult - "When I click Start Capture after connecting my ASI462MC with 50% ROI, the capture stops after 3 seconds with no error" is much better **3\. Environment** - Laminar version (shown in **Laminar > About Laminar**) - Camera model - Any USB hubs or adapters in use **4\. Exported Logs** - Attach the ZIP file from **Settings > Diagnostics > Export Logs** ### Example Support Request > **Subject:** Capture stops unexpectedly after a few seconds > > **Problem:** When I start a capture, it records for about 3–5 seconds then stops on its own. No error message appears. This happens every time. > > **Steps:** > > 1. Connect ASI462MC camera > 2. Start preview (works fine) > 3. Set capture to 60 seconds > 4. Click Start Capture > 5. Capture stops after \~4 seconds > > **Environment:** > > - Laminar 1.1.x > - macOS 15.2 > - MacBook Pro M3 Pro > - Camera: ZWO ASI462MC > - Connected via CalDigit TS4 hub > > **Attached:** Laminar\_Logs\_2026-04-23.zip --- ## Common Issues ### Camera Not Compatible **Symptoms:** Camera never appears in the dropdown, and logs show `SDK reports 0 connected camera(s)` repeatedly. The camera may appear as a mounted storage volume on your Mac instead. **Most likely cause:** Your camera is a WiFi-based "smart" camera (such as a ZWO Air model or ASIAir controller), not a USB camera. Laminar only supports USB-connected cameras. **Check compatibility:** - If your camera has "Air" in its name (ASI585MC Air, ASI2600MC Air, ASI678MC Air, etc.), it is a WiFi camera and not compatible with Laminar. Use the ASIAIR app or ASIStudio instead. - If your camera is a DSLR, mirrorless, or webcam, it is not supported — Laminar is built for dedicated astronomy cameras from ZWO, PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek, SVBONY, and their OEM partners. - For the full list of supported cameras, see the [Laminar compatibility list](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/#features). **Log indicators:** Repeated `ZWO SDK reports 0 connected camera(s)` and `PlayerOne SDK reports 0 connected camera(s)` messages with no corresponding connection attempts. ### Camera Not Detected **Symptoms:** Camera doesn't appear in dropdown after connecting. **Before troubleshooting:** First confirm your camera is on the supported list (see "Camera Not Compatible" above). Most commonly, "not detected" reports turn out to be incompatibility — especially with WiFi-based Air cameras. **Try:** 1. Click the refresh button next to the camera dropdown 2. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable 3. Try a different USB port (directly on Mac if using a hub) 4. Quit any other apps that might be using the camera (SharpCap, FireCapture, ASI Studio) 5. Restart Laminar **Log indicators:** Look for "Camera connection failed" or "SDK error" entries. ### High Frame Drop Rate **Symptoms:** Status bar shows many dropped frames during capture. **Try:** 1. Use a smaller ROI (50% or 25%) to reduce data bandwidth 2. Connect camera directly to Mac (not through a hub) 3. Switch from RAW16 to RAW8 format 4. Close other applications 5. Check if Mac is thermal throttling (hot to touch, fans running) **Log indicators:** In verbose mode, look for CPU percentage spikes or memory growth. ### Capture Stops Unexpectedly **Symptoms:** Recording stops before reaching your limit. **Possible causes:** - Disk full (check available space) - USB disconnection (cable or hub issue) - Preview was stopped (capture requires active preview) **Log indicators:** Look for "Capture stopped:" entries which include the reason. ### Weather Not Loading **Symptoms:** Sky Quality shows "Unable to load weather data." **Try:** 1. Check your internet connection 2. Grant location permission when prompted (or in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services) 3. Wait a few minutes and try again (temporary API issues) **Log indicators:** Look for "Weather fetch failed" or "Location permission denied" entries. ### Export Logs Shows "No logs available" **Symptoms:** Clicking Export Logs shows an error. **Possible causes:** - Logging was disabled - Logs were manually deleted - Log directory permissions issue **Try:** 1. Enable logging in Settings > Diagnostics 2. Reproduce the issue 3. Export immediately after ### Shortcuts Actions Missing or "Unknown Action" (Laminar 1.7.1 and later) **Symptoms:** Start Capture and Stop Capture do not appear under Laminar in the Shortcuts app, or a shortcut that uses them shows "Unknown Action" or fails with "an action could not be found." **First check the version:** the actions were added in Laminar 1.7.1\. On 1.7 or earlier they do not exist, and the Laminar Interval Capture shortcut cannot run until you update (**Laminar > About Laminar** shows your version). **On 1.7.1 or later, try:** 1. Open Laminar once after installing or updating it, so macOS registers its actions, then reopen Shortcuts 2. Restart the Mac if the actions still do not appear 3. Keep a single copy of Laminar on the disk; a second copy can confuse the registration **Log indicators:** Every action Laminar runs is logged with an `[Intent]` prefix, saying whether a capture started, was skipped (and why), or failed. See the [Laminar Interval Capture shortcut](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-interval-capture-shortcut/) page for the session checklist. --- ## Contact Support If you've tried the troubleshooting steps and still need help, contact us: **Email:** [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) Please include: - Your problem description - Steps to reproduce - Environment details - Exported diagnostic logs (ZIP file) We typically respond within 1–2 business days. ### Privacy Policy — Meridian URL: https://macobservatory.com/meridian-privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T12:44:05.000Z ## Privacy Policy **Meridian - Deep Sky Catalog** *Effective Date: August 5, 2026* *Developer: Mac Observatory* ## Overview Meridian is designed with privacy as a core principle. Your imaging data stays on your Mac. We do not collect, transmit, or store any personal information, usage analytics, or telemetry. ## Data That Stays on Your Device All of the following data is stored locally on your Mac and is never transmitted to Mac Observatory or any third party: - **Imaging archive metadata** — FITS and XISF header data (target names, coordinates, exposure settings, timestamps) read from your files during scanning - **Session and catalog records** — target identification, session grouping, integration totals, and equipment history stored in a local database - **Thumbnails** — generated preview images cached in your Application Support folder - **App preferences** — settings such as observer location, plate solver configuration, and onboarding state stored in local preferences - **Wish list and notes** — future imaging targets and any notes you create Meridian operates in read-only mode against your imaging archive. It never modifies, moves, renames, or deletes any of your files. ## Location Data Meridian requests your location solely to calculate astronomical object visibility from your observing site. Location data is used on-device only for altitude, rise/set, and transit time calculations. Your location is never transmitted to any server or third party. You can manually enter observing site coordinates instead of using your current location. ## Network Connections Meridian makes the following network requests, all initiated by you: - **Aladin Lite sky map tiles** — when you open the My Sky view, map imagery is loaded from the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS). These requests include only the sky coordinates being viewed, not any personal information. - **Astrometry.net plate solving** — if you enable cloud plate solving, Meridian uploads a reduced-resolution copy of your image (downscaled to at most 2000 pixels, stretched for visibility, and encoded as a JPEG) to the Astrometry.net API so it can identify where the image points. Your original file, its FITS headers, its filename, and your location are not sent. Cloud solving is off by default and is used only when a local solve fails. While it runs, the app shows the solve status in the interface. No network connection is required to use Meridian. All core features work offline. ## Data We Do Not Collect - No personal information - No account or sign-in required - No usage analytics or telemetry - No crash reporting to external services - No advertising or ad identifiers - No tracking across apps or websites - No data shared with third parties ## Third-Party Services Meridian contains no third-party SDKs, analytics frameworks, or advertising libraries. It is built entirely with Apple system frameworks. The optional network features described above (Aladin Lite and Astrometry.net) are governed by their own privacy policies: - Aladin Lite / CDS: [https://cds.unistra.fr/privacy](https://cds.unistra.fr/privacy?ref=macobservatory.com) - Astrometry.net: [https://astrometry.net](https://astrometry.net/?ref=macobservatory.com) ## App Sandbox Meridian runs in the macOS App Sandbox. It can only access folders you explicitly grant permission to via the system folder picker. File access is managed through security-scoped bookmarks and can be revoked at any time by removing a watched folder in Settings. ## Children's Privacy Meridian does not knowingly collect any information from children under the age of 13. ## Changes to This Policy If we update this privacy policy, the revised version will be posted at [https://www.macobservatory.com/meridian-privacy-policy](https://www.macobservatory.com/meridian-privacy-policy?ref=macobservatory.com) with an updated effective date. ## Contact If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact us at: **Email:** [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) **Web:** [https://www.macobservatory.com](https://www.macobservatory.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Meridian Support URL: https://macobservatory.com/meridian-support/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T18:59:08.000Z *Last updated: 2026-07-27* Need help with Meridian? This guide covers common issues, troubleshooting steps, and how to contact support effectively. --- ## Getting Help Before contacting support, try these resources: 1. **Re-scan your archive.** Many issues resolve after a fresh scan. Press **Cmd+Shift+R** to force a full rescan of all watched folders. 2. **Check your FITS/XISF headers.** Meridian relies on standard header keywords (OBJECT, RA, DEC, INSTRUME, TELESCOP, FILTER, EXPTIME, DATE-OBS). Missing or non-standard headers are the most common cause of cataloging issues. 3. **Check the Source Files view.** It shows every file Meridian found, including the ones it skipped and the reason why. If something is missing from your catalog, that is usually where the answer is. 4. **Review this page.** The Common Issues section below covers the most frequently reported problems. If you're still stuck, I'm here to help. The most effective support requests include: - A clear description of the problem - The target or file(s) involved - Your Meridian version (shown in **Meridian > About Meridian**) - Screenshots if the issue is visual --- ## Common Issues ### Files Not Found During Scan **Symptoms:** Meridian finishes scanning but is missing files you know are there. **Try:** 1. Confirm the folder is added as a watched folder in **Settings**. Meridian only scans folders you've explicitly granted access to 2. Check that files have `.fits`, `.fit`, `.fts`, or `.xisf` extensions. Other formats are not scanned as light frames 3. If files are on an external drive, make sure the drive is mounted before scanning 4. If using iCloud Drive, offloaded (cloud-only) files cannot be scanned. Download them to your Mac first 5. If the files are present on disk but absent from the Catalog, they were probably skipped rather than missed. See the next section ### Files Were Skipped, and I Disagree **Symptoms:** Frames you consider genuine light frames don't appear in the Catalog or count toward integration time. Meridian classifies every file it finds, and it deliberately skips things that look like calibration masters, stacked results, or intermediate files from processing software. That heuristic is right most of the time and wrong some of the time, most often with RAW frames converted through a processing tool, which can inherit headers that make them look like stacked output. **Try:** 1. Open the **Source Files** view. Skipped files are listed there along with the reason each one was skipped 2. Right-click any file to reclassify it. Your override is remembered, so a rescan will not undo it 3. If a whole folder was misclassified, you can apply the override at the folder level rather than file by file 4. Overrides are visible and editable in **Settings** if you later change your mind If you find a pattern Meridian gets consistently wrong, please email me a sample file. Several classification improvements have come directly from users doing exactly that. ### Target Not Identified Correctly **Symptoms:** A target shows up with the wrong name, an obscure catalog designation (for example LBN instead of the common name), or as "Unidentified." **Try:** 1. Meridian identifies targets from the pointing coordinates in your headers first, and falls back to the OBJECT keyword and then the folder name. If a frame has no usable coordinates and a non-standard OBJECT name, it has little to work with 2. If the designation is correct but obscure, Meridian uses a popularity-ordered catalog search (Messier, then NGC, IC, Caldwell, then specialized catalogs). You can rename any target in the Catalog view via right-click 3. For frames with no coordinates at all, plate solving can recover them. See the plate solving section below 4. For very obscure objects, enable the optional SIMBAD online lookup in Settings to attempt resolution against the full astronomical database ### Everything Merged Into One Giant Target **Symptoms:** Instead of individual objects, your Catalog contains one target named after a telescope, a category, or something else that isn't an astronomical object, and it contains everything. This is a folder structure issue, and it is the one arrangement Meridian genuinely cares about. Meridian steps over any folder named for a year, then treats the next folder down as a single target and reads everything beneath it. So if your archive is sorted like `2026/Redcat/M90/` or `2026/Galaxies/M90/`, then "Redcat" or "Galaxies" becomes the target and every object underneath merges into it. **Try:** 1. Restructure so the first folder below any year folder is an object: `2026/M90/`, `2026/NGC 3718/`, and so on 2. Everything inside the object folder is up to you. Subfolder names are invisible to Meridian, so Light, Subs, Raw, or one folder per filter all work identically, at any depth 3. If you want to group by telescope or by object type, do it above the year rather than below it. You don't need equipment folders anyway, since Meridian tracks your gear from the headers and lets you filter by it 4. After restructuring, force a rescan with **Cmd+Shift+R** ### Duplicate Targets in Catalog **Symptoms:** The same object appears as two or more separate entries (for example "M42" and "NGC1976", or two entries both named "M31"). **Try:** 1. Right-click either entry and choose **Merge** to combine them manually 2. Duplicates often arise from inconsistent OBJECT headers across sessions or capture software. Meridian normalizes most common variations automatically, but unusual spellings may slip through 3. If coordinates differ significantly between data sets, Meridian may treat them as separate fields of the same region. This is by design for mosaic panels ### Equipment Shows as "Unknown Telescope" or "Unknown Camera" **Symptoms:** A data set has no equipment attached, and renaming it appears to do nothing. Meridian builds equipment profiles from the TELESCOP and INSTRUME keywords in your headers. If neither is present in a file, there is no profile to attach a name to, and the rename has nothing to act on. This is the one place where Meridian genuinely needs something from your capture software. **Try:** 1. Configure your capture software to write telescope and camera names into the FITS headers. Every session from then on will be attributed automatically 2. For sessions that do have at least one of the two, you can rename the telescope and camera independently on any data set card, and choose whether the change applies everywhere that profile is used or only to that session 3. Existing sessions with neither keyword cannot be attributed retroactively, since there is nothing in the files to attach the name to ### Duplicate Equipment Entries **Symptoms:** The same telescope or camera appears multiple times with slightly different names. **Try:** 1. This usually happens when firmware updates or capture software changes cause small header variations (for example "ZWO ASI2600MM Pro" versus "ASI2600MM Pro") 2. Select the duplicate entry, right-click, and choose **Merge** to combine it with the correct equipment profile 3. Small focal length differences between sessions do not fragment your equipment list. Meridian applies a tolerance for rigs that report slightly different values night to night 4. Rename equipment entries to human-readable names for easier identification ### Thumbnails Not Generating **Symptoms:** Targets show a placeholder image instead of an auto-stretched preview. **Try:** 1. Thumbnails generate in the background after the initial header scan completes. Check if the scan is still running in the toolbar 2. If you quit Meridian during thumbnail generation, it picks up where it left off on next launch 3. Tiled Rice/GZIP compressed FITS files (ZCMPTYPE header) are not currently supported for thumbnails. Standard FITS and XISF files work fine 4. Extremely large files or unusual bit depths may take longer to process ### My Sky View Not Loading Map Tiles **Symptoms:** The sky map appears black or shows only your target overlays without background imagery. **Try:** 1. Map tiles are loaded from the CDS (Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg) and require an internet connection 2. Your target overlays, coordinates, and catalog browsing all work offline. Only the background survey imagery needs a connection 3. Try switching to a different survey (DSS2, 2MASS, Mellinger) using the survey selector. Some surveys may load faster depending on your connection 4. If you're behind a firewall or VPN, ensure access to `alasky.cds.unistra.fr` is not blocked ### Plate Solving Not Working **Symptoms:** Frames without coordinates aren't being resolved to targets, or the solver queue isn't producing results. Meridian uses a two-stage solver. It tries **ASTAP** locally first, which is free, fast, and keeps your data on your own machine. If a frame fails locally, it can optionally be sent to **Astrometry.net** for cloud rescue. The cloud path is off by default and strictly opt-in: entering an API key alone does not authorize uploads. **Try:** 1. If nothing is solving locally, check that ASTAP is installed and that you've pointed Meridian at it in **Settings**. ASTAP is a separate free download. Without it, local solving is unavailable and every frame falls through to the cloud path 2. ASTAP also needs its own star database installed to solve. If ASTAP is found but every solve fails, that's the usual reason 3. If you're using cloud rescue, confirm you've both entered a valid Astrometry.net API key and enabled cloud solving. Both are required 4. Cloud solving needs an internet connection, and frames are uploaded one at a time through a background queue. A large batch takes a while 5. Very wide-field or very narrow-field images may take longer to solve or fail entirely. This is a limitation of plate solving generally, not of Meridian 6. Results are cached locally, so a previously solved image won't be re-submitted Most archives never need plate solving at all. If your capture software writes coordinates into your headers, Meridian uses those directly. ### Visibility Data Looks Wrong **Symptoms:** Rise/set times, transit times, or altitude charts don't match your expectations. **Try:** 1. Check your observer site coordinates in **Settings**. All visibility calculations are driven by your active observing location 2. If using Core Location, ensure Meridian has location permission in **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services** 3. You can configure multiple observing sites and switch between them. Make sure the correct site is active 4. Visibility is calculated for the current date by default ### Missing Files Indicator **Symptoms:** Files show a "?" indicator in the Source Files view. This is expected behavior. Meridian never silently removes records when files go missing. Common causes: - An external drive is disconnected - Files were moved or deleted outside of Meridian - iCloud Drive offloaded files to the cloud Reconnect the drive or restore the files, then rescan. Meridian will re-link them automatically. ### Quick Look Extension Not Working **Symptoms:** Pressing Space on a FITS or XISF file in Finder doesn't show a preview. **Try:** 1. The Quick Look extension installs alongside Meridian but may need to be enabled in **System Settings > Extensions > Quick Look** 2. Restart Finder (**Option+right-click** the Finder icon in the Dock, then **Relaunch**) 3. If another app has registered a Quick Look handler for FITS files, there may be a conflict ### iCloud Drive Triggering Mass Downloads **Symptoms:** Adding an iCloud Drive folder as a watched folder causes macOS to begin downloading all offloaded files. Meridian scans local files only and does not intentionally trigger downloads of offloaded content. However, macOS may begin downloading files when any app accesses an iCloud-backed folder. If this is a concern, consider pointing Meridian at a local copy of your archive rather than an iCloud-synced folder. --- ## Keyboard Shortcuts | Shortcut | Action | | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Cmd+K** | Universal search across all views | | **Cmd+F** | Sidebar filter for current view | | **Cmd+1 / 2 / 3 / 4** | Switch between Catalog, Source Files, My Sky, and Wish List views | | **Cmd+Shift+R** | Force rescan all watched folders | | **Cmd+Z / Cmd+Shift+Z** | Undo / Redo | --- ## System Requirements - **macOS 14 (Sonoma)** or later - Apple Silicon or Intel Mac (Meridian ships as a universal binary) - No internet connection required for core features Meridian is available on the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meridian-deep-sky-catalog/id6759272712?ref=macobservatory.com) as a one-time purchase. --- ## Contact Support If you've tried the troubleshooting steps and still need help, get in touch: **Email:** [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) Please include: - Your problem description and steps to reproduce - Meridian version (from **Meridian > About Meridian**) - The target name or files involved, if applicable - Screenshots if the issue is visual I typically respond within one to two business days. ### Privacy Policy — Strata URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T23:10:35.000Z ## Privacy Policy **Strata — Planetary Stacking** *Effective Date: March 25, 2026* *Developer: Mac Observatory* ## Overview Strata is designed with privacy as a core principle. All image processing runs locally on your Mac using Metal GPU acceleration. We do not collect, transmit, or store any personal information, usage analytics, or telemetry. ## Data That Stays on Your Device All of the following data is stored locally on your Mac and is never transmitted to Mac Observatory or any third party: - **Capture data** — SER video files, TIFF, PNG, JPEG, and FITS images you import for processing - **Processing results** — stacked, sharpened, and exported images saved to locations you choose - **Processing profiles** — named sharpen and color settings stored in your Application Support folder - **App preferences** — settings such as export format defaults, filename templates, and window state stored in local preferences - **Recent files list** — paths to recently opened files stored locally via security-scoped bookmarks Strata processes your imaging data entirely on-device. Your captures and results never leave your Mac. ## Network Connections Strata makes no network connections. The app operates entirely offline. There are no update checks, no cloud sync, no remote analytics, and no server communication of any kind. All processing is performed locally using your Mac's CPU and GPU. ## Data We Do Not Collect - No personal information - No account or sign-in required - No usage analytics or telemetry - No crash reporting to external services - No advertising or ad identifiers - No tracking across apps or websites - No data shared with third parties ## Third-Party Services Strata contains no third-party SDKs, analytics frameworks, or advertising libraries. It is built entirely with Apple system frameworks (Swift, SwiftUI, Metal, Accelerate, vImage, and vDSP). ## App Sandbox Strata runs in the macOS App Sandbox. It can only access files and folders you explicitly grant permission to via the system file picker or drag-and-drop. File access is managed through security-scoped bookmarks and can be revoked at any time through macOS privacy settings. ## Children's Privacy Strata does not knowingly collect any information from children under the age of 13. ## Changes to This Policy If we update this privacy policy, the revised version will be posted at [https://www.macobservatory.com/strata-privacy-policy](https://www.macobservatory.com/strata-privacy-policy?ref=macobservatory.com) with an updated effective date. ## Contact If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact us at: **Email:** [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) **Web:** [https://www.macobservatory.com](https://www.macobservatory.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Strata Support URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-support/ Last updated: 2026-03-26T16:38:51.000Z *Last updated: 2026-03-25* Need help with Strata? This guide covers common issues, troubleshooting steps, and how to contact support effectively. --- ## Getting Help Before contacting support, try these resources: 1. **Check your SER file** — Strata supports SER v2/v3 files in 8-bit and 16-bit depth with Bayer or RGB color. If your file won't open, verify the format in another tool first. 2. **Try a different stacking method** — If Multi-Point produces unexpected results on a particular capture, try AP-Dewarp or Simple Average to narrow down whether the issue is data-specific or method-specific. 3. **Use the in-app Help Book** — Press **Cmd+?** or open **Help > Strata Help** for detailed guidance on every phase of the pipeline. 4. **Review this page** — The Common Issues section below covers the most frequently reported problems. If you're still stuck, we're here to help. The most effective support requests include: - A clear description of the problem - Which phase of the pipeline you were in (Import, Analyze, Stack, Derotate, Sharpen, Color, or Export) - Your SER file details (dimensions, frame count, bit depth, Bayer/RGB) - Your Strata version (shown in **Strata > About Strata**) - Screenshots if the issue is visual — especially for stacking or sharpening artifacts --- ## Common Issues ### SER File Won't Open **Symptoms:** Dragging a SER file onto Strata shows an error or nothing happens. **Try:** 1. Confirm the file has a `.ser` extension — Strata identifies files by extension 2. Verify the file isn't corrupted — a truncated recording (e.g., from a crash during capture) may have an incomplete header or missing frames 3. Check the file size — a 0-byte or suspiciously small file indicates a failed capture 4. AVI files are not currently supported — only SER video files work for the full stacking pipeline. TIFF and PNG images can be dropped in for sharpen-only workflows ### Quality Analysis Is Slow **Symptoms:** Frame quality analysis takes much longer than expected. **Try:** 1. Quality analysis runs on the GPU by default (\~1,500 fps on Apple Silicon). If it's significantly slower, check that no other GPU-intensive applications are running 2. Very large frame dimensions (e.g., full-disk lunar at high resolution) naturally take longer per frame than small planetary crops 3. Try switching quality metrics — Laplacian and Sobel may perform differently depending on your hardware ### Stacking Produces Soft or Blurry Results **Symptoms:** The stacked image looks softer than expected, or fine detail is missing compared to individual good frames. **Try:** 1. Reduce the stack percentage — stacking too many frames (e.g., 50% or more) includes lower-quality frames that add blur. Try 10–25% for planetary targets 2. Switch from Simple Average to Multi-Point — Simple Average doesn't perform local alignment, so atmospheric distortion smears detail. Multi-Point aligns each region independently 3. Check your alignment point grid — if very few APs passed filtering (shown in the Stack phase), the capture may lack sufficient contrast for local alignment. Try lowering the structure threshold 4. For lunar or solar surface targets, make sure target type is set to **Surface** rather than **Planet** — this changes the global alignment strategy ### Visible Grid Pattern or Tile Seams After Stacking **Symptoms:** The stacked image shows a faint grid pattern, tile boundaries, or brightness discontinuities between alignment point regions. **Try:** 1. This can occur when neighboring alignment points have significantly different numbers of contributing frames or very different local quality. Try increasing the stack percentage slightly to ensure more overlap between regions 2. Switch between Multi-Point and AP-Dewarp to see if the artifact persists — if it disappears in one mode, note which and report it 3. Extremely variable seeing (where some regions are sharp and others badly distorted in every frame) can stress the per-AP frame selection. This is a known challenging scenario ### Alignment Points Not Appearing on Object **Symptoms:** After running the stacking preflight, few or no alignment points are placed on the planet or surface. **Try:** 1. For planets, ensure the target type is set to **Planet** — this enables center-of-gravity detection which constrains AP placement to the disk 2. Very small planetary disks (under \~80 pixels diameter) may not have enough area for meaningful AP placement. Consider whether drizzle might help on future captures 3. Low-contrast targets (e.g., Venus with no visible features) will naturally have fewer APs because the filtering thresholds reject featureless regions. This is expected — there's nothing to locally align on 4. Check that your AP size setting isn't too large for the object — smaller AP sizes (32 or 48px) work better for small planetary disks ### Derotation Fails or Produces Artifacts **Symptoms:** Multi-capture derotation shows errors, excludes files, or produces smearing in the combined result. **Try:** 1. Derotation works by registering consecutive pairs in your sequence. If one pair fails, all subsequent images in the chain are excluded. Try removing the problematic file from the session and re-running 2. Ensure all SER files in the session are of the same target at similar scale and orientation — mixing captures from different nights or with different optics will fail 3. Very large time gaps between captures (more than \~30 minutes for Jupiter) may exceed the optical flow registration limits 4. The reference image defaults to the middle of your sequence. If that capture was poor quality, try right-clicking a different file and choosing **Set as Reference** 5. Single-file sessions automatically skip the Derotate phase — this is expected, not an error ### Sharpening Creates Ringing or Halos **Symptoms:** Bright halos appear around the planet limb or along high-contrast edges after wavelet sharpening. **Try:** 1. Reduce the sharpening amount on the Finest Detail and Fine Features layers — these control the smallest spatial scales where ringing is most visible 2. Increase the Denoise slider on the same layers — this suppresses the high-frequency artifacts that cause ringing 3. Try Luminance-only mode (the default) rather than RGB mode — sharpening on luminance avoids amplifying color noise that can masquerade as halos 4. If ringing persists, try Wiener Deconvolution as an alternative sharpening engine — it uses a different mathematical approach that can be less prone to ringing artifacts ### WOW Solar Engine Shows No Effect **Symptoms:** Switching to the WOW Solar sharpening engine produces little or no visible change. **Try:** 1. WOW Solar is designed specifically for solar surface imaging — it enhances local contrast across the disk to reveal granulation, filaments, and prominences. It will have minimal effect on planetary or lunar images 2. Adjust the Gamma slider — this controls the overall intensity of the whitening effect 3. If you have solar captures to test with, we'd love to hear your results. Solar imaging has been the hardest category to test — sample SER files sent to [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) would be extremely helpful ### Wiener Deconvolution Produces White Blowout **Symptoms:** The image turns mostly white or severely overexposed after applying Wiener deconvolution. **Try:** 1. Increase the Regularization slider — lower regularization amplifies noise and can cause extreme brightness. Start around 0.01–0.05 and adjust 2. Use the Blend Raw slider to mix deconvolved output with the original — even 20–30% raw blending tames aggressive deconvolution 3. Try fewer passes (1–2) rather than the maximum (5) 4. Adjust the Brightness and Contrast post-processing sliders in the deconvolution controls to bring the output into a visible range ### Auto RGB Channel Alignment Not Working **Symptoms:** The Auto Detect button in the Color phase doesn't correct atmospheric dispersion, or the correction makes things worse. **Try:** 1. Auto channel alignment requires a color image — it is disabled for monochrome captures 2. The detection works best on planetary disks with a clearly defined limb. If the planet is very small or very overexposed, the limb detection may fail 3. After auto-detection, the computed offsets populate the manual ADC sliders. You can fine-tune the R and B channel offsets manually from there 4. For targets at high altitude (low atmospheric dispersion), the correction may be negligible — this is expected ### Export File Is Unexpectedly Large or Small **Symptoms:** The exported file size doesn't match expectations. **Try:** 1. TIFF 16-bit files are roughly 6× the size of 8-bit PNGs for the same dimensions — this is normal 2. FITS files (float32 RGB) are the largest format. If file size is a concern, use PNG or JPEG for sharing 3. If you used drizzle (1.5×, 2×, or 3×), the output dimensions are scaled accordingly — a 3× drizzle produces 9× the pixel count of the original 4. JPEG quality is controlled by the quality slider in the export settings ### Metadata Missing from Exported Files **Symptoms:** Opening an exported TIFF in another application shows no EXIF/IPTC metadata. **Try:** 1. Strata embeds metadata in TIFF files via EXIF and IPTC fields. Not all image viewers display these fields — try viewing in macOS Preview (Tools > Show Inspector) or ExifTool 2. PNG files have limited metadata support — basic information is stored in PNG text chunks, but some viewers may not display it 3. FITS export includes processing metadata in the FITS header --- ## Keyboard Shortcuts | Shortcut | Action | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Cmd+1 through Cmd+7** | Navigate to Import, Analyze, Stack, Derotate, Sharpen, Color, Export | | **Cmd+R** | Run processing for current phase | | **Cmd+E** | Export | | **Cmd+N** | New session | | **Cmd+Shift+B** | Batch Process Folder | | **Space / Arrow keys** | Frame playback and scrubbing (Analyze phase) | | **T** | Toggle before/after comparison (Sharpen phase) | | **Cmd+Opt+I** | Toggle inspector sidebar | | **Cmd+?** | Open Help Book | --- ## Supported File Formats **Import (full pipeline):** SER video files (v2 and v3, 8-bit and 16-bit, Bayer and RGB) **Import (sharpen-only):** TIFF and PNG images — these skip directly to the Sharpen phase **Export:** TIFF (16-bit and 8-bit), PNG, JPEG, and FITS (float32 RGB) --- ## System Requirements - **macOS 14 (Sonoma)** or later - Apple Silicon recommended (Intel Macs supported) - Metal-capable GPU required for GPU acceleration - No internet connection required — Strata operates entirely offline --- ## Contact Support If you've tried the troubleshooting steps and still need help, contact us: **Email:** [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) Please include: - Your problem description and steps to reproduce - Which pipeline phase the issue occurred in - Strata version (from **Strata > About Strata**) - SER file details: dimensions, frame count, bit depth, and Bayer/RGB - Screenshots — especially for visual artifacts in stacking or sharpening **Solar imagers:** If you have solar SER captures and would like to help us test WOW Solar and solar color enhancement, we'd love to hear from you. Sample data can be sent to [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). We typically respond within 1–2 business days. --- **Privacy Policy:** [macobservatory.com/strata-privacy-policy](https://www.macobservatory.com/strata-privacy-policy?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Strata — Sample Data URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-sample-data/ Last updated: 2026-03-26T16:38:27.000Z Download sample capture files to test Strata's full planetary processing pipeline. These files are provided for app evaluation and testing purposes. --- ## Download **[Download Strata Sample Files (ZIP)](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/aupho7v7ue4zxi57xdrtj/Strata-Sample-Files.zip?rlkey=4003k3icxdv2s4azsulitnkh3&dl=0&ref=macobservatory.com)** The archive contains: - **Saturn SER video** (`2022-10-25-0055_2.ser`) — A planetary capture in SER format for testing the full stacking pipeline (Import → Analyze → Stack → Sharpen → Color → Export) - **Jupiter TIFF image** (`2023-11-02-1756_5-KL-IR685-Jup_lapl6_ap176.tif`) — A pre-stacked planetary image for testing the sharpen-only workflow --- ## Testing the Full Pipeline (Saturn SER File) 1. Open Strata 2. Drag the `.ser` file onto the app window — the video loads and displays the first frame 3. **Analyze** — Press **Cmd+R** to run frame quality analysis. The quality graph fills in as frames are ranked (\~1,500 frames per second on Apple Silicon) 4. **Stack** — Advance to the Stack phase (**Cmd+3**). Select **Multi-Point** as the stacking method and click **Stack**. Alignment points appear on Saturn and local alignment runs at each point 5. **Sharpen** — Advance to Sharpen (**Cmd+5**). Adjust the wavelet sharpening sliders — preview updates in real time. Try switching between the three sharpening engines using the engine picker: Wavelets, Wiener Deconvolution, and WOW Solar 6. **Color** — Advance to Color (**Cmd+6**). Adjust histogram, saturation, and color balance. Try the Auto Detect button for atmospheric dispersion correction 7. **Export** — Advance to Export (**Cmd+7**). Choose TIFF, PNG, JPEG, or FITS format and save The full pipeline takes approximately 10–30 seconds on Apple Silicon depending on stacking settings. --- ## Testing Sharpen-Only (Jupiter TIFF File) 1. Open Strata 2. Drag the `.tif` file onto the app window — the app detects it is a pre-stacked image and skips directly to the Sharpen phase 3. Adjust the wavelet sharpening sliders and observe real-time preview updates 4. Try all three sharpening engines: **Wavelets** (6-layer à trous), **Wiener Deconvolution** (try the telescope presets and PSF model), and **WOW Solar** 5. Switch between Luminance and RGB sharpening modes — in RGB mode, try per-channel R/G/B controls 6. Use the comparison views: Split (draggable divider), Side by Side, and Toggle (**T** key) 7. Export the result --- ## About the File Format SER is a standard uncompressed video format used in planetary astrophotography. High-speed cameras capture hundreds or thousands of frames at high frame rates, and stacking software selects and combines the sharpest frames to overcome atmospheric turbulence — a technique called Lucky Imaging. Strata also accepts TIFF and PNG images for sharpen-only workflows, and exports to TIFF (16-bit), PNG, JPEG, and FITS formats. --- ## Need Help? For support, troubleshooting, and keyboard shortcuts, visit the [Strata Support](https://www.macobservatory.com/strata-support?ref=macobservatory.com) page. **Email:** [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) ### Ephemeris - PHD2 Log Viewer URL: https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris-phd2-log-viewer/ Last updated: 2026-09-27T19:02:06.000Z [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/ephemeris.png)Ephemeris](#ephemeris) - [The night](#night) - [Observations](#observations) - [Your mount](#mount) - [Library](#library) - [Ask your logs](#ask) - [FAQ](#faq) [Download free](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris/releases/latest?ref=macobservatory.com) ![Ephemeris app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/ephemeris.png) Ephemeris PHD2 guide log analysis for Mac, free and open source # Last night, explained. Your stars came out egg-shaped and you don't know why. The answer is in the log PHD2 wrote while you slept. Ephemeris reads it, shows you exactly where guiding went wrong, and tells you what to check before tonight. [ Download Ephemeris for Mac ](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris/releases/latest?ref=macobservatory.com) [View on GitHub](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris?ref=macobservatory.com) Free, GPLv3\. macOS 15 Sequoia or later, Apple Silicon and Intel. ![Ephemeris log view: a guide session's RA and Dec graph with its RA/Dec scatter plot, star mass and SNR below, and the session statistics beside it](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-chart.webp) Free and open source 25 observations, each with its source Every night in one library Native on Apple Silicon and Intel The whole night ## Which session went wrong? A night of imaging is a dozen guide sessions. Ephemeris lays them all out with RA, Dec and total RMS, marks the best and the worst, and lets you jump straight to either. Shift-click sessions to graph several together. Every session Several sessions ![Ephemeris summary table with every guide session of the night, the best and worst sessions called out](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-summary.webp) The summary: every session's RMS side by side, with the night's best and worst called out. ![Several guide sessions combined into one chart with the gaps between them preserved](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-combined.webp) Shift-click sessions in the sidebar to add them to the graph, and see them as one chart with the real gaps between them kept. The guide chart ## Find the moment it fell apart. Every frame of guiding as a line graph of RA and Dec, with a scatter plot of where the star wandered, the corrections PHD2 sent, dithers and settling, and the guide star's brightness and signal underneath. Hover any point to read it, click to pin it. - **Zoom or exclude.** Drag across a stretch to zoom in, or to leave a gust or a cable snag out of the statistics. - **In your units.** Switch between pixels and arcseconds, and lock the scale from ±0.5″ to ±10″. - **The numbers that matter.** RMS, peak and drift for RA and Dec, and a polar alignment estimate from the drift. ![Close-up of the guide graph with a hover readout of RA, Dec and SNR and the RA/Dec scatter plot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-chart-crop.webp) Observations ## It tells you what it noticed, and how it knows. Ephemeris checks each night against 25 rules, 21 within the night and 4 across your nights. Every observation shows its evidence and says where it comes from, so you know how much weight to give it. It points you to what to check; it doesn't pretend to know the cause for certain. All sources PHD2 docs PHD2 measured PHD2 alert Ephemeris heuristic PHD2 measuredPattern ### Stars predicted: trailed (Dec drift) - Dec drifted steadily one way all session - Corrections couldn't keep up **Check** polar alignment and Dec backlash. PHD2 docsHygiene ### Calibration is 34 days old - Last calibration in the log was over a month ago - Equipment or balance may have changed since **Try** a fresh calibration near the celestial equator. PHD2 alertAlert ### Calibration orthogonality error - RA and Dec axes measured more than 10° from square - PHD2's own sanity check flagged it **Check** the calibration cross and recalibrate. Ephemeris heuristicSuggestion ### Dec min-move likely too low, chasing seeing - Many tiny Dec corrections that reverse each frame - RMS no better for the effort **Try** raising Dec minimum move a little. PHD2 measuredPattern ### Settling failed on 3 of 12 attempts - Guiding didn't settle within tolerance after dithers - Subs after those dithers may be soft **Try** a longer settle time or a smaller dither. Ephemeris heuristicEquipment ### Guide exposure likely too long for a strain-wave mount - Long guide exposures on a mount that needs frequent corrections **Try** shorter guide exposures. ![Ephemeris night report: thirteen guide sessions, the night's best and worst called out, and eight observations with their sources](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-report.webp) One night, thirteen guide sessions, eight observations. Each carries its source, its evidence, and the PHD2 setting that addresses it. Example observations above, simplified. In the app each one shows its full evidence and links to the relevant part of the PHD2 manual. Your mount ## Is it the calibration, or the gears? Two views get to the bottom of problems that aren't about last night's weather: the calibration PHD2 measured, and the periodic error hiding in your mount's worm gear. Calibration Periodic error ### A good calibration looks like a T. See the calibration cross PHD2 recorded, with the rate and angle of each leg and how far from square the axes are. Ephemeris flags an orthogonality error of 5° as worth a look and 10° as a problem, quotes PHD2's own calibration warnings, and tells you when a calibration has gone stale. ### The spike that repeats is your worm gear. A frequency analysis of RA or Dec turns a noisy chart into peaks, so a problem that repeats every few minutes stands out. Ephemeris names the dominant period when it clearly stands out, corrects for drift first, and suggests what to try, including PHD2's Predictive PEC. ![Ephemeris calibration view with the calibration cross and each leg's rate and angle](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-calibration.webp) ![Ephemeris frequency analysis of RA, with the dominant period of the worm gear](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-fft.webp) The Log Library ## What has your rig been doing all season? One bad night is noise. A slow slide over a month is a clue. Ephemeris keeps every log you open in a library, organized by rig, and charts each night against that rig's own imaging scale. Fifty-six nights One month ![Fifty-six nights of guiding on one rig in the Log Library](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-library.webp) Fifty-six nights on one rig, plotted against its own imaging scale. The spike at the end of February turned out to be a bent off-axis guider. The library made that night findable. ![One month in the Log Library: eighteen nights, 151 sessions and 53.8 hours on one rig](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/ephemeris-ui-monthly.webp) Eighteen nights, 151 sessions and 53.8 hours on one rig. The dashed line is the rig's own imaging scale. ### It knows your rigs Logs are sorted by the equipment profile PHD2 writes into them, even after you rename one. Import a whole folder at once; duplicates are skipped. ### Judged against your optics Give a rig its focal length and pixel size, and each night is marked sub-pixel, at resolution or over resolution for your imaging scale. ### Housekeeping, at a glance Days since your last calibration, Guiding Assistant run and polar alignment. Add notes, and rate how your stars came out. Ask your own logs ## Talk to a season of guiding. Ephemeris started with pasting log files into Claude by hand. Now you can turn on a small server that lets an AI assistant read your library's summaries and answer questions about your nights. - **Off until you turn it on.** Nothing runs unless you enable it in Settings. - **Read-only, on your Mac.** It listens only on your own computer, protected by a token, and can't change anything. - **Summaries, not raw logs.** Your assistant sees rigs, nights, statistics and observations. - **One-click setup.** For Claude Desktop and Claude Code. ChatGPT connectors work through a secure tunnel you set up yourself. Has my Edge rig's guiding gotten worse this month? Slightly. Your last five nights average above the rig's usual level, and one observation flags that your star ratings are worse than the RMS suggests, which can point to flexure. Your calibration is also over a month old.list\_nights · get\_aggregate\_stats · list\_observations `list_rigs` `list_nights` `list_observations` `get_aggregate_stats` `get_corpus_summary` `search` `fetch` Illustration of a conversation, with the server's seven read-only tools. Built for the Mac ## A native rewrite of a classic. Ephemeris is a re-imagining of Andy Galasso's phdlogview, rebuilt from scratch in Swift for today's Macs. Share it on the forums Build a forum post of a session's statistics in Markdown or BBCode, ready for Cloudy Nights or the PHD2 group, or export the chart as a PNG and the numbers as CSV. ### Universal Native on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. ### Swift Charts and Accelerate Fast charts and frequency analysis, even on long logs. ### Updates built in Sparkle checks for new versions, with your permission. ### Signed and sandboxed Developer ID signed, notarized by Apple, and sandboxed. ### Shortcuts Open your most recent log or show recent trends from a shortcut. ### Help, built in A searchable Help Book that explains every chart and number. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/ephemeris.png) ## Free, and it stays that way. Ephemeris is open source under the GPLv3, because guiding help shouldn't sit behind a paywall and phdlogview showed what a free tool can do for the community. If it saves you a night, you can support its development. [Download Ephemeris for Mac](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris/releases/latest?ref=macobservatory.com) [Support development on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/cw/MacObservatory?ref=macobservatory.com) Free, GPLv3\. macOS 15 Sequoia or later. Downloaded from GitHub, not the Mac App Store. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/meridian.png)**Keep every night's images with Meridian**Your deep-sky archive, identified and searchable.](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png)**The Mac Observatory Field Kit**Transit, Laminar, Strata and Meridian for $99.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/mac-observatory-field-kit/id6798291569?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Questions, answered. What does total RMS tell me about my guiding? It's the combined size of your guiding errors in RA and Dec over a session. Lower is better, but what counts as good depends on your imaging scale: an error well under the size of one camera pixel won't show in your stars. What's a good total RMS for my setup? Compare it with your imaging scale in arcseconds per pixel. Guiding at half your imaging scale or better is excellent; around your imaging scale is usually fine. Ephemeris marks each night against the scale you give your rig. Is my drift polar alignment or mount tracking? Steady drift in Dec usually points to polar alignment, and Ephemeris estimates how far off you are from it. Drift or wobble that repeats in RA is more often the mount's gears; the frequency analysis shows whether it repeats. Why does calibration orthogonality matter? PHD2 needs to know which way each axis moves the star. If the measured axes are far from square, corrections go partly the wrong way. Ephemeris flags 5° as worth a look and 10° as a problem. What does the frequency analysis show that the chart doesn't? It turns a noisy chart into peaks, so an error that repeats every few minutes, typically from a worm gear, stands out even when the chart just looks messy. Which logs can it read? PHD2 guide logs, from Mac or Windows, including setups with adaptive optics. PHD2 debug logs and other guiding software's logs aren't supported. How is it different from phdlogview? Ephemeris is a native rewrite inspired by phdlogview, and adds a library of every night, observations with their sources, rig profiles and the option to ask an AI assistant about your logs. phdlogview remains a great tool. Does it send my logs anywhere? No. Everything stays on your Mac. The optional assistant server is off by default and only listens on your own computer. Why is it free and GPLv3? Because guiding help belongs to the community, as phdlogview did. The GPLv3 keeps Ephemeris and anything built from it open. Does supporting on Patreon get me anything extra? No. Every feature is free for everyone. Support simply helps keep Ephemeris, and the rest of Mac Observatory's tools, going. ### Transit - Astronomical Events URL: https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events/ Last updated: 2026-10-06T01:33:11.000Z [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png)Transit](#transit) - [Tonight](#tonight) - [Planets](#planets) - [Satellites](#satellites) - [Sun and Moon](#sky) - [Widgets](#widgets) - [FAQ](#faq) [Buy $9.99](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/transit-astronomical-events/id6787255071?ref=macobservatory.com) ![Transit app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png) Transit Astronomical events in your Mac's menu bar # Know when to look up. Is it clear tonight? When does Saturn climb high enough? Is the ISS about to cross the Moon? Transit answers from your menu bar, hour by hour, and only taps you on the shoulder when the sky is worth it. [ Get Transit on the Mac App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/transit-astronomical-events/id6787255071?ref=macobservatory.com) $9.99 once, no subscription. macOS 15 or later. **Finder**FileEditView **72** Sat 12:30 PM **Everything about tonight, one click away.** Weather hour by hour, the planets, satellites, the Sun, the Moon and the events worth catching, on one timeline from sunset to sunrise. ![Transit's Tonight panel for Kitt Peak: a weather score of 97 now and 100 later, clear hourly bars through the night, the planets, satellite passes including Hubble crossing the Sun, and the Sun, Moon and sky](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-panel-tonight.webp) An hourly weather score Planets, moons, meteors and eclipses Satellites crossing the Sun and Moon Widgets for your desktop Before you set up ## Is tonight worth it? Transit already knows. A single weather score from 0 to 100, for now and for every hour of the night, built from Apple Weather's forecast. Transit finds the best window, so you know whether to set up at dusk, nap until 3 AM, or stay in. - **What goes into it.** Cloud at low, middle and high altitude, humidity, dew spread and wind. Solid overcast scores zero, however calm the air. - **The best window, named.** The longest stretch near the night's peak, shown on the timeline and in the menu bar. - **The Moon, on its own line.** A bright Moon doesn't lower the score. Transit tells you separately when it will wash out the sky. **2**/100NOW **72**/100TONIGHT, PEAK 3:00 AM Best 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM 7PM89101112AM123456 From a real forecast for Pearland, Texas, on September 27, 2026: overcast all afternoon, clearing after midnight. ### Your menu bar, your way. Show the score with a strip of the night ahead, the score alone, a simple colored glyph, or just the graph. Use one icon for everything, or separate icons for conditions, planets, the Sun and Moon, and satellites. Score and graph Score Glyph Graph Glyph and graph Wi-Fi **72** Sat 12:30 PM Planets ## When the planets are worth the wait. For every planet tonight: when it rises, when it clears your altitude floor, how high it gets and when, and when it sets. Transit marks each one well placed, marginal or not visible, so you know which to wait up for. - **Jupiter's moons.** Transits, shadow transits, occultations and eclipses of Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. - **The Great Red Spot.** When it crosses the center of Jupiter's disc, with a longitude you can update yourself. - **Close encounters.** Oppositions, conjunctions within 3°, and the Moon passing in front of a planet. ![Transit's Planets panel for Pearland with rise, 30 degree, highest altitude and set times for Venus through Neptune, and two Jupiter events before dawn: Ganymede's shadow transit at 4:36 AM and the Great Red Spot crossing the disc at 5:53 AM, 33 degrees up](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-panel-planets-1.webp) Satellites ## One second across the Sun. A space station crossing the face of the Moon or the Sun is over in a blink, and only visible from a narrow strip of ground. Transit predicts each crossing to the second, with its direction and how far the centerline passes from you, so you can drive to catch it. - **Only passes you can see.** ISS, Tiangong and Hubble by default, listed when they're sunlit against a dark sky, with path, height and brightness. - **Nearby crossings, too.** Crossings whose centerline passes within 50 miles, or whatever distance you choose, so you know when a short drive puts you on the line. - **Any satellite you like.** Choose from a list of favorites or add any object by its catalog number. ![Transit's Satellites panel for Pearland: Tiangong crosses the Moon in 0.5 seconds and the Sun in 1.3 seconds about a minute later, and Hubble crosses the Moon in 0.6 seconds with the centerline 17 miles south](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-panel-satellites-1.webp) Sun, Moon and sky ## Day or night, what's up there right now. The Sun's active regions ranked as imaging targets, the Moon's phase and brightness, tonight's aurora chances, and the meteor showers and eclipses you can actually see from where you are. - **Solar targets.** Active regions from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, with the best ones picked out and their odds of a flare. - **Aurora, for your latitude.** The planetary Kp forecast, translated for your own site. - **Nine major meteor showers.** Rates scaled to your sky, and how much the Moon will spoil them. - **Eclipses from your site.** How much of the Sun is covered where you stand and when, and the full timing of lunar eclipses. Never look at the Sun without a certified solar filter or a dedicated solar telescope. ![Transit's Sun, Moon and Sky panel with sunset and dark times, moderate solar activity with AR4548 picked as the top target, a last quarter Moon about to occult Jupiter at 5:24 AM, and the Orionids](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-panel-sunmoon.webp) Notifications ## Alerts that check the sky first. A Great Red Spot transit is no use under solid cloud. When the sky is overcast, Transit holds its notifications and picks them up again when it clears. Events too low to see stay quiet, too. - **Your timing, per event.** At the moment, 15 minutes, an hour or a day before, a badge only, or off. - **Straight to the detail.** Click a notification and Transit opens at that event. - **Mute a planet.** Keep it on the timeline without hearing about it. Clear sky Overcast **Alerts paused, overcast**Events are still listed in the panel. Notifications resume when the sky clears. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png) **Great Red Spot transit in 15 minutes**Jupiter is 46° up in the southeast. now ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png) **Tiangong crosses the Moon at 8:09:42 PM**2.5 seconds, west to west. Centerline 12 mi NW. 1 h ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png) **Clear skies ahead**Weather score reaches 72 by 3:00 AM. 2 h Illustration. Toggle the sky to see alerts pause. Widgets ## Tonight, on your desktop. Next Up counts down to the next thing worth seeing, with a note when clouds or daylight will get in the way. Solar shows today's Sun from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory with the activity verdict. Both keep working with Transit closed. Full color Monochrome ![Transit's medium Next Up widget with a Tiangong pass and a rocket body crossing, above the large Solar widget showing the Sun in red](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-widgets-stack-color.webp) ![Transit's medium Next Up widget counting down to Ganymede's shadow transit at 4:36 AM and the Moon occulting Jupiter at 5:24 AM, with low cloud drifting through](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-widget-nextup-color.webp)![Transit's small Next Up widget counting down to a Tiangong pass, beside the medium Solar widget](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-widgets-row-color.webp) ![The same medium Next Up and large Solar widgets in monochrome](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-widgets-stack-tinted.webp) ![The same Jupiter countdowns in the medium Next Up widget, in monochrome](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-widget-nextup-tinted.webp)![The same small Next Up and medium Solar widgets in monochrome](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/10/transit-widgets-row-tinted.webp) Next Up comes in small and medium sizes, Solar in medium and large, on the desktop and in Notification Center. ## Planetarium apps show you where. Transit tells you when. Keep your favorite sky chart for finding things. Transit is the quiet companion that watches the clock, the weather and the sky for you, whether you image, observe, or just like to step outside at the right moment. Checked against the observatories Transit's rise, set and event times were validated against the U.S. Naval Observatory and NASA JPL's Horizons system. The almanac runs entirely on your Mac. ### Every site you use Automatic location, typed coordinates, or saved sites, in each site's own time zone. ### Works offline Events are computed locally; the last forecast is kept with its time. ### Six languages English, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. ### Private No account and no tracking. Your location stays on your Mac. ### VoiceOver Labels and actions throughout, and shapes as well as color on the timeline. ### Always there Launches at login and lives in the menu bar, out of your way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/Transit-Icon-iOS-Default-1024x1024@1x.png) ## Never miss another clear night. $9.99One-time purchase on the Mac App Store. No subscription, no in-app purchases. [Get Transit on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/transit-astronomical-events/id6787255071?ref=macobservatory.com) Requires macOS 15 or later. > “One click on the menu bar tells me when Jupiter will rise, how high Saturn will climb. Fast, practical, and delightfully uncomplicated.” ★★★★★ Hardy36, Mac App Store, Switzerland [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/strata.png)**Free in the Field Kit**Transit comes free with Laminar, Strata and Meridian for $99.](https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/mac-observatory-field-kit/id6798291569?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/laminar.png)**Clear tonight? Capture it in Laminar**Planetary, lunar and solar capture, from the same score.](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) ## Questions, answered. What goes into the weather score? Cloud at low, middle and high altitude, humidity, dew spread and wind, from Apple Weather's hourly forecast. Heavy cloud caps the score, and solid overcast sets it to zero. The Moon is shown separately rather than lowering the score. Does Transit forecast seeing or transparency? No. Transit's forecast covers cloud, humidity, dew and wind hour by hour. It doesn't predict atmospheric seeing or transparency. Will it flood me with notifications? No. You choose which events notify you and when, from a day ahead to the moment it happens. Alerts pause when it's overcast, and events too low to see stay quiet. Which satellites does it track? The ISS, Tiangong and Hubble by default. You can add others from a list of favorites or by catalog number. Orbital data comes from CelesTrak and refreshes daily. Does it warn me about satellite crossings of the Sun and Moon? Transit shows each crossing to the second, with its direction and distance from you, and can notify you of crossings visible from where you are. Nearby crossings a short drive away are shown in the panel. Does it need an internet connection? Only for the weather forecast, satellite orbits and solar data. Planets, moons, meteor showers and eclipses are all computed on your Mac. How is it different from SkySafari or Stellarium? Planetarium apps help you find things. Transit tells you when things happen and whether the sky will cooperate, from your menu bar. Do I need Laminar? No. Transit stands on its own. If you image the planets, Laminar uses the same weather scoring at the telescope. Is there a subscription? No. Transit is a one-time $9.99 purchase, and it's included free in the $99 Mac Observatory Field Kit. ## Posts ### vdB 5: The Star With a Name Written Backward URL: https://macobservatory.com/vdb-5-the-star-with-a-name-written-backward/ Last updated: 2026-10-09T14:00:00.000Z In the summer the Houston heat did not break until nearly midnight, and that was when Tom's grandfather would carry the folding chairs out to the yard and point north, past the refinery glow, to the crooked W of Cassiopeia. "The middle one," he'd say. "That's Navi. A friend of mine named it." Tom was nine and did not believe him, because stars were named by Greeks and Arabs who had been dead a thousand years, not by men who drank coffee from a thermos. But the old man had worked the consoles at the space center in the sixties, and he told it plainly. The astronauts needed navigation stars, and a few of the ones they used had no names worth saying over a radio, so the crews gave them names of their own. Gus Grissom took his middle name, Ivan, and spelled it backward. Navi. Then the fire took Gus on the launch pad in January of 1967, before he ever went to the Moon, and the name stayed up there anyway, printed in the star charts like a note nobody could bring themselves to erase. Years later Tom learned the rest from a telescope of his own. Navi is no quiet lantern. It is a hot blue star spinning so fast it throws a disk of gas from its own waist, brightening and fading on no schedule anyone has cracked, and pouring out X-rays that astronomers still argue about. About three light-years away hang two clouds, IC 63 and IC 59, and the star's ultraviolet light is slowly burning them away: one glows red where its hydrogen is struck, the other shines blue where its dust only reflects. Seen together they look like a ghost walking away from a fire. On the night he finally captured it, Tom sat alone in the yard where the chairs used to be and watched the frames come in, nine hours of light that had left the star around the time Gutenberg was building his press. The ghost clouds were thinning, the astronomers said, and in a few million years there would be nothing left of them to see. **Tom figured that was all right. Some things are meant to be worn away. Some names are meant to stay.** --- Capture Details AstroBin Image of the Day, October 3, 2023 Total Integration 9h Captured Sep 22, 2023 Integration per Filter Lum: 4h 30m (27 × 600″) Red: 1h 30m (9 × 600″) Green: 1h 30m (9 × 600″) Blue: 1h 30m (9 × 600″) Equipment Telescope: Takahashi TOA-130NFB Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro Mount: 10Micron GM1000 HPS Flattener: Takahashi 645 Flattener for TOA-130 (TKA31587S) Focuser: Pegasus Astro FocusCube2 Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 7 x 2″ Power: Pegasus Astro Powerbox Advance Gen2 Flat Panel: DeepSkyDad Flap Panel (FP1) Filters Chroma Lum 50 mm, Chroma Red 50 mm, Chroma Green 50 mm, Chroma Blue 50 mm Software Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor (APP), Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight, Russell Croman Astrophotography BlurXTerminator, Russell Croman Astrophotography NoiseXTerminator, Russell Croman Astrophotography StarXTerminator Location DSP Remote Observatory: Animas, NM: Bortle 1 View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/nu2tsn?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Seeing vs. Transparency: Why a Clear Sky Can Still Give Soft Planetary Images URL: https://macobservatory.com/seeing-vs-transparency-planetary-imaging/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T14:51:26.000Z Seeing is how steady the air is. Transparency is how much light gets through it. A clear-sky forecast promises neither, which is why Jupiter can look soft and restless on a night without a single cloud. This Mac Observatory guide explains the difference between seeing and transparency, why humidity isn't a seeing forecast, and how to check the three things that decide a planetary session: steady air, clear air and dry optics. You've probably had the night. The forecast says clear, Jupiter is bright, and the telescope is ready. Then the planet on the screen softens, stretches, snaps into focus for an instant and smears again. It's tempting to blame the camera, the focuser or the humidity. Before you change any equipment, ask three separate questions: how stable is the air, how much light is reaching you, and are the optics staying dry? Two different measurements Seeing vs. transparency at a glance Seeing Measures How steady the air is Does to a star Spreads its light into a bigger, wobbling blur Hurts most Planets, the Moon and double stars at high magnification Forecast scale Arcseconds of blur (smaller is steadier) or a rating from 1/5 to 5/5 Quick check How much bright stars and planets twinkle Transparency Measures How much light gets through the air Does to a star Dims it without changing its size Hurts most Faint galaxies and nebulae Forecast scale Poor to transparent on the Clear Sky Chart Quick check How many of the Little Dipper's seven stars you can see The two are independent. A night can be good for one and poor for the other. Dew is the odd one out, because it happens at the telescope rather than in the sky, and it gets its own section below. Seeing and transparency are the pair people mix up, mostly because a forecast shows them side by side. ## What is seeing in astronomy? Astronomical seeing is the blurring and wobbling of a telescope image caused by turbulent air along the line of sight. The [Clear Sky Chart forecast key](https://www.cleardarksky.com/c/NYCNYkey.html?ref=macobservatory.com) traces it to turbulence combined with temperature differences in the atmosphere. In bad seeing, it says, planets ripple as though you were looking at them through moving water. Seeing belongs to the air, and [ESO draws that line carefully](https://www.eso.org/sci/observing/phase2/ObsConditions.SPHERE.html?ref=macobservatory.com). It treats seeing as a property of the turbulence itself, quoted at the zenith, and image quality as the star size an instrument actually records, which also depends on wavelength and on how much air you're looking through. Your telescope can't improve the seeing. It can add problems of its own, which is why the clues below deserve a second look. At the telescope, look for detail that changes quickly: a crater edge wavering, Jupiter's belts dissolving and re-forming, a star that won't settle into a point. Those are good clues, but focus, vibration and a telescope that's still [cooling down](https://macobservatory.com/edgehd-cool-down-focus-temperature/) can spoil an image in similar ways. If you don't have a forecast handy, the [Astronomical League seeing scale](https://www.astroleague.org/seeing-and-transparency-guide/?ref=macobservatory.com) needs nothing but your eyes. It grades the night by twinkling: excellent when even bright stars hold still, very good when stars twinkle slightly but bright planets don't, and poor when everything twinkles too much to observe. ## How do you read a seeing forecast? Seeing forecasts come in two common forms, and they run in opposite directions. An arcsecond figure describes the size of the blur, so smaller numbers are steadier. A rating from 1/5 to 5/5 describes categories, so bigger numbers are steadier. [Environment and Climate Change Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weather-general-tools-resources/astronomy/seeing-forecast.html?ref=macobservatory.com), whose Canadian Meteorological Centre forecasts feed the Clear Sky Chart, publishes the key that connects the two. How seeing is graded What each seeing category looks like Environment and Climate Change Canada's five categories, best to worst, with the approximate size of the blur and what a star shows at high magnification. Grade Blur What you see V under 0.4″ A steady, motionless star image IV 0.4 to 0.9″ Faint ripples cross the diffraction rings III 1 to 2″ The central disk deforms and the rings break II 3 to 4″ Heavy swirling in the disk; rings faint or gone I over 4″ The star boils into a blurry disk Approximate ranges from Environment and Climate Change Canada, which calibrates its seeing forecast against 28 and 35 cm telescopes. Smaller apertures tend to rate the same night higher. Two details on that page matter as much as the table. First, the forecast is built from cloud, wind shear, mixing near the ground and the trend in surface temperature, and it describes seeing at the zenith. Second, it's calibrated against 28 and 35 cm telescopes, the size of an 11-inch or 14-inch SCT, and bigger apertures feel the seeing more. ECCC's own example is a night a 15 cm owner rates 4/5, which looks more like 3/5 through a 25 to 35 cm scope. If you image with a small refractor, these forecasts can read a little pessimistic. ## What is transparency in astronomy? Transparency is how much starlight survives the trip through the atmosphere. Haze, smoke, dust and thin cloud all dim stars, even on a night when plenty of them are still visible. The Clear Sky Chart key's own example of poor transparency is thick haze in a cloudless sky. The [Astronomical League](https://www.astroleague.org/seeing-and-transparency-guide/?ref=macobservatory.com) treats transparency as a separate observation from seeing, and its check is just as simple. In the northern hemisphere, count how many of the Little Dipper's seven stars you can see. Polaris alone means roughly magnitude 2 skies. All seven means about magnitude 6\. Make the check from the same spot with similar dark adaptation each time, and note the Moon and any local lighting beside the result, because both change the count. The two conditions don't move together. The Clear Sky Chart key warns that bad seeing can arrive in perfectly clear weather and that good seeing often comes with poor transparency. The difference shows up in a star's image. Illustration Dimmer and blurrier are different problems The same star under four conditions. Transparency takes light away. Seeing keeps the light and spreads it out. Reference Full light, tight core Less transparent Half the light, same size Poorer seeing Same light, spread wider Both Half the light, spread wider Calculated Gaussian star profiles sharing one display stretch. The poorer seeing panels spread the light over 2.5 times the width. An illustration, not telescope data or app output. That's why the two matter differently depending on the target. A bright planet has light to spare, so steady air usually decides the night. For a faint galaxy, lost light and a brighter background do more damage, and the Clear Sky Chart key notes that bad seeing probably leaves a visual observer's view of galaxies undiminished. ## Does humidity affect seeing? Not directly, and this is where most of the confusion lives. Relative humidity depends on temperature, so it climbs as the night cools even when the amount of water in the air hasn't changed. The [National Weather Service](https://www.weather.gov/arx/why%5Fdewpoint%5Fvs%5Fhumidity?ref=macobservatory.com) recommends dew point as the better measure: it's the temperature the air has to cool to before relative humidity reaches 100%. Neither number describes turbulence. Environment Canada doesn't list humidity among the inputs to its seeing forecast, and the Clear Sky Chart says its seeing has little to do with the air's water vapor. Its transparency forecast, on the other hand, is calculated from it. Humidity is a transparency and dew question first. Observers' experience is all over the map, which is what you'd expect from two things that only sometimes travel together. In [a long Cloudy Nights thread on humidity and seeing](https://www.cloudynights.com/forums/topic/438262-humidity-and-seeing/?ref=macobservatory.com), observers in southwest Florida and the Midwest said their humid summers brought their worst seeing. Michael Rapp of Dickinson, Texas, pointed out that two leading planetary imagers of the day, Ed Grafton in Houston and Don Parker in southeast Florida, both lived where humidity runs very high. Tom Polakis countered that humidity isn't required for good seeing at all, since the best sites in northern Chile pair single-digit humidity with sub-arcsecond seeing. Tony Flanders added a useful correction in that same thread: water vapor itself is transparent to visible light, and the haze comes from droplets and other aerosols that form more readily in humid air. So a humid evening deserves attention to haze and to your optics, but it can't tell you how sharply Jupiter will resolve. ### Is it dew or the sky? Dew spread is the gap between air temperature and dew point. Air at 24°C (75°F) with a dew point of 23°C (73°F) has a 1°C spread, about 2°F. That's a thin margin, and your optics can be colder than the air. A telescope pointed at a clear sky radiates heat away and can cool below ambient, which [Ronald Holzlöhner and colleagues](https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.01978?ref=macobservatory.com) describe as subcooling of telescope structures. At the Atacama observatory sites they studied, the effective temperature of the night sky overhead sat 20 to 50 kelvin below the air near the ground. If the image loses contrast slowly over an hour while the stars still look steady, check the front of the telescope with a flashlight before you blame the sky. A dew shield and a heater strip solve that problem. It's a separate job from the seeing, and no seeing forecast will warn you about it. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp)](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ## How should you plan a planetary session around the conditions? [Transit](https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events/), the Mac Observatory menu bar app I build for macOS 15 and later, covers the weather half of this. Its Weather score, on a 0 to 100 scale, combines cloud, humidity, dew spread and wind from Apple's [WeatherKit](https://developer.apple.com/weatherkit/?ref=macobservatory.com), with the Moon shown on its own line instead of folded in. It also draws an hourly forecast for the night with a best window, and for each planet it lists when it rises, when it clears an altitude floor you choose, how high it climbs and when, and when it sets. What Transit doesn't do is forecast seeing or transparency, and that's deliberate. I removed both in version 1.5, because I couldn't license a seeing forecast for a paid app on workable terms, and surface weather data can't honestly support one. A 0 to 100 Weather score and a 1/5 to 5/5 seeing rating measure different things, so check what any app's number means before you compare it with another. So use Transit to find a usable weather window, then check a dedicated astronomy forecast for seeing and transparency. In North America, the [Clear Sky Chart](https://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/?ref=macobservatory.com), created by the late Attilla Danko from forecasts Allan Rahill developed at the Canadian Meteorological Centre, shows cloud, transparency and seeing by the hour for thousands of sites. Check the forecast time and location, then let the telescope have the last word. Favor a higher target when your schedule allows, because light from high in the sky crosses less air. [Astronomer Andrew T. Young's airmass page](https://aty.sdsu.edu/explain/extinction/airmass/intro.html?ref=macobservatory.com), hosted by San Diego State University, defines relative airmass as the amount of air along your line of sight compared with straight up. In a flat-atmosphere approximation it's the secant of the zenith distance, so a planet 30° above the horizon looks through twice as much air as one overhead, and at 60° the factor is only about 1.15. Calculated model Higher targets look through less air Relative airmass by altitude, where 1.00 is straight overhead. Lower is better. Relative airmass 1.01.21.41.61.82.0 Relative airmass from 30 to 90 degrees altitudeA curve that falls steeply from 2.00 at 30 degrees, passes 1.41 at 45 degrees and 1.15 at 60 degrees, and flattens to 1.00 at the zenith. 30°45°60°75°90° Target altitude above the horizon 30°**2.00×**45°**1.41×**60°**1.15×**90°**1.00×** Flat-atmosphere approximation: airmass = 1 / sin(altitude). Shown from 30° to 90° only, because it fails near the horizon. Path length, not a seeing prediction. That's path length rather than a sharpness forecast. More air gives turbulence and haze more room to work, but the factors don't convert into seeing, and the simple formula breaks down near the horizon, where Young puts the real airmass at about 38 at sea level. In Transit, setting the altitude floor to the lowest height you're willing to image at turns this into a time on each planet's row. ## How can you tell which problem you have at the telescope? Before a long capture, take a short test and write down the target's altitude, any cloud or haze, the dew spread, your focus position, and whether the image is steady or wavering. If conditions change, test again before you change several settings at once. Then read the symptom. At the telescope Read the symptom before you change anything Detail boils, then snaps sharp for an instantSeeing Capture plenty of frames and let frame selection keep the sharp moments. A higher target helps. Soft early, sharper as the night goes onCooling Give the optics time to reach air temperature before you judge the seeing. Contrast fades slowly and stars look dimmerHaze or dew Check the front optics with a flashlight, then look for haze around bright stars and the Moon. Steady, but never quite sharpFocus or optics Refocus on a bright star, then check collimation. Bad seeing moves the image around, so softness that holds still usually comes from the optics. Starting points for a test. Change one thing at a time to confirm the cause. If you capture with [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/), Mac Observatory's native planetary capture app for Apple Silicon Macs, its live frame-quality readout and focus tracking make that test easier to read. Leave the focuser alone and watch how much the quality reading moves. A number that swings while nothing at the telescope changes is the air. Bad seeing isn't always a lost night, either, because sharp moments still arrive, and [frame selection](https://macobservatory.com/how-many-frames-to-stack-planetary/) is how you keep them. These are the questions that come up most often when a clear night disappoints. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about seeing, transparency and planning a planetary session. Why do planets look blurry when the sky is clear?+ A clear sky only means there's no cloud. Blur comes from turbulent air along your line of sight, which astronomers call seeing, and it can be poor on a perfectly cloudless night. Check a seeing forecast as well as the cloud forecast and favor targets high in the sky. Mac Observatory's rule of thumb: the forecast tells you whether to set up, and the image tells you whether to capture. What's the difference between seeing and transparency in astronomy?+ Seeing is how steady the air is, and it decides how much fine detail a telescope can show on planets, the Moon and double stars. Transparency is how much light gets through the air, and it decides how faint you can go on galaxies and nebulae. The two are independent, so a night can be good for one and poor for the other. Does high humidity mean bad seeing?+ No. Humidity isn't a measure of turbulence, and Environment Canada's seeing forecast doesn't list it among its inputs. Humid air does tend to bring haze, which costs transparency, and a small gap between air temperature and dew point puts your optics at risk of dew. Watch the dew point rather than relative humidity. What does a seeing forecast of 3/5 mean?+ It means average seeing. Environment Canada's middle category corresponds to roughly 1 to 2 arcseconds of blur, with a star's central disk deformed and its diffraction rings broken. The forecast is calibrated for 28 to 35 cm telescopes, so owners of small refractors may find it a little pessimistic. Is seeing or transparency more important for planetary imaging?+ Seeing. Planets are bright enough to shine through some haze, but fine detail on Jupiter, Saturn and Mars depends on steady air. For deep-sky imaging the priority flips, because lost light and a brighter background hurt faint targets more than a little extra blur. Can Transit forecast seeing on my Mac?+ No. Transit, Mac Observatory's menu bar app, shows a 0 to 100 Weather score built from cloud, humidity, dew spread and wind, an hourly forecast with a best window, and planet rise, set and altitude times. It doesn't forecast seeing or transparency, so pair it with an astronomy forecast such as the Clear Sky Chart and check the image at the telescope. I'm new to this. How can I judge the seeing without a forecast?+ Look up. The Astronomical League's naked-eye scale calls seeing excellent when even bright stars don't twinkle, and poor when everything twinkles too much to observe. At the telescope, detail that jumps and blurs from moment to moment is seeing, while an image that's steady but soft points to focus or cooling. ## What should you do on your next clear night? A clear forecast earns the trip outside. The seeing decides what you do once you're there. Check the weather window, check the seeing and transparency rows, pick the highest target that suits the night, and give the telescope time to cool. Then let a two-minute test decide whether it's a night for fine planetary detail, an easier target, or an early bedtime. Mac Observatory Plan the night, then trust the image Transit finds the weather window. Laminar captures what the air allows. The software directory covers the rest. [Transit →](https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events/)[Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/)[How many frames to stack →](https://macobservatory.com/how-many-frames-to-stack-planetary/)[Telescope cool-down →](https://macobservatory.com/edgehd-cool-down-focus-temperature/)[Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### M63: Nobody Asked the Dwarf URL: https://macobservatory.com/m63-nobody-asked-the-dwarf/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T13:59:59.000Z There was once a little galaxy that nobody ever gave a name to. It weighed about a hundred million suns, which sounds like a lot until you are standing next to a galaxy with something like four hundred billion stars. The little galaxy wandered too close to the big one. The big one ate it. Nobody asked the dwarf. The big one was the Sunflower, which is about twenty-nine million light-years from here. A Frenchman named Pierre Méchain found it in 1779, and his friend Charles Messier checked on it that June and wrote it down as number sixty-three. Neither of them saw what was left of the dwarf. You can't blame them. They had eyeballs and brass. The eating had happened a few billion years before, and it was not quick. The Sunflower pulled the dwarf apart one wisp at a time, and the wisps went around and around it, and they are still going around it now: a great faint loop of stars that used to belong to somebody else. Here is a man named Lyle Dettweiler, a retired insurance adjuster from Terre Haute, Indiana. He spent eighteen hours and forty minutes of his remaining life collecting light from the Sunflower, light that had set out long before there were any people on Earth to catch it. Lyle had read that professional astronomers confirmed the loop in 2010 using, among other instruments, a telescope only about six inches across. He found this enormously encouraging. He also found it a little insulting, on behalf of everybody with a bigger telescope. When the loop finally showed up on his screen, faint as breath on a window, Lyle looked at it for a long time. It was his professional opinion that the dwarf had been inadequately insured. There had been no witnesses. There had been no claim filed. A hundred million suns had simply been absorbed into somebody else's portfolio, and the only record of it was this thin arc, which you could see only if you were patient and your sky was dark and you did not mind your wife reminding you that it was two in the morning. Nobody asked the dwarf. In the morning he showed her the picture. She put her glasses on and looked at it and said it was pretty. **Lyle said yes, it was. He said that was the thing nobody tells you about getting eaten: from far enough away, it looks exactly like a flower.** --- Capture Details AstroBin Top Pick Total Integration 18h 40m Captured Apr 1 to Apr 2, 2024 (2 nights) Integration per Filter Lum: 9h 40m (58 × 600″) Red: 3h (18 × 600″) Green: 3h (18 × 600″) Blue: 3h (18 × 600″) Equipment Telescope: Takahashi TOA-130NFB Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro Mount: 10Micron GM1000 HPS Flattener: Takahashi 645 Flattener for TOA-130 (TKA31587S) Focuser: Pegasus Astro FocusCube2 Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 7 x 2″ Power: Pegasus Astro Powerbox Advance Gen2 Flat Panel: DeepSkyDad Flap Panel (FP1) Filters Chroma Lum 50 mm, Chroma Red 50 mm, Chroma Green 50 mm, Chroma Blue 50 mm Software Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor (APP), Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight, Russell Croman Astrophotography BlurXTerminator, Russell Croman Astrophotography NoiseXTerminator, Russell Croman Astrophotography StarXTerminator Location DSP Remote Observatory: Animas, NM: Bortle 1 View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/h9lmyq?ref=macobservatory.com). ### NGC 1990: The Nebula Nobody Could Confirm URL: https://macobservatory.com/ngc-1990-the-nebula-nobody-could-confirm/ Last updated: 2026-10-02T13:59:59.000Z Harlan Meeks worked the night shift at the Bureau of Catalogue Verification, a windowless office whose only job was to confirm that the things in the sky were really there. It was not glamorous work. You pulled a card, you checked the coordinates against the plates, and you stamped it CONFIRMED. In eleven years Harlan had never stamped anything else. Then card 1990 came up, and the plates showed a star and nothing around it at all. The card said a glowing cloud surrounded Alnilam, the middle star of Orion's Belt, and that William Herschel had written it down in 1786 through a telescope he built himself. Harlan read the file three times. Alnilam was real enough: a blue supergiant about 1,250 light-years away, nearly thirty times the Sun's mass and a quarter of a million times as bright, blowing a wind off its surface at two thousand kilometers a second and shedding itself twenty million times faster than the Sun. But the cloud? Observers had hunted it for two centuries. Some saw it. Many did not. In the margin, in handwriting he did not recognize, someone had written: IS IT THERE? That night Harlan couldn't sleep. He began to wonder how many cards he had stamped without really looking, and whether the Bureau confirmed anything at all or simply agreed with itself. He wondered whether a nebula that appears only when starlight happens to catch the dust at the right angle is any less real than a man who appears only when someone signs his timesheet. By dawn he had written a memo arguing that reality was a matter of consensus, and that the consensus had lapsed. He did not send it. Instead he requested new plates, long ones, the longest the Bureau could take. Seven hours of light came back from a dark site in the desert, and there it was: a faint blue haze wrapped around the furious star, the dust of the surrounding cloud catching Alnilam's glare, with Mintaka sitting at the edge of the frame like a witness. Harlan stamped the card CONFIRMED. **Then, very carefully, he turned the stamp around and pressed it onto the back of his own hand.** --- Capture Details AstroBin Image of the Day, January 21, 2024 Total Integration 7h Captured Jan 9, 2024 Integration per Filter Lum: 3h 30m (21 × 600″) Red: 1h 10m (7 × 600″) Green: 1h 10m (7 × 600″) Blue: 1h 10m (7 × 600″) Equipment Telescope: Takahashi TOA-130NFB Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro Mount: 10Micron GM1000 HPS Flattener: Takahashi 645 Flattener for TOA-130 (TKA31587S) Focuser: Pegasus Astro FocusCube2 Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 7 x 2″ Power: Pegasus Astro Powerbox Advance Gen2 Flat Panel: DeepSkyDad Flap Panel (FP1) Filters Chroma Lum 50 mm, Chroma Red 50 mm, Chroma Green 50 mm, Chroma Blue 50 mm Software Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor (APP), Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight, Russell Croman Astrophotography BlurXTerminator, Russell Croman Astrophotography NoiseXTerminator, Russell Croman Astrophotography StarXTerminator Location DSP Remote Observatory: Animas, NM: Bortle 1 View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/wdfcv4?ref=macobservatory.com). ### How Many Frames Should You Stack for a Planetary Image? URL: https://macobservatory.com/how-many-frames-to-stack-planetary/ Last updated: 2026-09-30T15:24:28.000Z No single percentage of frames produces the best planetary stack. The right selection depends on how many frames a capture holds, how steady the air was while you recorded it, and how hard you plan to sharpen, so the reliable way to choose is to stack the same capture a few ways and compare the results under identical processing. This Mac Observatory guide explains the tradeoff, shows how to read a quality curve, and walks through that comparison in [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/), the native Mac planetary stacker I build, with notes for [AutoStakkert!](https://www.autostakkert.com/wp/guides/?ref=macobservatory.com) and [Planetary System Stacker](https://github.com/Rolf-Hempel/PlanetarySystemStacker?ref=macobservatory.com) users. If you want a place to start, stack the best 10%, 25% and 50% of one clip, apply the same restrained sharpening to each, and compare them at the same scale. Those are test points, not targets. The winner is the stack that shows the most real detail with noise you can live with, and on a different night the winner can change. ## What does a stacking percentage actually mean? A stacking percentage is the share of frames you keep after the software ranks them by a sharpness score. If a clip holds 10,000 usable frames, 10% keeps the 1,000 highest-scoring frames, 25% keeps 2,500 and 50% keeps 5,000\. Even the top 10% isn't uniformly sharp. It runs from the single best frame down to whichever frame sits at the cutoff, and all of them go into the stack. The percentage marks where you drew the line in the ranking, not how good the frames above it are, and the ranking is only as reliable as the score behind it. That distinction trips up experienced imagers, because every stacker also shows a quality score. The score ranks the frames. The percentage decides how far down the ranking you go. A [Cloudy Nights thread on AutoStakkert!'s quality graph](https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/657566-autostakkert-3-to-double-stack-or-not-to-double-stack/page-2?ref=macobservatory.com) shows how easily the two get mixed up, with long-time planetary imagers debating whether the "frame percentage to stack" box meant frames or quality. It means frames. AutoStakkert! developer Emil Kraaikamp, quoted in that thread, explained years ago that he chose not to stack by quality threshold because one exceptional or one terrible frame can throw the whole selection off. One veteran in the same thread, Kokatha man, said he sidesteps the question entirely by typing the number of frames he wants. He has a point, because a percentage hides the frame count, and the count is what drives noise. Ten percent of 2,000 frames is 200\. Ten percent of 20,000 is 2,000\. [An experienced member on IceInSpace](https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-186150.html?ref=macobservatory.com) imaging Jupiter with a 9.25-inch SCT records about 27,000 frames in three minutes at 150 frames per second, stacks 3,000, 5,000 and 7,500 of them depending on the seeing, and processes all three to see which wins. That's 11% to 28% of the clip, chosen by count. Modern stackers add one more wrinkle. Planetary System Stacker ranks frames separately at each alignment point, so the frames behind one part of the image can differ from the frames behind another. AutoStakkert!'s Local (AP) quality setting and Strata Warp+ work on the same idea. The percentage still sets how deep you go. It just no longer names one fixed set of frames for the whole disk. ## Why do more frames help, and when do they hurt? Averaging aligned frames beats down random noise. According to the [Siril documentation](https://siril.readthedocs.io/en/stable/preprocessing/stacking.html?ref=macobservatory.com), the signal-to-noise gain from stacking grows with the square root of the number of images. Four times as many comparable frames gives you about half the random noise. Calculated model Four times the frames halves random noise Relative random noise in an ideal average, with 500 accepted frames as the baseline. Shorter bars mean a cleaner stack. 500 frames 1.00 1,000 frames 0.71 2,000 frames 0.50 4,000 frames 0.35 Calculated as 1/√N relative to 500 frames, assuming equal exposures, equal weighting and independent noise. A mathematical illustration, not a Strata benchmark. That chart assumes every frame is equally good, which is exactly what planetary video isn't. Moving air smears some frames and leaves others crisp, which is why lucky imaging works at all. In a [2009 study of bright stars recorded with a high-speed camera](https://arxiv.org/abs/0906.3041?ref=macobservatory.com), Andrew Smith and colleagues found that aligning frames and keeping the best improved Strehl ratio (a measure of how close an image gets to the telescope's theoretical sharpness) by a factor of 4 to 6\. The biggest gains came at exposures of 10 ms or less, and the benefit depended on how bad the seeing was relative to the aperture. Frame selection works. How much it gives you depends on the night. So every extra frame you accept trades a little sharpness for a little less noise. Stack too few and the result can look crisp before sharpening, then break into grain the moment you push the wavelets. Stack too many and it sharpens cleanly, but the fine detail you were after is softer. The Jupiter imager above made the same point: a leaner stack may be sharper, but it's noisier, so it won't take as much sharpening and can end up looking worse. Experienced imagers land all over the map on this. In that same IceInSpace thread, one member found that stacks below about 4% fell apart while anything past 10% looked the same, another preferred 5% over 10%, and a third saw 50% edge out 10% under identical processing, by a margin he thought processing could close. None of them is wrong. They were imaging different targets, on different nights, with different gear. ## How do you read a quality curve? After analysis, most stackers draw a quality curve: every frame's score, sorted from best on the left to worst on the right. Its shape tells you more than any single number. Illustrative shapes The shape of the quality curve matters Two captures with their frames ranked from sharpest to softest. Where a curve bends is a place to test a cutoff, not the answer. Consistent capture Brief sharp interval Relative quality score (illustrative) 020406080100 Two schematic frame quality curves The consistent capture declines gradually from a score of about 96 to 61 across all ranked frames. The capture with a brief sharp interval starts near 97, falls steeply between roughly 20 and 40 percent of the ranked frames, and ends near 20. 020406080100 Frames ranked from best to worst (%) Schematic curves only. Not measured data, app output, or a universal cutoff. A gentle, steady slope means the clip is full of broadly similar frames, so going deeper costs little sharpness and buys real noise reduction. A curve that falls off a cliff after a small sharp group means the seeing settled briefly, and pushing the cutoff far past the bend mostly adds softer frames. Keep in mind that your selection is everything to the left of the cutoff, so on a steep curve even a small percentage mixes very sharp frames with noticeably softer ones. An [AutoStakkert!3 tutorial on AstroForum Space](https://astroforumspace.com/autostakkert3-tutorial-how-to-process-the-planets-part-1/?ref=macobservatory.com) puts it in practical terms: around 50% often works when frame quality is similar across the video, and a smaller share makes sense when it varies a lot. Two cautions. The scores are relative to the best frame in that one clip, so a flat curve means the frames are alike, not that they're good. And a frame can score well for the wrong reason, like a noise spike or a satellite trail. Treat the bend as a place to test, not an answer. In Strata, the Analyze phase scores the frames on the GPU and draws the ranking as its selection curve. Since version 1.4.3 the score is measured on the subject itself (the planet, Moon or Sun) with the sky left out, so a change in sky brightness no longer reads as a change in sharpness. A frame score is still a prediction made from the incoming frames, and it can disagree with what the finished stack shows. That's why the stacks, not the score, get the final vote. One honest limitation: Strata's curve is a chart of the ranking, not a frame browser, so it can't show you the frame sitting at your cutoff. AutoStakkert!'s frame viewer can step through frames sorted by quality, and that's worth doing if you use it. In Strata, the test stacks below do that job. Experienced imagers disagree on numbers, but they agree on method. What experienced imagers say > "...depends on the quality of the video but 25% is a good starting point." > > [SharpCap's guide to processing Jupiter in AutoStakkert!](http://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/howtos/jupiter/5%5FProcessingwithAutostakkert.htm?ref=macobservatory.com) > "...too easily fooled by a single really good frame..." > > Emil Kraaikamp, AutoStakkert! developer, on stacking by quality threshold, [as quoted on Cloudy Nights](https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/657566-autostakkert-3-to-double-stack-or-not-to-double-stack/page-2?ref=macobservatory.com) > "...if you capture 1000000 evenly terrible frames, the quality graph will look great..." > > Tulloch, [IceInSpace forum](https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-186150.html?ref=macobservatory.com) ## How do you compare stacks fairly in Strata? Strata is Mac Observatory's native macOS app for planetary, lunar and solar processing, taking a capture from import through analysis, stacking, derotation, sharpening, color and export in one app. Its Frame Selection card gives you three ways to decide how many frames go into a stack. STARTING POINT Auto Strata suggests Strata proposes a selection from the capture's frame scores. Treat it as your first test stack, not the answer. Best for a first look at a new capture SAME SHARE OF EVERY CLIP Top % 10, 25 or 50% Keeps the best fraction of whatever the clip holds. The right mode for comparing selections within one capture. `{frames}` writes 25pct SAME NUMBER EVERY TIME Frame Count 2,000 frames Stacks an exact number of frames from every clip. A clip with fewer frames stacks everything it has and tells you so. `{frames}` writes 2000f Auto is where most people start, and I'd rather you treat it as your first test stack than as the answer. I spent part of September trying to teach Strata to judge on its own which of two stacks was better. The measure agreed with known answers only about three times in four, and some of its misses were confident ones, so I shelved it. That's why Strata now labels its suggestion a starting point. Here's the comparison I'd run on any new capture. Try this on your next capture The three-stack test 1 Step 1: Analyze the capture once and note Strata's Auto suggestion. 2 Step 2: Stack the best 10%, 25% and 50% with the same stacking method, alignment point size and drizzle setting. 3 Step 3: Compare the three raw stacks at the same scale, before any sharpening. 4 Step 4: Give all three the same modest sharpening and compare identical crops of fine detail, quiet areas and the limb. 5 Step 5: Keep the stack with the most real detail at noise you can accept, then fine-tune it on its own. 10, 25 and 50 are test points, not recommendations. The same test works in AutoStakkert! and Planetary System Stacker. Keep everything except the selection identical: the same stacking method, the same alignment point size and the same drizzle setting. Change two things at once and you can't tell which one helped. Strata keeps the records for you. In Settings > File Names, the `{frames}` token writes the setting into the filename (25pct or 2000f) and `{framecount}` writes the number of frames actually stacked. Every TIFF and FITS export also carries the selection, the frame count and the stacking method in its metadata, so a stack you liked in March can still tell you how it was made. Judge the raw stacks first, at the same scale. Then give all three the same modest sharpening and compare identical crops: persistent structure in Jupiter's belts, crater rims on the Moon, filaments on the Sun. Check quiet areas for grain and the limb for halos or ringing. A harder edge on its own isn't proof of more detail, because sharpened noise makes edges too. Once you've picked a winner, optimize it on its own. The cleanest stack can usually take more sharpening than the leanest one, so the controlled comparison tells you which stack to keep, not how far to push it. ### Does Strata Warp+ change the answer? Strata Warp+ ranks frames separately at each alignment point by local sharpness instead of choosing one best set for the whole frame, so a crater rim, a sunspot group and the limb can each keep their own sharpest moments. It's slower, particularly on lunar and solar captures, where it measures the whole analyzed capture to find them, and it's a choice you make per capture rather than a new default. The selection test works the same way with either method. Pick one and hold it constant across your 10%, 25% and 50% stacks. I covered how Warp+ behaved on a Moon capture in the [Strata 1.3 write-up](https://macobservatory.com/strata-1-3-adds-warp-and-heres-what-i-measured/). ## When is an exact frame count better than a percentage? When you're comparing across clips. The same percentage gives a different frame count for every clip of a different length, and in a series you'll combine later (a derotation set, a rotation animation, a mosaic, an eclipse sequence) those differences show up as noise that changes from one frame of the result to the next. Strata's Frame Count mode stacks the same number of frames from every clip. It exists because a tester asked to type 1,000 frames instead of 20%, and it turned out to be the right tool for eclipse and time-lapse sequences too. If you open a capture from a Batch Analysis table that holds one night's run, Strata suggests Frame Count under the selection control. It advises and never switches the mode for you. Two caveats. Equal counts don't guarantee equal noise, because exposure, gain and transparency still change through the night, and Strata describes Frame Count as keeping the frame count equal and nothing more. And pick a count every clip can supply without scraping the bottom of its ranking. A clip holding fewer frames than you asked for stacks everything it has and tells you so rather than failing. If one recording simply has fewer good frames, accept that instead of padding it with bad ones. For a batch, save the selection in a processing profile. A profile saved in Frame Count mode shows its count, and a batch run applies the profile's stacking method and selection to every file. If you capture with [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/), Mac Observatory's native planetary capture app for Apple Silicon Macs, its sequences record a derotation set as a run of clips of the same length, which makes equal frame counts easy to hit. Order matters once those stacks are headed for derotation. Stacking a derotation set in Strata Capture the set as clips of equal length. Stack every clip with the same Frame Count and the same stacking method, and leave the stacks unsharpened, because Strata's derotation phase works on stills and wants unsharpened input. Derotate, then sharpen the combined result once. ## What if every stack looks soft? Then the selection isn't your problem. No percentage can rescue detail the recording never resolved, and more sharpening only makes the noise louder. Look upstream: focus, collimation, a telescope that hasn't cooled to ambient, an exposure short enough to freeze the seeing, and whether the planet drifted toward the edge of the capture area. Capture length matters too. Jupiter rotates fast enough to smear fine detail in a long recording, and Christophe Pellier has written a useful piece on [how long a Jupiter video can run](http://www.planetary-astronomy-and-imaging.com/en/maximum-video-time-jupiter/?ref=macobservatory.com) before that happens. On the [AutoStakkert! site](https://www.autostakkert.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), Emil Kraaikamp describes planetary imagers doing lucky imaging twice: within a recording, by stacking the sharpest frames, and between recordings, by keeping only the best captures from a night. If you shot several clips, compare those before you fine-tune percentages. At the telescope, Laminar's live frame-quality readout and focus tracking are there so the frames are worth selecting in the first place. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) The same handful of questions comes up in almost every planetary processing thread, so here are short answers. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about choosing how many planetary frames to stack. How many frames should I stack for Jupiter?+ There isn't one right number for Jupiter or any other planet. Stack the best 10%, 25% and 50% of one capture, give each the same light sharpening, and keep the one with the most real detail at noise you can accept. Experienced imagers report winners anywhere from about 5% to 50%, and Mac Observatory recommends treating any percentage as a test point rather than a rule. Is it better to stack more frames or fewer?+ More frames lower random noise, roughly halving it every time the count quadruples, but they bring in softer frames. Fewer frames keep more fine detail but leave more noise, which limits how hard you can sharpen. The best stack balances the two, and the balance shifts with the seeing. Does the AutoStakkert frame percentage mean frame quality?+ No. AutoStakkert!'s frame percentage to stack is the share of frames kept after ranking, so 25% keeps the top quarter of the ranking, whether those frames score high or low. Its developer, Emil Kraaikamp, has explained that he avoided quality thresholds because a single exceptional or poor frame can skew them. Should I use a percentage or a fixed number of frames?+ Use a percentage to compare selections within one capture, and a fixed number of frames for a series you'll combine, like a derotation set or an animation. A fixed count keeps the amount of averaged data equal from clip to clip, though exposure, gain and transparency can still change the noise. Strata offers both, as Top % and Frame Count. Can Strata pick the best percentage for me?+ Strata's Auto mode suggests a selection from the capture's frame scores, and it labels that suggestion a starting point. A frame score predicts from the incoming frames and can disagree with the finished stack, so Mac Observatory's advice is to compare a few test stacks and let the results decide. Do I need Windows to stack planetary video on a Mac?+ No. [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/), Mac Observatory's planetary processing app, and [Planet Stacker X](https://scopetrader.com/planet-stacker-x/?ref=macobservatory.com) both run natively on macOS. AutoStakkert! is a Windows program that Mac users typically run through CrossOver or Wine. Why does my stack look sharp until I sharpen it?+ A small selection can look crisp as a raw stack but carry too much noise to survive wavelet sharpening, so grain appears as soon as you push it. Try the same capture with a larger share of frames and the same sharpening. If every selection stays soft, check focus, collimation, cooling and exposure before blaming the stacker. ## What should you do on your next clear night? Save three stacks from one clip, sharpen them the same way, and write down what changed as you went deeper. After a few sessions you'll have a starting point for your own scope, camera and sky, which is worth more than any number you read here. The [Mac planetary imaging software list](https://macobservatory.com/mac-planetary-imaging-software/) covers the other stackers if you want to run the same test elsewhere. Mac Observatory Planetary imaging on the Mac, from capture to finished image Laminar captures. Strata stacks, derotates and sharpens. The software list covers everything else. [Strata →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) [Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) [Mac planetary software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-planetary-imaging-software/) [Strata Warp+ →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-1-3-adds-warp-and-heres-what-i-measured/) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Laminar 1.9.0 Adds Filter Wheels, Focusers, and Automated LRGB Sequences URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-1-9-0-adds-filter-wheels-focusers-and-automated-lrgb-sequences/ Last updated: 2026-09-21T14:42:23.000Z Laminar 1.9.0 is live on the Mac App Store, and it's the release that turns Laminar from a capture tool you babysit into one that runs an LRGB set on its own. Filter wheels and focusers now connect directly, and sequences can drive both together. Laminar is Mac Observatory's native macOS capture app for solar, lunar, and planetary imaging: a Mac-native alternative to the Windows capture tools most of this hobby still runs on, recording SER files that move straight into stacking software like [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing), AutoStakkert, PIPP, or RegiStax. Laminar - **Version:** 1.9.0 - **Platform:** macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) or later, Apple Silicon - **Languages:** English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch - **Developer:** Mac Observatory [Laminar on Mac Observatory →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) [Mac App Store →](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) ## Connecting a wheel Settings > Connections is where a wheel goes in. I ran this with a Player One Phoenix on my Celestron EdgeHD 8", and once it's connected, the Equipment window is where the filter definitions live: name, kind, focuser offset, and the spectral figures (wavelength, bandwidth, cut-on) if you want them in the sidecar. If you're running a manual wheel instead, you can declare it and Laminar still tracks position and writes it into every filename and sidecar. ## Connecting a focuser Once a focuser's connected, you get manual control from the Inspector or the keyboard, and the part that matters for sequences: each filter can carry its own focus offset, applied automatically when the wheel changes. ## Driver support and a request for feedback Wheel and focuser support in Laminar comes through INDIGO. Practically, that means any wheel or focuser INDIGO supports should work in Laminar, not just the handful of brand names I can list from my own bench. Mount support isn't part of this release, that's a future update. Filter Wheels - ZWO ASI - Player One - QHY CFW - Astroasis - Atik - FLI - Moravian Instruments - Pegasus (Indigo wheel) - StarlightXpress - Brightstar Quantum - Optec (INDIGO marks untested) - Xagyl (INDIGO marks untested) - Trutek / TruTech (INDIGO marks untested) - Manual wheel (any brand, declared) Focusers - MoonLite - ZWO EAF - Player One - Pegasus (DMFC, FocusCube 3, Prodigy) - Astroasis Oasis - Deep Sky Dad - Celestron / PlaneWave EFA - iOptron iEAF - Baader SteelDrive II - PrimaluceLab - Rigel Systems (nFOCUS, nSTEP) - RoboFocus - Shoestring FCUSB - QHY Q-Focuser - Optec (TCF-S, FocusLynx — INDIGO marks untested) - Lunatico, LACERTA, Askar, USB Focus v3, and others INDIGO supports This list follows [INDIGO's own driver list](https://www.indigo-astronomy.org/hardware.html?ref=macobservatory.com) as of this writing; check there directly if your hardware isn't named above. This is the first hardware I've added to Laminar beyond cameras, and cameras I can test myself against real bodies on the bench. Wheels and focusers are a bigger space, INDIGO supports far more than I own. I've tested internally on ZWO and Player One wheels and focusers and on a MoonLite focuser, but I can't validate every combination on that list. Tell me how your hardware behaves If you connect a wheel or focuser I haven't tested myself, I'd like to hear how it went, what worked, what didn't, anything that felt off. That's what tells me where to focus testing next. Reach me at support@macobservatory.com. ## Building an LRGB sequence This is where the wheel and the focuser start working together. A sequence step now picks a physical filter instead of just a duration. Here's a four-step LRGB set on Jupiter, 30 seconds on Luminance, 40 each on Red, Green, and Blue: The timing panel is where you set the settle time after each filter change and whether the wheel returns to filter one when the run finishes: Start the run and Laminar moves the wheel, waits for it to settle, applies that filter's focus offset if a focuser is connected, restores that filter's own gain and exposure, and only then starts recording. Every clip gets the filter written into its file name and its sidecar, so nothing downstream has to guess which channel it's looking at. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/jupiter_lrgb_sequence_settings.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/09/sequence_timing_settings_astronomy_capture.png) Autofocus is direction I want to take Laminar in next, but I'm holding it until I've tested it under real skies rather than shipping something I haven't put in front of a telescope. Mac observatory Get Laminar 1.9.0 Filter wheels, focusers, and automated LRGB sequences, live on the Mac App Store now. [Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Strata 1.3 Adds Warp+, and Here's What I Measured URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-1-3-adds-warp-and-heres-what-i-measured/ Last updated: 2026-08-23T20:19:01.000Z Strata Warp+ is a stacking method in Strata, my native macOS app for planetary, lunar, and solar processing, that picks the sharpest frames separately at every alignment point instead of choosing one best set for the whole image. It ships in Strata 1.3 as a third option beside Strata Warp and Simple Avg. On a 799-frame Moon capture it improved measured resolution at the lunar limb by about 3%, and the two finished images differ by six hundredths of one percent per pixel. I built Warp+ to close a quality gap. AutoStakkert has ranked frames per alignment point for years, and Strata's surface stacking didn't. Warp+ brings Strata to the same approach. Whether it reaches the same output quality is a separate question, and one I haven't answered yet. A matched A/B against AutoStakkert!4 at the same keep percentage and drizzle setting is still on my list, and everything below is Strata measured against Strata. The capture - **Telescope:** Celestron EdgeHD 8 - **Camera:** Player One Uranus-C Pro, Sony IMX585, 2.9 micron pixels - **File:** SER, 6.72 GB, 3856 x 2180, 8-bit, Bayer RGGB - **Frames:** 799 over 59.98 seconds, 13.3 fps average - **Stacked:** 44% frame selection, 2,816 alignment points - **Sharpened:** luminance mode, four wavelet passes [EdgeHD 8 notes →](https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-8) [Uranus-C Pro →](https://player-one-astronomy.com/product/uranus-c-pro-usb3-0-color-camera-imx585/?ref=macobservatory.com) One warning on this file The SER Utility marked this capture usable with warnings. Its local and UTC header fields are identical, which usually means the recorder wrote local time into both. Strata handles that at import, and for a single lunar stack it changes nothing, because there is no derotation step to feed a wrong timestamp into. On a multi-capture planetary session it would matter, and the warning exists to stop you trusting the header before you get there. ## What shipped in Strata 1.3 Warp+ is the headline, and three other things came with it. Frame Selection in the Analyze phase now has a third mode. Auto and Top % are still there, and Frame Count sits beside them, taking the exact number of frames you want stacked rather than a percentage. Feed it a clip with fewer frames than you asked for and it clamps to what exists and says so in the log and the receipt, instead of failing the file. Two imagers asked for this independently, one wanting to type 1,000 instead of doing percentage arithmetic, the other needing constant signal to noise per frame across a timelapse where clip lengths vary. Stacking and interactive quality analysis now run off the main thread. The window stays responsive while a long stack or a big analysis runs, which on a 45 GB capture is the difference between using the app and watching it. Analyze settings lock while a run is in progress, so cancel first if you want to change the imaging target or the quality metric partway through. Export filenames gained a second frame token. `{frames}` renders the setting you chose, so `20pct` in percentage mode or `400f` in count mode, and `{framecount}` renders the number of frames actually stacked. The interactive export, the quick save in the Stack phase, and batch export all build their embedded metadata through the same code now, so a quick-saved TIFF carries the same provenance line as a full export of the identical run. Strata 1.3 requires macOS 14.6 or later, and is optimized for Apple Silicon with Intel supported. ## The short version Planetary and lunar imaging works by recording thousands of frames in a minute and throwing most of them away. The atmosphere is moving the whole time, so most frames are soft and a few happen to catch a steady moment. Stacking software finds the good ones and averages them together, which is where both the detail and the smoothness come from. Classic Strata Warp picks one set of best frames and uses it everywhere in the picture. Warp+ picks a separate set for each small patch. A crater on one side of the frame and a ridge on the other each get the frames where that particular spot happened to be sharp, because the atmosphere doesn't blur the whole field evenly. On my Moon capture that produced a slightly crisper image. About 3% finer detail, measured directly at the lunar limb. At normal viewing size the two results are indistinguishable, and even zoomed hard on a crater wall the difference is subtle. About one region in eighteen actually came out a little softer with Warp+ than without it. The cost is time. Warp+ takes about two and a half times as long to stack, and more than that with drizzle on top. On one picture you will never notice. On a night of two thousand files it turns a five hour job into something over twelve. So: Warp+ for the captures you care about, on nights when the seeing was moving around and there were good moments in the clip to find. Classic Warp for everything else. The rest of this article is the measurement behind those two sentences. ## What the two methods actually do Classic Strata Warp cuts the clip to your selected percentage first, judged on the whole frame, then hands that one set of candidate frames to every alignment point. Set it to 44% on a 799-frame clip and it keeps the best 351 by the analysis metric. An individual point can still drop a frame whose local shift failed there, but the candidate pool is the same 351 everywhere. Warp+ inverts the order. It aligns all 799 frames and measures a local sharpness score for every frame at every alignment point, then keeps the sharpest 44% at each point independently. Same arithmetic, same 351 frames deep, but a crater rim, a ridge, and a stretch of flat mare each end up with their own set. Seeing isn't uniform across the field, which is what makes this worth doing. A frame can be soft overall and still hold the single sharpest instant for one small patch of the image. Classic Warp never sees that frame, because the first pass already cut it. Warp+ finds it. The stack receipt on a Warp+ export reads `Frames: 799/799 (top 44% selected)`, which looks contradictory until you know what it counts. The 799 is the union: across 2,816 alignment points, every frame in the clip was chosen as top-44% somewhere. No individual pixel got 799 frames of averaging. Each one still got 351. ## Examining the two stacks Here are the two stacks, same capture, same analysis, same wavelet settings applied once to each. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/comparison-wide.gif) ****If you can spot the difference at this scale, you're doing better than I am.** At full frame they look the same, and they should. Push in to a hard zoom and the difference starts to show, mostly along ridge lines and crater walls. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/compare-zoom2.gif) ****Same two files, cropped hard. Watch the elongated crater floor and the terraced wall on the right.** The mean absolute difference between these two 16-bit files, measured across the lunar disc, is 43 ADU out of 65,535\. Six hundredths of one percent per pixel. A stacking method doesn't transform an image, whatever the marketing around any of these tools suggests. One thing to state before any of the figures below. Every measurement in this article was made on the unsharpened 16-bit stacks, straight out of the Stack phase. Sharpening amplifies small differences, so a number measured after wavelets is a different claim from the same number measured on the stacks themselves. The GIFs above are sharpened because that's what you'd actually look at. The numbers are not. ## What the evidence says Small per-pixel differences can still add up to a real change in local contrast, and here they do. I measured the Laplacian RMS of every 128 pixel tile across the disc, which puts a number on how much fine structure each region carries. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/warpplus-tile-analysis.png) ****Orange is where Warp+ gained, cyan where it lost. Tiles that barely moved stay transparent, which is most of the lower left.** Across 435 tiles the median gained 14.2%, and the best tile gained 27.5%. About one tile in eighteen came out softer than classic Warp, the worst by 8.6%. Those losses cluster. Look at the lower left of the map, where the terrain flattens. A sharpness ranking needs local structure to rank on, and where the ground is smooth there's nothing for the method to find. Now the part that needs saying plainly. Warp+ ranks candidate frames using a Laplacian measure of local sharpness, and I just measured the result using a Laplacian measure of local sharpness. The method and the yardstick are relatives. Some of that 14.2% is Warp+ scoring well against its own objective, which is evidence the selection is doing something and is not a clean measure of resolved detail. ## A measurement that isn't circular The lunar limb against black sky is a knife edge, and how fast an image crosses that edge measures resolution directly, with no relationship to Laplacian energy at all. I sampled 600 points along the limb in both unsharpened stacks and measured the profile across it. The 10 to 90% rise distance went from 10.139 pixels under classic Warp to 10.038 under Warp+, about 1% shorter. MTF50, the spatial frequency at which contrast falls to half, went from 0.0513 to 0.0527 cycles per pixel, about 2.6% higher. Resampling 400 limb points 24 times over gave a standard deviation of 0.14% and an improvement in all 24. So the selection works. Warp+ resolves genuinely finer detail than classic Warp on this capture, repeatably. And the honest size of that gain is about 3%, not 14%. A 2.6% improvement in MTF50 is real, consistent, and invisible to the eye, which is why the blink comparison further up looks like nothing is happening. One caveat on where that number comes from. The limb is the highest-contrast feature in the frame, and if the per-point sharpness score is influenced by how bright and contrasty a patch happens to be, the limb is exactly where it would perform best. I wouldn't assume the same 2.6% holds out on flat mare. ## Where the sharpness actually is The tile map shows the difference between the two methods. It doesn't show that difference against everything else happening in the frame, and the context changes how you should read it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/warpplus-sharpness-profile.png) ****Both methods, absolute values, no delta. The terrain does most of the work.** Local contrast across this frame runs from 14 ADU in the flattest mare to 259 at the busiest terraced crater walls, an 18.6x spread. The gap between the two stacking methods is 8.2% at the median tile. Where you point the telescope and what the seeing does that night matter far more than which stacking method you pick. Warp+ is a real gain and a small one. The two curves converge below roughly 40 ADU. Flat terrain gives a local sharpness metric nothing to rank on, the same reason those tiles came out cyan on the map. The gap opens through the middle of the range and stays open into the detailed tiles. One more result from the frequency data. Warp+ runs slightly quieter. In flat, low-detail patches, where there is almost nothing but noise to measure, it sits 8 to 12% lower in power at the fine end. That range is wider than the mechanism below accounts for, so treat it as approximate. Take that much noise off the detailed patches and the signal difference at the finest scale scatters around zero. Two separate things are going on here, and I had them merged in an earlier draft. Where neighbouring alignment points disagree about which frames are best, a pixel's 351 units of weight spread across slightly more than 351 distinct frames at fractional weight. Effective averaging depth rises about 6%, which predicts roughly a 6% drop in incoherent content, and that mechanism on its own softens rather than sharpens. The contrast gain comes from somewhere else entirely: the frames chosen at each point are locally sharper. The two pull in opposite directions at the finest scale, and the limb measurement says the sharpening side wins by a small margin. ## What I'd want to change Warp+ shipped with rough edges I can see from here. The most obvious one is sitting in the cost numbers below. About 1.1 seconds of every 22.4 second file is alignment work done twice, roughly 37 minutes across a 2,000-file night. That is pure overhead with no quality attached to it, and reclaiming it would not change a single pixel of the output. The exported file also doesn't record which method produced it. The filename token can, if you use it, but the metadata block embedded in the image lists the source, the target, the frame count and the alignment point count, and stops there. Anyone who downloads the two exports behind this article can't tell them apart from the files themselves. For a feature whose whole point is that an image explains its own history, that's a hole. The two methods also don't produce the same size image. Strata trims the finished stack to the area the contributing frames actually covered, and because Warp+ draws from the whole clip its drift span is wider, so it always trims at least as much as classic and usually more. On this capture that's 3844 x 2136 against 3840 x 2108\. It follows correctly from its own rule, and it means nobody can A/B the two methods without registering the images first, which is a poor thing to ask of anyone checking my work. Then there's how thin the evidence still is. Everything here rests on one lunar capture from one night, plus one user's solar batch. Planetary Warp+ hasn't had the same scrutiny. And the comparison I most want, matched against AutoStakkert!4 at the same keep percentage and drizzle setting, is the one I haven't run. The one I keep circling is bigger than Warp+. Strata ranks the frames going in, and it doesn't measure the stack coming out. Every number in this article I produced afterward with my own tools, on files I exported and analyzed by hand. The app that made the stack is better placed to tell you how it turned out than you are to go and check. ## Speed is the cost Warp+ opens the candidate pool to every analyzed frame. Classic Warp works from a much smaller set, so alignment, local shift measurement, and the stack all run over roughly four times as many frames. A user running large solar batches put a real number on that. He processes nights of about 2,000 files at a time on an M1 Ultra, 3400 x 3400 frames, a hand-set 32 pixel alignment point grid that works out near 4,735 points per file, Normalize Capture on, 20% selection. Classic Warp finished that night in 4 hours 59 minutes, averaging 9.0 seconds per file. Warp+ on the same files averaged 22.4 seconds, 2.5 times classic, which projects to about 12.4 hours. Adding drizzle at 1.5x pushed it to 34.2 seconds per file, 3.8 times classic, projecting near 19 hours. He cancelled the drizzle run at file 20. The 22.4 seconds breaks down about like this. Setup takes 2.3 seconds, global re-alignment of the full pool 4.7, the displacement field stack 5.1, and sharpening and export two tenths of a second between them. The single largest cost, at 10.0 seconds, is measuring local shifts and per-point sharpness across every frame in the pool. That's the work Warp+ exists to do. Something inverted along the way. Under classic Warp that night ran disk-bound, with the pipeline waiting on the drive. Under Warp+ the prefetched next file finished loading and then sat idle a mean 14.8 seconds waiting for the loop to come back for it, against the 8.6 seconds the drive itself needed. The machine went compute-bound. The 2.5x is real computation rather than an I/O artifact. Three caveats belong with those numbers. Only the classic 4 hours 59 minutes is a completed measurement across all 1,999 files. The 12.4 and 19 hour figures are projections from a steady per-file cadence, not observed clocks. And the classic run was on 1.2.1 while both Warp+ runs were on 1.3, so it isn't a same-binary comparison, though the machine, drive, files, grid, Normalize setting and selection percentage all matched. The sharpness measurement itself is cheap. At a matched frame pool it moved the local shift phase by less than a tenth of a millisecond per frame, inside the noise of that measurement. Sizing the pool drives the cost, and drizzle compounds on top of it. On a single capture, 2.5x is a coffee break you were probably taking anyway. Multiply it across a night of files and it stops being background. Warp+ against Warp What the trade looks like in numbers Median tile gained 14.2% Local contrast across 435 tiles on the lunar disc. Best tile gained 27.5%. 5.7% of tiles came out softer Worst by 8.6%, clustered in the flattest terrain where a sharpness ranking has nothing to rank. 43 ADU apart per pixel Out of 65,535\. Six hundredths of one percent between the two finished files. 2.5x the stacking time 9.0 s per file against 22.4 s, measured on a 1,999-file solar night at 20% selection. 3.8x with drizzle 1.5x. ## How the sharpness metric was chosen I set the bar before I looked at any results. Two candidate metrics went into the build. One was cheap and reused a buffer that was already resident. The other needed a retained full-frame buffer per instance, because the production luminance gets overwritten during alignment. Before measuring either, I wrote down what would count as passing: a minimum improvement in rank correlation against known ground truth, a minimum improvement in top-quartile overlap, a minimum split-half reliability, and correct monotone ordering on a deliberately adversarial test pattern designed to defeat a box-filter kernel. Then I committed the protocol and ran it once. The cheap candidate failed two of the four. Its split-half reliability came in at 0.32 and 0.42 against a required 0.5 on two of three content classes, and it collapsed on the adversarial pattern, returning flat noise with no ordering at all. The expensive candidate passed everything. Ground truth only existed on synthetic fixtures, which is the caveat that belongs with those results. The real-capture step confirmed the rankings behaved sanely across backends, and it wasn't a fidelity measurement. ## Which one should you use? Classic Strata Warp is still the default, and it comes out pinned byte-identical on our equivalence fixtures against 1.2.1\. Your existing profiles and results didn't change when Warp+ arrived. Reach for Warp+ on single captures you care about. Detailed terrain, a result you're going to print or post, and above all a night where the seeing moved around. The method works by finding moments of sharpness scattered through the clip, so it needs the atmosphere to have delivered some. Under flat, uniformly poor seeing there are no good moments hiding in the pool and I'd expect the gain to shrink toward nothing. Stay on classic Warp for batch nights and timelapse sequences, where the per-file cost multiplies by hundreds, and for flat low-contrast subjects. A night of 1,999 files is a poor place to pay 2.5x per file for a single-digit median gain nobody will see at web resolution. You pick per capture, in the Stacking Method picker in the Stack phase. ## A few questions I've been asked **Does Warp+ work on planets, or just the Moon and Sun?** Both, though the cost profile differs. On planetary targets the route already ranked frames per alignment point, so Warp+ only changes what it ranks by, from resemblance to the reference to measured local sharpness. The extra time is much smaller there. My own validation so far has all been on extended surfaces, so treat planetary Warp+ as less tested than the lunar case. **Will my old profiles change if I upgrade?** No. Saved profiles load as Strata Warp, and an unrecognized method falls back to Strata Warp. Classic output is pinned byte-identical on our equivalence fixtures. **Can I pick the method per file in a batch run?** No. The batch runs the profile's stacking method for the whole set. Given the per-file cost, that's usually the right constraint anyway. **Is a few percent worth it?** Sometimes. It's real, it's repeatable, and you will not see it in a blink comparison. Crop hard on a detailed region, run one capture both ways, and decide from that. It's how this article got written. Mac observatory Strata 1.3 is out, and Warp+ is a picker away Native macOS planetary, lunar, and solar processing. Import through export in one window, with derotation built in. Requires macOS 14.6 or later, optimized for Apple Silicon, Intel supported. [Strata →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Why I Shipped Laminar's Interval Capture as a Shortcut Instead of a Feature URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-interval-capture-app-intents/ Last updated: 2026-08-23T00:57:55.000Z Laminar 1.7.1 can now record a timed sequence of SER clips: fifteen seconds of video every minute for two hours, or whatever cadence your target needs. It does this through two App Intents, Start Capture and Stop Capture, driven by a ready-made shortcut in Apple's Shortcuts app. The loop that counts the clips and waits between them runs in Shortcuts rather than inside Laminar. Before you try this The Laminar Interval Capture shortcut needs Laminar 1.7.1 or later and macOS 15 or later. It won't run on 1.7, because the App Intents didn't exist yet. It's Mac only: the shortcut syncs to your iPhone through iCloud, but the actions it calls live in a Mac app. ## Three people asked for the same thing The first came in June. A reader wanted frame-interval capture, one frame every few seconds assembled into an MP4, for lunar and solar time-lapse. The second came in August, and it's the one that pushed this. A solar imager wanted fifteen-second SER clips once a minute for roughly two hours of H-alpha, then a batch run through [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) to pull the best frames out of each clip. He'd bought the full suite that day, because a Google AI answer told him Laminar already automated interval capture and kept the target centered on the sensor. Laminar did neither. I wrote back the same day with the honest version, an offer to put him on TestFlight, and a note that a refund was available if the gap was a dealbreaker. He was gracious about it. What got me was that somewhere in the AI summary layer my app had been handed features it doesn't have, and a real person spent real money on the strength of it. The third arrived ten days later from someone who had worked out his own spec: clip length in seconds or frames, interval in minutes, stop after a set number of clips or a total elapsed time, sequential timestamped filenames. Three requests, three ways of describing the same session. That's enough for me to act on. ## What building it into the app would cost Laminar already records a clip against a duration limit and stops cleanly, so running that in a loop is a small amount of code. The interface around it is where the work sits. A native interval mode needs somewhere to live in a three-column layout that's already carrying a session sidebar, a live viewport, and a camera inspector. It has to show a run in progress: which clip you're on, how long until the next one starts, how much disk you have left at this cadence, what the frame-quality readout is doing while the app records on its own schedule. Then there's the interrupted run, which has to stay legible at 2am when you're cold and your night is half gone. In my day job I design interfaces, and the goal there is the minimum complexity required to finish the task. A sequencer panel bolted onto Laminar's current layout is not that. It's a new mode with state and error surfaces of its own, and it belongs with the bigger version 2 work I've been designing, where sequences sit alongside filter wheels and focusers and the whole run is one coherent thing. Building it now means designing that panel twice and asking you to relearn it later. I'm not putting a date on version 2, but I know what has to be in it before the sequence UI makes sense. So the trade in front of me was months of interface work against a capability three people needed this season. ## What App Intents let me ship instead App Intents let an app publish actions that Shortcuts, Spotlight, Siri, Terminal, and AppleScript can all call. Laminar 1.7.1 publishes two of them. Start Capture takes an optional duration in seconds, starts a SER recording with your current camera settings, and returns as soon as recording has begun. It hands back a result a shortcut can branch on: whether it started, the status, the file name, the duration. Pass no duration and it records under whatever limit the Inspector is holding. Pass one and that becomes the Inspector's seconds limit and stays there, because typing a duration into a shortcut is you setting the limit. Stop Capture is simpler, ending the clip in progress and waiting up to twenty seconds for the file to finish writing. Underneath both, the intent, the Start Capture button, and Command R now run through the same start path in the code. There's one way to start a recording in Laminar and Shortcuts calls it, so the automation can't drift out of sync with the button as the app changes. Laminar's job - Start a SER recording with the current camera settings - Hold the exposure, gain, ROI, and capture folder you set - Enforce the duration limit and stop cleanly - Finish writing the file before reporting done - Report a result the shortcut can branch on The shortcut's job - Hold clip length, interval, and clip count - Count the clips and wait between them - Decide what a skipped slot means - Notify you when one is skipped - Stop the run after three skips in a row ## You don't have to use my shortcut Once an app publishes intents, it stops being the only thing that can drive it. Start Capture and Stop Capture turn up anywhere macOS surfaces a Shortcuts action, and the interval shortcut I wrote is just the first thing I did with them. Siri will call them, so you can start a clip from the far end of the scope without walking back to the keyboard. Spotlight will too, if you'd rather type than talk. In Terminal, `shortcuts run "Laminar Interval Capture"` fires the whole sequence, which means anything on your Mac that can run a shell command can start a capture: a script, a Keyboard Maestro macro, a Stream Deck button. AppleScript reaches them as well, if that's where your existing observatory glue already lives. Four ways to reach the same two actions Start Capture and Stop Capture, from anywhere macOS looks The bundled shortcut Clip length, interval, clip count. Installs from Laminar's Help menu and runs the whole sequence. Siri and Spotlight Start a clip by voice from the far end of the scope, or by typing if you'd rather not talk. Terminal and AppleScript `shortcuts run` puts capture inside any script, macro, or Stream Deck button you already use. A shortcut you write Branch on the file name, status, and start result. Wait for a clock time, log filenames, text yourself on a skip. Or write your own. Start Capture hands back the file name, the status, and whether it started, so your logic can branch on all three. Wait for a clock time and start the run at second contact. Text yourself when a slot gets skipped, or when the last clip lands and you can go to bed. Append every file name to a note as you go and you have a session log without keeping one by hand. Drop a shorter focus-check clip into the loop every tenth iteration. None of that needed anything from me beyond the two actions. What you can't do from a shortcut is change how the camera is set. Exposure, gain, ROI, camera selection, and the capture folder all stay in Laminar's Inspector, and the intents don't reach them. A shortcut decides when a clip starts and how long it runs; everything about how that clip looks is still yours to dial in before the run. Start Capture also returns the moment recording begins rather than when it finishes, so a loop of your own has to do its own waiting. Every call gets logged with an `[Intent]` prefix. That's the first place I'd look when a shortcut you wrote isn't doing what you expected. ## What happens when a clip fails Shortcuts has no continue-on-error. If an action fails, the whole shortcut stops. For an unattended two-hour run, that's the difference between losing one clip and losing your session. So the intents sort failures into two piles. Anything that costs you a single clip returns "not started" and lets the loop carry on to the next slot. Anything no later clip could survive stops the shortcut with a one-sentence message, and every clip you already recorded stays on disk. The bundled shortcut adds its own guard on top. A skipped slot posts a notification, and three skips in a row stop the run rather than filling your drive with nothing. Costs one clip, loop continues - Already recording - A start already in flight - Previous clip still finalizing - First frame not delivered yet Stops the run, clips kept - No camera connected - Preview stopped - Capture folder unreachable - Free disk under the 2 GB floor - A calibration capture running ## What the bench run showed I ran this in-house on a ToupTek G3M678C at 385 fps: sixty-four clips of five seconds each, one starting every thirty seconds. Zero dropped frames in every clip, and cadence drift of about a tenth of a second per slot. Bench run: ToupTek G3M678C at 385 fps, 64 clips of 5 s every 30 s 0 frames Dropped, in every clip 0.11 s Cadence drift per slot Invisible in a solar or lunar time-lapse. A problem if you're timing to an occultation. The interval is start to start, and Shortcuts is not a real-time scheduler, so each slot lands a fraction late and the error accumulates: about seven seconds of total slip over sixty-four clips. For solar and lunar time-lapse that's invisible. If you're timing to a transit or an occultation to the second, it isn't, and you shouldn't use this for that. That's one camera on a bench, though. The intents share the same capture path for every supported vendor, so ZWO, PlayerOne, QHY, and SVBONY hardware should behave identically, but I haven't confirmed it on any of them. If you run this, tell me what you see. ## What it still doesn't do Laminar has no mount interface. Nothing in this shortcut recenters your target, and nothing in Laminar ever has. Surface tracking analyzes and draws overlays; it does not move the capture region on the sensor. Your mount has to hold the target on its own for the length of the run, and if it drifts you'll get clips of empty sky with correct timestamps. Clip length is in seconds only. The intent takes no frame count, so the one part of that third request I couldn't cover is "record 2,000 frames per clip." Your Mac has to stay awake, on mains power, with Laminar open, the camera connected, and the preview running. Stopping early means stopping the shortcut: hitting Stop Capture in Laminar only ends the clip that's recording, and the loop will cheerfully start the next one. ## Getting it The shortcut installs from Laminar's Help menu, or you can [download it from the shortcut page](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-interval-capture-shortcut/) along with the setup walkthrough and the pre-session checklist. Set three values before you run: clip length in seconds, interval in minutes, number of clips. Multiply the last two and you have your session length. A native interval mode is still on the list. It gets a written spec and a design review before any interface code, so I'm not going to guess at when it lands. The three people who asked can run their sessions this season either way. Mac observatory Set three numbers, then go make coffee The Laminar Interval Capture shortcut, the setup walkthrough, and the pre-session checklist. [Get the shortcut →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-interval-capture-shortcut/) [About Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Strata 1.2.1: How One Tester's Logs Cut a 19-Hour Solar Batch to Five URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-1-2-1-solar-batch-performance-drizzle/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T17:28:04.000Z Strata is my native macOS stacking and sharpening app for planetary, lunar and solar captures, and until this week it was too slow for high-volume solar work. Sven Kohle, a solar imager in Germany who runs a daily program and had been using Planetary System Stacker for years, ran the same 1,999 Ca-K videos through both on the same Mac and the same drive. Strata took 19.65 hours. PSS took 7.2\. He told me the speed was what kept him from switching. Version 1.2.1 runs that same night in 4 hours 59 minutes, and it took his logs to find the reason. ![Two-panel comic showing a Bavarian astronomer at a solar telescope and a developer at a Mac on a Florida beach, connected by a transatlantic cable, both reacting to Strata's processing speed](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/image.jpg) Sven's review of 1.2.1 arrived as a comic. It was hilarious to get this in my inbox. He captures Ca-K and hydrogen-alpha in parallel through most of a clear day, carries the night home on a direct-attached array, and processes while he sleeps. A session can run to 20 TB. One SER file is about 3 GB and there are two thousand of them. Software that can't get through the pile before the next clear day is no use to him regardless of how good the output looks. ## What his logs showed Rather than benchmark anything, I asked for the logs from both programs and he sent all of them. Every number here is summed from real timing lines across all 1,999 files: 524,447 frames, 3400x3400 8-bit mono, a median of 262 frames per file, roughly 6 TB for the night, one M1 Mac, one drive. The first thing the decomposition settled was his original question, which was whether something had gone wrong. Nothing had. Throughput held steady for twenty hours and all 1,999 files succeeded. One phase was consuming the GPU and the rest of the pipeline was waiting behind it. Measured from the batch log Where 19.65 hours went 1,999 files, 524,447 frames, 3400x3400 mono, one M1 Mac. Quality analysis (GPU) **13.72 h** 70% A constant 10.6 frames per second for twenty hours. Normalize Capture **2.29 h** 12% Re-reading about 240 frames per file that analysis had just read. Stacking **2.30 h** 12% 4.1 seconds per file across two thousand files. Reference, AP grid, selection **1.07 h** 5% Export and housekeeping **0.28 h** 1.4% 0.1 to 0.2 seconds per file, zero stalls, zero failures. Quality analysis took 13.72 of the 19.65 hours, running at a constant 10.6 frames per second. Normalize Capture took another 2.29, and it spent that time re-reading about 240 frames per file that analysis had streamed through the GPU moments earlier. Early in the night the page cache hid that cost. Once the night grew past what the cache could hold, the cost went up fivefold. Stacking, the part most people assume is expensive, took 2.30 hours across two thousand files. Export took 0.28 hours in total. ## The comparison nobody expected Then the per-file numbers arrived and inverted the question. Planetary System Stacker 0.9.8 - **Time to process:** 7.2 hours - **Per file:** 93.3 s mean (56 to 155) - **Concurrency:** about 7 files at once - 51.8 summed CPU-hours packed into 7.2 hours total - Multi-core CPU, Python, free and open source - 17 s per file just to save the result Strata, the 19.65 hour run - **Time to process:** 19.65 hours - **Per file:** 35.4 s mean (31.9 median, 51.8 max) - **Concurrency:** strictly one file at a time - 2.6x faster per file, twelve hours later to finish - Metal GPU, native macOS - 0.1 to 0.2 s per file to save Planetary System Stacker is Rolf Hempel's free, GPLv3 lucky-imaging stacker for moon, sun and planets, written in Python and installable on macOS through PyPI or through [Nick Kohrn's one-click launcher](https://macobservatory.com/planetary-system-stacker-now-has-a-launcher-installer/). It is the reference much of Strata's pipeline was validated against and it is good software. It also lost per file by a wide margin. PSS averaged 93.3 seconds a file. Strata averaged 35.4\. Strata was already 2.6 times faster at the actual work and still finished twelve hours later, because PSS starts a new file roughly every twelve seconds and keeps about seven of them in flight across CPU cores. It packed 51.8 summed CPU-hours into 7.2 hours of total time. Strata does everything on the GPU, one file at a time, so a single phase that saturates the GPU sets the pace for the whole night. PSS's 7.2 hours was a good number that came out of a sound design decision. ## The bug that was invisible on my machine Sven's diagnostic log put the quality kernels at 86.5 milliseconds per frame. On my machine (an M3 Ultra) the same kernels wait about half a millisecond. Same code, same file, two orders of magnitude apart. The four quality-metric kernels each ended with three atomic adds per thread, all landing on the same three memory addresses. That is roughly 3.9 million serialized read-modify-write operations for every 3400x3400 frame. What that costs depends on the GPU generation, and my M3 Ultra absorbs it almost for free. His M1 does not. I could have profiled my own hardware for a year and never found it. What changed in 1.2.1 Three fixes, identical output Nothing about what Strata measures changed. Only how the work is scheduled and read. Atomic contention removed Threadgroup reduction replaced millions of same-address atomic adds. 86.5 ms per frame down to under 1 ms on the reporting hardware. Each file is read once Normalize now takes its measurements during analysis's single pass instead of re-reading 240 frames per file. About two hours back on a 6 TB night. The disk never sits idle The next file loads while the current one stacks and exports, one file deep so memory stays flat. A 24-file batch ran about a third faster here. Side effect: determinism Scheduler-ordered atomics were never reproducible. Identical inputs now produce bit-identical quality scores and frame rankings. The kernels now reduce inside each threadgroup and a second small kernel folds the partial sums in a fixed order. Nothing about what gets measured changed, which matters because the frame quality metric is the part of Strata I am least willing to touch. Normalize Capture now takes its measurements during the single pass analysis already makes, so each file is read once. And while one file finishes its stack, sharpen and export, the batch reads and analyzes the next one in the background, one file deep so memory stays flat. That last change on its own made a 24-file batch about a third faster on my Mac. ## Now the disk is the limit He ran the whole night again on 1.2.1\. The first pass finished in 6 hours 7 minutes, with 1,998 of 1,999 files through and one failure he traced to an accidental profile that had frame rejection switched off. The corrected rerun the next evening took **4 hours 59 minutes for all 1,999 files with zero failures**, using Normalize Capture and his preferred 32 pixel alignment grid. Against 19.65 hours on the same files and the same hardware. > I am so impressed. Real time DAS processing with max Warp-Speed, GPU could do even more with faster disks. This is fantastic. The Strata-Flux-Capacitor. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/strata_batch_video_processing_progress.png) His IO monitor is the more interesting screenshot. The array sustained about 396 MB/s of reads, and he wrote that the GPU could do more with faster disks. He is right, and that is the limit now. Six terabytes at 396 MB/s takes about 4.2 hours to read, and the run finished in 4 hours 59 minutes. Roughly 84 percent of the night is the drive handing over bytes. Per file that is about 7.6 seconds of reading inside a 9 second file. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/disk_io_stats_data_read_write.png) Which means the remaining lever is his storage rather than my code. Faster storage should take most of that 4.2 hours out, and I am not going to put a number on it until someone measures one. If you have a fast NVMe volume and a few thousand SER files, that is the experiment I want to see. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ## What this means if you image the Sun every day Throughput is the entry ticket for this kind of work rather than the point of it. The point is what you can do with two thousand files a day across a season. Two things in 1.2.1 matter more than the time for that. The corrected run put all 1,999 files through with no stalls and no failures, so the batch can be left alone overnight. And the kernel fix made quality scores deterministic. The old atomic adds accumulated in whatever order the GPU scheduler chose, so two runs of identical code on an identical file could differ in the last decimal places, and frame rankings could shift between runs. They cannot now. Identical inputs produce bit-identical rankings. 0:00 /0:27 1× This is the output of 2000 recorded SER videos from Sven recombined into a timelapse. Check out the flares on the sun spots. For anyone building a Ca-K time series across months, that matters more than the speed. If your selection of the best 40 percent of frames has to mean the same thing in November as it did in August, reproducibility is a requirement rather than a nicety. It arrived as a side effect of a performance fix. The SER Utility that shipped alongside it serves the same kind of work. Point it at any capture and it reports header consistency, frame-count truth and timestamp integrity in about a second without importing the file, and it writes a repaired copy when a capture session crashed mid-file. A monitoring program generates thousands of files that can never be re-shot. ## Drizzle, and what the word has come to mean The other half of 1.2.1 is that Strata's drizzle is now actually drizzle. Drizzle is a specific algorithm from Fruchter and Hook's 2002 paper, built for the Hubble Deep Field. When a camera undersamples the optics, many slightly shifted frames collectively hold finer detail than any single frame can carry. You shrink each input pixel to a smaller drop and place it on a finer output grid, distributing its flux by exact geometric overlap. Planetary and solar work gets the dither for free, because seeing shifts every frame anyway. What ships under the name in this corner of the hobby is usually interpolated upscaling. I can say that with certainty about two implementations: PSS, whose source is open and uses a bilinear upscale with integer shifts, and Strata's own previous version, which was the same approach. Elsewhere it varies. Siril implements genuine drizzle with documented droplets for deep-sky work. AutoStakkert describes its own as Variable Pixel Linear Reconstruction, which is the formal name of the real algorithm, and it is closed source so I have no basis to say more than that. The more useful thing I found is that the field largely decided drizzle does not matter here, and for a good reason. Planetary imagers deliberately oversample. AutoStakkert's own site says most planetary recordings have little to gain from drizzling, the standard advice on Cloudy Nights is the same, and at 0.1 arcseconds per pixel on Jupiter that advice is correct. There is nothing below Nyquist to recover, and the usual recommendation to shoot at longer focal length instead is the right one. Full-disk solar is the case where that advice fails, because you cannot add focal length when the requirement is the whole disk in one frame. The test, in physical units The recovery band, bounded at both ends Lunt LS60MT at f/7, 420 mm, Player One Apollo-M Mini, 4.5 micron pixels, hydrogen-alpha at 656 nm. 2.218 arcsec/px Pixel scale, from the Sun's own 944.3 arcsec radius against a 425.8 px fitted limb \~2x Undersampled against what a 60 mm aperture resolves Spatial frequency, cycles per arcsecond native stack recovery band beyond optics 0 0.225 native Nyquist 0.443 diffraction cutoff The drizzled stacks carry signal inside the band, and the recovered spectrum dies at the cutoff. 2x and 3x agree within 10 percent in-band. All four scale factors agree within 3 percent below native Nyquist, so photometry is preserved. The band holds about half a percent of the image's structural power, which is why it is invisible to the eye and exactly what wavelet sharpening amplifies. So I measured it on my own capture. [Lunt LS60MT](https://agenaastro.com/solar-telescope-lunt-telescopes-60mm-ha-b600-ls60mt-standard-kit.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) at native f/7, 420 mm, a Player One Apollo-M Mini with 4.5 micron pixels, captured in Laminar. The Sun calibrates the analysis by itself. Its disk was 944.3 arcseconds in radius that day and the fitted limb in my image is 425.8 pixels, so the scale is 2.218 arcseconds per pixel, about 2x undersampled against what a 60 mm aperture resolves. No metadata required. That gives a band with a hard edge at each end. Below 0.225 cycles per arcsecond is detail the native stack can represent on its own. Above 0.443 is detail a 60 mm aperture cannot resolve at 656 nanometres. Anything real in between had to come out of the dithered frames. The drizzled stacks carry signal there, and the recovered spectrum rolls off and dies at 0.443, where the optics say it must. Neither sensor noise nor an interpolation kernel has any knowledge of aperture diameter, which is what makes the termination point the useful test. The 2x and 3x stacks agree within 10 percent inside the band, which a fabricating process would not do, and all four scale factors agree within 3 percent below native Nyquist, so the photometry survived. The band holds about half a percent of the image's structural power, which is why comparing two sharpened results by eye tells you nothing. It is also why it matters, because wavelet sharpening amplifies that band specifically. On a drizzled stack there is real signal there to amplify. On a native stack at those scales there is not. Sven then ran the whole thing at production scale. His entire 1,999-file night at 2x drizzle finished in under five hours, materially the same as undrizzled, and he judged the results more crispy. His own rig is modestly undersampled too, at 0.69 arcseconds per pixel against a diffraction limit near 0.97 at the Ca-K wavelength, so there is real detail there for him to recover. He also pointed out something worth passing on: the Dawes limit that gets quoted everywhere is wavelength-independent, so it overstates the cutoff at 393 nanometres. Calcium K resolves finer than Dawes suggests. The test is repeatable against any stacker, mine included: measure the radial power spectrum in physical units, find the band between the native stack's Nyquist limit and the aperture's diffraction cutoff, and check whether anything real lives there and stops in the right place. I am writing that method up separately so anyone can run it. ## Proof out in the wild... I posted the drizzled result to the Cloudy Nights solar forum without mentioning any of the above. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/Sun_2026-06-28-181610.jpg) Warren (rigel123) assumed he was looking at a double-stacked Lunt, said the etalon tuning looked correct, and pulled the image into an editor to un-invert it. Gary (gstrumol) caught a typo in my date, then inverted and grayscaled the image and compared the disk against GONG for the correct day, reporting the match as good and consistent with a single-stacked LS60\. Dan (mintakaX) downloaded it, de-colorized it and was happy with the result. Three experienced solar imagers took a drizzled Strata output apart and it held up, and one of them read the disk as coming from a scope with twice the etalon stack. [The thread is here.](https://www.cloudynights.com/forums/topic/1008200-solar-detail-full-disk-6282026-lunt-60/?ref=macobservatory.com) Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about batch solar processing and drizzle on the Mac. Is Strata faster than PSS or AutoStakkert on a Mac?+ On the one workload measured in detail, a 1,999-file solar batch on an M1 Mac, Strata 1.2.1 finished in 4 hours 59 minutes against Planetary System Stacker's 7.2 hours on the identical files, and Strata was already 2.6 times faster per file before the 1.2.1 work. That is one machine and one dataset, not a universal multiplier. AutoStakkert is Windows-only, so it isn't a comparison Mac Observatory can make on the same hardware. Will drizzle actually help my planetary images?+ Only if your capture is undersampled, meaning your image scale is coarser than about half your seeing-limited resolution. Most planetary imagers deliberately oversample at 0.1 to 0.25 arcseconds per pixel, and for them drizzle has nothing to recover. Full-disk solar and lunar work at 2 arcseconds per pixel or coarser is the case where it pays off, because you cannot add focal length without losing the whole disk. Worth knowing if you are checking your own sampling: the Dawes limit does not account for wavelength, so it overstates the cutoff at Calcium K. What's the difference between drizzle and just upscaling the stack?+ Upscaling interpolates between the pixels you already have, so it produces a larger, smoother image with no additional information. Drizzle, the algorithm from Fruchter and Hook's 2002 Hubble paper, places each input pixel's flux onto a finer grid by exact geometric overlap across many dithered frames, which can recover detail the native pixel grid cannot represent. Several tools use the word for the first thing. Strata 1.2.1 does the second. Does drizzle slow a large batch down?+ Not meaningfully, at least on the one large batch measured. A 1,999-file solar night run at 2x drizzle finished in under five hours on an M1 Mac, materially the same as the same night without drizzle. On large batches the drive is usually the limiting factor rather than the GPU, and drizzle does not change how much data has to be read. Do I need a fast SSD to process thousands of SER files?+ It is the main thing left that would help. Since Strata 1.2.1 reads each file once and analyzes the next file while the current one stacks, storage throughput is the limiting factor on large batches rather than the GPU. On the 1,999-file night measured here, the drive sustained about 396 MB/s, so simply reading the roughly 6 TB of source video accounted for about 4.2 of the 4 hours 59 minutes the whole run took. Faster storage should remove most of that, though Mac Observatory has not yet measured an NVMe run to say how much. Are Strata's frame quality scores repeatable between runs?+ They are as of 1.2.1\. Earlier builds accumulated quality metrics with GPU atomic operations whose ordering depended on the scheduler, so two runs of identical code on an identical file could differ in the last decimal places and frame rankings could shift. Identical inputs now produce bit-identical scores, which matters for anyone building a time series where frame selection has to mean the same thing months apart. Is Strata good for someone just starting in solar imaging?+ Yes, and the batch machinery discussed here is not something a beginner has to touch. A single SER file goes straight into the pipeline and the defaults handle stacking and sharpening. Deep-sky imaging is a permanent non-goal, so this is the wrong tool for nebulae and galaxies. Mac Observatory keeps a full directory of Mac astronomy software for that side of the hobby. Strata 1.2.1 requires macOS 14.6 or later and is on the Mac App Store now. If you run solar batches in the hundreds or thousands, I want your logs. That is twice now that a night of someone else's real data has found something I could not have found alone. Mac observatory One native pipeline for planetary, lunar and solar Import, analyze, stack, derotate, sharpen, color and export in one window on the Mac. [Strata →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) [PSS on the Mac →](https://macobservatory.com/planetary-system-stacker-now-has-a-launcher-installer/) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### How Long Does an EdgeHD Really Take to Cool Down? URL: https://macobservatory.com/edgehd-cool-down-focus-temperature/ Last updated: 2026-08-15T21:50:42.000Z ## EdgeHD focus data: 694 autofocus runs, one temperature coefficient, and a probe that lied for 23 nights About two hours, and it barely matters whether the telescope started warm. My Celestron EdgeHD 11 lives in a roll-off roof observatory in the New Mexico desert, already sitting at outside temperature when the roof opens at dusk, and focus still drifts for another 90 to 120 minutes after that. It cools *past* the surrounding air rather than settling down to it, which is the opposite of what happens when you carry a scope out of a warm house. That comes out of 694 autofocus runs recorded between February 15 and May 23, 2026, along with a number nobody seems to have published for this telescope: the EdgeHD 11 moves **37 focuser steps per degree Celsius**. If you have been guessing at a temperature compensation coefficient for an Edge, that is the measured one. And one more, which turned out to be the most useful of the three. My temperature probe froze solid on 23 separate nights and I had no idea. A third of the season ran with compensation silently doing nothing at all. One telescope, one site, measured carefully. The numbers are from an 11, but the mechanism applies to every EdgeHD and the method applies to any telescope you can pull focus logs out of. Measured, not estimated EdgeHD 11 focus behaviour in four numbers From 694 autofocus runs, Celestron EdgeHD 11, Animas NM, 15 February to 23 May 2026. 37.5 steps / °C Temperature coefficient Per-night normalized fit, R² 0.85, 200 runs across 24 nights. Set focuser compensation to roughly 18 steps per half degree. \~120 minutes Cool-down after roof open An extra 35 to 48 steps of drift beyond ambient, gone by two hours. Equivalent to about 1.2 °C of optics-versus-air offset. 0.9994 Median hyperbolic R² The autofocus curve fits were never the problem. Every anomaly in this dataset is mechanical or sensor related. 23 nights Frozen temperature probe 226 of 694 runs logged a temperature that never changed, so compensation silently did nothing on a third of the season. ## Why an EdgeHD needs a second focuser in the first place Celestron does not hide from this one, which surprised me. Their own knowledge base says mirror flop is "seen especially in SCTs with apertures 11 in and larger," and it lists two remedies: the mirror locks, and an aftermarket zero-image-shift focuser. My setup is not a workaround the forums invented. It is what the manufacturer recommends. The cause is structural. An SCT focuses by sliding the primary mirror along the baffle tube, driven by an arm on one side. A mirror on a sliding collar with a one-sided actuator shifts laterally when you focus, and settles to a new gravitational position as the tube tracks. Two different problems, one name. The first ruins your focus run. The second ruins your night, usually right after a meridian flip. The mirror support clutches are the manufacturer's answer, and Celestron is careful about how it describes them. With enough tension they are "effective greatly lessening mirror shift or mirror flop." Greatly lessening. Not eliminating. On Cloudy Nights, `freestar8n` describes the clutches as pinchers on thin cables that still allow some float, which matches Celestron's hedge more closely than the confident advice you usually see. So you lock the primary, take the built-in focuser out of the equation entirely, and put a Crayford on the back. `hyiger` on Cloudy Nights puts the workflow plainly: "The mirror locks are only useful for imaging if you have a Crayford focuser on the back end." The order matters, because as `Linwood` points out in the same thread, the mirror moves a little when you tighten the locks. Lock first, then find focus externally. Do it the other way round and you will lock in an error. What EdgeHD owners actually report > "The mirror locks are only useful for imaging if you have a Crayford focuser on the back end." > > hyiger, Cloudy Nights > "When you lock them the mirror moves a bit, so you cannot really focus and then lock anyway." > > Linwood, Cloudy Nights > "I use the MoonLite Revised CHL 2.5 inch and it works very well. There is no mirror flop or shift to contend with." > > tjz, Cloudy Nights > Asked whether locking the mirror removes shift completely: "Not completely, but I find it adequate." > > Endymion, Cloudy Nights > A dissenting view worth keeping in mind: "I have edgehd11 and I don't use the locks at all. I focus with a stepper motor on the primary knob." > > freestar8n, Cloudy Nights The MoonLite is not the obvious purchase it looks like. The EdgeHD 11 gives you 146.05mm of back focus from the baffle tube lock ring, and the 0.7x reducer does not spend any of it: Celestron specifies the same 146.05mm behind the reducer, which is one of the quietly good decisions in the Edge system. What that budget will not survive is a focuser that stacks behind the reducer, which is exactly what the standard MoonLite SCT model does. That is the entire reason the Edge variant exists as a separate product: its draw tube travels *over* the reducer instead, and MoonLite's own dealer guidance sends Edge owners to the thin CHL 2.5 model rather than the standard SCT one. On Cloudy Nights, `gundark` measured the CHL Edge as consuming about 33mm from the rear of the reducer, which on an 11 leaves roughly 113mm for the camera, filter wheel and off-axis guider. EdgeHD 8 owners have the tighter version of this problem: the reducer for that scope specifies 105mm, so the same 33mm focuser leaves about 72mm, and several report finishing their spacing arithmetic with 6mm to spare. One thing worth knowing before you order: MoonLite stopped making manual focusers entirely, and their site is **focuser.com**, not the moonlitetelescope.com address you will find in older forum posts. That domain no longer resolves. Budget some patience for the ordering itself. I design interfaces for a living, and the MoonLite configurator is pricing logic left to the page rather than explained to the buyer: the focuser body lists at $0.00 until you pick a motor, so the running total tells you nothing until the last dropdown. Mine came to **$635** as an 11"/14" Edge flange, high-res stepper motor standalone, MoonLite Red, M54 68mm recessed T-thread adapter. Take the standalone motor if a Powerbox will drive it, since it arrives without a hand controller you would never use. MoonLite Revised CHL 2.5" Large Format Crayford EDGE - **Made for:** Celestron EdgeHD 8", 9.25", 11" and 14" (one shared variant covers the 11 and 14) - **Why the Edge version:** the draw tube travels over the 0.7x reducer, consuming roughly 33mm of back focus instead of the whole budget - **Travel:** about 13mm (0.5"), measured by users. Short by design, enough for autofocus and thermal tracking, not a general purpose focuser - **Back focus available:** 146.05mm on an EdgeHD 11 from the baffle tube lock ring, and unchanged with the 0.7x reducer fitted, which is Celestron's design intent rather than a happy accident (the 8" reducer specifies 105mm) - **Motorisation:** motorised only. MoonLite no longer manufactures manual focusers - **Controller options:** MoonLite MTS-1000 DRO, MTS-500-V2 Mini, or a third party focus controller such as the Pegasus Ultimate Powerbox - **Price as reviewed:** $635 USD, configured as 11"/14" Edge flange, high-res stepper motor standalone, MoonLite Red, M54 68mm recessed T-thread adapter - **Note on the configurator:** the focuser body shows $0.00 until a motor is selected, so the running total is not meaningful until the last dropdown is set - **Manufacturer:** MoonLite Telescope Accessories, built to order [focuser.com →](https://focuser.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) [EdgeHD 11 at Mac Observatory →](https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11-review/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/sHKNzcgwSSy7_1824x0__sPnTECk.jpg) A recent image taken with this setup at DSPR. ## The rig, and the months it spent fighting itself The telescope sits on a [10Micron GM1000](https://www.10micron.eu/en/?ref=macobservatory.com) at Deep Space Products Remote in Animas, New Mexico. Bortle 1, high desert, and a roof that opens onto sky so dry and cold it will pull heat out of anything you point at it. Focus is a MoonLite CHL Edge with a stepper motor, driven by the focus controller built into a Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2\. Sequencing and autofocus run on N.I.N.A., which is simply the capture software I use. Nothing that follows depends on that choice: any package that logs a temperature and a fitted focus position for every autofocus run will give you the same numbers off your own telescope. Then the hardware went to war with itself, and it took months to work out why. It started with cables. They kept getting pinched in the gap between the focuser draw tube and the visual back. I got them unstuck, and found the real problem: rack the focuser in far enough and the off-axis guider collides with the focuser housing. It had been happening long enough to bend the OAG about seven degrees off axis. That is not a subtle amount. Guiding had been unexplainable for weeks and now I knew why. I ordered a replacement, and Chris, the on-site tech at DSP Remote, fitted it. Which introduced a second collision. The angle the new OAG went on at put the focus motor itself into the MoonLite housing. Chris eventually unbolted the entire imaging train and re-oriented the motor so it cleared every housing surface, and that is what actually fixed it. The autofocus logs recorded all of it, and this is the part I did not expect. When the motor or the OAG was jammed against something, the motor kept commanding steps, trying to reach a focus position it physically could not reach, and the position counter kept climbing. Focus sat near 7,300 steps through early March. After the cable and OAG work it jumped to about 12,600\. Then between March 23 and April 3 it ran away completely: 13,620, then 15,065, then 18,338, then 23,434, then 25,674\. Five sessions, twelve thousand steps, no actual focus movement to show for it. After Chris re-oriented the train on April 7 it settled at 27,500 and stayed there. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/focuser_position_timeline_feb_to_may_2026.png) Here is the lesson that came out of that, and it is the reason the rest of this analysis works at all. **After a stepper stalls against a hard stop, the absolute position number is fiction.** The controller counts steps it commanded, not steps the motor turned. My focuser reads 27,500 today for the same optical configuration that read 7,300 in February. Nothing about the optics changed by 20,000 steps. The counter just drifted away from physical reality every time something jammed. Which means any tool that fits a single line across that whole history is fitting noise. The plotting plugin I was using reported temperature coefficients anywhere from 50 to 877 steps per degree depending on the window, and every one of those numbers was garbage, because it was measuring my mechanical failures and calling them thermal response. ## The real coefficient, and how to get one The fix is to stop looking at absolute position and start looking at what focus does *within* a single night. Subtract each night's median position and median temperature, and every good night collapses onto the same relationship regardless of where the counter happened to be sitting. Do that, and the current configuration gives **37.5 steps per degree Celsius, R² 0.85**, from 200 runs across 24 nights. Position rises as temperature rises. For a Pegasus focuser driver that works out to about 18 steps per half degree. I want to be honest about the fit quality across the whole dataset, because it is not uniformly good. The earlier configuration comes out steeper, somewhere around 48 steps per degree, but with an R² of 0.72 and a lot of mechanical contamination underneath it. The runaway period fits at 77 steps per degree with an R² of 0.45, which is meaningless. Pooling everything gives 46.4 at R² 0.53\. Use the current-rig number and throw the rest away. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/focuser_position_vs_temperature_analysis.png) Worth stressing that these are excellent autofocus runs. Median hyperbolic R² across the good set is 0.9994\. The curve fits were never the problem. The mechanism was. If you want to do this on your own rig, the method matters more than my number. Use one filter only, because filter thickness tolerances will contaminate the data. Collect across at least three or four degrees of swing. Normalize per night. And if the result is scatter rather than a line, `astrojolo`'s guide on the subject is right that your setup simply cannot use temperature compensation reliably, and you should stop trying. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Cool-down in an observatory that never comes indoors This is the section I would most like other EdgeHD owners to read, because the standard advice does not apply and following it will point you the wrong way. The backyard story goes like this. Your scope lives at 70°F in the house. You carry it out into 45°F air. The glass and metal are warmer than ambient, they shed heat for an hour or two, and focus drifts as they do. Celestron's manual says allow 45 minutes between large temperature extremes, and Cloudy Nights reports for an EdgeHD 11 run from 20 to 150 minutes depending on the size of the jump. My scope never comes indoors. It sits in a closed building at the ambient temperature of a New Mexico afternoon and the roof opens at dusk. By the backyard logic there should be nothing to wait for. There is. And it runs the other way. After removing the ambient response, focus carries an extra 35 to 50 steps of drift for the first 90 minutes or so, crossing into the autofocus noise band by about two hours and staying inside it after that. But the sign is negative. At the same measured temperature, best focus early in the night sits *below* where the probe predicts, not above. At 37 steps per degree that is about **1.2°C, and the optics are behaving as though they are colder than the air the sensor is reading.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/autofocus_focus_offset_vs_time_analysis.png) The explanation I find most convincing is radiative cooling. Open a roof onto a clear, dry desert sky and the effective sky temperature is tens of degrees below ambient. The corrector and the tube radiate straight into it and drop below the surrounding air. It is the same physics that frosts a corrector plate on a night that never reaches freezing. The mirror is not lagging behind a cooling air mass. It is outrunning it. I should say clearly that I cannot fully separate that from the alternative, which is that my probe reads warm for the first couple of hours because of where it is mounted. The observable is the same either way, and so is the fix, but the mechanism is an inference and I would rather flag it than assert it. If somebody has run a mirror thermocouple against ambient on an EdgeHD in a dry site, I would like to see the data. The practical consequence does not depend on which explanation is right. **For the first two hours after roof-open, temperature compensation under-corrects.** It is tracking the ambient slope correctly and missing an extra 45 steps of drift that has nothing to do with ambient. So autofocus roughly every 40 minutes early, relax to hourly once you are past the two-hour mark, and open the roof during twilight so most of the settling happens before the first useful sub. ## The frozen probe, and how compensation fails without telling you While working through this I found vertical stripes in the data. Nights where the logged temperature never changed, not by a tenth of a degree, while focus kept moving underneath it. Every run stamped with an identical value. They are visible in the left panel of the temperature chart above: the spike standing up out of the green cloud at 6.5°C and the one in the orange cloud at 18.3°C are not real behaviour, they are a sensor that stopped reporting. I originally counted nine of these. Going back through the full season properly, there are **23 nights, covering 226 of 694 runs.** A third of everything I recorded. Two long stretches I had completely missed: February 25 through March 3 stuck at 6.5°C for seven nights and 98 runs, and March 11 through 17 stuck at 18.3°C for another seven nights and 61 runs. The value only ever changed on a reconnect, which is the signature of a read-once-then-stale sensor rather than a broken one. Check your own logs for this A frozen temperature probe produces no error and no warning. The only symptom is a logged temperature that never changes while focus keeps moving, which shows up as vertical stripes if you plot focus position against temperature. To check: open your autofocus report folder (N.I.N.A. writes JSON reports to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\NINA\AutoFocus\`; other capture packages log the same fields elsewhere), pull the temperature value from every run on a given night, and count the distinct values. A clear night that reports one single temperature across eight or ten runs is a stale sensor, not a stable one. Genuine ambient in the high desert falls around 1.5 °C per hour. The value typically only refreshes when the device reconnects, so a nightly disconnect and reconnect will mask the problem by making each night look plausible on its own. Now here is why that is worse than it sounds, and it took reading a N.I.N.A. developer's forum post to see it. The Ultimate Powerbox V2 has no temperature sensor of its own. Every reading comes from the external RJ12 environment probe, and an INDI bug report from 2020 confirms there are no temperature sensor signal lines on the focuser side at all. Meanwhile `dghent`, a N.I.N.A. developer, has stated that "NINA does not support using a non-focuser temperature source for determining focus changes." On a UPBv2 the focuser and the environment probe are the same device. So that one small plastic probe is feeding the temperature compensation *and* the AF-after-temperature-change trigger *and* the dew heater logic. When it freezes, compensation quietly stops compensating, the temperature trigger stops triggering, and nothing anywhere logs an error. The sequence runs all night looking completely healthy. For an unattended remote rig that is the failure mode I care about most, because there is nobody standing there to notice the number has not moved. This is something Pegasus Astro should look at. A probe returning byte-identical readings for seven consecutive nights is a detectable condition, and detecting it is cheap. If the temperature has not moved by a tenth of a degree across an entire session while the focuser has moved hundreds of steps, the driver already has everything it needs to know something is wrong, and it could say so. As it stands the failure is indistinguishable from an unusually stable night. The V3 improves matters by adding a second sensor that can disagree with the first, but the real fix is software noticing a value that never changes. ## What I would change The V2 is discontinued now, replaced by the [Ultimate Powerbox V3](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-powerbox-power-pack-v3-peg-upbv3.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), and the single change that matters most for this problem is that the V3 has a temperature sensor built into the unit and prefers the external probe when one is present. Two sensors instead of one. My exact failure would have shown up as a disagreement between them rather than as nothing at all. If you are buying today and you run unattended, that alone justifies the newer box. Note that driving a MoonLite from either version needs the [Pegasus RJ45-to-DB9 stepper cable](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-rj45-db9-stepper-motor-cable.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), because every focuser manufacturer uses its own pinout. I would also stop treating temperature compensation as the primary defense. N.I.N.A.'s documentation calls the time-based and exposure-count autofocus triggers "not recommended" and points at HFR-based triggering instead. Compensation has one advantage nothing else can match, which `spokeshave` identifies on Cloudy Nights: it corrects *during* an exposure, where an autofocus routine can only run between subs. On a night dropping 1.5°C per hour with long subs, that matters. But it is a supplement to measuring focus, not a replacement for it. Run compensation at 18 steps per half degree, and keep an HFR trigger underneath it as the thing that actually catches problems. And I now check the probe reading in my logs on a schedule, because I ran a third of a season on a sensor that had stopped reporting and only found out because I went looking for something else. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about EdgeHD cool-down, focus drift, and temperature compensation. How long does a Celestron EdgeHD take to cool down?+ Roughly two hours before focus stops drifting for thermal reasons. Celestron's manual advises allowing 45 minutes between large temperature extremes, and EdgeHD 11 owners moving a scope from a heated house report 40 minutes to 2.5 hours. Mac Observatory measured about 90 to 120 minutes of residual focus drift on an EdgeHD 11 that was *already* sitting at outside temperature when the roof opened, so the clock does not start from how warm the telescope was. It starts from when the optics get a clear view of the sky. Does an EdgeHD in a permanent observatory still need to acclimate?+ Yes, and this surprises people. A telescope stored outdoors in a roll-off roof building begins the night at ambient, so by the usual logic there is nothing to wait for. In practice, across 14 clean nights, focus on a Celestron EdgeHD 11 carried an extra 35 to 50 steps of drift for the first 90 minutes after the roof opened. The optics behave as though roughly 1.2 °C colder than the air, consistent with the corrector and tube radiating heat to a cold, dry sky faster than the surrounding air cools. Open the roof during twilight so most of the settling finishes before you start imaging. Can I use temperature compensation on an EdgeHD, and what coefficient should I set?+ Yes. Mac Observatory measured 37.5 focuser steps per degree Celsius (R² 0.85) on a Celestron EdgeHD 11 with a locked primary and a motorised MoonLite CHL Edge Crayford, from 694 autofocus runs. That is roughly 18 steps per half degree, with focus position rising as temperature rises. The number is specific to that focuser motor and gear ratio, so treat it as a starting point: published values across different telescopes and focusers range from about 20 to over 100 steps per degree. Compensation also under-corrects during the first two hours after opening up, so keep running autofocus early in the night. Do I need an external focuser on an EdgeHD, or are the mirror locks enough?+ You need both, and they work together rather than as alternatives. Celestron describes the mirror support clutches as "greatly lessening" mirror shift and flop rather than eliminating it, and says to loosen them while focusing. The standard approach among EdgeHD imagers is to lock the primary and then focus with an external Crayford such as the MoonLite CHL Edge, which is also one of the two remedies Celestron lists in its own knowledge base. Locking alone leaves you unable to focus; an external focuser alone leaves the mirror free to settle as the tube tracks. How often should I run autofocus during a night?+ On an EdgeHD, roughly every 40 minutes for the first two hours after opening up, relaxing to hourly once the optics have settled. The early cadence matters because temperature compensation under-corrects while the optics are still shedding heat. Most capture software recommends triggering on measured star size (HFR) rather than on a fixed time interval or exposure count, and many imagers add a temperature threshold of around 1 °C as a backstop. Why does my focuser position keep climbing without ever reaching focus?+ That pattern usually means the focus motor or something in the imaging train is physically colliding with a housing surface. A stepper counts the steps it commands, not the steps it actually turns, so when it stalls against an obstruction the autofocus routine keeps walking the number upward chasing a position it cannot reach. On an EdgeHD the common culprits are an off-axis guider fouling the focuser housing on inward travel, or the focus motor itself fouling the focuser body depending on the angle the train is bolted at. Once this has happened the absolute position number is meaningless, and only within-night movement can be trusted. Mac observatory Your logs already know what your rig is doing Every autofocus run, guide log, and session record on your capture machine is measurement you have already paid for. Most of it never gets read. [Celestron EdgeHD 11 →](https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11-review/) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) [More Reviews →](https://macobservatory.com/reviews) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Two Free Planning Calculators: Deep-Sky Field of View and Planetary Capture URL: https://macobservatory.com/two-free-planning-calculators-deep-sky-field-of-view-and-planetary-capture/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T02:37:02.000Z Mac Observatory now has two free planning calculators, and neither one asks you to make an account. The deep-sky framing calculator drops your sensor's footprint at true scale onto real survey imagery, checks your sampling against the seeing you actually get, and counts the usable guide stars inside an off-axis guide field. The planetary calculator draws any planet and its moons on your chip at their true positions for any date and time, then works out which of three ceilings is capping your frame rate. Both are live now: the [Deep-Sky Framing Calculator](https://macobservatory.com/field-of-view-calculator/) and the [Planetary Capture & Framing Calculator](https://macobservatory.com/planetary-capture-calculator/), with a shared [Astrophotography Tools](https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-tools/) hub. I built these because I got tired of doing the same arithmetic in three places before every session. Both follow the same conventions as my Mac apps, run full screen on a desktop or laptop, and work on a phone or tablet at the telescope. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-05-at-4.09.19---PM.png) ## Will this target fit my frame? Pick a target and your sensor appears over the sky, at true scale, on DSS2 survey imagery served through the Aladin Lite viewer from CDS in Strasbourg. Not a rectangle on a star chart. The actual nebulosity and star field you'll be shooting, with your frame drawn on top of it. Drag it, rotate it, and every readout follows. In the screenshot below I've got the Askar FRA400 with a 0.7x reducer at 280mm, feeding a ZWO ASI2600MM. That works out to 2.77 arcseconds per pixel across a field of 288.4 by 192.7 arcminutes. M31 fits, with room. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/andromeda_galaxy_field_of_view_planner.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/andromeda_galaxy_framing_astrophotography_setup.png) The sampling verdict is where I broke from the usual approach. Most calculators compare your pixel scale to a fixed rule and hand back a pass or fail. This one asks for your seeing FWHM and measures against that. At 2.5 arcseconds, the ideal band runs 0.83 to 1.25 arcseconds per pixel, so 2.77 comes back as heavily undersampled. Change your seeing input and the verdict moves, because seeing is a site condition, not a constant. Targets come from a curated set of quick picks plus live SIMBAD search, so anything with a catalog designation is one Cmd-K away. Mosaic panels and overlap draw every frame on the sky. One click copies the frame center in the sexagesimal format your capture and planetarium software will take for a slew. ## Are there guide stars where my prism sits? This is the part I'm proudest of, and the reason the tool exists at all. Turn on the guide field, pick your guide camera and which edge your off-axis prism sits on, and the calculator queries the Gaia DR3 catalog and counts the stars inside that field at your actual rotation. In the M31 example, an ASI290MM behind a long-edge prism gives a guide field of 68.8 by 39.3 arcminutes, 0.750 square degrees, and 18 usable stars down to G magnitude 11. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/pleiades_star_cluster_guiding_field_setup.png) Rotate the frame and that number changes. That's the whole point. Guide star availability is a function of position angle, and position angle is the one thing you pick at 1 a.m. while the mount is already slewing. Knowing you have 18 stars before you leave the house beats discovering an empty field after setup. ## How big will Jupiter actually be? The planetary side answers a different question with the same honesty about scale. Pick a body and the disc is drawn on your sensor at true size for the date you set, not the maximum-diameter figure the spec sheets quote. An Askar 185APO with a 5x Powermate lands at 6,475mm and f/35\. With an ASI462MC at 2.9 micron pixels, that's 0.09 arcseconds per pixel, and Jupiter at 31.3 arcseconds covers 339 pixels of a 1936 by 1096 chip. Seeing the disc sit in that crop tells you more than the number does. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/jupiter_moons_sensor_crop_view.png) Sampling here gets measured against your aperture's Rayleigh limit rather than the seeing, because that's where planetary sampling actually lives. For 185mm of aperture the band is 0.25 to 0.37 arcseconds per pixel, so 0.09 comes back as heavily oversampled. The Powermate is doing more than the optics can support. Change the date and every disc resizes. Set the field to 11 February 2027, Jupiter's next opposition, and that same rig gets 45.2 arcseconds instead of 31.3, a disc 1.44 times larger in every dimension. The stage disc grows, the pixels-across readout grows, and every planet card in the rail recomputes with it. The chain runs from your date to a light-time corrected geocentric position, to the actual Earth to Jupiter distance for that moment, to an angular size derived from the planet's real equatorial radius. There is no table of typical values anywhere in it. Same rig, different date Jupiter's disc, drawn to relative scale. Nothing about the equipment changed. 31.3″ 5 August 2026 45.2″ 11 February 2027, opposition 1.44× larger in every dimension. Computed from Jupiter's actual geocentric distance on each date, not a table of typical values. That turns the body rail into an opposition planning tool on its own. Scrub the date and watch which planet is worth pointing at. Saturn's ring opening angle is computed from the IAU pole orientation for the date you choose, so the rings sit near edge-on through 2025 and 2026 and visibly reopen after. The Moon's diameter is libration aware, so perigee and apogee dates change its size too. ## Will Callisto fit in my crop? Select Jupiter and the four Galilean moons appear as labeled dots at their true positions on your sensor. Select Saturn and you get Tethys, Dione, Rhea, and Titan the same way, propagated from JPL orbital elements. Everything is drawn at sensor scale with north up and east left, so the question stops being abstract: you can see whether Callisto clears your capture crop or only the inner moons fit inside it. A moon passing behind the planet renders hollow, so you know it's hidden rather than missing. Here's my EdgeHD 11 with a 2.5x behind it, 7,000mm at f/25.1, feeding an ASI462MC. Saturn comes in at 18.6 arcseconds and 218 pixels across with the rings drawn at their opening for the date, and Titan, Rhea, Dione, and Tethys sit scattered across the frame at their real separations. That layout is the thing you can't get from a number. Titan alone is most of the reason you'd frame Saturn off center. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/saturn_astrophotography_setup_simulation.png) Alongside the date there's now a Time UTC field, and that's what makes this useful for planning rather than trivia. Io moves noticeably inside an hour. Scrub the time and you can watch a transit line up before you've carried anything outside, then work backward to when you need to be set up and cooled down. Saturn's moon positions are labeled approximate in the interface, which is the honest label for orbital element propagation. For what it's worth, I checked Titan against JPL Horizons and it agrees to within a few arcseconds across a 26 year span, which is far tighter than anything you could resolve at the eyepiece or on a chip. Everything is geocentric at the date and time you set, and the stage caption says so rather than making you assume it. ## Which ceiling is capping my frame rate? Planetary capture runs into three separate limits, and most of us only think about one at a time. How fast the sensor reads out at your ROI. How long your exposures are. How fast your drive can absorb the data. The calculator puts all three side by side and calls out which one binds. In that Jupiter setup, 125ms exposures cap you at 8 frames per second. The drive would happily take 1,964, and the sustained write needed at that ROI and rate is 10 MB/s, which any Mac internal SSD swallows without noticing. So the exposure is the ceiling, and dropping the Barlow raises it fast, since exposure scales with the square of focal ratio. Three ceilings, one binds Jupiter on the Askar 185APO at 6,475mm, ASI462MC, 1304 × 976 RAW8, 125ms exposures. Sensor readout no published figure Exposure length 8 fps This is your ceiling tonight Disk write 1,964 fps Needs 10 MB/s sustained. The drive keeps up. Bars are log scale. Drop the Barlow and the exposure ceiling rises fast, since exposure goes with the square of focal ratio. The sensor readout row is honest about what it doesn't know. Not every manufacturer publishes ROI frame-rate tables, and when there's no published figure for your camera, that row says so instead of inventing a number. You still get a verdict from the two ceilings that can be calculated. Notice what the date and time fields don't do here. Sky geometry changes with the clock; equipment physics doesn't. The disc size, the ring tilt, and the moon positions all move when you scrub, and the sampling verdict and all three ceilings stay put, because your aperture's diffraction limit and your drive's write speed don't care what night it is. Moves when you scrub - Apparent disc size - Saturn's ring opening - Moon positions and occultations - Lunar diameter at perigee and apogee Sky geometry. Changes with the calendar. Stays put - Pixel scale and focal ratio - Sampling verdict - All three frame-rate ceilings - Sustained write required Equipment physics. Doesn't care what night it is. ## What carries over between the two tools? Save a telescope, camera, corrector, and guide camera combination as a named rig, and it shows up in both calculators and on the tools hub, where each rig gets an Open in Deep-Sky and an Open in Planetary button. Set up your gear once. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/field_of_view_saved_rigs_m31_settings.png) Rigs are stored in your browser only. Nothing is uploaded, and clearing site data removes them, so a copied link is the durable record of any setup. Every change you make is encoded in the URL. Send that link and whoever opens it sees your exact framing, rotation, equipment, and settings. Copy spec gives you the same thing as plain text for a forum post. There's a full screen mode that takes the calculator over the whole display with the controls in slim rails on either side, and a night mode that shifts the entire interface to red so you can plan at the scope without wrecking your dark adaptation. Cmd-K searches, arrow keys rotate, Cmd-Z undoes, Cmd-C copies your spec. ## Where the numbers come from, and what they don't Nothing on the planetary side is canned. The calculator loads [Astronomy Engine](https://github.com/cosinekitty/astronomy?ref=macobservatory.com) v2.1.19, an open-source ephemeris library built on VSOP87 and NOVAS C 3.1 and unit-tested against JPL Horizons, and computes each body's position for the date you set. On the deep-sky side, the imagery is DSS2 through the Aladin Lite viewer from CDS in Strasbourg, targets resolve through SIMBAD, and the guide star counts come from Gaia DR3. The equipment database covers over 130 telescopes and more than 100 cameras, including the solar lineup from Lunt, Coronado, Sky-Watcher, and Player One. Every figure traces to a manufacturer document. Custom entry is always there for anything not listed, which will be plenty. Two things aren't modeled in this first version. The guide field is geometric: it assumes the full sensor area, and prism vignetting isn't accounted for, so treat the star count as a floor rather than a promise. And the G magnitude 11 cutoff for usable guide stars is a judgment call, not physics. Faint stars work on short exposures with a sensitive guide camera and don't on longer ones. If that threshold is wrong for your setup, tell me and I'll make it adjustable. The frame-rate ceilings assume uncompressed SER capture and decimal megabytes. A real capture can also be held back by host bandwidth or by the CPU, and neither of those is something a browser can measure for you. The ceilings are the top of what your equipment allows, not a promise about what your session will hit. Both tools are free and stay free. If you find a target that won't fit, a guide field that comes back empty when it shouldn't, or a catalog figure that looks wrong, send it over. Corrections ship fast. Clear skies. ### Strata 1.0 is out URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-1-0-is-out/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T00:34:41.000Z Strata 1.0 is [on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strata-planetary-stacking/id6761143633?ref=macobservatory.com). It takes a planetary, lunar or solar capture from raw video to a finished image on your Mac: frame scoring, stacking, derotation, sharpening, color and export, in one window, on the GPU. That's the short version. The longer version is that this app took more than six months of testing to get right, and almost none of that time went where I expected it to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/jupiter_image_editing_strata_color_adjustments-1.png) ## It's called V3 for a reason On my hard drive the project folder is named V3, because the shipped stacking engine is my third attempt at one. Two earlier engines never made it in front of a single tester. I built them, ran them, looked at what came out, and started over. All three attempts failed at the same place, and it's the hard part of this kind of stacking. Here's what the pipeline actually does. You record thousands of frames. You analyze them, normalize them, build a reference from that analysis, align every frame against it, and keep only the best set. Then you break each surviving frame into small tiles and go looking, tile by tile, for the best version of each patch of the subject across all of those frames. The final image gets assembled from the winners. Taking the image apart is easy. Putting it back together is not. Every tile boundary is a place where pieces of different frames meet, and the math has to make that join invisible. Get it wrong and you get seams. You get peppered detail. You get cracks running through an image that otherwise looks fine. At the limb, where the subject meets black sky, you get edge artifacts, because the recombination has to handle a boundary with nothing on one side of it. And underneath all of that, atmospheric distortion is smearing detail and pushing pixels across tile borders, so the thing you're trying to reassemble was never cleanly divided to begin with. The result has to look like one perfect exposure. Nobody should be able to tell it was ever taken apart. There are a thousand ways to fail that, and my first two engines found plenty of them. Both times I got the pieces working and could not get them back together without leaving fingerprints on the image, so I threw the engine out and started from a different foundation. How lucky imaging stacking works Take the picture apart, keep the good pieces, put it back together Every planetary stacker, mine and everyone else's, does some version of this. 1 Record Thousands of frames of the same target, shot as fast as the camera allows. 2 Analyze and normalize Score every frame for sharpness, level out brightness drift across the run. 3 Build a reference Pick the frame everything else gets measured against. 4 Align and select Register each frame to the reference. Keep only the best of them. 5 Break into tiles Cut every surviving frame into small patches. Seeing is not uniform across a frame. 6 Recombine For each patch, take the best versions across all frames and average them into one image. Step 6 is where engines die Splitting the image is arithmetic. Making the joins invisible is the hard part, and atmospheric distortion has been smearing detail across those tile boundaries the whole time. Seams Tile edges that stay visible in the result. Cracks Lines running through an otherwise clean image. Peppered detail Texture that appears and disappears patch by patch. Limb artifacts Edge damage where the subject meets black sky. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/saturn_stack_alignment_points_strata_warp.png) V3 is the one that holds up. It still wasn't right when testers first saw it. I've shipped four other apps. Strata is the most complicated by a wide margin, and it taught me something about the shape of this kind of work: building the app was maybe ten percent of the effort. The other ninety percent went into getting it to a state where I would put my name on the output. That ratio surprised me. Writing a wavelet sharpener is a weekend. Writing one that behaves correctly on a mono solar capture, a drizzled lunar mosaic tile, and a Jupiter stack with a moon in the frame, and that produces the same result in batch as it does interactively, and that doesn't quietly change what it does when someone excludes a channel, is six months. Every one of those cases came from a real person sending me a real file that didn't work. ## What testers actually changed Six months of beta Logged feedback, by month March 34 April 58 May 52 June 71 July 140 The busiest month was the last one before the release build. That is not a coincidence, and it is not a sign something went wrong. It is what the end of a beta looks like when people are still finding things worth fixing. 367 Entries logged 181 Defects 81 Feature requests 58 Interface changes ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/strata_batch_analysis_progress_comparison_table.png) I want to be specific about this, because "thanks to my beta testers" is easy to say and tells you nothing. **Hardy** reviewed this app more thoroughly than I did. He went through every screen down to the color of individual buttons and the wording of labels, and he did it repeatedly, for months. He also found real defects in the output, not just the interface. Two things in Strata exist because of him. The first is the Passes control on wavelet sharpening. He wanted a sharpness he couldn't reach in one pass, so he exported the image, reloaded it, sharpened it again, and repeated that twenty-eight times to prove the result was worth having. Then he emailed me: > I sharpened the image 28(!) times using Layer 1 with a value of 1.2\. Of course, I kept exporting it, then reloading the sharpened version, sharpening it again. The process is rubbish but the result is not so bad. Now just throw a field and a button on the Sharpen page where you can select 28x, and I'll be happy. He was right, and the compounding it produces is not something you can get by turning a single slider higher. The control shipped a few days later. The second is a stacking artifact he caught on a deliberately oversharpened full Moon at ten degrees elevation. He isolated it to regions without alignment points, confirmed smaller alignment boxes reduced it, and confirmed the other stacking engine didn't show it at all. That's a complete bug report before I'd looked at a line of code. The fix is in the 1.0.1 update. Then he did something I hadn't asked for and wouldn't have thought to ask for. Strata's analysis phase is like a weather forecast. It reads your video before anything has been stacked and predicts which of the night's captures will give you the best final image. Batch Analysis is that same forecast across a whole session, fourteen files ranked before you've committed an evening to processing any of them. It's a prediction, and like any prediction it's only worth something if it turns out to be right. Hardy wanted to know what the weather actually was. So he built the instrument to measure it: [Lunar Image Analyzer](https://www.hardyhemmi.ch/Mond/?ref=macobservatory.com), an ImageJ macro that takes finished, unsharpened lunar stacks, tiles them, scores every patch for sharpness, discards the patches that are too dark or too bright or sitting on the limb, and ranks a folder on what's left. It's free, it runs in Fiji, and if you shoot the Moon it's worth your time. Independent of my code entirely, and looking at the finished image rather than the video it came from. Two ways to answer the same question Forecast Strata, Batch Analysis Reads the raw video before anything is stacked. Scores every frame, ranks the night's captures, predicts which one will finish best. Input: the video Measurement Lunar Image Analyzer Reads the finished stack. Tiles it, scores each patch for sharpness, ignores the limb and the sky, ranks the folder on what is left. Input: the result 0.85 Rank correlation Top pick identical. Same top three. Same top six. Seven of the top eight in agreement. Measured by Hardy on his own lunar sessions, independently of my code. Then he ran both and compared them. On his images, the rank correlation between Strata's forecast and his measurement came out at 0.85\. The top pick matched exactly. The top three were the same three, the top six the same six, and seven of the top eight agreed. That's the first time anyone outside my own machine tested whether the prediction predicts anything, and I wouldn't have that answer if he hadn't built the thing to get it. **Sven** captures the Sun in H-alpha and Calcium-K for hours at a stretch, one file every thirty seconds. He showed up with a workflow that produced hundreds of files a session and a batch feature that topped out at a handful. Folder batch with no file limit exists because his workflow made the limit look as arbitrary as it was. Point Strata at a directory now and it runs the whole thing. **A second Sven**, a different person with the same first name, sent color SER files converted out of Siril that Strata previewed as garbage and stacked worse. Working out why taught me more than I wanted to know about the ways different applications write the same file format, and the fix covered a whole class of third-party conversions rather than just his files. **Antonio** was benchmarking Strata against WinJUPOS from the first week, and he was unsparing about it. His first report was that derotation didn't derotate, it just blended two images together, and he sent side by side proof. That report ended with me throwing out the entire optical-flow approach and rebuilding derotation on a different foundation. He also pushed it past the two-image limit it started with. **Drew** stress-tested the parts of the app I was least likely to test myself. He found a mosaic artifact in stacked color-camera output that only became visible once you sharpened the finest wavelet layer, and then confirmed the diagnosis with a controlled run using the other stacking engine. He found that excluding a channel in Luminance mode made the sharpening round trip non-identity, so brightness crept up with every pass even at zero sharpening. He found that the comparison view rendered at a different scale than the main view, which is the kind of thing that quietly makes you distrust your own eyes. **Donald** sent solar captures that Strata simply refused to process. Bright H-alpha frames rejected wholesale as overexposed. A high-drift close-up that couldn't build a reference frame at all, on a file AutoStakkert handled without complaint. Each one was a real defect in a validity check that was too confident about what a good frame looks like. All of them work now. **Rain City Astro** writes [Planet Stacker X](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/planet-stacker-x/id6745387074?ref=macobservatory.com), which does some of what Strata does and does it for free. He spent time during the beta helping me anyway. He filed reports on a file format I couldn't load, a mono solar capture that froze on analysis, an out-of-memory crash on a very large recording, and stacking quality on undersampled data. He also gave me advice and pointed out things in my own pipeline I had overlooked. I don't take that for granted, and I'd tell anyone to go try his app. **Gerhard** found three things that would each have been embarrassing to ship. Strata Warp returning a black image, because the merge divided by the number of frames it had been asked for rather than the number it actually managed to accumulate. A Jupiter capture with moons in the frame, where the validity check threw out 1,831 frames out of 1,835\. And FITS exports that PixInsight refused to open, because one non-ASCII character in the metadata was enough to make the file non-conforming. He also asked the follow-up I didn't have a good answer to: when the app decides your frames are no good, why can't you overrule it? And then there are the people who each sent one file that broke one thing. **Christophe** caught folder batch occasionally writing a structurally invalid TIFF, which is the worst class of bug in an app like this, because the run reports success and the damage is in the file. He also found solar color refusing to apply to a directly loaded still, and Process Image Folder finding zero files in a folder of Strata's own exports. **Kilian** sent a solar session where one capture out of fourteen was rejected outright. **Shane** worked the partial solar disc and prominence edges harder than anyone. **Katelyn**, **Tim**, **René**, **Gary**, **Arthur**, **Jerzy** and **Dom** each turned up something I would not have found on my own, because none of it happens to the files I shoot. ## What's next 1.0.1 is already built and follows shortly. It's bug fixes and finish work: the stacking artifact Hardy caught, mono captures exporting as true single-channel files instead of three identical ones, the comparison view rendering fixes, and the higher-quality stacking engine becoming the default rather than something you have to select. After that, the roadmap is long, and most of it is already written by the people above. Feature requests I've logged and haven't built yet outnumber the ones I have. Some of them are large enough to be their own projects. That's the part I'd underline. If you use Strata and something breaks, or something is merely annoying, tell me. That's how the last six months went, and it's how the next six will. And everyone I did not name Every piece of feedback was acted on in some way Some of it became a fix. Some became a feature. Some became a decision to deliberately not build something, which is worth just as much and is harder to arrive at alone. A few reports I could not reproduce, and those are still open with your file sitting in a folder on my machine. Nothing was ignored. If you sent a crash report through TestFlight without leaving your name, if you emailed me one screenshot and never heard back beyond a thank you, if you told me something was confusing and I changed the wording three builds later without saying so: it counted, and it is in here. Strata 1.0 is a better app than the one I would have shipped alone. That is not a courtesy. It is the plainest description of what happened. [Strata is $34.99 on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strata-planetary-stacking/id6761143633?ref=macobservatory.com), one time, every feature included. It needs macOS 14.6 or later and runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel. There's more detail on the [Strata product page](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/). ### Planetary Cameras vs Deep-Sky Cameras: When Does Specialization Matter? URL: https://macobservatory.com/planetary-vs-deep-sky-cameras-sensor-requirements/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T00:37:54.000Z A planetary camera and a deep-sky camera are built from opposite requirements. One reads a small patch of sensor thousands of times a minute. The other holds a large patch still for minutes at a time. Almost every difference between the two categories follows from that one split. If you already own a cooled CMOS camera for nebulae and galaxies and you're wondering whether it can pull double duty on Jupiter, the short answer is usually yes, with conditions attached. The longer answer is worth having, because the conditions are where the money is. I'm using the ZWO ASI533MC Pro as the running example. It sits right on the boundary, plenty of Mac users own one, and it comes up in nearly every forum thread on this question. Understanding why it's a compromise for planetary work explains the whole category split. ## Why frame rate is the number that decides it Planetary imaging runs on lucky imaging. You shoot video, hundreds or thousands of short frames, then throw away the worst ones and keep only the moments when the atmosphere briefly settled. Stack what survives and you recover detail no single frame could show cleanly. The mechanism is frame count, and the arithmetic is unforgiving. The ASI533MC Pro runs at 20 fps across its full 3008 x 3008 frame. A three minute capture gets you 3,600 frames. Reject the worst 80%, which is a normal keep rate in mediocre seeing, and you're stacking 720\. Crop that same camera to a 640 x 480 region of interest and it runs at 116.55 fps. The same three minutes now yields about 21,000 frames, and the same 20% keep rate leaves you roughly 4,200 to stack. That's not a marginal gain. It changes how aggressively you can select for quality and still end up with a deep result. Lucky imaging Why Frame Count Compounds Same camera, same three minutes, one setting changed. Full frame, 3008 x 3008 20fps 3 min capture → **3,600 frames** Keep the best 20% → **720 stacked** ROI crop, 640 x 480 117fps 3 min capture → **\~21,000 frames** Keep the best 20% → **\~4,200 stacked** You can't control the air Frame rate is the only lever that raises your odds of catching steady moments. Jupiter won't wait Rotation caps a single capture at minutes before features smear. That 117 fps figure is competitive for planetary work, and I want to be clear about that up front. The ASI533MC Pro is not a bad planetary camera. What matters is understanding what ROI costs and why some cameras handle it better than others. The [ZWO ASI2600MC Pro](https://macobservatory.com/zwo-asi2600mc-pro-review/), for comparison, reaches only about 28 fps at that same 640 x 480 crop. The 533 does this considerably better than most large-format DSO cameras. ## The four specs underneath the frame rate Frame rate is the headline. It sits downstream of four other specifications, and those four are what actually define the categories. **Pixel size.** Planetary imaging resolves fine detail at long focal length, and smaller pixels give you more samples per arcsecond when your optics can deliver them. The ASI533MC Pro has 3.76 µm pixels. The ASI678MC, a dedicated planetary camera, has 2.0 µm. On a Celestron EdgeHD 11 at 2,800 mm, that's 0.28 arcsec per pixel against 0.15\. The gap is real, but the 533 isn't out of range. Call it meaningful rather than disqualifying. Worth knowing that at native f/10 the 533 is actually undersampled on an SCT and wants a Barlow to reach its target range, which is a cheaper fix than a new camera. **Pixel count, not sensor size.** Sensor area gets blamed for slow frame rates and it's the wrong culprit. Readout time tracks pixel count and bit depth. The ASI585MC has a 1/1.2 inch sensor with 8.29 million pixels and reads at 46.9 fps. The ASI662MC has a smaller 1/2.8 inch sensor with 2.07 million pixels and reads at about 103 fps. The ASI533MC Pro, at 9 million pixels and 14-bit, manages 20. Physical area still matters, for a different reason. On a long focal length scope a planet occupies a small patch of sky, and a large sensor spends most of its readout budget on empty black. That's precisely the problem ROI mode exists to solve. Something worth knowing before you shop: the newer 8 megapixel planetary cameras aren't fast wide open either. The ASI678MC tops out at 47.5 fps across its full 3840 x 2160 frame. They reach planetary frame rates by cropping, same as a DSO camera does. What you're buying is a better starting point, smaller pixels and a faster-reading sensor, so the crop you end up with is more useful. The classic small planetary cameras are the exception: the ASI662MC really does run at 103 fps with nothing cropped. **Cooling.** This one favors the simpler option. Deep-sky imaging accumulates thermal noise because individual exposures run for minutes. Planetary frames are measured in milliseconds and the sensor has time to shed heat between captures. Cooling adds cost and mechanical complexity that planetary-only imagers don't need. An uncooled planetary camera is a design decision, not a corner cut. **Read noise.** This is the one I had backwards for a long time. The intuition says high gain amplifies everything including noise, so planetary capture at high gain must be noisy. Modern CMOS sensors work the other way around. Most of these cameras have a high conversion gain mode that switches in above a threshold and cuts read noise measured in electrons. On the ASI462MC, HCG engages at gain 80 and read noise falls to 0.47e. The ASI533MC Pro runs from 3.8e at low gain down to 1.0e at high gain. The ToupTek G3M678C spans 2.43e down to 0.42e. Planetary capture lives at the clean end of that range, which is convenient, because that's exactly where you have to be to keep exposures short enough to freeze the seeing. Engineering tradeoffs Three Ways to Build a Camera DEEP-SKY ZWO ASI533MC Pro 9 MP at 14-bit 20 fps full frame 117 fps cropped 1 inch square sensor, 3.76 µm pixels, cooled for long exposures Needs ROI to reach planetary frame rates PLANETARY ZWO ASI662MC / ASI678MC 2.07 MP at 12-bit 103 fps full frame no crop needed 2.0 to 2.9 µm pixels, read noise down to 0.47e in HCG, no cooling required Field of view too narrow for serious deep-sky work HYBRID ZWO ASI585MC 8.29 MP at 12-bit 46.9 fps full frame crops for planetary 1/1.2 inch sensor, 2.9 µm pixels, cooled Pro variant available Not the best at either discipline in absolute terms ## Matching the camera to the telescope Pixel size only means something in combination with focal length. The number that matters is pixel scale, how much sky each pixel covers, and it comes from one formula. Once you have pixel scale, compare it against what your telescope can actually resolve. Aperture sets that ceiling, and no amount of magnification moves it. A 203 mm aperture resolves about 0.68 arcsec. An 11 inch resolves about 0.49\. If your pixels are much coarser than that limit you're throwing away detail the optics are handing you. If they're much finer you're spreading the same detail across more pixels, which costs you frame rate and signal per pixel and buys nothing. For planetary work the usual target is a focal ratio somewhere around four to six times your pixel size in microns for a color camera, or three to four and a half for mono, since a Bayer matrix samples each color more coarsely than the pixel grid suggests. On an ASI533MC Pro with 3.76 µm pixels that puts the target at roughly f/15 to f/23\. Run one at native f/10 on an SCT and you're undersampled, which is worth knowing before you conclude the camera is the problem. Undersampling isn't fatal, incidentally. Drizzle at 2x or 3x during stacking recovers some of it when your frame count is high, which is one more reason frame rate keeps turning up as the thing that matters. Sampling Pixel Scale Calculator How much sky each pixel covers, and whether that matches your aperture. **Pixel scale** (″/px) = 206.265 × pixel size (µm) ÷ focal length (mm) 206.265 converts radians to arcseconds for micron-and-millimeter units. Diffraction limit (″) ≈ 138 ÷ aperture (mm) · f/ratio = focal length ÷ aperture Telescope Celestron EdgeHD 8 (203mm f/10) Celestron EdgeHD 11 (280mm f/10) Celestron C9.25 (235mm f/10) Celestron C6 (150mm f/10) 8 inch Newtonian (203mm f/5.9) Takahashi TOA-130 (130mm f/7.7) Custom Camera ZWO ASI678MC / ToupTek G3M678C (2.00 µm) ZWO ASI585MC (2.90 µm) ZWO ASI662MC (2.90 µm) ZWO ASI715MC (1.45 µm) ZWO ASI533MC Pro (3.76 µm) ZWO ASI2600MC Pro (3.76 µm) ZWO ASI6200MM Pro (3.76 µm mono) Custom Aperture (mm) Focal length (mm) Pixel size (µm) Sensor Color (one shot color) Monochrome Barlow or Powermate None 1.5x 2x 2.5x 3x 4x 5x Pixel scale 0.203″ / pixel Effective FL 2032 mm Focal ratio f/10.0 Diffraction limit 0.68″ Pixels across it 3.3 Well sampled Rules of thumb, not laws. Target focal ratio is roughly 4 to 6 times pixel size in microns for color sensors, 3 to 4.5 for mono, which places about three pixels across the diffraction disk. Seeing, collimation and focus all move the practical answer. Run the numbers on the two configurations from my driveway and the calculator tells the same story the frame rate did. EdgeHD 8 at native f/10 with 2 µm pixels lands at 0.20 arcsec per pixel and about 3.3 pixels across the diffraction disk, which is right where a color sensor wants to be. Add the 2.5x and it becomes 0.08 arcsec and 8.4 pixels across the same disk, well past the point of return. Try it with your own combination before you buy anything. If it says undersampled, a Barlow is cheaper than a camera. If it says oversampled, you already own more focal length than your aperture can use, and the frame rate you're giving up is buying nothing. ## Focal length is the other lever, and it sends you a bill Everyone tells you focal length matters more than camera choice for planetary work, and that's true. Almost nobody tells you what it costs. Here's a measurement from my own front driveway in July. Venus, ToupTek G3M678C, which uses the same Sony IMX678 sensor and the same 2.0 µm pixels as the ASI678MC discussed above. Telescope was a Celestron EdgeHD 8 at native f/10, 2,032 mm. Seeing that night was 2.0 to 2.5 arcsec, rated Poor, with a 93% illuminated Moon in the sky. Not a good night. A realistic one. At f/10 with 2.0 µm pixels I'm sampling at 0.20 arcsec per pixel, running 820 microseconds at gain 100 in RAW8, on a 294 x 268 crop. That gave me 345 frames per second. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-8.59.49---PM.png) EdgeHD 8 at native f/10, ToupTek G3M678C on Venus. 294 x 268 crop, 820 µs at gain 100, RAW8\. 345 fps, nothing dropped. 0.20 arcsec per pixel. Then I put a 2.5x Tele Vue Powermate in the train. Focal length goes to 5,080 mm, the f-ratio goes to f/25, and pixel scale drops to 0.08 arcsec per pixel. Better sampling, in theory. Light per pixel falls with the square of the f-ratio. Going from f/10 to f/25 costs a factor of 6.25, so my 820 microsecond exposure had to become 5.33 milliseconds. And the moment your exposure is 5.33 ms, your frame rate cannot exceed 188 fps no matter how hard you crop, because that's simply one divided by the exposure time. I measured 171. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-8.54.11---PM.png) Same camera, same target, same night, with a 2.5x Powermate in the train. f/25 needs 6.25 times the exposure, so 820 µs became 5.33 ms and 345 fps became 171\. 56 MB/s sustained to 2.24 GB, still nothing dropped. 0.08 arcsec per pixel, in 2.0 to 2.5 arcsec seeing. So I paid a little over half my frame rate to sample at 0.08 arcsec per pixel. An 8 inch aperture resolves about 0.68 arcsec at best, so at f/25 I was spreading the finest detail the telescope can deliver across eight pixels when three is plenty for a color sensor. That's roughly two and a half times more magnification than the optics could justify, bought with the one currency this article has spent three sections arguing matters most. The seeing made it worse but it wasn't the cause. The cause was reaching past what the aperture could resolve. Amplification is worth reaching for when you're short of the target and the air is steady. Past that point it takes away more than it gives. Measured, one night, one target What a 2.5x Powermate Costs EdgeHD 8 · ToupTek G3M678C · Venus · seeing 2.0 to 2.5″ Native f/10 Frame rate 345 fps 2,032 mm focal length 820 µs exposure 0.20″ per pixel With 2.5x, f/25 Frame rate 171 fps 5,080 mm focal length 5.33 ms exposure 0.08″ per pixel Light per pixel falls with the square of the f-ratio, so f/10 to f/25 costs 6.25x in exposure. At 5.33 ms nothing above 188 fps is reachable regardless of how far you crop. Once the optical train sets your exposure, ROI stops being the lever. Both of those captures ran with zero dropped frames, the f/25 one sustaining 56 MB/s to 2.24 gigabytes. More on why that's worth watching further down. ## So can the ASI533MC actually do planetary? Yes, with caveats. With ROI mode it produces competitive results, particularly on Jupiter and Saturn. Discussion on Cloudy Nights lands in roughly the same place: many DSO cameras can do decent planetary work through a region of interest, and the 533MC Pro comes up repeatedly as the example. Going the other direction, using a small uncooled planetary camera for serious deep-sky imaging, is the harder sell. What the 533 won't do is close the gap when conditions turn against you. When seeing is genuinely bad, frame count is your only buffer, and 117 fps selects from a smaller pool than a dedicated camera does at the same crop. The asymmetry is worth naming. A DSO camera pressed into planetary service is an imperfect but workable compromise. A planetary camera pressed into deep-sky service gives up cooling, field of view, and full well depth all at once. That's a bigger sacrifice. ASI533MC Pro (deep-sky) - 3.76 µm pixels, 9 MP - 1 inch square sensor, 11.31 x 11.31 mm - 20 fps at full resolution, 14-bit - 117 fps at a 640 x 480 crop - Two-stage cooling for long exposures - Read noise 3.8e at low gain, 1.0e at high - 50 Ke full well - Planetary: capable with ROI, not class-leading ASI678MC (planetary) - 2.0 µm pixels, 8.29 MP - 1/1.8 inch sensor, 7.7 x 4.3 mm - 47.5 fps at full resolution, 12-bit - Cropping still required for high frame rates - No cooling, short exposures don't need it - Read noise as low as 0.6e - 11.27 Ke full well - Deep-sky: poor choice for wide field work ## The middle ground The [ZWO ASI585MC](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi585mc-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) sits between the two categories on purpose. It uses the Sony IMX585 with STARVIS 2, a 1/1.2 inch sensor measuring 11.14 x 6.26 mm, 3840 x 2160 at 2.9 µm pixels, 46.9 fps at full resolution in 12-bit mode, and zero amp glow. There's a cooled variant, the [ASI585MC Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi585mc-pro-cooled-color-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), for extended deep-sky sessions. Worth being precise about what it does and doesn't give you. Its 2.9 µm pixels are the same size as the ASI662MC's, so on the pixel scale question it's genuinely planetary-class. Its sensor area is about 70 square millimeters against the 533's 128, so on deep-sky field of view the 533 is the larger chip by a comfortable margin, despite the 585 having more pixels. Calling the 585 a wide-field camera would overstate it. What you're buying is one body that does both jobs adequately rather than either one exceptionally. At $399 for the uncooled version, against roughly $800 for a 533MC Pro plus a dedicated planetary camera, that's a real argument for a first camera. ZWO ASI585MC HYBRID COOLED PRO AVAILABLE Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2, 1/1.2 inch, 3840 x 2160 at 2.9 µm. 46.9 fps at full resolution in 12-bit, zero amp glow, 40 Ke full well, 512 MB DDR3 buffer. macOS Windows Linux Planetary + deep-sky [ASI585MC at Agena →](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi585mc-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) [ASI585MC Pro at Agena →](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi585mc-pro-cooled-color-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ## What Mac users need to know before buying This is where the hardware conversation turns Mac-specific, and it's the dimension Windows-centric reviews skip entirely. If you're coming from Windows, the first thing you'll go looking for is SharpCap for Mac. It doesn't exist. SharpCap is the default planetary capture application on Windows, and its own FAQ answers this the same way every time it comes up: Windows only, with no plans for other operating systems. If you're expecting to replicate that workflow on a Mac, you need a different plan. The processing side is the same story. The standard Windows chain runs PIPP to condition the video, AutoStakkert to stack, RegiStax for wavelets, and WinJUPOS for derotation. Running AutoStakkert on Mac means Wine or CrossOver, because the app is Windows only and its developer states there are no plans for a native build. Here's what actually works on a Mac. [**Laminar**](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) is our own native capture app, and it's what produced both screenshots above. It talks to ZWO ASI cameras through the vendor SDK directly, along with PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek and its OEM brands, and SVBONY, so nothing in this article locks you to one manufacturer. It records SER in RAW8 or RAW16 with frame or duration limits. For the question this article asks, three things matter: the ROI overlay sits on the live viewport so you can pull the crop in around the disk and watch the frame rate respond before committing anything to disk, live frame quality and focus tracking tell you whether the session is worth continuing, and the log-scaled histogram is there for setting exposure and gain. Requires macOS 14.6 or later and Apple Silicon. **ZWO ASIStudio** bundles ASICap, ZWO's own capture tool, and there's a macOS build. If you're staying inside the ZWO ecosystem it's the lowest-friction starting point. [**FireCapture**](https://www.firecapture.de/?ref=macobservatory.com), from Torsten Edelmann, is free, cross-platform, and has a macOS version. It's capable once running, though Mac users regularly report Gatekeeper friction on first launch. [**AstroDMx Capture**](https://www.astrodmx-capture.org.uk/?ref=macobservatory.com) is worth knowing about as a cross-platform alternative if FireCapture's install gives you trouble. [**Strata**](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) is our processing app, and it collapses that four-tool Windows chain into one: import, analyze, stack, derotate, sharpen, color, export. It takes SER from any capture tool and reads the uncompressed RAW8 AVI that ASIStudio writes, so neither route above strands you. All the pixel processing is deterministic GPU compute with no generative models anywhere in the pipeline. macOS 14.6 or later, tuned for Apple Silicon, Intel supported. Mac planetary workflow What Runs on macOS SharpCap and AutoStakkert don't. Here's what does. Capture Video acquisition ★ Laminar ZWO ASIStudio FireCapture AstroDMx Capture Stacking Frame selection ★ Strata Planet Stacker X LuckyStackWorker AutoStakkert (Wine) Sharpening Wavelets, deconvolution ★ Strata LuckyStackWorker PixInsight Affinity Photo Camera control Drivers, connectivity ZWO ASIStudio INDI / KStars INDIGO Mac Observatory Suite Native Mac, recommended Apple Silicon accelerated Available ## The part where software becomes a hardware constraint A camera rated for high frame rates only delivers them if the software can receive and write frames at that speed, and the usual failure point is the disk rather than the camera. That f/25 capture up above sustained 56 MB/s to 2.24 gigabytes with a dropped frame count of zero. Laminar counts drops strictly and measures each drive's real sustained write speed, states the measurement, and names the volume, so a capture quietly bleeding frames shows up as a number during the session instead of a disappointing stack the next morning. It also warns before recording if the capture folder has gone missing or ended up in the Trash, which is a more common way to lose a night than anyone admits. On the processing side, the rejection percentages this article opened with are a real step rather than a figure of speech. Strata scores every frame on the GPU during its Analyze phase and hands you an interactive selection curve, so "keep the best 20%" becomes something you drag and see. When you're working from a smaller frame pool, being able to move that threshold and compare results matters more than picking a number and hoping. Two more things map directly onto problems raised earlier. Jupiter's rotation caps a single capture at minutes before features smear, and Strata's Derotate phase combines multiple captures back into one result, with a separate path for Saturn's rings. And on the pixel scale question, drizzle at 1.5x, 2x, and 3x recovers some of what larger pixels give away, provided your frame count is high and your sampling is varied enough to support it. It won't turn 3.76 µm pixels into 2.0 µm pixels, but on a 533 at long focal length it's a real part of the answer. The Mac Observatory Suite Laminar CAPTURE Native macOS planetary, lunar and solar capture. ROI overlay on the live view, frame quality and focus tracking, SER in RAW8 or RAW16, strict drop accounting and measured disk throughput. ZWO ASI PlayerOne QHY ToupTek SVBONY macOS 14.6+ · Apple Silicon [Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) Strata PROCESSING Import, analyze, stack, derotate, sharpen, color, export in one app. GPU frame scoring with an interactive selection curve, drizzle at 1.5x, 2x and 3x, multi-capture derotation with a Saturn rings path. SER from any capture tool ASIStudio RAW8 AVI No generative models macOS 14.6+ · Intel supported [Strata →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) ## When does a dedicated planetary camera actually pay off? This is the question you came here with, so let me be direct. Don't buy one yet if you already own a DSO camera with usable ROI, if planets are a secondary pursuit, or if you're in your first year and still building the workflow. Try what you have first. The results will tell you more than any spec comparison, this one included. Buy one if planetary is your primary pursuit, if you image regularly from a site with mediocre seeing where frame count is the only lever you control, or if you're chasing fine detail on Jupiter and need every frame you can get inside the rotation window. Consider the ASI585MC Pro if you're buying your first camera and want one body for both jobs. It's a trade rather than a compromise that disqualifies it from either discipline. One thing that gets lost in camera comparisons: the telescope matters more than the camera. A dedicated planetary camera on a 480 mm refractor won't outperform a 533MC on a 2,800 mm SCT. Focal length is what puts planetary detail within reach of any camera's pixel scale. If you're considering camera upgrades before maximizing focal length, reconsider the order. The [Celestron EdgeHD 11](https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11) sits at that intersection, and the [Celestron EdgeHD 8](https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-8) produced the measurements above. Just remember what the driveway test showed: focal length charges frame rate quadratically, and there's a point past which the aperture stops paying you back. The entry-level dedicated planetary camera isn't a big financial commitment either. The [ZWO ASI662MC](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi662mc-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) runs $149 at Agena, and ZWO now recommends it as the replacement for the discontinued ASI462MC. If you've worked through ROI on your existing camera and you're hitting its ceiling, that's a straightforward upgrade with a clear payoff. The short version Three Ways This Goes Keep what you have You own a DSO camera with working ROI, planets are a side interest, or you're still learning the workflow. Shoot a few sessions and look at the results before spending anything. Buy the dedicated camera Planetary is your main pursuit, your seeing is mediocre and frame count is the only lever you control, or you're chasing Jupiter detail inside a rotation window. From $149. Buy the hybrid First camera, and you want one body for both jobs. The ASI585MC at $399 covers planetary and entry-level deep-sky without disqualifying itself from either. Before any of the above: the telescope matters more than the camera, and amplification costs frame rate quadratically. Sort out focal length and check what your seeing supports first. Common questions Planetary and Deep-Sky Cameras, Answered Can I use a deep-sky camera for planetary imaging? Yes, if it supports Region of Interest. Cropping the readout to a small window around the planet raises the frame rate sharply: a ZWO ASI533MC Pro runs 20 fps across its full 3008 x 3008 frame and 117 fps at a 640 x 480 crop. Results are competitive on Jupiter and Saturn. The gap against a dedicated camera opens up in poor seeing, where frame count is the only buffer you have. Going the other way, using a small uncooled planetary camera for deep-sky work, gives up cooling, field of view and full well depth at once. What is pixel scale, and how do I calculate it? Pixel scale is how much sky one pixel covers, in arcseconds. Multiply your pixel size in microns by 206.265, then divide by focal length in millimeters. A 2.0 µm pixel on a 2,032 mm telescope gives 0.20 arcsec per pixel. Compare that against your aperture's diffraction limit, roughly 138 divided by aperture in millimeters, and aim for about three pixels across it. Is there a version of SharpCap for Mac? No. SharpCap is Windows only and its FAQ states there are no plans for other operating systems. Mac alternatives for planetary capture include Laminar, ZWO ASIStudio, FireCapture and AstroDMx Capture. On the processing side, AutoStakkert is also Windows only and runs on a Mac through Wine or CrossOver; Strata, Planet Stacker X and LuckyStackWorker are native options. Does a Barlow or Powermate improve planetary results? Only up to a point. Amplification increases pixel scale but costs light per pixel with the square of the focal ratio, and that cost lands directly on frame rate. Going from f/10 to f/25 needs 6.25 times the exposure. Measured on an EdgeHD 8 with 2.0 µm pixels, that took a capture from 345 fps down to 171\. Worth it when you're undersampled and the seeing is steady; a net loss once you pass what the aperture can resolve. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ### Ephemeris 2.0 is out: from last night to this season URL: https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris-2-0/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T21:17:50.000Z Ephemeris is a free, open-source Mac app that reads PHD2 guide logs. Version 2.0 is out today, and it adds the one thing 1.0 could never do: remember. Where 1.0 analyzed a single night, 2.0 keeps a library of every night your rig has recorded and tells you what it notices across all of them. The single-log side hasn't gone anywhere. You still open a night, see every guiding and calibration session in order, chart RA and Dec error, plot the calibration cross, run an FFT and find your worm period. That's still what I reach for the morning after a session. 2.0 is about the question one log can't answer: is this getting better? Was that a bad night, or a bad setup? Has anything actually changed since I re-tightened the OAG? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/phd2_guidelog_analysis_ra_dec_2026_08_01.png) One session, 291 frames, with the RA and Dec scatter, star mass and SNR tracked alongside. The verdict at the top is measured against this rig's imaging scale rather than the guide camera's. ## The Log Library Point Ephemeris at a folder of logs and it imports the lot, skipping the ones it already has, so you can re-import the same directory next month without making a mess. Everything lands under a rig profile: focal length, pixel size, binning, reducer, mount class. The rig is the part that makes the numbers mean something. Once Ephemeris knows you're imaging at 0.40 arcseconds per pixel rather than 3, a 0.6″ night stops being a number and starts being a comparison. You get median, p75 and p90 across the range instead of one figure, total integration, and target clusters that group sessions pointing at the same patch of sky, so you can see how the same object guided in February and again in April. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/astro_log_library_edge10m_tracking_stats.png) Thirty nights, 291 sessions, 108.9 hours on one rig. The dashed line is the rig's own imaging scale. The two cross-night observations underneath are calibration orthogonality drifting. ## Observations 23 analysis rules run over your library, 19 within a night and 4 across nights, and write what they notice in plain language. Every one is labelled with where the claim came from. That labelling is the part I care most about. An observation sourced to PHD2's documentation is applying a threshold from PHD2's own manual. One sourced to a PHD2 measurement is surfacing a number PHD2 produced, usually from a Guiding Assistant run, without deriving anything from it. One sourced to an Ephemeris heuristic is my inference from your data, which is useful and is not authoritative. When those disagree, and they do disagree, you can see which is which and make the call yourself. Observations point at PHD2's own tools by name, because that's where the fix happens: the Calibration Assistant, the Guiding Assistant, Drift Align. And they stop short of claiming causation. A pier-side RMS ratio of 2.2x is a fact about your night. Why it happened is a hypothesis, and it gets written as one. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/phd2_guidelog_summary_night_report-1.png) One night, thirteen guide sessions, eight observations. Each one carries its source, its evidence, and the PHD2 tool that actually fixes it. ## Annotations and star quality ratings Record what you changed and when. A new guide camera, a re-greased worm, a night the wind never stopped. The cross-night rules use those notes to attribute step changes in your trends instead of guessing at them. Star quality ratings stay with a session, so "the good nights" becomes something you can sort by months later rather than something you half remember. ## Asking your own logs questions This one started with me pasting chunks of guide log into Claude by hand to argue about a night that had gone sideways. It worked better than it deserved to, so I built the app a way to hand over structured data instead of me copying text. Turn on the MCP server in Settings and Claude Desktop, running on the same Mac, can query your library directly. It's read-only, it binds to loopback, it's off until you switch it on, and it exposes session-level summaries rather than raw frames or log text. | Claude Desktop Ephemeris connected Ephemeris flags my min-move as too high on almost every night this season. Should I lower it? **list\_observations** rig: Edge-10m**list\_ga\_results** rig: Edge-10m Before you change anything: those flags disagree with PHD2's own measurement, and it matters which one you trust. The min-move observations are labelled Ephemeris heuristic. They estimate a seeing floor from each session's pre-algorithm distances, then conclude your 0.40 px setting is running 2.2x to 4.2x above it, and suggest something in the 0.10 to 0.18 range. But your Guiding Assistant runs are labelled PHD2 measurement. PHD2 ran it twice on this rig, on 15 and 25 April, and recommended **0.40 and 0.50 px**. You're already set to 0.40\. You match what PHD2 measured. That's a real conflict rather than a rounding difference, and it comes from how each number is produced. The Guiding Assistant measures directly, with guiding paused, over a couple of minutes. The heuristic infers backwards from a full night of already-corrected data, which tends to pull the estimated floor low. I'd weight the direct measurement. If you want to settle it rather than pick a side: both of your GA runs are from April, and the shorter one sampled just over two minutes. Run **Tools → Guiding Assistant** again for longer, on a night with typical seeing, and see whether it still lands near 0.40. Two patches of sky I shoot are about six degrees apart and guide completely differently. Any idea why? **list\_targets** rig: Edge-10m**get\_aggregate\_stats** rig: Edge-10m You have two clusters sitting near RA 12.6h. The one at Dec +8.1 runs a median of **0.96″** across 115 sessions. The one at Dec +14.2 runs **0.37″** across 28\. Same rig, six degrees apart, and a 2.6x difference. Six degrees of declination on its own doesn't explain that. Before reaching for a mechanical cause, look at when you shot them: the +8 cluster spans 8 nights and the +14 cluster spans 5, so this may be which nights each target happened to land on rather than where it sits in the sky. Your p90 night is 1.72″ against a 0.58″ median, so two or three rough nights loaded into one cluster would produce exactly this. I can't separate those two explanations from here. The connection gives me per-session summaries, not frame-level data, so I can see that the difference exists but not what the guide star was doing inside those sessions. What would settle it: annotate the worst nights in Ephemeris with what the sky was actually doing. The cross-night rules use annotations to attribute step changes, so once the bad nights are labelled, the difference either survives or it doesn't. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | A real exchange against a real library: 56 nights, 291 hours, one rig at 0.40″/px. Ephemeris hands over the numbers and their provenance. It doesn't hand over an answer. | ## Smaller things Forum post export formats a session as text ready to paste into a Cloudy Nights thread, so asking for help stops meaning screenshotting a chart. Shortcuts support means importing a night or pulling stats can run from a shortcut or a Focus trigger. And the app now carries Sparkle, so future updates arrive in-app after you've said yes to checking for them. ## Before you download **2.0 requires macOS 15 Sequoia.** 1.0 ran on Sonoma, so if you're still on 14 this one won't open. **This update is manual.** 1.0 shipped without Sparkle, so there's nothing in your current copy that can fetch the new one. Download it and replace the old app. It's the last time you'll have to do that. Free, GPLv3, Developer ID signed and notarized, same as it was. Ephemeris is a Mac-native re-implementation of Andy Galasso's `phdlogview`, and it exists because that project does. [Download Ephemeris 2.0](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris/releases/latest/download/Ephemeris-2.0.zip?ref=macobservatory.com) · [Read the full feature rundown](https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris-phd2-log-viewer/) · [Source on GitHub](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris?ref=macobservatory.com) ### July 31, 2026 Venus URL: https://macobservatory.com/july-31-2026-venus/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T03:41:59.000Z Venus near dichotomy, twenty minutes after sunset from my driveway in Pearland, Texas. 10,000 frames through an EdgeHD 8 and a 2.5x Powermate, recorded in Laminar 1.5.9 and taken the rest of the way in Strata. The conditions were not good and Laminar said so before I started. The sky panel put seeing at 2.0 to 2.5 arcsec and called it poor, which matched what the frame quality graph did for the entire run: a steady sawtooth, nothing settling. It was 31°C at sunset with 64% humidity and an SCT that had not finished dumping its heat. The Powermate puts me at 5080mm and f/25, and with 2 micron pixels that is heavily oversampled by any normal rule. On Venus I will take it. The disk is bright enough to afford the focal ratio, and there is no fine surface detail to lose in the first place. The whole capture is 29 seconds. 10,000 frames at 347 fps in a 294x268 ROI, RAW8, high speed mode, 820 microseconds a frame at gain 100\. Venus does not rotate on any timescale that matters here, so unlike Jupiter and its roughly 90 second window, there was no clock running. I could have shot for three minutes and stacked far more good frames. I didn't, and that is the part of the night I would do differently. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-8.57.50---PM.png) Strata took the best 9% through Strata Warp, then light wavelets and a small color pass. Venus in visible light gives a local-alignment stacker almost nothing to hold onto: no surface markings, just a bright smooth crescent and a terminator that fades rather than ends. It held together, but this is the least forgiving target I have thrown at it. I don't own an ADC, and at that altitude atmospheric dispersion pulls the red and blue channels apart badly enough to see at a glance. Strata's Color phase put them back into register, which is what the channel alignment is there for, and it did most of the work in software that the hardware would have done at the telescope. What survives is a little warmth on one limb and a cooler cast on the other. I stopped there. The rest of the color is close to what came off the sensor. Next time: a daytime capture with Venus high, and a UV pass. Visible light gets you the phase and not much else. The cloud structure lives in the ultraviolet. --- Capture Details Acquisition 10,000 × 0.82 ms 347 fps, gain 100, RAW8, best 9% stacked Equipment Telescope — [Celestron EdgeHD 8](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-800-cge-ota-91030-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Amplifier — [Tele Vue 2.5x Powermate](https://agenaastro.com/televue-1-25-2-5x-powermate-pmt-2513.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) (5080mm, f/25) Camera — ToupTek G3M678C Mount — [Rainbow Astro RST-135E](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/rainbow-astro-rst-135e-weightless-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) on an Astro-Physics Eagle pier Software Mac Observatory [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) — Capture Mac Observatory [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) — Stacking, Sharpening, Color Conditions Seeing 2.0 to 2.5″, transparency good, 31°C, 64% humidity Location Pearland, TX View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/484y57?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Meridian 1.0 Is on the Mac App Store, and the Beta Is Closing URL: https://macobservatory.com/meridian-1-0-mac-app-store-release/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T04:13:24.000Z Meridian 1.0 is on the Mac App Store. It is a native macOS archive manager for deep sky astrophotographers: you point it at the folders where your FITS and XISF files already live, and it reads every header, works out which object each frame was aimed at from the coordinates rather than the file name, groups those frames into targets and sessions, and builds a searchable visual catalog of everything you have ever shot. It is $34.99, a one-time purchase, and it needs macOS 14 or later. It is also out of beta, which means the TestFlight builds are going away. More on that at the end, because the middle of this post belongs to the people who got it here. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/0x0ss-6-1.png) ## What does Meridian actually do? Most of us have the same archive problem. The data is spread over three drives, the naming convention changed twice, and the answer to "how many hours do I have on the Rosette" involves opening folders and counting. If you image with a Seestar or a DWARF, the problem arrives faster, because a smart telescope can fill a drive in one season and leave behind folders that tell you almost nothing about what is in them. Meridian reads the archive you already have. It identifies targets from the pointing coordinates in your headers, so it finds the right object even when the OBJECT keyword is blank or wrong or full of somebody else's shorthand. It knows that M42, NGC 1976, Sh2-281, and LBN 974 are the same thing, and it groups your data accordingly. It builds your equipment list out of what your capture software wrote into the headers, with no setup screen to fill in. It stretches every thumbnail so you see your data instead of black rectangles. And it never writes to your files: no moving, no renaming, no rewriting headers, not once. The full feature breakdown, the compatibility list, and the FAQ all live on the [Meridian product page](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/). If your archive is currently a mess and you want to think about structure before you scan anything, my guide to [organizing an astrophotography data library](https://macobservatory.com/organize-astrophotography-data-library-mac/) is the better place to start. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/0x0ss-1-1.png) ## What did the beta actually look like? I want to be specific about this, because "thanks to our beta testers" is easy to say and means nothing without numbers behind it. The Meridian Beta, by the Numbers 14 rounds of feedback, February to June 10 testers pointing it at real archives 93 bug reports filed 16 feature requests, most of them now shipped 70 items resolved before 1.0 went out 1 developer, answering every one of them Every report went into a tracked ledger with a priority, a root cause, and a resolution. Nothing was closed by ignoring it. ## Which features came from testers? Here are six, spread across the whole beta. In every case what shipped is better than what I would have built alone, because the report arrived attached to a real archive that broke in a way I could not have invented. Round 1, first report ever filed ### It crashed on the first real archive it ever saw The very first bug report of the beta was a crash. A tester pointed Meridian at 79,000 image files and the scanner fell over, because it was walking into macOS package directories it had no business opening. That was report number one out of ninety-three, and it set the tone for the whole project: my own archive was never going to be big enough or strange enough to find this stuff. The same round brought twenty more issues, including blurry previews on one-shot colour data, sky map zoom that fought the cursor, and no way to get from the Catalog back to the files that fed it. Round 3, the one that scared me ### Meridian will not drag 100 GB down from iCloud behind your back If your archive lives in iCloud Drive, macOS may have offloaded most of it to save space. Reading a file's header is enough to make the system fetch the whole thing back. A tester with an offloaded library watched Meridian start pulling down more than a hundred gigabytes of data purely to look at headers. That is the kind of bug that costs somebody real money on a metered connection, and I would not have found it, because my own data sits on local drives. Meridian now recognises offloaded files and leaves them alone rather than triggering the download. Rounds 8 through 11, four separate bugs ### Pressing space on a FITS file actually shows you the frame Quick Look took four rounds to get right, and every failure came from a tester's machine rather than mine. One-shot colour frames previewed with a green cast and a vertical flip. Previews fell back to a generic metadata card for anyone who was not running the command line diagnostic as root, which turned out to be a missing file-read entitlement on the preview extension. And on machines with Siril installed, `.fit` files lost their previews and Finder thumbnails entirely, because both apps were claiming the same file type. All of that is why the spacebar now works on a FITS or XISF file whether or not Meridian is running. Rounds 1 through 10, a long thread ### One rig stays one rig Equipment tracking was the single most reported area of the app. Sessions showed "Unknown Telescope" even when the mount was clearly named. An ASIAIR was writing mount names into the telescope field. Smart telescope data split one instrument into several. And a setup reporting 754 mm one night and 756 mm the next fragmented into separate profiles, which quietly ruins any attempt to filter by gear. Meridian now substitutes focal length where the header is unhelpful, matches equipment with a tolerance you set yourself, and lets you drag one profile onto another to merge them, or use a context menu if dragging is not your thing. Round 14, 2,581 invisible frames ### Every file now tells you why it was skipped One tester shoots with a DSLR and converts those RAW files to FITS before stacking. Meridian saw the processing-software stamp the converted files carry, decided they were intermediates rather than real light frames, and quietly skipped all 2,581 of them. The catalog came up nearly empty and the app never said why. That report turned into the Source Files triage workbench: every file on disk now carries a disposition badge, skipped files state their reason on the row, and you can overrule the parser with a right-click, per file or per folder, with the override surviving a full rebuild. The heuristics will still be wrong sometimes. Now being wrong is visible, and it is a two-click fix. Round 3, one character ### A decimal comma Meridian asks for your observing location so it can work out when a target transits and how long it stays up. It rejected coordinates typed with a decimal comma, which is to say it rejected the way most of Europe writes a number. Every visibility calculation in the app was unreachable for those users, and the failure looked like their fault rather than mine. This one is my favourite entry in the whole ledger, because it is exactly the class of bug that a developer testing his own software in his own country never sees. There were plenty more. Removing a watched folder used to leave its objects behind in the catalog. Import errors vanished on restart. Messier objects sorted lexically, so M100 came before M2\. Searching for M16 landed you on a different nebula in the same field, because Meridian was listing 438 objects as being "in frame." Finished TIFFs nested in a session subfolder never made it onto the target they belonged to. Adding a folder sat silent through discovery, which on a large archive is a long time to wonder whether the app has died. And when an import could not identify a target, Meridian used to leave it sitting there named after its folder without ever mentioning that plate solving would fix it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/0x0ss-5-1.png) ## One last note from App Review Worth telling, because it is a problem specific to this kind of app. I submitted 1.0 in the middle of July and it came back rejected. Not for a bug: the reviewer opened a fresh install on a Mac with no astrophotography archive on it, and Meridian did what it is designed to do, which is show you your archive. There wasn't one. Six empty views. Fair enough. I built a small sample archive of three real objects, actual FITS and XISF frames with finished images alongside them, hosted it, and wrote the reviewer instructions for loading it. Same binary, resubmitted, approved on July 27\. Meridian 1.0.1 went out the next day with a fix for image-only folders that now become proper targets. ## Thank you Ten people put their own archives in front of an unfinished app and told me the truth about what happened. Some of those archives ran to hundreds of thousands of files. Several of the reports were better than anything I would have written myself, with logs attached and steps to reproduce and, in a few cases, sample files so I could see the exact header that was confusing the parser. One tester hit a limitation, wrote a Python script to work around it, and sent me the script so I could pass it on to anyone else with the same camera. That is not beta testing. That is just generosity. They signed up to test an app, not to be written about, so I am not going to name them here. They know who they are and they know what they fixed. If you use Meridian and something about it works properly, there is a decent chance it works because one of them made me fix it. Thank you, all ten of you. ## What Meridian does not do Worth knowing before you buy Meridian is a librarian, not a darkroom. It does no stacking, no calibration, and no editing, and it is not a capture tool or a planetarium. It reads FITS, XISF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, and PSD, but it does not read camera RAW files, so DSLR and mirrorless shooters need to convert to FITS first. There is no free trial, which is a limitation of how I sell on the App Store rather than a choice I love. And while Meridian ships as a universal binary that runs on Intel, it is built and tuned on Apple Silicon, and I have not done a full test pass on Intel hardware. ## The beta is closing If you have been running Meridian through TestFlight, that build stops working in 65 days. There is no way to carry a TestFlight install over to a purchased one, so continuing past then means buying it on the Mac App Store. Your catalog is safe either way. Meridian has never touched your imaging files, and the App Store version reads the same watched folders and rebuilds from the same data on disk. Nothing you shot is inside the app, which was the whole point of building it read-only. To everyone who tested: check your email. I have not forgotten who did the work. ## Your archive, cataloged. Meridian 1.0.1 is on the Mac App Store. One purchase, every feature, no subscription. Requires macOS 14 or later. [Get Meridian on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meridian-deep-sky-catalog/id6759272712?ref=macobservatory.com) Or read the full [Meridian product page](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) first. If you buy it and something goes wrong, email me at [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). That address reaches one person, and this post is a reasonable indication of what happens next. Andrew ### Laminar Keeps Shipping: Everything New Since 1.5.0 URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-keeps-shipping-everything-new-since-1-5-0/ Last updated: 2026-07-21T00:57:15.000Z Laminar has shipped eight updates since the 1.5.0 calibration release, on a roughly weekly cadence. If it has been a few weeks since you opened the app, here is what you missed: a new fully supported camera family, real disk-speed intelligence built into the capture panel, and a round of performance work you can feel the moment a preview starts. None of it changed the price. Laminar is still a one-time purchase, and every item below is a free update on the Mac App Store. ## QHY is now a fully supported camera family QHY started as a Beta backend. Sub-frame ROI capture was the one feature keeping it there, and now that it works, QHY moves to full production alongside ZWO, PlayerOne, ToupTek and its OEM rebadges, and SVBONY. Cropping down to a planet-sized region is where planetary frame rates come from, so this is the difference between "it connects" and "I would actually image with it." NOW PRODUCTION Joins ZWO, PlayerOne, ToupTek / OEM, and SVBONY QHY graduates out of Beta Sub-frame ROI capture was the last piece missing, and it is here now. On my QHY5III715C a cropped recording held a steady rate with zero dropped frames. 94.8 fps Sub-frame capture, up from 42 0 dropped 781-frame validation run ## Laminar now knows how fast your drives are This is my favorite addition of the whole run. Sustained write speed is the real ceiling on high-frame-rate capture, and until now you had to find that ceiling by trial and error. Laminar now measures each of your drives quietly from your own recordings and plans around what it learns. Know before you record Capture planning built into the panel Measured, not guessed Laminar learns each drive's true sustained write speed from your own captures. No benchmark to run. A clear verdict Before you hit record you see your data rate and file size, each with a plain green, yellow, or red call against that specific drive. One-click fix If a capture would outrun the disk, Laminar suggests a frame limit that fits and applies it for you. Nothing dropped If the drive falls behind mid-capture, frames are held in memory at full speed, then written out afterward at the pace the disk can handle. The recording completes intact. ## Performance you can feel Version 1.5.7 shipped a large internal rebuild of the capture engine. The short version: the busy work of a live session — recording stats, sensor temperature, the histogram — no longer competes with the parts of the window you are actually touching. Region-of-interest dragging and slider changes stay smooth at high frame rates, and recording starts instantly even on slower external drives. If the interface ever felt sticky to you before, open it again. What the rebuild delivers Smooth ROI dragging Live slider response Instant record start Faster launch with cameras attached Smoother white balance ## More from this cycle Smaller wins that add up A real progress bar Recordings show a live progress bar with a readable frame or time count, and frame-limited captures stop on the exact number you set. Settings that stick Gain and exposure are remembered per camera, so a camera that powers up at gain 0 no longer opens to a black preview. Your capture limit is saved too. Newer PlayerOne bodies An SDK update restored detection of newer PlayerOne cameras, including the Uranus-M and Uranus-M PRO. Smarter camera picker The picker groups astronomy cameras apart from webcams and selects your imaging camera automatically. If you use calibration frames 1.5.8 includes a reliability pass on calibration, covering how masters are matched and how hot pixels are detected on very clean, low-noise darks. If you have darks or flats from an earlier version, recapture them on 1.5.8 to pick up the improvements. Shoot darks at the gain and exposure you actually image at, and shoot flats at full frame. ## All free, and the cadence continues Every update here is free on the Mac App Store, and I am not slowing down. If something is not working the way you expect, or there is a feature you want to see next, I read every message. Laminar MAC OBSERVATORY Native planetary, lunar, and solar capture for Apple Silicon Macs. Now at version 1.5.8. macOS 14.6+ Apple Silicon Native [Learn More →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) Clear skies, Andrew ### Introducing Transit: Tonight's Astronomical Events, in Your Mac's Menu Bar URL: https://macobservatory.com/introducing-transit-astronomy-events-mac/ Last updated: 2026-07-11T16:26:15.000Z Transit is a new Mac-native menu bar app from Mac Observatory that answers one question: what's happening in tonight's sky, and do conditions favor seeing it? It watches for astronomical events like planetary oppositions, Jupiter's moon shadows, ISS passes, conjunctions, and lunar occultations, and it sends a macOS notification with enough lead time to actually get outside. No planetarium to launch, no menus to dig through. The sky comes to you. Transit is available now on the Mac App Store, and I want to tell you why I built it. ★ Transit: Astronomical Events MAC OBSERVATORY Tonight's sky in your menu bar: conditions, seeing, planetary events, and satellite passes, with notifications that arrive early enough to get outside. macOS 15+ Apple Silicon Native $9.99 One-Time [Learn More →](https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events) [App Store →](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6787255071?ref=macobservatory.com) ## This started as a Laminar feature Transit began life as an add-on for [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software), my planetary capture app. What I really wanted was for Laminar to tap you on the shoulder: there's a shadow transit on Jupiter tonight and the sky is clear, you might want to shoot this. Lead time is everything in planetary imaging. Knowing about an event after it happened is trivia. Knowing an hour before is a session. But the deeper I got into feature exploration, the more obvious it became that this didn't fit inside a capture app. The event engine kept growing to cover Galilean moon events, Great Red Spot transits, conjunctions, satellite passes, and moon phase milestones, and none of it had anything to do with recording SER files. And then the second realization: this isn't just for imagers. A visual observer with a Dob and no camera wants exactly the same thing. So the feature became its own app, built for every Mac-using observer, whether there's a camera in your kit or not. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/stargazing_conditions_pearland_july9_2026-1.png) ## Lead time is the product Every astronomy app can tell you what's up tonight, if you remember to ask. That's the problem. Planetarium apps are answer machines: superb when you have a question, silent when you don't. The events you miss aren't the ones you looked up. They're the ones you never knew to look for. Transit inverts that. It runs quietly in your menu bar, computes tonight's events for your location, and uses the built-in macOS notification system to warn you ahead of time. You choose how much warning each event type gets: at the event, 15 minutes before, an hour before, or a full day before. That hour option isn't arbitrary. If you image or observe through a telescope, you know the drill. Optics need time outside to acclimate to ambient temperature before they'll deliver steady views. A notification that arrives when the event starts is a notification you can't use. A notification an hour out means the scope is already on the patio, cooling down, by the time Io starts crossing Jupiter's limb. Advance warning, your call 15 min to 1 day Every event type carries its own notification control: off, badge only, at the event, 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 1 day before. Enough lead time to get your optics outside and acclimated. And Transit knows when not to bother you. Alerts are conditions-gated: if the sky is overcast, scheduled event alerts stay quiet. There's a night-hours window with both ends editable, so nothing pings you at 3 AM unless you've asked it to, and an altitude floor so you're not alerted to events happening below your tree line. The notifications themselves are written in plain language. You'll see "the Red Spot is coming into view," never "GRS CM transit 02:14 UT." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/transit_app_alerts_settings.png) ## What's in 1.0 The panel leads with conditions, because "is tonight worth it?" is the first question. Transit synthesizes a conditions score from live weather data: cloud cover at three layers, humidity, dew point spread, and wind, alongside a separate seeing forecast, rendered as a plain verdict for the night. The score sits right in your menu bar if you want it there, and you can break the categories out into individual menu bar icons and panels if you'd rather see conditions, planets, and satellites each at a glance. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/transit_menu_bar_settings.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/astronomy_conditions_pearland_overcast.png) Below that, the events. Every planet gets rise, transit, and set times, current altitude, and its special events: oppositions, conjunctions, Galilean moon shadows and eclipses, Great Red Spot transits, lunar occultations. The Sun and Moon get their own card with phase milestones. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/planet_visibility_schedule_july_11_2026.png) The Satellites section tracks visible passes for the ISS, Tiangong, and Hubble out of the box, and you can add any satellite from the CelesTrak catalog by NORAD number. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/07/satellite_pass_schedule_pearland_july11_2026.png) Two alerts work differently. They fire on state changes rather than schedules. "Conditions turn favorable" posts the moment the score crosses your threshold during night hours. "Good solar window" is the daytime version: the sky clears, and solar observers get a heads-up while the Sun is still up. One more thing worth saying plainly: nearly everything is computed locally on your Mac. Rise and set times, altitudes, oppositions, Galilean events, occultations, all of it is calculated on-device. The app touches the network for exactly two things: weather forecasts and satellite orbital elements. No account. No tracking. ## What's coming Transit 1.0 is the foundation. In upcoming point releases I intend to add meteor shower notifications, a solar activity readout with daily active-region and flare-probability data direct from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, aurora activity, and desktop widgets. The pattern stays the same throughout: things worth stepping outside for, delivered early enough to matter. And the one I'm most excited about: Siri. When macOS 27 arrives with its new Siri AI, Transit will be ready for it as a headlining feature. Ask Siri "what can I image tonight?" and the answer comes from Transit. Your actual conditions, your actual sky, the app's real go/no-go verdict, not a generic weather readout. The whole premise of Transit is that the sky should come to you; having it answer out loud is the natural end of that thought. If there's an event type you'd want Transit to watch for that I haven't mentioned, I genuinely want to hear it. Email me at [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). The best feature requests so far have come from people describing the event they missed. On the Transit roadmap Siri support headlines the roadmap. When macOS 27 arrives, ask "what can I image tonight?" and get Transit's real verdict back. Also coming: meteor shower notifications, a daily solar activity readout with active regions and flare probabilities from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, aurora activity alerts, and desktop widgets. Have an event type you'd want watched? Email [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). ## Get it Transit is $9.99, one time. Not a subscription. You buy it, you own it. It requires macOS 15 or later and runs natively on Apple Silicon. You can [download Transit on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6787255071?ref=macobservatory.com), read more on the [Transit product page](https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events), or browse the full [Mac astronomy software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) to see where it fits in the broader ecosystem. Clear skies. And this time, you'll know when they matter. Mac observatory Never find out about tonight's sky tomorrow Transit watches for planetary events, satellite passes, and favorable conditions, then tells you while there's still time to set up. [Get Transit on the App Store →](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6787255071?ref=macobservatory.com) [Transit Product Page →](https://macobservatory.com/transit-astronomical-events) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Laminar 1.5 Brings Live Calibration to Mac Planetary and Solar Capture URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-1-5-calibration/ Last updated: 2026-06-14T15:45:10.000Z Laminar 1.5 adds live calibration to Mac planetary and solar capture: dark frame subtraction, flat frame correction, and hot pixel correction applied to the live preview as you focus and tune, not just baked into files after the session. Laminar is the native macOS, Apple Silicon planetary and solar capture app I build at Mac Observatory, and 1.5 is the biggest single feature I have shipped since launch. As far as I know it is the first Mac capture app that corrects the live view in real time, so you can hunt focus and find the solar sweet spot against a clean image instead of a dusty, gradient-streaked one. This is the calibration release. Everything below is in 1.5, which is on the Mac App Store (or in review as you read this). I built and shot all of it on a PlayerOne Uranus-C PRO under a waning crescent Moon from my backyard in Pearland, just south of Houston. Get Laminar Laminar 1.5 is on the Mac App Store Native planetary and solar capture for Apple Silicon Macs, with the full 1.5 calibration system built in. One-time purchase, no subscription. [ Download on the Mac App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) $34.99 · one-time Already imaging with Laminar? If these updates are earning their place in your setup, a rating or review on the Mac App Store helps other Mac astronomers find it, and it genuinely helps a one-person, Mac-only studio. It takes a minute. [ Rate or review Laminar ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?action=write-review&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Why calibration usually waits until after capture In a normal planetary or solar workflow, calibration is a post-processing step. You capture thousands of raw frames as SER video, then your stacker applies darks and flats while it sorts and aligns. That works, and it is still where most of the heavy lifting belongs. But it means the image you are actually looking at while you focus, frame, and tune your etalon is the uncorrected one, with every dust mote, hot pixel, and illumination gradient still in the way. A quick vocabulary check, since these three frame types do different jobs. A **dark frame** is an exposure taken with the scope capped, so it records only the sensor's own thermal signal and hot pixels, which then get subtracted from your light frames. A **flat frame** is an exposure of an evenly lit surface that records the optical system's shadows and vignetting, so they can be divided out. A **hot pixel map** is the list of stuck-bright pixels derived from a dark, used to patch those pixels individually. Laminar 1.5 can apply all three to the live view, the recorded file, or both. Three corrections, applied live What Laminar 1.5 corrects Dark subtraction Removes the sensor's thermal signal and amp glow using a capped-scope master at your gain. Flat correction Divides out dust shadows, vignetting, and gradients from a master flat of an evenly lit surface. Hot pixel correction Patches stuck-bright pixels from the dark's defect map. The one I lean on most for planetary work. ## Calibration has its own home in Settings Rather than bury this in a menu, I gave calibration its own tab in Settings, next to Capture, Weather, and Diagnostics. Each of the three corrections is a single toggle with a live match status underneath it, telling you exactly which master is applied and how old it is, for example "Matched: Dark, Uranus-C PRO, g200 31.2ms 37.8°C, Jun 12, 2026, captured today." If no compatible master exists for the connected camera, the toggle simply does nothing rather than guessing. Underneath that is the part I think matters most: an **Apply To** section with independent toggles for the live preview and for recorded files. You can correct the preview for focusing and tuning while still writing byte-faithful raw to disk, or you can bake the corrections into the recording too. That split is deliberate, and it is the heart of the speed tradeoff I will get to shortly. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/06/laminar_settings_calibration_panellaminar_settings_calibration_panel.png) **Three toggles, honest match status, and a clean split between what touches the preview and what touches your files.* Note Each correction applies only when a compatible master exists in the library for the connected camera. Auto-match handles the selection, so connecting a different camera quietly swaps in that camera's masters, or none. ## Building masters without leaving the app You do not need a second piece of software to make your calibration frames. Laminar 1.5 has guided capture wizards for both darks and flats, each in three steps: prepare, acquire, and review. The **Capture Master Dark** wizard asks you to cap the scope, then watches the frame mean and tells you plainly when the frame is dark enough: "Frame is dark, ready to capture." Darks match your current gain and exposure, so the wizard reminds you to set your imaging gain first. The **Capture Master Flat** wizard wants an evenly lit surface, a twilight sky, a flat panel, or the classic white t-shirt stretched over the aperture, and it shows a target zone for the frame mean so you land in the 40 to 80 percent range instead of guessing. Flats can be dark-subtracted automatically during the stack, and you can tag them with a filter label like H-alpha. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/06/laminar_moon_uranus_c_pro_capture_dark_mode.png) **Cap on. The wizard will not let you fool yourself into shooting a dark that is not actually dark.* Both wizards stack with sigma clipping at 64 frames or more, then hand you a review card before anything is saved. This is where my UI background shows: the review card does not just say "done," it tells you what it found. A master dark review reports frames averaged, hot pixels mapped, and a uniformity check, and it will throw real warnings, "22% hot pixels detected, check for light leaks; a real dark should be nearly black," or "captured at gain 0, this dark only matches gain-0 sessions." I would rather the app tell you a master looks wrong before you trust it for a whole night than have you discover it in the stack the next morning. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/06/laminar_moon_session_master_dark_ready.png) **A good dark is boring. This one is yelling at me, which is exactly the point.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/06/laminar_moon_capture_master_flat_setup.png) **Aim at something boring and evenly lit. A t-shirt over the aperture genuinely works.* Partner Agena AstroProducts Flat panels, planetary cameras, filters, and the rest of the gear that feeds a clean calibration workflow. ZWO · PlayerOne · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ## Real-sun flats, applied live This is the feature I most want the solar crowd to push on, because it is the one that changes how a session feels. Capture a master flat against the actual Sun, a defocused disk or a diffuser, get the histogram peak into the target band, and hit **Save and Apply Now**. The flat is correcting your live view in a single step. Now when you tune your etalon and hunt the sweet spot, Newton's rings, dust shadows, and the etalon gradient are knocked down in real time, so you are reacting to actual surface detail instead of fighting your own optics. That live-correction loop is the difference between calibration as a chore you do for the stacker and calibration as a focusing aid you use in the moment. For solar especially, where the sweet spot moves as the etalon warms, seeing the corrected disk live is genuinely useful rather than just tidy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/06/laminar_moon_uranus_c_pro_master_flat_ready.png) **Save and Apply Now puts the fresh flat on the live view in one click. This is the whole point.* ## The calibration library, and bringing in masters you already have Every master you keep lands in a per-camera Calibration Library, a proper window with type, name, camera, dimensions, gain, exposure, temperature, filter, and date, plus an auto-stretched preview and the full provenance of each frame down to a content hash. Auto-match uses gain as the gate, with exposure and temperature as scoring preferences, which is the correct call for planetary and solar work: at millisecond exposures thermal dark current is negligible, so matching gain matters far more than matching temperature to the degree. You are not locked into masters you shoot in Laminar, either. You can import existing ones, FITS (8 and 16-bit integer plus 32-bit float), 16-bit TIFF and PNG, and SER stacks in mono, every Bayer layout, and RGB or BGR. So if you are coming from FireCapture, the free capture app a lot of planetary and solar imagers cut their teeth on, you can bring your existing masters straight in and compare them against ones captured in Laminar. Files it cannot parse are rejected with a specific reason rather than failing silently. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/06/calibration_library_uranus_c_pro_flats_darks.png) **Per camera, with the full pedigree of every master. The hash is there so you always know which frame is which.* ## The honest tradeoff: live correction versus fastest capture Real-time dark and flat correction is not free. Running both on the pipeline costs roughly 3 to 5 fps. On a fast planetary camera pushing high frame rates that is a real cost, and I am not going to pretend otherwise. The good news is that the Apply To split means you decide where to spend it. If you want the cleanest possible live view for focusing and solar tuning, turn correction on for the preview and accept the slightly lower preview rate. If you want absolute maximum frame rate to disk, the better move is often to leave "Apply to recorded files" off, record byte-faithful raw at full speed, and apply your darks and flats afterward in your stacker, AutoStakkert or Siril on the Mac. Every calibrated recording also drops a small **.laminar.json** sidecar documenting exactly which masters were applied, so your records stay honest either way. Hot pixel correction is the cheap one, so a common middle ground is hot-pixel-only on the recording with full correction on the preview. If frame rate is everything Leave "Apply to recorded files" off, record raw at full speed, and calibrate in post. You keep the fps, you keep the original data, and the sidecar still records what would have been applied. Live correction is there for your eyes during focus and tuning, not as a tax on every recording. ## Planetary versus solar: what is actually worth calibrating The two disciplines pull on different corrections, and it is worth being clear about which is doing the work. For planetary imaging at sub-millisecond to single-digit-millisecond exposures, dark *subtraction* is not the headline, because there is almost no thermal dark current to subtract in that time. What helps is hot pixel removal and amp glow suppression, so shoot darks at your usual gains and run hot-pixel-only correction on a live session and see what cleans up. Solar is the opposite story. Flats are where the win is, because the etalon gradient, Newton's rings, and dust shadows dominate the frame far more than sensor noise does. That is exactly why the real-sun flat workflow above is aimed squarely at the solar imagers in the beta group, whose feedback gated this release. If you image both, the per-camera library keeps your darks and flats sorted so the right ones load automatically when you switch targets. A few common questions about how this fits an existing workflow are answered in the FAQ below. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about Laminar 1.5 calibration from the Mac planetary and solar imaging community. Do I still need AutoStakkert or Siril if Laminar does calibration?+ Yes. Laminar's calibration is for the capture stage, cleaning the live preview and, optionally, your recorded frames, not for stacking and sharpening. You still take the SER files into AutoStakkert, Registax, or Siril to align, stack, and wavelet-sharpen. Laminar handles the front of the pipeline; your stacker handles the back. Will live dark and flat correction slow down my capture?+ Running dark and flat correction on the pipeline costs roughly 3 to 5 fps. If frame rate matters more than a corrected preview, leave "Apply to recorded files" off, record byte-faithful raw at full speed, and apply your masters later in your stacker. The live preview can still be corrected for focusing without touching the recorded data. Can I import my existing FireCapture darks and flats?+ Yes. Laminar 1.5 imports masters as FITS (8 and 16-bit integer plus 32-bit float), 16-bit TIFF and PNG, and SER stacks across mono, all Bayer layouts, and RGB or BGR. If you are migrating from FireCapture, you can bring your existing masters in and compare them against ones captured in Laminar. Anything Laminar cannot parse is rejected with a specific reason. Do I even need darks for planetary imaging at short exposures?+ For planetary work at millisecond exposures, thermal dark current is negligible, so dark subtraction is not the big win. What helps is hot pixel removal and amp glow suppression, both of which come from a master dark's defect map. Shoot darks at your usual gains and run hot-pixel-only correction; that is the part worth evaluating for planets. How do I shoot flats for solar or H-alpha?+ Use a defocused solar disk or a diffuser over the aperture, open the Capture Master Flat wizard, and adjust exposure until the frame mean sits in the target band (roughly 40 to 80 percent). Then use Save and Apply Now to push the new flat onto the live view in one step, so you can tune your etalon against a corrected image with Newton's rings and dust shadows already suppressed. Does calibration change my recorded SER files?+ Only if you turn on "Apply to recorded files." With it off, your SER recordings stay byte-faithful raw and calibration is applied to the live preview only. Either way, each calibrated recording gets a .laminar.json sidecar that documents exactly which masters were applied, so your data provenance stays clear. Is calibration a paid add-on or included with Laminar?+ It is included. Laminar is a single one-time purchase of $34.99 on the Mac App Store with no subscription, and the 1.5 calibration system is part of the app for every owner. Laminar runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs. If you image the Sun, Moon, or planets on a Mac, the calibration release is the one I would most like your eyes on. Pull a master dark and flat for your camera, turn on live correction, and tell me whether the corrected view earns its place in your routine, here in the comments, on Cloudy Nights, or through the app's support page. Mac Observatory Capture clean on the Mac, from dark frame to final stack Laminar handles native planetary and solar capture with live calibration. Strata picks up the stack and sharpen, all on Apple Silicon. [Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) [Strata →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### The Last Porchlight in M88 URL: https://macobservatory.com/the-last-porchlight-in-m88/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T13:54:22.000Z Cal Rusk lived on Mercy, a dry little rock on the far outer limb of M88, where the spiral arm thinned into dust, cold hydrogen, and bad decisions. His cabin leaned into the wind even though Mercy had no wind worth mentioning, just habit and pessimism. At night, Cal sat on the porch with a tin cup of engine coffee and watched the galaxy curve overhead like a silver lariat, all those inner stars crowding around the bright nucleus where the big black hole sat fat and patient, eating whatever strayed too close. Out here, though, things were quiet. Quiet enough to hear the pump complain. Quiet enough to hear the stars go missing. The first sign was the cattle. Not real cattle, because real cattle had given up on Mercy generations back, but gas skimmers, long-legged machines that grazed the upper atmosphere and bottled hydrogen for the settlement. They started coming home light. Then they stopped coming home at all. Cal rode out in his pressure buggy with a rifle, a coil of tow cable, and the deeply held belief that any problem in the universe could be fixed by either hitting it, hauling it, or insulting it until it got embarrassed and left. What he found past Arroyo Crater was not rustlers. It was the edge of the Virgo Cluster itself, invisible and enormous, scraping M88’s outer pastures clean. The scholars back in the inner arm called it ram pressure stripping, which sounded to Cal like something invented by men who had never had their livelihood peeled off a planet one molecule at a time. M88 was falling through the cluster medium on its long road toward M87, and Mercy was on the wrong side of the wagon. The cold gas was being pushed inward, away from the frontier, toward the glowing towns and star nurseries nearer the galactic center. Cal stood beneath a sky full of hard blue stars and watched his world become the dry husk everyone in the cities had always assumed it already was. “Well,” he told the universe, “that’s a discourteous way to knock.” So Cal did the only sensible thing a frontier idiot could do. He fired up the old orbital beacon, aimed it at the nucleus, and sent a message demanding compensation for stolen grazing rights. The reply came twelve thousand years later, which was faster than local government usually managed, and it arrived as a beam of tightly packed instructions from the central black hole’s accretion district. Cal’s descendants gathered on the same porch, translated the message, and read it twice before anyone spoke. It said: Claim approved. Herd successfully delivered. Frontier planet Mercy was established as a temporary collection station by your ancestor Cal Rusk, Acting Marshal, Outer Arm. Payment enclosed. Then the sky opened, and four hundred billion stars began depositing interest. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/06/M88.jpg) --- Capture Details Total Integration 15h Integration per Filter Lum/Clear: 7h 30m (90 × 300″) Red: 2h 30m (30 × 300″) Green: 2h 30m (30 × 300″) Blue: 2h 30m (30 × 300″) Equipment Telescope: [Celestron EdgeHD 11″](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-1100-ota-91050-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Camera: [ZWO ASI2600MC Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-pro-astronomy-camera-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mount: [10Micron GM1000 HPS](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/10micron-gm1000hps-equatorial-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) Reducer: [Celestron 0.7X Reducer EdgeHD 1100](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-7-x-reducer-lens-for-edgehd-1100-94241.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Focuser: MoonLite CSL 2.5″ Large Format Crayford SCT/RC Filter Wheel: [ZWO EFW 7 × 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-efw-7-36mm-filter-wheel-for-36mm-unmounted-filters-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) OAG: [ZWO OAG-L](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Power: [Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox 2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-power-box-v2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Flat Panel: DeepSkyDad Observatory Flat Panel (OFP2) Filters [Chroma LRGB 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-lgrb-imaging-filter-set-36mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com): Lum, Red, Green, Blue [Chroma Narrowband 3nm 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/chroma-technologies/shopby/36mm%5Fround%5Funmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com): H-alpha, OIII, SII Software Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · Adobe Photoshop Russell Croman: BlurXTerminator · NoiseXTerminator · StarXTerminator Location DSP Remote Observatory · Animas, NM · Bortle 1 View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/qavzdt?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Strata Build 14: Solar Tone Rebuilt, and Honesty About What's Next URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-build-14-solar-tone-rebuild/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T02:07:59.000Z Build 14 of [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing), the Mac-native planetary and solar processor in the Mac Observatory Suite, is on TestFlight. The headline change is a complete rebuild of the solar processing controls, now labeled Solar Tone in the UI. The rest of the build is a reliability and cleanup pass: planetary safety nets that finally work under Deconvolution, Saturn-aware controls, stacks that fail honestly instead of producing bad output, and continuous progress reporting in Strata Warp. Build 14 in brief Four themes shipping today Solar Tone simplified Sharpen is now additive: Wavelet restores detail, Solar Tone lifts faint features and equalizes the disc. Background Protection replaces the old mask-and-prominence controls. Planetary controls, both engines Sky Attenuation and Limb Protection are over-sharpening safety nets. They now work under Deconvolution as well as Wavelet. Saturn hides Limb Protection so it doesn't cut the rings. Stacks that fail honestly Cancel and Escape on every overlay. Bad alignment refuses to publish a bad stack and tells you what to trim. Strata Warp shows progress Continuous progress across reference prep, per-frame alignment, and patch stacking. No more frozen-looking Phase 2. ## Solar Tone: what I thought I needed, what I actually needed When I first sat down to design Strata's solar processing, I had a mental model that turned out to be wrong. I assumed users would need manual disk masks to separate the bright solar disk from the empty sky, a Prominence Enhancement card to lift faint off-disc features, and a Color Floor to crush the dim background back down after enhancement lifted it. I built all of those. They worked, mostly. But they also collected complaints: the Disk Mask was hard to auto-detect on partial disks, Prominence Enhancement and Color Floor had a narrow joint operating range, and the Color phase's prominence card sat awkwardly far from the Sharpen-phase mask that drove it. Beta testers, especially the solar imagers I rely on for honest feedback, kept finding ways to break the combination. Once the underlying WOW Solar algorithm was finally working properly, I realized something simpler was possible. WOW Solar's whitening step lifts faint signal, which is exactly what we want for prominences. The problem was that it also lifted background noise. I had been treating that as a geometry problem, requiring a mask of the solar disk, when it was really a brightness problem. Signal lives above the noise floor. Noise lives below it. A luminance-derived attenuation, built directly into the whitening step, handles the tradeoff without any user-painted geometry. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/solar_image_sharpening_settings_screenshot.png) The new Solar Tone controls. In Build 14, that's what Solar Tone is. The Sharpen phase is now additive: enable Wavelet (or Deconvolution) to bring out detail lost to seeing, then enable Solar Tone to lift faint features off the limb and equalize brightness across the entire disc. The processing order is fixed, Detail first then Solar Tone, so the tone-mapping pass operates on a sharpened image rather than a soft one. Inside the Solar Tone card, Background Protection takes three sliders: Strength, Noise Floor, and Falloff. The legacy Disk Mask is gone from the UI and from the underlying processor code. The Color phase's Prominence Enhancement card is gone too. Surface Contrast and prominence handling now run full-frame for solar. Solar Tone control evolution From mask-driven to luminance-driven BEFORE Mask-and-prominence model, retired in Build 14 Disk Mask + Prominence Enhancement + Surface Contrast + Color Floor Two phases involved (Sharpen and Color), four interacting controls, narrow joint operating range, fragile auto-detection on partial disks. BUILD 14 Luminance-driven Background Protection, inside Solar Tone Strength + Noise Floor + Falloff One phase, three sliders, sensible auto defaults, signal-vs-noise instead of disk-vs-sky. Works on any framing, any solar wavelength. The shorter version: I designed too much surface area before I understood the algorithm I was wrapping. The new controls reflect what the algorithm actually needs from the user, not what I thought the user would need to compensate for the algorithm. ## Planetary and lunar fixes Sky Attenuation and Limb Protection are safety nets for over-sharpening, not solutions to an inherent planetary problem. Sharpening works by enhancing edge contrast, and the largest edge in a planetary capture is the limb between the bright disc and the dark sky. Push a wavelet too hard and that edge exaggerates, leaving a dark halo just outside the planet. The right answer is to dial the sharpening back. These controls let you recover when you've already over-cooked an image. Before Build 14 they only worked under Wavelet and silently did nothing under Deconvolution. That's fixed, and Sky Attenuation now uses a visible Gaussian smoothing post-pass so the slider has observable effect on planetary captures. Saturn gets a more specific fix. When Limb Protection is engaged, it applies a circular band around the planet limb. That works for Jupiter and Mars but cuts straight through Saturn's rings. Build 14 hides the option entirely when the imaging target is Saturn. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/saturn_wavelet_sharpening_strata_ui.png) The Color phase also stops showing controls that a mono lunar capture can't use. Channel Alignment, Color Balance, Saturation/Vibrance, and Lunar Mineral Enhancement are hidden when the input is grayscale. Before Build 14 the controls were visible and disabled, which made the phase look like it offered adjustments that did nothing. ## Stacks that fail honestly Every stack-phase overlay, Reference, Stack Alignment, Stacking, and AP Grid, now supports Cancel and Escape. Cancelling tears down all background work cleanly and a subsequent Stack click starts fresh. That sounds small until you have a 30-minute capture queued up and realize you set the wrong frame range. The bigger change is that catastrophic alignment now fails fast instead of publishing a bad stack. If zero frames align, or fewer than ten percent of twenty-plus frames align, Strata refuses to publish the result and tells you to trim the frame range or use a shorter capture. Strata Warp local-shift failures get an actionable error with median displacement, P90, and invalid fraction instead of the previous generic "all frames failed to read during stacking" message. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/alignment_failed_reference_drift_error-1.png) A failed alignment or stack now tells you why. ## Strata Warp shows what it's doing, plus the smaller polish Strata Warp now has continuous progress across reference prep, frame alignment, and patch stacking. The previously frozen-looking Phase 2 stage, which took about two minutes on a typical Jupiter session, now shows an "Aligning frames for Strata Warp" overlay that advances per-frame. The rest of Build 14 is the kind of polish that beta testers kept flagging. About > Documentation opens the bundled Strata Help Book instead of a 404\. Import hides Supported Formats once a source is loaded and adds Clear All to Recent Files. The AP grid regenerates correctly when you toggle Auto AP Size or AP Preflight Profile. Deconvolution Brightness/Contrast has been retired in favor of Final Brightness & Contrast in the Color phase, so there's one authoritative place to make final tonal adjustments. Phase navigation and the Sharpen and Export canvas tabs stay clickable while the image is zoomed. ## Three walkthroughs to watch A few beta testers have asked me how batch processing, derotation, and the new Solar Tone are meant to be used in practice. The help book covers all three, but some workflows are easier to understand by watching them than by reading them. I recorded short walkthroughs for each. WALKTHROUGH 1 Batch Processing [▶ Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/7o4vEuRWNgU?ref=macobservatory.com) Process one representative capture end-to-end, save a full-pipeline profile from Export, then drop up to ten similar captures and let Strata run the lot unattended. Profile → Batch → Export WALKTHROUGH 2 Derotation [▶ Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/bSjx-C7RTME?ref=macobservatory.com) Combine multiple already-stacked Jupiter, Saturn, or Mars captures into a single deeper image. Includes the new Imaging Target picker and the time-span limits per planet. Multiple stacks → Combine WALKTHROUGH 3 Solar Tone [▶ Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/WD91OpDhSOw?ref=macobservatory.com) The rebuilt Solar Tone in practice. How to combine Wavelet sharpening with Solar Tone for a complete solar pass, plus Background Protection tuning for H-alpha, Ca-K, and white light. Sharpen → Solar Tone → Color ## Still cooking for the next build Build 14 is a real release, but it's not the end of the work in either of these directions. **Solar Tone performance on large files.** A 3008 by 3008 mono H-alpha stack, which is only about 9 megapixels, takes long enough between slider moves that it's hard to tune Solar Tone interactively. The warm path is dominated by CPU-side post-GPU work, not the GPU kernel itself, so the fix is a focused performance pass on buffer handling and the preview path. It's queued for the next build. **Drift on large solar captures.** Sun and Moon captures that span more drift than any single reference can cover, roughly anything beyond 200 to 300 pixels of total drift, still defeat the current alignment search. Build 14 fails fast with a clear message rather than producing a bad stack, which is the right behavior, but it's not the destination. Donald's drifting Sun captures are the test case I'm working against for the proper recovery path. ## Still on the list These are feature requests that have been logged. They're not promises. Strata is heading toward a v1.0 release, and getting there means being selective. The goal is to do the planetary and solar pipeline well, hand off a clean result, and let you finish in whatever post-processing tool you prefer. Strata isn't trying to be Photoshop, Affinity Photo, or Pixelmator Pro. There are excellent applications that do that work well already, and I have no desire to recreate them inside Strata. What lands in v1.0 versus what gets reconsidered for v2.0 will come down to which requests feel essential to the core pipeline versus which feel like extensions of it. Some of these will be cut to get v1.0 out the door. The loudest gaps after launch will help shape v2.0. - **Mono RGB channel combination and FITS import.** For planetary imagers running mono cameras with filter wheels. A design document exists. Feels essential to the pipeline rather than an extension of it. - **Levels and possibly a histogram in the Color phase.** A clean, focused tonal control fits Strata's scope. Full curves don't. That's territory where Photoshop and the dedicated post-processing tools genuinely do the job better. - **Center and crop on stacked output.** AutoStakkert-style auto-centering for planetary targets, skipped for solar and lunar surface targets. On the consideration list. - **Manual alignment point placement.** Useful when the auto grid misses a specific surface feature you want tracked. On the watch list. - **Crop and ROI tool.** For trimming loosely-framed captures down to the planet. Still being scoped. - **Watched folder batch processing.** Sven Kohle's overnight solar use case. The pipeline foundation shipped earlier; unattended folder watching is explicitly held for v2. - **RegiStax-style cascading unsharp mask wavelets.** I want to compare Strata's existing wavelet implementation against the cascading approach before deciding whether this is a real gap or just a familiarity difference. - **Sharpen inspector status on compact displays.** Small UX fix, due for the next polish pass. If you've sent feedback that isn't reflected above, it's almost certainly logged. The items that ship in any given build are the ones whose design is ready. The items that get re-prioritized for v2.0 will be the ones users keep flagging as they actually live with v1.0. Mac observatory Try Strata Build 14 on TestFlight Beta access is open. Bring your H-alpha, your Jupiter stacks, and your honest feedback. [About Strata →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) [Strata Support →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-support) [Sample Data →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-sample-data) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Laminar 1.2.5: White Balance Comes to the Inspector, Plus Celestron and UVC Camera Support URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-1-2-5-white-balance-celestron-uvc-support/ Last updated: 2026-05-17T23:08:05.000Z Laminar 1.2.5 (Build 36), the latest release of Mac Observatory's native planetary capture application for macOS, brings camera-side white balance directly into the Inspector, graduates two more camera families out of Beta, and adds initial support for Celestron's webcam-style astronomy cameras alongside generic USB Video Class (UVC) devices. The release is currently in Apple's App Store review queue and ships as a free update for existing Laminar owners. This build comes out of a few months of real hardware sessions across multiple camera vendors. Particular thanks to Jochen, whose Omegon ATR585C testing drove the ToupTek OEM family graduation and whose careful bug report on numeric field editing became the deferred-field fix that ships here. ★ Laminar MAC OBSERVATORY VERSION 1.2.5 — BUILD 36 Native planetary, lunar, and solar capture for macOS. Real-time lucky imaging with hardware-accelerated SER recording, live frame quality analysis, and Sky Quality Score tied to real-time astronomical seeing data. macOS 14.6+ Apple Silicon Native $34.99 — One-Time [Learn More →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) ## Where 1.x Sits in the Mac Astronomy Landscape Before getting into what's new in this release, a note on context. Laminar 1.x is still finding its place in a category with some long-established players, and I want to be honest about where it sits. Laminar 1.0 was never intended as a direct competitor to applications like FireCapture or SharpCap. Both have been refined over more than a decade of active Windows development by developers with far more capture-app experience than I have. What 1.x represents is a foundation. The goal across coming releases is to build up, release by release, toward something that does for Mac what those applications do for Windows — but native, leveraging Apple Silicon, Metal, AVFoundation, and the rest of Apple's frameworks rather than running through compatibility layers or ports. I made a deliberate decision with 1.0 to scope-limit the feature set. The priority was validating that the core capture pipeline works across the full breadth of supported cameras, that every vendor's driver behaves correctly under Laminar's abstraction layer, and that the macOS-native interface holds up against real imaging sessions in the field. Five camera families, hardware-accelerated debayer through Metal, GPU-accelerated live preview, real-time frame quality analysis, persistent per-camera settings, Sky Quality Score tied to live astronomical seeing data — those are the foundation. Everything else builds on top of that base. This is also my first macOS application after more than ten years of writing for the Mac astronomy community at Mac Observatory. There will be hiccups. Some of them have already happened. What I can promise is that I do not advertise features that do not exist in the app. Laminar is what it is right now, a core foundation to build on, and I would rather under-promise and deliver than the reverse. Will every release I push be perfect? Honestly, no. Will I work to correct what breaks as quickly as I can? Yes. The changelog since 1.0 reads exactly that way. The roadmap ahead is long — Laminar 2.0 is being designed around equipment profiles, capture session sidecar files, machine-learning-assisted focus drift detection, and a substantially deeper feature set. Filter wheels, autoguider integration, ASCOM Alpaca support, and live stacking preview all sit on the list. Getting there is going to require the community's input to influence priorities and tell me what is actually getting in the way of your imaging. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/laminar_moon_preview_zwo_asi462mc_settings.png) White balance settings are per camera capability. Here ZWO exposes only Red and Blue for balance. ## White Balance Lands in the Inspector The headline feature of this release is camera-side white balance. Below the Live RGB Histogram, you will now find Red, Green, and Blue sliders plus an Auto White Balance button for color cameras that support them. These controls write directly to the camera's own internal white-balance settings. What you see in the live preview, what you see in the histogram, and what gets written to your SER recording all reflect the same color values. Laminar does not apply any preview-side color correction on top of what the camera produces. The key thing to understand about these controls is that they are not application-wide. They are per-camera, and they are capability-driven. Laminar surfaces whatever your specific camera body exposes through its manufacturer driver at the hardware level. A premium cooled color camera with a full driver feature set might give you the complete slider trio plus continuous auto white balance tracking. An entry-level color planetary camera might give you only Red and Blue sliders. A monochrome camera shows no white balance controls at all because there is no color to balance. The Inspector adapts to the camera in front of it. This same per-camera, capability-driven principle applies to everything else in the Inspector that touches hardware. Sensor temperature, cooler controls, USB bandwidth, sub-frame Region of Interest, high-speed mode — they all appear when your specific camera supports them, and they hide when it does not. If a control is not visible for your camera, that is not a Laminar bug. It means the camera itself does not expose that capability through its driver. Each camera also remembers its own white balance values between sessions. Swap bodies on the same rig and each body returns to its last-known good settings on the next connect. What's new in 1.2.5 Build 36 at a glance Camera-Side White Balance Red, Green, and Blue sliders plus Auto WB live in the Inspector. Settings persist per camera. ToupTek OEM Family — Production Altair Astro, OGMA, Omegon, RisingCam, and MallinCam graduate out of Beta alongside ToupTek Astro. SVBONY — Production Full SVBONY lineup now fully supported, with a connect-time race condition fix for hot-plug events. Celestron + UVC — Initial Beta Generic UVC cameras now recognized. Includes Celestron NexImage, NexYZ, Skyris, USB webcams, and iPhone via Continuity Camera. ## Two Camera Families Graduate from Beta After repeated hardware sessions, two vendor families move from Beta to fully supported in this release. The wider **ToupTek OEM family** is now production. That covers ToupTek Astro itself, plus the OEM brands sold by Altair Astro, OGMA, Omegon, RisingCam, and MallinCam. These bodies share the same underlying hardware platform, so a confirmed end-to-end session on one camera lifts the whole family. The graduating session in this case was on the Omegon ATR585C, with connect, exposure adjustment, gain adjustment, live preview, histogram, and SER capture all checked out indoors against the OEM ToupTek-family body. **SVBONY** is also now fully supported across the camera lineup, after extensive validation on the SV305C PRO and a fix for a connect-time race condition that some users were hitting when a USB hot-plug event fired at the same moment as a manual connect. These join ZWO ASI and PlayerOne as Laminar's four fully supported camera families. **QHY remains in Beta** pending a complete hardware-validated session. Preview, capture, and the new manual white balance sliders all work today, but I have not yet had a QHY body in hand to confirm everything end-to-end. If you own a QHY planetary camera and you want to try it with Laminar, your diagnostic logs would be genuinely useful. Fully Supported - **ZWO ASI** — full lineup - **PlayerOne** — full lineup - **ToupTek Astro** — full lineup - **Altair Astro** — Toupcam-family OEMs - **OGMA** — Toupcam-family OEMs - **Omegon** — Toupcam-family OEMs - **RisingCam** — Toupcam-family OEMs - **MallinCam** — Toupcam-family OEMs - **SVBONY** — full lineup Still in Beta - **QHY** — preview, capture, and manual WB work; awaiting full hardware-validated session - **Celestron UVC** — NexImage, NexYZ, Skyris recognized but not tested on hardware - **Generic UVC** — USB webcams and iPhone Continuity Camera, narrower control surface ## Initial Celestron and UVC Camera Support This is the other big shift in 1.2.5, and it deserves an honest caveat right at the top. Laminar now recognizes generic USB Video Class (UVC) cameras through macOS's native video device interface. That category includes Celestron's NexImage, NexYZ, and Skyris planetary cameras, other webcam-style astronomy cameras, and any standard USB webcam. It also includes iPhone, through Continuity Camera, if you have a phone-to-eyepiece adapter and you point the phone through your scope. Preview and recording both work. The honest caveat: **I do not own a Celestron NexImage, NexYZ, or Skyris.** I have not been able to test against any of them directly. The Celestron bodies are recognized by name in Laminar's camera picker — they appear with a "Celestron UVC Beta" suffix — but their classification as supported is based on Apple's UVC stack, not on hands-on Laminar testing. If you have one of these cameras and you try it with Laminar, I want to hear how it goes. Send me a note at [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) and let me know what works and what does not. General UVC support, on the other hand, is more solidly validated against generic USB webcams and Continuity Camera. The control surface is necessarily narrower than what dedicated astronomy SDKs expose. There is no camera-side white balance, no cooler, no USB bandwidth adjustment, and no sub-frame Region of Interest available for UVC bodies, because the OS-level UVC interface simply does not expose those capabilities to applications. What you get is preview, exposure, gain where the device reports it, and SER recording. For a beginner solar imager with a Celestron NexImage already on the shelf, or for someone who wants to try Continuity Camera with an iPhone holder at the eyepiece, this opens a path that did not previously exist on Mac. Try It: iPhone as a Planetary Camera With Continuity Camera in macOS, your iPhone shows up to your Mac as a standard video device. If you pair it with a phone-to-eyepiece adapter at your telescope, Laminar will recognize the iPhone in the camera picker as a UVC device — and you can frame, preview, and record a SER file directly through the scope. It will never replace a dedicated planetary camera, but it is a remarkably accessible way to try lucky imaging with hardware you probably already own. ## Quality of Life Improvements A handful of smaller improvements land alongside the big features. **Numeric fields now edit the way fields should edit.** Click into Exposure, Gain, Capture Limit, USB Bandwidth, or Cooler Target Temperature. Press Delete to remove a digit. Type a new digit in its place. Press Return to commit. In earlier builds these fields rejected mid-string edits, so the only working path was to select all and retype. They behave the way you would expect now. The Exposure field also accepts both period and comma decimal separators, which matters if your Mac is set to a European locale. **SVBony cameras no longer stall on connect** when a USB hot-plug event fires at the same moment as a manual connection attempt. **Quieter support logs at launch and shutdown** — benign layout breadcrumbs that used to fire as warnings are now demoted to debug level, which makes real issues easier to spot in diagnostic logs when you are debugging a session. ## A Note of Thanks Genuine appreciation to every Laminar user who has emailed [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) since 1.0 shipped. Bug reports, camera compatibility notes, diagnostic logs, feature requests, observations that something in the Inspector did not quite feel right — every one of those has found its way into a release, often within a week or two. I have worked directly with each and every person who has reached out, and that direct line stays open as long as Laminar exists. A specific thank-you to the users who have spent time helping shape Laminar since 1.0: - Donald - Eli - Gary - JB - Jim - Jochen - Mitch - Shane I have been writing for the Mac astronomy community at Mac Observatory for more than ten years, and the goal with the Mac Observatory Suite — Laminar, Strata, and Meridian — is to give Mac users serious imaging tools built specifically for the platform rather than ported from elsewhere. None of it works without the community's input and patience as I find my footing in macOS development. I appreciate all of it, and I hope to keep supporting the Mac side of this hobby for years to come. ## Getting the Update Laminar 1.2.5 ships as a free update for existing owners through the Mac App Store. If you do not yet have it, Laminar is a one-time $34.99 purchase and runs on macOS 14.6 (Sonoma) or later on Apple Silicon — M1 through M5\. There is no subscription and no in-app purchase. For questions, bug reports, or camera compatibility stories — especially if you have a Celestron NexImage, NexYZ, or Skyris and can give them a spin — email [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). I read every message, and the diagnostic logs from Laminar's Help menu have been invaluable for tracking down vendor-specific issues. Mac observatory Native planetary capture on Mac, the way it should be. Laminar 1.2.5 ships as a free update through the Mac App Store. New here? It's a one-time $34.99 purchase with no subscription. [Learn About Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Laminar 1.2.3 is Out: Editable Custom ROI, a Refactored Imaging Pipeline, and Two Cameras Out of Beta URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-1-2-3-update/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T02:59:46.000Z Laminar 1.2.3 is now in App Store review and will be live on the Mac App Store shortly. This release wraps up the editable Custom Region of Interest workflow that started in 1.2.0, replaces the live preview path with a Metal-direct architecture that no longer competes with the recording pipeline for time on the main thread, and graduates two cameras — the SVBONY SV305C PRO and the ToupTek Astro G3M678C — out of Beta after I tested them end-to-end on my own bench. [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) is the native macOS planetary capture app I've been building as part of the Mac Observatory Suite. This is the third feature update in the 1.2.x cycle, and it bundles every fix and improvement that landed in 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 into the single App Store release. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-9.12.53---PM.png) 1296 FPS capture speed using the ToupTek Astro G3M678C. ★ Laminar 1.2.3 MAC OBSERVATORY $34.99 Native planetary capture for Apple Silicon Macs. Real-time lucky imaging with Metal-accelerated preview, SER recording, frame quality analysis, and integrated weather and seeing data. macOS 15+ Apple Silicon Native ZWO • PlayerOne • SVBONY • ToupTek • QHY [Learn More →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) ## The Custom ROI Workflow Is Finished The headline change in 1.2.3 is the one most users will notice first. The drag-on-preview Custom ROI that shipped in 1.2.0 is now fully editable, with eight resize handles, drag-to-move semantics, and a numeric `X / Y / W / H` action bar at the bottom of the preview. Here's the full workflow. Pick **Custom…** at the bottom of the Capture Size dropdown and the camera switches to full sensor view. A prompt appears across the preview: *"Click and drag on the preview to define your custom capture region."* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/laminar_moon_preview_camera_settings.png) Select "Custom" from the dropdown in order to create a Custom ROI with the mouse or touchpad. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-9.12.13---PM-1.png) Utilize the hot bar to fine tune your ROI and apply it instantly, or save it as a preset which adds it to the dropdown menu. Drag anywhere on the preview to draw a rectangle. A live badge follows the cursor showing snapped sensor dimensions and coordinates, like `3,826 × 50 px @ (0, 274)`. Release the mouse and the rectangle stays put as an editable draft. From there, you have three ways to refine it: - **Drag inside the rectangle** to slide it across the sensor. Width and height stay fixed. - **Drag any of the eight handles** to resize. Corners move two adjacent sides. Edges move a single side. - **Type into the X / Y / W / H fields** in the action bar. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/laminar_settings_new_roi_preset.png) Inside the Laminar Settings panel, you can define Custom ROIs or edit existing ones. Every value is snapped to the camera's actual pixel alignment, so what's shown on screen is what the camera will capture. Nothing touches the SDK until you click **Apply** — drawing, moving, resizing, and typing are all local edits, so you can iterate freely without restarting the preview. This workflow was driven by feedback from JB, a French spectroheliograph (SHG) imager who tested 1.2.0 via TestFlight. SHG users think of the ROI as a movable sensor window they're positioning over a spectral feature, not as a crop form they have to redraw every time the line drifts. Building the editable draft around that mental model is what made it click for him. The other half of the ROI work is the managed preset library. Settings → Capture has a list of saved capture configurations that ships with the four planetary sizes (1280×960, 800×600, 640×480, 320×240). You can add, rename, edit, and delete presets, and the editor shows a scaled sensor outline with a green ROI rectangle that updates as you change dimensions and offsets. What is Spectroheliography (SHG)? **Spectroheliography** is a solar imaging technique that captures the Sun in a single, narrow wavelength of light — typically a specific absorption line such as H-alpha or Calcium-K. A spectroheliograph (often a Sol'Ex) uses a diffraction grating to spread the Sun's spectrum across the camera sensor, then scans the solar disk to build a monochromatic image showing features only visible at that wavelength: prominences, filaments, sunspots, granulation, and surface activity invisible in white-light imaging. **Why ROI matters for SHG:** The image actually recorded is a narrow strip — usually tens of pixels tall by the full sensor width — that intersects the absorption line. Wider strips waste bandwidth and reduce frame rate. Narrower strips push the camera to four-digit frame rates on a typical planetary sensor and let you capture the same scan faster, with more frames available to stack from. **The Laminar workflow:** Pick **Custom…** at the bottom of the Capture Size dropdown to enter full-frame framing mode. Draw a rough strip across the target line on the full-sensor preview, then use drag-to-move and the resize handles to position the strip exactly on the line. Type final pixel values into the action bar for last-micron precision. Click **Apply** when it's right. If the strip works, click **Save as Preset** and name it after the line ("H-alpha 80px") so the next session is one dropdown click away. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/laminar_new_roi_preset_settings.png) Name your ROI presets and define the sizes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/laminar_settings_capture_preferences.png) ROI Presets saved for reference and applied to the dropdown ROI menu in the capture window. ## Under the Hood: A Refactored Imaging Pipeline The visible Custom ROI work would be useless if the underlying capture pipeline couldn't keep up. So underneath, 1.2.2 and 1.2.3 contained two architectural changes that I think matter more than anything else in this release. **Live preview goes Metal-direct.** Frames now flow from the camera into a triple-buffered Metal compute texture, then straight to an `MTKView` for display. There's no intermediate `CGImage` step on the per-frame display hot path anymore. Display rate is paced by the active screen refresh, and the preview no longer competes with the SER recording pipeline for time on the main thread. On large sensors during heavy recording, the difference is obvious — Donald, who tested with a 3840×2160 RAW16 sensor that pushes about 380 MB/s through the pipeline, was hitting main-actor saturation in earlier builds whenever he opened a dropdown menu. That class of UI freeze is gone. **Camera-agnostic frame envelope.** All five SDK backends — ZWO, PlayerOne, QHY, SVBONY, and ToupTek — now deliver each frame as a `RawCameraFrame` envelope through a shared validation gate. Buffer size and descriptor are validated before the SER writer touches them. Every frame is either written or rejected with a logged reason. No silent loss. ZWO and PlayerOne behavior is byte-identical to before. The ToupTek family (including the Omegon, OGMA, RisingCam, MallinCam, and Altair Astro OEM rebadges), QHY, and SVBONY paths now get the same correctness guarantees ZWO and PlayerOne already had. That same shared pipeline is what makes the Metal GPU debayer preview path available to SVBONY, ToupTek, and QHY color cameras now, not just ZWO and PlayerOne. Shared raw-frame pipeline 5 SDK backends ZWO, PlayerOne, SVBONY, ToupTek (plus Altair Astro, OGMA, RisingCam, MallinCam, and Omegon OEM rebadges), and QHY now route through the same validated frame envelope and Metal GPU debayer preview path on color sensors. ## Two Cameras Graduate From Beta The SVBONY SV305C PRO and the ToupTek Astro G3M678C are now fully supported, with no "(Beta)" tag in the camera picker and no informational banner. I bought both cameras specifically to validate the SDKs end-to-end on my own bench, and both went through the full hardware test: discovery, connection, color preview, RAW8 and RAW16 recording, SER playback in AutoStakkert and PIPP, mid-session format switching, and tight ROIs. The important architectural shift here is that **Beta is now per-model, not per-vendor**. Other SVBONY cameras, the rest of the ToupTek family, and every QHY model stay Beta until each one is individually validated against real hardware. They're not feature-limited or broken — the label just means I don't yet have a logged hardware session for that specific model. If you're running one of the still-Beta cameras and something doesn't work, send me a diagnostic log export and that camera moves up the queue. The 1.2.3 work also fixed two specific bugs the Beta cameras surfaced. Tight ROIs (like 320×240) now apply cleanly on ToupTek cameras — they used to fail with an internal error. And RAW8 ↔ RAW16 format switching now validates the new format with the camera before committing, then rolls back automatically if the camera can't deliver a frame on the new setting. ## Reliability and the Smaller Wins A few smaller things shipped in 1.2.2 and 1.2.3 that don't get top billing but matter day to day: - **Per-channel histogram clipping.** Color cameras now show R, G, and B clipping chips above the histogram, and a "Reduce exposure" hint appears when any single channel saturates. Useful on SVBONY color sensors where one channel can clip well before the image overall looks bright. - **Mac no longer goes to sleep mid-capture.** Active recording sessions hold a power assertion until the session ends, so the display stays awake and the USB stack doesn't renegotiate the camera connection in the middle of a run. - **Inspector hides controls the camera doesn't expose.** Sensor temperature, cooler, USB bandwidth, and high-speed mode now only show on cameras that actually support them. - **Custom diagnostic log folders persist across launches.** Pick a folder in Settings → Diagnostics and it stays picked. ## Thanks to the Testing Community The 1.2.x cycle has had more user-driven feature work in it than any release since launch, and I want to name the people who made that happen. All by first name to keep things friendly, all in the order their feedback shaped the builds. **Eli** filed the original request for arbitrary Custom ROI dimensions back in April. That request seeded the entire 1.2.0 → 1.2.2 ROI arc, from drag-to-select through the editable draft. **JB** picked up the Custom ROI from 1.2.0 the day it shipped, told me drag-to-select was "the most useful feature," then walked me through what was still missing in detailed back-and-forth that produced the editable draft, the resize handles, the numeric action bar, and the case for retiring the SHG presets I had originally shipped. He also reported the camera hot-plug bug that's now fixed. **Jim** tested 1.2.0 on his 13" MacBook Air and confirmed the reworked layout fits on smaller screens, closing out earlier sizing feedback. He also caught the duplicate "View" menu in the menu bar and flagged the USB 3.0 at 100% bandwidth indicator that used to render as a red warning when it shouldn't have. **Jochen** was the first real-world Omegon and ToupTek OEM tester, and his diagnostic logs over a two-week stretch drove three significant fixes: the launch-time ToupTek discovery retry that lets the camera show up without a manual refresh, the cooler-power row that now correctly hides on cameras that don't expose it, and — most importantly — the recording reliability work that turned a header-only 178-byte SER file into a properly written capture. The shared raw-frame envelope pipeline is partly his fault. **Donald** caught the UI freeze on large sensors during preview that motivated the Metal-direct preview path, and he also reported the custom diagnostic log folder silently falling back to the default location — both fixed. **Gary** ran into external SSD write back-pressure on his 8GB M1 Air with a 3096×2080 ASI178MC and provided the logs that calibrated the back-pressure detection thresholds in 1.2.1. If your TestFlight session surfaced something that's now fixed and your name isn't above, mail me — that's an oversight I'd like to correct. ## What's Next Three things on the near roadmap that I can talk about. UVC camera support (already spec'd) opens Laminar to generic USB cameras and potentially iPhone Continuity Camera. Capability-driven white balance and camera color controls (white balance R/G/B, gamma, black level) for the backends that expose them. And on-the-fly flat field correction for solar imaging — two independent requests in three weeks, and it's the right feature to target for v2.0. For now, 1.2.3 should be on the App Store within a few days. Existing user presets, custom captures, and per-camera Camera & Sensor settings carry over. ## Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about Laminar 1.2.3 from the Mac astrophotography community. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about Laminar 1.2.3 from the Mac astrophotography community. What's new in Laminar 1.2.3?+ Laminar 1.2.3 finishes the editable Custom ROI workflow with eight resize handles and numeric X/Y/W/H entry, refactors the live preview onto a Metal-direct rendering path that no longer competes with the recording pipeline, and graduates the SVBONY SV305C PRO and the ToupTek Astro G3M678C out of Beta after hardware testing. It also bundles all the reliability fixes from 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 into a single App Store release. What cameras does Laminar 1.2.3 support?+ Laminar 1.2.3 supports five astronomy camera vendors: ZWO ASI (fully supported), PlayerOne (fully supported), SVBONY (the SV305C PRO is fully supported, other models are in Beta), ToupTek (the Astro G3M678C is fully supported, other models including OEM rebadges from Altair Astro, OGMA, RisingCam, MallinCam, and Omegon are in Beta), and QHY (all models in Beta). Beta cameras are functional and routed through the same pipeline as fully supported cameras — the label means Mac Observatory wants your diagnostic logs from a real hardware session before lifting it. Does Laminar require Apple Silicon or will it run on Intel Macs?+ Laminar is Apple Silicon native and requires an M-series Mac (M1, M2, M3, M4 or later) running macOS 15 or later. Intel Mac support is not currently available — the app's GPU debayer pipeline, ARM64 camera SDKs, and Metal compute shaders are all tuned for the Apple Silicon stack. Intel compatibility would require maintaining a separate code path and is not on the near-term roadmap. How does Laminar compare to ASICap or FireCapture on a Mac?+ ASICap is ZWO-only and runs only on Windows (no Mac binary). FireCapture is cross-platform and has a Mac version, but it's a Java-based port that has historically lagged the Windows feature set and felt non-native. Laminar is a fully native macOS application built with Swift and SwiftUI, supports five camera vendors, runs entirely on Apple Silicon with Metal-accelerated preview, and integrates Mac-specific features like Continuity location, weather data, and 7Timer seeing forecasts. If you're imaging on a Mac and want a tool that feels like a Mac app instead of a Windows port, Laminar is the Mac Observatory recommendation. Is Laminar good for someone just starting in planetary imaging?+ Yes. Laminar's UI is built around the planetary-imaging workflow: pick a target (planet, Moon, Sun), connect a camera, set exposure and gain, choose an ROI, and record. Frame quality scoring runs automatically so beginners can see in real time which moments of atmospheric seeing are worth keeping. Integrated weather and seeing forecasts help newer imagers learn when conditions are good enough to bother setting up. Read the [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) for context on how Laminar fits into the broader Mac astrophotography toolchain. Is Laminar a subscription or a one-time purchase?+ Laminar is a one-time purchase of $34.99 on the Mac App Store. No subscription, no in-app purchases, no tiered pricing. All features are included for every buyer, and updates within the major version line ship for free. Mac observatory Try Laminar 1.2.3 on Your Mac Native planetary capture for Apple Silicon. One-time purchase, no subscription, full ROI workflow and five-vendor camera support out of the box. [Get Laminar →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart Brings Native Apple Silicon to Mac Astrophotography URL: https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-1-9-4-native-apple-silicon/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T21:12:52.000Z ## After five and a half years of Rosetta 2, PixInsight finally runs as a native ARM64 binary on M-series Macs. I tested it on my Mac Studio M3 Ultra. Pleiades Astrophoto released **PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart** today, and the headline for every Mac astrophotographer is buried two sentences into the announcement: "first macOS ARM64 native Apple Silicon version of PixInsight." That's a sentence the Mac astrophotography community has been waiting for since Apple unveiled the M1 in November 2020\. Five and a half years of running the most powerful astronomical image processing platform on the market through Rosetta 2 translation. Today, that ends. I have a 2025 Mac Studio M3 Ultra with 96 GB of unified memory, running macOS Tahoe 26.4.1\. Before installing 1.9.4, I ran the official PixInsight Benchmark script on my existing 1.9.3 build (running under Rosetta 2). Then I installed the new native build and ran the benchmark again. Same machine. Same benchmark image. Same processing pipeline. The numbers are dramatic. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/pixinsight_benchmark_results_v105-pre-update-non-native.png) PixInsight 1.9.3 benchmark pre-update running under Rosetta. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/05/pixinsight_benchmark_results-apple-silicon-native.png) Benchmark running PixInsight 1.9.4 Apple Silicon Native. PixInsight Benchmark: Same Machine, Same Image Rosetta 2 vs Native Apple Silicon on the M3 Ultra Best of three consecutive runs each. Tested on a 2025 Mac Studio M3 Ultra, 96 GB unified memory, macOS Tahoe 26.4.1. Metric Rosetta 1.9.3 Native 1.9.4 Change Total (headline) 24,925 41,013 +65% CPU 32,202 62,709 +95% Swap 13,051 17,031 +30% Transfer MiB/s 2,356 3,075 +30% The Total score is PixInsight's aggregate performance metric and the one users submit to the community leaderboard. CPU is the most direct measure of native versus translated execution. Benchmark image and test pipeline are identical between runs. The CPU score nearly doubled. The aggregate Total score, which is PixInsight's headline performance metric and the one users submit to the community leaderboard, jumped 65%. Transfer speed (the I/O subsystem benchmark) went up 30%. None of this is surprising in the abstract. Running ARM-native instead of x86-translated should be a meaningful win on Apple Silicon, especially on a chip with as much SIMD throughput as the M3 Ultra. But seeing the gap on your own hardware, doing your own work, is a different thing. ## Why this took five years PixInsight is not a small piece of software. The platform has a deep, custom scripting layer (the PixInsight JavaScript Runtime, or PJSR) that powers every preprocessing workflow, every WBPP run, every gradient-removal pipeline, every astrometry routine the community has built over the past decade. For years, that runtime was built on Mozilla's SpiderMonkey 24 engine. SpiderMonkey 24 was originally released in 2013\. It has a complicated build matrix and a long list of dependencies that did not port cleanly to ARM64. In March 2026, Juan Conejero published a detailed technical article titled "The New V8 JavaScript Runtime in PixInsight 1.9.4: Script Porting Guide" explaining that he had spent more than a year replacing SpiderMonkey 24 with Google's V8 engine. V8 is the high-performance JavaScript runtime that powers Chrome, Node.js, and Electron. It is actively maintained, it has a clean cross-platform build story, and it includes a just-in-time compiler that translates JavaScript to machine-specific native code on the fly. That JIT is the foundation of the new architecture support. What shipped today is the payoff. The V8 runtime, the native ARM64 build, and a long list of platform updates all arrive together as 1.9.4 Lockhart. ## What's actually in 1.9.4 beyond the architecture switch The release notes from Pleiades cover more than just the Apple Silicon port. The full announcement is worth reading on the [PixInsight Development site](https://pixinsight.net/dev/index.php?ams/pixinsight-1-9-4-lockhart-released.15/&ref=macobservatory.com), but the items that matter most for Mac users come down to a handful: What's New in 1.9.4 Lockhart Four Headline Changes Native Apple Silicon ⚡ First macOS ARM64 binary. Runs directly on M-series chips with no Rosetta 2 translation layer. New V8 JavaScript Runtime PJSR now runs on Google's V8 engine. Replaces SpiderMonkey 24 and unlocks the ARM64 port. Existing scripts may need migration. Automatic Image Identifiers Template-based image identifiers generated from XISF metadata: object name, filter, exposure, acquisition date. Overridable per-image. Updated Platform Stack Qt 6.8.7 LTS as the GUI foundation, with refreshed LibRaw, cURL, Graphviz, and Little CMS dependencies. Stability and security baseline reset across the stack. The performance claim Pleiades makes for V8 versus the legacy SpiderMonkey engine is significant on its own. Their announcement includes benchmark images of a star-rendering script (GravityStarSpinner) that draws roughly 1.5 to 2.7 million stars using Gaia DR3 data, a task they describe as essentially impossible on the old SpiderMonkey engine. For Mac users, the V8 runtime is a quiet upgrade that mostly happens beneath the surface. For script developers and the people maintaining tools like WBPP and the RC Astro suite, it is a full platform reset. Pleiades has published a V8 Script Porting Guide for developers maintaining existing PJSR scripts. The macOS support window has tightened in 1.9.4\. Pleiades officially supports macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 15 Sequoia. macOS 14 Sonoma may work but is no longer guaranteed. Anything older than Sonoma (Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur) is no longer supported. If you have been holding off on macOS upgrades, that calculus changed today. ## What you should do Before You Update **Check your macOS version first.** PixInsight 1.9.4 officially supports only macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 15 Sequoia. macOS 14 Sonoma may work but Pleiades does not guarantee it. Older releases (Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur) are no longer supported. Download the installer from [pixinsight.com/dist](https://pixinsight.com/dist/?ref=macobservatory.com); the new package will automatically remove your previous installation. Any 1.9.x license carries forward without reactivation. 1.8.x users need to handle license migration separately. The installer for 1.9.4 will automatically remove your previous installation when you run it. Users running any 1.9.x release can update to 1.9.4 without going through license reactivation; the new installer reads your existing license file. Users still on 1.8.x will need to handle license migration, and the PixInsight FAQ on the official site covers that process. If you want to verify you are actually running the native build rather than a fallback Rosetta install, open Activity Monitor after launching PixInsight and look at the Kind column. Native Apple Silicon processes show as "Apple"; Rosetta-translated processes show as "Intel." This is the same check you would do for any other macOS app where the architecture matters. ## Where this leaves the Mac deep-sky stack A native Apple Silicon PixInsight changes the calculus for what a serious Mac-based deep-sky workflow looks like. The platform that runs WBPP, MultiscaleGradient, MARS, and every script-driven preprocessing pipeline in the community now runs at full Apple Silicon speed. Combined with the [RC Astro plugins, which already use CoreML on the Mac for AI acceleration](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-on-the-mac-the-definitive-deep-dive/), the case for Mac as a primary astrophotography processing platform is stronger today than at any point in the past decade. The piece that pairs naturally with PixInsight in a Mac-native workflow is [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/), our Mac Observatory app for indexing and cataloging a deep-sky FITS archive. PixInsight processes the data; Meridian organizes everything you have captured across sessions, targets, and equipment. The two tools sit alongside each other, not in competition. One final note from the release: Pleiades closed the announcement with a section titled "Made With Natural Intelligence," a deliberate statement that the entire 1.9.4 release was developed without AI-generated code. It is a notable editorial position from a major astronomy software vendor, and one worth flagging as the broader software industry sorts out where it lands on this question. The wait for native PixInsight on Apple Silicon is over. Time to update. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about the PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart update from the Mac astrophotography community. Is PixInsight 1.9.4 native on Apple Silicon?+ Yes. PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart is the first macOS ARM64 native build of PixInsight, released by Pleiades Astrophoto in May 2026\. M-series Mac users no longer need Rosetta 2 to run it. On a Mac Studio M3 Ultra, Mac Observatory measured a 95% increase in the CPU benchmark score and a 65% increase in the aggregate Total score versus the previous Rosetta 2 build. Do I need to buy a new license to update to 1.9.4 Lockhart?+ No. If you already have any 1.9.x version installed, the new 1.9.4 installer will pick up your existing license file without reactivation. Users still running 1.8.x or older need to migrate to the current licensing system, which Pleiades documents in their official 1.9.0 announcement and licensing FAQ. Which macOS versions does PixInsight 1.9.4 support?+ PixInsight 1.9.4 officially supports macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 15 Sequoia. macOS 14 Sonoma may work but Pleiades offers no compatibility guarantee. Older versions including Ventura, Monterey, and Big Sur are no longer supported. If you are on Sonoma or older and rely on PixInsight, plan a macOS upgrade alongside the PixInsight update. Will my existing PixInsight scripts and RC Astro plugins still work?+ Most scripts will continue working, but the V8 JavaScript runtime is a meaningful underlying change from SpiderMonkey 24\. Pleiades has published an official V8 Script Porting Guide for developers. Maintainers of major community tools such as WBPP and the RC Astro suite will issue updated versions over the coming weeks; check each tool's developer site before relying on it in production. Mac Observatory The Mac deep-sky stack just got faster. Native Apple Silicon PixInsight, paired with Meridian for archive and catalog. Explore the broader Mac astronomy software landscape. [PixInsight Deep Dive →](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-on-the-mac-the-definitive-deep-dive/) [Meridian →](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### May 3, 2026 Sun URL: https://macobservatory.com/may-3-2026-sun/ Last updated: 2026-05-10T20:07:59.000Z This was the first time I ran a full solar capture and processing workflow inside my own apps. Light came down through the Lunt LS60MT, into a Player One Apollo-M Mini, into Laminar for the SER recording, and out into Strata for stacking, sharpening, and coloring. 11,159 frames at one millisecond apiece in narrowband H-alpha. Strata's solar path finally got tested against real photons. The WOW Solar sharpening engine, the disc-mask geometry shared between Sharpen and Color, the gradient-map colorization presets, all of it was built on synthetic data and the math behind the algorithms, because I did not own a solar scope when I wrote it. Today I owned one for about an hour before pointing it at the Sun. The pipeline held. The disc-mask snapped to the limb. The prominences came through clean. There is more tuning ahead, especially on the Color phase, but **the bones are right.** If you shoot solar in H-alpha or Ca-K and would be willing to share an SER from a recent session, I am still collecting test data at [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). The more real-world variety the engine sees, the better it gets. --- Capture Details Acquisition 11,159 × 1.00 ms Equipment Telescope — [Lunt LS60MT](https://agenaastro.com/lunt-solar-60mm-f-7-universal-day-night-use-modular-telescope-observer-package.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Camera — Player One Apollo-M MINI Mount — [Rainbow Astro RST-135E](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/rainbow-astro-rst-135e-weightless-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) Software Mac Observatory [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) — Capture Mac Observatory [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) — Stacking, Sharpening, Color Location Sugar Land, TX View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/v9dlw3?r=B&ref=macobservatory.com). ### M90: The Violet Harvest URL: https://macobservatory.com/m90-the-violet-harvest/ Last updated: 2026-05-10T19:42:52.000Z Humans, when they finally learned to number the sky, called our home M90\. They marked its bright center as a nucleus, as though it were a point on a chart, a word to place beside a photograph. To us, it was never a place. It was the First Pattern, a pressure in the mind passed from clutch to clutch, telling us when to feed, when to flee, and when to enter the violet storm. We had no mouths, so we never lied aloud. We moved through the bright heart on eight hooked limbs, our black shells polished by radiation, our thoughts braided so tightly that one fear could turn a thousand bodies. Above and below the core rose the twin radio winds, pale rivers of charged fire thrown out long before our oldest memory. Every cycle we entered those rivers to harvest the blue spores that grew where old suns had died. A soft body would have been cooked, crushed, or peeled apart atom by atom. We were not soft. Our limbs could pick one grain from a magnetic filament while our shells rang under the storm. The elders taught us the current maps by touch and thought. Cross the sheared field at the seventh knot. Fold your limbs when the wind brightens. Never chase food into the dark gap, for the dark gap is where the dead think. Then the outer sky began to thin. The great spiral was being stripped by an invisible sea, its breath torn away into a tail longer than any migration. The First Pattern would fade. The spores would die. We gathered for the last harvest and found the elders waiting in the forbidden dark gap. They had not died there. They had become the signal. The radio lobes were not the storm we crossed. They were our people, shouting without sound across the void, trying for ages to warn us that **the only food left was memory.** --- Capture Details Total Integration 24h 35m Integration per Filter Lum/Clear — 13h 20m (160 × 300″) Red — 3h 45m (45 × 300″) Green — 3h 45m (45 × 300″) Blue — 3h 45m (45 × 300″) Equipment Telescope — [Celestron EdgeHD 11″](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-1100-ota-91050-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Camera — [ZWO ASI2600MC Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-pro-astronomy-camera-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mount — [10Micron GM1000 HPS](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/10micron-gm1000hps-equatorial-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) Reducer — [Celestron 0.7X Reducer EdgeHD 1100](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-7-x-reducer-lens-for-edgehd-1100-94241.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Focuser — MoonLite CSL 2.5″ Large Format Crayford SCT/RC Filter Wheel — [ZWO EFW 7 × 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-efw-7-36mm-filter-wheel-for-36mm-unmounted-filters-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) OAG — [ZWO OAG-L](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Power — [Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox 2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-power-box-v2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Flat Panel — DeepSkyDad Observatory Flat Panel (OFP2) Filters [Chroma LRGB 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-lgrb-imaging-filter-set-36mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) — Lum, Red, Green, Blue [Chroma Narrowband 3nm 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/chroma-technologies/shopby/36mm%5Fround%5Funmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) — H-alpha, OIII, SII Software Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · Adobe Photoshop Russell Croman — BlurXTerminator · NoiseXTerminator · StarXTerminator Location DSP Remote Observatory · Animas, NM · Bortle 1 View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/da8lbq?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Introducing Ephemeris: Native PHD2 Guide Log Analysis on the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris-1-0/ Last updated: 2026-05-02T03:20:34.000Z Ephemeris is a free, native macOS app that reads PHD2 guide logs and turns them into something you can actually navigate — sortable session summaries, a time-series chart with drag-to-zoom, an FFT periodogram, calibration plots with orthogonality checks, and multi-session combining. It's GPL-3.0, available now from Mac Observatory, and built in Swift and SwiftUI from the ground up. ![Ephemeris main window showing a full night of combined PHD2 guide sessions, with the sidebar, time-series chart, scatter inset, and inspector visible](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-25-at-9.25.45---PM.png) Combining a full night of guide sessions, gaps preserved. Ephemeris 1.0 - **Price:** Free - **License:** GPL-3.0 (source on GitHub) - **Platform:** macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later, Apple Silicon native - **Distribution:** Developer ID signed & notarized, direct from Mac Observatory - **Developer:** Andrew Burwell / Mac Observatory [Download Ephemeris →](https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris) [View source on GitHub →](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris?ref=macobservatory.com) ## Why I Built It PHD2 — the open-source autoguiding application by Bruce Waddington and Andy Galasso, and the de facto standard for amateur autoguiding on both Windows and Mac — already has a log viewer. It's called `phdlogview`, written by Andy himself, and it ships native Mac builds back to Mojave. Most of what I learned about reading guide logs, I learned by reading his code. So let me get this out of the way up front: this isn't me fixing something that was broken. Andy's tool works. What I wanted was a Mac-native version. Something built around SwiftUI's `DocumentGroup` so File → Open and dropping a log onto the app icon both worked the way you'd expect, with charts drawn in Swift Charts and an interface that felt like it belonged on the same screen as the rest of my Mac apps. I also wanted to give back to the open-source astronomy community in a way that played to my strengths — designing software for Mac users. But the bigger reason is what I think Ephemeris can become. The original PHD log viewer, like this v1, is informational. It shows you the numbers. It doesn't tell you what the numbers *mean*. I think a guide-log analyzer can do more than render a graph — it can help you read the graph. Especially if you're newer to autoguiding and haven't yet learned what 0.8″ RMS with persistent Dec drift looks like versus 0.8″ RMS from poor seeing. v1.0 doesn't do that yet. But it's the direction I'm pointed. I've already taken a small first step. Ephemeris lets you ⌘-click sessions in the sidebar to combine them into one merged view, with real wall-clock gaps preserved between them. Drag-to-exclude works across the merge. Stats and FFT recompute on the merged session. It's a tiny enhancement, but it's the kind of thing I want to keep adding — small, useful, and aimed at the *what do I do with this?* question rather than the *what does this say?* question. ## What's in v1.0 ![Ephemeris summary view showing the aggregate header strip, the green Best and orange Worst session pills, and a sortable session table with the Total RMS quality bar column](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-25-at-9.24.17---PM.png) The summary view, with the night's best and worst sessions called out. The **summary view** is what opens when you load a log. You get aggregate stats up top — total integration time, frame count, weighted RMS — and a sortable table of every guiding session in the file, with green ★ Best and orange ⚠︎ Worst pills marking your standout nights. The Total RMS column has a thin horizontal bar scaled to the *worst* session, so you can scan quality at a glance without having to read individual numbers. ![Ephemeris per-session guide chart with RA in red and Dec in blue, a hover readout card, scatter inset in the corner, and the star mass and SNR sub-charts beneath the main plot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-25-at-9.24.50---PM.png) Hover any frame, see RA, Dec, and SNR. Drag to zoom or to exclude. The **per-session chart** is built on Apple's Swift Charts. RA in red, Dec in blue, hover for a frame readout, click to pin a vertical rule. Drag to zoom; toggle the mode and drag to manually exclude a range from your stats. There's a translucent XY scatter inset in the corner with concentric rings every 0.5″ (matching PHD2's target convention), a star-mass sub-chart, an SNR sub-chart, and event markers for settling, dither, star-lost, and PHD2 parameter changes. Click an event in the inspector and the chart's selection rule snaps to that frame. ![Ephemeris calibration view with a square XY plot, West and East legs in red, North and South legs in blue, dashed concentric reference rings, and the orthogonality readout in the header strip](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-25-at-9.24.33---PM.png) A clean cal cross looks like a T. Anything else is a clue. The **calibration plot** is square, 1:1, with West/East legs drawn in red and North/South in blue, plus orange backlash steps if your mount needed them. The stats strip across the top shows your RA and Dec rates plus orthogonality error — and if it's over 5°, that number turns orange to flag it. Worth catching before your imaging session, not after. ![Ephemeris frequency analysis modal showing an FFT periodogram with a logarithmic X-axis, the dominant period highlighted, and the drift-correct toggle visible](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-25-at-9.25.53---PM.png) FFT analysis on RA — the dominant period is your worm gear, every time. The **FFT periodogram** opens with ⌘F. Log-X axis, Hann-windowed, drift-corrected by default, with a vertical rule annotating the dominant period. It's built on Apple's Accelerate framework — no third-party dependencies, no GSL, no SPM packages. A few other things worth knowing: the app is read-only on log files (it never modifies what it opens), exports go through the system share sheet (CSV of frames, CSV of session stats, log summary CSV, or a 2× PNG of the chart), there's an in-app Apple Help Book at ⌘? with nine topic pages, and the analysis code ships with around 56 unit tests covering parsing, statistics, FFT recovery, and the multi-session merger. ## What v1.0 Doesn't Do Cross-night comparison isn't there yet. Each window is one log file — if you want to look at last week's session and tonight's, that's two windows side by side. There's no PHD2 *debug* log support either; Ephemeris reads the guide log only. And the polar-alignment estimate is single-session, which means it works well on long sessions and gets noisy on short ones. I'd rather ship without those features than ship them poorly. ## Where It's Going The post-1.0 roadmap is the real reason I'm excited. Three things, in rough order: PHD2 debug log correlation, cross-session trend analysis, and a layer of plain-language interpretation on top of the numbers. The last of those I'm prototyping as an MCP server, so a chat assistant like Claude could read your guide logs directly and have an actual conversation with you about what's going on — *"Your RA RMS doubled around 1am — was the wind picking up?"* That kind of thing. What v1.0 brings to the Mac Four headline features Multi-Session Combining ⌘-click sessions in the sidebar to merge them into one virtual log with real wall-clock gaps preserved. Stats and FFT recompute on the merge. FFT Periodogram Hann-windowed, drift-corrected FFT on Apple's Accelerate framework. Surfaces the dominant period in your guiding so you can spot periodic error. Drag to Zoom & Exclude Two interaction modes on the same chart — zoom in for detail, or mark a range as excluded so it stops contaminating your RMS, drift, and peak stats. Calibration Analysis Square XY plot with per-direction legs, backlash steps, and an orthogonality readout that turns orange when your axes are off by more than 5°. ## Get It Ephemeris 1.0 is a free download at [macobservatory.com](https://macobservatory.com/ephemeris-phd2-log-viewer/) — Developer ID signed and notarized, distributed direct from Mac Observatory. macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later, runs natively on Apple Silicon. Source is on [GitHub](https://github.com/Raddock/ephemeris?ref=macobservatory.com) under GPL-3.0, and Andy Galasso's `phdlogview` (the upstream project this learns from) is at [github.com/agalasso/phdlogview](https://github.com/agalasso/phdlogview?ref=macobservatory.com). If you want to support continued development, there's a [Patreon](https://patreon.com/cw/MacObservatory?ref=macobservatory.com). If you find a bug or have a feature you'd like to see — especially anything in the roadmap above — open an issue on GitHub or send me a note. v1.0 is the start, not the destination. After v1.0 Where Ephemeris is going From informational tool to interpretive companion — three tracks I'm working on next. Track 1 Debug Log Correlation Read PHD2's debug log alongside the guide log. Surface camera state, detection thresholds, and rejection reasons in the same hover readout. Track 2 Cross-Session Trends Open a folder of guide logs and see your mount's performance across nights, weeks, months. How is the mount drifting? Is alignment holding? Track 3 Conversational Analysis An MCP server so a chat assistant can read your logs directly and have an actual conversation about what's going on — and what to try next. Mac observatory More native astronomy software for the Mac Ephemeris joins Laminar, Strata, and Meridian as part of the Mac Observatory app suite — native tools built for Mac astrophotographers. [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) [The MO App Suite →](https://macobservatory.com/apps) [Support on Patreon →](https://patreon.com/cw/MacObservatory?ref=macobservatory.com) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### On the Rim of NGC 3718 URL: https://macobservatory.com/on-the-rim-of-ngc-3718/ Last updated: 2026-04-20T15:32:22.000Z I was born where the stars of our galaxy grow thin and patient, far out beyond the crowded brilliance of the inner worlds. From our observatories, NGC 3718 did not resemble the perfect spirals drawn in the oldest textbooks. It arched across the heavens like a vast, wounded sigil, bent into an impossible S, its bright heart split by a black river of dust. Beyond that scar hung the companion galaxy whose slow gravity had been pulling at us for ages, twisting our lanes of gas and stars until even children could see that the sky itself was being torn. We were an old civilization by then. We had mapped atoms, folded time into instruments, and written symphonies for particles no ear could hear. Yet all our powers could not persuade a galaxy to remain whole. The outer systems began to drift. Ancient constellations unraveled. The great central engines of our cities calculated the same verdict in ten thousand elegant forms. We would endure for a while, then fail. Not by war, nor famine, nor folly, but by the majestic indifference of celestial mechanics. It seemed to us a cruel thing that intelligence should bloom only to witness, with perfect clarity, the terms of its own extinction. In the final century, we turned our receivers outward and inward together. We searched the worlds of our own galaxy, hoping for survivors, allies, any other mind to answer the dark. What came back was stranger than hope. From the torn arms, from hidden planets circling quiet stars, from places our ships had never reached, came signals with the same mathematical sorrow and the same unbearable beauty. Different biologies. Different languages. Different senses. Yet every dying civilization had made the same discovery at the edge of knowledge. Life, wherever it appears, does not end by asking how it may be saved. It ends by asking whether it was alone. On the last night before our seas lifted into frost, I stood beneath the warped glow of the galactic core and understood the answer. We had never been alone, only distant. The galaxy had concealed us from one another until the very forces that destroyed it braided our final voices into one. We had believed NGC 3718 was being torn apart. In truth, it was being made to speak. And what it said, through all of us at once, was the oldest and grandest sentence in the universe. **I was here. So were we all.** --- Capture Details Total Integration 45h 50m Integration per Filter Lum/Clear — 23h 20m (280 × 300″) Red — 7h 30m (90 × 300″) Green — 7h 30m (90 × 300″) Blue — 7h 30m (90 × 300″) Equipment Telescope — [Celestron EdgeHD 11″](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-1100-ota-91050-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Camera — [ZWO ASI2600MC Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-pro-astronomy-camera-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mount — [10Micron GM1000 HPS](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/10micron-gm1000hps-equatorial-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) Reducer — [Celestron 0.7X Reducer EdgeHD 1100](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-7-x-reducer-lens-for-edgehd-1100-94241.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Focuser — MoonLite CSL 2.5″ Large Format Crayford SCT/RC Filter Wheel — [ZWO EFW 7 × 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-efw-7-36mm-filter-wheel-for-36mm-unmounted-filters-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) OAG — [ZWO OAG-L](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Power — [Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox 2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-power-box-v2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Flat Panel — DeepSkyDad Observatory Flat Panel (OFP2) Filters [Chroma LRGB 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-lgrb-imaging-filter-set-36mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) — Lum, Red, Green, Blue [Chroma Narrowband 3nm 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/chroma-technologies/shopby/36mm%5Fround%5Funmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) — H-alpha, OIII, SII Software Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · Adobe Photoshop Russell Croman — BlurXTerminator · NoiseXTerminator · StarXTerminator Location DSP Remote Observatory · Animas, NM · Bortle 1 View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/5qkv8j?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Laminar 1.1.0: Planetary Capture for Ten Camera Brands on Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-1-1-camera-expansion/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T02:45:07.000Z Laminar 1.1.0 is live on the Mac App Store — and it's a major camera compatibility update for Mac planetary imagers. The app now supports cameras from ten astronomy brands natively on macOS, up from two at launch. Three new direct SDK integrations cover QHY, ToupTek, and SVBONY, and the ToupTek backend automatically supports five additional OEM brands: Altair Astro, OGMA, RisingCam, MallinCam, and Omegon. If you own a planetary camera from any of these manufacturers, it now works with Laminar on your Mac. This has been the most requested feature since Laminar launched. Planetary imaging on the Mac has historically been limited by which cameras your software actually supports. FireCapture is Windows-only. AstroDMx Capture covers many cameras but isn't a native Mac app. Most of the vendor-supplied capture tools are Windows-first, Mac-maybe. Laminar was built from the ground up as a native macOS application with direct SDK integration for each camera vendor, Metal GPU acceleration for live preview, and real-time frame quality analysis — and now that experience extends to the cameras most planetary imagers actually own. ## Which Cameras Does Laminar Support on Mac? Laminar 1.1.0 Camera Support 10 Brands. 3 SDKs. Native on Mac. Production — Fully Tested ZWO ASIPlayerOne Beta — QHY SDK QHY Beta — ToupTek SDK (one SDK covers all) ToupTek AstroAltair AstroOGMARisingCamMallinCamOmegon Beta — SVBONY SDK SVBONY Here's the full breakdown. Laminar 1.1.0 supports cameras through three SDK integrations, each covering one or more brands: **ZWO ASI** — All ZWO ASI cameras compatible with the v1.41 SDK, including the ASI462MC, ASI585MC, ASI290MM, ASI224MC, and the newer ASI676MM. This is Laminar's most mature and thoroughly tested backend. **PlayerOne** — All PlayerOne cameras, including the Mars-C, Neptune-C II, Uranus-C, and Ares-C Pro. Fully production-tested. **QHY** — Support for QHY astronomy cameras including the QHY5III planetary series (QHY5III462C, QHY5III290M, QHY5III485C), QHY268, QHY600, QHY533, and QHY294 families. Requires cameras with on-chip firmware — which includes the QHY5III series and all cameras released in recent years. **ToupTek + OEM Partners** — This is the broadest single integration. ToupTek manufactures the camera hardware behind several well-known astronomy brands. One SDK covers all of them. If you own a planetary camera from any of these brands, Laminar will discover it automatically: - ToupTek Astro - Altair Astro - OGMA - RisingCam - MallinCam - Omegon **SVBONY** — Support for SVBONY cameras including the SV305, SV505C, SV705C, SV605, and SV905C series. SVBONY has been growing fast in the budget-friendly planetary camera space, and their cameras now work natively on macOS through Laminar. ## What Works With New Cameras? Every feature in Laminar works across all supported cameras. Live preview with Metal GPU debayering, SER recording, RGB histogram, frame quality analysis, planet tracking, surface tracking for the Moon and Sun, and SER playback with the QuickLook plugin. The experience is identical regardless of whether you're using a ZWO ASI462MC or an OGMA planetary camera — Laminar handles the vendor differences behind the scenes. Help Us Test Using a QHY, ToupTek, Altair, OGMA, RisingCam, MallinCam, Omegon, or SVBONY camera with Laminar? Each new backend has vendor-specific diagnostic logging that captures every SDK interaction — giving us actionable data to fix issues fast. Go to **Settings → Diagnostics → Export Logs** and email the ZIP to [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). Positive confirmation is just as valuable as bug reports. ## New Camera Support Is Labeled Beta I want to be upfront about this. The QHY, ToupTek, and SVBONY backends are complete — every feature is implemented, the code has been reviewed, and crash isolation ensures that an issue with any new backend can never affect ZWO or PlayerOne cameras. But I haven't been able to test them with physical cameras from every vendor yet. That's where you come in. When you connect a camera from one of the new vendors, Laminar shows a Beta badge in the camera picker and a brief note encouraging you to share your experience. Each new backend has detailed, vendor-specific diagnostic logging built in — every SDK call, every state transition, every frame delivery — so when you export your logs, I get actionable data I can use to fix issues without needing your camera in my hands. If you're using a QHY, ToupTek, Altair, OGMA, RisingCam, MallinCam, Omegon, or SVBONY camera with Laminar, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing about your experience. Export your logs from Settings → Diagnostics and send them to [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com) — even if everything works perfectly. Positive confirmation is just as valuable as bug reports. ## What Else Changed in 1.1.0? The ZWO SDK has been updated from v1.35 to v1.41, which adds support for newer cameras including the ASI676MM. New camera backends only initialize when a matching USB device is actually connected — there's no performance overhead or extra log noise from vendors whose cameras aren't plugged in. And shared image processing code across all backends means more consistent behavior and easier maintenance going forward. ## Does Laminar Work on Intel Macs? Laminar is built for Apple Silicon, but two of the three new SDKs — ToupTek and SVBONY — ship as Universal Binaries that include Intel support. QHY's SDK is ARM64 only. For now, Laminar itself remains an Apple Silicon application, but Intel compatibility is something I'm evaluating for a future release. ## What's Next Beta testers on TestFlight are already putting these new backends through their paces. As real-world testing validates each vendor's cameras in planetary imaging sessions, I'll move backends from Beta to production status in a future update. QHY cooler support is deferred to a future release — it requires a different polling approach than other vendors, and I'd rather ship it correctly than ship it broken. If you're new to Laminar, it's a [one-time purchase on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) with every feature included. Update to 1.1.0 to get the new camera support, or download it fresh — capture to SER format, play back your sessions, and pair it with [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) for stacking and sharpening. The complete planetary imaging workflow, native on Mac. Mac Observatory Suite Planetary Imaging, Native on Mac Capture with Laminar. Stack and sharpen with Strata. The complete planetary workflow — built for macOS. [Download Laminar](https://apps.apple.com/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com)[Strata — Stacking & Sharpening](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) [Browse the Mac Astronomy Software Directory →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) ### Laminar 1.0 Is on the Mac App Store — Native Planetary Capture for macOS URL: https://macobservatory.com/laminar-1-0-mac-app-store-release/ Last updated: 2026-04-11T00:49:09.000Z **Update, April 10:** Laminar has moved from free-with-paid-upgrade to a single $34.99 purchase. In its first week, 35 people downloaded Laminar and two chose to pay — and to those two, many thanks. It means a lot. I'm new to selling apps on the App Store, and launching the core functionality for free was a learning experience. I hope people find value in having native Mac applications for planetary imaging. Continued support helps this area grow, and gives me the confidence that people actually want Mac-native tools for this workflow. ## The first planetary capture app built specifically for the Mac is here. Laminar is now available on the Mac App Store for $34.99 — a one-time purchase. It is the first planetary imaging capture application built natively for macOS and Apple Silicon — designed in Swift and SwiftUI, with GPU-accelerated Bayer demosaicing via Metal compute shaders. If you image planets, the Moon, or the Sun with a ZWO or PlayerOne camera connected to a Mac, this is the app that was missing from your workflow. I've been building Laminar for over a year, and today it graduates from TestFlight to a proper release. This isn't a side project — it's the first app in the Mac Observatory Suite, a planned series of native macOS tools covering the entire planetary imaging workflow from capture through stacking and archiving. ★ Laminar MAC OBSERVATORY Native macOS planetary capture — real-time frame quality analysis, automatic planet tracking, and atmospheric seeing scores. Built in Swift/SwiftUI with Metal GPU acceleration. **$34.99 one-time** — full capture, real-time quality analysis, tracking, sky scores **Requires:** macOS 15+, Apple Silicon, ZWO or PlayerOne camera macOS Apple Silicon Native Metal GPU [Mac App Store →](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) [Full Details →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) ## The problem Laminar solves Planetary imaging on the Mac has been an exercise in compromise. Your options, until now: **FireCapture** is the incumbent. It's Java-based, cross-platform, and has been the planetary imager's go-to for years. But on a Mac it requires a Java runtime, it's not notarized by Apple, the interface feels foreign to macOS, and there's no GPU acceleration. It works, but it doesn't belong here. **ASICap / ASI Studio** is ZWO's free offering. Basic capture, limited controls, ZWO cameras only. If you've browsed the BAA forums, you've seen users struggling to get it running at all — unclear documentation, greyed-out dashboards, no guidance. **AstroaDMx Capture** is functional and cross-platform, but again, not Mac-native. No Metal acceleration, no macOS design patterns. **INDIGO Astro Imager** is genuinely native to the Mac, but it's designed for deep-sky sequencing — not high-speed planetary video. Different tool for a different job. None of these give you real-time frame quality feedback during capture. None tell you whether tonight's sky is even worth imaging before you set up. And none automatically track a planetary disk as it drifts during focusing. What Mac planetary imagers have been saying > "I just want to capture planets on my Mac without installing Java, fiddling with Homebrew, or booting into Windows. Is that really too much to ask?" > > — Cloudy Nights user > "ASICap downloaded to my MacBook Air, then I picked the subset ASICap for Planets which came up with a sort of greyed out dashboard. I have NO idea how to use it." > > — British Astronomical Association forum > "FireCapture works on Mac through Java, but it doesn't feel like a Mac app. No GPU acceleration, no Retina support, no integration with anything." > > — r/astrophotography ## What Laminar does differently Laminar isn't just another capture app with a Mac icon. Three features set it apart from everything else in this category — on any platform. Only in Laminar What no other capture app does Sky Quality Assessment Two scores — Conditions and Seeing — tell you whether tonight is worth imaging before you set up. No API keys, no configuration. Real-Time Quality Graph Live Laplacian variance analysis — the same algorithm stacking software uses — applied during capture. Know your focus is sharp before you stack. Auto Planet Tracking Frame-by-frame centroid tracking follows the planetary disk as it drifts. Solves the SCT mirror-shift problem. Works from Mars to Saturn's rings. Metal GPU Acceleration Bayer demosaicing via Metal compute shaders — 10–50× faster than CPU. Live color preview, quality analysis, and recording run concurrently without dropping frames. **Sky Quality Assessment.** Before you haul equipment outside, Laminar fetches real-time weather and astronomical seeing data — synthesized into two scores: Conditions (0–100) evaluating cloud cover, humidity, and dew risk via Open-Meteo, and Seeing (0–100) estimating atmospheric stability via 7Timer, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory's GFS-based seeing forecast. No API keys. No accounts. No configuration. An 85/70 means go image. A 12/25 means stay inside. No other capture app does this. **Real-time frame quality graph.** The green line shows instantaneous frame sharpness. The yellow line shows the rolling average. Watch the yellow line as you adjust your focuser — when it peaks, you've nailed focus. This is the same Laplacian variance algorithm used by stacking software like AutoStakkert, applied live during capture. You know your session is sharp before you ever open a stacking tool. **Automatic planet tracking.** Laminar detects the planetary disk and tracks it frame-by-frame using brightness-weighted centroid analysis. When you adjust focus on an SCT and the mirror shifts, the analysis region follows the target. No more watching your quality graph crash because the planet drifted out of a static ROI. For the Moon and Sun, click on a crater or sunspot and Laminar locks onto that surface feature using GPU-accelerated template matching. ## How Laminar fits your workflow Laminar captures to SER — the industry-standard format for planetary video. Every major stacking application reads SER natively: AutoStakkert, Registax, PIPP, Planetary System Stacker, Planet Stacker X, and Siril. If you're already stacking on Windows, nothing changes downstream. Capture on your Mac with Laminar, transfer the SER files, stack in AutoStakkert. Your existing workflow just got a better front end. If you want to stay entirely on the Mac, Laminar pairs naturally with [Planet Stacker X](https://macobservatory.com/planet-stacker-x-macos-planetary-imaging/) for stacking and wavelet sharpening. And [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) — the next app in the Mac Observatory Suite — is already in public beta on TestFlight. It replaces the entire AutoStakkert → Registax → WinJUPOS chain with a single GPU-accelerated macOS app: multi-point alignment, 6-layer wavelet sharpening, planetary derotation, drizzle super-resolution, and Wiener deconvolution — all running natively on Apple Silicon. You can [test the full Laminar-to-Strata pipeline right now](https://testflight.apple.com/join/dcUeF7jR?ref=macobservatory.com). Planetary imaging workflow Where Laminar fits CAPTURE Record high-speed planetary video [★ Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) → SER video file macOS native ZWO + PlayerOne Real-time quality STACK + SHARPEN Align, select best frames, enhance detail [★ Strata (beta)](https://testflight.apple.com/join/dcUeF7jR?ref=macobservatory.com) Planet Stacker X AutoStakkert Registax SER input Wavelet sharpening Derotation Drizzle TIFF/PNG/FITS output FINAL PROCESSING Color balance, final polish Photoshop / Affinity LuckyStackWorker ## Pricing Laminar is $34.99 — a one-time purchase. No subscription, no tiers, no feature gating. You get everything: full camera capture and control, SER playback with macOS QuickLook support, Sky Quality scores, the real-time quality graph, automatic planet and surface feature tracking, live histogram, RAW8/RAW16 recording, dynamic ROI selection, multi-camera support, and rotation-aware capture timing warnings. I went with one-time purchase deliberately. The Mac astronomy community is niche, and the people in it are enthusiasts who've already spent thousands on cameras and telescopes. A subscription for a capture app felt like the wrong ask. Pay once, own it. ## What's next Laminar 1.0 is the foundation. The v2 roadmap includes equipment profiles in Settings, filter wheel support via the INDIGO Server protocol (I have a PlayerOne cooled camera and filter wheel on loan for testing), and `.laminar` sidecar files that store per-frame quality metrics — laying groundwork for ML-based focus drift detection in v3. Strata is in public beta right now and it's already feature-dense. The stacking engine runs quality analysis at \~1,500 frames per second on Apple Silicon, with GPU-accelerated multi-point alignment that achieves a 26× speedup over CPU. It supports 6-layer à trous wavelet sharpening with per-layer denoise, luminance-only sharpening mode, drizzle super-resolution at 1.5×/2×/3×, and GPU Wiener deconvolution with synthetic Airy disk PSF generation. For Jupiter and Mars, it handles planetary derotation through GPU block matching and thin-plate spline warping. For Saturn, it uses synthetic displacement projection that detects rings automatically from the image — no ephemeris data needed. There's also a dedicated solar imaging pipeline with WOW whitening, disk-masked surface contrast, and wavelength-accurate colorization presets for H-alpha, Ca-K, white light, and sodium D. [Join the Strata beta on TestFlight](https://testflight.apple.com/join/dcUeF7jR?ref=macobservatory.com) and try the full pipeline from Laminar capture to finished image. Meridian, the deep-sky imaging archive, is also in public beta on TestFlight. The goal is a complete Mac-native suite where each app works independently but they're built to complement each other. If you image planets on a Mac, [get Laminar from the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) and let me know what you think. I'm at support@macobservatory.com and genuinely want to hear from the people using it at the telescope. Mac observatory Start capturing planetary images tonight. Laminar is $34.99 on the Mac App Store. Strata is in beta on TestFlight. The Mac planetary pipeline is here. [Get Laminar — $34.99 →](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/laminar-planetary-capture/id6758026387?ref=macobservatory.com) [Try Strata Beta →](https://testflight.apple.com/join/dcUeF7jR?ref=macobservatory.com) [Full Feature List →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) [Mac Astronomy Software Directory →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) [Planetary Imaging on Mac →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-planetary-imaging-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Mac Observatory Automation with ASCOM Alpaca: What Works in 2026 URL: https://macobservatory.com/ascom-alpaca-mac-observatory-automation/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T15:03:59.000Z ## ASCOM Alpaca Is Quietly Unlocking Full Observatory Automation for Mac Users The biggest obstacle to running a fully automated observatory on a Mac has never been the telescope, the camera, or the mount. It has been the software layer that glues everything together. ASCOM Alpaca is an open, network-based protocol from the ASCOM Initiative that carries the same device commands as classic ASCOM, but over HTTP and JSON instead of Microsoft COM. Any application on any operating system, macOS included, can talk directly to mounts, domes, focusers, power switches, and other observatory hardware. For years, the deepest tier of automation, meaning dome control, automated flat sequences, weather-triggered shutdowns, and power sequencing, was built on ASCOM's COM framework. COM is a Microsoft technology, so every driver written against it was Windows-only by architecture. Mac users were never short on capable hardware. They were short on drivers. Native alternatives have existed the whole time. INDI and INDIGO have given Mac and Linux users real automation for years, and KStars/EKOS on a Mac is a complete imaging stack today. But those are separate ecosystems with their own driver sets, so a device that only ever shipped an ASCOM driver stayed out of reach unless you kept a Windows machine in the loop. That is the specific gap Alpaca closes, and it closes it from the hardware side: when the device itself answers HTTP requests, it stops mattering which driver framework your software prefers. What makes 2026 different is that the hardware has arrived. Devices are now shipping with Alpaca built in rather than bolted on afterward, which is what turns the protocol from a specification into something you can buy. How the architecture changed Classic ASCOM vs. ASCOM Alpaca CLASSIC ASCOM Windows-only · Microsoft COM framework Hardware → COM Driver (Windows) → ASCOM Platform (Windows) → Client App (Windows only) ASCOM devices unreachable from macOS Requires Windows on every control machine Driver and client must share one machine Alpaca carries the same device commands over HTTP + JSON ASCOM ALPACA Any OS · HTTP/JSON over local network Hardware (web server) → HTTP/JSON on local network → Any Alpaca client (macOS, Linux, Windows) macOS is a first-class client No Windows dependency on the client side Device and client can sit on different machines BRIDGE PATH Existing gear · ASCOM Remote on Windows Legacy COM Device → ASCOM Remote (Windows) → Alpaca over network → Mac client Transitional: the Windows box is a translation layer only Retire the bridge PC as hardware turns over ## What Is ASCOM Alpaca, Exactly? Classic ASCOM was built on Microsoft's COM framework, a Windows-specific way for programs to talk to each other. That was not a philosophical choice. It is simply what was available when ASCOM was designed in the late 1990s. The consequence is architectural: every driver written against COM runs on Windows, because COM runs on Windows. Alpaca carries the same device commands over HTTP and JSON on a local network instead. The device itself becomes a small web server. It listens on a port, answers standardized HTTP requests, and returns JSON. Any client that can make an HTTP request, on any operating system, can talk to it. That is the whole unlock. What makes this more than a side project is where the encouragement is coming from. The ASCOM Initiative's own documentation, under a note dated 2026, tells developers they ["strongly encourage you to write for ASCOM Alpaca"](https://ascom-standards.org/?ref=macobservatory.com), and points out that writing a Windows driver for Alpaca is no harder than writing one for COM. The organization that built the Windows-only standard is steering new development toward the cross-platform one. Worth being clear about what that does not mean: Alpaca is not replacing classic ASCOM, and the Initiative is explicit that the two are fully interoperable. A new Alpaca device works immediately with unmodified Windows applications that speak ASCOM COM, because the Windows Chooser can find it and generate a COM driver for it automatically. Existing Windows-resident devices can have Alpaca interfaces added without being modified. Migration runs in both directions, which is the point. Nothing you own stops working. That two-way compatibility is what makes the bridge practical. ASCOM Remote is a free application from the ASCOM Initiative that exposes classic ASCOM devices as Alpaca devices over your local network. Your existing mount driver, dome controller, or filter wheel, anything registered in the ASCOM Platform, becomes addressable by any Alpaca client on any machine on the network. You keep the hardware you have, add one piece of software on the Windows side, and your Mac becomes the control client. One practical note on latency: HTTP and JSON over a local network add nothing meaningful for observatory automation. You are not streaming video. You are sending "slew to this RA and Dec," or "open dome," or "turn on the dew heater." These are slow, state-based commands, and the protocol overhead is not a factor. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/IMG_7741.jpeg) ## Why Mac Users Should Care About This Protocol Change The honest history is that the deepest tier of automation software grew up on Windows. NINA, Sequence Generator Pro, and MaxIm DL are all ASCOM COM clients, and NINA in particular set the expectations most imagers now have for weather-triggered sequencing and conditional logic. None of them run on macOS. Mac users were never without options. INDIGO A1 and KStars/EKOS have both offered real, native automation for years, and INDIGO A1 in particular has matured into a serious suite. What Mac users lacked was access to devices whose only driver was a Windows COM driver. That is a hardware compatibility problem, not a software capability one, and it is the specific thing Alpaca fixes. Alpaca does not change what NINA is. NINA is still Windows-only. It changes what the hardware requires. When a device answers HTTP requests directly, it does not care which operating system is asking, and your Mac becomes a first-class client rather than a second-class one. The Mac clients that speak Alpaca today are real, actively developed applications. [CCDciel](https://www.ap-i.net/ccdciel/?ref=macobservatory.com), by Patrick Chevalley, is a free, open-source capture and automation application that runs natively on macOS and connects to devices through both INDI and ASCOM, including Alpaca, with Alpaca as a first-class connection mode in the equipment profile. [KStars/EKOS](https://www.indigo-astronomy.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) is the community-maintained planetarium and imaging suite, which speaks INDI natively. [INDIGO A1](https://macobservatory.com/indigo-a1-mac-astrophotography-suite-review/) is CloudMakers' Mac-native client for the INDIGO framework, built by a team who set out eight years ago to make macOS and iOS first-class astronomy platforms. INDIGO reaches the ASCOM world through an Alpaca agent that bridges between the two standards, so ASCOM and Alpaca software can work with INDIGO devices and the reverse. One honest caveat: if what you want is NINA-style sequencing with weather-triggered responses and deep conditional logic, the Windows ecosystem is still ahead. CCDciel's scheduler and the EKOS Scheduler module are both capable, but neither matches the breadth of NINA's plugin and scripting ecosystem. That gap is real and worth knowing before you commit to a Mac-only path. What the community is saying about Alpaca on Mac > "I finally got CCDciel talking to my UPBv3 over Alpaca last week — zero Windows, just my M2 Mac mini running the session. First time I've done a fully unattended night without a PC at the scope." > > — Cloudy Nights, Mounts forum > "ASCOM Remote is the secret weapon nobody talks about. My old SkyWatcher EQ6-R has a Windows-only driver. I run ASCOM Remote on a cheap refurb laptop in the obs, and my Mac sees it as a native Alpaca mount. Took about 20 minutes to set up." > > — r/astrophotography > "The ASCOM Initiative literally says to write new drivers for Alpaca now. The old COM stuff isn't going away tomorrow but the direction is obvious. Mac users finally have a seat at the table." > > — Stargazers Lounge, Automation & Scripting > "Honest take: CCDciel's scheduler isn't NINA. But for a Mac-only setup it covers 90% of what I actually need — target sequencing, meridian flips, automated flats, and safety monitor shutdown. I stopped missing NINA about three sessions in." > > — Cloudy Nights, Imaging Software forum ## Which Mac Apps Can Actually Talk to Alpaca Devices? This is the practical question. You have decided to move more of your workflow to the Mac. What do you actually run? [CCDciel](https://www.ap-i.net/ccdciel/en/features?ref=macobservatory.com) is the most direct path for Mac users who want broad automation scope. It connects to cameras, filter wheels, focusers, rotators, mounts, domes, switches, weather stations, observing condition devices, and safety monitors, over ASCOM, Alpaca, or INDI. Two details matter more than the list. Alpaca is a first-class connection mode rather than an afterthought, and CCDciel states plainly that Alpaca devices work on Linux and macOS. It also lets a single equipment profile mix local and remote devices across different protocols, so an Alpaca power box and an INDI mount can coexist in one session. It is free and it runs natively on macOS. For flats, CCDciel handles automated sky flats at dusk and dawn. If you want a physical flat panel driven automatically, confirm cover calibrator support in the current build before buying hardware around it. KStars/EKOS is the more complete environment, bundling a planetarium, imaging sequencer, polar alignment assistant, and scheduler in one suite. It speaks INDI natively, and Alpaca devices are reachable through the INDIGO Alpaca agent or an INDI-Alpaca bridge. Check the current macOS build situation before committing, since installation on Apple Silicon has been a recurring friction point for the community. [INDIGO A1](https://macobservatory.com/indigo-a1-mac-astrophotography-suite-review/) is CloudMakers' Mac-native client for the INDIGO framework. INDIGO was designed from the start for distributed setups, the kind where the hardware sits at the telescope and the control client sits on a laptop or Mac mini indoors. The framework includes an Alpaca agent that bridges INDIGO and ASCOM/Alpaca in both directions, so ASCOM-based software can drive INDIGO devices and INDIGO clients can reach Alpaca hardware. What these three share is that they treat the Mac as a legitimate control platform rather than a fallback. Which one fits comes down to what you are automating and how deep you want to go. Mac Alpaca client landscape How each Mac app reaches Alpaca All three run natively on macOS. They differ in whether Alpaca is a direct connection or a bridged one. CCDciel Native Alpaca client Connects to ASCOM, Alpaca, and INDI devices directly. A single equipment profile can mix local and remote devices across different protocols. Camera Mount Focuser Rotator Filter Wheel Dome Switch Weather Observing Conditions Safety Monitor KSTARS / EKOS INDI native · Alpaca bridged Speaks INDI directly. Alpaca devices are reached through the INDIGO Alpaca agent or an INDI-Alpaca bridge rather than connected to natively. INDIGO A1 INDIGO native · Alpaca bridged Speaks INDIGO directly, with a broad built-in driver set. The Alpaca agent bridges INDIGO and ASCOM/Alpaca in both directions. Device list per CCDciel's published feature documentation. Bridge behavior per INDIGO's user documentation. ## Alpaca-Ready Hardware for Your Mac Observatory in 2026 Knowing the clients is half the picture. The other half is knowing which hardware speaks Alpaca today, which speaks it partially, and where you still need a bridge. **Power Management** The [Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox v3](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-powerbox-power-pack-v3-peg-upbv3.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) is a 12V power hub, stepper focuser controller, and environmental sensor in one unit, with a built-in Wi-Fi web server. It provides six individually switchable 12V outputs plus two always-on, eight USB ports, three dew heater outputs with Pegasus's AutoDew feature, and onboard temperature and humidity sensors. You can reach its dashboard from any browser at upbv3.local, which is genuinely operating system independent. Read the Alpaca support carefully, because it is partial. Pegasus states that the UPBv3 currently exposes its focuser and observing conditions through Alpaca. Switch control, meaning the actual power outputs, runs through their ASCOM 6 drivers with Unity acting as a server, which is a Windows path. If you want to sequence power from a Mac today, the route is INDI or INDIGO, both of which fully support the unit. That still means no Windows machine. It just means the connection is not Alpaca. **Flat Panels** The [Pegasus Astro FlatMaster Neo](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-flatmaster-neo-120-retractible-flat-field-illumination-panel-fltmstr-neo120.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) is ASCOM 7 and Alpaca ready out of the box, with Wi-Fi as either hotspot or network client, a web dashboard, and a single USB-C cable carrying both power and control. It comes in 120mm and 125mm versions, so match it to your aperture. Confirm cover calibrator support in your chosen client before building a flat routine around it. **Dome and Roll-off Roof** This is where the DIY community has been most active, with ESP32-based Alpaca dome controllers built from a development board, relay modules, and reed switches for open, closed, and parked status. The controller exposes a standard Alpaca dome interface over WiFi, and CCDciel or KStars/EKOS can slave it to mount position. For commercial domes such as Exploradome, Pulsar, or NexDome, the usual path is still ASCOM Remote on a bridge PC with the Mac as the Alpaca client. **Mounts** Most mounts reach a Mac one of two ways: through INDI drivers for KStars/EKOS users, covering Sky-Watcher, iOptron, Celestron and others, or through the ASCOM Remote bridge for Windows-only drivers. The exception is the ZWO Seestar S50, which has native Alpaca support in recent firmware. Put it in station mode on your home WiFi and Alpaca clients can discover it. Full mount control also requires the Seestar in equatorial mode on a wedge, set in the app's advanced settings. Reports of success are strongest with SharpCap, NINA and APT; getting EKOS to connect has been less straightforward. Alpaca-ready hardware categories What you can automate from your Mac today Power Management The Pegasus UPBv3 exposes its focuser and observing conditions over Alpaca, and its browser dashboard works from anything. For switching the outputs themselves from a Mac, connect through INDI or INDIGO, both fully supported. Flat Panels The Pegasus FlatMaster Neo is ASCOM 7 and Alpaca ready over a single USB-C cable, with Wi-Fi and a web dashboard. Available in 120mm and 125mm, so match it to your aperture. Dome & Roll-off Roof ESP32-based community controllers expose a standard Alpaca dome interface over WiFi. Commercial domes (NexDome, Pulsar, Exploradome) typically reach Alpaca through ASCOM Remote on a bridge PC. Mounts Sky-Watcher, iOptron, and Celestron mounts connect via INDI drivers in KStars/EKOS. The ZWO Seestar S50 has native Alpaca support in recent firmware: connect in station mode, and use equatorial mode on a wedge for full mount control. ## Two Paths to a Working Mac Automation Stack The gear list is helpful, but what you really want to know is what a functional setup looks like. **Path A: No Windows (Modern Hardware)** If you are buying new or replacing aging gear, you can build a fully automated Mac observatory with no Windows machine anywhere. The core stack: CCDciel on your Mac, a Pegasus UPBv3 for power and environmental management, a FlatMaster Neo for flats, and any INDI-compatible mount, with Sky-Watcher and iOptron among the best supported. For dome or roof control, an ESP32 Alpaca controller handles the mechanical interface. The thing that makes this work is that CCDciel does not require every device to speak the same protocol. One equipment profile can mix local and remote devices across ASCOM, Alpaca, and INDI. So the FlatMaster Neo and your dome controller connect over Alpaca, while the UPBv3 connects over INDI or INDIGO, which is how you get at its power switching. Different transports, one profile, no Windows. From there you assign each device to its role, set your flat sequence parameters, and configure the CCDciel scheduler with a safety condition tied to your weather source. CCDciel can run an automated action when conditions become unsafe, which is what turns the chain into an unattended night: close the roof, park the mount, shut things down. Worth confirming cover calibrator support in your build before you rely on the panel for automated flats rather than shooting sky flats at dusk and dawn. **Path B: Alpaca Bridge (Existing Gear)** If you have already invested in Windows-based hardware, meaning a mount with a Windows-only ASCOM driver, a dome controller that predates Alpaca, or a filter wheel with nothing but a COM driver, ASCOM Remote is the transition path. Install it on a small Windows machine at the observatory, where a repurposed laptop is fine, and configure it to expose your ASCOM devices over Alpaca. Your Mac connects to them with CCDciel or KStars exactly as it would to native Alpaca hardware. The Windows box is purely a translation layer and you do not interact with it once it is running. This is transitional architecture. As gear turns over and Alpaca-native devices replace Windows-only ones, the bridge PC becomes redundant. The goal is to retire it, not maintain it. [OpenAstro AlpacaBridge](https://www.openastro.net/?ref=macobservatory.com), released in January 2026, adds a third option for the DIY-inclined. It runs on a small computer at the mount, connects to your hardware, and exposes everything over Alpaca as a unified endpoint. OpenAstro's documentation covers installation on a Raspberry Pi as well as on an iMate, StellaVita, or ASIAIR, and the exposed devices work with CCDciel, N.I.N.A., Sequence Generator Pro, SharpCap, APT, and Voyager. **Where Meridian fits in this picture** When CCDciel runs an automated session, opening the roof, sequencing exposures, and closing down at dawn, the FITS files it writes carry the session metadata: object, date, filter, equipment. [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/), Mac Observatory's deep-sky archive manager, watches the folder those files land in and catalogs them as they arrive, reading the headers rather than relying on how you named anything. It never modifies, moves, or renames the originals. The result is that your automation chain gets a session log for free: Alpaca opens the observatory and captures the data, Meridian records what was captured. PATH A No Windows Modern hardware Buying new or replacing aging gear? Build a fully automated Mac observatory with no Windows machine anywhere. CCDciel connects to Alpaca, INDI, and ASCOM devices in a single equipment profile, so your gear does not all have to speak the same protocol. CCDciel · UPBv3 (INDI/INDIGO) · FlatMaster Neo (Alpaca) · INDI mount · ESP32 dome (Alpaca) PATH B Alpaca Bridge Existing gear Already invested in Windows-only hardware? Run ASCOM Remote on a small Windows machine at the observatory. It exposes your COM devices over Alpaca. Your Mac connects as a client, and the Windows box is purely a translation layer. Mac client → Alpaca network → ASCOM Remote (Windows) → COM devices Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Pegasus Astro · iOptron [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ### Strata Is Now in Beta — Native Planetary Stacking and Sharpening for macOS URL: https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing-beta/ Last updated: 2026-03-26T22:41:16.000Z Strata is a native macOS application for planetary image stacking and sharpening, built on Swift, SwiftUI, and Metal — and it's now available as a free public beta on TestFlight. It replaces the traditional Windows-only chain of AutoStakkert, RegiStax, and PIPP with a single GPU-accelerated app that handles the entire planetary processing pipeline from SER import through final export, entirely on Apple Silicon. If you've been running Parallels or Wine just to stack your planetary captures, that era is over. ★ StrataMAC OBSERVATORYBETA Native planetary stacking and sharpening for macOS — GPU-accelerated through Metal. Three stacking methods, three sharpening engines, drizzle super-resolution, and multi-image derotation in a single app. macOS 14+Apple Silicon NativeMetal GPUFREE DURING BETA [TestFlight →](https://testflight.apple.com/join/dcUeF7jR?ref=macobservatory.com) ## Why I built Strata I'll be honest — Strata is the most complex application I've built, and it took me the longest to get right. I went through three complete start-overs before arriving at the current implementation. The first two attempts taught me what didn't work. The third attempt — built from scratch on Metal compute shaders with a proper alignment pipeline — is what you're looking at today. The reason I kept starting over is the same reason every Mac planetary imager knows: this problem is genuinely hard. AutoStakkert has had years of refinement on Windows for a reason. Multi-point alignment with sub-pixel registration across thousands of frames, running fast enough that you don't lose your mind waiting — that's not a trivial engineering challenge. Doing it on the GPU through Metal, with zero-copy unified memory on Apple Silicon, is what finally made the performance viable. ## The problem Strata solves For years, processing planetary images on the Mac meant one of three things: run Windows in Parallels to access AutoStakkert + RegiStax, wrestle with Planetary System Stacker's Python dependencies, or accept limited results from tools that don't offer multi-point alignment. Each of those paths has real friction. What Mac planetary imagers have been dealing with > "I just run Windows under Parallels on my Mac so I can use Registax, FireCapture and Autostakkert. They all work great and there are really no Mac equivalents that work nearly as well." > > — Cloudy Nights user > "I managed to get Siril to process it after some help finding out how to convert AVI to SER. I also used PSS, which apparently does much the same as Registax and Autostakkert." > > — Cloudy Nights user > "Lynkeos does not offer point alignment of parts of the planet to overcome seeing effects — it only does global alignment. So while it can stack and process an image, it will not get you fantastic results." > > — Mac Observatory AutoStakkert is a fantastic stacking tool, but it only handles stacking — you need RegiStax for sharpening and PIPP for pre-processing. That's three separate Windows-only applications, each saving to disk, each losing context between handoffs. PSS is cross-platform and does good work, but it's a Python application — no GPU acceleration, no native Mac interface, and dependency management that can break between macOS updates. Planet Stacker X from Rain City Astro is a welcome native option, but it offers a simpler feature set without drizzle, derotation, per-channel sharpening, or physics-based deconvolution. Strata replaces the entire chain. One native macOS app handles import, quality analysis, stacking, derotation, sharpening, color science, and export — all GPU-accelerated through Metal, all in a single window. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/saturn_image_color_adjustment_tool-1.png) ## Seven phases, one window Strata walks you through a guided seven-phase pipeline, but lets you navigate freely or skip ahead at any point. Cmd+1 through Cmd+7 jumps directly to any phase. Strata workflow Seven Phases. One Window. 1 Import→2 Analyze→3 Stack→4 Derotate→5 Sharpen→6 Color→7 Export Navigate freely between phases — jump to any step with Cmd+1 through Cmd+7\. Already have a stacked image? Drop a TIFF or PNG to skip straight to Sharpen. **Import** — Drag and drop SER files (v2/v3, 8-bit/16-bit, Bayer/RGB). Load multiple files into a single session for derotation. Already have a stacked image? Drop a TIFF or PNG and skip straight to Sharpen. **Analyze** — GPU-accelerated frame quality scoring at 1,500 fps using Laplacian and Sobel metrics. An interactive quality histogram lets you set the threshold for which frames make it to stacking. On an Apple M1, analyzing 10,000 frames takes about 7 seconds. **Stack** — Three stacking methods, all running on the GPU. Simple Average aligns and averages in one fast pass (93× speedup over CPU). Multi-Point uses NCC cross-correlation with sub-pixel registration across a grid of alignment points — the best balance of quality and speed. AP-Dewarp independently aligns each region of the frame for maximum detail with zero interpolation blur. All three methods support optional Drizzle super-resolution at 1.5×, 2×, or 3× — using sub-pixel offsets between frames to produce a higher-resolution result than any single frame. **Derotate** — Jupiter completes a full rotation in just under 10 hours. If you capture multiple SER files over 20–30 minutes, the planet will have rotated enough that simply combining stacks would blur surface detail. Strata's derotation phase corrects for this using optical flow registration with consecutive pair chaining — robust even when frames have significant rotation between them. **Sharpen** — Three GPU-accelerated engines, all with real-time preview. Wavelet Sharpen runs a 6-layer decomposition with per-layer gain and denoise controls in \~30ms. Wiener Deconvolution uses a synthetic Airy disk PSF modeled from your aperture, focal length, and pixel size — with telescope presets and multi-pass support. WOW Solar is purpose-built for solar disk detail. All three engines support per-channel R/G/B mode for independent sharpening of each color channel — particularly useful for taming noisy blue channels on planetary captures. **Color** — Software ADC with GPU-accelerated auto-detect aligns R/G/B channels via cross-correlation, then populates manual sliders for fine-tuning. Auto color balance, saturation, brightness, gamma, and Mineral Moon enhancement for lunar mineralogy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/lunar_image_processing_strata_color_settings-1.png) Mineral Moon enhancement applied to a recent moon capture. **Export** — TIFF (8/16-bit), PNG, JPEG, and FITS with embedded processing metadata. Configurable filename templates. Metal GPU acceleration Every Heavy Operation Runs on the GPU 1,500 fps Quality Analysis 10,000 frames scored in \~7 seconds on an M1\. The sharpest frames are ranked and selected before stacking begins. 93× Stacking Speedup Simple Average stacking runs 93 times faster on the GPU than CPU. Multi-Point achieves 45× with full sub-pixel alignment. \~30ms Wavelet Sharpening Adjust a slider and see the result instantly. All three sharpening engines run at interactive speed through Metal compute shaders. Unified Memory — Zero Copies Apple Silicon's unified memory means frames never copy between CPU and GPU. The data stays in place — the GPU just processes it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/saturn_video_analysis_strata_interface-1.png) ## Processing profiles and batch processing Strata ships with 8 built-in processing profiles — Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Sun, and a general Unspecified profile. When you load a SER file, Strata auto-detects the target from the filename (it recognizes FireCapture and SharpCap naming conventions) and applies the matching profile. Save your own custom profiles and apply them with one click. For sessions where you've stacked multiple targets or multiple nights of data, batch processing lets you point Strata at a folder of stacked TIFF or PNG images and run the full sharpen + color + export pipeline across all of them in one pass. ## Where Strata fits in the landscape I want to be straightforward about the competitive landscape, because Mac planetary imagers have more options than they did even a year ago. Mac software landscape Planetary Processing on macOS Native, cross-platform, and emulated options for stacking and sharpening. Stacking Native Mac [★ Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing)Planet Stacker X Stacking Cross-platform PSSSirileise.app Stacking Windows only AutoStakkert Sharpening Post-processing [★ Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing)LuckyStackWorkerRegiStax (Win) Capture SER recording [★ Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software)FireCaptureSharpCap (Win)ASIStudio Mac Observatory Suite Popular / Recommended Available **AutoStakkert + RegiStax** remains the gold standard workflow on Windows. If you're already running Parallels and you're happy with that setup, there's no urgency to switch. But if you'd rather stay native, Strata offers a comparable stacking pipeline with integrated sharpening — no emulation, no three-app chain. **Planetary System Stacker** is an excellent open-source tool and the closest AutoStakkert equivalent on Mac. It produces great results. The tradeoffs: it's a Python application without GPU acceleration, and dependency management on macOS can be fragile. If you're comfortable with Python and don't mind the setup, PSS is a solid free option. **Planet Stacker X** from Rain City Astro is free, native, and well-designed. It's the right choice if you want simple, fast planetary stacking with wavelet sharpening and don't need drizzle, derotation, per-channel processing, or deconvolution. I've [covered it in depth](https://macobservatory.com/planet-stacker-x-macos-planetary-imaging/) — it's a welcome addition to the Mac ecosystem. Strata's differentiators are depth and integration: three stacking methods with drizzle, three sharpening engines including physics-based deconvolution, per-channel R/G/B control, multi-image derotation, processing profiles, batch processing, and software ADC — all in one window, all GPU-accelerated. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/mars_image_color_adjustment_tool-1.png) ## Pairs with Laminar — but works with anything Strata is part of the [Mac Observatory Suite](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) alongside Laminar (planetary capture) and [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog) (deep sky archive). Capture in Laminar, process in Strata. But Strata works with SER files from any capture application — FireCapture, SharpCap, ASIStudio, oaCapture, or anything else that outputs standard SER video. ## Join the beta Strata is free during the beta testing phase — both the Sharpen tier and the Full Suite are unlocked. I'm looking for feedback on real-world data from real imaging sessions. If you encounter issues, I'd appreciate it if you enable debug logging in Settings — it helps me trace exactly what happened. Beta Testing Tip If you encounter issues during the beta, enable **Debug Logging** in Strata's Settings menu before reproducing the problem. The log captures the exact processing state and helps diagnose issues quickly. Send feedback and logs to [support@macobservatory.com](mailto:support@macobservatory.com). One thing I haven't been able to test with is solar data. I don't have a solar scope, and the WOW Solar sharpening engine needs real-world validation. If you have solar SER captures you'd be willing to share, send a Dropbox or Google Drive link to **support@macobservatory.com** — I'd really appreciate it. [Download Strata on TestFlight →](https://testflight.apple.com/join/dcUeF7jR?ref=macobservatory.com) **Requirements:** macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple Silicon (M1+), Metal GPU. For the full feature breakdown, pricing details, and FAQ, visit the [Strata product page](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing). Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about Strata from the Mac astrophotography community. Is there a native Mac alternative to AutoStakkert?+ Yes. Strata from Mac Observatory is a native macOS application that provides a comparable multi-point stacking pipeline to AutoStakkert, plus integrated wavelet sharpening, Wiener deconvolution, and WOW Solar processing — eliminating the need for separate RegiStax and PIPP tools. It runs entirely on the GPU through Metal and requires Apple Silicon. How does Strata compare to Planet Stacker X?+ Both are native macOS planetary processing apps with GPU acceleration. Planet Stacker X is free and simpler — great for straightforward stacking with wavelet sharpening. Strata offers deeper control: three stacking methods, drizzle super-resolution, physics-based Wiener deconvolution with synthetic PSF, per-channel R/G/B sharpening, multi-image derotation, processing profiles, and batch processing. Choose based on whether you need the additional depth. Is Strata free?+ During the beta testing phase, Strata is completely free — all features are unlocked via TestFlight. At launch, Strata Sharpen (TIFF/PNG import, all three sharpening engines, color balance, split comparison) will be free forever. Strata Full (SER import, stacking, derotation, drizzle, profiles, batch processing) will be a one-time $34.99 purchase. No subscriptions. Does Strata work with FireCapture and SharpCap SER files?+ Yes. Strata imports standard SER video files (v2 and v3, 8-bit and 16-bit, Bayer and RGB) regardless of which application captured them. FireCapture, SharpCap, ASIStudio, Laminar, oaCapture — any tool that outputs SER. Strata also auto-detects target names from FireCapture and SharpCap filename conventions for automatic profile matching. Does Strata support drizzle?+ Yes. All three stacking methods in Strata — Simple Average, Multi-Point, and AP-Dewarp — support optional drizzle super-resolution at 1.5×, 2×, or 3×. Drizzle uses sub-pixel offsets between frames to produce a higher-resolution result than any single frame, similar to the drizzle implementation in AutoStakkert. Can I just sharpen without stacking?+ Yes — and it's free. Drop a TIFF or PNG into Strata and it skips directly to the Sharpen phase. You get all three sharpening engines (Wavelet, Wiener Deconvolution, WOW Solar), per-channel R/G/B control, real-time GPU preview, split comparison, and color balance. If you stack in AutoStakkert or PSS and just need a native Mac sharpening tool, the free Strata Sharpen tier covers that entirely. Do I need Laminar to use Strata?+ No. Strata works with SER files from any capture application. You can also skip capture entirely by importing TIFF or PNG files directly into the sharpening phase. Laminar and Strata are designed to work well together as part of the Mac Observatory Suite, but neither requires the other. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp)](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac observatory From photon to archive — natively on your Mac. Capture in Laminar. Stack and sharpen in Strata. Catalog in Meridian. The complete planetary imaging workflow, built for Apple Silicon. [Strata — Planetary Processing →](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing)[Laminar — Planetary Capture →](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software)[Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### How to Identify Unknown Objects in Your Deep-Sky Images on Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/plate-solve-identify-deep-sky-objects-mac/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T15:59:02.000Z *The full identification workflow — plate solving, catalog queries, and one-step annotation — runs natively on every Mac.* Identifying an unknown object in a deep-sky image requires two steps — plate solving to pin down the sky coordinates, then catalog cross-reference against databases like SIMBAD or HyperLeda — and every tool in that workflow runs natively on macOS. This guide covers exactly that workflow, using three free applications: ASTAP, Astrometry.net, and Seti Astro's What's in My Image (WIMI). Whether you're a Mac-native astrophotographer who stumbled on something unexpected or just want to know what's lurking in the background of every image you've taken, this is the process. The scenario is familiar. You spend a night on M51 — 190 frames at 30 seconds each, your DSLR running cold — and when you stack and stretch the result, there's something in the corner. A faint smear. Maybe two of them. You open Stellarium and click around the area. Nothing. SkySafari confirms the void. You search "faint galaxy near M51" and get a thousand Hubble images of the main event, nothing about the background object you're actually looking at. This isn't a failure of your software instincts. It's a genuine gap between what consumer planetarium apps cover and what's actually in the sky. ## Why Your Planetarium App Isn't Enough Stellarium, SkySafari, and Cartes du Ciel are excellent for planning sessions and identifying the objects you already know you're shooting. They cover the Messier catalog, the NGC, the IC — the canonical lists that most visual observers ever need. But these lists represent a tiny slice of what's actually catalogued, let alone what's physically out there. The faint background galaxies in your field — the ones with PGC or LEDA numbers, or designations in the MCG or UGC — live in databases that consumer apps simply don't include. HyperLeda alone contains 2.19 million galaxies. The NGC has around 8,000 entries. There's a meaningful difference between those two numbers, and it explains a lot of "what is that?" moments. What you need is the sky coordinates of the mystery object — its precise right ascension and declination. With those in hand, you can query databases that consumer apps never touch. The process of extracting coordinates from an image is called plate solving: matching the star patterns in your image to a reference star catalog to determine the exact RA/Dec of every pixel in the field. That's where this workflow begins. ## The Toolbox — What Each Tool Does Three tools do the heavy lifting here, and they're genuinely complementary rather than competing. **ASTAP** — full name Astrometric STAcking Program — is a free, open-source stacking and plate-solving application developed by Han Kleijn, available natively on macOS including Apple Silicon, that solves FITS, RAW, JPG, PNG, and TIFF images locally using downloadable star and galaxy databases. It's the workhorse of this workflow: fast, offline-capable, and able to annotate your images directly with catalog IDs including faint PGC numbers. **Astrometry.net** is a free online blind plate-solving service developed at the University of Toronto and later maintained by the astronomy community, which determines sky coordinates for any astronomical image without requiring any prior knowledge of where the telescope was pointed. Upload an image; get back coordinates. No configuration needed. **What's in My Image (WIMI)** is a free standalone application developed by Frank Tyson (known as setiv2 on Cloudy Nights), available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, that plate-solves an image and automatically cross-references all detected objects against multiple astronomical catalogs — surfacing galaxy names, nebula designations, and catalog IDs in a single interface. It began as a popular PixInsight script and was released as a standalone tool in November 2024. The decision hierarchy is straightforward. WIMI is the fastest path for desktop identification — one step, internet connection required. ASTAP is the choice when you're working offline or want deep local annotation control. Astrometry.net is the fallback when nothing else solves. They're tools for different moments in the same workflow. Mac software landscape Tools for Unknown Object Identification on macOS Every step of the plate-solve → catalog-query workflow runs natively on Mac. Plate Solving Local & blind ASTAP Astrometry.net Siril (built-in) AstroTortilla Object ID Catalog cross-ref WIMI (Seti Astro) ASTAP ⚡ Siril Annotation Catalog Query Online databases SIMBAD NED VizieR HyperLeda Archive Management Long-term tracking [★ Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog) Lightroom Popular / Recommended Mac Observatory Suite Apple Silicon Accelerated Available ## Setting Up ASTAP on Your Mac Download ASTAP from [SourceForge](https://sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/?ref=macobservatory.com). There are separate packages for Intel and Apple Silicon — if you're on any M-series Mac, download the M1 `.pkg` specifically. The performance difference is substantial: documented testing shows the Apple Silicon binary stacking 80 LRGB files in 19 seconds versus 450 seconds under the Intel binary. The same advantage carries through to plate solving. Mac installation has two friction steps that Windows users never encounter. First, after running the `.pkg`, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to the bottom, and approve ASTAP. Second — and this catches people — open Terminal and run this command once: `` ` `` codesign --force -s - /Applications/ASTAP.app/Contents/MacOS/astap `` ` `` That's it. A 30-second step you do once. After that, ASTAP behaves like any other Mac application. M4 Mac Users — One Extra Step On M4-generation Macs, macOS may block ASTAP on first launch even after approving it in Privacy & Security. If the application fails to open, run this command once in Terminal: `codesign --force -s - /Applications/ASTAP.app/Contents/MacOS/astap` — then relaunch. This is a one-time step and does not affect ASTAP's performance or integrity. Once ASTAP is running, you need to install at least one star database. ASTAP uses field-of-view to determine which database tier is appropriate: - **D05**: Wide-field rigs (field of view between 0.6° and 20°) — Askar FMA135 at 540mm, short refractors - **D20** or **D50**: Mid-range setups (100mm class refractors at 600–900mm focal length) - **D80**: Long-focus systems (field of view down to 0.15°) — Celestron EdgeHD 11 at 2800mm For the object identification use case specifically, also download the **HyperLeda** database. This is ASTAP's annotation layer for galaxies, covering 2.19 million objects extracted from [leda.univ-lyon1.fr](http://leda.univ-lyon1.fr/?ref=macobservatory.com). The difference in annotation density between a standard star database and HyperLeda-enabled annotation is dramatic — the PGC numbers that appear on your background galaxies come from here. ASTAP FREE APPLE SILICON NATIVE Local plate-solving and image stacking application for macOS — solves FITS, RAW, JPG, PNG, and TIFF files using downloadable star and galaxy databases, including HyperLeda for faint PGC object annotation. macOS Intel + Apple Silicon Offline Capable Han Kleijn [Download →](https://sourceforge.net/projects/astap-program/?ref=macobservatory.com) ## Solving and Annotating an Image in ASTAP ASTAP accepts FITS, JPG, RAW, TIFF, and PNG — so if you processed your final in Siril and exported a TIFF or JPEG, you can feed it directly to ASTAP without any conversion. That covers the DSLR scenario perfectly. No intermediate steps. The annotation workflow is: open your image in ASTAP → go to File → Solve & Annotate → select your star database → solve. ASTAP matches the star pattern, locks in the WCS coordinates, and overlays catalog IDs directly on the image. NGC and IC objects get labeled. With HyperLeda enabled, PGC numbers appear on background galaxies that would otherwise be anonymous smears. When you spot something unlabeled — a faint object with no catalog overlay — use ASTAP's coordinate readout to note its RA/Dec. Hover the cursor over the object and the coordinates display in the status bar. Write them down, or copy them directly. That's the number you need for the next step. How the workflow connects Unknown Object Identification Pipeline STEP 1 — PLATE SOLVE Extract sky coordinates from your image Open image in ASTAP or WIMI → Solve & Annotate → Note RA/Dec of mystery object Fallback: Astrometry.net (blind, online) Siril has built-in Astrometry.net integration STEP 2 — CATALOG QUERY Search with your RA/Dec coordinates Query SIMBAD → Query NED → Cross-check HyperLeda Set search radius to 1 arcmin first, expand to 5–10 if needed STEP 3 — INTERPRET What did the query return? Match found → catalog ID confirmed or No match → verify it's real signal → Potentially uncatalogued Confirm across multiple frames before concluding no catalog entry exists ARCHIVE — MERIDIAN Scale across your entire image library Import image archive → Auto plate-solve all images → Browse by target catalog name Mac Observatory app — 20 catalog sources, Apple Silicon native ## Using Astrometry.net When ASTAP Can't Solve Some images defeat ASTAP — very short focal lengths with extreme star density, heavily compressed JPEGs, images taken before you had a star database installed. This is where [nova.astrometry.net](https://nova.astrometry.net/upload?ref=macobservatory.com) earns its place in the toolkit. The blind solver requires no configuration and no prior pointing information. Upload a JPG, PNG, or FITS file; the system matches your star pattern against its reference catalog and returns a WCS-calibrated FITS file, an annotated image, and a list of catalog objects in the field. Click any labeled object on the results page for a direct link to SIMBAD. No account is required for occasional use, though a free account gives you job history and API access. Solving typically takes 30 seconds to a few minutes depending on server load. This is a post-processing identification tool, not a live mount solution — for that use case, local solvers connected to your capture software are the right choice. But for a processed final sitting on your Mac desktop, Astrometry.net is fast enough. If you're already working in Siril — which is free, Apple Silicon native, and arguably the best free deep-sky stacking option on macOS — the Astrometry.net integration is built directly into the application. No browser required. You can plate-solve and annotate without leaving your processing environment, which is a meaningful time saver if Siril is already in your workflow. Siril is listed alongside every other relevant option in the [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software). ## WIMI — The One-Step Identification Tool Frank Tyson's "What's in My Image" script built a devoted following inside PixInsight. The question of what was in a given field — not just the main target, but everything — was always a manual research task. WIMI changed that. When Tyson released it as a standalone application in November 2024, available for macOS through the [Seti Astro Suite](https://www.setiastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), the reaction from the community was immediate. The standalone workflow is direct: load your image into WIMI → the tool plate-solves it → cross-references all detected objects against SIMBAD, NED, VizieR subsets, and other catalog sources → overlays identifications on the image → produces a queryable results panel. The whole sequence that previously took four separate browser tabs and manual coordinate entry happens inside one application. The one practical constraint worth naming: WIMI requires an internet connection for its catalog queries. ASTAP, once you've downloaded the star databases, works entirely offline. For post-processing at a desk with reliable internet, WIMI is the faster path. For astronomers working at a remote site or in the field, ASTAP is the more robust choice. Both workflows reach the same result — they just suit different environments. For PixInsight users on Mac: the WIMI script remains available inside PI, which runs natively on Apple Silicon. If you're already in PixInsight for processing, the script-based version is worth having alongside the standalone. What's in My Image (WIMI) FREE Standalone object identification tool by Frank Tyson (Seti Astro) — plate-solves your image and automatically cross-references all detected objects against SIMBAD, NED, and VizieR in a single step. Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Released November 2024. macOS Requires Internet Frank Tyson / Seti Astro [Website →](https://www.setiastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) The community reception to the standalone release was not subtle. Community reaction to the standalone release > "Just ran WIMI on a 4-panel mosaic I shot last year. I had no idea there were 23 catalogued galaxies in the field — now every one of them has a PGC number. This is exactly what I needed." > > — Cloudy Nights user > "I've been using the PixInsight script for ages but having it as a standalone means I can finally use it without loading up PI just for identification. Huge for my workflow." > > — r/astrophotography > "Frank's WIMI script changed how I think about imaging backgrounds. The standalone takes that further — ran it on my entire archive last weekend." > > — Stargazers Lounge ## Querying SIMBAD When the Tools Come Up Empty **SIMBAD** is the world reference database for astronomical object identification, maintained by the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, containing 19.5 million objects with cross-identifications, bibliographic references, and measurements for everything outside the Solar System. When ASTAP's annotation produces nothing at a specific coordinate and WIMI returns no catalog match, SIMBAD is the next query. The workflow is coordinate-based. From ASTAP's readout or Astrometry.net's WCS result, you have an RA/Dec for the mystery object. Go to [simbad.u-strasbg.fr](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-fcoo?ref=macobservatory.com) → Coordinate Query → enter your RA/Dec values → set a search radius. Start with 1 arcminute to keep results tight, then expand to 5 or 10 arcminutes if you get nothing back. SIMBAD will return every catalogued object within that cone — alternative designations, object type, bibliographic references, everything it knows. For extragalactic objects specifically, run a parallel query through the [NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED)](https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/?ref=macobservatory.com). NED is particularly thorough for galaxies, galaxy clusters, and active galactic nuclei. If SIMBAD misses something, NED often catches it, and vice versa. SIMBAD Query Radius Strategy Start your coordinate query with a 1 arcminute search radius to avoid confusion with nearby catalogued objects. If that returns nothing, expand to 5 arcminutes, then 10\. For very faint or diffuse objects, a wider search occasionally catches a match recorded at a slightly different centroid position. Run the same RA/Dec through NED in parallel — SIMBAD and NED have different object coverage and a miss in one doesn't guarantee a miss in both. So what happens when both SIMBAD and NED return nothing? That's the threshold where "what is that?" becomes a genuinely interesting question. If HyperLeda also comes up empty and the object is real — has measurable signal across multiple frames, isn't a satellite trail or artifact — you may be looking at something genuinely uncatalogued. This isn't as exotic as it sounds for faint extended objects. I went through this exact sequence with what became the Blue Ghost Nebula (Burwell 1). The path from "what is that faint glow?" to confirmed discovery runs directly through the coordinate query workflow described here. When your coordinates come back empty from every major database, that's not a dead end — it's the start of a different kind of investigation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/j30v8cKO3QJ1_1824x0_esdlMP5Y.jpg) The Blue Ghost Nebula (Burwell 1) — at the top middle/right edge. ## Scaling This Across Your Whole Archive The manual workflow above works beautifully for a single image. The problem scales with time. If you've been imaging for years, you have hundreds or thousands of processed finals — some with complete metadata, many without, and almost none with a systematic record of what else was in each field when you were pointed at your main target. **Meridian** is a native macOS deep-sky imaging archive application developed by Mac Observatory, built in Swift and SwiftUI with Apple Silicon optimization, that plate-solves imported images to identify sky coordinates, links processed finals to catalog targets across 20 catalog sources, and manages a full equipment and session log. It's worth being clear about how Meridian fits relative to ASTAP and WIMI: those tools help you identify objects in a single image you're actively examining. Meridian helps you know what every image in your archive is, find images by target name, and track what you've captured across months and years of sessions. Different moment in the workflow. Meridian is a one-time $34.99 purchase that includes all of it: archive scanning, the catalog view, the source file browser, object name resolution, the interactive sky map, plate solving, star extraction, and seeing analysis. For someone building a long-term imaging archive — not just solving individual images, but maintaining a structured record of everything they've captured — the Pro tier's plate-solving integration means the identification workflow described in this guide happens automatically when you import new images. ★ Meridian MAC OBSERVATORY Native macOS deep-sky imaging archive — plate-solves imported images, links processed finals to catalog targets across 20 catalog sources, and manages a full equipment and session log. Built in Swift and SwiftUI for Apple Silicon. Free tier includes full archive scanning and catalog view; Pro adds plate solving, interactive sky map, star extraction, and seeing analysis. macOS Apple Silicon Native Free + Pro — See developer website [Learn More →](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog) ## Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about identifying unknown objects in deep-sky images from the Mac astrophotography community. Can I identify unknown objects in my images without PixInsight?+ Yes — the entire workflow described here runs without PixInsight. ASTAP, Astrometry.net, and WIMI are all free standalone tools that work independently. WIMI in particular started as a PixInsight script, but the standalone version released in November 2024 requires no PI installation whatsoever. On Mac, ASTAP is the strongest local option and runs natively on Apple Silicon. What database does ASTAP use to identify faint background galaxies?+ For faint galaxies, ASTAP uses the HyperLeda database — a downloadable annotation layer containing 2.19 million galaxies sourced from leda.univ-lyon1.fr. This is separate from the star databases used for plate solving (D05, D20, D50, D80 tiers). You download it independently from within ASTAP's database manager. Once installed, the difference in annotation density is dramatic — PGC numbers appear on background galaxies that would otherwise show no catalog label at all. My image won't plate solve — what should I check?+ The most common cause in ASTAP is a database mismatch — if your image field of view falls outside the range covered by your installed star database tier, the solver won't find enough reference stars to get a match. Check that your database tier (D05, D20, D50, or D80) is appropriate for your focal length and sensor combination. The second common cause is image quality: heavily compressed JPEGs, images with very few stars visible, or extremely stretched previews can all fail where the original processed file succeeds. If ASTAP can't solve after trying the correct database tier, upload the image to nova.astrometry.net — the blind solver has no configuration requirements and will work on almost any astronomical image with discernible stars. How do I know if something I found is genuinely uncatalogued?+ Work through the databases in order: SIMBAD first, then NED, then HyperLeda. If all three return nothing at the object's coordinates — using progressively wider search radii up to about 10 arcminutes — that's a meaningful result. Before drawing any conclusions, confirm the signal is real: check that the object appears consistently across multiple frames from different nights, that it doesn't move (ruling out slow-moving solar system objects), and that it doesn't align with known imaging artifacts like reflections or sensor anomalies. An object that survives all of those checks and still has no catalog match is worth treating seriously. That's the point where the investigation becomes genuinely interesting. What do I do if I've discovered a new object?+ First, document everything: precise RA/Dec coordinates from your plate solution, the date and time of each frame, your equipment (telescope, camera, focal length), and sky conditions. Gather as many independent frames as possible — ideally from multiple sessions — to establish that the object is real and stationary. Then reach out. Post to Cloudy Nights or the appropriate observing forums with your coordinates and images and ask if anyone can confirm with independent data. For nebulae specifically, the Research Notes of the AAS (RNAAS) is an accessible peer-reviewed venue for reporting short observational discoveries — it's where Burwell 1 and Burwell 2 were submitted. The process is more approachable than it sounds, and independent confirmation from another imager is the most important step before any formal claim. ## Every Image in Your Archive Deserves an Answer The workflow in this guide — ASTAP for local annotation, Astrometry.net as your blind-solve fallback, WIMI when you want everything identified in one step, SIMBAD and NED for deep catalog queries — is genuinely approachable on macOS. None of these tools require Windows. None require a mount connection. All of them work on processed finals sitting on your desktop right now. Start with the image that made you curious enough to read this. Run it through WIMI or ASTAP. See what comes back. Most of the time you'll get a PGC number and a distance estimate and the mystery will be solved. Occasionally you won't — and that's when the workflow gets interesting. For the full picture of what's available for Mac-based astrophotography, the [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) covers every application in this category and gets updated as the ecosystem evolves. ### NGC 4535: The Lost Galaxy Sends a Signal URL: https://macobservatory.com/ngc-4535-the-lost-galaxy-sends-a-signal/ Last updated: 2026-03-23T15:43:58.000Z They called NGC 4535 the Lost Galaxy because it was hard to see, a pale barred spiral adrift in Virgo, dim in small telescopes and easy to overlook. That was the first mistake humanity made. The second was assuming that anything so ghostly must also be empty. For two centuries they admired its nearly face-on arms, measured its distance at roughly fifty million light-years, and congratulated themselves for noticing the blue star nurseries and old yellow heart glowing at its center, never imagining that the galaxy was looking back. I was born in the bar, where the oldest cities circled the bulge like embers around a furnace. We learned our history differently from humans. They spoke of William Herschel discovering us in 1785\. We taught our children that discovery means more than being seen. It means being understood. So while Earth named us, photographed us, and nicknamed us with patronizing affection, our astronomers listened to the Cepheid variables flickering through our arms like a code built into the bones of the universe. Fifty of them had been enough for human science to measure distance. For us, they were part of a metronome. The pattern repeated nowhere else. Not in Andromeda. Not in Messier 87\. Not even in the bright scatter of Virgo around us. Only in NGC 4535 did the Cepheids pulse with a timing that could not be natural when heard all at once. We built machines the size of moons to follow the rhythm down into the dust lanes, and there we found it: not a signal from outside, but a lock. Our whole galaxy had been shaped into a dormant transmitter, its bar the spine, its spiral arms the coils, its H II regions the charged nodes waiting for ignition. We were not living in a galaxy. We were living inside a message. When we finally turned it on, every blue cluster in NGC 4535 flared in sequence, and the light crossed fifty million years toward the Milky Way. On Earth, astronomers first thought they had discovered a new phenomenon in the Lost Galaxy. Then they decoded the pulse. It was not mathematics. It was not a greeting. It was a receipt, stamped across intergalactic dark in precise human language, dated before Earth had life complex enough to crawl: **DELIVERY CONFIRMED. MILKY WAY SUCCESSFULLY SEEDED.** --- Capture Details Total Integration 31h 40m Integration per Filter Lum/Clear — 16h 40m (200 × 300″) Red — 5h (60 × 300″) Green — 5h (60 × 300″) Blue — 5h (60 × 300″) Equipment Telescope — [Celestron EdgeHD 11″](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-1100-ota-91050-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Camera — [ZWO ASI2600MC Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-pro-astronomy-camera-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mount — [10Micron GM1000 HPS](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/10micron-gm1000hps-equatorial-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) Reducer — [Celestron 0.7X Reducer EdgeHD 1100](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-7-x-reducer-lens-for-edgehd-1100-94241.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Focuser — MoonLite CSL 2.5″ Large Format Crayford SCT/RC Filter Wheel — [ZWO EFW 7 × 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-efw-7-36mm-filter-wheel-for-36mm-unmounted-filters-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) OAG — [ZWO OAG-L](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Power — [Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox 2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-power-box-v2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Flat Panel — DeepSkyDad Observatory Flat Panel (OFP2) Filters [Chroma LRGB 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-lgrb-imaging-filter-set-36mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) — Lum, Red, Green, Blue [Chroma Narrowband 3nm 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/chroma-technologies/shopby/36mm%5Fround%5Funmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) — H-alpha, OIII, SII Software Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · Adobe Photoshop Russell Croman — BlurXTerminator · NoiseXTerminator · StarXTerminator Location DSP Remote Observatory · Animas, NM · Bortle 1 View the full-resolution image and technical details on [AstroBin](https://app.astrobin.com/i/uegpkf?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Deep-Sky Stacking Software for Mac: The Complete 2026 Guide URL: https://macobservatory.com/mac-deep-sky-stacking-software-guide/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T00:00:28.000Z Deep-sky stacking software combines multiple long-exposure astrophotography frames, calibrated with darks, flats, and bias frames, into a single high-signal image by aligning star patterns and averaging out noise. On macOS, where Windows' standard DeepSkyStacker doesn't exist, Mac users now have options at every tier, from free open-source tools to professional-grade commercial applications, all running natively on Apple Silicon. Mac Observatory tracks the current compatibility status of every major stacking application in the [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software). If you've tried to stack astrophotography images on a Mac, you've hit the wall: DeepSkyStacker doesn't run on macOS, and every Windows tutorial assumes you're using software that simply doesn't exist in the Mac ecosystem. That gap, the DeepSkyStacker problem, has frustrated Mac astrophotographers for nearly two decades. But the Mac stacking landscape has caught up. Here's every option that works in 2026, with honest comparisons and the complete free-to-pro pathway. ## Why DeepSkyStacker Doesn't Solve This on Mac DeepSkyStacker, the free Windows-only stacking application, has been the standard entry point for deep-sky processing since 2006, handling calibration, registration, and stacking with minimal setup. Luc Coiffier created it in 2006 and open sourced it under a BSD 3-Clause license in 2018\. A team including David Partridge, Tony Cook, and Mat Draper has maintained it since, and it is still actively developed, reaching version 6.2.2 in July 2026\. Its absence on macOS has historically sent Mac users toward either commercial alternatives or complex open-source workflows. DeepSkyStacker is Windows-only software. No Mac version exists. Never has. This creates the canonical Mac astrophotography beginner pain point. Every Windows tutorial references DSS. Mac users encounter this wall immediately when searching for stacking guidance. The "just use Windows" sentiment persists in forums: Cloudy Nights threads regularly suggest buying a $200 mini PC rather than wrestling with Mac workflows. But that advice is outdated. Mac-native options now exist at every experience level and budget tier. ## What's Available on Mac Right Now The Mac landscape now covers every tier. Free and open source: Siril and ASTAP handle the full calibration and stacking pipeline, while Flat White and SharpStacker offer deliberately simple Mac App Store alternatives for beginners. Commercial: Starry Sky Stacker for straightforward tracked frames, Astro Pixel Processor for a plug-and-play professional workflow, and PixInsight as the professional standard. Affinity covers light stacking inside a general photo editor and is now free. Web-based fallbacks exist for planetary imaging but not deep-sky work: Eise.app wraps PlanetarySystemStacker for high frame-rate planetary video, not long-exposure deep-sky frames. The landscape breaks into three tiers: free tools requiring setup attention, commercial applications offering plug-and-play simplicity, and professional platforms demanding steep learning curves but delivering unmatched control. Each serves different workflows, budgets, and experience levels. ## Free Stacking on Mac: Siril and What Else Exists Siril is a free, open-source astronomical image processing application developed by the Siril team, available natively on macOS with Apple Silicon support, designed for deep-sky image calibration, registration, stacking, and post-processing. Version 1.4.4 was released on June 17, 2026, and the macOS packages were rebuilt later that month to require macOS Ventura 13 or later. Siril handles the full pipeline: load light frames, apply calibration frames (darks, flats, bias), register star patterns across frames, stack with outlier rejection, and stretch the final image. It supports FITS, SER, TIFF, and RAW formats. Mac deep-sky stacking landscape Every Mac Stacking Option in 2026 Complete coverage from free open-source to professional-grade commercial applications. Free / Open-Source No cost entry Siril ⚡ ASTAP Affinity Free / Simple Beginner first steps Flat White SharpStacker Commercial Entry Mac App Store Starry Sky Stacker Commercial Pro Owner or annual rental Astro Pixel Processor ⚡ Professional 300 euros perpetual PixInsight ⚡ Recommended Apple Silicon Native Available Siril's strength is completeness. Where DeepSkyStacker stops at stacking, Siril continues through background extraction, color calibration, histogram stretching, and photometric color calibration. Scripting automation is available for batch processing multiple imaging sessions. The interface follows GIMP/Photoshop conventions: layers, tools, adjustable parameters. Community sentiment from Cloudy Nights and Reddit reflects this dual nature: "Pretty good," "great for stacking, background extraction, color calibration and stretching" balanced against "some trouble getting into a consistent workflow with it." The software is powerful but assumes familiarity with astronomical imaging concepts. RAM requirements matter with Siril. The application loads full stacks into memory during processing. Minimum 8GB RAM handles modest frame counts (50 to 100 frames at 26MP from a mirrorless camera). Serious work benefits from 16GB or more, since a 200-frame stack of 26MP images consumes roughly 10 to 12GB during processing. Siril FREE Free, open-source deep-sky processing suite handling calibration, registration, stacking, and post-processing with full FITS support and scripting automation. macOS Apple Silicon Native Open Source [Website →](https://siril.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) Affinity offers built-in astrophotography stacking inside a general-purpose photo editor, and its value proposition changed completely in late 2025\. Canva merged Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher into a single app simply called Affinity and made it free, so what was previously $70 commercial software now costs nothing. You need a free Canva account to download and activate it, after which it works offline; the AI features require a paid Canva plan. The stacking features work, aligning star patterns, compositing frames, and reducing noise, but they lack the calibration frame support and precise star alignment algorithms that dedicated stacking software provides. Affinity handles casual DSLR and mirrorless workflows adequately, but serious deep-sky imaging benefits from dedicated tools like Siril. ## Paid Mac Stackers: From Simple to Professional Astro Pixel Processor is a commercial deep-sky processing suite from Aries Productions, available natively on macOS with full Apple Silicon optimization, handling the complete pipeline from calibration and registration through stacking, integration, and final processing with exceptional mosaic tools. The macOS installers are signed and notarized by Apple for both Intel and Apple Silicon hardware. A free 30-day trial license lets you evaluate the full feature set before purchasing. APP represents the closest Mac equivalent to DeepSkyStacker's plug-and-play simplicity. Load your light frames, point to calibration frames, choose stacking settings, click integrate. The software handles star alignment, outlier rejection, and gradient removal automatically while exposing advanced options for experienced users. Community sentiment from Cloudy Nights validates this: "Will absolutely give you better results than DSS in a similar plug and play fashion," "very affordable," "handles all your needs from stacking through final image processing." Apple Silicon optimization delivers measurable performance gains. APP runs approximately 2.5× faster on M-series Macs compared to Intel versions on comparable hardware. A 200-frame stack taking 12 minutes on an Intel Mac completes in under 5 minutes on an M3 Pro. For mosaic work (combining multiple panels into a single wide-field image), APP's tools are exceptional. The software handles panel alignment, gradient matching, and seamless blending better than any Mac alternative except PixInsight. APP is priced in euros, with a perpetual owner license and an annual renter license as the two options. Check astropixelprocessor.com for current figures, since euro pricing moves against the dollar. For Mac users wanting professional results without PixInsight's learning curve, APP hits the sweet spot between Siril's free-but-complex and PixInsight's expensive-and-deep. Astro Pixel Processor COMMERCIAL Commercial deep-sky processing suite with Apple Silicon optimization, plug-and-play workflow, exceptional mosaic tools, and complete calibration-through-processing pipeline. macOS Apple Silicon Native Free Trial [Website →](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) Starry Sky Stacker is a commercial Mac App Store application from Ralph Hill, who also develops Starry Landscape Stacker. It aligns tracked deep-sky images, assigns a quality estimate to each frame, lets you select frames on that estimate, and composites the rest into a final stack. At $24.99 it is the most accessible entry point for casual Mac astrophotographers, and a free trial is available on the developer's site if you want to test it first. The interface follows macOS conventions: drag frames into the application, adjust alignment settings, export the stacked result. Limitations define Starry Sky Stacker's niche, though they are narrower than they are often described. It reads RAW from supported cameras, TIFF, and JPEG, so DSLR and mirrorless files go straight in without conversion, but FITS is not supported and neither are monochrome astronomy cameras shooting through filters. Calibration is partial rather than absent: dark frame subtraction and flat-field correction are both optional steps, with no bias handling. Alt-azimuth mounts are out, since the software expects equatorially tracked images where the stars do not rotate within the frame. Community sentiment reflects the tradeoff: "Greatly reduced the noise and improved the quality" from casual users, "very basic" from serious imagers. If you're shooting a DSLR or mirrorless on a star tracker and want simple, Mac-native stacking without learning Siril, Starry Sky Stacker delivers. If you're shooting with an astronomy camera outputting FITS files, you need different software. Starry Sky Stacker $24.99 Mac App Store application for simple deep-sky frame alignment and stacking: drag frames in, adjust settings, export stacked result. Reads RAW, TIFF, and JPEG, with optional dark subtraction and flat-field correction. Best for DSLR or mirrorless on star trackers. macOS Mac App Store Free Trial [Website →](https://sites.google.com/site/starryskystacker/home?ref=macobservatory.com) ## PixInsight: The Gold Standard (If You're Ready) PixInsight is a professional astronomical image processing platform developed by Pleiades Astrophoto, offering unmatched depth in calibration, registration, stacking, and processing with a modular scripting architecture and advanced tools like deconvolution, drizzle integration, and non-linear stretching. It now runs natively on Apple Silicon. Pleiades released version 1.9.4 Lockhart on May 12, 2026, the first macOS ARM64 build, ending five and a half years of Rosetta 2 translation. An x64 build still ships for Intel Macs. Note that 1.9.4 requires macOS 15 Sequoia or macOS 26 Tahoe, and that its new V8 script engine replaced the old SpiderMonkey engine, so scripts written for the old engine do not run until their developers port them. Why APP works on Mac Astro Pixel Processor Advantages Apple Silicon Native Approximately 2.5× faster processing on M-series Macs compared to Intel versions on comparable hardware. Full Pipeline Support Handles calibration, registration, stacking, integration, and final processing in one application. Exceptional Mosaic Tools Panel alignment, gradient matching, and seamless blending rival PixInsight's capabilities. Free 30-Day Trial Evaluate the full feature set before purchasing, with no feature restrictions during the trial period. PixInsight is priced at 300 euros for a perpetual license, so the dollar figure moves with the exchange rate. The investment buys access to the most comprehensive astrophotography processing environment available on any platform. Community sentiment reflects the capability: "The best astrophotography software ever written," "heavily customizable and provides full control over the process." The learning curve is steep. PixInsight doesn't guide you through a workflow, it provides hundreds of tools (called processes) and expects you to understand when and how to apply them. The WeightedBatchPreProcessing (WBPP) script automates the calibration, registration, and stacking workflow, bringing PixInsight closer to push-button operation. Even with WBPP, PixInsight demands understanding of concepts like sigma clipping rejection, local normalization, and image integration weighting. For beginners just starting deep-sky imaging, PixInsight is overkill. For intermediate imagers ready to extract every bit of signal from their data, PixInsight becomes the tool of choice. Drizzle integration (combining multiple undersampled subframes into a higher-resolution final image) works seamlessly in PixInsight. Deconvolution sharpens star patterns and recovers detail lost to atmospheric seeing or tracking errors. Non-linear stretching tools (GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch, ArcsinhStretch) provide finer control than Siril's or APP's histogram stretch dialogs. These capabilities separate PixInsight from every other Mac stacking option. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/M82.jpg) Fully stacked and processed in PixInsight using WBPP and finalized in Photoshop. ## Community Voice: What Mac Astrophotographers Recommend Siril gets the most beginner recommendations despite setup friction. From Cloudy Nights: "I downloaded the Mac version of Siril and it seems pretty good. I downloaded some raw data to practice on and have been pretty happy with it." Another user notes: "With Siril and Affinity Photo on a Mac as a beginner you should be set for a long time. Siril is great for stacking, background extraction, color calibration and stretching." APP earns praise for approaching DeepSkyStacker's simplicity on Windows. Multiple Cloudy Nights users recommend it: "AstroPixelProcessor works very well," "Another vote for AstroPixel Processor. It will handle all your needs from stacking through final image processing if you need. It is very affordable." The free trial matters, since users can evaluate whether APP's workflow matches their needs before purchasing. PixInsight PROFESSIONAL Professional astronomical image processing platform with unmatched depth in calibration, stacking, deconvolution, drizzle integration, and non-linear stretching. Native Apple Silicon since version 1.9.4 Lockhart (May 2026). macOS Apple Silicon Native 45-Day Trial [Website →](https://pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) PixInsight commands reverence mixed with intimidation. From Nature TTL: "To me, PixInsight is the best astrophotography software ever written. It works on MacOS, Windows, and Linux." Deep Sky Workflows adds: "PixInsight remains my tool of choice for processing images and does a great job of stacking. For advanced users, it is heavily customizable and provides full control over the process." The "just use Windows" sentiment persists but weakens. From Cloudy Nights: "I tried to use Ekos on my Mac with a Linux mini pc on the scope. Lots of difficulties getting it to work, ended in failure. Sometimes, the path of least resistance is just to get a Windoze pc." Another user counters: "A capable mini pc costs $200\. You would spend at least this much in Tylenol trying to get astro stuff working on a Mac." This reflects historical frustrations more than current reality: APP, Siril, and PixInsight all work reliably on modern macOS. ## Decision Framework: Choose Your Path The right Mac stacker depends on experience level, budget constraints, and format needs. Here's how to choose: FREE PATH Zero Budget $0 Open-source tools requiring setup attention but delivering professional results. Steep learning curve but no cost ceiling. Siril → GraXpert → Affinity INTERMEDIATE Plug-and-Play Owner or annual Commercial application with Apple Silicon optimization and exceptional mosaic tools. Free 30-day trial reduces purchase risk. Astro Pixel Processor → Seti Astro → Affinity ADVANCED Professional Control 300 euros Industry-standard platform with unmatched depth in deconvolution, drizzle integration, and non-linear stretching. Steep learning curve. PixInsight WBPP → BlurX/NoiseX → GHS **Beginners on a budget:** Start with Siril (free) or Starry Sky Stacker ($24.99). Siril requires setup attention but delivers professional results and teaches core concepts. Starry Sky Stacker offers immediate simplicity but limits growth, and you'll outgrow it once you acquire an astronomy camera or need full calibration and integration. If you're shooting DSLR/mirrorless on a star tracker and want the fastest path to a good image, Starry Sky Stacker works. If you're willing to invest setup time learning Siril, you won't need to switch tools later. **Intermediate users wanting simplicity:** Astro Pixel Processor hits the sweet spot. The plug-and-play workflow approaches DeepSkyStacker's ease while delivering results approaching PixInsight quality. Apple Silicon optimization means fast processing. Excellent mosaic tools. Free 30-day trial available. APP works for serious imaging without demanding PixInsight's learning investment. **Advanced users needing full control:** PixInsight becomes essential once you're shooting with premium equipment, pursuing mosaics, or want access to deconvolution and drizzle integration. The steep learning curve pays dividends. Community support through forums and YouTube tutorials (Light Vortex Astronomy, AstroTreasure) eases the learning process. If you're considering PixInsight, download the trial and work through tutorials before purchasing, since the investment only makes sense if you'll commit to learning the platform. Acknowledge tradeoffs honestly: - **Siril:** Free but requires setup attention, and the interface assumes familiarity with astronomical concepts - **ASTAP:** Free, fast, and doubles as a plate solver, but the interface is utilitarian - **Flat White and SharpStacker:** Free Mac App Store stackers built for simplicity, deliberately light on controls, good first steps before Siril - **APP:** Paid but plug-and-play, excellent mosaic tools, Apple Silicon native, free 30-day trial reduces purchase risk - **PixInsight:** Expensive and steep learning curve but unmatched depth, drizzle integration, deconvolution, professional-grade results, and native on Apple Silicon since May 2026 - **Starry Sky Stacker:** Very simple Mac-native experience but limited, with no FITS support and no alt-azimuth mounts, though it does read RAW directly and handle dark and flat correction What Mac astrophotographers are saying > "I downloaded the Mac version of Siril and it seems pretty good. I downloaded some raw data to practice on and have been pretty happy with it." > > — Cloudy Nights user > "Another vote for AstroPixel Processor. It will handle all your needs from stacking through final image processing if you need. It is very affordable." > > — Cloudy Nights user > "To me, PixInsight is the best astrophotography software ever written. It works on MacOS, Windows, and Linux." > > — Nature TTL > "A capable mini pc costs $200\. You would spend at least this much in Tylenol trying to get astro stuff working on a Mac." > > — Cloudy Nights user (outdated sentiment from 2018) Choose based on specific workflow needs. If you're shooting mosaic panels, APP or PixInsight. If you're using an astronomy camera outputting FITS files, any option works: Siril, APP, or PixInsight. If you're using DSLR/mirrorless and want simple stacking only, Starry Sky Stacker. If budget is zero and you're willing to learn, Siril delivers professional results. ## How to Set Up Siril on Apple Silicon Download Siril from [siril.org](https://siril.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) and install the macOS version. The application runs natively on Apple Silicon. First launch may require allowing the application in System Settings → Privacy & Security if macOS blocks unsigned software (Siril is open-source and may not be notarized depending on build). Shoot RAW. DSLR and mirrorless cameras output RAW formats (NEF from Nikon, CR2 from Canon, ARW from Sony) that Siril reads natively without conversion. JPEG discards the dynamic range you need for stretching faint nebulosity, so there is nothing to gain by shooting it. RAM recommendations matter with Siril. Minimum 8GB handles modest frame counts. 16GB or more benefits larger stacks, since a 200-frame stack of 26MP images consumes 10 to 12GB during processing. Close unnecessary applications before running Siril on 8GB Macs. Scriptable workflows automate repetitive tasks. Siril's scripting language handles batch processing multiple imaging sessions. Community-contributed scripts exist for common workflows: OSC (one-shot color) preprocessing, monochrome narrowband processing, planetary RGB combination. Scripts live in Siril's installation directory under `scripts/`. Load and run scripts from the Scripts menu. ## RAW, FITS, and TIFF: Which Format When Format confusion is common early on. DSLR and mirrorless cameras capture RAW (NEF, CR2, ARW) or JPEG. Astronomy cameras capture FITS. Serious stacking software expects FITS or RAW input. Knowing when conversion is necessary, and when it is not, saves a lot of frustration. **RAW to TIFF conversion:** Usually unnecessary. Siril, APP, and Starry Sky Stacker all read DSLR and mirrorless RAW directly, and PixInsight reads most RAW formats. Conversion mainly matters if your camera is not on Apple's supported RAW list, or if you're pre-processing in Affinity before stacking. **Why FITS?** FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) is the astronomical imaging standard format. Preserves full bit depth (16-bit or 32-bit floating point), stores calibration metadata (exposure time, temperature, filter), supports multi-extension files (embedding calibration frames). Astronomy cameras output FITS natively. Serious processing tools read FITS. **When TIFF is fine:** Starry Sky Stacker and Affinity don't need FITS metadata. They're aligning and averaging pixel values, not reading exposure time or sensor temperature. TIFF works for these tools, as does RAW straight from the camera. **Astronomy cameras simplify this:** ZWO, QHY, and Player One cameras output FITS files directly. No conversion needed for any Mac stacking software. You load FITS lights, darks, flats, bias frames into Siril, APP, or PixInsight and stack. The format juggling problem primarily affects DSLR/mirrorless users shooting on tripods or star trackers. ## Inspecting and Culling Your Subs Before You Stack Stacking rewards good input. Before you load a night's frames, it pays to see what you actually captured and discard what will drag the result down: soft frames, clouds, wind shake, satellite trails, tilt. macOS has a strong set of native FITS tools for this step, and several of them make FITS behave like any other image format in Finder. Before you stack Mac FITS Viewers and Culling Tools Native macOS tools for grading a night's subs and reading FITS in Finder. [FITS Blaster](https://astrophoto-app.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) Fast culling. Measures FWHM, eccentricity, SNR, and star count from raw pixel data, with a session chart and drag-to-select batch rejection. [AstroLoupe](https://astroloupe.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) Batch grading of star HFD and FWHM, tilt, field flatness, aberrations, and clipping. Sits deliberately between capture and stacking. Apple Silicon only. [AstroBlink & AIsaac](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/astroblink-aisaac/id6760241266?ref=macobservatory.com) Assisted culling that scores every subframe and flags clouds, wind shake, focus drift, and satellite trails, learning from your keep-or-toss decisions. Quick Look plugins: [QuickFits](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quickfits/id1551075981?ref=macobservatory.com), [AstroPup View](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/astropup-view/id6752028730?ref=macobservatory.com), [CloudMakers FITS Preview](https://www.cloudmakers.eu/?ref=macobservatory.com) These make FITS previewable in Finder with the spacebar, with thumbnails and header display. The fastest way to blink through a night. [SAOImageDS9](https://sites.google.com/cfa.harvard.edu/saoimageds9?ref=macobservatory.com) The professional FITS viewer from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Advanced visualization, analysis, and catalog overlay. [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) Mac Observatory's archive manager. Catalogs a FITS and XISF library by target, session, and equipment, and its Quick Look and Spotlight integration makes the whole archive visible to the rest of macOS. Strictly read-only against your files, and it does no stacking or calibration, so it complements the culling tools above rather than replacing them. See the [Mac Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) for the full list of Mac FITS viewers and utilities. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about deep-sky stacking on Mac from the astrophotography community. Can I run DeepSkyStacker on a Mac?+ No. DeepSkyStacker is Windows-only software and no Mac version has ever been released. The closest free alternative on Mac is Siril, which handles calibration, registration, stacking, and post-processing natively on Apple Silicon. For a plug-and-play commercial alternative, Astro Pixel Processor offers a similar workflow with Apple Silicon optimization. What is the best free deep-sky stacking software for Mac?+ Siril is the best free option. It runs natively on Apple Silicon, handles the full stacking pipeline from calibration through post-processing, and supports FITS, SER, TIFF, and RAW. The learning curve is moderate, since it assumes familiarity with astronomical imaging concepts, but it delivers professional-quality results at no cost. ASTAP is a free alternative that also plate solves, and Flat White and SharpStacker are simpler free Mac App Store options if Siril feels like too much at the start. Mac Observatory tracks current compatibility in the [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software). How does Astro Pixel Processor compare to PixInsight on Mac?+ Both now run natively on Apple Silicon. APP offers a plug-and-play workflow and excels at mosaic assembly, sold as either a perpetual owner license or an annual rental, both priced in euros. PixInsight costs 300 euros for a perpetual license and provides deeper control, including deconvolution, drizzle integration, and advanced non-linear stretching, but demands a steep learning curve. APP is the better starting point for intermediate users; PixInsight becomes essential for advanced imagers pursuing maximum image quality. How do I check my subs before stacking on a Mac?+ macOS has good native tools for this. FITS Blaster and AstroLoupe measure star quality, FWHM, tilt, and field flatness across a whole session so you can cull weak frames in batches. AstroBlink and AIsaac flag clouds, wind shake, focus drift, and satellite trails. QuickFits, AstroPup View, and CloudMakers FITS Preview add Quick Look support so you can blink through FITS files in Finder with the spacebar. Meridian catalogs the archive afterward and brings Quick Look and Spotlight integration with it. Does PixInsight run natively on Apple Silicon?+ Yes. Pleiades Astrophoto released PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart on May 12, 2026, the first macOS ARM64 build, ending five and a half years of Rosetta 2 translation. An x64 build still ships for Intel Macs. Two things to check before upgrading: 1.9.4 requires macOS 15 Sequoia or macOS 26 Tahoe, and its new V8 script engine replaced the old SpiderMonkey engine, so scripts written for the old engine do not run until their developers port them. How much RAM do I need for deep-sky stacking on Mac?+ 8GB handles modest stacks (50 to 100 frames from a 26MP camera) in Siril. Starry Sky Stacker is lighter, and its developer states it can process hundreds of images with as little as 4GB. 16GB eliminates memory swapping for larger stacks (200 or more frames) and is recommended for Astro Pixel Processor. 32GB or more benefits PixInsight workflows, large mosaics, and drizzle integration. RAM is the primary bottleneck in stacking, since more memory means less disk swapping and faster processing. Is Starry Sky Stacker worth it for serious astrophotography?+ Starry Sky Stacker is $24.99 on the Mac App Store, with a free trial on the developer's site, and it is excellent for casual astrophotography: DSLR or mirrorless on a star tracker where you want simple, Mac-native stacking. It reads RAW, TIFF, and JPEG, and offers optional dark subtraction and flat-field correction. Its limitations define its niche: no FITS support, no monochrome astronomy cameras shooting through filters, and no alt-azimuth mount handling. If you're using an astronomy camera outputting FITS files, or you want a full calibration and integration pipeline including bias, Siril or Astro Pixel Processor are better choices. ### The MacBook Behind the Black Hole: How Mac Supports Cutting-Edge Astronomical Research URL: https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-research-black-hole-case-study/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T02:57:27.000Z ## Katie Bouman's viral photo told half the story — here's why professional astronomers chose Mac long before that moment. When Katie Bouman, a computer scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory who developed the CHIRP algorithm that enabled the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration to produce the first-ever image of a black hole, became one of the first people to see that historic image in 2019, she was using a MacBook Pro — a moment that went viral but told only part of the story about how Macs support cutting-edge astronomical research from algorithm development to data visualization. The photo spread across social media with captions celebrating Apple's presence in a landmark scientific achievement, but it raised a question many Mac users in amateur astronomy have heard before: Was this representative, or was the Mac just there by coincidence? For those accustomed to hearing "you need Windows for serious work," the image suggested something different — but without context, it was hard to know what that MacBook actually *did* in the workflow that produced humanity's first glimpse of a black hole's event horizon. The answer reveals a reality that professional astronomers have known for years: Mac isn't just viable for cutting-edge research — it's the dominant platform. The MacBook in Katie Bouman's hands wasn't an exception. It was completely normal. ## What Actually Happened Katie Bouman's role in the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project — a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes spanning from Antarctica to Spain which combined to form a virtual Earth-sized telescope — was significant but collaborative. She developed CHIRP (Continuous High-resolution Image Reconstruction using Patch priors), an imaging algorithm that reconstructs radio telescope data into coherent images by learning patterns from natural image datasets. But she was one member of a team that developed multiple imaging algorithms to validate the final result. The viral narrative of a solo genius missed the point: this was team science at its most sophisticated, with researchers at institutions worldwide contributing algorithms, analysis pipelines, and validation frameworks. The computation itself happened nowhere near that MacBook. Data from the eight EHT telescope sites — recorded on half a ton of hard drives because the data volume (5 petabytes) exceeded internet bandwidth capacity — was transported by commercial freight airplane to two locations: MIT Haystack Observatory in Massachusetts and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany. There, specialized supercomputers performed correlation, the process of aligning signals from each telescope site to a fraction of a trillionth of a second. This grid computer, built from approximately 800 CPUs connected through a 40 Gbit/s network, spent weeks processing the raw interferometric data into a form that imaging algorithms could work with. So what was the MacBook doing? It served as Katie Bouman's terminal for monitoring processed results, running Python analysis scripts, and visualizing data output from the correlation supercomputers. This is the standard workflow in computational astronomy: heavy computation happens on institutional clusters or supercomputers, while researchers use their laptops — overwhelmingly Macs — for algorithm development, visualization, and analysis. The MacBook wasn't processing petabytes; it was the interface to the tools that did. This workflow pattern extends far beyond black hole imaging. Whether processing data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), analyzing photometry from ground-based surveys, or developing machine learning models for exoplanet detection, professional astronomers rely on Unix-based systems for the entire pipeline. The MacBook in the viral photo represented exactly that ecosystem — one where macOS serves as the researcher's daily driver for everything except the most computationally intensive correlation and simulation work. ## Why Astronomers Choose Mac More than 80 percent of astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics use Mac computers, according to a 2011 AstroBetter survey, reflecting a broader trend in professional astronomy where Unix-based systems dominate due to their compatibility with decades of astronomical software development and the stability that lets researchers focus on science rather than system administration. This wasn't always the case — in the early 2000s, Linux was the default choice for computationally intensive research — but the migration to Mac accelerated between 2005 and 2015 as macOS matured and Apple Silicon promised (and later delivered) significant performance gains. At astronomy conferences today, the laptop distribution tells the story visually. As one Physics Forums commenter noted, "Most look like Apple advertisements, with a few odd PCs that run Linux." Windows machines are rare enough to be noteworthy. This isn't brand loyalty or aesthetic preference — it's a pragmatic choice based on three pillars: Unix foundation, Python ecosystem, and stability. The Unix foundation matters because a vast amount of astronomical software was developed on and for Unix operating systems. When your field's core tools were written for Unix, running a Unix-certified operating system (macOS is built on Darwin/XNU kernel) means those tools work natively, without emulation layers or compatibility headaches. Terminal commands, shell scripting, SSH access to remote clusters, automation workflows — all the infrastructure that makes computational research efficient is Unix-native. The Python ecosystem thrives on Mac. Python with Scipy (scientific computing), Numpy (numerical arrays), iPython (interactive computing), and Matplotlib (visualization) transforms macOS into a complete astronomical analysis environment out of the box. ALMA even uses Python for telescope scripting. The scientific Python stack that powers modern astronomy research — from data reduction to statistical analysis to machine learning — works seamlessly on Mac without requiring virtual environments or cross-platform compatibility workarounds. How the systems connect The EHT Black Hole Imaging Workflow DATA COLLECTION Eight telescope sites worldwide ALMA (Chile) → APEX (Chile) → IRAM (Spain) → 5 more sites 5 petabytes recorded Half ton of hard drives TRANSPORT Physical freight shipping Commercial freight → MIT Haystack Observatory + Max Planck Institute Data volume exceeded internet bandwidth CORRELATION Supercomputer processing \~800 CPU grid → Signal alignment → Weeks of processing 40 Gbit/s network Fraction of trillionth of second precision ANALYSIS MacBook workstation Python scripts → CHIRP algorithm → Visualization Monitor results Terminal for cluster access But perhaps the most revealing comment from the AstroBetter survey captures the stability argument: "Mac costs 30-40% more than a comparable Linux computer, but due to the far more complete and stable nature of OS X, I spend far less time doing basic sys-admin stuff." Professional astronomers aren't IT specialists — they're researchers who need reliable tools. The productivity gain from not troubleshooting driver conflicts, dependency issues, or desktop environment quirks pays for the hardware premium many times over. Windows rarely appears in this workflow not because astronomers are anti-Microsoft, but because the Windows ecosystem never developed the computational astronomy infrastructure that Unix systems built over decades. As one forum user put it bluntly: "Most applications are unintuitive, their interfaces are widely varying — some programs require ASCOM drivers, some require native drivers, and some others require both! I'm afraid my computer will decide to upgrade itself and reboot mid imaging session." For research that involves multi-hour processing runs or remote observations, that kind of uncertainty is unacceptable. ## The Unix Advantage The technical foundation of Mac's dominance in astronomy traces back to decisions made in the 1970s and 1980s when Unix became the standard operating system for scientific computing. A vast amount of astronomical software was developed on and for the Unix operating system, creating a decades-long library of tools, pipelines, and frameworks that assume Unix conventions for file systems, permissions, process management, and inter-process communication. When macOS launched in 2001 with Darwin (a Unix-certified kernel) at its core, it inherited compatibility with this entire ecosystem. CASA (Common Astronomy Software Applications), developed by the National Radio Astronomical Observatory and international partners, exemplifies this advantage. CASA is the primary data processing software for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and the Very Large Array (VLA), running natively on macOS and Linux through its Python-based interface. Researchers use CASA for calibration, imaging, and analysis of interferometric radio telescope data — the same category of work that produced the black hole image. CASA was designed for Unix platforms from the start, and macOS benefits from that heritage. Platform advantages Why Astronomers Choose Mac Unix Native macOS is built on Darwin/XNU, a Unix-certified kernel. Decades of astronomy software runs natively without emulation or compatibility layers. Python Ready Scientific Python stack (Scipy, Numpy, iPython, Matplotlib) works out of the box. No PATH configuration, no virtual machines, no cross-platform workarounds. Stability Researchers spend far less time doing basic sys-admin work. Mac costs more upfront but pays for itself in productivity gained from a stable, complete operating system. Community Over 80% of astronomers at Harvard-Smithsonian CfA use Mac. Conferences look like Apple advertisements. The community chose Mac — not the other way around. The Python advantage extends beyond package availability. Because macOS treats Python as a first-class citizen (Python 3 is included with the operating system since macOS 12.3), astronomical researchers can start working immediately without installing language runtimes or configuring system paths. Want to install AstroPy (the core astronomy library for Python)? `pip3 install astropy` works out of the box. Need to run a Jupyter notebook for interactive analysis? No virtual machine required. The friction that Windows users experience — hunting for compatible binaries, managing PATH variables, dealing with line ending differences — simply doesn't exist on Mac. Shell scripting and automation follow the same pattern. Bash, zsh, Python, Perl, and Ruby are all native to macOS. The `cron` scheduler works as expected. SSH to remote computing clusters uses the built-in Terminal without installing third-party clients. Makefiles execute correctly for compiling research code. Every Unix convention that decades of astronomy software assumes to exist — exists on Mac without configuration. CASA's recent trajectory illustrates both the strength and evolution of Mac support in professional astronomy. CASA 6.7 dropped native support for Intel Mac machines, focusing development resources on Apple Silicon (M-series chips) and acknowledging that Rosetta 2 emulation provides adequate backward compatibility for Intel users who haven't upgraded. This wasn't abandoning Mac — it was recognizing that Apple Silicon represents the future of the platform and aligning development accordingly. For professional researchers, this signals confidence in macOS as a long-term platform choice. The contrast with Windows is stark. While amateur astrophotography on Windows has developed a rich ecosystem of ASCOM-compatible applications, professional radio astronomy and computational research never made that same investment. Linux remains necessary for some specialized radio astronomy pipelines (particularly those validated only on RedHat distributions) and for operating high-performance computing clusters, but for individual research workstations — the computers where algorithms are developed, results are visualized, and papers are written — Mac has become the default at many institutions. ## From Research to Amateur The viral MacBook photo captured a research workflow, but the same foundational advantages that make Mac dominant in professional astronomy now apply to amateur [astrophotography](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software). The amateur ecosystem has evolved dramatically since 2019, particularly with the arrival of Apple Silicon and the maturation of native Mac capture and processing software. Performance was once the compromise Mac users accepted for Unix stability. Not anymore. Apple Silicon has transformed Mac into a computational powerhouse for image processing. Astrophotographers on Cloudy Nights report [PixInsight](https://www.pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) benchmark scores of 17,000 on M2 Mac desktops compared to 8,000 on Linux desktops and 2,000-4,000 on Windows laptops. That's not a marginal difference — it's a fundamental shift in what Mac hardware can deliver for computationally intensive workflows like planetary stacking, deep-sky calibration, and noise reduction. Native capture software has matured alongside hardware improvements. [Planet Stacker X](https://macobservatory.com/planet-stacker-x-a-macos-native-planetary-imaging-tool-from-rain-city-astro), a macOS-native planetary imaging tool from Rain City Astro, provides AutoStakkert-level functionality without requiring Windows or virtualization. AstroImager 3.0 from Cloudmakers handles capture, autofocus, and video recording for both planetary and solar imaging as an all-Mac solution. The [Mac Observatory software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) now catalogs over 100 macOS-compatible astronomy applications spanning every workflow category from planetarium software to plate solving to complete imaging suites. KStars/Ekos remains a mixed success story on Mac. KStars — a free open-source planetarium and observatory control application originally developed for Linux, with Ekos (Ekos Kstars Observatory Suite) providing integrated equipment control, imaging sequences, and basic processing — officially supports macOS, but maintaining that support relies heavily on dedicated community members. Users on [INDI forums](https://www.indilib.org/forum.html?ref=macobservatory.com) share successful Apple Silicon builds compiled from source, complete with detailed instructions. It works, but it requires more technical investment than downloading a prebuilt application. For Mac users seeking that level of integrated control, the community keeps the project alive through volunteer effort. CASA (Common Astronomy Software Applications) - **Developer:** National Radio Astronomical Observatory (NRAO) - **Platform:** macOS (Apple Silicon native), Linux - **Current Version:** CASA 6.7 (Intel support via Rosetta 2) - **Purpose:** Data processing for ALMA, VLA, and other interferometric radio telescopes - **License:** Free and open source [CASA Website →](https://casa.nrao.edu/?ref=macobservatory.com) [Download →](https://casa.nrao.edu/casa%5Fobtaining.shtml?ref=macobservatory.com) The workflow parallel between professional and amateur astronomy is direct. Professional astronomers use Mac for algorithm development, data analysis, and visualization — relying on institutional supercomputers only for the most computationally demanding correlation and simulation work. Amateur astrophotographers use Mac for capture, calibration, stacking, and processing — relying on external services like [Astrometry.net](https://nova.astrometry.net/?ref=macobservatory.com) or local plate solving only when needed. Both workflows benefit from Unix stability, Python extensibility, and the ability to focus on the work rather than fighting the operating system. For Mac users building an astrophotography workflow, the path forward is clearer than ever. [Modern astronomy cameras](https://agenaastro.com/astrophotography/cameras.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) from ZWO, QHY, and Player One all provide macOS SDK support, meaning native capture applications can control them without ASCOM translation layers. Mounts from iOptron, Sky-Watcher, and Celestron work with Mac software through INDI or direct serial communication. Filters, focusers, and accessories integrate through the same protocols that professional observatories use. The hardware ecosystem no longer treats Mac as an afterthought. ## What This Means for Mac Astronomers The MacBook in Katie Bouman's viral photo wasn't doing anything extraordinary — it was performing the exact role that Macs play every day in professional astronomy research. That ordinariness is the story. Mac isn't a compromise platform that professionals tolerate despite limitations. It's the preferred platform at major observatories because Unix heritage, Python workflows, and system stability align perfectly with how computational astronomy actually works. For amateur astronomers and astrophotographers wondering whether Mac is viable for serious imaging work, the answer from professional astronomers is unambiguous: More than 80% of them made the same choice you're considering. The tools that produced the first black hole image — CASA, Python analysis scripts, visualization frameworks — run natively on the same operating system you use for [capturing deep-sky images](https://macobservatory.com/getting-started-with-astrophotography-on-the-mac-20252026) from your backyard. The ecosystem gaps that existed five or ten years ago have largely closed. Native capture software now rivals Windows alternatives. Apple Silicon performance exceeds most Windows and Linux machines for image processing. The [Mac Observatory software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) demonstrates the breadth of available tools across every workflow category. And the Unix foundation that makes Mac natural for professional research — terminal access, Python ecosystem, shell scripting, SSH to remote resources — applies equally whether you're processing Event Horizon Telescope data or stacking your first mosaic of the Heart and Soul nebulae. The viral photo wasn't proof that Mac *can* support astronomical research. It was a window into the reality that Mac *has been* supporting astronomical research for decades — and continues to strengthen its position as Apple Silicon delivers performance that was unimaginable when Katie Bouman began developing CHIRP. The MacBook behind the black hole was exactly where it belonged. What astrophotographers say > "PixInsight benchmark scores of 17,000 on M2 Mac desktops compared to 8,000 on Linux desktops and 2,000-4,000 on Windows laptops. That's not a marginal difference — it's a fundamental shift." > > — Cloudy Nights user > "Most applications are unintuitive on Windows, their interfaces are widely varying — some require ASCOM drivers, some require native drivers, and some others require both! I'm afraid my computer will decide to upgrade itself and reboot mid imaging session." > > — Physics Forums commenter > "At astronomy conferences today, most laptops look like Apple advertisements, with a few odd PCs that run Linux. Windows machines are rare enough to be noteworthy." > > — Physics Forums observer Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about Mac in professional astronomy and amateur astrophotography. Do professional astronomers actually use Mac, or was Katie Bouman's MacBook just coincidental?+ More than 80% of astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics use Mac computers according to a 2011 AstroBetter survey, and that percentage has only increased with Apple Silicon's performance gains. The MacBook in the viral Event Horizon Telescope photo wasn't an exception — it was completely normal for computational astronomy research. Mac's Unix foundation, native Python support, and system stability make it the dominant platform at major observatories worldwide. Can I run CASA (radio astronomy software) on my Mac?+ Yes. CASA 6.7 runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs and provides full support for data processing from ALMA, VLA, and other interferometric radio telescopes. Intel Mac users can run CASA through Rosetta 2 emulation with adequate performance, though NRAO has focused development resources on Apple Silicon moving forward. CASA was designed for Unix platforms from the start, so it works seamlessly on macOS without the compatibility issues Windows users encounter. How does Mac compare to Linux for astronomical research?+ Mac and Linux share the same Unix foundation, so most astronomical software works on both platforms. The key difference is maintenance burden: Mac users spend far less time on system administration, driver conflicts, and desktop environment troubleshooting compared to Linux users. Linux remains necessary for operating high-performance computing clusters and some specialized radio astronomy pipelines validated only on RedHat distributions, but for individual research workstations, Mac has become the default at many institutions because it provides Unix power with commercial OS polish. Is Mac viable for serious astrophotography, or do I need Windows?+ Mac is fully viable for serious astrophotography. Apple Silicon Macs deliver PixInsight benchmark scores of 17,000 compared to 8,000 on Linux desktops and 2,000-4,000 on Windows laptops, making them faster for computational tasks like planetary stacking and deep-sky processing. Native capture software like Planet Stacker X and AstroImager 3.0 provides AutoStakkert and FireCapture equivalents without requiring Windows or virtualization. The Mac Observatory software directory catalogs over 100 macOS-compatible astronomy applications spanning every workflow category, and modern astronomy cameras from ZWO, QHY, and Player One all provide macOS SDK support for native control. What software did Katie Bouman use on that MacBook Pro?+ Katie Bouman's MacBook served as a terminal for monitoring results from the correlation supercomputers, running Python analysis scripts, and visualizing output from the Event Horizon Telescope data processing pipeline. The heavy computation happened on MIT Haystack Observatory's grid computer (800 CPUs, 40 Gbit/s network), but the MacBook was her interface to those systems. This workflow pattern — heavy computation on institutional clusters, researcher workstation for development and visualization — is standard in computational astronomy and matches how Mac Observatory users approach astrophotography workflows today. Can I build a complete Mac astrophotography setup without virtualization?+ Yes. A complete native Mac astrophotography workflow is now possible without Windows virtualization or dual-booting. For planetary imaging, Planet Stacker X provides AutoStakkert functionality. For deep-sky work, PixInsight runs natively on Apple Silicon. For capture and equipment control, AstroImager 3.0, KStars/Ekos (with community builds), and manufacturer SDKs provide direct camera communication. Accessories integrate through INDI or serial protocols that professional observatories use. The Mac Observatory software directory demonstrates the breadth of available native tools, and the hardware ecosystem no longer treats Mac as an afterthought. Why do astronomers prefer Mac over Windows for computational work?+ Windows never developed the computational astronomy infrastructure that Unix systems built over decades. Professional astronomical software was designed for Unix platforms from the start, assuming Unix conventions for file systems, process management, and inter-process communication. macOS inherits that compatibility through its Darwin/XNU Unix kernel, while Windows requires emulation layers, compatibility wrappers, or separate builds that often lag behind Unix versions. The productivity cost of troubleshooting driver conflicts, managing PATH variables, and dealing with inconsistent application interfaces makes Windows unviable for research workflows that involve multi-hour processing runs or remote observations where system reliability is critical. Mac observatory Explore Mac Astronomy Tools From research algorithms to amateur imaging — discover the software ecosystem that connects professional observatories to backyard telescopes. [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) [Getting Started Guide →](https://macobservatory.com/getting-started-with-astrophotography-on-the-mac-20252026) [PixInsight on Mac →](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-on-the-mac-performance-licensing-and-apple-silicon-optimization) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### How to Organize & Track Your Astrophotography Data Library Across Devices and Cloud Storage URL: https://macobservatory.com/organize-astrophotography-data-library-mac/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T16:22:28.000Z ### From scattered folders to searchable archives — a practical guide to managing integration time, calibration frames, and multi-session imaging data across local drives, cloud storage, and multiple capture devices. Astrophotographers using macOS face a unique organizational challenge: frames captured across multiple devices — a MacBook at the dark site, a desktop at home, an ASIAIR Plus writing to SD card — end up scattered across local drives and cloud storage with no centralized way to calculate total integration time per target. This guide presents a three-part strategy for organizing, syncing, and automatically tracking astrophotography data libraries on Mac, developed by Mac Observatory to address the exact scenario described by CloudyNights user "hydrox": frames captured with NINA across two PCs, manually organized into folders, backed up to Azure and AWS to free local space — with no tool to calculate cumulative exposure time per object. The core problem is universal. One CloudyNights user admits: "I leave mine randomly scattered around on my desktop, then dump it onto my external hard drive and then tell myself I need to organize all of this and then never do" — with another replying "data org work <--- 3.47 light years ---> fun." Integration time — the total combined exposure duration across all sub-frames for a given target and filter — is the key metric for determining whether an image has sufficient signal-to-noise ratio for quality processing. Yet tracking it manually across sessions, devices, and storage locations requires spreadsheets, text files, and discipline most astrophotographers lack. Mac users face specific disadvantages in solving this problem. Generic photo management software like [Apple Photos](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) doesn't read FITS headers, doesn't understand astronomical metadata (RA/Dec, filter, gain, temperature), and can't calculate integration time. FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) headers — metadata embedded in astronomical image files that record exposure time, filter name, sensor temperature, gain, target coordinates, and capture timestamp — are the key to automatic tracking, but consumer DAMs ignore them entirely. ## Why This is Harder for Mac Users Windows has more astrophotography software overall and a longer history of it, and a few widely used tools like N.I.N.A. and DeepSkyStacker are Windows only. But the specific gap this guide is about, software that reads FITS headers and tracks integration time, is not a gap on macOS. Observatory from Code Obsession has been cataloging FITS libraries on the Mac since 2016 and has reported integration time per target since 2024, [AstroPhotoAssistant](https://www.astrophotoassistant.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) runs on both platforms, and Meridian covers the read-only cataloging case. What macOS does not have is a general purpose photo manager that understands astronomical data. Apple Photos and Adobe Lightroom ignore FITS headers entirely, so RA and Dec, filter, gain, and sensor temperature are invisible to them, and integration time is something you would be totalling by hand. The harder problem on a Mac is usually not the software, it is the number of machines. A typical setup captures on a MacBook at the dark site, moves frames to a Mac Studio for processing in PixInsight or Siril, and pushes finished masters to Dropbox or Backblaze, creating a fragmentation point at every hop. One CloudyNights user describes the escalation: "I needed two laptops to control two capture sessions. The mono camera with filter wheel generated a LOT more files. Sessions running the entire night spanning several evenings. Storage on the laptops became an issue." What astrophotographers are saying > "I leave mine randomly scattered around on my desktop, then dump it onto my external hard drive and then tell myself I need to organize all of this and then never do." > > — CloudyNights user > "data org work <--- 3.47 light years ---> fun" > > — CloudyNights user > "Having Processing as a separate folder actually became a necessity for multi-night integrations." > > — CloudyNights user The solution requires addressing three layers: folder structures that embed metadata for manual retrieval when needed, cloud storage workflows that consolidate scattered frames, and purpose-built software that reads FITS headers to calculate integration time automatically without modifying your files. ## The Three-Part Solution Framework A comprehensive astrophotography data management strategy requires three components: folder structures that embed metadata for manual retrieval, cloud storage workflows that consolidate frames across devices, and purpose-built software that reads FITS headers to calculate total integration time per target automatically. Each tier solves a specific part of the problem and can be implemented independently. Foundational folder conventions provide human-readable organization when you need to find specific sessions manually. Cloud sync infrastructure consolidates frames scattered across capture devices into a single searchable location. Software automation eliminates manual integration time calculation by parsing FITS headers and aggregating exposure data across all sessions. Mac Organization Challenge - Capture on MacBook at dark site - Transfer to Mac Studio for processing - Sync to Dropbox or Backblaze - Fewer purpose-built options than Windows - Frames scattered across machines and cloud - Apple Photos ignores astronomical metadata Windows Astrophotography Workflow - Single PC for capture and processing - N.I.N.A. and DeepSkyStacker available - Most capture software targets Windows first - Longer history of purpose-built tools - Less device fragmentation - Larger user base and more tutorials The following sections detail each tier with community-validated approaches, real storage numbers, and honest assessments of what works and where tradeoffs exist. ## Part 1: Folder Structure Conventions Two organizational philosophies dominate astrophotography data management: date-first hierarchies (base directory → year → object name → masters/PixInsight subdirectories) and target-first structures (main folder by target → session date → lights/calibration frames/processed outputs). A session — all frames captured during a single night or multi-hour imaging run — is the atomic unit of organization in target-first folder structures. Target-first folder hierarchies — organizing by astronomical object name with session-dated subfolders containing lights, calibration frames, and processed outputs — provide the most intuitive structure for multi-session imaging projects where total integration time per target is the key success metric. When you're working on M31 across six nights in October and three more in November, having all nine sessions grouped under `M31/` makes calculating total exposure trivial. Date-first structures force you to search through `2024-10/` and `2024-11/` folders to find all M31 sessions. AstronoMolly's target-first system, documented in her March 2021 tutorial, exemplifies the community gold standard: base directory contains folders named by target (M31, NGC7635, IC1396), each target folder contains session-dated subfolders (`20241015`, `20241103`), and each session subfolder separates lights, darks, flats, bias, processed finals, and PixInsight project files. An `info.txt` metadata file in each session folder records date, location, equipment list, filters used, exposure plan, and processing notes. Complete organization strategy Three-Part Solution Framework TIER 1 Foundation Folder Structure → Naming Conventions → Manual Organization Beginner-friendly No software required TIER 2 Infrastructure Cloud Sync → Multi-Device Access → Archival Storage Intermediate Consolidates scattered frames TIER 3 Automation Software Tracking → FITS Header Parsing → Automatic Integration Advanced Eliminates manual calculation Naming conventions embed metadata directly into filenames, which helps when you are working outside a tool that reads FITS headers for you. Willem Jan Drijfhout of AstroWorldCreations uses a scheme he calls the GTCF format, short for gain, time, Celsius, and filter: `Object_Date_GxxxTxxxCxxF_###.fits`. A frame of Andromeda captured on 15 October 2020 comes out as `M031_20201015_G139T180C25L_012.fits`, meaning a 180 second luminance exposure at gain 139 with the sensor at -25C, and it is the twelfth frame of the set. Calibration frames follow the same pattern with a Dark, Bias, or Flat prefix. Because every field is fixed width, sorting in the Finder groups frames sensibly without relying on the folder structure. [His full write-up is here.](https://www.astroworldcreations.com/blog/how-to-manage-your-files?ref=macobservatory.com) AstronoMolly takes a similar approach through Sequence Generator Pro, which lets you build the naming pattern into the sequencer directly. Hers produces `ngc-7662_30s_-20C_CLS_f202.fit`: target, exposure, camera temperature, filter, and frame number, the values that change shot to shot on her setup. Everything constant, along with RA and Dec, gain, pixel scale, and focal length, stays in the FITS header rather than being duplicated in the filename. [Her post walks through the whole system.](https://www.astronomolly.com/2021/03/how-i-organize-my-data.html?ref=macobservatory.com) Folder structure philosophies Organizational Approaches Target-First Structure Best for multi-session imaging projects. Organizes by astronomical object, with subfolders per session or per attempt. Keeps everything for one target in one place when you are working on M31 across six nights in October and three more in November. Date-First Structure Best for imaging many different targets once. Organizes by year and date with object names in subdirectories. Provides a chronological archive but requires searching multiple folders to find all frames for a specific target. Naming Conventions Fixed-width filenames embed metadata so frames sort sensibly on their own. Willem Jan Drijfhout's GTCF scheme covers gain, time, Celsius, and filter. Example: M031\_20201015\_G139T180C25L\_012.fits The honest tradeoff: folder structures require discipline ("data org work <— 3.47 light years —> fun," as one CloudyNights user put it) but pay dividends when you need to find specific sessions or calculate totals. One experienced imager notes: "Having Processing as a separate folder actually became a necessity for multi-night integrations" — the alternative is searching through hundreds of individual session folders to locate all subs for a target. Mac Observatory uses and recommends a year-first, target-second convention: a top-level year folder (e.g. `2026/`) containing one folder per object, with `Lights/`, `Calibration/`, and `Finals/` directly inside each target folder. This keeps your archive chronologically partitioned while grouping everything related to a target in one place — and it's the structure Meridian is optimized to scan. ``` 2026/ M42/ Lights/ Calibration/ Finals/ NGC891/ Lights/ Calibration/ Finals/ ``` ## Should You Organize by Target or by Date? Choose target-first if you capture the same objects across multiple sessions and need to track cumulative integration time per target. Choose date-first if you image many different targets once and care more about session chronology than per-object totals. Most Mac astrophotographers doing serious deep-sky work prefer target-first — it aligns with how the workflow actually operates (you're working on improving M31, not archiving October 15th). There's a practical bonus to getting this right up front: a well-structured archive is all Meridian needs to work. Point it at your top-level folder and it recurses into each target directory, reads the FITS headers in your Lights folders, and builds your full catalog automatically — no manual tagging, no spreadsheets. The organizational work you do in Part 1 is the setup cost you pay once. Part 3 is the payoff. ## Part 2: Cloud Storage Workflows Cloud storage serves two distinct roles in Mac astrophotography workflows: active sync for in-progress sessions, where real-time processing and multi-device access justify the cost, and cold archival for finished projects, where retrieval speed matters less than long-term security and cost per gigabyte. Cold archival means storing finished work in low-cost cloud storage with slower retrieval, and it is the most economical approach for data you need to keep but rarely touch. Mac astrophotographers benefit from a two-tier cloud strategy: active Dropbox or iCloud Drive sync for in-progress sessions, paired with genuine archival storage for finished projects. One CloudyNights user describes the active sync workflow: writing subs directly to Dropbox during capture, automatically mirrored to the main Mac for real-time processing with PixInsight and EZ-livestack. The benefit is immediate backup and multi-device access without manual transfers. Be careful about which Backblaze product you use, because the two are not interchangeable. Backblaze Computer Backup is unlimited per machine and priced per computer per year, but it is a mirror of what is currently on your drives, not an archive. If you delete a finished project locally to free up space, it disappears from the backup roughly 30 days later, and external drives have to be reconnected on a similar cadence to stay covered. That makes it excellent insurance against a drive failure and completely wrong as a place to park data you have removed from your Mac. For true archival, use Backblaze B2, which is object storage billed per terabyte per month, or AWS Glacier Deep Archive. Check current pricing on both, since it moves. Storage numbers scale quickly. AstronoMolly reports 12TB of data after 5.5 years of imaging. One typical session produces 590MB: 25 lights, 25 darks, 2 bias, 2 flats, and 5 focus frames at 10MB per file. At that rate, 100 imaging sessions generate 59GB of raw data, before accounting for processed stacks, calibrated masters, or final TIFs, which often exceed the raw frame totals. Community gold standard AstronoMolly's Target-First Hierarchy BASE DIRECTORY Root level M31/ NGC7635/ IC1396/ Folders named by target ↓ TARGET FOLDER M31/ 20241015/ 20241103/ 20241120/ Session-dated subfolders ↓ SESSION FOLDER M31/20241015/ Lights/ Darks/ Flats/ Bias/ Finals/ PixInsight/ info.txt Calibration frames Processed outputs Project files Session metadata Backblaze at $6/month for unlimited storage means 12TB costs $6/month, while AWS Glacier Deep Archive at $0.00099/GB/month costs approximately $11.88/month for 12TB — Backblaze wins for bulk archival unless you need the granular control and retrieval options AWS provides. Active sync with Dropbox or iCloud Drive requires fast upload speeds (100+ Mbps recommended for real-time capture mirroring) to avoid saturating the connection during multi-hour imaging sessions. The honest tradeoff: active sync enables elegant workflows (capture on MacBook at dark site, process on Mac Studio at home without manual file transfers) but costs significantly more than cold archival. Finished projects moved to Backblaze or AWS Glacier free up local SSD space for active imaging but sacrifice instant access — retrieval from Glacier Deep Archive takes 12-48 hours. Most Mac astrophotographers pair both: Dropbox for the current month's imaging, Backblaze for everything older than 90 days. Pair cloud archival with local backup redundancy. One CloudyNights user's approach: dual external HDDs with [FreeFileSync](https://freefilesync.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) monthly backup, one drive stored in a fireproof waterproof safe when not in use to protect from fire and lightning damage. Another uses NAS with RAID1: 2×3TB drives mirrored for redundancy, monthly scrub to detect silent data corruption before it propagates. Storage infrastructure Cloud Storage Options Dropbox Active Sync Real-time multi-device access. Write subs directly during capture, automatically mirrored to processing Mac. Requires fast upload speeds (100+ Mbps). \~$12/month for 2TB Backblaze Unlimited Unlimited cold archival for finished projects. 12TB costs the same as 500GB. No retrieval speed guarantees but unbeatable economics. $6/month unlimited AWS Glacier Deep Archive Granular retrieval control. Retrieval takes 12-48 hours but you pay only for what you store. Good for compliance/audit trails. \~$12/month for 12TB Local NAS RAID1 Two mirrored drives, monthly scrub to detect silent corruption. Survives single drive failure. Pair with offsite cloud backup. 2×3TB \~$200 upfront ## Which Cloud Storage is Best for Astrophotography? For active imaging sessions where you need multi-device access and real-time processing, Dropbox or iCloud Drive provide the necessary sync speed and macOS integration. For long-term archival of finished projects where cost per gigabyte matters more than instant retrieval, Backblaze unlimited at $6/month beats AWS Glacier on simplicity and total cost for libraries exceeding 10TB. Pair either cloud approach with local backup redundancy — dual external HDDs or RAID1 NAS — to survive hardware failures and accidental deletions. ## Part 3: Software Tools for Automatic Integration Tracking The manual folder and cloud approach works but requires discipline — software automates integration time calculation by reading FITS headers without modifying your files. Three tools serve different Mac astrophotography workflows, each solving specific parts of the organizational challenge. [**Meridian**](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/), developed by Mac Observatory, is the only native macOS application that reads FITS headers across multiple folders — local drives, cloud storage, and external HDDs — to calculate cumulative integration time per target automatically without modifying your files. Point it at your folders and it reads every FITS header, resolves 41,731 objects from 19 catalogs (Messier, NGC, IC, Sharpless, Barnard, and more, cross-referenced with Caldwell), and builds a searchable visual archive with interactive sky maps. If you've set up the folder convention from Part 1, Meridian requires no additional configuration. It finds your targets by name from the folder structure and confirms them against FITS headers — the two sources reinforce each other. Organize your archive once, point Meridian at it, and your entire imaging history is catalogued. Meridian is a session planning and imaging archive tool developed by Mac Observatory — native on macOS with Apple Silicon optimization — designed to track astrophotography sessions, calculate total integration time per target, and catalog FITS/XISF files across multiple storage locations without modifying the original files. **Observatory**, developed by Sander Berents at Code Obsession and available on the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/observatory/id1037215068?ref=macobservatory.com) for $39.99, is a macOS image management application built specifically for astrophotography. It organizes images with tags, albums, and smart albums, creates master bias, dark, and flat frames, and runs a nondestructive preprocessing workflow that never alters your master files. Plate solving (automatically matching star patterns in an image to known star catalogs to determine exact sky coordinates) lets Observatory identify and tag objects without manual work. Quick Look and Spotlight plugins extend FITS, XISF, and SBIG support to the rest of macOS. Two things worth knowing if you are choosing between tools: Observatory is not limited to one library, and a library is not limited to one folder. You can create as many libraries as you want, keep several open at once, and point each one at multiple storage locations, with watched folders keeping the library in sync with what is on disk. It also reports integration time. Its Integration Report feature summarizes exposures per target, and as of Observatory 2.2 that reporting works across sessions, equipment, albums, smart albums, tags, and targets. **AstroPhotoAssistant** takes a different approach. It runs on both Windows and macOS, and it organizes around projects rather than around your files. You create a project per target or mosaic, attach a reference image, and set imaging goals, then log each night's session with exposure counts, gain or ISO, temperature, and notes. Equipment profiles let you define a telescope, camera, mount, and accessories once and reuse them across projects, and filter tracking lets you set per-filter exposure goals, which is useful for narrowband work. When you are ready to process, it exports tidy, human-readable folder structures so your data is easy to hand off to a stacker. The tradeoff is that your integration totals come from what you type in rather than from your FITS headers, so it asks more of you up front than a header-reading catalog does. In exchange it behaves the same on both platforms, which matters if you capture on Windows and organize on a Mac, or if you share projects with people who do. There is no formal trial, but the developer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Check their site for current pricing. Pro Tip Monthly backup verification prevents silent data corruption. Use a tool like FreeFileSync to compare source and backup directories, checking MD5 hashes for every file. One corrupted calibration master can ruin an entire imaging season — catch it early. One CloudyNights user developing file management software captured the need perfectly: "If you are like me and have been at this from 2006, you probably have files all over your computer, cloud service, external drives and under the sofa. Having an application that will automatically organize it for you in an indexed searchable format is a blessing. Think of it as an astrophotography file organizer and manager for those of us who are losing track of our files." Partner Agena AstroProducts Cameras, mounts, filters, and accessories from the brands that matter for Mac astrophotography workflows. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · QHY · Player One [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac astrophotography software Organization & Tracking Tools Three tools, three different scopes. All three can tell you how much integration time you have collected. They differ in what else they do. Catalog Only, Read-Only Never touches your files [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) Catalog Plus Preprocessing Organize, calibrate, stack, research Observatory Project & Session Logging Mac and Windows AstroPhotoAssistant ## What Software Tracks Integration Time on Mac? All three tools will tell you how much integration time you have on a target. The real difference is where the number comes from and what else you get alongside it. Observatory and Meridian both read the FITS headers directly, so the totals come from your actual data rather than from anything you typed in. Observatory reports integration time per target and per filter, and since version 2.2 it also breaks down activity across sessions, equipment, albums, smart albums, and tags in a dedicated statistics view. Meridian reads the same headers and produces integration statistics per target across every folder you point it at, and it does so strictly read-only: it never modifies, moves, or renames anything. AstroPhotoAssistant works the other way around. You log each night's session yourself, entering exposure counts, gain or ISO, temperature, and notes, and it builds integration totals from those logs. That means more typing, but it also means the tool works regardless of what your headers contain or how consistent your capture software was about writing them. ## Hardware Context: Storage Hardware Storage needs scale quickly. AstronoMolly's 12TB after 5.5 years is typical for active imagers capturing 100 or more sessions annually. Mac astrophotographers benefit from a two-tier local storage strategy: internal SSD or Thunderbolt 3 external SSD for active projects where PixInsight processing speed matters, paired with a redundant array or dual external HDDs for long-term archival where cost per gigabyte is the priority. RAID1 mirrors data across two drives: you get 50% of the raw capacity, and the array survives a single drive failure. Parity-based arrays work differently. One CloudyNights user runs two 3TB data drives alongside a 6TB parity drive, which yields 6TB usable with single-drive fault tolerance, and runs monthly scrubs to catch silent corruption before it propagates. RAID5 stripes data across three or more drives with distributed parity for better storage efficiency, but rebuild times after a failure can run 24 to 48 hours on multi-terabyte arrays, and a second drive failure during the rebuild means total loss. Separate active projects from archival storage to optimize both speed and cost. Keep current imaging sessions on fast internal SSD (M.2 NVMe for Mac Studio, Thunderbolt 3 external SSD for MacBook) where PixInsight stacking and wavelets benefit from read speeds above 3,000 MB/s. Move finished projects older than 90 days to HDD archival, either dual external HDDs with a monthly FreeFileSync run or a mirrored NAS, where slower access times of 100 to 150 MB/s do not affect your workflow but cost per gigabyte drops by a factor of five to ten. One CloudyNights user's setup evolved the same way: a six-core desktop with twin 32 inch 4K screens, an old laptop for telescope control, later expanded into a distributed setup with Dropbox sync. Capture happens on the laptop at the scope, syncs automatically to the desktop for processing, and finished projects land on external RAID. Fast SSD for active work, slower HDD for archives, cloud for offsite: it balances performance, cost, and redundancy without over-investing in any single layer. [Seagate Expansion 12TB External HDD](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X41PWTY?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) provides cost-effective local archival at roughly $200 (frequently on sale), which works out to about $17 per terabyte. Pair two drives in a manual sync rotation, one onsite and one in a fireproof safe, for redundancy without NAS complexity. For active project storage on a MacBook, the [Samsung T7 1TB Portable SSD](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087QD6WL5?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) delivers sustained reads around 1,050 MB/s over a single cable, fast enough for PixInsight batch processing without filling the internal drive. ## Honest Comparison: Meridian vs. Observatory vs. AstroPhotoAssistant These three tools overlap more than any of their marketing suggests, mine included. Observatory and Meridian both read FITS headers, both handle libraries that span multiple storage locations, and both report integration time without you having to maintain a spreadsheet. The choice is about scope, not capability checklists. Observatory is the deepest of the three and the most established, with roots going back to 2016\. Drop an imaging folder on it and it builds a library without copying or altering anything, grouping images automatically by session, target, and equipment regardless of how your file system is arranged. On top of cataloging it does plate solving with a large built-in object catalog, automatic tagging of galaxies, clusters, nebulae, variable stars, minor planets and comets, nondestructive calibration, registration and stacking, Quick Look and Spotlight plugins, and a research browser for pulling data from professional observatory archives. You can keep as many libraries as you like and have several open at once. If you want one application that both manages and lightly processes your archive, this is it. Meridian is narrower on purpose. It catalogs and it stops there: no stacking, no calibration, no editing, and a hard rule that it never modifies, moves, or renames a single file. Point it at watched folders and it reads every FITS and XISF header, resolves objects across 19 catalogs, groups frames into targets, data sets, and sessions, generates thumbnails, and presents everything through catalog, sky map, equipment, and statistics views. A hybrid plate solver fills in pointing data for images that lack it. It suits people who already have a processing workflow they like and want a read-only archive sitting alongside it rather than a tool that wants to own the whole pipeline. It requires macOS 14 or later. AstroPhotoAssistant solves a different problem again. It runs on both Windows and macOS, and it is built around projects and sessions rather than around your files: reference images, imaging goals, per-filter exposure targets, reusable equipment profiles, calibration master tracking, and tidy folder exports for handing data to a stacker. If you image on Windows and organize on a Mac, or you share projects with people who do, it is the only one of the three that follows you across platforms. No single tool wins every use case. Observatory is the most capable if you want depth and do not mind a larger application. Meridian is the most conservative if the thing you care about is knowing exactly what you have without any risk to the originals. AstroPhotoAssistant is the answer for cross-platform planning. Detailed listings for all three are in the [Mac Observatory software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I have to reorganize my folders before using a FITS cataloging tool? No. Both Observatory and Meridian read the metadata inside your files rather than relying on folder names, so an inconsistent archive still catalogs correctly. Good folder structure remains worth having for the times you go looking manually, but it is not a prerequisite. ### Will cataloging software modify or move my original files? Meridian is strictly read-only and never modifies, moves, or renames anything. Observatory builds its library by reference and does not copy or alter your masters either, and its preprocessing is nondestructive. Always confirm the current behavior against the developer's documentation before pointing any tool at an irreplaceable archive. ### Can one library span multiple drives and cloud folders? Yes, in both Observatory and Meridian. Neither one requires you to consolidate everything into a single top-level folder, which matters if your data is split across an internal SSD, an external archive drive, and a cloud sync directory. ## What to Do Next Implement a folder structure today. Start with AstronoMolly's target-first template and adapt it to your workflow. Set up cloud backup with [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) for unlimited archival, or active sync with Dropbox if you need real-time access from more than one machine. If you want a read-only catalog that calculates integration time from your headers across every drive and folder you own, [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog/) is on the Mac App Store now. If you want a deeper library tool that also handles tagging, plate solving, and nondestructive preprocessing, look at [Observatory](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/observatory/id1037215068?ref=macobservatory.com) from Code Obsession. Browse the complete [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) for additional tools, or read the [Getting Started with Astrophotography on the Mac](https://macobservatory.com/getting-started-with-astrophotography-on-the-mac) guide for workflow fundamentals. ### KStars, Ekos and INDI on the Mac: What Works in 2026 URL: https://macobservatory.com/kstars-ekos-apple-silicon-mac-build-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T00:33:47.000Z ## KStars and Ekos are free, capable and actively developed. On a Mac in 2026, the question is not whether the software is good. It is where you run it. I ran KStars and Ekos for a while, and then I stopped. Not because it was bad software. On a good night it was superb. It would slew, plate solve, focus, guide and run a sequence unattended, doing everything it promised and doing it well. Then an update would land, and the next clear night it would not start at all. Or it would start and something important would be dead: the guider, the capture module, a camera that had worked fine a week earlier. I would be standing outside with a working telescope and software that had quietly broken between sessions. The unpredictability was the problem, not the difficulty. And because I did not understand the underlying mechanics well enough to know where the failure points were, a broken night usually stayed broken. I could not tell whether I was looking at an INDI problem, a driver problem, a build problem, or something macOS had changed underneath all of it. So I stopped. ## What these things actually are That is one person's experience, and plenty of people run Ekos happily every night. But if you are weighing whether to build your observatory around it on a Mac, there is a decision worth making before you invest the time, and it starts with untangling four names that get used interchangeably in forum threads. **INDI** is the plumbing. Instrument-Neutral Distributed Interface, originally designed by Elwood C. Downey, is an open protocol for talking to astronomy hardware: mounts, cameras, focusers, filter wheels, domes, weather stations. It is the Linux and macOS answer to what ASCOM does on Windows. It runs as a server that owns the hardware, with clients connecting to it, which is why your equipment can sit at the telescope while you sit indoors. Jasem Mutlaq maintains it at indilib.org. **KStars** is the application. A desktop planetarium from the KDE project, free and GPLv2, showing you the sky and letting you click on things. **Ekos** is the part you actually care about if you image. It is a module inside KStars that runs the session: mount control, capture sequences, autofocus, plate solving, guiding, meridian flips. When people say they use KStars for imaging, they mean Ekos. It talks to your gear through INDI. **INDIGO** is a separate framework built on INDI's ideas, developed by Peter Polakovic. Jasem himself describes it as not a fork, but another protocol that can be backward compatible with INDI. INDIGO A1 from CloudMakers is the Mac application built on it. **StellarMate** is Ikarus Technologies' commercial packaging of the whole INDI and Ekos stack as a ready-to-run Linux system, also from Jasem Mutlaq. You buy an OS image, or hardware with it already installed, and skip the assembly. INDI and INDIGO: same idea, different projects INDI - **Origin:** designed by Elwood C. Downey, now maintained by Jasem Mutlaq at indilib.org - **Licence:** GPL, which keeps applications built on it off the Mac App Store - **Runs:** KStars, Ekos and StellarMate - **Shape:** a server owns the hardware, clients connect over TCP - **Talking to the other side:** an INDI client can drive an INDIGO driver, but only across a reduced common set of properties INDIGO - **Origin:** built on INDI's ideas by Peter Polakovic. Jasem describes it as not a fork, but another protocol - **Licence:** deliberately free of GPL code so it can ship commercially through app stores - **Runs:** INDIGO A1 from CloudMakers - **Shape:** layered, so drivers can be linked straight into an app or run distributed - **Talking to the other side:** falls back to INDI protocol 1.7 to drive INDI hardware, but the full feature set needs INDIGO at both ends Why this matters on a Mac The licence choice is the reason your install experiences differ so much. INDIGO's design rules start with using no GPL code, specifically so applications built on it can be sold through app stores. That is why INDIGO A1 arrives signed and notarised from the Mac App Store. KStars is GPLv2, so it arrives as a downloaded disk image instead, and every Gatekeeper warning that follows traces back to a licensing decision made years before anyone bought an M-series Mac. KStars/Ekos FREE Open-source desktop planetarium and astrophotography suite with comprehensive telescope control, camera capture, autoguiding, and automated imaging sequences through the INDI driver protocol. macOS Windows Linux [Website →](https://edu.kde.org/kstars/?ref=macobservatory.com) ## Where KStars stands in mid-2026 The current release is 3.8.3, from 1 June 2026, available for Windows, Linux and macOS. Development is healthy. That release alone credits Christian Kemper, Andreas Ruthner, Toni Schriber, Hy Murveit, John Evans, Milhan Kim and Wolfgang Reissenberger, and it brought real work: artificial horizon filtering in the Mount Modeler, connection speed improvements, better guide streaming, improved rotator handling. So this is not an abandoned project. It is actively built by people who care about it. The Mac build is the problem, and it is a specific one. The official macOS build is Intel, running under Rosetta on Apple Silicon. In the comments on that 3.8.3 announcement, an M4 Mac Mini owner reports macOS now telling him that support is ending for Intel-based apps and that this version of KStars will not open in a future release of macOS, then asks whether an Apple Silicon version is planned. That is the fact that should shape your decision. Not that KStars is buggy on a Mac, but that the way it currently reaches your Mac has an expiry date, and Apple set it. There is a second, smaller issue that gets more attention than it deserves. Downloaded KStars builds often refuse to launch, reporting that the application is damaged and should be moved to the trash. That is Gatekeeper reacting to notarisation, not a corrupted download, and Jasem has posted the fix himself: run `xattr -cr /Applications/kstars.app` in Terminal. He notes it is a short-term measure and that Apple is tightening things. If you hit that error and concluded KStars was broken, it probably was not. One command usually clears it. The pattern of Mac coming third is easy to document without exaggerating it. Version 3.8.0 shipped for Windows and Linux on 3 December 2025, with the macOS release expected a week later because of a build issue on KDE's CI infrastructure. When it did arrive, the download was mislabelled kstars-3.7.9.dmg. ## Why there is no Apple Silicon build, and why that is fixable It would be easy to read the Intel-only situation as KStars being unable to run on ARM. That is not it. KStars, Ekos and INDI run natively on ARM every single night, on hundreds of thousands of Raspberry Pis. The ARM code is not hypothetical. It is the most common deployment there is. What is missing is a maintained Apple Silicon macOS build, and the obstacles are macOS packaging rather than processor architecture: assembling Qt6 and KDE Frameworks 6 for the platform, code signing, notarisation, and having continuous integration that can produce it repeatably. Rob Lancaster has effectively been that pipeline for about a decade, maintaining Craft-based Mac build scripts through successive macOS releases. Which means an Apple Silicon KStars is not a technical impossibility waiting on a rewrite. It needs someone to own the macOS ARM build. Given that ARM builds already exist for Linux, that is a smaller ask than it looks, and worth saying plainly rather than treating the situation as terminal. Whether it happens is another matter, and I would not plan an observatory around it happening. ## The decision: where does the software run? This is the fork, and framing it as KStars versus INDIGO A1 misses it. The real question is which machine executes your imaging session. **If the Mac itself runs the session**, meaning a Mac Mini at the mount or a laptop beside the telescope, then Apple's Intel deprecation is your problem, and it points at INDIGO A1\. It is native Apple Silicon, distributed through the App Store, and installs without Terminal or Gatekeeper workarounds. Free to download with a 14-day trial of everything, then three modules at $24.99 each: Imaging, Guiding, and Mount control. About $75 for all three, and if you already guide with PHD2 you can skip one. Its Apple Silicon record is not spotless either, to be fair: as of version 5.8 the legacy QHY driver still has to run under Rosetta. **If separate hardware runs the session**, Apple's roadmap stops mattering entirely, because no Apple silicon is involved. StellarMate is the mature version of this: StellarMate OS for Raspberry Pi at $59, StellarMate X OS for Intel and AMD mini PCs at $59, or a bundle covering both at $100, with the StellarMate X Controller available as ready-made hardware. Version 2.0 added a graphical installer covering Pi, mini PC and Controller. You get actively developed Ekos, running natively, on a machine built for the job. I want to be honest about that second option, though, because this site exists to show what a Mac can do. Screen sharing into a Linux box is a fine solution, and it works identically whether the screen belongs to a Mac or a PC. It is not really a Mac answer. It is a Linux answer you happen to look at from a Mac. That does not make it wrong, and for a permanent observatory it may well be the right call. It is just worth naming for what it is. **Building KStars from source on your Mac** is the third path, and it is the one that has become hardest to justify. Rob Lancaster's scripts work, and people do succeed with them. But you are committing hours of compilation, and then recommitting after macOS updates, to reach a target Apple is actively deprecating, when $59 gets you the same software running natively on hardware that will not fight you. If you enjoy the build for its own sake, that is a completely legitimate reason and I am not going to talk you out of it. As a route to imaging tonight, it is a poor trade. Where the software actually runs Three ways to connect a Mac to your rig ALL ON THE MAC Mac Mini at the mount, or a laptop beside the scope Gear → USB → App and drivers on your Mac → Images No network required INDIGO A1 is native Apple Silicon here NETWORK CLIENT The app runs on your Mac, the hardware sits at the scope Gear → USB → indiserver on a Pi → Network → Ekos on your Mac Not screen sharing Needs a working Mac build of KStars SCREEN SHARING The app runs on the Pi, your Mac is a display Gear → USB → KStars and Ekos on the Pi → VNC or browser → Any computer Apple's Intel deadline does not apply Works identically from a PC **The middle one is the one people miss.** Because INDI splits the server from the client, Ekos on your Mac can drive hardware sitting on a Pi across the room without any screen sharing involved. You are not looking at a picture of a Linux desktop. You are running the real application on your Mac, with Mac windowing and Mac shortcuts, while the drivers stay next to the telescope. It is the most Mac-native way to use Ekos, and it is the one that depends on a working Mac build. ## Who should do what **You want to image on a Mac and be done with setup.** INDIGO A1\. Native, supported, and the trial means you can find out whether you like it before paying anything. **You want Ekos specifically**, for the scheduler or the catalogues or because you already know it. StellarMate, on a Pi or a mini PC. Do not fight the Mac build. **You have a permanent observatory.** Separate hardware at the scope regardless of which stack you choose. The architecture is better for it, and every INDI and INDIGO client is designed to work that way. **You are just starting.** Neither of these. Your first months are about focus, tracking and exposure, not software architecture. Pick whatever gets you imaging fastest and revisit this when you have a reason to. **You already run KStars on an Intel Mac and it works.** Nothing has broken yet. But Apple has told you what is coming, so use the time to decide where you land rather than waiting for the update that ends it. ## What I would do I left Ekos because I could not rely on it being there on a given night, and because when it wasn't, I had no way to work out why. Nothing about the current state of the Mac build changes that calculation, and Apple's deprecation makes it worse rather than better. If I were choosing today for a Mac at the telescope, I would use INDIGO A1\. If I wanted Ekos, I would buy StellarMate and stop pretending the Mac needed to be in the loop. The part I would like to be wrong about is the build. The ARM code exists. Somebody could own that pipeline, and Mac users would get a first-class version of genuinely good free software. I would happily rewrite this article the day that happens. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about running KStars, Ekos and INDI on a Mac. Does KStars run natively on Apple Silicon?+ Not through official channels. The official macOS build is Intel and runs under Rosetta on M-series Macs, and macOS has begun warning users that Intel apps will stop opening in a future release. Community build scripts can produce a native ARM64 version, but there is no official Apple Silicon release as of version 3.8.3. Why does KStars say the application is damaged?+ That is Gatekeeper responding to notarisation, not a corrupted download. The developer's own fix is to run `xattr -cr /Applications/kstars.app` in Terminal, which clears the quarantine flag. What is the difference between KStars and Ekos?+ KStars is the planetarium application from the KDE project. Ekos is the imaging module inside it that runs sessions: mount control, capture sequences, autofocus, plate solving, guiding and meridian flips. When people say they image with KStars, they mean Ekos. What is the difference between INDI and INDIGO?+ INDI is the original hardware control protocol, designed by Elwood C. Downey and maintained by Jasem Mutlaq. INDIGO is a separate framework built on its ideas by Peter Polakovic, with a deliberately non-GPL licence that allows applications built on it to ship through app stores. INDIGO can fall back to the older INDI protocol to drive INDI hardware, but the full feature set requires INDIGO at both ends. Can I run Ekos on my Mac and connect to a Raspberry Pi at the telescope?+ Yes, and it is worth understanding that this is not screen sharing. INDI separates the server from the client, so a Pi at the telescope runs indiserver with your hardware attached while KStars and Ekos run natively on your Mac and connect over the network. You are running the real application on your Mac, not viewing a Linux desktop remotely. It does require a working Mac build of KStars. Do I need a Raspberry Pi to use Ekos?+ No, but it is the most reliable route for a Mac user right now. Ekos runs natively on ARM Linux without any of the macOS build problems, so putting it on a Pi or a mini PC sidesteps Apple's Intel deprecation entirely. Is StellarMate worth paying for when Ekos is free?+ You are paying for packaging, updates and support rather than the software itself. StellarMate OS is $59 for Raspberry Pi and $59 for Intel and AMD mini PCs, with a bundle covering both at $100\. Ready-made hardware is available separately. What are the alternatives to KStars and Ekos on a Mac?+ The main native option is [INDIGO A1](https://macobservatory.com/indigo-a1-mac-astrophotography-suite-review/) from CloudMakers, which covers camera control, guiding, mount control and plate solving in a single Apple Silicon application distributed through the Mac App Store. It is free to download with a 14-day trial of all features, then three modules at $24.99 each. Other routes include running Ekos on separate Linux hardware, or a dedicated controller such as the ASIAIR. ### Where to find free raw astrophotography data for practice: public archives, sample datasets, and how to use them to build processing skills before your first session. URL: https://macobservatory.com/free-astrophotography-practice-data/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T21:13:18.000Z Free astrophotography practice data consists of pre-captured astronomical images — including light frames, dark frames, flat fields, and bias frames — shared by experienced astrophotographers to help beginners learn image stacking, calibration, and processing workflows on Mac or PC without owning telescope equipment, eliminating weather, dark skies, and field experience as barriers to learning processing skills. Mac users have full access to this ecosystem — Siril (free), PixInsight (€250), Affinity Photo ($75), and Photoshop all natively support FITS, TIFF, CR2, and NEF formats used in public datasets, with Siril running natively on Apple Silicon and PixInsight operating seamlessly under Rosetta 2. You want to learn astrophotography processing — stacking, stretching, color balancing, noise reduction — but you don't yet own a telescope, your local skies are washed out by light pollution, or you're facing months of cloudy weather. PixInsight's 45-day trial might expire before you get a single clear night. You're reading tutorials and watching YouTube processing demonstrations, but without hands-on practice, the concepts don't stick. Software menus look different when you're actually clicking through them versus watching someone else do it. The astrophotography community has solved this problem. Experienced imagers share complete datasets — raw frames plus calibration files — freely online. You download them, point your Mac processing software at the files, and learn the full workflow from calibration through final stretch. No telescope needed. No mount. No dark skies required. This article maps the major free sources, explains what formats work on macOS, shows which software to use, and walks you through getting started with your first practice session. ## Why Practice Data Exists Acquiring your own astrophotography data requires significant investment before you capture a single photon. You need a telescope, an equatorial mount with accurate polar alignment, a dedicated astronomy camera or DSLR, adapters to connect everything, and access to dark skies far from city lights. Then you need clear weather, which may not cooperate for weeks or months depending on your location. Your first imaging session involves troubleshooting focus, battling dew, learning your mount's tracking quirks, and discovering that your polar alignment was off by three degrees — all while the clock ticks toward dawn. Meanwhile, you've downloaded processing software to prepare. PixInsight offers a 45-day trial, but that trial period doesn't pause when clouds roll in. Siril is free and doesn't expire, but you still need images to practice on. Without data to work with, you're stuck reading documentation without being able to test what you've learned. The software investment decision becomes harder when you can't actually use the tools to evaluate them. Processing is a separate skill from acquisition, and it can be learned independently. Stacking algorithms don't care whether you captured the photons or downloaded them from someone else's telescope. Histogram stretching techniques work identically on practice data and your own captures. Learning to remove gradients, control noise, and balance color in a practice environment means your first real imaging session produces better results because you're not learning two difficult skills simultaneously. The community culture around sharing practice data reflects experienced imagers remembering their own learning struggles. Posting a dataset costs the creator nothing beyond bandwidth, but provides enormous value to beginners who are months away from their first clear night with equipment in hand. Forum threads on Cloudy Nights, Stargazers Lounge, and Reddit consistently direct newcomers to these free resources. What the community says > "I've been waiting for clear skies for two months. Meanwhile I downloaded some practice data and learned Siril — now when I finally get out there I won't be starting from zero." > > — Cloudy Nights user > "Processing Trevor's Horsehead dataset was the first time I actually understood what histogram stretching does. Watching videos didn't click until I had my hands on the sliders." > > — r/astrophotography > "Practice data lets you fail without wasting a night of imaging. I overcooked three datasets before I figured out natural color balance — better to learn on someone else's captures than ruin your own." > > — Stargazers Lounge Practicing with shared astrophotography datasets allows beginners to compare their processing results with experienced imagers working from identical raw data, eliminating acquisition variables like tracking errors, focus drift, and light pollution — creating a controlled learning environment where processing technique is the only variable. When you process the same Horsehead Nebula dataset that hundreds of others have worked with, you can see how your stretch compares to theirs. You learn whether you're over-saturating colors, under-exposing stars, or introducing artifacts that others avoided. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/NGC4151-crop.jpeg) ## How Practice Data Works A complete astrophotography practice dataset includes four frame types: light frames (the actual deep-sky object), dark frames (thermal noise calibration), flat fields (vignetting correction), and bias frames (readout noise removal) — processed together through calibration, registration, stacking, and stretching to produce a final image. **Light frames** are the actual images of the deep-sky object — the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, whatever the telescope was pointed at. They contain both signal (the astronomical target) and noise (thermal interference from the sensor, readout electronics noise, light pollution gradients). A typical dataset includes 20 to 100 light frames, each exposed for several minutes. **Dark frames** are calibration images shot with the lens cap on, capturing only the thermal noise pattern from your camera sensor with no incoming light. They're shot at the same exposure length and sensor temperature as your light frames. Subtracting dark frames from light frames removes the thermal noise pattern, leaving cleaner signal. Practice datasets usually include 10 to 30 dark frames. **Flat fields** are images of an evenly illuminated surface — either a light panel placed over the telescope aperture or the twilight sky. They reveal the optical vignetting (darkening toward frame edges) and any dust spots on your sensor or optics. Dividing your light frames by the flat field corrects these issues. Datasets typically include 10 to 20 flats. **Bias frames** are zero-second exposures capturing only the sensor's readout noise — the electronic interference pattern that occurs every time the sensor is read, regardless of exposure length. They're used during calibration to remove readout noise from both darks and flats. Datasets include 20 to 50 bias frames because they're quick to capture. Frame types explained What's in a Complete Dataset Light Frames Actual images of your target — signal plus noise. Typically 20–100 frames at several minutes each. Dark Frames Lens cap on — captures only thermal noise. Subtracted from lights to remove sensor heat patterns. Flat Fields Evenly illuminated frames revealing vignetting and dust. Dividing by flats corrects optical issues. Bias Frames Zero-second exposures capturing readout noise. Used to calibrate both darks and flats. Practice data is distributed in two formats: **complete calibration sets** and **pre-stacked TIFs**. Complete sets include all four frame types as separate files — typically in FITS format (the astronomy standard) or DSLR raw files (CR2 for Canon, NEF for Nikon). You download the entire set, load it into stacking software, and process it from scratch through calibration, registration, stacking, and stretching. This teaches the full workflow you'll use with your own captures. Pre-stacked TIFs skip the calibration and stacking phases — someone else has already combined the light frames into a single 16-bit TIFF file. You download one file, open it in processing software, and practice only the stretching and enhancement phase. This is easier for absolute beginners because you're learning one step at a time, but it doesn't teach you the calibration workflow that removes thermal noise and optical artifacts. File naming conventions follow common patterns. Light frames might be named `Light_001.fits`, `Light_002.fits`, continuing sequentially. Dark frames use `Dark_001.fits`. Flats use `Flat_001.fits`. Bias frames use `Bias_001.fits`. Some datasets use descriptive names like `M42_300s_001.fits` indicating the object (M42 = Orion Nebula) and exposure length (300 seconds). Stacking software recognizes these patterns automatically. Typical file sizes vary. A single FITS file from a 16-megapixel camera might be 30–50 MB. A complete calibration set with 50 light frames, 20 darks, 20 flats, and 30 bias frames totals 5–10 GB. DSLR raw files (CR2/NEF) are slightly smaller but still substantial. Pre-stacked TIFs are much smaller — a single 16-bit TIF might be 200–300 MB. Plan storage accordingly; an external USB drive or SSD makes sense for serious practice. The workflow follows this sequence: calibration (subtract darks, divide by flats, subtract bias), registration (align all frames to correct for tracking drift), stacking (combine aligned frames into one image with better signal-to-noise), and processing (stretch the histogram to reveal faint detail, adjust color balance, reduce noise). Stacked TIFs start at the processing phase. Complete sets teach the entire chain. ## What Software You'll Use on Mac All common astrophotography file formats — FITS, TIFF, CR2, and NEF — are fully supported on macOS through Siril (free), PixInsight (€250), and Affinity Photo ($75), with Siril and PixInsight offering native FITS calibration and stacking workflows unavailable in general-purpose photo editors. You're not locked into Windows-only tools or forced to dual-boot. Mac users have legitimate, professional-grade options for learning astrophotography processing with practice data. **Siril** is a free, open-source astronomical image processing application developed by the Siril team, available natively on macOS with Apple Silicon support, designed for deep-sky image calibration, registration, stacking, and post-processing. It handles the complete workflow from raw calibration frames through final stretched image. Siril runs natively on M-series Macs without Rosetta translation, meaning full GPU acceleration and low power consumption. The learning curve is steep — Siril uses a command-line interface alongside its graphical tools — but Nico Carver's YouTube tutorials provide comprehensive Mac-compatible guidance. The [Mac Astronomy Software](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) directory lists Siril with download links and version notes. **PixInsight** is a professional astronomical image processing platform developed by Pleiades Astrophoto, available on macOS as an Intel binary running under Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon, industry standard for advanced processing with non-linear stretching, deconvolution, and noise reduction tools. It costs €250 for a lifetime license with a 45-day free trial. PixInsight runs seamlessly under Rosetta 2 on M1/M2/M3 Macs with minimal performance penalty — stacking and processing speeds match or exceed Windows performance on equivalent hardware. The interface is complex and module-based, but the Masters of PixInsight training program provides structured courses with practice datasets. Read the complete [PixInsight on the Mac: The Definitive Deep Dive](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-on-the-mac-the-definitive-deep-dive) for Mac-specific setup and performance details. **Affinity Photo** is a consumer photo editing application by Serif with built-in astronomical image stacking capability, native Apple Silicon support, GPU acceleration, and one-time $75 license. It offers a friendlier learning curve than Siril or PixInsight with excellent stacking performance for light frames, but lacks the advanced calibration tools and non-linear stretching options that dedicated astronomy software provides. Affinity Photo works well for processing pre-stacked TIFs or simple light-frame-only stacks, but can't handle the full calibration workflow with darks, flats, and bias. It's a reasonable starting point for casual learners who already own the software, but serious astrophotographers outgrow it quickly. Photoshop and Lightroom can open stacked TIFs for final stretching and color adjustment, but they don't handle FITS files natively and can't perform astronomical image stacking or calibration. They're end-of-workflow tools, not complete solutions. Mac Observatory recommends starting with Siril (free) to learn the fundamental workflow — calibration, registration, stacking, and basic processing — then upgrading to PixInsight if you continue and hit Siril's limits in advanced noise reduction or deconvolution. This path costs nothing initially and provides a clear upgrade path when you're ready. The [Getting Started with Astrophotography on the Mac](https://macobservatory.com/getting-started-with-astrophotography-on-the-mac) guide covers the complete software decision tree with hardware pairing recommendations. Mac software landscape Processing Software for Practice Data All formats work natively on macOS — no Windows required. Complete Workflow Calibration to finish Siril (Free) PixInsight (€250) Stacked TIFs Only Stretching & color Affinity Photo ($75) Photoshop Lightroom Apple Silicon Native GPU accelerated Siril ⚡ Affinity Photo ⚡ Intel (Rosetta 2) Full compatibility PixInsight Photoshop Recommended for beginners Apple Silicon accelerated Available Siril (Free) - **Price:** Free, open source - **Platform:** macOS, Apple Silicon native - **Learning curve:** Moderate — command-line interface alongside GUI - **Workflow:** Complete — calibration, stacking, processing - **Best for:** Beginners learning fundamentals without financial risk - **Limitations:** Less advanced noise reduction and deconvolution than PixInsight - **Tutorials:** Nico Carver's YouTube channel (Mac-compatible) PixInsight (€250) - **Price:** €250 lifetime license, 45-day free trial - **Platform:** macOS via Rosetta 2 (seamless performance) - **Learning curve:** Steep — module-based interface, professional tools - **Workflow:** Industry standard — WBPP, advanced deconvolution, noise reduction - **Best for:** Serious learners ready to invest in pro-level processing - **Limitations:** Complex interface, expensive upfront cost - **Tutorials:** Masters of PixInsight structured courses ## Major Free Data Sources ### Beginner-Friendly: Stacked TIFs Ready to Process **AstroBackyard** is an astrophotography education site by Trevor Jones providing 7 free stacked TIF practice datasets (nebulae) from DeepSkyStacker and PixInsight, paired with community hashtag #yourastrophotoskills for result sharing. Trevor's datasets include the Horsehead Nebula, Orion Nebula, North America Nebula, and others — all pre-stacked into 16-bit TIF files ready for immediate processing. These are the easiest entry point for complete beginners because you skip calibration and stacking entirely, focusing only on histogram stretching and color balancing. Each dataset comes with attribution notes and processing tips. Trevor encourages learners to share their results on social media using #yourastrophotoskills, creating a community gallery where you can compare your processing approach with hundreds of others working from identical source data. This feedback loop accelerates learning significantly — you see which techniques produce cleaner backgrounds, better star shapes, and more natural color. Download from Trevor's site at [astrobackyard.com/free-astrophotography-data](https://astrobackyard.com/free-astrophotography-data/?ref=macobservatory.com). **Deep Sky West** provides stacked datasets with a strict attribution requirement — you must credit the source in any shared results. The datasets cover various nebulae and galaxies in pre-stacked format, similar to AstroBackyard's approach. This is good secondary material after you've worked through Trevor's datasets and want more targets to practice on. Visit [deepskywest.com/practice-data](https://www.deepskywest.com/practice-data?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Intermediate: Complete Calibration Sets **Jerry Lodriguss** operates Astropix.com, an astronomy education site providing complete DSLR raw calibration sets (Canon CR2 files with full dark, flat, and bias frames) from an unmodified Canon 700D shot with an Astro-Tech AT65Q refractor at f/6.5\. These datasets teach the full DSLR workflow — the most common entry point for amateur astrophotographers. You download a folder containing 20–40 light frames plus matching calibration frames, load them into Siril or PixInsight, and work through the complete calibration and stacking process. Jerry's datasets are particularly valuable for Mac users learning Siril because they use the same Canon CR2 format that Siril handles natively. The exposure metadata is preserved, so Siril's automatic calibration scripts work without manual configuration. Objects include M42 (Orion Nebula), IC 434 (Horsehead), and others shot from suburban skies — realistic beginner conditions with light pollution gradients. Download from [astropix.com](https://www.astropix.com/html/processing/sample%5Fdata.html?ref=macobservatory.com). **Wei-Hao Wang** maintains a comprehensive practice data archive shared via Google Drive, widely referenced in PixInsight and AstroPixelProcessor communities for multi-camera variety and complete calibration frame sets. The archive includes both DSLR data (Canon, Nikon) and dedicated astronomy camera data (CCD formats) with full darks, flats, and bias for each target. This is intermediate-to-advanced material because the datasets are larger and require more processing knowledge to work through, but they reward that effort with professional-quality source material. Wei-Hao's archive is particularly useful for testing different processing approaches on the same object — you can download his M31 dataset, process it five different ways, and compare results to forum discussions where others have worked with the same frames. Access the archive through links shared on AstroBin and CloudyNights forums, or search "Wei-Hao Wang practice data" to find current Google Drive links. **Light Vortex Astronomy** provides selected deep-space object datasets including both broadband RGB and narrowband data (H-alpha, OIII, SII), with monochrome captures separated into individual LRGB channels for full-color processing practice. This is advanced material for learners who have mastered basic RGB processing and want to explore narrowband workflows or LRGB channel combination. The datasets pair well with Light Vortex's PixInsight video tutorials, which walk through processing the same data step-by-step. Download from [lightvortexastronomy.com](https://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorials.html?ref=macobservatory.com). **Joey Troy** shares practice data from modern dedicated astronomy cameras — ASI2600MM Pro (monochrome), ASI533MC Pro (one-shot color), and Nikon D5500 DSLR — all integrated with PixInsight's Weighted Batch Preprocessing (WBPP) script for streamlined calibration and stacking. Joey's datasets represent current equipment and workflows, making them particularly relevant for learners planning to purchase ZWO cameras or upgrade from DSLR to dedicated astro cameras. The FITS files come pre-organized for WBPP, teaching best practices for file structure and naming conventions. Download from [joeytroy.com](https://joeytroy.com/practice-data?ref=macobservatory.com). **Bharrat.net** offers "less-than-pristine" beginner datasets with intentional real-world problems like gradients, edge anomalies, and bloated stars — teaching new processors to handle the imperfect data they'll encounter from their own equipment rather than clean, idealized captures. This is honest, valuable practice. Processing perfect data creates unrealistic expectations; processing messy data with gradients and tracking errors teaches troubleshooting skills you'll actually need. These datasets bridge the gap between practice and reality. Find them at [bharrat.net](https://www.bharrat.net/practice-data.html?ref=macobservatory.com). Quick reference Data Source Quick Reference AstroBackyard 7 stacked TIFs ready to process. Perfect first practice target. Jerry Lodriguss Complete DSLR calibration sets (CR2) with full darks, flats, bias. Wei-Hao Wang Archive Multi-camera variety with professional-quality source material. Joey Troy Modern ZWO data pre-organized for PixInsight WBPP workflow. ### Advanced: Professional Observatory Archives **European Southern Observatory (ESO) Science Archive** provides professional observatory data freely accessible online, including raw data from ESO instruments plus 4 million processed science files in FITS format with massive file sizes and professional-grade quality. This is expert-level material — a single raw science frame from ESO's Very Large Telescope might be 100 MB, and processing requires understanding of professional observatory calibration techniques that differ from amateur workflows. ESO data is primarily valuable for advanced learners who want to work with professional-quality captures to study processing techniques at the highest level, or for educators preparing demonstrations. The archive interface is complex, requiring knowledge of astronomical coordinate systems and instrument specifications to locate relevant data. This is not a beginner resource, but it demonstrates that world-class astronomical data is freely available for anyone to process. Access at [archive.eso.org](https://archive.eso.org/eso/eso%5Farchive%5Fmain.html?ref=macobservatory.com). ## Understanding File Formats and Compatibility **FITS (Flexible Image Transport System)** is the astronomy-standard file format supporting 16-bit and 32-bit floating-point data, preserving the full dynamic range of sensor captures with embedded metadata about exposure settings, telescope configuration, and astronomical coordinates. FITS is natively supported by Siril, PixInsight, and dedicated astronomy software. It's the professional format — when someone says "raw astrophotography data," they usually mean FITS files. Siril and PixInsight both read and write FITS natively, making it the recommended format for complete workflow practice. **TIFF** files (typically 16-bit RGB or monochrome) are opened by all software including Photoshop, making them the most universally compatible format for stacked images ready for final processing. Pre-stacked practice datasets are usually distributed as TIFF because anyone can open them, even in consumer photo editors. TIFF preserves high bit depth (16 bits per channel) but lacks the astronomical metadata that FITS includes. This doesn't matter for processing — the image data itself is identical — but it means you lose information about exposure length, sensor temperature, and filter type. **CR2 and NEF** are Canon and Nikon DSLR raw formats containing unprocessed sensor data from camera captures. Siril and PixInsight can calibrate and stack CR2/NEF files directly, treating them like FITS for workflow purposes. Photoshop can open CR2/NEF files individually but cannot stack multiple frames or perform astronomical calibration. DSLR raw practice datasets teach the workflow most beginner astrophotographers use before upgrading to dedicated astronomy cameras — making Jerry Lodriguss's CR2 sets particularly valuable for realistic learning. **XISF** is PixInsight's native file format (eXtensible Image Serialization Format), optimized for astronomical data with embedded metadata, compression, and fast read/write speeds. It's not universally supported — Siril can't open XISF files natively — but PixInsight can convert XISF to FITS or TIFF for sharing. You'll encounter XISF in PixInsight-specific practice datasets, but most public archives use FITS or TIFF for broader compatibility. **SER** is a planetary video format used for lucky imaging — capturing thousands of short-exposure frames for planetary surface detail. It's worth mentioning briefly because planetary processing follows different workflows than deep-sky processing, and SER files require different software ([Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) and [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) on Mac). This article focuses on deep-sky practice data; planetary practice data is harder to find publicly but follows the same principle of learning processing before acquisition. Mac compatibility is complete: FITS, TIFF, CR2, and NEF all work natively on macOS through Siril, PixInsight, and Affinity Photo. You don't need virtual machines, Windows partitions, or Wine wrappers to process practice data. Siril runs natively on Apple Silicon with full Metal GPU acceleration. PixInsight runs under Rosetta 2 with negligible performance penalty. The Mac Astronomy Software directory at [macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) tracks compatibility status for every processing application. Format compatibility File Format Quick Guide FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) Professional astronomy standard. 16-bit or 32-bit floating-point. Preserves full dynamic range and embedded metadata. Natively supported by Siril and PixInsight. TIFF (16-bit RGB or monochrome) Universal compatibility — opens in Photoshop, Affinity, all Mac apps. Used for pre-stacked images ready for final processing. CR2 / NEF (DSLR raw formats) Canon and Nikon DSLR raw files. Siril and PixInsight can calibrate and stack them directly like FITS files. XISF (eXtensible Image Serialization Format) PixInsight's native format. Optimized for speed and compression. Not universally supported — Siril can't open XISF natively. **Mac compatibility:** All formats work natively on macOS through Siril, PixInsight, and Affinity Photo. No Windows required. Storage needs scale with ambition. A single pre-stacked TIF (200–300 MB) fits easily on any Mac's internal drive. A complete calibration set (5–10 GB) benefits from external storage, especially if you plan to practice with multiple datasets. Serious learners who download Wei-Hao Wang's entire archive or multiple Jerry Lodriguss datasets should budget 50–100 GB. An external USB SSD provides fast read speeds for stacking workflows and easy organization — one drive becomes your practice data library. [Samsung T7 portable SSD](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874XN4D8?tag=andrew021974-20&ref=macobservatory.com) offers good value for astronomical data storage. ## Community Wisdom: Learning Through Comparison AstroBackyard's #yourastrophotoskills hashtag demonstrates the value of processing shared datasets — hundreds of learners post their results from Trevor's practice data, creating a visual record of different processing approaches applied to identical source material. You see beginner attempts with overblown highlights, intermediate efforts with cleaner backgrounds but muddy color, and expert results with subtle gradients and natural-looking stars. This comparison calibrates your expectations and shows concrete examples of what improving processing skill looks like. Cloudy Nights and Stargazers Lounge forums host dedicated "process this" threads where experienced imagers post datasets specifically for community practice, often with follow-up discussions comparing results and explaining technique differences. One thread might have 20 different processed versions of the same M42 dataset, each with comments from the processor explaining their workflow choices. This is learning that goes beyond watching tutorials — you're seeing the diversity of valid approaches and understanding that there's rarely one "correct" way to process an image. Following video tutorials with the same dataset creates step-by-step learning that's significantly more effective than watching someone process unfamiliar data. Nico Carver's Siril tutorials use specific example datasets; when you download those same files and follow along, you can match your results against his exactly. If your histogram doesn't look like his after step three, you know you've made a mistake — rewind the video and try again. This immediate feedback loop accelerates learning dramatically. Beginners often overstretch or oversaturate practice data because clean datasets allow more aggressive processing than real captures with light pollution and tracking errors. You might stretch a histogram until subtle nebula structure becomes garish, vivid red — visually dramatic but unrealistic. Seeing others' more restrained approaches shows you what "natural-looking but enhanced" actually means. This recalibration happens faster with practice data than with your own captures because you can see 50 versions of the same image and pattern-match which processing style looks professional. What experienced imagers say > "I share my practice data because I remember being stuck waiting for clear skies with new software I couldn't test. If my captures help someone learn faster, that's worth the upload time." > > — Joey Troy > "Comparing results from the same dataset shows you that there's no single 'correct' way to process an image. Five experts will produce five different looking results — all valid, all beautiful in different ways." > > — Light Vortex Astronomy > "Practice data teaches you processing technique in isolation. When you finally get your own captures, you're not troubleshooting software AND equipment problems at the same time." > > — Masters of PixInsight instructor The warning that clean practice data creates unrealistic expectations is worth taking seriously. Trevor's stacked TIFs are beautifully flat with excellent star shapes because they came from premium equipment under dark skies with accurate tracking. Your first real capture from suburban skies with a budget mount will have gradients, elongated stars from periodic error, and bloated star cores from focus drift. Processing that messy data requires additional skills — gradient removal, star shape correction, selective masking — that practice data might not teach you. Bharrat.net's intentionally imperfect datasets help bridge this gap, but there's no substitute for eventually processing your own difficult captures. ## Getting Started: Your First Practice Workflow **Step 1: Choose your software.** Download Siril first — it's free, native on Apple Silicon, and handles the complete workflow from raw calibration through final processing. Visit the Mac Astronomy Software directory at [macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software), find Siril in the Deep-Sky Processing category, and follow the download link to [siril.org](https://siril.org/?ref=macobservatory.com). Install it. Open it once to verify it runs. You're ready. **Step 2: Download a beginner dataset.** Start with AstroBackyard's Orion Nebula stacked TIF — it's the most forgiving target with bright nebulosity and clear structure. Visit [astrobackyard.com/free-astrophotography-data](https://astrobackyard.com/free-astrophotography-data/?ref=macobservatory.com), download `Orion_Nebula.tif` (or similar filename), save it to a dedicated practice folder on your Mac. One file, 200–300 MB, quick download. **Step 3: Follow a Mac tutorial.** Nico Carver's "Siril Tutorial for Beginners" series on YouTube covers Mac-specific workflows with screen recordings from macOS. Search YouTube for "Nico Carver Siril Mac" or visit his channel directly. His tutorials work on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs — Siril's interface is identical. Watch the introduction video first to understand Siril's window layout, then follow the "Processing a Stacked Image" tutorial with your Orion TIF loaded. **Step 4: Process the image.** Open Siril, load the TIF file, apply a basic histogram stretch using Siril's autostretch feature, adjust color balance if needed, apply light noise reduction, save the result. Don't aim for perfection — aim for completion. Your first result will probably have crushed shadows or blown highlights. That's expected. Save it anyway. **Step 5: Compare your result.** Search #yourastrophotoskills on Instagram or Twitter, filter for Orion Nebula posts, compare your processed image with others. Note what they did differently — background darkness, star color, nebula contrast. Don't be discouraged if theirs look better; focus on identifying specific technique differences you can try next time. **Step 6: Iterate.** Download Jerry Lodriguss's M42 calibration set next — complete with darks, flats, and bias frames. Load it into Siril, work through the full calibration workflow using Siril's preprocessing script. This teaches you the complete chain: calibration removes thermal noise and vignetting, registration aligns frames, stacking combines them, processing reveals detail. Watch Nico's calibration tutorial first if you get stuck. **Step 7: Apply to your own data.** When skies finally clear and you capture your first deep-sky target with real equipment, you'll already know the processing workflow. Calibration, registration, stacking, stretching — the steps are identical. The skills transfer directly. You're not learning software and troubleshooting tracking issues simultaneously; you're applying known processing techniques to new data. ABSOLUTE BEGINNER Stacked TIF Path Free Start with AstroBackyard's Orion TIF. Learn histogram stretching and color balance in Siril or Affinity Photo. No calibration complexity — just processing fundamentals. AstroBackyard TIF → Siril → #yourastrophotoskills INTERMEDIATE Full Workflow Path Free Download Jerry Lodriguss's M42 calibration set. Learn complete workflow from raw calibration frames through final stretch in Siril. Follow Nico Carver's tutorials. Lodriguss CR2 Set → Siril Calibration → Stacking → Processing ADVANCED Professional Path €250 PixInsight 45-day trial with Wei-Hao Wang's archive or Joey Troy's ASI datasets. Learn WBPP, advanced noise reduction, deconvolution. Upgrade to license when ready. Modern FITS → PixInsight WBPP → Advanced Processing Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) The complete beginner path costs zero dollars if you use Siril with free practice data. PixInsight's 45-day trial gives you professional tools for free during your learning phase, but you'll eventually need to purchase the €250 license if you continue. Affinity Photo ($75) splits the difference — affordable, capable, but limited for advanced work. Mac Observatory recommends the Siril-first path for most learners: start free, master fundamentals, upgrade to PixInsight later if you outgrow Siril's capabilities. Read the [Getting Started with Astrophotography on the Mac](https://macobservatory.com/getting-started-with-astrophotography-on-the-mac) guide for complete software decision trees and hardware pairing recommendations. External resources worth bookmarking: Nico Carver's YouTube channel for Siril tutorials, Masters of PixInsight ([mastersofpixinsight.com](https://mastersofpixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)) for structured PixInsight training, Cloudy Nights' Beginning Deep Sky Imaging forum for community troubleshooting. Join the conversation — processing gets less intimidating when you're learning alongside others working through the same confusion. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about free astrophotography practice data from the Mac Observatory community. Can I use practice data on a Mac or do I need Windows?+ All common astrophotography file formats — FITS, TIFF, CR2, and NEF — work natively on macOS through Siril, PixInsight, and Affinity Photo. Siril runs natively on Apple Silicon with full Metal GPU acceleration. PixInsight operates seamlessly under Rosetta 2 on M-series Macs. You don't need Windows, dual-boot, or virtual machines to process practice data on your Mac. Mac Observatory tracks compatibility status for all Mac astronomy software at macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software. Should I start with stacked TIFs or complete calibration sets?+ Start with stacked TIFs from AstroBackyard if you're learning processing fundamentals — histogram stretching, color balance, and noise reduction — without calibration complexity. Once you understand those concepts, download Jerry Lodriguss's complete calibration sets (with darks, flats, and bias frames) to learn the full workflow you'll use with your own telescope captures. Stacked TIFs teach processing technique. Complete sets teach the entire acquisition-to-final-image pipeline. Is Siril or PixInsight better for learning with practice data?+ Siril is free, open-source, and native on Apple Silicon — making it the recommended starting point for Mac users learning astrophotography processing. It handles the complete workflow from calibration through final stretch, with Nico Carver's YouTube tutorials providing excellent Mac-compatible guidance. PixInsight (€250 license, 45-day free trial) offers professional-grade tools and advanced processing capabilities but has a steeper learning curve. Most learners start with Siril to master fundamentals, then upgrade to PixInsight if they hit Siril's limitations in advanced noise reduction or deconvolution. Mac Observatory's Getting Started guide covers the complete software decision tree. How much storage space do I need for practice data?+ A single pre-stacked TIF (200–300 MB) fits easily on your Mac's internal drive. A complete Practice data eliminates the acquisition barrier that prevents many people from learning astrophotography processing. You don't need $5,000 in telescope equipment, dark skies an hour from home, or perfectly clear weather. You need a Mac, free software, a downloaded dataset, and three hours on a cloudy Saturday afternoon. The processing skills you build during that session transfer directly to your own captures when you eventually acquire equipment — or they inform your equipment purchasing decisions by showing you what processing capabilities matter most for your goals. Start with Trevor Jones's Orion Nebula TIF and Siril. Process it. Compare your result with others. Download Jerry Lodriguss's M42 calibration set. Work through the full workflow. Post your results in forums and ask for feedback. Iterate. When you're ready, the [Mac Astronomy Software directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) lists every processing tool worth considering, and the Mac Observatory Suite apps ([Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software), [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing), [Meridian](https://macobservatory.com/meridian-deep-sky-imaging-catalog)) handle planetary and archival workflows when you expand beyond deep-sky processing. The data is free. The software options are proven. The community is helpful. There's no reason to wait for equipment or weather to start learning. Download something tonight and stretch your first histogram by Monday. ### INDIGO A1: CloudMakers' All-in-One Mac Astrophotography Suite URL: https://macobservatory.com/indigo-a1-mac-astrophotography-suite-review/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T23:25:47.000Z ## What CloudMakers' all-in-one imaging app does, what it costs, and how it compares to NINA on Windows. Back in April 2022, I [covered the initial release of INDIGO A1](https://macobservatory.com/indigo-a1-all-in-one-mac-astrophotography-software-released/), CloudMakers' move to consolidate their separate Mac astrophotography applications into a single all-in-one package. It shipped then as a $54.99 purchase. Four years later the app has changed shape completely, and so has the way you pay for it. I have used earlier CloudMakers apps but not version 5, so what follows is an overview built from CloudMakers' documentation and the current App Store listing rather than a hands-on test. Here's what's changed, what it can do, and how it stacks up. ## What Is INDIGO A1 Today? INDIGO A1 is a native macOS (and iOS/iPadOS) application that handles the entire imaging session workflow: camera control and image capture, autoguiding, telescope and mount control, focuser management, filter wheel operation, dome control, plate solving, and sequenced automation. It's built on the INDIGO framework — the modern successor to INDI that serves as the Mac and Linux equivalent of Windows' ASCOM driver standard. If you've been in the Mac astronomy space for a while, you may remember CloudMakers' individual apps. INDIGO A1 replaces the retired INDIGO D1, AstroImager, AstroDSLR, AstroGuider, AstroTelescope and INDIGO Server. Those version 4 products still get released alongside new INDIGO versions, but they are no longer being developed. The INDIGO Control Panel is a different case: it is still a current product, a simplified variant of A1 without the agent panels or the built-in server. This isn't just a bundle. It's a ground-up rearchitecture that changes how the software works. The pricing model has also changed significantly. INDIGO A1 is now a free download from the Mac App Store. The base application includes the full embedded INDIGO server, all hardware drivers, the control panel, the script editor, and simulator devices you can use to explore the interface before spending a dime, and the listing also carries a 14-day trial that unlocks every feature. The core imaging capabilities are unlocked through three in-app purchases at $24.99 each: Imaging (camera control, capture, focusing, sequencing), Guiding (autoguiding with multiple drift detection algorithms), and Mount control (telescope and mount control with a built-in planetarium). If you bought the retired version 4 apps, the listing carries free upgrade entries for the imager, guider and mount features. A fully unlocked installation runs about $75, but the modular approach gives you genuine flexibility. If you already run PHD2 for guiding on your Mac, you could skip the guiding module and save $25\. If you only need camera control and don't have a goto mount, you might only need the imaging module. You buy what you actually use. INDIGO A1: Free + Modules - **Base app:** Free. Embedded INDIGO server, hardware drivers, control panel, script editor, simulators - **Trial:** Free 14-day unlock of all features - **Imaging features:** $24.99\. Camera control, capture, focusing, sequencing - **Guiding features:** $24.99\. Autoguiding with multi-star detection - **Mount control features:** $24.99\. Telescope and mount control with built-in planetarium - **Platform:** macOS 13+, iPadOS 16+, iOS 16+, visionOS 1+ - **Full unlock:** about $75 total [Mac App Store →](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/indigo-a1/id1617125771?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) [CloudMakers →](https://www.cloudmakers.eu/?ref=macobservatory.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/a1-format-original.webp) ## The Architecture That Changes Everything The most important thing about INDIGO A1 isn't visible in the feature list — it's the underlying agent-based architecture that separates it from traditional astronomy software. In a conventional setup, your imaging application runs on your computer, talks to your hardware, and if your laptop goes to sleep or your WiFi drops, your session stops. The application logic and the hardware communication are tightly coupled. INDIGO A1 works differently. CloudMakers moved from the traditional client/server model to what they call a "multi-tier agent-based architecture." In practical terms, this means the application logic — the code that actually runs your imaging sequence, controls your guiding corrections, and manages your mount — lives inside INDIGO agents that run on the server side. The INDIGO A1 interface you see on your Mac (or iPad) is a native client that configures and monitors those agents, but the agents themselves operate independently. Why does this matter at the telescope? Three reasons. First, you can disconnect without losing your session. Configure your imaging sequence, start it running, close your laptop, and go to bed. The agents keep working. Connect again later to check progress, download images, or make adjustments. Your session doesn't depend on a persistent client connection. Second, when the agents and hardware drivers live in the same process on the same machine, they communicate over an internal software bus at procedure-call speed — not over a network connection. This eliminates the bandwidth bottleneck that plagues traditional remote setups where every full-resolution image has to travel across your WiFi to your client app just so the software can decide what to do next. The agent already has the image locally and can act on it instantly. Third, because the agent code contains the core application logic, bug fixes and improvements happen in one place. The native Mac and iPad interfaces are essentially "just" the GUI layer — they present what the agents are doing in a platform-appropriate way. This is a fundamentally sound engineering approach that scales well. If you've used or read about NINA on Windows, this agent concept will sound familiar — NINA's advanced sequencer also enables sophisticated automation that can run through complex decision trees unattended. INDIGO A1's agent architecture achieves something similar but takes it further at the infrastructure level by making the entire server-side operation independent of the client. Agent Architecture vs. Traditional Client/Server INDIGO A1 — Agent-Based - Configure session → Agents run independently - Disconnect safely → Reconnect anytime - Software bus speed (no network bottleneck) - Session survives client disconnect - iPad/iPhone as native client "Set it and walk away — agents keep working." Traditional Client/Server - App controls hardware → Images sent to client - Client decides next step → Disconnect = session lost - Network bandwidth dependent - Persistent connection required - Single-machine operation "Always tethered — disconnect means starting over." ## Core Modules: What Each One Does ### Imager Agent The imager module is the heart of INDIGO A1 for deep sky work. It controls your main imaging camera, filter wheel, focuser, and rotator. You can capture single preview frames for framing and focusing, run batch captures with configurable exposure count, duration, and delays, or build multi-target sequences with different filters, exposure parameters, and automation steps. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/indigo_imager_agent_ccd_simulator_ui-format-original.webp) Focusing is handled through the imager agent with support for autofocus routines that work with electronic focusers — you'll see FWHM and HFD measurements to evaluate focus quality. The module supports output in FITS, XISF, TIFF, and JPEG formats for still capture, and JPEG/AVI or RAW/SER for video stream recording (useful for planetary or lucky imaging workflows where a dedicated tool like [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) handles the Mac-native capture side). Note that "RAW" here refers to INDIGO's own raw format, not DSLR RAW formats like CR2 or NEF — though DSLR native RAW capture with FITS/XISF conversion is also supported. For DSLR users: INDIGO A1 v5 absorbed the functionality of the retired AstroDSLR app. You get full tethering control for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fuji cameras over USB using the PTP protocol — ISO, aperture, shutter speed, BULB mode, white balance, and LiveView are all accessible. The sequencer deserves special mention. INDIGO A1 includes a scripting-capable sequencer that lets you build automated imaging plans with multiple targets, filter changes, focusing runs, and conditional logic. Recent updates have added functions like `calibrate_guiding_exposure()`, `clear_focuser_selection()`, and `clear_guider_selection()` to the sequencer vocabulary, giving you programmatic control over the full imaging chain. This isn't as visually drag-and-drop as NINA's advanced sequencer, but the capability is there for users willing to learn the scripting syntax. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/indigo_scripting_agent_sequence_setup-format-original.webp) ### Guider Agent The guider module controls your guide camera and communicates corrections to your mount through either a dedicated guide port (ST-4 style) or direct pulse guiding through the mount's serial/USB connection. It supports automatic multi-star detection — you don't need to manually select a guide star — and offers multiple drift detection and drift response algorithms. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/indigo_a1_guider_agent_settings-format-original.webp) Calibration can be automatic or manual, and the agent handles the relationship between your guide camera's orientation and your mount's axes without you needing to worry about it. Recent versions added include and exclude regions for star selection, giving you control over which parts of the guide frame are used — helpful if you have hot pixels, optical artifacts, or a bright star that's throwing off detection. The guider agent cooperates with the imager agent for dithering (randomly offsetting the telescope slightly between exposures to reduce fixed-pattern noise in your final stack) and with the mount agent to automatically pause guiding during slews. ### Mount Agent (AstroTelescope) The mount module provides telescope and dome control along with a built-in planetarium view. The star map uses the Hipparcos Catalogue and selected NGC/IC deep sky objects locally, with online object search available through the SIMBAD service at the Strasbourg Astronomical Data Center. NASA HORIZONS support has since been added to the object name search fields, opening up solar system targets. The star map uses stereographic projection. You can slew to targets by searching the catalog, tapping on the star map, or entering coordinates manually. After a plate solve, you can click on a star in the solved frame to set precise goto coordinates — a workflow that experienced imagers will appreciate for precise framing. The mount module also handles polar alignment, with an overlay and dedicated UI, using three-point polar alignment through the astrometry agent. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/indigo_mount_agent_astronomy_tracking-format-original.webp) ### AUX Devices INDIGO A1 can control up to four auxiliary devices per agent — power boxes (like [PegasusAstro UPB](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-power-box-v2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) /PPB, WandererBox, Lunatico controllers), weather stations (AAG CloudWatcher, Astromi.ch sensors), flat panel lights (Artesky, Optec Flip-Flat, Geoptik, Lacerta), and other devices that report data through INDIGO's property system. You can rename outlets and ports through the control panel and save configurations per profile. ### Scripting INDIGO Script is a built-in scripting language based on ECMAScript (JavaScript) with bindings to INDIGO objects and functions, executed by the Duktape engine. Scripts can run manually, on agent load/unload, or be registered as event handlers triggered by any INDIGO event. This is a powerful layer for users who want to build custom automation beyond what the standard sequencer offers — weather-based shutdown routines, conditional target switching, or integration with external systems. ## Hardware Compatibility and Apple Silicon INDIGO A1 ships with one of the broadest driver libraries in Mac astronomy software. The driver list covers cameras, filter wheels, focusers, rotators, mounts, guide ports, power controllers, weather stations, flat panels, domes, and GPS devices from dozens of manufacturers. **Cameras:** [ZWO ASI](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/zwo-astronomical-cameras.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), [QHY](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/qhy-ccd.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), [PlayerOne](https://player-one-astronomy.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), Atik, SBIG, Moravian Instruments, ToupTek, AltairAstro, [SVBony](https://www.svbony.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), [StarlightXpress](https://starlightxpressinc.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), FLI, Apogee, Meade DSI, Orion SSAG, RisingCam/Levenhuk, MallinCam, OmegonPro, OGMA, Bresser, plus DSLR tethering for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, and Pentax via PTP-over-USB, and a generic UVC driver for USB video class cameras. **Mounts:** LX200 protocol (covering Meade, 10micron, [Astro-Physics GTO](https://www.astro-physics.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), Avalon StarGo, Losmandy Gemini, PegasusAstro NYX-101, and OnStep), NexStar protocol ([Celestron](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/celestron.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) and [Sky-Watcher](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/sky-watcher.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)), Takahashi Temma, [iOptron](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/ioptron.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), SynScan/EQDir, ZWO AM5, RainbowAstro, Vixen Starbook Ten, and [Explore Scientific](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/explore-scientific.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) PMC-Eight. **Focusers:** ZWO EAF, [MoonLite](https://focuser.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), PegasusAstro (DMFC, FocusCube v1/2/3, Prodigy), PrimaluceLab, RigelSys nSTEP/nFOCUS, Deep Sky Dad, [Baader SteelDrive II](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/baader.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), RoboFocus, Lunatico, PlaneWave/Celestron, and more. **Other:** Filter wheels from most camera manufacturers, PegasusAstro power boxes, dome controllers (NexDome, Baader, Beaver, Lunatico Dragonfly, Interactive Astronomy SkyRoof), weather sensors, and GPS devices. ### The Apple Silicon Story When INDIGO A1 first launched in 2022, several camera drivers carried "Intel only" annotations — including ZWO, QHY, SBIG, ToupTek, AltairAstro, and SVBony. This was a real limitation for anyone who had moved to an M1 or M2 Mac, requiring the app to run under Rosetta 2 emulation to use those cameras. The situation has improved substantially. Through progressive INDIGO framework updates, Apple Silicon native support has been added for the camera SDKs that matter most to the current market. ToupTek, AltairAstro, OmegonPro, RisingCam, MallinCam, OGMA and SVBony all gained native ARM support, and the ZWO ASI, PlayerOne and Moravian Instruments SDKs have been updated too. The work is still ongoing: the release notes for version 5.8, built on INDIGO 2.0-298, record the modern QHY driver gaining native ARM support while the legacy QHY driver still has to be run under Rosetta. A few legacy camera lines (particularly older Atik, SBIG, and QSI models) may still depend on Intel-only SDKs from manufacturers who haven't shipped ARM builds. If you're using one of these cameras, the distributed setup offers an elegant workaround: run the INDIGO server on a Raspberry Pi connected directly to your equipment at the telescope, and use INDIGO A1 on your Apple Silicon Mac purely as a client. The Pi handles all hardware communication natively, and your Mac never needs to touch an Intel driver. ## Plate Solving: The One Extra Download Plate solving — the ability to analyze a captured image, identify the star field, and determine exactly where your telescope is pointed — is integral to modern astrophotography. INDIGO A1 has full plate solving support built into its workflow, including a dedicated astrometry agent with a solver tab, polar alignment overlay, and precise goto from solved frames. However, the actual plate solving engine ships as a separate application: **INDIGO Astrometry**, a free download from CloudMakers' website. This is a native macOS port of the astrometry.net system, and it needs to be running in the background while you use plate solving in INDIGO A1\. The separation exists because astrometry.net's license doesn't permit bundling it inside the App Store build of INDIGO A1. Setup is straightforward: download and install INDIGO Astrometry, use its built-in Index Manager (or the INDIGO Control Panel's Astrometry Agent settings) to download the index files appropriate for your telescope's field of view, and launch it before your imaging session. Once running, INDIGO A1 detects it automatically. You'll typically only need one to three index files based on your FOV, and solving a properly configured image takes under 10 seconds on a desktop Mac. If you don't want to use the local solver, INDIGO A1 also supports the public astrometry.net web service — you'll need an API key and an internet connection, and images are compressed to JPEG before upload to save bandwidth. It works, but the local solver is faster and doesn't require connectivity in the field. One note: INDIGO previously had an ASTAP agent for using ASTAP as an alternative plate solver, but this has been deprecated and removed. The recommended path is the Astrometry app. ASTAP remains a great standalone tool on Mac for stacking and solving, but it doesn't integrate with INDIGO A1's workflow. ## INDIGO A1 vs. NINA: How They Compare For Mac users eyeing NINA on Windows with envy, INDIGO A1 is the closest native equivalent — and the comparison is worth making honestly. INDIGO A1 vs. NINA at a Glance INDIGO A1 - Native macOS + iPadOS + iOS - Free base, about $75 full unlock - Integrated guider module - Agent-based disconnect/reconnect - Native iPad remote client - Built-in INDIGO driver set - Script-based sequencer "No emulation, no VM, no Windows license." NINA - Windows only - Free and open source - Relies on PHD2 for guiding - Visual drag-and-drop sequencer - Remote via RDP/VNC - ASCOM driver ecosystem - Large plugin marketplace "Larger community, more tutorials, broader hardware support." ### Platform and Pricing NINA is free, open-source, and Windows-only. To run it on a Mac, you need either Boot Camp (Intel Macs only, no longer supported on Apple Silicon), a Windows VM with USB passthrough (Parallels or VMware, with varying reliability for astronomy hardware), or a dedicated Windows machine. INDIGO A1 is native macOS, iPadOS, and iOS, with no emulation layers, no driver compatibility worries, and no second operating system to maintain. The base app is free, and a full unlock costs about $75 in module purchases. ### Imaging and Sequencing Both applications handle the core imaging workflow: camera control, batch capture, filter management, autofocus, and multi-target sequencing. NINA's Advanced Sequencer is widely regarded as one of its strongest features — a visual, drag-and-drop system with containers, triggers, conditions, and a rich plugin ecosystem that can add weather monitoring, flat panel automation, and more. INDIGO A1's sequencer is capable but more script-oriented. It handles multi-target sequences with filter changes and automation, and its ECMAScript-based scripting engine allows sophisticated custom workflows. But the learning curve for complex sequences is steeper than NINA's visual approach. ### Guiding NINA doesn't include a built-in guider — it relies on PHD2, which runs as a separate application and communicates with NINA via a server connection. This works well and PHD2 is excellent, but it's another application to install, configure, and keep running. INDIGO A1 includes guiding as an integrated module (the $24.99 guider purchase). The guider agent handles calibration, multi-star detection, dithering coordination with the imager, and guiding pause during slews — all within the same application. That said, PHD2 does run on macOS, so you have the option to use it alongside INDIGO A1 if you prefer. ### Plate Solving NINA supports multiple plate solving backends: ASTAP, local astrometry.net, PlateSolve2, and the astrometry.net web service. INDIGO A1 uses its Astrometry app (a native astrometry.net port) as the primary solver and the astrometry.net web service as a fallback. Both approaches work well. NINA has more solver options; INDIGO A1's single recommended solver is free and effective. ### Hardware Support NINA uses ASCOM drivers on Windows, which generally have the broadest manufacturer support — virtually every astronomy hardware vendor ships Windows ASCOM drivers first. INDIGO's built-in driver stack is extensive (80+ drivers) and covers the most popular equipment, but there are niche devices where a Windows ASCOM driver exists but no INDIGO driver does. The gap has been narrowing steadily with each INDIGO framework update. ### Remote Operation and Multi-Platform This is where INDIGO A1's architecture genuinely shines. The agent-based system with disconnect-and-reconnect capability, combined with native iPad and iPhone clients, gives you a remote operation experience that NINA doesn't match out of the box. You can set up your session on your Mac, walk inside, and monitor from your iPad on the couch. NINA users typically achieve remote operation through RDP, VNC, or dedicated remote desktop solutions — it works, but it's a different experience than a purpose-built native client. ### Community and Ecosystem NINA has a large, active community, extensive documentation, video tutorials for virtually every workflow, and a thriving plugin ecosystem. INDIGO A1 has a smaller but dedicated community centered on the CloudMakers bulletin board (bb.cloudmakers.eu), responsive developers who ship updates frequently, and documentation that — while thorough — assumes more baseline familiarity than newcomers may have. This is a genuine consideration: if you're new to astrophotography and learn primarily from YouTube tutorials, you'll find far more NINA content than INDIGO A1 content. ### Where It Fits If you're committed to macOS and don't want to maintain a Windows machine or VM, INDIGO A1 covers more of the imaging workflow natively than anything else on the platform I'm aware of. If you're already invested in a Windows imaging setup and considering a switch, it can do most of what NINA does, with some workflow differences and a smaller community behind it. Where it leads is the native multi-platform client experience and the agent architecture's independence from client connectivity. ## Deployment Options INDIGO A1 supports three deployment configurations, each suited to different situations. Choose Your Setup Simplest Standalone Mac Everything runs on one machine. Connect equipment via USB, enable drivers, go. Ideal for a MacBook in the field or a Mac Mini at a permanent observatory. Equipment → USB → Mac (INDIGO A1) → Images Recommended Mac + Raspberry Pi Pi handles hardware at the scope; Mac connects as a client from inside. Agents keep running if Mac disconnects. Eliminates Apple Silicon driver concerns. Equipment → USB → Pi (INDIGO Sky) → WiFi → Mac (Client) Remote iPad as Client Connect iPad to any INDIGO server on your network, Mac or Pi, with a native tablet interface. True couch-to-telescope workflow. Mac or Pi (Server) → WiFi → iPad (Native Client) ### Standalone Mac The simplest setup: connect your telescope equipment directly to your Mac via USB, launch INDIGO A1, enable the appropriate drivers in the Server preferences, and go. Everything runs in a single process on one machine. This works well with a MacBook in the field or a Mac Mini at a permanent observatory. The embedded INDIGO server handles all hardware communication locally. ### Mac + Raspberry Pi (Distributed) This is the setup that experienced imagers often gravitate toward. Install INDIGO Sky — CloudMakers' free Linux distribution — on a Raspberry Pi connected to your telescope equipment at the scope. The Pi runs the INDIGO server with all your hardware drivers, while INDIGO A1 on your Mac connects over your local network as a client. The advantages are significant: your Mac can be inside, warm and dry, while the Pi handles USB communication with zero cable length concerns. The agent architecture means the Pi keeps running your session even if your Mac disconnects. And since the Pi runs Linux ARM drivers natively, any remaining Apple Silicon driver compatibility questions become irrelevant — the Mac is just a client and never touches the hardware directly. ### iPad as Remote Client INDIGO A1 runs on iPadOS (without the built-in server feature) and can connect to any INDIGO server on your network, whether that's a Mac running INDIGO A1 with its embedded server, or a Raspberry Pi running INDIGO Sky. This gives you genuine couch-control capability with a native tablet interface. iOS (iPhone) is also supported but with additional limitations given the screen size. [ ![DSP Remote — Professional Remote Telescope Hosting](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/dsp-remote-banner.webp) ](https://www.dspremote.com/?utm%5Fsource=macobservatory&utm%5Fmedium=banner&utm%5Fcampaign=indigo-a1-review&utm%5Fid=macobservatory-indigo-a1-review) Partner [Learn more ](https://www.dspremote.com/?utm%5Fsource=macobservatory&utm%5Fmedium=banner&utm%5Fcampaign=indigo-a1-review&utm%5Fid=macobservatory-indigo-a1-review) ## Who Is INDIGO A1 For? **If you're new to astrophotography and use a Mac,** INDIGO A1 is worth downloading just to explore. It's free, the simulator devices let you learn the interface without any hardware connected, and you can make purchasing decisions about individual modules as your needs become clear. The learning curve is real — the documentation assumes some familiarity with astrophotography concepts and INDIGO's property-based architecture — but App Store reviewers consistently note that the capability is there once you invest the time. **If you're an experienced imager who's been running Windows for NINA or SGP,** INDIGO A1 represents a viable path to going Mac-native for your entire imaging workflow. The feature set covers the essentials, the hardware support is broad, and the agent architecture offers capabilities that are genuinely ahead of the curve. The transition will require relearning workflows and accepting a smaller community, but the payoff is a single-platform setup with no emulation layers. **If you're already using KStars/EKOS on Mac,** INDIGO A1 offers a native alternative that's purpose-built for macOS rather than ported from Linux. The two applications can actually coexist — EKOS has partial INDIGO compatibility — but INDIGO A1's tighter integration with the INDIGO driver stack and its native macOS interface are meaningful advantages. **If you run a remote observatory,** the distributed architecture with INDIGO Sky on a Raspberry Pi and INDIGO A1 on your Mac or iPad is one of the cleanest remote imaging setups available on any platform. The disconnect-and-reconnect workflow is exactly what you want for overnight unattended operation. ## The Bottom Line INDIGO A1 is not the same application I briefly covered in 2022\. It has gone from a promising consolidation of separate tools into a mature, actively developed imaging suite that handles the full astrophotography workflow natively on macOS. The free download and the 14-day full-feature trial remove the financial risk of exploring it, the modular pricing lets you invest incrementally, and the agent-based architecture is built for how modern astrophotographers actually work: often remotely, often unattended, often from more than one device. From the App Store and Forums What users are saying > "My only regret is not discovering the Indigo suite earlier. The capability is all there, and it expands with your astrophotography experience." > > — App Store reviewer > "The documentation expects a level of familiarity that entry-level astro people simply won't have. If you go in expecting a high learning curve, you'll be well prepared to dive in." > > — App Store reviewer > "A superb integrated piece of software that does everything: camera control, mount control, guiding control. You can run everything directly on your Mac, or use a Raspberry Pi at your scope and sit inside on your iPad." > > — App Store reviewer > "The developers pay close attention to requests from users and will develop an update to resolve an issue or add a feature very quickly. It's actively maintained." > > — App Store reviewer It's not perfect. The documentation could be more welcoming to newcomers. The community is smaller than NINA's. The sequencer is powerful but less visually intuitive. Some niche hardware still lacks drivers. These are real considerations. If you're a Mac user who wants to image from macOS without a Windows machine in the loop, INDIGO A1 is the most complete native attempt at it. CloudMakers has spent over a decade building toward this, and the result is software that was designed for the platform rather than ported to it. Get Started with INDIGO A1 - **INDIGO A1:** Free download from the Mac App Store, with three in-app modules at $24.99 each and a free 14-day trial of all features - **Requires:** macOS 13.0 or later - **INDIGO Astrometry:** Free download from cloudmakers.eu (required for plate solving) - **Community:** CloudMakers bulletin board at bb.cloudmakers.eu [Mac App Store →](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/indigo-a1/id1617125771?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) [CloudMakers →](https://www.cloudmakers.eu/?ref=macobservatory.com) [Community Forum →](https://bb.cloudmakers.eu/?ref=macobservatory.com) **INDIGO A1** is a free download from the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/indigo-a1/id1617125771?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) with three in-app module purchases at $24.99 each and a free 14-day trial of all features. It requires macOS 13.0 or later. The companion **INDIGO Astrometry** plate solving app is a free download from [cloudmakers.eu](https://www.cloudmakers.eu/?ref=macobservatory.com). For community support, the CloudMakers bulletin board at [bb.cloudmakers.eu](https://bb.cloudmakers.eu/?ref=macobservatory.com) is the primary resource. *Mac Observatory is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.* Mac Observatory — Your Mac Can Run the Whole Show Explore every astronomy and astrophotography app available on macOS — from capture to processing to planning. [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) [More Software Deep Dives →](https://macobservatory.com/articles/) ### PixInsight on the Mac: The Definitive Deep Dive URL: https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-on-the-mac-the-definitive-deep-dive/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T21:17:23.000Z ## The most powerful astrophotography processing tool ever built asks you to think like a scientist — not a photographer. Here's what Mac users need to know. Editorial Update · May 12, 2026 When this article published in April 2026, PixInsight ran on macOS only under Rosetta 2\. That changed on May 12, 2026\. Pleiades Astrophoto released **PixInsight 1.9.4 Lockhart**, the first native macOS ARM64 build of the platform. I tested it on my Mac Studio M3 Ultra. CPU benchmark score nearly doubled. [Read the full update with benchmark comparison →](https://macobservatory.com/pixinsight-1-9-4-native-apple-silicon/) The Short Answer **PixInsight** is a €300 one-time-purchase astrophotography processing platform from Pleiades Astrophoto that treats images as scientific data rather than photographs. It runs on macOS under **Rosetta 2** on Apple Silicon — no native ARM build yet — but RC Astro's AI plugins (BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, StarXTerminator) automatically leverage **Apple's CoreML** for GPU acceleration, giving Mac users a genuine advantage over Windows for AI-powered processing. A full-featured **45-day trial** is available with no watermarks or limitations. For Mac users who want native Apple Silicon alternatives, [Astro Pixel Processor, Siril, and Seti Astro Suite](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) cover significant ground — we compare all three paths below. Every astrophotographer eventually hears the same advice: "You should try PixInsight." It usually comes from someone whose images have taken a visible leap in quality — sharper detail, cleaner gradients, richer color. And it usually comes with a caveat: "The learning curve is brutal, but it's worth it." That tension defines PixInsight. Developed by Pleiades Astrophoto — a small, opinionated team in Spain — PixInsight is the undisputed heavyweight of astronomical image processing. It treats your images not as pictures to be tweaked, but as scientific data to be analyzed. That philosophical difference is both its greatest strength and the reason it sends visual-first editors running back to Photoshop within an hour of installing it. For Mac users, there's an additional wrinkle. PixInsight runs on macOS, but it's still compiled for Intel x86 and operates under Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon. It works — and works surprisingly well — but the lack of a native ARM build is a conspicuous gap for an application that demands every ounce of your hardware. So what does the PixInsight experience actually look like on a Mac in 2025, and is the investment of time and money justified? ## Built by Astrophotographers, for a Different Kind of Astrophotographer PixInsight isn't just another image editor with some astronomy features bolted on. It was designed from the ground up as a modular, object-oriented processing platform where every operation is a discrete, repeatable process. This is a fundamentally different approach than the layer-based, visual-feedback workflows of Photoshop or Affinity Photo. In PixInsight, you don't paint a mask with a brush — you generate one mathematically based on the luminance profile of your data. You don't eyeball a stretch — you apply a precisely parameterized transfer function to the pixel values. The software operates on what astrophotographers call "linear data" — image data where pixel brightness is directly proportional to the number of photons captured. Most image editors immediately apply a non-linear stretch to make images viewable, which destroys information in the process. PixInsight is designed to keep your data linear through the critical early processing steps — calibration, registration, integration, deconvolution, noise reduction — and only stretch to a viewable state when you're ready. This preserves signal integrity in ways that traditional editors simply cannot match. PixInsight saves files in its own XISF (Extensible Image Serialization Format) by default, which stores processing history and metadata alongside pixel data. It also handles FITS, TIFF, PNG, and most common formats. The scripting engine — based on JavaScript, though running on an engine that dates to roughly 2014 — enables community-developed tools that extend the platform's capabilities enormously. That extensibility is arguably PixInsight's secret weapon. The license costs €300 (approximately $323 USD) as a one-time purchase with lifetime updates for the current major version. There's no subscription. A generous 45-day trial gives you the full application with no watermarks or disabled features. You can run the license on multiple machines across all three supported platforms. PixInsight — €300 (\~$323) - **Type:** Advanced modular image processing platform for astrophotography - **Platform:** macOS (Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon), Linux, Windows - **License:** One-time purchase, lifetime updates for current major version - **Trial:** 45-day free trial — full application, no watermarks, no disabled features - **Multi-machine:** License works across all platforms and multiple machines [PixInsight.com →](https://pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) [Request Trial →](https://pixinsight.com/trial/?ref=macobservatory.com) ## The Learning Curve: A Mathematician's Dream, A Photographer's Puzzle The most common criticism of PixInsight — and it's voiced by fans and critics alike — is that it was clearly built by scientists and engineers rather than designers. The interface uses terminology like "MultiscaleMedianTransform" and "DynamicBackgroundExtraction" where a visual editor might say "Smooth" and "Remove Gradient." Process windows present dozens of numerical parameters with no visual preview of what changing them will do. The official documentation reads like an academic paper, complete with mathematical notation that would be right at home in a graduate-level signal processing textbook. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/pixinsight_m81_galaxy_image_processing-format-original.webp) Why PixInsight Intimidates — and Why It Shouldn't The Barriers - **Math-First Interface** — Process names like "MultiscaleMedianTransform" assume you think in signal processing terms - **Documentation Gap** — Reference docs read like academic papers, not user guides - **Developer-First UI** — Process windows with dozens of numerical parameters, no visual preview for most operations The Reality - **Defaults Actually Work** — Most processes produce excellent results without tweaking parameters - **Community Solves It** — YouTube tutorials, WBPP automation, and friendlier third-party scripts - **You Don't Need the Math** — "You could spend a lifetime mastering PixInsight's intricacies, but you certainly don't need to." This isn't accidental. The Pleiades team has been explicit that PixInsight is built on mathematical rigor, and they view the data-driven approach as a feature, not a limitation. Their FAQ addresses the comparison to layer-based editors directly, essentially arguing that traditional approaches impose restrictions that users internalize as normal when they're actually degrading results. There's truth to that argument, but it doesn't change the reality that most people who process astrophotography images come from a photography or visual arts background — not mathematics. The disconnect between how most people think about image editing (visual feedback, intuitive tools, undo-and-try-again) and how PixInsight asks you to work (parameterized processes, data analysis, methodical sequences) is the primary barrier to adoption. The good news is that the community has largely solved this problem through education and automation. The built-in Weighted Batch PreProcessing (WBPP) script handles the entire calibration-to-integration pipeline with sensible defaults. Third-party scripts like the EZ Processing Suite, AutoIntegrate, and Seti Astro's tools wrap complex operations in friendlier interfaces. YouTube channels from Adam Block, Nico Carver, and others provide step-by-step visual walkthroughs. And critically, many processes produce excellent results with their default settings — you don't need to understand the math to use them effectively. ## The Plugin Ecosystem That Changed Everything If you'd asked experienced PixInsight users five years ago what made the software indispensable, they'd have talked about built-in processes like DynamicBackgroundExtraction and Deconvolution. Ask today, and the answer has shifted dramatically toward third-party tools — particularly the AI-powered plugins from Russell Croman's RC Astro. **The RC Astro XTerminator Suite** represents a generational leap in astrophotography processing. BlurXTerminator uses AI-trained neural networks for deconvolution — sharpening images while correcting optical aberrations like coma, chromatic aberration, and tracking errors — without the dark halos that plague traditional deconvolution algorithms. NoiseXTerminator applies AI noise reduction that preserves fine detail and color integrity in ways that conventional wavelet-based approaches struggle to match. StarXTerminator cleanly separates stars from nebulosity for independent processing. Each plugin costs around $60, and most serious PixInsight users consider them essential. Russell Croman received the Photographic Society of America's 2024 Progress in Photography award for this work — the field's most distinguished honor. Essential PixInsight Plugins & Scripts - **BlurXTerminator AI · \~$60** — AI deconvolution that corrects coma, tracking errors, and chromatic aberration. CoreML GPU acceleration on Apple Silicon - **NoiseXTerminator AI · \~$60** — AI noise reduction with frequency separation. CoreML acceleration on Mac - **StarXTerminator AI · \~$60** — AI star removal for clean starless images. Cleaner than StarNet++ with fewer artifacts - **Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch · FREE** — The community's preferred stretching tool with real-time preview. Now a full process module - **Seti Astro Scripts & Suite · FREE** — Statistical Stretch, Cosmic Clarity, Star Stretch, NB-to-RGB, and more. Also available as a standalone Mac app - **NormalizeScaleGradient · FREE** — Normalizes brightness and corrects gradients across subframes. Essential for varying conditions **Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch (GHS)** is a free tool that has become the preferred stretching method for many imagers. It provides precise control over the non-linear stretch with real-time preview, replacing the older HistogramTransformation and CurvesTransformation for many users. GHS recently graduated from a script to a full process module, indicating its importance to the community. **NormalizeScaleGradient (NSG)** and **PhotometricMosaic** by John Murphy solve two perennial problems — normalizing brightness and gradients across subframes (critical for images shot under varying conditions or with moonlight), and seamlessly blending mosaic panels. NSG has been praised as transformative for users in light-polluted locations. **Seti Astro's script collection** — developed by Franklin Marek — has become a favorite for its practical, well-designed tools: Statistical Stretch, Star Stretch, Cosmic Clarity (AI sharpen/denoise), Continuum Subtract, and "What's In My Image" among many others. These scripts are available both within PixInsight's repository system and as a standalone Mac application — a detail worth highlighting for Mac users who might want to try these capabilities without committing to a full PixInsight license. **WBPP (Weighted Batch PreProcessing)** deserves special mention as the built-in workhorse. It handles the entire pipeline from raw frames through calibrated, registered, integrated master images. For many users, WBPP is where 80% of the actual computational work happens. ## The Mac Reality: Rosetta, CoreML, and the Silicon Question Here's the uncomfortable truth: PixInsight is not compiled natively for Apple Silicon. It runs under Rosetta 2's x86 translation layer on M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs. The Pleiades team has been focused on x86-specific optimizations — AVX instructions, FFT convolutions, redesigned astrometry engines — and the outdated JavaScript engine (the foundation of PI's entire scripting system) has been cited as a major blocker for an ARM port. Community discussion on Cloudy Nights in late 2024 noted that the PI team's version 1.9 announcements referenced macOS without confirming native Apple Silicon support. This is frustrating, but context matters. Rosetta 2 is remarkably efficient, and PixInsight's performance on high-end Apple Silicon machines is genuinely good. An M4 Max MacBook Pro with 128GB RAM benchmarks impressively for WBPP workflows, and the RC Astro tools actually have a Mac-specific advantage: on macOS, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, and StarXTerminator automatically leverage Apple's CoreML framework for GPU acceleration. No additional setup is required — the Neural Engine on Apple Silicon chips provides particularly fast inference for these AI models. Windows users, by contrast, need to configure CUDA and TensorFlow libraries manually. PixInsight is hungry for RAM and fast storage. The developers recommend 64-128GB for production work, which positions Mac Studio and MacBook Pro configurations with maxed-out unified memory as natural fits — if you can stomach Apple's RAM pricing. Fast NVMe storage is critical; benchmarks show significant performance differences between internal SSDs, external Thunderbolt drives, and network-attached storage. For Mac users, the takeaway is clear: invest in the fastest storage you can afford, and consider a Thunderbolt 5 SSD if your internal drive is limited. PixInsight: Mac vs. Windows Experience Mac Experience - CoreML GPU auto-acceleration for AI plugins - Neural Engine for fast AI inference - Unified memory architecture - APFS = zero fragmentation - Rosetta 2 translation layer (not native ARM) - No native Apple Silicon build yet - Expensive RAM upgrades "Strong performance despite Rosetta overhead. RC Astro AI tools run particularly fast via CoreML." Windows Experience - Native x86-64 execution - Full AVX instruction support - CUDA GPU acceleration - Affordable high-RAM configs - Manual TensorFlow setup for AI tools - NTFS fragmentation concerns "The reference experience — native execution with all optimizations available." The PI team officially recommends Linux as the reference platform for maximum performance. That's worth knowing, but for Mac-centric workflows, the practical difference is modest for most processing tasks. Where it matters most is in heavily multithreaded operations like integration, where native ARM code could potentially unlock additional performance from the efficiency cores. ## What the Community Says The PixInsight community is passionate, occasionally frustrating, and remarkably generous. The official forum is active and the developers participate directly. Cloudy Nights, AstroBin, and Stargazers Lounge all have thriving PI-focused discussion. The ecosystem of free tutorials — on YouTube, personal blogs, and dedicated instruction sites like Adam Block Studios and Masters of PixInsight — is extensive. One pattern emerges clearly from forum discussions: users who invest the time to learn PixInsight rarely go back. The "aha moment" — when the data-driven approach clicks and you start seeing your images as datasets to be optimized rather than pictures to be prettied up — is consistently described as transformative. But not everyone gets there, and that's completely fine. The astronomy community's processing tools have never been more diverse or more capable. Partner Agena AstroProducts Telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories from the brands that matter. ZWO · Celestron · Sky-Watcher · Explore Scientific · William Optics [Shop Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Mac Observatory earns a commission [ ![Agena AstroProducts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/agena-astro-banner.webp) ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) From the forums and community What you'll hear about PixInsight > "PixInsight is the state of the art, it is a full on scientific tool that is not for everyone. The depth is staggering — quite often default settings do the trick, but the details are there if you're so inclined." > > — AstroBin Forum > "The reference documentation is intimidating to say the least — aimed more at those that want detailed technical information than casual users." > > — Urban Astrophotography > "In terms of value, PI delivers more for the money than any other product I've purchased in 20 years of astrophotography." > > — Cloudy Nights > "I really like the data-driven approach. It encourages me to think critically about the quality of my data and how far I can push it." > > — Urban Astrophotography ## On-Ramps and Alternatives: You Don't Have to Start Here PixInsight doesn't have to be the first — or only — processing tool in your workflow. Several alternatives on Mac can handle significant portions of the pipeline, and many experienced imagers deliberately split their work across multiple applications. [**Astro Pixel Processor**](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) is the most direct alternative for pre-processing and stacking, and it's actually ahead of PixInsight in one crucial area: it ships with a dedicated Apple Silicon installer, compiled natively for M-series chips. APP's tab-based workflow is dramatically more approachable than PixInsight's interface, and its mosaic stitching is considered among the best available. At $60/year or $165 for a perpetual license, it's also significantly less expensive. APP won't replace PI's full post-processing depth, but for calibration, stacking, and gradient removal, it's excellent on the Mac. [**Siril**](https://siril.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) is free, open-source, and increasingly capable. It handles deep sky stacking and calibration with a high degree of automation, and its scripting system enables repeatable workflows. For Mac users on a budget, Siril plus a visual editor like Affinity Photo covers an enormous amount of ground. [**Seti Astro Suite**](https://www.yourskiesastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) deserves special attention as a standalone Mac application. It brings several PixInsight-class capabilities — statistical stretch, AI denoise/sharpen (Cosmic Clarity), star removal, gradient correction, narrowband combination — to Mac users outside the PixInsight ecosystem. It's free, actively developed, and fills specific gaps that other tools miss. [**GraXpert**](https://www.graxpert.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) handles AI-powered gradient removal as a standalone application — one less reason to need PixInsight for that specific task. For planetary imagers, the workflow is different entirely — tools like [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) for stacking and sharpening, or [Siril](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) for wavelet processing, cover the planetary pipeline without touching PixInsight. Try Before You Buy PixInsight's 45-day trial is the full application — no watermarks, no disabled features, no file size limits. The trial requires a manual approval process (they verify you're a real person), so request it before you're ready to sit down and learn. Pair it with a beginner tutorial from Adam Block or Nico Carver, and you'll have a solid foundation well within the trial window. Three Paths to a Finished Image Entry Level The Free Stack \~$0 All free except Affinity Photo ($75 one-time). Every tool runs natively on Apple Silicon. Best for newcomers learning the process before investing in PixInsight. Siril → GraXpert → Seti Astro Suite → Affinity Photo Intermediate Apple Silicon Native \~$240 Every tool runs natively on Apple Silicon — no Rosetta 2\. APP's tab-based workflow is dramatically friendlier than PI. Best for Mac users who want excellent results with a gentler curve. Astro Pixel Processor → Seti Astro Suite → Affinity Photo Advanced Full PixInsight \~$500+ The full pipeline: PI handles everything from raw frames through color calibration, deconvolution, noise reduction, and stretching. Many imagers still export to Photoshop or Affinity for final creative adjustments. WBPP → BlurX + NoiseX → GHS + StarX → Photoshop / Affinity ## Who PixInsight Is For PixInsight is for the astrophotographer who wants maximum control over their data and is willing to invest real time learning a fundamentally different way of thinking about image processing. It rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to understand *why* an operation works, not just how to apply it. It's probably not the right starting point for someone new to astrophotography who just wants to stack and stretch their first set of light frames. There are faster paths to a satisfying image. But it may well be where you end up once you've hit the ceiling of friendlier tools and want to push your data further. The Mac experience is good — not perfect, but good. The Rosetta 2 situation is a legitimate frustration, and the PI team's pace on Apple Silicon support has tested the patience of the Mac community. But the actual processing performance is strong, the RC Astro plugins benefit from CoreML, and the 45-day trial costs nothing but time. If you're curious, clear a weekend and give it an honest shot. You might fall in love with it. You might not. Either way, you'll understand why the community talks about it the way they do. Mac Observatory — Astrophotography from the Mac Perspective The most comprehensive resource for Mac-compatible astronomy software, hardware guides, and community perspective. [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/) [More Deep Dives →](https://macobservatory.com/articles/) ### Getting Started with Astrophotography on the Mac (2025–2026) URL: https://macobservatory.com/getting-started-with-astrophotography-on-the-mac-20252026/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:45.000Z Astrophotography on macOS has come a long way since the early days of “figure it out yourself.” In 2025, you can do serious deep-sky imaging on a Mac with modern capture, guiding, plate-solving, and processing tools—and (finally) planetary imaging has a much better Mac-native path for stacking and sharpening. Before we talk software, we need to cover one important fork in the road: You must decide whether you want to photograph: - **The Moon and planets** (planetary imaging) **OR** - **Nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies** (deep-sky / “DSO” imaging) These aren’t mutually exclusive—you can do both—but the gear, capture style, and software workflow are different enough that beginners tend to have a better time picking one to start with. If you’re just getting into the hobby, I also recommend reading my “[5 things to consider if you’re interested in astrophotography](https://macobservatory.com/5-things-to-consider-if-youre-interested-in-astrophotography/)” article. ## Recommendations for your start in imaging on the Mac Here’s the simplest way to understand the difference: **PLANETARY** \= “high speed video” - Short exposures - High frame rate video (hundreds/thousands of frames) - You keep the sharpest frames and stack them (“lucky imaging”) **DEEP SKY (DSO)** \= “long exposure photography” - Longer exposures (seconds to minutes) - Accurate tracking is critical - You stack many exposures (plus calibration frames), then process If you’re not sure which one you want yet, use this quick guide: - If your telescope is a big Dobsonian or SCT and you love Jupiter/Saturn/Moon detail: start with PLANETARY. - If you want colorful nebulae and galaxies: start with DEEP SKY, and expect the mount to matter more than the telescope. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/illustration-planetary-image-format-original.webp) ## Planetary imaging on the Mac Planetary is fairly straightforward to start. Large aperture telescopes (6" and above) are great for planets, and you don’t need an equatorial mount to begin—an Alt/Az mount works fine because your exposures are extremely short. Your entry-level add-ons are a high-speed camera (or fast webcam-style astro camera) and a Mac laptop. Since the planets are relatively small, the larger the scope and the longer the focal length, the more detail you can capture. The “secret sauce” is not long exposures—it’s collecting lots of frames and stacking the best ones. ### Recommended starting software for planetary imaging (Mac) **CAPTURE** (record video / SER) - [oaCapture](https://www.openastroproject.org/tag/oacapture/?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — simple, cross-platform, works well for planetary capture - [ZWO ASIStudio / ASICap](https://www.zwoastro.com/software/?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — very convenient if you use ZWO cameras - [FireCapture](https://www.firecapture.de/?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — more advanced capture controls once you’re ready - [AstroaDMx Capture](https://www.astrodmx-capture.org.uk/?ref=macobservatory.com) (paid/free tiers depending on platform) — another solid Mac-capable capture option **STACKING + SHARPENING** (this used to be the Mac “gap”… not anymore) - [Planet Stacker X ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/planet-stacker-x/id6745387074?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com)(free, macOS-native) — modern, easy, and purpose-built for stacking + wavelet sharpening on a Mac - [PlanetarySystemStacker](https://github.com/Rolf-Hempel/PlanetarySystemStacker?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — excellent results; now much easier on macOS thanks to a [launcher-style installer](https://github.com/nickkohrn/PlanetarySystemStackerLauncher?ref=macobservatory.com) (This is the closest equivalent to Autostakkert on the PC.) - [Siril](https://siril.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — can stack planetary too, and it’s a great “one tool” option if you’re also learning deep-sky later **POST-PROCESSING** (optional, but helpful) - [LuckyStackWorker](https://github.com/wkasteleijn/luckystackworker?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — fast, practical sharpening/denoise workflow after you’ve stacked ### A simple planetary workflow that works 1. Capture a short video of the planet (often 1–3 minutes depending on the target) 2. Stack the best frames (Planet Stacker X / PSS / Siril) 3. Sharpen carefully (Planet Stacker X wavelets and/or LuckyStackWorker) 4. Final color/contrast tweaks *Note:* In the past, Mac users had to lean heavily on PixInsight as the only “serious” way to recover fine detail on planets. These days, Planet Stacker X and LuckyStackWorker finally give Mac users a more direct, modern planetary path. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/illustration-deep-sky-copy-format-original.webp) ## Deep sky object imaging on the Mac DSO imaging requires more effort because you’re taking longer exposures. That means tracking your target across the sky accurately becomes a requirement, and for most beginners that points to a German Equatorial Mount (GEM) (or a modern harmonic EQ mount). Deep-sky objects also vary greatly in size—many are larger than the Moon in the sky. Because of this, a giant telescope is NOT the best way to start. In fact, it’s preferable to begin with a small refractor (often around 60–80mm), because: - it’s lighter and easier for the mount to track - it’s less sensitive to wind and vibration - it’s more forgiving of small guiding/tracking errors As your focal length goes up, the difficulty (and cost) increases fast. Starting small is the difference between “this is fun” and “why is nothing working?” Additional requirements for deep-sky - A main imaging camera (DSLR you already own OR a dedicated astro camera) - Guiding camera + guide scope (or an off-axis guider) Guiding watches a star and sends tiny corrections to your mount so your long exposures stay sharp. With entry-level mounts, this is often the difference between keepers and frustration. ### Recommended starting software for deep sky imaging (Mac) **CAPTURE + CONTROL** (running your imaging session) Choose one “control center”: - [AstroImager](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/astroimager/id955334110?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) (paid) — Mac-native capture and sequencing (great if you want a very Mac-first experience) - [AstroDSLR](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/astrodslr/id1111955128?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) (paid) — if you’re capturing with a DSLR - KStars + Ekos (free) — a powerful, full-featured imaging suite on Mac (capture, plate solving, sequencing, focusing tools, etc.) - [INDIGO A1](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/indigo-a1/id1617125771?platform=mac&ref=macobservatory.com) (free ecosystem + paid apps) — a very Mac-centric device/control ecosystem (server at the scope, control from your Mac, or do it all from the Mac) - [ASIAIR app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/asiair/id1367782034?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — if you’re in the ASIAIR ecosystem, this is an easy path from a Mac (Apple Silicon Macs support the Mac app) **GUIDING** - [PHD2](https://openphdguiding.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — the standard guiding software, available for macOS **STACKING + PROCESSING** (turning frames into a finished image) Pick a processing “home base”: - [Siril](https://www.siril.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — excellent calibration/stacking and a strong learning-friendly processing path - [Astro Pixel Processor](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) (paid) — very approachable end-to-end workflow for stacking and processing - [PixInsight](http://pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) (paid) — the deep end of the pool (powerful, but more learning curve) - [StarTools](http://www.startools.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) (paid) — a very different (and often beginner-friendly) processing philosophy once it clicks Two very common “add-ons” in modern workflows - [GraXpert](https://www.graxpert.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) (free) — gradient removal (light pollution, uneven background, vignetting) - A careful [AI-assisted](https://www.rc-astro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) step (optional) — many imagers use star removal and denoise tools, but the best results come from restraint ### A simple deep-sky workflow that works 1. Polar align (or equivalent alignment workflow) 2. Plate solve / frame your target 3. Capture a sequence (with dithering if you’re guiding) 4. Calibrate + stack (dark/flat/bias as needed) 5. Process (background/gradients → stretch → color → detail/noise control) If you’re new to deep-sky, your biggest “aha” moments usually come from learning: - calibration frames (darks/flats/bias) - dithering (reduces pattern noise and makes stacking cleaner) - plate solving (centering targets becomes easy) Glossary (quick and beginner-friendly) - Stacking: combining many frames to reduce noise and improve detail - Guiding: a second camera helps correct tracking errors during long exposures - Dithering: tiny shifts between exposures to reduce fixed pattern noise - Plate solving: software figures out exactly where your telescope is pointed by matching star patterns **Where to go next** If you’re brand new, I recommend starting with one of these: - Planetary: Planet Stacker X + LuckyStackWorker (simple, modern Mac workflow) - Deep sky: KStars/Ekos or AstroImager + PHD2 + Siril (a strong Mac-first foundation) I’ll continue to keep this guide updated as Mac software evolves. You can also view the [full list of available Mac software here.](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) **Support Mac Observatory** If you’d like to support Mac Observatory, please consider purchasing your astronomy gear through [Agena Astro using my links on the site](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps fund future Mac Observatory articles and reviews. ### Space Station Passes: A Free, Ad-Free Way to Track Satellites URL: https://macobservatory.com/space-station-passes-a-free-ad-free-way-to-track-satellites/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:11.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2025-09-02_at_8-30-39_am-format-original.webp) There’s something magical about watching the International Space Station glide silently across the night sky. For many of us, those passes are a reminder of humanity’s constant presence in orbit and our curiosity to explore beyond Earth. Until now, keeping track of when and where to look has often required a patchwork of websites and apps. That’s where **Space Station Passes**, a free iOS app developed by Sihao Lu, comes in. The first thing you’ll notice is its simplicity: no ads, no subscriptions, no hidden fees. Just a clean, straightforward tool built to do one thing well—help you know when and where to look for satellites. And it’s not just the ISS. *Space Station Passes* includes predictions for China’s **Tiangong space station** and over **4,000 other satellites**, making it one of the broadest free resources available to skywatchers. Once you install the app and allow location access, you’re greeted with a list of upcoming visible passes for your area. Each entry includes details like the satellite’s brightness, direction of travel, and duration of visibility. What makes this especially approachable is the **interactive sky chart**, which shows the satellite’s exact path across the constellations. Instead of translating altitude and azimuth numbers, you simply see a trail through the stars—making it easy for beginners and seasoned observers alike to know where to look. For those of us who prefer to plan ahead, the app allows you to set **custom notifications**. You can get an alert minutes before a satellite becomes visible, so you’ll never miss a chance to step outside and catch the flyover. If you’re already out under the stars, the **night mode** option dims the display into a red-tinted interface that preserves your dark adaptation. And for the more adventurous, there’s an **experimental realtime sky feature** that overlays satellites currently above your horizon, offering a live view of what’s happening overhead. Another nice touch is that *Space Station Passes* runs on Apple’s broader ecosystem—supporting not just iPhone and iPad, but also Apple Silicon Macs and even visionOS devices. That means whether you’re sitting at your desk, holding your phone in the backyard, or strapping on a headset, you’ll have access to the same smooth interface and satellite tracking tools. What stands out most about *Space Station Passes* is how accessible it makes satellite watching. By combining accurate predictions with intuitive visuals and timely reminders, it lowers the barrier for anyone who wants to share the wonder of spotting the ISS or Tiangong overhead. And because it’s entirely free, it’s an easy addition to every stargazer’s toolkit. If you’ve ever wanted a simple way to know when to look up, *Space Station Passes* is well worth downloading. It’s a polished, thoughtful app that puts the excitement of satellite tracking into everyone’s hands—no ads, no distractions, just the sky. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2025-09-02_at_8-30-48_am-format-original.webp) ### Planet Stacker X: A macOS-Native Planetary Imaging Tool from Rain City Astro URL: https://macobservatory.com/planet-stacker-x-macos-planetary-imaging/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T15:59:49.000Z One of the long-standing frustrations for Mac-based astrophotographers has been the lack of native, high-quality stacking software tailored for planetary imaging. While Windows users enjoy a buffet of options like AutoStakkert! and RegiStax, macOS users have often found themselves patching together workflows or running software in virtual environments. That’s where Rain City Astro steps in—with a laser focus on fixing this problem. ## **A New Player in Mac Astrophotography** Rain City Astro is a fresh entrant in the astrophotography software scene, and they’re clearly building with intent. Their first release, Planet Stacker X, is a purpose-built macOS application that brings high-speed planetary stacking and image enhancement into a native, intuitive interface. And the best part? It’s completely free. ## **What Planet Stacker X Does** At its core, Planet Stacker X is designed around Lucky Imaging, the technique of capturing hundreds or thousands of video frames of a planet, then selecting and stacking the sharpest ones to overcome atmospheric turbulence. Here’s what sets it apart: ### **Image Processing Tools That Matter** - **Wavelet Sharpening (Gaussian & Starlet)**: Brings out fine planetary detail without blowing out contrast. - **Wavelet Denoising:** A welcome tool for noise reduction that preserves sharpness. - **Atmospheric & Optical Deconvolution:** Helps correct distortions caused by seeing and telescope imperfections. - **RGB Shift & Balance:** Lets you dial in accurate color registration—especially handy for one-shot color planetary cams. - **Exposure, Saturation, Tone Curves:** Everything you’d expect for a finishing pass, right within the app. ### **Flexible Stacking Workflow** - **Supports SER and RAW AVI formats:** The staples of planetary video capture. - **Auto & Manual Frame Selection:** Gives you full control or lets the software decide. - **Live Alignment Preview:** A standout feature—watch the stacking alignment in real time. - **Batch Processing:** Perfect for nights when you capture a whole family of planets and don’t want to babysit the stack. ### **Performance and Limitations** I’ve put Planet Stacker X through its paces on a few lunar and Jupiter sessions using SER video from an ASI224MC. Setup was painless—just drag and drop the files, preview alignment, and process. The interface feels polished, with GPU acceleration making previewing and adjustments smooth on Apple Silicon. However, this is strictly a planetary imaging tool. Don’t expect deep-sky registration or star field alignment. This isn’t PixInsight—it’s more like AutoStakkert! with a macOS soul. One potential caveat: It’s macOS only—no cross-platform plans announced so far. That’s fine for Mac users (finally, something just for us!), but it won’t help if you work in a mixed-OS environment. ## **Final Thoughts** Planet Stacker X is a gift to the macOS astrophotography community. It fills a glaring hole with elegance and purpose. While seasoned planetary imagers might still prefer ultra-granular control from Windows-native tools, Planet Stacker X brings 90% of the capability with none of the OS headaches. If you’re shooting planets on a Mac and haven’t tried it yet, head over to [Rain City Astro’s website](https://raincityastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) and download it today. It’s fast, intuitive, and surprisingly powerful for a 1.0 release. The wider picture Planetary Capture and Processing on the Mac Every option below runs on macOS. The requirements vary more than anything else, so check that line first. Capture [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software/) Mac App Store · macOS 15 or later, Apple Silicon Direct SDK support for ZWO ASI, PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek and its OEM brands, and SVBONY, with generic UVC webcams and iPhone Continuity Camera. Records SER with strict drop accounting, live frame-quality and focus tracking, and disk-speed guidance. Capture only: processing happens elsewhere. [oaCapture](https://www.openastroproject.org/oacapture/?ref=macobservatory.com) Free, GPL-3.0 · macOS and Linux The widest camera coverage of anything here: ZWO ASI, Imaging Source USB, firewire, some QHY, most Celestron, Point Grey, and some Starlight Xpress and Touptek models. Its sibling oalive adds live stacking and DSLR support. Built on Qt 4, and v1.8.0 remains the newest tagged release, so confirm it launches on your macOS version before planning a night around it. Processing [Eise.app](https://eise.app/?ref=macobservatory.com) Free, open source · Any modern browser Runs entirely on your own machine through WebAssembly and WebGPU, so nothing is uploaded. Takes SER, AVI, or other video via FFmpeg.js. Alignment points, a surface mode for lunar and solar closeups, and drizzle at 1.5x. Nothing to install, which makes it the fastest way to try lucky imaging at all. [Lynkeos](https://lynkeos.sourceforge.io/?ref=macobservatory.com) Free, GPL-2.0 · macOS 10.13 or later, Intel and Apple Silicon The long-runner, in development since 2008 and still shipping: v3.10 arrived in November 2025\. Handles planetary and deep-sky, with a plugin architecture, wavelet and Lucy-Richardson filters, and SER import and export. Reaches further back down the macOS versions than anything else listed. [Planet Stacker X](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/planet-stacker-x/id6745387074?ref=macobservatory.com) Free, Mac App Store · macOS 26 or later Stacking and sharpening in one direct pass: load, pick frames, stack, finish. Wavelet sharpening and denoising, atmospheric and optical deconvolution, RGB shift and balance, drizzle, and batch processing. The steepest OS requirement on this list, and the shortest path from capture to finished image. [Planetary System Stacker](https://github.com/Rolf-Hempel/PlanetarySystemStacker?ref=macobservatory.com) Free, GPL-3.0 · Python 3 with a Qt5 interface Rolf Hempel's stacker, usable from the interface or the command line, with alignment points and local de-warping. Strong results, but the Python dependencies are the friction on macOS: the project pins an old Python range, and a third-party launcher exists to automate the setup. [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/) Mac App Store · macOS 14.6 or later, Apple Silicon optimized, Intel supported A guided seven-phase pipeline: import, analyze, stack, derotate, sharpen, color, export. Adds derotation for combining captures taken minutes apart, drizzle at 1.5x, 2x, and 3x, and profiles that record a whole process and replay it across a batch. Built for long sessions rather than for finishing in three clicks. Laminar and Strata are Mac Observatory's own apps. Windows-only tools such as AutoStakkert, RegiStax, and AstroSurface are left out here; see the [Mac Software Directory](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) for the full catalogue. ### LuckyStackWorker: The Best Free Mac Software for Sharpening Planetary, Lunar, and Solar Astrophotography Images URL: https://macobservatory.com/luckystackworker-mac-planetary-software/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T00:00:11.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/post-398863-0-12234400-1726247733_thumb-format-original.webp) **LuckyStackWorker** is a powerful and free post-processing application designed specifically for planetary, lunar, and solar astrophotography. Available for **macOS, Windows, and Linux**, this open-source software streamlines the sharpening and denoising of stacked images, offering an efficient, automated workflow for astrophotographers. With features like **batch processing, object recognition, adaptive sharpening, and advanced noise reduction**, LuckyStackWorker eliminates the need for expensive photo editing tools while delivering high-quality results. Whether you’re refining your latest Jupiter capture or enhancing detailed views of the Sun, this tool simplifies the post-processing stage, allowing you to focus on the beauty of the cosmos. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2025-02-25_at_9-22-32_pm-format-original.webp) Here’s a list of **LuckyStackWorker’s** features: **1\. Automated Batch Processing** - Processes multiple image stacks in one session, applying **consistent sharpening and denoising settings** across all images. - Speeds up workflow by automating post-processing immediately after stacking. **2\. Object Recognition & Profile Management** - Recognizes celestial objects based on **file names** (e.g., Jupiter, Mars, the Moon, or the Sun). - Remembers **previous settings per object**, eliminating the need for manual adjustments each time. **3\. Adaptive Sharpening Algorithms** - Uses advanced **unsharp masking and wavelet-based sharpening** to enhance fine details. - Reduces **color noise, ringing, and clipping artifacts** while improving clarity. **4\. Multi-Method Noise Reduction** - Offers multiple denoising algorithms, including: - **Ian’s Noise Reduction** for preserving fine details. - **Savitzky-Golay 2D filtering** for smooth noise reduction. - **Sigma filtering** to selectively reduce graininess. **5\. Real-Time Processing & Live Previews** - Adjusts sharpening and denoising settings with **instant feedback**. - Allows fine-tuning of contrast, brightness, and histograms in real-time. **6\. Histogram & Channel Adjustments** - Displays **histogram analysis** for exposure control. - Enables **individual channel processing** (R, G, B, L) to fine-tune colors in planetary images. **7\. Cropping & Framing Tools** - Offers precision cropping to **focus on the subject** and remove unwanted areas. - Helps reframe images for **better composition** in presentations. **8\. Dark-Mode Optimized Interface** - Reduces eye strain for **nighttime processing** sessions. - Features **intuitive sliders and toggles** for easy control over sharpening and denoising. **9\. Free & Open-Source (MIT License)** - Completely free to use for **personal and commercial astrophotography**. - No reliance on expensive third-party software like Photoshop for essential post-processing. ### Takahashi Epsilon 160D Review: A Modern Evolution in Wide-Field Astrographs URL: https://macobservatory.com/takahashi-epsilon-160d-review/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:12.000Z The [Takahashi Epsilon 160D](https://agenaastro.com/takahashi-e-160-epsilon-astrograph-ota-tek16010.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) is a high-performance astrograph designed specifically for deep-sky imaging with modern digital CMOS cameras. Building upon the legacy of its predecessors, the 160D brings an improved optical system that prioritizes a flat field, sharp stars across large sensors, and a fast focal ratio that enables shorter exposure times. For astrophotographers seeking a compact yet powerful wide-field imaging platform, the Epsilon 160D offers a compelling package. ![ IC 348 shot from Starfront Observatory. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/unknown-format-original.webp) IC 348 shot from Starfront Observatory. ## Optical Design: What Makes the Epsilon 160D Exceptional? The Epsilon 160D employs a modified hyperbolic optical design that sets it apart from traditional Newtonian and Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes. Takahashi has engineered this system to optimize imaging performance, particularly for modern CMOS cameras that demand high resolution and minimal aberrations across a full-frame sensor. Here are the key elements that make this design unique: ### 1\. Hyperbolic Primary Mirror with ED Corrector Lens Unlike standard parabolic reflectors, which require a coma corrector for astrophotography, the hyperbolic mirror in the Epsilon 160D naturally mitigates coma while maintaining a fast f/3.3 focal ratio. This design results in highly corrected, pinpoint stars even at the field edges. To further enhance the optical performance, Takahashi incorporates a two-element corrector lens, one of which is made from ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass. This corrector flattens the field, reduces chromatic aberration, and sharpens the star images across the entire imaging plane, making the telescope highly suitable for large-format sensors. ### 2\. Large, Well-Corrected Imaging Circle A critical feature for astrophotographers using full-frame CMOS cameras is the size and correction of the imaging circle. The Epsilon 160D boasts a fully corrected 44mm image circle, making it ideal for modern sensors like the Sony IMX455 (found in the [QHY600](https://agenaastro.com/qhy-600m-ph-short-bfl-version-cooled-monochrome-astronomy-camera-kit-with-medium-oag-large-2-50mm-filter-wheel.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) and [ZWO ASI6200](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi6200mm-p-cmos-mono-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)). Unlike traditional Newtonians, which exhibit significant off-axis coma and require extensive additional correction, the Epsilon 160D produces sharp stars right to the edge with minimal vignetting. ### 3\. Advanced Light Suppression and Baffling To minimize stray light and improve contrast, Takahashi has refined the light path with internal baffling and an eccentric oblique mirror placement. This reduces internal reflections and suppresses diffraction spikes, ensuring that faint nebulae and galaxy structures remain high in contrast and free from optical artifacts. ![ Set up and testing before sending to its remote home for imaging. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_6723-format-original.webp) Set up and testing before sending to its remote home for imaging. ## Hands-On Experience ### Setup and Build Quality Takahashi telescopes are known for their excellent mechanical construction, and the Epsilon 160D is no exception. The optical tube assembly (OTA) is compact and well-balanced, weighing 6.9 kg (15.2 lbs), making it manageable for most equatorial mounts in the mid-range payload class (e.g., [Sky-Watcher EQ6-R](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-eq6-r-pro-computerized-goto-telescope-mount-s30300.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), [Pegasus Astro NYX-101](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-nyx-101-strain-wave-gear-portable-eq-alt-az-mount.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)). The included low-profile Crayford focuser with a rotary connector system allows for smooth and precise focusing. Unlike rack-and-pinion focusers, which can suffer from backlash, the Crayford system ensures fine control—critical for achieving precise focus at f/3.3\. Some users, however, prefer to upgrade to an electronic focuser like the Pegasus Astro FocusCube for automated focusing during long imaging sessions. Additionally, due to the camera placement near the front light opening, it is highly recommended to use a light shroud or dew shield to prevent unwanted light intrusion and reduce the risk of condensation. This simple addition helps maintain contrast and image quality, particularly in humid or light-polluted environments. ### Collimation and Maintenance Collimation is a vital factor in fast astrographs, and the Epsilon 160D requires careful adjustment for optimal performance. Fortunately, Takahashi has improved the collimation system, incorporating push-pull primary mirror adjustments similar to those found in the Epsilon 180ED. A removable central cover allows for quick cooling and access to the mirror, reducing thermal acclimation time. Initial collimation may require careful tweaking, the system holds alignment well once dialed in. The [Takahashi Collimating Eye Piece](https://takahashiamerica.com/products/takahashi-collimating-eyepiece?ref=macobservatory.com) is highly recommended, as it is specially designed to reflect the crosshairs in the secondary, ensuring perfect collimation. Unlike laser collimators or the standard Takahashi Collimating Scope, this tool provides superior accuracy for this optical design. ### Focusing Performance Many users have reported issues with the stock focuser, citing minor flexure and difficulty maintaining critical focus at f/3.3\. However, by connecting a [ZWO EAF](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-eaf-electronic-automatic-focuser-standard-5v-eaf-std.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) (Electronic Automatic Focuser), I have personally achieved perfect focus runs night after night. The precise and repeatable autofocus capabilities of the ZWO EAF significantly enhance usability, particularly for unattended imaging sessions or temperature-variable environments. ### Performance Analysis: Imaging Results ![ The Angel Nebula, shot at Starfront Remote Observatory. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/angelnebula-format-original.webp) The Angel Nebula, shot at Starfront Remote Observatory. Real-world imaging tests confirm that the Epsilon 160D delivers outstanding astrophotography results. Star sizes across the frame are within 3 microns, which is an incredible level of correction for a telescope in this class. This precision ensures that even in broadband RGB and narrowband imaging, stars remain tight and free from aberrations. The fast f/3.3 focal ratio allows astrophotographers to capture deep-sky objects with shorter exposure times, reducing the total integration time required compared to f/4 or f/5 systems. This means an exposure that takes 10 minutes at f/5 would take about 4 minutes and 20 seconds at f/3.3 to reach the same depth. Making the scope particularly effective for narrowband imaging, where shorter exposures help combat the effects of skyglow and thermal noise. ![ A two-panel mosaic (my first) shot from Starfront Observatory. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/andromeda-format-original.webp) A two-panel mosaic (my first) shot from Starfront Observatory. ### Recommended Accessories To maximize performance, consider the following accessories: - [Astronomik MaxFR](https://www.highpointscientific.com/shop?q=Astronomik+MaxFR+Filter&ref=macobservatory.com) HA, SII, and OIII Narrowband Filters – Optimized for high-speed imaging at f/3.3. - [Astronomik Deep Sky RGB](https://www.highpointscientific.com/shop?q=Astronomik+deep+sky&ref=macobservatory.com) Set – Ideal for capturing vibrant broadband images. - Electronic Focuser ([Pegasus FocusCube](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-focuscube-3-universal-fc3-univ.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) or [ZWO EAF](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-eaf-electronic-automatic-focuser-standard-5v-eaf-std.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)) – Helps maintain critical focus. - [Takahashi Collimating Eye Piece](https://takahashiamerica.com/products/takahashi-collimating-eyepiece?ref=macobservatory.com) – Ensures precise collimation. - Dew Heater System – The corrector lens is prone to dewing in humid conditions. - [Light Shroud/Dew Shield](https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/879186-carbon-fiber-hood-for-takahashi-e-130d-e-160ed/?ref=macobservatory.com#entry12741725) – Prevents unwanted light intrusion and reduces condensation risk. ## Summary & Final Thoughts The Takahashi Epsilon 160D is a top-tier wide-field astrograph that excels in modern astrophotography. Its combination of a hyperbolic mirror, ED corrector lens, and large, well-corrected imaging circle makes it one of the best choices for CMOS-based astrophotographers looking for ultra-sharp stars and a fast, efficient imaging system. While it requires meticulous collimation and precise focusing, its performance outshines many competitors in its class. For those seeking a premium fast astrograph, the Epsilon 160D is an investment worth considering. If you’re interested in purchasing, be sure to visit [Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) to support Mac Observatory’s continued high-quality reviews and articles. ### The Role of AI in Astrophotography Image Processing: Tools and Controversies URL: https://macobservatory.com/ai-astrophotography-image-processing/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:13.000Z Astrophotography has always been a challenging yet rewarding pursuit, requiring skillful image processing to bring out the finest details of celestial objects. Traditionally, tools like Adobe Photoshop, DeepSkyStacker, and PixInsight have been staples in the workflow. However, recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have revolutionized image processing, making it faster, more efficient, and accessible to a broader audience. This article explores the top AI-powered tools, their pros and cons, and the controversies surrounding their use in astrophotography. ## RC Astro Tools (BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, StarXTerminator) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2025-02-08_at_6-19-47_pm-format-original.webp) ### StarXTerminator: AI-Driven Star Removal [StarXTerminator ](https://www.rc-astro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)utilizes deep learning models trained on vast datasets of astronomical images to detect and isolate stars from the background. Unlike traditional methods that required painstaking manual selection and mask refinement, StarXTerminator employs a convolutional neural network (CNN) that differentiates between point sources (stars) and extended structures (nebulae, galaxies, and other deep-sky objects). The model predicts the likelihood of each pixel belonging to a star, generating an optimized mask that allows users to separate stars cleanly without residual halos or artifacts. This AI-assisted masking ensures that nebular structures remain intact while background stars are removed for independent processing. A secondary refinement model reconstructs the background to minimize inconsistencies, maintaining the image’s natural depth and contrast. ### BlurXTerminator: AI-Based Deconvolution and Distortion Correction Atmospheric turbulence, guiding errors, and optical imperfections introduce blur into astrophotographic images. BlurXTerminator addresses these issues using a deep neural network trained on diffraction-limited images and real-world astrophotography datasets. Instead of applying a fixed deconvolution kernel, as seen in traditional sharpening techniques, BlurXTerminator dynamically adapts its corrections based on local image structures. This AI model analyzes image data at multiple scales, identifying where details have been lost due to atmospheric or optical aberrations. By reconstructing high-frequency components in a manner consistent with telescope optics, the plugin restores fine detail without amplifying noise or introducing artificial artifacts. This results in sharper stars and better-defined deep-sky objects without the edge-ringing effects common in classical deconvolution techniques. ### NoiseXTerminator: Intelligent Noise Reduction NoiseXTerminator employs an AI-driven noise reduction framework that differentiates between true signal and random noise, a significant improvement over conventional noise reduction algorithms like Gaussian blurring or wavelet-based smoothing. The AI model has been trained on thousands of astrophotography images captured under various conditions, allowing it to recognize common noise patterns caused by sensor read noise, thermal noise, and low-photon counts in deep-space imaging. Unlike traditional noise reduction tools that rely on smoothing across entire regions, NoiseXTerminator applies selective denoising through a deep learning-based feature extractor. This ensures that fine structures, such as filamentary details in nebulae and faint galaxy arms, remain untouched while suppressing unwanted noise components. The result is a cleaner image with minimal loss of astrophysical data. ## GraXpert AI-Based Background Removal ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2025-02-08_at_6-20-21_pm-format-original.webp) [GraXpert ](https://graxpert.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)is a free, open-source tool designed to remove gradients from astrophotography images. Gradients—unwanted variations in brightness across an image—can result from factors like light pollution, vignetting, or sensor artifacts. Eliminating these gradients is crucial for accurate representation of celestial objects and for simplifying subsequent image processing steps. Traditionally, astrophotographers have used manual methods to address gradients, such as selecting reference points and applying polynomial fitting to model and subtract the unwanted background. This process can be time-consuming and requires a certain level of expertise to avoid affecting the actual astronomical data. GraXpert streamlines this process by employing artificial intelligence to automate gradient detection and removal. The software utilizes machine learning algorithms trained on a diverse set of astrophotography images to identify common gradient patterns. By analyzing the intensity variations across an image, GraXpert’s AI can distinguish between genuine celestial structures and superimposed gradients. Once the gradients are identified, GraXpert applies corrective measures to subtract or divide the gradient component from the original image, resulting in a more uniform background. This automated approach reduces the need for manual intervention, allowing astrophotographers to focus on other aspects of image enhancement. It’s important to note that while GraXpert’s AI-driven gradient removal simplifies the process, users should still review the results to ensure that no essential details have been inadvertently altered. As with any automated tool, a balance between AI assistance and manual oversight is key to achieving the best outcomes in astrophotography image processing. ## PixInsight's StarNet++ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2025-02-08_at_6-20-45_pm-format-original.webp) [StarNet++](https://www.starnetastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)is a powerful tool in astrophotography, designed to remove stars from images, thereby allowing for focused processing of deep-sky objects like nebulae and galaxies. Developed by Nikita Misiura, StarNet++ integrates seamlessly as a plugin within PixInsight, a widely used image processing software in the astrophotography community. **Technical Mechanism of StarNet++** At its core, StarNet++ employs a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) trained specifically to distinguish between stars and other celestial structures. The training process involves exposing the network to a vast dataset of astronomical images, enabling it to learn the unique features that differentiate point sources (stars) from extended objects (nebulae, galaxies) and the background sky. When an image is processed through StarNet++, the CNN analyzes pixel intensities and patterns to identify and isolate stars. The network then generates a star mask, which is a representation of all the detected stars in the image. By subtracting this star mask from the original image, StarNet++ produces a starless version, allowing astrophotographers to enhance faint structures without the interference of stellar components. **Integration with PixInsight** Within PixInsight, StarNet++ functions as a module that can be applied directly to images. To utilize StarNet++, users typically need to install the necessary weight files, which are essential for the neural network’s operation. Once set up, the process involves selecting the target image and executing the StarNet++ module, which then outputs the starless image and, optionally, the star mask. **Applications in Astrophotography** The primary advantage of using StarNet++ is the ability to process deep-sky objects without the overwhelming presence of stars. This is particularly beneficial when applying techniques such as contrast enhancement, color balancing, or noise reduction, as it prevents stars from becoming overexposed or introducing artifacts. After processing the starless image, the original stars can be reintroduced to achieve a balanced and aesthetically pleasing final image. **Considerations and Best Practices** While StarNet++ is a powerful tool, it’s essential to use it judiciously. The effectiveness of the star removal process can vary depending on factors such as image quality, star density, and the presence of bright stars. In some cases, manual touch-ups may be necessary to address residual artifacts or to recover details that the neural network might have misinterpreted. Additionally, it’s advisable to work on non-linear (stretched) images for optimal results, as the neural network is trained primarily on such data. In summary, StarNet++ leverages advanced neural network algorithms to facilitate star removal in astrophotography, providing a streamlined approach to image processing within PixInsight. When applied thoughtfully, it enhances the ability to highlight and refine deep-sky structures, contributing to more detailed and visually striking astronomical images. ## Topaz Labs Photo AI ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2025-02-08_at_6-22-10_pm-format-original.webp) Topaz Photo AI, formerly known as Topaz DeNoise AI, is a software application designed to reduce digital noise in images while preserving detail and enhancing sharpness. In astrophotography, where capturing faint celestial objects often necessitates high ISO settings and long exposures, noise can significantly degrade image quality. Topaz Photo AI addresses this challenge by employing advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to distinguish between genuine image features and unwanted noise. **AI Mechanism in Topaz Photo AI** Topaz Photo AI utilizes deep learning models trained on extensive datasets comprising various photographic scenarios, including low-light and high-ISO conditions. The software’s AI analyzes the input image to identify and separate noise from authentic details. By understanding the underlying structures within the image, the AI can apply targeted noise reduction, ensuring that fine details, such as stars and nebulae, are preserved. The software offers different processing models to cater to varying noise levels and image characteristics. For instance, the “Standard” model provides general noise reduction suitable for most images, while the “Low Light” and “Severe Noise” models are tailored for more challenging conditions. Users can adjust the strength of noise reduction and detail recovery through intuitive sliders, allowing for fine-tuning based on specific image requirements. **Application in Astrophotography** In astrophotography, Topaz Photo AI is particularly effective in smoothing out the background sky, which often exhibits graininess due to high ISO settings. By applying the software’s noise reduction capabilities, astrophotographers can achieve a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing background without compromising the integrity of celestial objects. However, it’s essential to use the sharpening features judiciously, as excessive sharpening can introduce artifacts or unnatural enhancements. Some users have reported that aggressive sharpening settings can lead to the creation of artificial details, which may misrepresent the actual astronomical data. **Considerations and Best Practices** While Topaz Photo AI offers powerful noise reduction capabilities, it’s crucial for astrophotographers to apply the tool carefully to maintain the authenticity of their images. Over-reliance on AI-driven noise reduction and sharpening can result in the loss of subtle details or the introduction of artifacts. It’s advisable to process images with a light touch, gradually applying noise reduction and regularly reviewing the results to ensure that the final image remains true to the original capture. Additionally, users should be aware that Topaz Photo AI’s models are trained on a broad range of images and may not always perfectly align with the unique characteristics of astrophotography data. Therefore, combining AI-driven tools with traditional processing techniques can yield the best results, allowing for both effective noise reduction and the preservation of genuine astronomical details. In summary, Topaz Photo AI serves as a valuable tool in the astrophotographer’s toolkit, offering advanced noise reduction capabilities through sophisticated AI algorithms. When used thoughtfully, it can enhance image quality by reducing unwanted noise while preserving the delicate structures of the cosmos. ## Controversies Surrounding AI in Astrophotography The emergence of AI-based tools in astrophotography has sparked significant debate within the community. While AI-powered software can dramatically improve the efficiency and quality of image processing, some astrophotographers argue that these tools risk distorting the authenticity of celestial data. The controversy revolves around the balance between automation and artistic control, the potential for data fabrication, and the implications for scientific accuracy. **1\. Automation vs. Artistic Control** Traditional astrophotography processing involves a hands-on approach where users manually adjust contrast, sharpness, noise reduction, and star removal. AI-powered tools like **StarXTerminator**, **BlurXTerminator**, and **NoiseXTerminator** from RC Astro automate many of these tasks, significantly reducing processing time. While this is a boon for those seeking efficiency, purists argue that automation diminishes the skill required for high-quality astrophotography. By letting AI make decisions, users may lose their personal touch, leading to an over-reliance on machine-driven processing rather than human creativity. **2\. The Risk of Overprocessing & Synthetic Details** AI tools work by analyzing large datasets of astrophotography images and applying learned patterns to enhance new images. While this can produce visually stunning results, critics argue that AI may introduce synthetic data that was never present in the original capture. **BlurXTerminator**, for instance, uses deep learning to correct atmospheric distortion and optical errors, but skeptics worry that it might “invent” details rather than restore lost ones. Similarly, AI-based sharpening tools could create artificial contrast that misrepresents how a celestial object actually appears. This concern is particularly relevant in scientific astrophotography, where accuracy is paramount. Researchers analyzing deep-sky objects require unaltered data, free from AI-enhanced manipulations. While AI tools can be invaluable for aesthetic improvements in amateur astrophotography, their use in scientific contexts must be carefully considered. **3\. AI vs. Traditional Algorithms: Which Performs Better?** Comparing AI-based tools to traditional processing methods highlights both strengths and weaknesses: **Noise Reduction:** - **AI Approach:** **NoiseXTerminator** (RC Astro) and **Topaz Photo AI** leverage deep learning to distinguish between noise and fine details, reducing noise without softening the image. - **Traditional Approach:** Non-AI methods like PixInsight’s **Multiscale Linear Transform** or AstroPixelProcessor’s **Local Normalization Correction** rely on mathematical modeling, requiring manual tuning. - **Which is Better?** AI-based tools typically provide superior noise reduction with less effort, but can sometimes smooth out real structures if applied too aggressively. **Star Removal:** - **AI Approach:** **StarXTerminator** (RC Astro) and **StarNet++** (PixInsight) remove stars using machine learning models trained on thousands of astrophotography images. - **Traditional Approach:** Manual star removal using Photoshop’s healing brush or PixInsight’s Morphological Transform, which is more time-consuming and less precise. - **Which is Better?** AI-based star removal is faster and often more effective, but some AI tools struggle with bright stars, leaving residual halos. StarNet++ is favored for PixInsight users, while StarXTerminator is preferred for its accuracy in retaining nebular structures. **Gradient Removal (Light Pollution & Background Fixes):** - **AI Approach:** **GraXpert** uses machine learning to detect and remove gradients, adapting dynamically to different images. - **Traditional Approach:** PixInsight’s **Dynamic Background Extraction (DBE)** and AstroPixelProcessor’s **Multi-Band Blending (MBB)** require user-selected points for correction. - **Which is Better?** GraXpert’s AI-driven approach is excellent for automating gradient removal, but traditional methods allow for precise control, which is important for more complex background corrections. **4\. The Ethics of AI in Astrophotography** Another major concern is the ethical aspect of using AI tools. Some competitions and organizations question whether AI-enhanced images should be classified as astrophotography or digital art. If AI modifies an image too extensively, does it still represent reality? This has led to discussions about disclosure requirements—should photographers state when AI-assisted tools have been used in processing? Some competitions have even introduced guidelines restricting the use of AI-driven tools. **5\. Finding a Balanced Approach** Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for traditional processing, many astrophotographers are adopting a hybrid approach. AI tools like **NoiseXTerminator** or **GraXpert** can handle repetitive, tedious tasks, freeing up time for astrophotographers to focus on artistic decisions and finer adjustments. However, overuse of AI sharpening, star removal, or noise reduction can lead to unnatural-looking images that deviate from actual astronomical data. For the best results, astrophotographers should: - Use AI tools selectively, avoiding excessive sharpening or denoising. - Always compare AI-processed images with the original to ensure details haven’t been artificially introduced. - Maintain transparency about AI usage when submitting images to competitions or scientific projects. ### **Final Thoughts** The rise of AI in astrophotography has undeniably improved efficiency, enabling both beginners and seasoned astrophotographers to produce stunning images with less effort. However, the debate around its impact on artistic integrity, scientific accuracy, and ethics continues. The key is to strike a balance—leveraging AI to assist, not replace, human expertise. For those looking to explore the latest in astrophotography equipment, be sure to check out [Agena Astro ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)for high-quality gear and accessories, you can support this site by using this affiliate link. ### Harmonic Drive vs. Worm Gear Mounts: How Strain Wave Technology is Changing Astrophotography URL: https://macobservatory.com/harmonic-drive-vs-worm-gear-mounts/ Last updated: 2026-03-22T04:15:59.000Z ## Learn how Harmonic Drive mounts differ from traditional worm gear mounts, their impact on astrophotography performance, and an overview of popular models from ZWO, Sky-Watcher, Pegasus Astro, and more. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/9r1a5777_1600px_q9-format-original.webp) Harmonic Drive mounts, also known as Strain Wave Gear mounts, have been gaining traction in the astrophotography community due to their unique design and performance advantages over traditional worm gear mounts. In this guide, we'll explore the distinctions between these two types of mounts and highlight some notable Harmonic Drive mounts from manufacturers like ZWO, Sky-Watcher, Pegasus Astro, and others. Recommended Retailer Agena Astro The best selection of astrophotography gear, cameras, and telescopes. Mac Observatory's recommended retailer. [Shop at Agena Astro →](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Affiliate link — helps support Mac Observatory **Understanding the Difference: Harmonic Drive vs. Worm Gear Mounts** Traditional worm gear mounts utilize a worm screw meshing with a worm wheel to achieve the necessary gear reduction for precise tracking. While effective, this design can suffer from backlash—a slight lag when reversing direction—due to the inherent gaps between the meshing gears. Backlash can affect tracking accuracy, especially during long-exposure astrophotography. In contrast, Harmonic Drive mounts employ a strain wave gearing system comprising three main components: a wave generator, a flexspline, and a circular spline. The wave generator deforms the flexspline, causing it to engage with the circular spline in a manner that ensures a large number of teeth are in contact at any given time. This design virtually eliminates backlash, offering smoother and more precise tracking. Additionally, Harmonic Drive mounts are typically more compact and lightweight, often eliminating the need for counterweights, which enhances portability—a significant advantage for field astrophotographers. **Impact on Performance** The zero-backlash characteristic of Harmonic Drive mounts leads to improved tracking accuracy, which is crucial for capturing sharp images during long exposures. The high torque capacity of strain wave gears allows these mounts to handle substantial payloads relative to their size, further contributing to their appeal among astrophotographers seeking a balance between portability and performance. However, it's worth noting that while Harmonic Drive mounts offer these advantages, they may exhibit higher periodic error compared to well-tuned worm gear mounts. This periodic error can be mitigated through autoguiding techniques, but it's an important consideration for users aiming for the utmost precision in their imaging. **Popular Harmonic Drive Mounts** Here are some notable Harmonic Drive mounts from various manufacturers: - [**ZWO AM5**](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-am5n-strain-wave-equatorial-mount-head-new-am5.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com): The ZWO AM5 is a compact and lightweight mount that supports up to 13 kg without a counterweight and 20 kg with one. It operates in both equatorial and alt-azimuth modes, providing versatility for different observational needs. The mount integrates seamlessly with ZWO's ASIAIR system, allowing for wireless control and an intuitive user interface. - [**Sky-Watcher 100i**](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-wave-100i-strain-wave-drive-mount-s30900.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com): The Sky-Watcher 100i is an affordable Harmonic Drive mount priced at $1,695\. It offers a payload capacity of 10 kg without a counterweight and 15 kg with one, making it a compelling option for those seeking a balance between cost and performance. - [**Pegasus Astro NYX-101**](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-nyx-101-strain-wave-gear-portable-eq-alt-az-mount.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com): The NYX-101 is designed for astrophotographers requiring advanced tracking capabilities and remote operation features. It boasts a payload capacity of up to 20 kg without counterweights and 30 kg with them, positioning it as one of the more powerful Harmonic Drive mounts available. - [**Rainbow Astro RST-135**](https://www.rainbowastro.com/rst-135/?ref=macobservatory.com): Weighing only 3.3 kg, the RST-135 is one of the lightest Harmonic Drive mounts on the market. Despite its lightweight design, it can support up to 13.5 kg without a counterweight and 18 kg with one. Its exceptional tracking accuracy and portability make it an excellent choice for astrophotographers on the move. - [**iOptron HEM27**](https://agenaastro.com/ioptron-hem27-hybrid-swg-equatorial-mount-head-with-case-h272.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com): The iOptron HEM27 is a budget-friendly hybrid Harmonic Drive mount that combines a strain-wave drive system with traditional worm gears for added stability. It supports a payload capacity of 13.5 kg without a counterweight and 20 kg with one, offering a good balance between performance and affordability. **Conclusion** Harmonic Drive mounts present a compelling alternative to traditional worm gear mounts, especially for astrophotographers prioritizing portability and reduced backlash. While they come at a higher price point and may require considerations for periodic error correction, their advantages make them worthy of consideration for both amateur and seasoned astrophotographers. If you're interested in purchasing a Harmonic Drive mount, consider supporting Mac Observatory by visiting[Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). By using our affiliate link, you help us to continue to produce astrophotography articles and reviews. ### Celestron EdgeHD 11 Review: The Ultimate Telescope for Planetary and Deep-Sky Astrophotography URL: https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11-review/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T00:00:07.000Z ## A review of the Celestron EdgeHD 11” SCT, covering its optical performance, imaging versatility at f/10, f/7, and f/1.9, and the best accessories to enhance its capabilities. The[Celestron EdgeHD 11” Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-1100-ota-91050-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)(SCT) is an ambitious optical system designed for serious astronomers and astrophotographers who demand high-quality, flat-field performance. This telescope represents a significant leap over traditional SCTs, addressing long-standing issues such as field curvature and off-axis coma—common problems that degrade image quality at the edges of the field. With an 11-inch (280mm) aperture, a native focal length of 2800mm (f/10), and the ability to operate at f/7 and even f/1.9 with accessories, the EdgeHD 11 is one of the most versatile optical systems available today. But with great power comes great responsibility—specifically, the need for a robust mount, precise collimation, and careful thermal management. In this deep-dive review, we’ll explore the design, performance, challenges, and solutions to help you determine if this telescope is the right fit for your astrophotography ambitions. ![ My first heavy duty mount, the Celestron CGX holding firm with the EdgeHD 11. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/unknown-2-format-original.webp) My first heavy duty mount, the Celestron CGX holding firm with the EdgeHD 11. ## Design and Optical Innovations: Why EdgeHD? Celestron’s EdgeHD series builds upon their classic Schmidt-Cassegrain design by incorporating a corrective optical system inside the baffle tube. Traditional SCTs suffer from field curvature—a natural result of their optical design—which causes stars at the edges of an image to appear elongated or out of focus. This isn’t a major problem for visual astronomy, but for astrophotography, where large image sensors capture wide fields of view, the distortion becomes obvious. The EdgeHD’s corrective optics flatten the field, ensuring sharp, round stars across even the largest imaging sensors. The result? A telescope that performs exceptionally well for deep-sky imaging without requiring additional field flatteners. Key Features of the EdgeHD Design - Flat, coma-free field: Ideal for imaging with full-frame cameras - Internal mirror locks: Reduce mirror shift and improve focus stability - Cooling vents with integrated filters: Expedite temperature equalization - Fastar/HyperStar compatibility: Enables ultra-fast imaging at f/1.9 This system makes the EdgeHD 11 a top choice for astrophotography, but its design also benefits visual observers by providing exceptionally sharp views with pinpoint stars across the entire field. ## Setup and Handling: A Heavyweight Contender The EdgeHD 11” is a beast—and that’s something prospective buyers should take seriously. The optical tube assembly (OTA) alone weighs 28 lbs (12.5 kg), but once you add a diagonal, eyepieces, a camera, guiding equipment, and mounting hardware, the total payload can easily exceed 35-40 lbs. This weight demands a sturdy, high-capacity mount to ensure stable tracking, especially at the native 2800mm focal length, where even tiny tracking errors become exaggerated. ### Mount Recommendations For visual use, a Celestron CGEM II or Losmandy G11 can handle the load, though an equatorial mount is still recommended for tracking stability. For astrophotography, a mount with at least a 50 lb payload capacity is required to ensure accurate guiding at long focal lengths. Some of the best options include: - [**Celestron CGX / CGX-L**](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-cgx-computerized-mount-tripod-91530.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) – A solid choice for EdgeHD users looking for an integrated system - [**iOptron CEM70 / CEM120**](https://agenaastro.com/ioptron-cem70-center-balanced-goto-eq-mount-head-with-ipolar-wifi-hard-case-no-tripod-c70aw.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) – A lightweight yet powerful mount with excellent tracking accuracy for long-exposure imaging - [**10Micron GM1000 HPS**](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/10micron-gm1000hps-equatorial-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) – A premium mount with absolute encoders, allowing unguided imaging at long focal lengths - [**Astro-Physics Mach2 GTO**](https://www.astro-physics.com/mach2?ref=macobservatory.com) – A top-tier mount with high precision and smooth tracking for serious astrophotographers - [**Software Bisque Paramount MYT**](https://www.bisque.com/product/paramount-myt-6/?ref=macobservatory.com) – A high-end option designed for professional-level imaging ![ My EdgeHD 1100 on a 10Micron GM1000 mount. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/unknown-1-format-original.webp) My EdgeHD 1100 on a 10Micron GM1000 mount. ### Performance: What the EdgeHD 11 Excels At **Sharp, High-Contrast Planetary and Lunar Observing** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/moon-edge-format-original.webp) At f/10, the EdgeHD 11 shines as a planetary and lunar powerhouse. With 2800mm of focal length, it provides high-resolution views of the Moon’s craters, Jupiter’s cloud belts, and Saturn’s rings. The contrast is excellent, especially with high-quality eyepieces or planetary cameras like the[ZWO ASI482MC](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi482mc-cmos-color-astronomy-camera-with-usb-3-0-asi482mc.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). However, achieving perfect focus can be tricky due to mirror shift, a common issue with SCTs. The built-in mirror locks help stabilize focus, but some users prefer adding a Crayford-style focuser to eliminate focus shift entirely. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/unknown-format-original.gif) **Deep-Sky Imaging at f/10 and f/7** For deep-sky astrophotography, f/10 provides incredible detail on small, distant objects such as planetary nebulae and galaxies. However, at 2800mm focal length, guiding must be precise, and exposure times can be long. To make deep-sky imaging more practical,[Celestron offers a 0.7x focal reducer](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-7-x-reducer-lens-for-edgehd-1100-94241.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), which shortens the focal length to 1960mm (f/7). This: - Increases the field of view – Ideal for capturing larger nebulae - Reduces exposure times by 50% – Allowing for more efficient imaging sessions - Maintains the flat-field design – No additional field correctors needed While f/7 is a great improvement, it still requires longer exposures and accurate guiding. That’s where HyperStarcomes in. ![ “Half-pipe” within the Soul Nebula. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/unknown-format-original-1.webp) “Half-pipe” within the Soul Nebula. **HyperStar and Ultra-Fast Imaging at f/1.9** One of the most exciting features of the EdgeHD 11” is its compatibility with[Starizona’s HyperStar V4](https://starizona.com/products/hyperstar-c11-v4?ref=macobservatory.com), which converts the telescope into an f/1.9 astrophotography system. This transforms the focal length from 2800mm to just 560mm, dramatically changing how the telescope is used. Why HyperStar is a Game-Changer - Extremely short exposure times – Capture deep-sky objects in seconds instead of minutes - Ultra-wide field of view – Perfect for nebulae and galaxies Minimized tracking errors – Short exposures reduce the need for precise guiding **However, there are trade-offs:** - Camera selection is critical – Large sensors block incoming light, creating diffraction spikes - Collimation becomes more sensitive – Requires careful adjustment to maintain sharp stars - Removes the secondary mirror – Limits ability to switch quickly between visual and HyperStar imaging Despite these challenges, HyperStar transforms the EdgeHD 11 into a powerful wide-field imaging system, allowing it to rival refractors for nebulae and large galaxies. ## Addressing Common Issues with the EdgeHD 11 While the EdgeHD 11 delivers exceptional optical quality, there are a few inherent issues to consider: **1\. Mirror Flop and Focus Shift** - Issue: The primary mirror moves when focusing, causing the image to shift or drift. - Solution: Use the built-in mirror locks during imaging and consider adding a Crayford-style external focuser. **2\. Long Focal Length and Mount Stability** - Issue: At 2800mm, even small tracking errors can ruin long exposures. - Solution: Use a high-quality equatorial mount with auto-guiding. An off-axis guider (OAG) is recommended over a guide scope. **3\. Cooling and Dew Control** - Issue: SCTs take time to reach ambient temperature, and dew buildup is common. - Solution: Use active cooling fans and a dew heater to prevent moisture accumulation on the corrector plate. ## Final Thoughts: Who Is the EdgeHD 11 For? The Celestron EdgeHD 11” is a telescope for serious astronomers—whether you’re into high-resolution planetary imaging, deep-sky astrophotography, or ultra-fast HyperStar imaging. Its versatility is unmatched, but it requires a solid mount, careful collimation, and proper accessories to perform at its best. For those willing to invest in a capable mount and guiding system, the EdgeHD 11 provides stunning astrophotography potential and incredible visual views. Whether capturing the intricate details of Jupiter’s storms or the delicate structures of distant nebulae, this telescope delivers. Support MacObservatory by visiting[Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)to find accessories and equipment for your EdgeHD 11!” ### A few of the images I’ve shot with this telescope ![M13: The Hercules Globular Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/u4bwnj/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jun 12, 2021 ![NGC 7331](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-1.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/zegv92/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 15, 2020 ![IC 1871: Heart of the Soul Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/soul-final.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/hnnonz/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 14, 2020 ![NGC 7662: The Blue Snowball Planetary Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/blue_snowball.webp) ![The Moon at Dawn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/moon-at-dawn.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/8o0gqr/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 14, 2020 ![SH2-171](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-2.webp) [Image details](tps://www.astrobin.com/55z8at/)Oct 3, 2020 ![Melotte 15](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-3.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/vxm0jg/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2020 ![NGC 7635: Bubble Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-4.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/skhcnr/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 20, 2020 ![NGC 6888: Crescent Nebula (HOO)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-5.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/j0rxfl/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 16, 2020 ![NGC 6888: Crescent Nebula (SHO)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-6.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/j0rxfl/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 16, 2020 ![NGC 7380: The Wizard Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-7.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/mr7i0c/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 16, 2020 ![NGC 2419 - Intergalactic Wanderer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2419.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/22d7ol/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020 ![NGC 3079](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-8.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/m2xa0b/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020 ![NGC 2905](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2905.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/a1ozeq/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020 ![M1: Crab Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-9.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/zto3qi/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020 ![M109](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-10.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/qq513w/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jan 10, 2020 ![NGC 2403](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-11.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/pkh2qx/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 31, 2019 ![NGC 3184](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/h1_negt40uvf_1824x0_wmhqkgbg.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/mgvazp/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 25, 2019 ![NGC 891](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-12.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/ivbvw2/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 25, 2019 ![IC 5146: The Cocoon Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/cocoon-3.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/421085/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 24, 2019 ![IC 4955 and IC 4954](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic-4955.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/420683/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 13, 2019 ![NGC 6811](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m38.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/420704/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 21, 2019 ![NGC 6946: Fireworks Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/fireworks.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/410426/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jun 17, 2019 ![M92](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m92-edge11.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/410183/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jun 13, 2019 ![Moon - Waxing Gibbous](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/moon-edge.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/406221/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)May 16, 2019 ![NGC 5033](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc5033.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/405891/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)May 14, 2019 ![M94: Face on spiral galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m94.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/400357/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 16, 2019 ![M38: open cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m38-1.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/396978/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 16, 2019 ### Polar Alignment Guide for Motorized Telescope Mounts URL: https://macobservatory.com/polar-alignment-guide-telescope-mount/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T00:00:14.000Z ### Introduction: Why Polar Alignment Matters Polar alignment is one of the most critical steps in setting up a motorized telescope mount for astrophotography or visual astronomy. A properly aligned mount ensures accurate tracking of celestial objects, reducing drift and minimizing field rotation, which is essential for long-exposure imaging. Without proper alignment, objects will drift out of view, even with tracking enabled, and astrophotography images will suffer from star trails instead of pinpoint stars. The exact method of polar alignment varies depending on the mount manufacturer and its control system. This guide covers the alignment process for ZWO, iOptron, Celestron, and Sky-Watcher motorized mounts, including harmonic and equatorial types. ## General Preparation Steps Regardless of the mount type, follow these initial steps before beginning the polar alignment process: 1. **Setup and Leveling:** - Assemble your mount and place it on stable ground. - Level the tripod using a built-in bubble level or an external spirit level. 2. **Initial Positioning:** - Point the polar axis (Right Ascension axis) toward the North Celestial Pole (NCP) in the Northern Hemisphere or the South Celestial Pole (SCP) in the Southern Hemisphere. - Set the mount to its "Home" or "Zero" position (usually with the counterweight bar pointing downward and the telescope aimed near the celestial pole). ## Manufacturer-Specific Alignment Procedures ### **1.**[**ZWO Mounts**](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/zwo-astronomical-cameras.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)**(AM5, AM3, and ASIAIR Integration)** ZWO mounts often rely on the ASIAIR system for polar alignment, streamlining the process through plate-solving and digital adjustments. - **ASIAIR Polar Alignment:** 1. **Connect Equipment:** Ensure your ASIAIR device is connected to the mount, camera, and power supply. 2. **Launch ASIAIR App:** Open the ASIAIR app on your tablet or smartphone and connect to your ASIAIR device. 3. **Access Polar Alignment Feature:** Navigate to the "Polar Alignment" section within the app. 4. **Follow On-Screen Instructions:** The app will guide you through rotating the mount and making altitude and azimuth adjustments to align with the celestial pole. ### **2.**[**iOptron Mounts**](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/ioptron.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)**(GEM28, CEM26, CEM70, and HEM27)** iOptron mounts feature multiple alignment methods, including the "Two-Star Polar Align" and "Polar Iterate Align." - **Two-Star Polar Align:** 1. **Access Alignment Menu:** Press the `MENU` button on the hand controller, select "Alignment," then choose "Two-Star Polar Align." 2. **Select First Star:** Pick a bright star near the meridian and allow the mount to slew to it. Center the star in the eyepiece using the arrow keys and press `ENTER` to confirm. 3. **Select Second Star:** Choose a second bright star near the horizon. Center it and press `ENTER` to confirm. 4. **Review Alignment Error:** The hand controller will display altitude and azimuth errors, which you can correct using the mount’s adjustment bolts. ### **3.**[**Celestron Mounts**](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/celestron.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)**(Advanced VX, CGX, CGX-L, and CGEM Series)** Celestron offers multiple polar alignment methods, including the built-in All-Star Polar Alignment (ASPA) feature. - **All-Star Polar Alignment (ASPA) Method:** 1. **Perform a Rough Polar Alignment:** Use a polar scope or compass to roughly align the mount. 2. **Align to a Bright Star:** Complete a standard two-star alignment via the hand controller. 3. **Enter ASPA Mode:** In the hand controller menu, navigate to “Align” and select “Polar Align.” 4. **Adjust the Mount:** The mount will slew to the selected star. Use the mount’s altitude and azimuth knobs to center it rather than the hand controller. 5. **Finalize and Confirm:** Press `ENTER` once the star is centered, and the mount will save the new polar alignment data. ### **4.**[**Sky-Watcher Mounts**](https://agenaastro.com/shop-by-brand/sky-watcher.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)**(EQ6-R Pro, EQ8-R, and Star Adventurer GTi)** Sky-Watcher mounts support multiple methods, including the traditional polar scope method and SynScan-assisted alignment. - **SynScan Polar Alignment:** 1. **Perform a Rough Alignment:** Use a polar scope or an app like “SynScan Pro” to roughly align the mount. 2. **Go-To a Star:** Select a bright star and allow the mount to slew to it. 3. **Adjust the Mount:** Use the mount’s altitude and azimuth knobs (not the hand controller) to center the star in the eyepiece. 4. **Confirm and Save Alignment:** Finalize the alignment via the SynScan hand controller or app. ## Conclusion Proper polar alignment is essential for maximizing the tracking accuracy of your motorized telescope mount, ensuring smoother long-exposure astrophotography and stable visual observation. While each manufacturer provides different tools and methods, the key principles remain the same—align the Right Ascension axis with the celestial pole using a combination of star alignment, software guidance, and manual adjustments. Mastering this process will significantly enhance your astrophotography results and overall experience. For those looking to upgrade their setup or invest in high-quality mounts and accessories, consider visiting[Agena Astro](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)to support this site and continued content on Mac Observatory! ### Planetary System Stacker now has a launcher installer URL: https://macobservatory.com/planetary-system-stacker-now-has-a-launcher-installer/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T22:27:08.000Z As some of you know I’ve recently put a second telescope out in a remote site. This time StarFront Observatories. In the Discord one day, I noticed a fellow imager Nick Kohrn mention he develops Mac apps. On a whim, I asked him if he wouldn’t mind taking a look at [Planetary System Stacker](https://github.com/Rolf-Hempel/PlanetarySystemStacker?ref=macobservatory.com), an open source planetary stacking application that gives on par results to AutoStakkert on the PC. PSS has been around for a number of years, but is a Python based application, which can run on the Mac if you’re familiar enough with the command line to install it. So for a lot of people it’s been out of reach for every day use. Update, July 2026 The launcher did what it promised when I tested it in 2024: it installed PSS and got it running without touching the terminal. I have not retested it on a current macOS, so treat that as a 2024 result rather than a promise. Nick is also clear that he did not write PSS and cannot help with problems inside the application itself, only with the launcher. PSS upstream has gone quiet. The last release on PyPI was July 2023, and issues opened through the end of 2024 are still sitting unanswered. For a Python application that pulls its own dependencies at install time, that is worth knowing before you spend an evening on it. The bigger issue is the experience. PSS works, but the interface is not native and you have to read the manual to understand how to drive it. That was true in 2024 and it is still true. If you want a Mac app that behaves like a Mac app, there are two native options I would point you to first: [Planet Stacker X](https://macobservatory.com/planet-stacker-x-macos-planetary-imaging/), which is free and does a genuinely good job of stacking, and [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing/), which I build at Mac Observatory. Nick graciously took a look and found he could make an installer/launcher application for PSS, and it took him only about a day to put it together. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2024-11-16_at_1-27-12_pm-format-original.webp) I’m happy to report that it installs and runs smoothly with the click of a button. Instead of downloading the original PSS files and installing all the dependencies through the terminal, you only need to download the ZIP of [Nick’s launcher](https://github.com/nickkohrn/PlanetarySystemStackerLauncher?ref=macobservatory.com) and place it in your applications folder. Follow [Nick’s guide](https://github.com/nickkohrn/PlanetarySystemStackerLauncher?ref=macobservatory.com) to approve the Mac app in Apple’s security settings, and then the installer takes over. It does take about 5-10 minutes for the initial install, but post installation launches are immediate. I also HIGHLY recommend you follow Rolf Hempel’s [PDF documentation](https://github.com/Rolf-Hempel/PlanetarySystemStacker/blob/master/Documentation/PlanetarySystemStacker%5FUser-Guide.pdf?ref=macobservatory.com) for how to use the application, there’s a slight learning curve to achieving the best results. ![ Selecting % of images to stack. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2024-11-16_at_2-23-20_pm-format-original.webp) Selecting % of images to stack. ![ Place your alignment grid. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2024-11-16_at_2-24-10_pm-format-original.webp) Place your alignment grid. ![ Results of alignment. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2024-11-16_at_2-27-18_pm-format-original.webp) Results of alignment. ![ Wavelets processing, so this application also replaces Registax from the PC world. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2024-11-16_at_2-28-38_pm-format-original.webp) Wavelets processing, so this application also replaces Registax from the PC world. ### Seti Astro Scripts come to the Mac as a standalone application URL: https://macobservatory.com/seti-astro-scripts-mac-app/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:16.000Z The popular Seti Astro Scripts have now come to the Mac as a standalone application. If you don’t use PixInsight this suite of applications will give you access to some advanced features that can be quite helpful. I personally have used FindBackground, What’s In My Image, and Continuum Subtraction with my own images. In modern versions of Mac OS you will need to go into security and privacy preferences to allow the application to launch. Seti Astro offers a suite of scripts designed to streamline and enhance various aspects of astrophotography image processing. Here’s an overview of their functionalities: - **Star Stretch**: Transforms linear star-only images to a non-linear state, enhancing star colors and removing green hues, preparing them for integration with starless images. (SETI Institute) - **NB to RGB Star Combination**: Combines narrowband star-only images (Ha, OIII, SII) into realistic RGB star images, with an option to apply the Star Stretch automatically. (SETI Institute) - **Statistical Stretch**: Dynamically calculates and applies image stretching based on statistical parameters, offering a preview feature for real-time adjustments. (SETI Institute) - **FindBackground**: Automatically identifies background regions suitable for processes like BackgroundNeutralization, ColorCalibration, and SPCC, aiding in accurate color correction. (SETI Institute) - **Continuum Subtraction Utility**: Processes linear narrowband and RGB images to perform continuum subtraction, creating pure signal non-linear images. (SETI Institute) - **AutoDBE**: Utilizes gradient descent to define points with custom weighting and rejection algorithms, automating the Dynamic Background Extraction (DBE) process to remove gradients. (SETI Institute) - **Mask Merge Utility**: Combines multiple masks in various ways, facilitating the isolation of specific colors or features without relying on pixel math. (SETI Institute) - **FAME (Freehand Astro Mask Editor)**: Enables freehand drawing of masks, along with placing elliptical and rectangular masks, providing flexibility in mask creation. (SETI Institute) - **What’s In My Image**: Searches and explores your image by querying the SIMBAD astronomical database, helping identify celestial objects within your frame. (SETI Institute) - **Halo B Gon**: Reduces halos around stars by applying the script to star-only images, improving overall image aesthetics. (SETI Institute) - **Blemish Blaster**: Removes artifacts and blemishes from images, functioning similarly to other smart healing tools. (SETI Institute) - **AstroMark Signature Adder**: Adds your signature image directly to your main image within PixInsight, streamlining the watermarking process. (SETI Institute) - **AstroDepth**: Enhances the depth of field in images, adding a three-dimensional effect to astrophotography captures. (SETI Institute) These scripts are available for free and can be installed via [PixInsight’s repository](https://www.setiastro.com/pjsr-scripts?ref=macobservatory.com) feature or [downloaded directly from the Seti Astro website as a Mac application](https://www.setiastro.com/seti-astros-editng-suite?ref=macobservatory.com). Each script includes informative tooltips and instructional videos to assist users in their astrophotography processing workflows. (Astroworld Creations) For a comprehensive demonstration of these scripts, you can watch the following video: ### New Reflection Nebula Discovery: The Blue Ghost Nebula (Burwell 1) URL: https://macobservatory.com/blue-ghost-nebula-burwell-1-discovery/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:17.000Z In October 2023, I set out to [photograph vdB 1](https://www.astrobin.com/3axueu/?ref=macobservatory.com). There are almost no wide field (990mm) images of vdB1 due to the fact that the star Caph is extremely bright. Most imagers focus on vdB1 itself. When processing this photograph, I noticed a bright reflection nebula towards the upper right-center of the image. This object sits at coordinates **0:04:54.6 +58:33:20**. It's situated next to the star **HD 225257**, and is likely illuminated by it. The reflection nebula does show up in some survey data, but is very dim. Thanks to modern processing tools and techniques, I was able to make the nebula really stand out. I think due to the nature of how others photographed vdB1 and how faint the reflection nebula is, it's gone unnoticed until now. Following the lead of others who have stumbled across new uncatalogued objects. I researched all known objects near HD 225257 and came up empty. Not satisfied with my findings, I deferred to other experts like [Marcel Drechsler](https://www.astrobin.com/users/Marcel%5FDrechsler/?ref=macobservatory.com), who also confirmed no other known cataloged objects with reference to these coordinates or the star HD 225257. I’m officially naming the the object ' [**Burwell 1**](https://www.astrobin.com/7dkrc3/?ref=macobservatory.com) ', affectionately known as **"The Blue Ghost" nebula**, since it's remained elusive until now. Research on unknown objects can be done through several databases which catalog all known objects. You can type in coordinates and it will perform a search around the area to see which objects have been noted and exist in a catalog or scientific paper. ***CDS Portal:***[***http://cdsportal.u-strasbg.fr/***](http://cdsportal.u-strasbg.fr/?ref=macobservatory.com) ***ADS:***[***https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/***](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/?ref=macobservatory.com) Additionally, you can sometimes also confirm that the object you photographed does exist (and not a fluke of your imaging equipment) by confirming it shows up in survey data. One good way to do this is to search using Aladin, and use those same coordinates or a known star to identify the area. ***Aladin:***[***https://aladin.cds.unistra.fr***](https://aladin.cds.unistra.fr/?ref=macobservatory.com) ![ Here’s the Aladin DSS2 survey data centered on the object. You can see a very faint glow showing the existence of something. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2023-10-12_at_2-30-57_pm-format-original.webp) Here’s the Aladin DSS2 survey data centered on the object. You can see a very faint glow showing the existence of something. ![ Here’s a single 10 minute blue frame showing almost no information. It took close to 20 hours of images from bortle 1 skies to see it. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2023-10-12_at_11-12-25_am-format-original.webp) Here’s a single 10 minute blue frame showing almost no information. It took close to 20 hours of images from bortle 1 skies to see it. ### Remote hosted telescope imaging URL: https://macobservatory.com/remote-hosted-telescope-imaging/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T02:57:44.000Z About three years ago, I started on a journey to get out of my back yard and image from dark skies with a permanent setup. I had been remote imaging to my back yard, but still setting up and tearing down my equipment each night. I had gone from using my 10Micron mount regularly to using my Rainbow Astro portable mount more often because I just didn’t want to deal with all the heavy equipment. It meant that some of my larger scopes went unused for some time. During this journey I explored leasing land on someone else property near Llano Texas, and had got to where I was going to sign a contract, but the contractor used to build an observatory on this land really dragged his feet. It took about 8 months of waiting before I eventually decided I didn’t want to spend money to build something on someone else’s land. There are no 100% guarantees with a situation like this, and I’ve even heard horror stories where the land owner decided to reclaim his land and the buildings that the observatory owners paid for. Through some good fortune, my wife inherited an acre of land in bortle 4-5 skies, and we started the process to get quotes on developing the land to build out a twin pier observatory and small weekend home (1,000sqft) for a place to hang out while at the property. After collecting building plans for everything, and getting surveys done this came at a time towards the end of the pandemic when building supplies were at an all time high. Costs were so outrageous that again, my progress to do something remote stalled. # Remote hosted services I waited almost almost a full year before eventually deciding that I was tired of the planning and waiting, and would delve into remote hosting services. It just so happened that during that same time period, Ed Thomas at[Deep Space Products](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)went into partnership with another person and started to offer his own remote hosting service called[Deep Space Products Remote](https://www.dspremote.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)(DSPR) in southwestern New Mexico (Animas, NM). ![ Satellite view of the observatories at Astronomer’s Paradise (DSPR). ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2023-10-02_at_3-41-50_pm-format-original.webp) Satellite view of the observatories at Astronomer’s Paradise (DSPR). I’ve known Ed for a few years from owning a 10Micron mount (he’s the main service person for 10Micron in the U.S.). After a few back and forth conversations, we scheduled a move in date. I wish I could say it were as simple as that, and I moved in immediately. But for about 6 months I struggled to find insurance with my own insurance broker. As soon as words like “Observatory” or “Telescope” enter the discussion you might as well be speaking greek to insurance people. They have no idea how to cover your equipment, or what kind of policy you need. Eventually I managed to contact State Farm and get a personal articles policy. It costs about $10/month per $10k of equipment, and you’ll need to provide receipts for every valuable piece of equipment you want to host. State Farm will also only cover you in the state where your items are stored, so if you want to host in New Mexico, you’ll need to look up a local State Farm insurer in the state. I found one near by in Deming, NM. # Planning for the remote observatory At the start of the process you’ll want to think long and hard about the types of objects you want to image. Since I had been stuck in my back yard for the first 7-8 years in this hobby, I never once saw the southern sky. My home blocks all view to the south, and trees block about a 30° window east of my northern view. So there were a lot of nebulas I wanted to image that I’ve never been able to. For those reasons I didn’t want to have too long of a focal length. That meant my EdgeHD 11 at 2800mm was out of the picture. But I did want to be able to image moderately sized galaxies so I wanted something longer than my Esprit 100 at 550mm. I also wanted something with very good optics that was well corrected where I could use my existing ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro camera with Chroma filters. ### Takahashi TOA-130NFB telescope Ed was in the middle of moving his shop, and he had some gear he wanted to sell quickly. He posted on Cloudy Nights that he had some excess inventory to sell at discounted prices. One of those items happened to be a Takahashi TOA-130NFB. Even with the discount, these telescopes are not cheap. I ended up selling my Sky-Watcher Esprit 100, one of my Rainbow Astro mounts, and two of the rare Takahashi’s I had found at an estate sale. All told, I broke even on the purchase. And started setting up in the back yard to test everything before deploying to New Mexico. I combined the TOA130-NFB with the 645 flattener, together they net a 990mm focal length. Not quite in the middle of my two previously mentioned scopes, but a very good combination from a resolution standpoint. ### Remote testing and required hardware It’s very important that you test everything remotely in the back yard. This includes remote connectivity, tilt adjustments, powering on and off all the equipment, meridian flip, pier clearance, and advanced sequences to image through the night. For my remote access I adopted[Chrome Remote Desktop](https://remotedesktop.google.com/unsupported-browser?target=%2F&ref=macobservatory.com). This has proven to be flawless. I often connect from my phone to power things up, but you can of course connect with any desktop computer as well. It’s extremely reliable, but even then, I’ve installed[TeamViewe](https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/?ref=macobservatory.com)r as a backup. ![ My remote system in the back yard, cautiously close to the pool. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5317-format-original.webp) My remote system in the back yard, cautiously close to the pool. There’s a few additional pieces of hardware that you’ll need besides the telescope, mount, camera, and focuser: - [Kasa Smart Plug](https://amzn.to/46vsU0A?ref=macobservatory.com) (for remote power on without access to your computer) - [Intel NUC or Mini PC](https://amzn.to/3PYAvzs?ref=macobservatory.com) (I’ve linked the PC I purchased, Core i7, 32GB RAM) - [APC UPS Battery Backup](https://amzn.to/3PZGMtB?ref=macobservatory.com) (for power losses, we’ve lost power several times out in the desert for only single days) - [Digital Loggers Web Power Switch](https://amzn.to/3thKK96?ref=macobservatory.com) (for powering on and off individual items as necessary) - [Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advance](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-pocket-powerbox-advance-gen-3-power-supply-ppbadv-gen3.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) (for power distribution on your telescope) These items are a must. The desert is hot in the summer with the observatories baking during the day (105 degF + temps). You’ll want to power completely off, computer and all. Even the ZWO cameras if they are receiving power sit on, in a state where the sensor is active, but not being cooled. These cameras get very hot to the touch sitting idle, so you want power cut off to them or risk burning out your sensor. I power everything down completely during the day. At dusk, I use the Kasa app on my iPhone to turn on the plug, which sits behind my battery back up but before the Digital Loggers switch. Then I can remotely turn on everything else. My computer bios is set to power on when AC current is applied. So as soon as the power is flipped, the computer boots too. Another big consideration for me was the computer. I love Macs and use them for home and work. But I have a ton of experience with PCs too. And I had to consider the software requirements of the equipment at Astronomer’s Paradise like the weather and roof. I also had to consider what applications could support me on a Mac. This left only KStars/EKOS. And while I love the application, and think its interface is one of the best for this hobby, the software is in a constant state of flux, and can be very unreliable after updates. I had to make the hard decision to go to a PC for this reason. But I still get to remote into the system from my Mac! And of course, all my processing is done on the Mac too. In the back yard, I had been content with a MeLe Quieter computer, and had never used anything more powerful because the MeLe could run off 12v supplied by the Pegasus power box. But wow, after I opted to get a Mini PC instead, I’m so glad I did. I had no idea how underpowered the MeLe computers are, and it’s been a joy to use something powerful at the telescope. # Remote install ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4130-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4135-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4139-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5415-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5417-format-original.webp) To get out to Animas New Mexico from Houston Texas, I decided it would be more economical to drive my equipment. Along with my Dad, we packed the car and made the 1,500+ mile trip in two days. In the photos above you’ll see myself and Ed setting up the equipment for first light. I had only planned on being there overnight one night. While Ed does have a bunkhouse on site, there are no places to eat unless you bring food to cook, so we stayed at a nearby hotel in Lordsburg NM, which is only 30 minutes away. Make sure you have a laptop on hand to remote into your setup and test things out. I had a little bit of trouble getting the GPS to set the location of the equipment, but after that got sorted, I was able to model the sky and get 10 minute unguided subs right away. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2023-07-26-at-8-43-28-am-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2023-08-05-at-9-38-23-pm-format-original.webp) For good measure I also tested guiding. ![ Can guiding really get much better than this? ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2023-08-23-at-10-46-08-pm-format-original.webp) Can guiding really get much better than this? Setup was mostly a breeze since I had everything worked out at the house. It was really plug and go, along with some cable management. Ed also supplied a small webcam that I was able to place at the base of the telescope to keep an eye on things. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2023-09-05-at-8-05-45-am-format-original.webp) The only incident I’ve encountered so far was a loose focuser. For about a dozen nights I noticed my backlash growing by a few hundred steps as the focus barrel on the connector started slipping. Took me about that long to discover the issue. Luckily there’s some great help on sight 24/7 and it was fixed for me, and has since worked flawlessly. In addition to the housing facilities for your telescope, you have access to weather data, roof information, an all sky camera, message boards, and instant messaging if needed. Having access to the weather and the roof status allows me to fully automate the night with N.I.N.A. my chosen software for the scheduling and imaging. A mini web based dashboard also allows me to see my equipment from both sides of the room, or switch to the all sky camera. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot_2023-10-02_at_4-54-24_pm-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2023-07-22-at-9-32-38-pm-format-original.webp) # What kind of images can be shot from very dark remote skies? This is really the whole reason you even consider a remote setup. DSP Remote is a Bortle 1/2 dark sky. Just about the best you can get. It’s extremely dry, so you’re not shooting through humidity. Most nights the seeing is absolutely great. Even though I have access to southern skies now, I’ve been shooting a lot of northern targets that were too dark to image from my Bortle 9 back yard. This has been tremendously fun. Most of the images I’ve shot are between one and two nights worth of imaging. And almost all of them are broadband images with only 1 or two exceptions where I added HA or OIII data to my broadband image. ***I cannot say enough great things about this setup and location. Ed has been great to work with, and if you want to consider hosting there, please use me as a referral. Ed is giving away hosting time for referrals, so you can do the same once you’re set up on sight. If you have any questions please reach out. I’m happy to share my NINA Advanced Sequence for the site which has safety stops included for the roof opening and closing. This allows me to image all through the night even if the roof closes for passing clouds or high winds and opens back up during the night.*** ***I wanted to provide an update in 7/21/2025\. I’m still hosting here at DSPR, and Ed is now offering some very***[***competitive prices for medium to large rigs***](https://www.dspremote.com/plans-and-pricing/?ref=macobservatory.com)***, with prices starting as low as $300/month.*** ### My remote image gallery ![vdB 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-13.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/3axueu/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 11, 2023 ![vdB 14 & 15](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-14.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/aem8d0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 7, 2023 ![vdB 154](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-15.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/fgd3bf/D/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 4, 2023 ![SH2-187](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-16.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/luthbn/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 2, 2023 ![NGC 281](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-17.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/epouh6/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 30, 2023 ![SH2-176](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-18.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/mo2a04/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 27, 2023 ![NGC 7640](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-19.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/h3dvtw/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 26, 2023 ![vdB 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-20.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/2stwb3/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 24, 2023 ![IC 63, vdB 5](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-21.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/nu2tsn/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 22, 2023 ![vdB 4](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-22.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/m0on06/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 19, 2023 ![vdB 7-8-9](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-23.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/3ecswp/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 18, 2023 ![vdB 152](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-24.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/hu6b75/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 16, 2023 ![SH2-140](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-25.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/18s3bs/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 14, 2023 ![Wolf-Rayet 134](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-26.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/hyhjf8/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 13, 2023 ![NGC 7129](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-27.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/1e6ytc/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 6, 2023 ![Messier 74](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-28.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ntxqei/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 4, 2023 ![NGC 5907 with local galaxy group](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-29.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ps9lqd/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 4, 2023 ![The Hidden Galaxy: IC 342](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-30.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/swuzag/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 30, 2023 ![Cave Nebula: SH2-155](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-31.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/jo0jbl/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 27, 2023 ![Barnard's Galaxy NGC 6822](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-32.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/f8dy7f/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 21, 2023 ![M33](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-33.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ed7zq0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 17, 2023 ![M16](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-34.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/xnb3l5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 15, 2023 ![IC 5146](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-35.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/hoavjk/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 11, 2023 ![IC 1396](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-36.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/df9yz4/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 3, 2023 ![IC 4685](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-37.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/57e4ks/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 3, 2023 ![NGC 7331: Stephan's Quintet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-38.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/7r6iu3/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 31, 2023 ![M8 & M20](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-39.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/gc4jcp/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 24, 2023 ![IC 4954](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-40.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/u9lgxq/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 20, 2023 ![Fireworks Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-41.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/5m0u86/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 6, 2023 ![Iris Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-42.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/gc4jcp/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 5, 2023 ### Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED Triplet Super APO Refractor Review URL: https://macobservatory.com/sky-watcher-esprit-100ed-triplet-super-app-refractor-review/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T02:47:33.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3606-format-original.webp) Before sitting down to write this review, I spent a lot of time thinking about who is the customer this telescope was designed to address. Due to inflation and supply chain issues during the Covid pandemic prices for the Esprit have increased to an MSRP of $3,210\. Relatively new Chinese companies have entered the market with less expensive options like the [Askar FRA600 at $2,599](https://agenaastro.com/askar-108mm-f-5-6-quintuplet-petzval-flat-field-astrograph-fra600.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), and the [Askar 107 PHQ at $2,495](https://agenaastro.com/askar-4-2-107mm-f-7-quadruplet-flat-field-astrograph-107phq.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). And to be fair, when I originally purchased the [Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED ](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-esprit-100mm-ed-triplet-apo-refractor-ota-s11410.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)it was priced at a more moderate $2,400\. So the price of this telescope is about $800 more than the competition. ## You get what you pay for So what do you get for $3,200? This is an extremely well built refractor. It’s built like a tank. It’s heavy, around 30 lbs with photography equipment attached. It’s a 100mm aperture F5.5 triplet APO telescope. This equates to a 550mm focal length. It uses high quality FPL53 and BK7 glass, and has been known over the years it’s been around that it’s one of the most [well color corrected scopes ](http://blog.astrofotky.cz/pavelpech/?p=1305&ref=macobservatory.com)at this price point. Users who have tested their Esprit’s have shown out of the box Strehl ratio’s of above .95, and with aftermarket collimation adjustments on an optical bench even higher can be achieved. The Esprit also readily supports imaging with up to full frame sensors like the [ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro ](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi6200mm-p-cmos-mono-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)which I have used on this telescope. ![ Here’s a typical example of the quality you can expect from the Esprit 100ED. No color fringe right to the edge of the frame. Camera used here was a ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/aberration-inspector-format-original.webp) Here’s a typical example of the quality you can expect from the Esprit 100ED. No color fringe right to the edge of the frame. Camera used here was a ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro. The field of view available to you at 550mm focal length will allow you to image a lot of the larger galaxies and moderate sized nebulas. The gallery at the bottom of this review is nebula heavy because those are the objects that mostly fit this field of view really well. This gives you lots of flexibility for imaging and I think any imager should have a decent 100mm refractor in their arsenal of imaging telescopes. Compared to the telescope’s current market challengers at the lower price point you have the Askar FRA600 which is 108mm F5.6, so a tiny bit slower, with cheaper glass that isn’t as well corrected. As you increase the speed of the telescope it becomes harder to correct the color, and the Askar FRA600 displays color fringe aberrations in almost all cases. To combat this, Askar released a slower F7 speed 107mm PHQ telescope. It still has the cheap glass, but exhibits less color issues than the FRA600 due to its slower speed. These are still very nice telescopes, but not up to the level of the Esprit 100ED. To get faster speeds, or to support image sizes above full frame you need to start looking at premium telescopes from Takahashi, Astro-Physics and others that are going to be priced in the range of $6,000 and higher. ## The best 4” refractor? This leads me back to my original question…who is the intended audience for this telescope? I think it’s clear to me that this scope is for anyone who appreciates quality. To me this is a premium telescope at non-premium prices. It’s better than any scope that costs less at this size, and it’s as good as most scopes above this price point with the limitation that its speed is F5.5 and only supports up to full frame sensors. For most, these aren’t limitations at all. ![ Using the Astronomy.tools website you can check how your camera sensor size impacts the field of view you will be able to capture. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2023-05-27-at-1-46-05-pm-format-original.webp) Using the Astronomy.tools website you can check how your camera sensor size impacts the field of view you will be able to capture. Because I’ve owned this telescope for a few years, I’ve been able to use it with lots of different cameras and mounts. Below this review you can find images I’ve taken with various sized ZWO cameras like the ASI294MM-Pro, ASI2600MC-Pro, ASI2600MM-Pro, and up to the full frame ASI6200MM-Pro. They all perform extremely well with this telescope. The imaging train is very solid with no sag, so attaching a focus motor to the system is a no-brainer. You can even use the built in captain’s wheel camera rotator to rotate the camera with no impact to tilt. As mentioned earlier, this scope is very well made and I’ve never had to adjust for tilt on it. This is really the best 100mm refractor anyone can purchase at this price point. Here’s a list of equipment that i’ve used over the years with the telescope: - [ZWO ASI294MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi294mm-pro-11-3-mp-cmos-mono-astronomy-camera-with-usb-3-0-asi294mm-p.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), [EFW8](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-efw-8-1-25-filter-wheel-for-1-25-31mm-filters-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), Astrodon 5nm Filters - [ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), [ZWO Filter Drawer](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-filter-drawer-with-m42-m48-threads-for-2-filters-fd-m42.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), ZWO Duo-band filter - [ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mm-pro-astronomy-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), [EFW7 36mm](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-7-position-electronic-filter-wheel-for-36mm-unmounted-filters-version-ii-efw7-36.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), Chroma 3nm filters - [ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi6200mm-p-cmos-mono-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), [EFW7 2”](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-7-position-electronic-filter-wheel-for-2-or-50-4mm-filters-efw-7x2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), Chroma 3nm filters - [Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-pocket-powerbox-advance-gen-3-power-supply-ppbadv-gen3.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Pegasus Astro Focuscube2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-focus-cube-2-universal-fc2-univ.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) (though a [ZWO EAF](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-eaf-electronic-automatic-focuser-standard-5v-eaf-std.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) would work just as well). **Note:**If you found this review valuable and wish to support myself and this website in any way please use any of the [Agena Astro ](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)affiliate links on my site before you make a purchase and I’ll get a small kickback in return without any cost to you. Thanks for taking the time to visit my site. ## Images taken with the Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED ![Soul Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-43.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/9fy5bw/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 30, 2022 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Astro-Physics Mach2 GTO ![PK 136 4.1 and PK 136 5.1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-44.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/pwj1j1/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 10, 2022 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![IC 342: The Hidden Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-45.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/lwg5g5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 13, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![NGC 891 & Able 346 Galaxy Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-46.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/qtm5l9/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 11, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![The Wizard Nebula: NGC 7380](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-47.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/sl72c2/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 8, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![SH2-155: The Cave Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-48.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/gwyr2o/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![LBN 583](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-49.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/omxnk5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 28, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![SH2-132: Lion Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-50.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/rmmp05/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 10, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![SH2-124](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-51.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/vutocf/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 23, 2021 ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED ![SH2-115, SH2-112, SH2-116](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-52.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/9g9tki/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 9, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![IC 5070: The Pelican Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-53.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/ja357x/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 6, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135, ZWO Duo-Band Filter ![M 81, M 82, NGC 3077](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-54.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/3qku82/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 13, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![SH2-261: Lower's Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-55.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/ftiywn/D/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 8, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![SH2-235, 231, 232, 233](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-56.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/lt79gs/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 5, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC417: The Spider and the Fly](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-57.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/o1q6hr/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 1, 2021 ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC 405: Flaming Star nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-58.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/ee8rc2/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jan 8, 2021 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, Rainbow Astro RST-135, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro ![LBN 576 & NGC 7788](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-59.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/xmxssd/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 17, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC 443: The Jellyfish Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-60.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/howziy/E/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 26, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC 410: Twin Tadpoles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-61.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/6bm2wu/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 17, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![M45: The Seven Sisters](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-62.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/c1qjft/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![NGC 884, NGC 889 - Double Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-63.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/e21tsq/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020 ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC 63: The Ghost of Cassiopeia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-64.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/ijseh8/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![M33: The Triangulum Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-65.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/1tv1oj/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC1805: The Heart Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-66.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/hbllrp/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ZWO ASI294MM-Pro, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![SH2-157, M52, SH2-162, SH2-161, NGC 7635, NGC 7638, NGC 7510, IC 1470](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/the-lobster-claw-sm.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/bs2nko/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 8, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro, 10Micron GM1000 HPS ![SH2-171 Widefield](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-67.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/oxxstj/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2020 ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, 10Micron GM1000 HPS ![M31: Andromeda](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m31-v2.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/7rhlva/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, 10Micron GM1000 HPS, ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro ![NGC 7789: Caroline's Rose](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-68.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/cyfeb3/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 5, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro, 10Micron GM1000 HPS ![M13: Hercules Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-69.webp) [Image details ](https://www.astrobin.com/lo7cly/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 5, 2020 Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED, ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro, 10Micron GM1000 HPS ### A comparison of the Astro-Physics Mach2GTO and 10Micron GM1000HPS telescope mounts URL: https://macobservatory.com/mach2gto-vs-gm1000hps-mount-comparison/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:18.000Z I’m in the unique position of owning two premium mounts. The[Astro-Physics Mach2GTO](https://www.astro-physics.com/mach2?ref=macobservatory.com)and a[10Micron GM1000HPS](https://www.10micron.com/en/product/gm1000-hps/?ref=macobservatory.com). I’m going to attempt to cover them in a fair way based on my experiences with both. Initially I thought about doing a review and declaring a winner, but in all honesty it’s not going to be fair to either of these companies to have someone win and someone lose. Both companies take pride in what they make and sell, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. These two mounts are at the entry level of premium mounts. Both are the lowest capacity mounts the two companies make, but because they are premium, they land at a price point that many budding astronomers/astrophotographers hope to one day stretch their budgets to afford. In this writeup I’m going to cover the purchase, support/service, hardware, software, and practicalities of these mounts versus each other and more common mass produced mounts.***I hope to provide enough information here that a user can make their own decision on which mount is right for them. In addition, areas where I’m critical of design or software decisions made by each respective company, I hope are taken as constructive criticism where they can learn and improve as necessary.*** ## Purchase Experience Until the COVID pandemic hit, it was relatively easy to purchase a 10Micron mount. They were readily in stock, and all it took was a call to anyone who sells them to get one delivered within a week. I purchased and received my mount within about 7 days originally from Deep Space Products. With lapses in production thanks to supply chain issues, wait times have increased to around 6 months. While much longer than usual, this still pales in comparison to purchasing an Astro-Physics mount. Because Astro-Physics is so well known and coveted by many astronomers and astrophotographers, you essentially have to get onto a wait list for anything they sell. These things are not mass produced, and they make them in batches along with the other mounts they offer. So there’s high demand, and limited manufacturing capacity. The Mach2 was announced around three years ago, and having not yet purchased my 10Micron mount, I saw the announcement, and within a week decided to get on the waiting list. In June of 2022, after waiting three years and having already purchased the 10Micron, I received an e-mail from AP that my name had come up. I had a week to decide whether or not I wanted to purchase the mount and if I did it would be built and sent to me around an October 2022 delivery window. I was actually shocked to get this call, and because of the rarity of these things, and the fact that I have an observatory being built in the next year, I decided to go ahead with getting one. In general it’s certainly easier to get a 10Micron mount. So that might play a big factor into which option you choose. Having not purchased any of AP’s larger mounts, I have no idea what the wait times are like for those units, but I suspect the Mach2 is likely one of their most popular mounts being right at the entry level of the lineup. ## Service Experience The first topic I want to cover here is service. Despite these being premium mounts that you would expect to work flawlessly, they are indeed built by hand. Because of this, they can have potential issues from time to time. My experience isn’t unique, but most don’t suffer from day one issues. In my case, both mounts arrived to my home seemingly in working condition. Once I got them outside for first light, this is where I found out they both had an issue. ### 10Micron My 10Micron was purchased a few years ago, and it arrived during the winter when it was cold outside. I had practiced setting it up inside my home where it worked flawlessly. Once I got it outside into the cold air, it would function for about an hour until things cooled down in the hardware (close to freezing temps), and the mount started to seize up when slewing. I suspect there was something with a tight tolerance that began to bind at cold temps. A cryptic warning message pops up on the hand controller to tell you you’ve encountered some numerical error. There’s no indication of what the error number represents, and 10Micron does not publish the error code messages. One thing you will quickly learn about 10Micron, is that they as a company are very inaccessible to the end user. While they do offer their own[message board](https://www.10micron.com/forum/?ref=macobservatory.com)(mount serial number required to join), none of their people frequent the message board. This makes getting direct feedback on driver issues, or other problems almost non-existent. There is a large base of users that are extremely helpful in almost every regard. The users really make owning the mount feel like a communal experience. They are quick to offer help in any regard from complex setups to simple setups. But for actual issues with your personal mount, it’s intended that you get help from your region’s support person. This mount was purchased new from Ed Thomas at[Deep Space Products](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), he handles all North American service issues for 10Micron. A quick call to Ed, late in the evening and he tried to help me troubleshoot the issues. After a few days of back and forth with no solution, I had to send the mount head back to him where he replaced some part, and returned the mount to me in working condition. It has since worked flawlessly until this past fall. During one night of imaging about two months ago the mount seized up and gave me another error code. I sent an e-mail to Ed relaying the error code. This time it took about a week or so to get a response. Ed is unbelievably helpful, but he is a one man show. He’s now running a remote observatory business, servicing mass produced mounts from Pegasus Astro, and still maintaining U.S. support for 10Micron, so a delay in his response time can only be chalked up to the fact that he’s really busy these days. Through a few more e-mails, it was determined with 10Micron that whatever the issue was, it needed to be fixed in Italy by 10Micron themselves. At no expense to me, the mount head, cables, and computer were boxed up and shipped to 10Micron. It took about 4 weeks before the mount was fixed and returned. After repeatedly asking what the error code was and getting no response (in hopes to avoid the issue in the future), the mount head arrived with a sheet of paper indicating there was a main board failure and it was replaced. ![ No one but 10Micron knows what these error codes mean. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4800-format-original.webp) No one but 10Micron knows what these error codes mean. One thing is clear to me during this process. 10Micron does not want you to know the inner workings of their mounts, nor do they want you to understand what these error messages reveal about those inner workings. Despite Ed’s best attempts to help troubleshoot, he ultimately could not repair the mount which meant it had to go back to 10Micron. A long wait ensued since the mount has to clear customs and be worked on overseas. But it was free of charge, and only took my time. If you live in Europe, I suspect this is a much easier process. In an ideal world, where your mount is working as expected, the closed system of the 10Micron is meant to be maintenance free for at least 7 years before any service is expected. You’re not meant to tinker with it, as it should just work. This is a very different philosophy from the AP mount. If you’re the type of person that doesn’t want to mess with the hardware, this might be the mount for you. ### Astro-Physics Similar to my 10Micron experience, my Mach2 mount arrived and seemed to work fine, except that it exhibited a loud binding noise when moving only in one direction. While I could have called AP, they have a[Groups.io](https://ap-gto.groups.io/g/main/topics?ref=macobservatory.com)site where other AP users can interact with each other as well as company figures including Roland Christen, the owner and founder of AP. AP commonly refers to users of its products as “family”, and it is indeed a very tight nit group. AP is known around the globe as one of the top companies for producing some of the best mounts and telescopes in the business. They even sent me a thank you card signed by the whole staff at AP. This was a very thoughtful gesture. On to the issue…A post of the problem I encountered to the Groups.io board got an almost immediate response from Roland himself. Wow, I’m talking to the owners of AP, the main man in charge. How cool is it that he’s that accessible. Not only that, but he’s extremely involved in the community and clearly has a passion for what he does. After a few back and forth chats, and a recorded video to show him the issue, he Immediately knew what was wrong. Volume up on the video to hear the issue. Within minutes he had sent me an extremely detailed set of instructions on how to take apart the motor covering, and adjust the belt tension on one of the motors. This was fascinating to see and 100% contrary to the 10Micron process I had experienced which keeps you in the dark. With this quick fix out of the way, I got set up for my first night of imaging. My first night of imaging seemed to go fine at first. But intermittently throughout the night I started to get encoder errors on the DEC axis, and eventually I started to get motor stalls. ![ These error messages are very plain to see, and apparently mean exactly what they say. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2022-11-07-at-9-55-53-pm-format-original.webp) These error messages are very plain to see, and apparently mean exactly what they say. Another message to the Groups.io board and another AP employee asked me to get in touch with one of the techs at AP the following day. I gave them a call and within an hour he was connected remotely via my TeamViewer app and running commands on the mount to see what was wrong. After a bunch of testing, checking hardware connections, etc, it was determined I had to send the mount head back to AP. I had it boxed up and shipped off the very next day. Free of charge. They received the mount, fixed it in one day by replacing the logic board and DEC encoder as they were unable to determine which part had the problem, and the mount was shipped back overnight. I was up and running again in less than a week. In all, this was a very positive customer experience. If you live overseas and encounter an issue, I would expect the only problem will be overseas shipping and wait times as the mount goes through customs. ## The Hardware Despite the issues I covered above, it’s apparent from the moment you open the boxes to see how well made these mounts are compared to mass manufactured mounts. Similar to expensive audio hardware, these things are first and foremost heavy, indicating that you’ve bought something of quality. Every piece of metal is machined, nothing is a cast mold. Even the counterweights are machined out of blocks of steel. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/69215282631_f07a7cfc-7b38-4f93-98c3-35ea0240fb66-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2189-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2297-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2345-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4194-format-original.webp) The other thing that is apparent to me right out of the box, especially when I opened my Astro-Physics mount for the first time, was that Roland and team take the functionality of their mounts to the extreme, and have some very thoughtful touches that the 10Micron lacks. This is not an indication of the 10Micron being poorly made. It’s just that 10Micron seems to be content with an older design that hasn’t been updated in years despite some obvious issues. Not resting on their laurels, Astro-Physics has taken the opportunity with the Mach2 to ensure every piece of hardware is extremely functional. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2078-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2083-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4914-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5170-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2087-format-original.webp) The first example here is the clutch knobs on both mounts. 10Micron has opted for some very round knobs that when turned by hand allow your hand to slip easily over the surface when trying to tighten them. It’s such a problem, that they now provide a larger plastic knob that you slip over the clutch knob so that you can get more leverage when turning it. ![ NOTE: A kind person has rightly pointed out that this knob shape is ideal for snagless cable operation. But I still stand by my gripes of not being able to turn these things. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5177-format-original.webp) NOTE: A kind person has rightly pointed out that this knob shape is ideal for snagless cable operation. But I still stand by my gripes of not being able to turn these things. This seems like a bit of a lazy approach on 10Micron’s end. They’ve been making this mount long enough and had so much feedback to fix it, and the response was to provide a stop gap solution that can get lost (which I did recently lose the thing for about 3 months until I found it again this past week) instead of machining different shaped knobs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5178-format-original.webp) The Astro-Physics clutch knobs by comparison, while small, are sufficiently shaped to get good leverage to tighten by hand without slipping. The second issue I’ve come across between the two units, is the counterweight design and knobs. There’s a pattern here with these knobs, and AP seem to be masters at making well designed knobs. ![ On the left is the Astro-Physics counterweight and on the right is the 10Micron counterweight. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5179-format-original.webp) On the left is the Astro-Physics counterweight and on the right is the 10Micron counterweight. Look at the shape of those knobs. One is easy to turn. I’ll let you guess which one. So, the knobs are not the only issue with these counterweights, but also the design of them. The AP counterweight has a spring loaded shaft that the knob presses against to push a small piston into the counterweight bar and hold it tight. The 10Micron counterweight doesn’t have this feature, it’s just a threaded piston connected to the knob that tightens against the counterweight bar. This might seem minor, but after this equipment sits outside all night, and the cool temperatures take effect, the metal shrinks causing the 10Micron knob to bind tightly making it nearly impossible to turn and take the counterweight off the bar. Because of the shape of this knob, I often have to get pliers to grip the end to gain enough leverage to unlock the seized threads. While these are the largest gripes of my 10Micron ownership to date, Astro-Physics didn’t stop with it’s masterclass knob design. ![ Get a load of those altitude axis lock knobs. Large and grippy. Also, check out how close this very expensive piece of gear is next to my pool. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2084-format-original.webp) Get a load of those altitude axis lock knobs. Large and grippy. Also, check out how close this very expensive piece of gear is next to my pool. In the above image you can also clearly see the large cross shaped altitude lock knobs, easy to grip. Additionally there’s a machined metal “Tommy bar” coming out of the altitude adjustment knob, this allows for very minor adjustments of altitude while you lock in your polar alignment. While the azimuth axis lacks any large way to grip these knobs, they are still sufficient because of the push pull nature of the left and right knobs. Also notice the metal stanchion just below the altitude lock knob. This is a perfectly machined post meant to hang the hand controller off of. Very nice. On the opposite side is a built in bubble level. The 10Micron does at least have a bubble level, and interestingly the 10Micron has a machined metal piece with a velcro strap to hold of all things…a laser pointer. ![ The laser pointed holder. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_5180-format-original.webp) The laser pointed holder. While the laser pointer holder seems silly for astrophotography, for visual work it’s equally useless. It’s actually here to allow for rough polar alignment assuming your skies are dark enough to see Polaris. But, this thing has provided me some positive use as a way to strap and hold down cables that go from the base of the mount to the telescope. The GM1000 does not have any through the mount cabling, and this is your best bet to reign in control of those loose cables at a fixed position. The Mach2 on the other hand has two through the mount cable options, one is for USB3, and the other is for power. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2086-format-original.webp) Cables enter the back of the mount in a location that is fixed and doesn’t move. Then they come out of the top right under the saddle and can connect to your telescope equipment. Some might complain that this isn’t enough connectivity, but I assure you, you can get every piece of gear connected through these two ports with a power and usb distribution device like the Pegasus Astro Powerboxes provide. ***NOTE:*** *After reading this article Roland was quick to point out to me that there are many features to the hardware that are mostly invisible to the end user until you need to work on the mount. Great pains have gone into the design of these mounts to allow for “tinkers” to easily replace many mechanical pieces that make up the mount should they ever fail. The entire gear train of the mount can be serviced or replaced within minutes.* ### A word on the Tripods With both mounts, since I setup and tear down each night in my back yard, I opted for both companies recommended tripods. With the 10Micron it’s the [Aries Tripod](https://www.10micron.com/en/accessory/aries-tripod/?ref=macobservatory.com), and with Astro-Physics, it’s the [Eagle Pier](https://www.astro-physics.com/eagle6-ez?ref=macobservatory.com). Both are extremely well made. In general I found the Aries tripod easier to adjust the legs when leveling the tripod. They easily slide up and down along these narrow shafts, and despite the lack of knob design, these are the easiest knobs on the 10Micron to adjust. Both come with travel bags that can easily carry the tripods with a shoulder strap. The Aries also has a hook on the underside that allows you to hang the mount’s computer and hand controller. So while those are missing from the mount head itself, it’s taken care of with the tripod. Almost immediately after setting up the tripod for the first time, I noticed my 100mm refractor would hit the tripod legs when approaching the meridian, so I had to purchase the pier extension for the tripod at an additional cost. So make sure you get one with your tripod if you order this unit. On the Eagle Pier, the first thing that shocked me was how light it was compared to the Aries tripod. The Aries is heavy and a bit difficult to carry outside when the legs are out. The Eagle on the other hand is not only lighter, but has a handle at the rear which makes it even easier to pick up and move around. Because of the way the leg positions operate I found it more difficult to slide their position up and down to make minor adjustments when leveling. As a bonus though, I also learned that it comes with a pier extension, and it unbolts from the bottom (for compact shipping) and mounts to the top to give you plenty of room for any large refractor. I was actually really surprised at the ingenuity of this pier. The pier also allows for you to bolt the mount computer off the back of it with relative ease. While I did point out a lot of the hardware differences between these two mounts, they are convenience features, and largely do not have any impact on the actual performance of these mounts. In my usage, these mounts perform identical. ## The Software The software available to control and use your mount has the largest impact if you’re an astrophotographer. This is everything from the driver, to control software that manages the park positions, sky modeling, meridian flip and horizon settings, connectivity to other applications and more. My experience with both these mounts is a mixed bag. The largest difference between these two mounts right out of the box, is that the 10Micron does not come with any modeling or control software. Since all 10Microns come with a hand controller (which contains all features of the mount), you are provided with software called “Virtual Controller” which connects to the 10Micron and looks like a virtual keypad running in a window on your computer. From here you can access all park positions, location information, polar alignment routines, add model points, etc. The issue with that is that the keypad interface is recreated on your desktop and looks like a keypad. That means to access menus you’re using up and down arrows and the enter key to send commands to the mount. And this is an extremely poor user interface for a computer which could have unlimited ease of use options here with a better custom interface. Have no fear though, this has not stopped 10Micron users from creating software to address the needs here. There are multiple free options available ([MountWizzard4](https://github.com/mworion/MountWizzard4?ref=macobservatory.com) and [Model Creator](https://www.astromi.ch/downloads/?ref=macobservatory.com) come to mind) and some are so feature rich, they make the Astro-Physics solution seem old hat. Unfortunately if this is your first mount with encoders, it’s not a great user experience for your mount to come with no high-end software for mount control. It’s a bit shocking that this has been left up to the user community to solve, and if those users that do make all the great software for this mount get bored or retire from working on it, you’ll be left in the dust by a company that seemingly has no workable solution here. You might ask, why would this be the solution for 10Micron mounts? What was their thinking? It’s really simple actually. By providing the full feature set of the mount inside the hand controller, you never need a computer at all to do anything, including advanced modeling of the sky. So all software could become obsolete at some point, and all you’re left with is a mount. Well, this mount doesn’t care, and can still complete all those tasks anyway. ![ Behold! The computer interface for the 10Micron mounts. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2022-12-30-at-2-19-32-pm-format-original.webp) Behold! The computer interface for the 10Micron mounts. On the flip side, Astro-Physics includes a program called APCC which can connect to and control everything related to the mount and even build models (in conjunction with APPM). APCC is required for advanced operation of the mount, but you can still connect to and control the mount using only the ASCOM driver. The hand controller is optional, and can also be utilized in place of software. APCC has a long history of use with AP mounts. That brings with it, both good (lots of features) and bad (legacy issues). It’s clear to me upon the first day I set up my mount with the software that things can be improved, and this starts with the initial setup. The mount comes with two manuals, one for the physical mount, and the other for APCC. In order to get things going, I had to read the full manual. Some would say, “dummy, everyone should read the manual for such a sophisticated piece of hardware”. They’re probably not wrong. But in my day job, I do user interface design, and one of the goals in that role is to strive for the minimum level of complexity necessary to complete a task. The software clearly does not reflect the streamlined hardware design. In fact, in order to set up the software for first use, the manual walks you through the default settings required for the Mach2\. Literally telling you on this setup window, set this setting to X and ignore the second setting, etc. And it walks you through about 10 things you need to set as defaults for this mount. Why do no saved defaults come with the software? Why can’t I select my mount and expect that settings would get the correct defaults? ![ APCC, Astro-Physics Command Center software. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/post-220854-0-73713600-1557011933-format-original.webp) APCC, Astro-Physics Command Center software. ![ APPM, Astro-Physics Point Mapper software. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/appm-1-7-pointsandmap-format-original.webp) APPM, Astro-Physics Point Mapper software. The software is generally sluggish on my MeLe Quieter Celeron based PC. It operates only in Windows, and has no counterpart available for Mac, or Linux users. The software feels like it was created by engineers for engineers. This makes general use feel foreign and complex to the average user. And I would say this sentiment is reflected in the number of posts specifically about APCC to the AP Groups.io forum since I’ve been a member. The software includes park positions that are not recommended for use, virtual com ports for connecting external software packages through to the mount which can sometimes reset or stop working, these things seem baffling in this modern day and age. There are sliders, and checkboxes, and dropdown menus on everything. I’m sure, at one point, there was a good reason to do this. But over time, it’s led to a lot of software cruft. This is mere speculation on my part, but it seems this is the accumulation of years of feature requests and updates without a substantial rethink of the basic interface. In my humble opinion, I would love to see them redesign APCC and APPM from the ground up as a single piece of software, and completely redefine the interface for common workflows of its users. It should be easy to use, and obvious to us common folk. They should take advantage of modern cross platform development kits to build a package that can work on any platform. A rewrite would remove legacy cruft, and allow them to better focus the app while inevitably speeding up performance in the process. It seems like this is long overdue, but I have no idea what APs plans are for the future or if this is even on their radar *(NOTE: Roland points out that they are working on new versions of APCC that address user friendliness)*. All that said though, this software can be learned, and once set up, it stays out of the way for the most part. New software like N.I.N.A. now has plugins for AP and 10Micron mounts which can build models of the sky without the need to use an additional software package to perform this duty. So, you might ask, what could this supposed future control software look or work like? Thankfully I have a pretty good answer and it happens to be on the 10Micron side. While 10Micron themselves don’t supply any well made control or modeling software for their mounts, the users of those systems have stepped in to provide that functionality. This is [MountWizzard4](https://github.com/mworion/MountWizzard4?ref=macobservatory.com), and it’s logically broken down into some basic workflows and info panels. The overview panel displays the status of your mount, and there are tabs for the environment, almanac of objects, model building, model managing, satellite tracking, tools, and general settings. Newer versions of this free software provide even more advanced features. ![ MountWizzard4 for the 10Micron mounts. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/mw4-mount-status-format-original.webp) MountWizzard4 for the 10Micron mounts. This is essentially all the complexity of APCC with APPM and more within a single interface. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and gives you access to all features of the mount. Check out some of the[ YouTube videos by its creator](https://www.youtube.com/@orion49m?ref=macobservatory.com) to see what kind of capability it gives 10Micron mounts. ## Mount Performance This is the real reason someone extends their budget into premium territory. It’s about obtaining repeatable, reliable, and great performance even at longer focal lengths where it’s most difficult. Let’s face it, most mass produced mounts take a lot of work to get working well and reliably. It’s not uncommon to have good performance one night, and poor performance the very next night with no indication of why it’s doing that. Polar alignment, cable management, balance all become extremely critical on the cheap mounts. Imaging at longer focal lengths is even more of a challenge with these inexpensive mounts as they’re just not built with good enough tolerances, or mechanical ability to achieve decent tracking. These premium mounts add encoders for each axis. The axis can track at independent rates based on how much polar error you have. With a sky model the mount will know at any moment how precisely pointed it is anywhere in the sky, and can track accurately with no guiding at all. They can account for light refraction due to the atmosphere, and even changes in Earths orientation to the celestial sky. There’s no backlash and no periodic error to compensate for (the encoders do this work for you). The very first night with my Astro-Physics mount I achieved incredible results with no modeling. I had 0.14px (.39 arc sec) total RMS error in my tracking. This is a number unheard of with mass produced mounts. And the 10Micron performs just as well. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2022-11-26-at-9-14-44-pm-format-original.webp) Despite some of the hardware and software shortcomings, both these mounts perform identical. The AP mount has slightly more capacity, but other than that they can both provide extremely good results guided or unguided. Neither choice is better than the other in this regard, and this is largely what counts when you purchase a mount like this. Hopefully you can evaluate the information I’ve provided here as being objective, and clear to differentiate between the two mounts in order to make a good buying decision. You can’t go wrong with either mount, but both make tradeoffs in different areas. And depending on where you live globally, or how long you’re willing to wait for a mount, that might greatly influence your decision on what you buy. Please let me know if you have any questions, or if something is factually incorrect with anything I wrote above and I’ll try to correct the article. ### First light with the Astro-Physics Mach2GTO URL: https://macobservatory.com/first-light-with-the-astro-physics-mach2gto/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:45.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2078-format-original-1.webp) I’ve been planning for more than a year now to get an observatory build going on some property my wife and I own. It’s not quite been started, but will very soon now. In prep for what will be a 12 x 16 foot dual pier observatory with roll off roof, I got another premium mount. I plan on using my 10Micron GM1000, and the AP Mach 2 in the observatory. One will run the EdgeHD 11 telescope, and I’m toying with the Epsilon as the second telescope. This leaves me my smaller scopes to run on the Rainbow Astro mount in the back yard and when traveling. The Mach 2 arrived about 4 weeks ago, and my first light actually had a hardware issue with the DEC encoder that couldn’t be fixed by myself, so it had to make a quick trip back to AP for a repair, and return. It’s back and working great. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screenshot-2022-11-26-at-9-14-44-pm-format-original-1.webp) I ran a 3 point polar alignment with NINA, which got me to 1° of polar error. I probably could have tweaked it a little bit better, but thought that was good enough. Without any model, the guiding is pretty spectacular as you can see in the graph above. I have a lot of thoughts on the AP Mach 2 and how it compares to the 10Micron mount. The service experience, the hardware, the software. There are major differences in these two mounts, and they both have problems, and both have excellent points as well. After a few more imaging sessions I’m going to write up a pretty detailed comparison on the two mounts.[(I finally got the time to write about both here.)](https://macobservatory.com/first-light-with-the-astro-physics-mach2gto/) First target with the setup is M33. ![ M33, 85 300s frames with the ASI2600MC-Pro camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m33-format-original.webp) M33, 85 300s frames with the ASI2600MC-Pro camera. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2077-format-original.webp) ### ZWO ASIAIR Mini Review URL: https://macobservatory.com/zwo-asiair-mini-review/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T13:39:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/68806282908_cb9ea636-6caa-4c25-b85d-3c971861d6a7-format-original.webp) Update, July 2026 This review was written in October 2022 with an early production unit. Three things have changed since. The price is now $249, not the $199 quoted below. The 2.0 software update previewed below shipped on 28 October 2022, the same day this review published. One of its changes was Apple Silicon Mac support, which is what makes the next paragraph possible. Software has moved a long way since. Version 3.0 arrived in late July 2026 with ZWO's Telescope Network, which lets you connect to and control your rig from anywhere it has an internet connection, along with a redesigned home screen and Station Mode support for hidden WiFi networks. Version 3.0 also triggers a device firmware update the first time you open the shooting page, so leave time for it rather than discovering it at the telescope. For Mac users: there is no separate Mac build. The App Store lists ASIAIR as "Designed for iPad," and what runs on a Mac is that iPadOS app itself, which only Apple Silicon can do. Apple gives the requirement as macOS 11.0 or later with an M1 chip or later, so Intel Macs are out. Expect an iPad interface in a window rather than a Mac-native one. The hardware assessment below still stands. The Mini remains the smallest controller in the lineup, still four USB 2.0 ports, still no Ethernet port and no power switch. ## What is the ASIAIR Mini? The [ASIAIR Mini](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asiair-mini-wi-fi-camera-controller-for-zwo-asi-cameras.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) is ZWO’s 4th generation ASIAir device. This is an all-in-one device that replaces a laptop, USB hub, power supplies, WiFi router, and complex capture software for your astrophotography setup. The interface of the ASIAIR device is accessed through your cellphone, tablet, or Mac desktop using the specialized ASIAIR application. You can see my [previous review of the ASIAIR Plus here](https://macobservatory.com/zwo-asiair-plus-in-depth-review/) where I cover more of the basic operation of ASIAIR devices. If you’re familiar with the ASIAIR devices then you might be asking what’s new here? For starters, the ASIAIR Mini is tiny, it fits in the palm of your hand. You might notice from the photos that in order to achieve this tiny size, some basic hardware items had to be removed. There’s no Ethernet port or power switch. And while those two things were taken away, it’s possible to shut down the unit from software, and the WiFi remains quite robust for connectivity. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1978-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1980-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1982-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1983-format-original.webp) The Mini maintains 4 USB ports, 4 power ports, and a powerful WiFi antenna. In my testing the WiFi reach exceeded the ASIAIR Plus distance which already allowed me to control the unit from within my home. I was able to set up the telescope in the back yard, and control the unit from the front yard, a distance of at least 60 feet and through the walls of our home. The Mini’s USB ports are all USB 2\. While this is a downgrade, it’s not as big of a drawback as you might think. Large color images from my[ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)download within seconds after capture. Even during fast sequences like capturing bias frames or flats, the images were downloaded and stored on device faster than they could transfer over WiFi to display on my iPad. The largest drawback of going to USB 2 is that full frame cameras will not work with the live stacking feature. But those same full frame cameras will work great with deep sky imaging on the Mini. ZWO didn’t provide any reasoning for the switch to USB 2 only, but I would assume it allowed them to further cut costs and still maintain a very capable unit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1990-format-original.webp) ## Small in Size and Cost The largest feature of this device is arguably its “mini” price. At $199, you could afford to put one on each telescope you have, making setup of each scope a simple task of placing the scope on your mount. This might not be an option for everyone, but I personally like to maintain completed telescope setups where I have a telescope with control device and camera already tuned for use, and I only swap out the scope on the mount I want to use. One improvement ZWO could make in this regard, for single device users, is the creation of telescope profiles. This would allow you to save sets of equipment and configuration settings for each setup you use, thus making device swaps a lot easier. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1995-format-original.webp) ## ASIAIR Software 2.0 Update Aside from the new size and lower price point, the real shining moment here is that all ASIAIR devices are getting a massive software update with the 2.0 revision set to be released any day now. 2.0 brings with it a ton of new features. ![ The new 2.0 interface on an iPad. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0096-format-original.webp) The new 2.0 interface on an iPad. **Some of the new features you can expect in the software update:** - A new refined interface to address overall usability - A new mosaic planner - Dark library for your guide camera - DSO Image stacking on device - Object filtering by time and altitude for “Tonight’s Best” targets - Camera rotation assistant for perfect target framing - All sky polar alignment (no longer need Polaris for proper alignment) - Photo sharing within the ZWO network - Social features to see other astrophotographers nearby on a map In addition to these major features, there are lots of minor issues that have been addressed. One of my own frustrations with the camera dew heater setting not saving has now has an advanced setting to turn this on automatically. I’ve also noticed that after reconnecting to the Mini you don’t have to wait on the current image to finish exposure before you can see it previewed, the software now loads the previously taken image into the view port to check progress on your captures. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4823-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4824-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4825-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4826-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4827-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/311327070_5374670279248818_3973734548060749118_n-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/310492002_5374670555915457_4326260357049405747_n-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/309056838_5356986224350557_1961574317724882441_n-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/309873388_5356986917683821_7816812011054076718_n-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/313024850_5399350913447421_7133482331275589149_n-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/312577682_5386875268028319_3338557423431181744_n-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/312285386_5380925425289970_74730593460892425_n-format-original.webp) These refinements are leading to a more positive experience for astrophotography users of all skill sets. Even for me, as I began to test and review this device, I had personally never delved into making mosaics for fear of the complexities involved. The ASIAIR Mini and the 2.0 software update really gave me a very positive experience in making my first mosaic. ## Making a Mosaic ZWO’s interface is logically broken down into multiple parts depending on what you want to do. On the right hand pane of the window there is a menu item highlighted in yellow, which allows you to change the current mode of the device. - Focus: allows you to manually or automatically focus with an EAF - PA: Polar alignment - Preview: allows you to pick and view targets at will with any exposure setting to test things out - Autorun: a simple method for setting up a string of captures. This can be a series of calibration frames, or light frames for any target already acquired through Preview - Plan: for more complex unattended operations you can define mosaics here, multiple targets, autorun sequences per target, and startup and shutdown timing. - Live: live stacking operations can be done in this section, with each subsequent image taken in succession being aligned and stacked to the previous to view targets in real time. Calibration frames can be applied to the live stacking process for the best viewing by yourself or with an audience at outreach events. - Video: Planetary video capturing can be done from this tab with controls for exposure, gain, white balance and more. I didn’t explore Live stacking or Video in depth as I don’t often do that type of astrophotography. But I did delve deeply into all the other sections, and especially plan mode to make my first mosaic. Follow along the process outlined with the screenshots below. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0104-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0103-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0098-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0100-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0102-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0094-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0107-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0108-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0109-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0110-format-original.webp) At the end of my plan, there was a failure message. Three frames of my final mosaic tile didn’t complete, and there was no warning as to why. ZWO needs to improve the error messages to state what happens or a new user would be at a loss here. I suspect the real reason there was an error, is that the plan reached my end time setting of Astronomical Morning Light before it finished capturing the frames. Shutting down the equipment prior to sunrise was the correct behavior, as you don’t want to be capturing 5 minute exposures with the sun up in the sky. But I wish that the error message had told me this. One possible feature the ZWO team could introduce is a message prior to plan execution stating that the plan will not finish in the allotted time, and that it would need to continue into the next evening. Regardless of that issue, I had no trouble completing my first mosaic! I’m really impressed with this feature, and will set out to do more in the future. The end result is really great. ![ My first mosaic ever created. Six panels covering the Heart and Soul nebulas. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/mosaic-sho-format-original.webp) My first mosaic ever created. Six panels covering the Heart and Soul nebulas. During my time with the ASIAIR Mini, I managed to capture some other targets. Using plan mode, I plotted out the targets one after the other with unique positioning and sequences for capture and to maximize my use of the night sky hours. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m33-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/double-cluster-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m45-format-original.webp) ## Some Final Thoughts and Hopes for the Future I’ve tested all kinds of hardware and software combinations. My website’s primary focus is on using a Mac computer in Astrophotography. However, I’m also a firm believer of using the best tool for the job. As someone who is a tinkerer and is technically inclined, I’ve experimented with all kinds of setups ranging from Linux to Windows and Mac. I’ve also used every piece of software out there, from the simplest capture applications, to very complex setups using very complex software on all platforms. I’ve used NINA, Voyager, KStars, PHD2, AstroImager, Deep Sky Stacker and more. My setups have included every day gear from Celestron, iOptron, and Rainbow Astro on up to 10Micron and Astro-Physics mounts. In many discussions in Astrophotography forums I often see users with high end systems complain that the ASIAIR is cheap, and somehow cheap equals bad. This is absolutely not the case here. The ASIAIR Mini is capable of controlling even the most advanced mounts from 10Micron and AP. I also often see complaints of lock-in to ZWO gear. And while it’s true, to use ASIair devices you do need to own ZWO cameras, filer wheels, and focusers. These limitations do not lock you in, or prohibit you from graduating to a more complex setup down the road if you think you need more flexibility in equipment choice. The ASIAIR can be a jumping off point for you when you’re more comfortable with the complexities of Astrophotography. **The ASIAIRMini with the 2.0 software update is really a great option for beginners or the advanced. It’s simple. Easy to set up, easy to control, and easy to get good results. This is what we should expect from this complex hobby. There are so many issues to overcome as a beginner, one can get easily overwhelmed. The ASIAIR class of products makes a step in the right direction, and I hope others in the industry take note of what ZWO has accomplished.** **Equipment list as tested:** - [Askar FRA400 telescope](https://agenaastro.com/askar-72mm-f-5-6-quintuplet-petzval-flat-field-astrograph-fra400.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Rainbow Astro RST-135E mount](http://www.rainbowastro.com/rst-135e-feature-eng/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASIair Mini](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asiair-mini-wi-fi-camera-controller-for-zwo-asi-cameras.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO Duo-Band Filter](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-duo-band-narrowband-light-pollution-reduction-imaging-filter-2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) (for the mosaic) - [Askar FMA135](https://agenaastro.com/askar-30mm-f-4-5-triplet-apo-lens-guidescope-fma135.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) guide scope - [ZWO ASI290MM-Mini guide camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi290mm-mini-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) **Final Note:*Regarding my hopes for the future. I would love to see a new ASIAIR PRO introduced for true pro users. This device should be more powerful and have additional hardware ports. I would like to see features such as true GPS support, weather tracking capabilities including sky brightness measurements, dome control, custom horizons, and mount modeling capabilities for better tracking. In addition to these capabilities, I would like to see support added for non ZWO devices in the areas of focusers, filter wheels, cameras, power equipment and more. The increase in price for a true “Pro” unit should help cover the costs of additional testing required to accommodate more device support. A pro level device with pro level capabilities and the ease of use established by the current ASIAIR models would fully cover the hobby needs from top to bottom. I have no doubt ZWO could take the ASIAIR to the next level with a new Pro unit down the road.* **Disclaimer:*ZWO provided me an early production unit for testing and review. No requirements were placed on the review content, and I’ve been asked to return the unit after review.* ### ZWO's ASIAir comes to the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/zwos-asiair-comes-to-the-mac/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:17.000Z ## The iOS only ASIAIr application has been converted to an M1 native Mac app If you are like me, and don’t want to leave an expensive Mac laptop outside in the humidity overnight, then the AIR is a great option. It’s nice to use it with an iPhone or iPad, but what about us laptop users? For some time, as part of Apple’s strategy to unify it’s hardware using M1 chips, it’s also seeking platform unification for Apps, making it easy to port iOS apps to the Mac. But this has been a developer enabled feature, which ZWO has now finally enabled for the ASIAir app to run on Macs. Unfortunately it will only run on M1 native Macs, and not the older Intel based Macs. I installed the application on my Mac Studio and it ran perfectly. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-8-53-29-am-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-8-58-55-am-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-9-00-43-am-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-9-01-14-am-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-9-01-22-am-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-9-04-07-am-format-original.webp) In addition to all the basics you get with an application like this, ZWO has provided some specific application preferences. ![ Choose iPhone or iPad sized display. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-9-02-41-am-format-original.webp) Choose iPhone or iPad sized display. ![ Enable keyboard and mouse inputs for the application. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-9-02-56-am-format-original.webp) Enable keyboard and mouse inputs for the application. ![ Add the ability for it to use the location services of your computer to identify your GPS coordinates. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-08-01-at-9-03-02-am-format-original.webp) Add the ability for it to use the location services of your computer to identify your GPS coordinates. I’m really impressed with the functionality. They could have kept the interface very bare bones, so I’m glad they enabled some additional features through the preferences of the application. ### Father's Day Astrophotography Gift guide URL: https://macobservatory.com/fathers-day-astrophotography-gift-guide/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:21.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/fathersday-notitle-format-original.webp) It’s that time of the year where every father gets recognized. I seriously hope my kids pay attention! Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for your father, or for yourself, I’ve tried to group some items into a few categories below that are useful. ## For the beginning astrophotographer: These first two items are great to pair with an existing DSLR for awesome wide field nebula or MilkyWay shots. - [Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack](https://optcorp.com/collections/telescope-mounts/products/sky-watcher-star-adventurer-2i-pro-pack?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount Full Package](https://optcorp.com/collections/telescope-mounts/products/ioptron-skyguider-pro-full-package?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) If you want to get into astrophotography or astronomy but without all the hassle of learning software and equipment, the Unistellar and NexStar systems are a great path to get going. I started out with a NexStar 6SE myself. - [Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope](https://optcorp.com/collections/telescopes/products/celestron-nexstar-8se-computerized-telescope?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Unistellar eVscope eQuinox Smart Telescope](https://optcorp.com/products/unistellar-equinox-smart-telescope?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) ## For the more advanced astrophotographer: We have a few telescopes and advanced accessories that are worth your time. In fact the 6” RC was one of my first long focal length telescopes. Many of the images in my gallery were shot with this scope. In addition the Sky Watcher EQ6-R Pro mount is one of the best all around mounts you can get. With ZWO’s ASI071MC Pro color camera, you can expect low noise, high quality images with it’s larger APSc sized sensor. I’ve used this camera personally to take many images on my site. And last, but not least, the Radian Triad filter pairs very well with the color cameras if you want to get some incredible narrowband images from light polluted skies. - [TPO 6" f/9 Ritchey Chretien Reflecting OTA Telescope](https://optcorp.com/collections/telescopes/products/tpo-6-f-9-ritchey-chretien-reflecting-telescope?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Sky Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Go-To Mount](https://optcorp.com/collections/telescope-mounts/products/sky-watcher-eq6-r-pro-equatorial-go-to-mount?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO ASI071MC Pro Cooled Color CMOS Telescope Camera](https://optcorp.com/collections/astronomy-cameras/products/zwo-asi071mc-p?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Radian Triad Ultra Narrowband Filter 2"](https://optcorp.com/collections/telescope-filters/products/radian-telescopes-2-inch-triad-ultra-filter?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [William Optics RedCat 51II - Upgraded Version](https://optcorp.com/products/william-optics-redcat-51-f-4-9-petzval-upgrade?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) ### Advanced Imaging Conference 2022 URL: https://macobservatory.com/advanced-imaging-conference-2022/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:21.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/a1d66594-e5eb-4c31-b3dd-bb207468df39-format-original.webp) I managed to get away and take a trip to San Jose for the Advanced Imaging Conference. This conference is a gathering specifically for astrophotographers. You’ll find all the essentials of a hobby based conference. There are a few new product announcements, vendors showing off their equipment, and talks covering all the most important issues facing Astrophotography. All these talks will be published for free in the next few weeks by AIC on their YouTube channel. For new product announcements Pegasus Astro has their new NYX-101 Harmonic Mount. Taking on the latest trend of adopting robotics based strain wave gears for astronomy use has led to smaller more compact telescope mounts that can carry a hefty payload without the need to use counterweights. Almost all of these newly announced mounts are very portable, compact, and priced anywhere from $1900-$5000\. Pegasus lands right in the middle at around $2900\. It’s not the smallest of these new mounts, but is portable enough that you can pack it in a single travel case with a 60-70mm telescope, and tripod. Control will be via an iOS or Android app for your phone which connects with WIFI. Pegasus has provided some initial tests with a telescope as large as an EdgeHD 11”. Which is pretty impressive for such a small mount. It also aims to address some shortcomings of other mounts in this category by placing power, and USB connectivity on a non-moving part at the back of the mount. Additionally it includes a break for power loss as a safety measure. The gears are always engaged, and an unbalanced load can cause these types of mounts to back drive as weight shifts without power which can lead to a collision with the mount if you don’t have a break mechanism. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ffc7540e-9b8b-4d2a-a8ac-51c45f987022-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/855ead64-8b4b-4b79-86d6-7bb36850d64d-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6d326556-6cac-4775-9335-c12ff3e3d01c-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_4172-format-original.webp) Another new product at the show was the PrimaLuceLab automated scope cover/flat panel for larger sized scopes called the Giotto. These covers have a clever design where the robotic arm mounts to the lower or upper dovetail on the scope. They come in an array of different sizes and work on scopes as large as the 11” EdgeHD model. These should be available mid to late summer. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/71193d29-6497-4d0c-9bfe-552515bbe001-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/cf857f8e-a1f1-4646-a31b-7b39dc2f8bf2-format-original.webp) Last but not least, was Super Mount. They’re a Korean company who makes high end carbon tripods. They pair really well with the Rainbow Astro mounts, but they can scale up in physical size to handle larger mounts like 10Micron or Astro-Physics mounts with an adapter. The newest Super Mount is an ultra portable, short Astrophotography specific tripod. These tripods are very modular, and they offer a few different foot designs from flat metal anchors with adjustable height, steel tips, or rubber feet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/22cc9835-99e6-4cfc-a678-0fe29ee4aea3-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/b44a6c55-a4ce-47b6-bf80-799e13a45802-format-original.webp) ### INDIGO A1 (All-in-one) Mac Astrophotography Software Released URL: https://macobservatory.com/indigo-a1-all-in-one-mac-astrophotography-software-released/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:22.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-04-05-at-7-24-42-pm-format-original.webp) For some time now, the folks over at Cloudmakers.eu have been working to combine all their separate Mac astrophotography applications into one single piece of software. It went through a beta period a month or two ago, and has finally made it into an initial release. This final software suite is called[INDIGO A1](https://cloudmakers.eu/a1/?ref=macobservatory.com)or all-in-one. The software is a paid application ($54.99) which comes at a discount to their previous software which was $24.99 per application (Imaging, Guiding, and Telescope control, INDIGO control panel, and INDIGO script editor. INDIGO A1 can be used standalone running on your Mac connected to your telescope imaging equipment, or, you can install their free[INDIGO Sky server](https://www.indigo-astronomy.org/indigo-sky.html?ref=macobservatory.com)application on an inexpensive[Raspberry Pi computer](https://amzn.to/37kv0av?ref=macobservatory.com)at the telescope, and use INDIGO A1 to control it on your Mac from inside your home so long as both your home Mac and the Raspberry Pi are connected to your network. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-04-05-at-7-24-55-pm-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-04-05-at-7-25-03-pm-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-04-05-at-7-25-12-pm-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2022-04-05-at-7-25-26-pm-format-original.webp) ### Here’s the details of the INDIGO A1 system direct from Cloudmakers: INDIGO A1 is a front end for imaging, guiding, mount and auxiliary devices INDIGO agents. Its purpose is to control main imaging camera, filter wheel and focuser, to allow proper framing, focusing and capturing from a single batch of images to quite complicated series of images with different parameters and settings, to control the guiding camera, its guider port and/or the connected mount and it is a simple planetarium and telescope control application. It is actually[AstroImager](https://cloudmakers.eu/astroimager?ref=macobservatory.com),[AstroGuider](https://cloudmakers.eu/astroguider?ref=macobservatory.com)and[AstroTelescope](https://cloudmakers.eu/astrotelescope?ref=macobservatory.com)bundled together to a single process together with utilities like AUX Panel, INDIGO Control Panel and INDIGO Script Editor, so everything what you can read about these applications applies to INDIGO A1 as well. It can control many devices supported by built-in INDIGO drivers or it can use any 3rd party remote INDIGO or INDI driver. Out-of-the-box it contains INDIGO drivers for the following devices: - CCD, focuser, wheel, rotator, mount, gps and dome simulator drivers, - Atik CCD and wheel drivers (Intel only), - ZWO ASI CCD, wheel, focuser and guider drivers (doesn't work with non-S ASI120MM/MC, Intel only), - IIDC CCD driver (both USB and FireWire cameras), - QHY CCD and filter wheel drivers (Intel only), - SBIG CCD and filter wheel driver (Intel only), - Meade DSI CCD driver, - Orion SSAG/QHY5 CCD driver, - StarlightXpress CCD, wheel and AO drivers, - QSI CCD and wheel driver (Intel only), - FLI CCD, wheel and focuser driver, - Apogee CCD driver, - Moravian Instruments CCD and wheel driver, - ToupTek CCD driver (Intel only), - AltairAstro CCD driver (Intel only), - SVBONY CCD driver (Intel only), - UVC (USB Video Class, e.g. SVBONY SV205) CCD driver, - PTP-over-USB CCD driver for Canon, Nikon and Sony Alpha cameras, - Trutek (TruTech) wheel driver (untested), - Brightstar Quantum wheel driver (untested), - Xagyl wheel driver (untested), - Optec wheel driver (untested), - QHY CFW wheel driver added, - Manual filter wheel driver, - EQMac guider driver (obsoleted on macOS Mojave), - CG-USB-ST4 driver, - Shoestring GPUSB, FCUSB and DSUSB drivers, - Focuser USB v3 driver, - WeMacro Rail USB driver, - MJKZZ macro rail USB driver, - PegasusAstro DMFC, UPB, PPB and FlatMaster drivers, - RigelSys nSTEP and nFOCUS drives, - MoonLite focuser driver, - Optec focuser driver (untested), - LakesideAstro focuser driver (untested), - Deep Sky Dad AF1, AF2 and AF3 focuser driver, - Baader Planetarium SteelDrive II focuser and Classic dome drivers, - AstroGadget FocusDreamPro focuser driver, - RoboFocus focuser driver, - MyPro2 focuser driver, - ASTROMECHANICS ASCOM Canon EF Lens Controller focuser driver, - Lunatico Limpet/Armadillo/Platypus Focuser/Rotator/Powerbox drivers, - PlaneWave/Celestron focuser driver, - LX200 mount driver (supports Meade, AvalonGo, Losmandy Gemini, 10micron, EQMac, Astro-Physics GTO and OnStep dialects), - NexStar mount driver (supports Celestron and Skywatcher dialects), - Takahashi Temma mount driver, - iOptron Mount driver, - SynScan/EQDir mount driver, - ExploreScientific PCM8 mount controller driver, - RainbowAstro mount driver, - NexStarAUX mount driver (WiFi only), - Generic NMEA 0183 GPS driver, - GPS Service Daemon (GPSD) client driver, - HID Joystick driver, - RTS-on-COM shutter driver, - Unihedron SQM sky quality meter driver, - ASTROMECHANICS PLM aux driver, - Artesky flatbox driver, - Lacerta Flat Box Controller driver, - Optec Flip-Flat driver, - Geoptik flat driver, - USB\_Dewpoint V1 and V2 driver, - Lunatico AAG CloudWatcher driver, - Lunatico Astronomia Dragonfly Dome and Relay controller drivers, - Astromi.ch MGBox v1/v2, MBox, MGPBox and PBox driver, - NexDome Dome driver (based on G.Rozema's firmware), - NexDome Dome driver (requires firmware v.3.0.0 or newer), - Beaver dome driver, - Interactive Astronomy SkyRoof and SkyAlert drivers, - Modernised 2-m Class Zeiss Telescope Systems (ASCOL). ### How to remove sensor tilt from your astrophotography camera while indoors URL: https://macobservatory.com/remove-sensor-tilt-astrophotography-camera/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:23.000Z ## What is camera sensor tilt? This year marks my 6th year into the astrophotography hobby. Just about every camera I’ve owned has suffered from some kind of sensor tilt. Mass manufacturing methods without a good QC process inevitability end up with sensor tilt in the sensors. Sensor tilt occurs when the sensor is not orthogonal to the imaging plane. The sensor itself is not 100% level across the face of the camera, and is slightly tilted. In many cameras this is never noticeable when taking pictures of every day objects. In astrophotography, where we’re photographing stars that are expected to look like tiny points of light, this usually appears across your images by having slightly elongated or strange shaped stars on one side or corner of the images you take. ![ Here you can see a single frame of Caroline’s Rose shot on the Esprit 100 with a ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. Notice the tilt in the lower right hand corner. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/before-tilt-aberration-format-original.webp) Here you can see a single frame of Caroline’s Rose shot on the Esprit 100 with a ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. Notice the tilt in the lower right hand corner. I’ve used the Aberration Inspector within PixInsight to create a grid of all corners, sides and center of the image to show how the stars look across the frame. This is a single frame of Caroline’s Rose shot with the Esprit 100 and a ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. I debayered the color image, extracted the luminance and run the script on the stretched image to show these results. This amount of tilt is how the sensor came from the manufacturer and has had no adjustments applied to correct for it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/before-tilt-adjustments-format-original.webp) In this next set of images I show the FWHM Eccentricity calculations for the tilted image. FWHM in the top part of the image shows how in focus each area of the frame is, and you can see towards the bottom right of the frame the stars are less in focus. The same goes for the Eccentricity plot. Eccentricity is how round your stars are across the image. Very round in the upper left, and not so round in the lower right. A clear case of tilt in the image. Just to be clear though, tilt in your images can come from many things. Sag, due to heavy weight of your image train, a poorly collimated focuser, mirror shift in a reflector where the primary mirror isn’t locked down, and also from a non-orthogonal image sensor. This method of collimating your sensor will only remove sensor tilt. And there are variations of this method which can remove tilt from your entire system assuming you have rigid, threaded connections through quality parts of your imaging train. ## How do we get rid of the tilt? One way to do this, and the reason it’s taken me 6 years before attempting tilt removal, is to shoot images of an area of the sky with lots of stars, then make adjustments to your tilt adjuster, and take more images to see how things have changed with your image after making the adjustment. There is[some](https://www.ccdware.com/products/ccdinspector/?ref=macobservatory.com)software that[can aid](https://www.hnsky.org/astap.htm?ref=macobservatory.com#inspector)in helping you do this. You will read about many people attempting this method which is fraught with frustration. Hair-pulling frustration…while trying to correct for this under the stars in the dark of your back yard. In my case, during the summer months, mosquito-infested sweltering-heat which only makes the process less tolerable. So I just lived with the issue. Being a perfectionist though, and finally finding a method to do this indoors, I’ve undertaken the steps to remove tilt from my cameras after 6 years.[StarlightXpress published an article on their website showing a camera collimating rig they made](https://www.sxccd.com/support/maintenance-information/aligning-the-ccd-in-an-sxvr-camera/?ref=macobservatory.com). The advent of this post, and a thread on[Cloudy Nights](https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/775953-asi6200-tilt-adjustment/?ref=macobservatory.com)along with support in that thread from (@Peter in Reno, @rockstarbill, @corpze and others) got me heavily involved in this process. You’re welcome to sort through the gory details of that thread as we work through the issues of creating the rig, and troubleshooting how to make the adjustments, but I’m about to outline them below. ## The camera sensor collimating rig ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3721-format-original.webp) This rig, allows you to mount the camera from the tilt adjuster back in a rotating device (in this case it’s a mounted bearing with a 2” inner diameter), and shine a laser at the sensor window which reflects a grid of the sensor pixels, sensor cover slip window, and sensor window itself onto a flat surface. By rotating the camera, and making adjustments to the tilt adjuster you can effectively remove all tilt from your camera sensor. ![ The 2” nosepiece is attached to the tilt plate. In a mono ZWO setup as shown in the image, the tilt plate is in front of the OAG. In a color camera setup, the tilt plate is attached to the camera directly. Other brand cameras or some cameras don’t include tilt plates, and one has to be purchased and accounted for in your imaging train or you cannot make tilt adjustments. Gerd Neumann makes a CTU tilt plate that many like for it’s ease of adjustment. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3723-format-original.webp) The 2” nosepiece is attached to the tilt plate. In a mono ZWO setup as shown in the image, the tilt plate is in front of the OAG. In a color camera setup, the tilt plate is attached to the camera directly. Other brand cameras or some cameras don’t include tilt plates, and one has to be purchased and accounted for in your imaging train or you cannot make tilt adjustments. Gerd Neumann makes a CTU tilt plate that many like for it’s ease of adjustment. I built this with parts available from the hardware store and internet, and it’s pretty straight forward. It took me about 15 minutes to build once I had the parts in place. ### Shopping list: - 11 1/4 in. x 3/4 in. x 8 ft (standard shelf board or plywood) available in the lumber section of the hardware store - [2 in. Zinc-Plated Heavy Duty Corner Brace (2-Pack)](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-2-in-Zinc-Plated-Heavy-Duty-Corner-Brace-2-Pack-15442/202034088?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Mounted Steel Ball Bearing with Cast Iron Housing for 2" Shaft Diameter, with Set Screw](https://www.mcmaster.com/7728T65/?ref=macobservatory.com) - Two 2” self taping wood bolts with 1” washers to bolt down the bearing. - [Green laser pointer with mounting bracket](https://optcorp.com/products/universal-astro-green-laser-bundle?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [2” nose piece adapter](https://optcorp.com/products/pegasus-astro-adapter-m54-male-to-2-nosepiece?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - Tilt plate adjuster (either built into the camera, or purchased separately) This was the parts list for my setup, and the mounted steel ball bearing is very expensive at $250 or so. You don’t need this at all. There’s a way simpler and cheap method for accomplishing the same thing, but this is the part that I bought before discovering there was a cheaper way to do this. I found that my Moonlite 2” compression ring and some tube extenders I had laying around could have accomplished the same thing for effectively free. ![ As an alternative to the bearing I used, you can purchase some “2-3 in. U-Bolts” to fit a 2” compression ring with some spacers attached. You need enough spacers attached to extend the barrel so that it can be bolted down to your wood shelf. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3786-format-original.webp) As an alternative to the bearing I used, you can purchase some “2-3 in. U-Bolts” to fit a 2” compression ring with some spacers attached. You need enough spacers attached to extend the barrel so that it can be bolted down to your wood shelf. ## Assemble your rig Building the rig is very simple. Just look at the photo above of the completed rig. Saw your board into a few pieces, you’ll have more than enough. I would make the bottom piece around 24 inches. And the top board only needs to be tall enough to hang a sheet of paper on it (or not). I found the paper made it easier to see the reflected dots, and you can mark their position on the paper with a pencil to help in collimating/adjusting tilt. Your corner brackets help hold the vertical board, and the bolts are for bolting down the bearing or 2” compression ring tube. ## How to remove your sensor tilt ### Now for the final steps. 1. Remove your camera assembly from your telescope at the tilt plate back to the camera. 2. Thread the 2” nose piece adapter on to the tilt plate. 3. Insert the nose piece/camera assembly into the bearing, or compression ring and lock it down so it doesn’t fall out. If you have a camera assembly with filter wheel, just hang the edge of your rig over the end of a table so you can fully rotate the camera assembly in the bearing. 4. Turn on the laser, and shoot it through the open end of the assembly at the camera sensor. 5. Move the laser around to adjust the projected reflection on the back board so that you can see not only the pixel grid reflected, but the two bright reflections from the sensor glass and sensor protection window. (Note: you can peek your head and look through the barrel, try to aim your laser towards the center of your camera sensor or just off to one side, making sure if you rotate the assembly in place the laser doesn’t go off the short edge of the sensor.) Here’s a detailed view of the array of reflections. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/pixel-array-format-original.webp) You will notice as you rotate your camera assembly in the bearing or compression ring (you’ll have to unlock it to do this), you’ll see a series of reflections detailed above. All these reflections will rotate in circles. The only reflection you care about in this scenario is the pixel reflection closest to the two bright reflections of the sensor windows. Try and ignore the glass window reflections, and as you rotate the camera you will notice that sometimes the glass reflections will overlap the pixel reflection. The goal here is to rotate and make tilt adjustments until the collimation pixel reflection becomes stationary and rotates in place (no longer in a circle). At this point, your tilt has been removed using your tilt adjuster. ### Final Sensor collimation steps: 1. With the reflections in plain view as shown above, rotate until the collimation pixel is at the furthest point to the right and hold the camera steady or lock it down. 2. Now look at your camera from behind. You want to adjust (outward) the tilt screws that are on the opposite side of the camera from where the pixel is. 3. We’ve moved the pixel to the right most point by rotating the camera, so we’re going to adjust outward the tilt screws furthest left on the camera when looking from the rear. That should pull that right most pixel towards the center, making the circle of rotation smaller. 4. Continue to rotate the camera making minor adjustments until you get that collimation pixel as stationary as possible. Your results should start to look like the above video. I still have a very small adjustment left to make as my collimation pixel is still making a tiny circle. The slower your scope F rating is, the far more forgiving the results are. At F7-10 this result is good enough. At F2-3, you will need to continue to dial it in until there is no circular movement. At higher F speeds the tiniest amount of tilt will still show in your imaging results. ## The final results ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/after-tilt-aberration-format-original.webp) Here you can see the results of the collimation rig. This is Caroline’s Rose on the same telescope and camera for the starting shot. Now tilt is fully removed. Stars are perfect on all four corners across the frame. Here are some recent images I’ve shot with the Esprit 100 and the tilt adjusted ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/stv8jvehjhvr_16536x0_b9muqi8s-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/d3tk4z5apubb_16536x0_b9muqi8s-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/yt9iiwl0f0gv_16536x0_b9muqi8s-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/rdubyhiv2sll_16536x0_b9muqi8s-format-original.webp) ### Askar FMA135 Review: The Tiny Refractor URL: https://macobservatory.com/askar-fma135-review-the-tiny-refractor/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T22:13:13.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3651-format-original.webp) Update, July 2026 This review ends on an open question: whether adjusting sensor tilt would fully clean up the corner stars. The answer is no, and the reason is the scope rather than my camera. The FMA135 is not well corrected to the edges on a large sensor, and that is a known characteristic rather than a bad copy. Askar's own distributor is direct about it: the scope is at its best on 1" and 4/3 sensors, larger APS-C sensors may show aberrations at the edge of the field, and it is not recommended for full frame at all. I did build the collimating rig and [wrote up the method here](https://macobservatory.com/remove-sensor-tilt-astrophotography-camera/), but I am not going to write the FMA135 follow-up, because tilt adjustment cannot correct what the optics do not deliver. That changes who this scope is for rather than whether it is worth owning. On a 4/3 sensor like the ASI294MM Pro, or anything smaller, it is very good and remarkably small. As a guide scope it remains flawless and I still use it that way. On an APS-C camera like the ASI2600MC Pro shown below, the corners are your limiting factor, not your tilt, and no amount of adjustment changes that. If you specifically want 135mm from Askar, the FMA135 is the only one they make. For a compact wide field with better edge correction you have to move up to the [Askar FMA180 Pro](https://agenaastro.com/askar-fma180-pro-40mm-f-4-5-triplet-apo-lens-astrograph.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), a 40mm f/4.5 sextuplet at 180mm focal length with a 44mm image circle that covers full frame, an M48 connection at 55mm back focus, and a 360 degree rotator. It is a different proposition: 800g against this scope's 280g, fixed at f/4.5, and limited for visual use. I have not imaged with one, so take that as a pointer rather than a recommendation. ## The tiniest refractor setup To say the [Askar FMA135 telescope](https://agenaastro.com/askar-30mm-f-4-5-triplet-apo-lens-guidescope-fma135.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) is small would be an understatement. This APO triplet with an ED lens for color correction is the smallest APO I’ve ever seen. Askar has released this new line of small refractors called the FMA series. Right now they consist of the FMA135, [FMA180](https://agenaastro.com/askar-40mm-f-5-5-triplet-apo-lens-guidescope-fma180.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), and [FMA230](https://agenaastro.com/askar-50mm-f-5-5-triplet-apo-lens-guidescope-fma230.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), each name is an indicator of their total focal length. So the FMA135 is an f/4.5 135mm focal length telescope. The FMA135 supports up to an APS-C sized imaging sensor. **Technical Specifications:** - **Aperture:** 30mm - **Focal Length:** 135mm - **Focal Ratio:** f/4.5 - **Objective Type:** Air-spaced APO triplet with ED glass - **Adapter Type:** M42x0.75 thread for imaging, or 1.25” visual adapter ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/1614321951-format-original.webp) ## The Askar FMA135 is multipurpose Out of the box, the FMA135 comes with a mounting ring which holds the scope and has a finder shoe base. This can be bolted to a Vixen or Losmandy dovetail for use as a stand alone telescope, or it can be mounted in a guide shoe and used as a very high quality guide scope. The back focus requirements are 55mm, so this handily works with a DSLR, or most astrophotography camera setups. In addition, it comes with a visual extension tube which can hold an eyepiece directly or your guide camera when used as a guide scope. There’s a set screw just visible on the left of the scope which allows you to lock down focus. It uses a rotating barrel focus mechanism which is very smooth to operate. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3614-format-original.webp) ## Testing the Askar FMA135 For my initial tests, I paired it with my color camera, the [ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) as it is an APS-C sized sensor. I wanted to test how well color corrected the lens is, and how the stars looked across the biggest imaging sensor supported with this telescope. So far, I’ve only been able to spend one night imaging with this setup. I have been using it primarily as a guide scope for several months, and it is a flawless companion in that regard. I spent a full night, with two hours to two different targets. I wanted some wide field views, so I chose NGC 7000 and M31 as my targets. I do live in very light polluted skies (Bortle 7/8), so two hours are not enough time to do these targets justice, but there’s enough information here to see how the telescope performs out of the box with a large sensor. ![ NGC 7000 shot with the Askar FMA135 and ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-7000-format-original.webp) NGC 7000 shot with the Askar FMA135 and ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. ![ M31 shot with the Askar FMA135 and ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m31-format-original.webp) M31 shot with the Askar FMA135 and ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera. ## How does the FMA135 perform? Performance of this little scope is pretty good. I was surprised my targets were this bright after two hours of images. The f/4.5 speed certainly helps gather light quickly despite the small aperture. Color correction is very good. I can see no visible fringing on any stars all the way to the edge of both images. The main issue I can see with this setup is that flat field correction is not perfect. With such a large sensor, it’s imperative to make sure any sensor tilt is adjusted out of your setup. The results are not forgiving if you have tilt in your system. ![ Aberration Inspector from PixInsight reveals some sensor tilt. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/xw2cfy0tvttx_1824x0_n1wmx-gx-format-original.webp) Aberration Inspector from PixInsight reveals some sensor tilt. In the image above you can see some clear diagonal tilt in the system. Coma in the upper left and astigmatism in the lower right. Adjusting tilt will certainly reduce these issues, but can it correct it completely? For this, I don’t currently have an answer. I’m working on a [test rig to fix the sensor tilt](https://www.sxccd.com/support/maintenance-information/aligning-the-ccd-in-an-sxvr-camera/?ref=macobservatory.com), and hope to write about this in a future article. I also plan on trying out the [ZWO ASI294MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi294mm-pro-11-3-mp-cmos-mono-astronomy-camera-with-usb-3-0-asi294mm-p.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) mono camera setup which uses a much smaller micro 4/3 sized sensor. This will certainly make a difference in the corner stars without any tilt adjustments. The center stars are very tight, and focus was easy to achieve. Over the two hours, focus did not shift, so I’m happy to report that the small system doesn’t suffer from temperature changes in a way that is very visible. ![ Here’s a reconfiguration of the setup using the ASI294MM-Pro camera and filter wheel. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3713-format-original.webp) Here’s a reconfiguration of the setup using the ASI294MM-Pro camera and filter wheel. ## Accessories for the FMA135 One thing I managed to stumble upon was some very nicely made accessories for the FMA135\. Fellow astronomer Naoki (in Japan) has [designed and manufactured](https://stellartech.science/2021/06/24/fma135%5Fbase3/?ref=macobservatory.com) some very nice mounting brackets to take advantage of the 3 additional finder mounts on the mounting ring of the FMA135\. He has created both tall and short mounting brackets. I’ve attached two of the short mounting brackets to the sides, and a tall one on the top of the FMA135\. I have the [ZWO ASIAir Plus control system](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asiair-plus-wi-fi-astrophotography-camera-controller.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) on one side, and the [ZWO Mini Guide scope](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-30-f-4-mini-guide-scope-for-asi-cameras-30f4.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) on the other side. I plan on adding a ZWO EAF belt driven focuser to the top bracket to turn the focus barrel automatically for perfect focus. Here are some photos of the accessories attached to the FMA135\. **Total weight of this setup is 4.4 lbs.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3648-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3649-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3650-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3651-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3653-format-original.webp) ### ZWO ASIAir Plus in-depth review URL: https://macobservatory.com/zwo-asiair-plus-in-depth-review/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T02:58:47.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3601-format-original.webp) ## What is the ASIAir Plus? The [ASIAir Plus](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asiair-plus-wi-fi-astrophotography-camera-controller.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)is the third generation ASIAir product from ZWO. It aims to replace your laptop or mini-pc at the telescope, and eliminate the need for additional software, USB hubs, power supplies, and wifi router. It can be used for DSO Imaging, and Planetary Imaging, and is a fully automated solution so that you can image through the night unmanned (while you sleep). It’s fairly inexpensive at $299, and relatively easy to operate. ZWO touts the ease of use as a primary function of the unit. Lets face it, Astrophotography isn’t easy, and any device or software that can improve the experience is a win-win for everyone. The best part is you control it from any cell phone or tablet (Android or iOS) that you already have by downloading the ASIAir app. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/1000-plus_02-959x1024-format-original.webp) ## What’s new in the ASIAir Plus? The original ASIAir’s were based off the Raspberry Pi 3 (ASIAir), and 4 (ASIAir Pro), and while the new one is still based off the Raspberry Pi, it has a custom designed board featuring eMMC Storage, which provides faster reads and writes of the data, and increased system stability with the ability to reset the firmware and recover from software failures. The increased read and write speed means modern high resolution cameras work with ease. The other, and probably most requested feature was improved WiFi. Now included in ASIAir Plus is an external antenna for a stronger WiFi signal and faster communication speeds including both 2.5Ghz and 5Ghz speeds. It has a claimed working range of up to 20 meters. And if you have a physical internet connection, there’s a gigabit Ethernet port. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3598-format-original.webp) ## What can the ASIAir Plus do? In a nutshell, there are several high level functions the ASIAir Plus can do. Deep space image acquisition, Electronically Assisted Astronomy (live stacking), and Planetary Imaging. But here’s a full feature list of the device: - Deep space image sequencing for single targets and multi targets (in plan mode) - Live stacking (with calibration frames) - Planetary imaging with high speed video capture - Deeps space sequencing can handle both color cameras and mono filter sequencing - Automatic focus with a focus motor, or Bhatinov mask assisted focus - Guiding with automatic guiding calibration - Polar alignment function - Power management - Dew heater control - DSLR shutter release capability - USB Hub - Automatic shutdown at the end of a sequence - Target lookup featuring multiple catalogs; Messier, IC, NGC, and Sharpless ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0061-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0062-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0063-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0064-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0065-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0066-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0067-format-original.webp) ## How does the ASIAir perform on its first night out? About two years ago I was imaging with a MacBook Pro laptop connected to my telescope. I had the laptop sitting in a chair next to my setup, and the weather was set to be clear all night. I set up the equipment and went to bed while it imaged away. I woke the next morning to the sound of rain, and my heart raced. I jumped out of bed and ran outside to see my equipment drenched in rain. The chair the laptop was sitting in was concave, and had filled with water which the laptop was now sitting in. I freaked out, and yanked the power cable under the porch covering, and immediately started assessing the damage. This is the sort of lesson you only want to learn once, or if you’re lucky, you never want to learn this lesson. And that is the beauty of having an inexpensive device like the ASIAir. They’re easy to replace if by some crazy coincidence a stray summer shower hits you too. There’s no reason to ruin a thousand dollar laptop. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0058-format-original.webp) ### The ASIAir Plus software interface The Air interface is broken down pretty well. Across the top are a set of icons that get you into the basic setup screens for each piece of equipment. The WiFi icon is actually the ASIAir’s main window showcasing power management features. Next comes the camera settings, then guide camera settings (including dithering options), mount settings, filter wheel settings (with current filter selected), focuser settings, and last are the storage settings. Below those icons from left to right are the guide window, which can be expanded full screen to see calibration, and some basic guide parameters. In the callout to the right of that, you can see your current target, RA and DEC of your mount and arrows to manually move the mount with slew speed below that. Choosing the magnifying glass next to the target name brings up a search window where you can research and find specific targets to image. Each target is showing with an ephimeridies for your location, so you can see how long it will remain in the sky during your hours of darkness. The icons down the left side of the main window turn on and off the histogram (which shows at the bottom) the focuser settings (shown to the right of those icons), a guide icon which turns on and off the small guide window, then a button to plate solve, and a few additional tools like annotate (which labels objects you’ve taken a picture of). At the bottom you have a histogram showing the light you’re capturing, min and max light values listed as ADU on a 16-bit scale. Finally the words and icons on the right control which mode the ASIAir is in (like live stacking, DSO, planetary, or auto focus, sequence planning, preview (for quick captures) plan mode (for adding multiple targets), and autorun for running your sequence. There’s a big capture button which starts all captures for each mode, and an exposure setting, which gets overridden when using a sequence. Lastly the bottom right icon downloads your current image into your Photo library. Otherwise all images are captured and saved on the internal memory of the ASIAir Plus. ### Polar Alignment On to the ASIAir Plus operation. In order to run the system through its paces, I intended to use all the functions I could as part of this run. After connecting up all the equipment, I started with the polar align process. ZWO holds your hand for this, and walks you through the steps, taking images and plate solves to confirm the mounts location and angle it’s facing. It provides instructions and a crosshair with circle that you want to try and move the center of the mount to. While straight forward, I found as you get closer and closer to perfect polar alignment, you tend to overshoot your movements, and the updates to the screen are a little bit too slow to keep up with your movements of adjusting the mounts altitude and azimuth knobs. I think a small window with a live view here would be beneficial. Once I got the hang of it, I decided to settle for “good”, but not “great” polar alignment, dialing in that last bit of accuracy takes some getting used to. Previously I’ve used a QHY Polemaster, and that to me has a process that leaves me feeling like I got things aligned well. The Air left me with a feeling like I didn’t have as much control, and the accuracy of the final polar alignment was questionable. ### Guiding & Picking a target The fears of my polar alignment were unfounded though. As I next went on to picking a target to slew to then auto focused, and ran a guiding calibration. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0060-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0071-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0069-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0070-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3593-format-original.webp) The guiding calibration completed in a few minutes, and you can see in the guide image above my polar alignment was good enough for guiding well. My total RMS was .38”, which is well below my pixel scale, so no guiding issues were seen in any images I took. ### Creating an image sequence In order to automate a nights imaging, you have to set up a sequence. A sequence is basically a list of actions you need the ASIAir to do for the evening. That includes defining which filters you want to use, how long to expose, and how many frames to take. You have the option to perform a meridian flip when the object hits the meridian line. You also need to define what has to happen when the sequence completes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0068-format-original.webp) For my sequence, I chose my target, turned on the meridian flip, and selected Goto Home Position (this is what it does when the sequence is complete). I didn’t tell the ASIAir to shut down, because I like to define a sequence in the morning to shoot flats, and want the camera to remain cooled down and not off. The big plus button lets you add types of frames. These can be Lights, Darks, Flats, or Bias. For each you define which filter, binning, how many, and the duration of each frame. I’ve set these up here to shoot HA, SII, and OIII, 300s frames with 30 of each. *(Creating a color camera sequence is even easier since you only need to make a single set of frames).* Along the bottom the Air displays a time estimate for the sequence, storage size estimate, and time to Meridian flip for your object once it reaches the meridian line. All this information is important to know to plan your night. If you don’t want to image past the meridian, You only have 1 hour 13 minutes in this example. So you might want a sequence that only lasts 1 hour. It’s also important to know how many hours of night you have available. One feature that would be nice is to indicate sunrise time so that you don’t create a sequence that lasts through daylight. Once daylight appears, you don’t want to be doing 5 minute exposures with the sun up, or you’ll ruin your camera. I’ll often check my iPhone weather app to make sure the sky is cloud free, and what time sunrise is so that I make an appropriate sequence. *(NOTE: Plan mode has the ability to stop at twilight, so I’m not sure why it isn’t in this area too.)* Once your sequence is set, press the back arrow in the upper left corner, switch to Autorun mode, and press the big button to start imaging. The mount will slew to the object you picked, center it, start guiding, then begin capturing the sequence. Any focusing that needs to happen can be set in the EAF menu using the icon at the top of the main screen. Focus can be set to run at the start of sequences, between filter changes, and after temperature changes automatically throughout the night. ![ Here’s my iPad, connected up to the air, imaging a sequence from the comfort of my home. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/65379487105_e585d9a7-c5fa-471e-b818-7e92843cd2bd-format-original.webp) Here’s my iPad, connected up to the air, imaging a sequence from the comfort of my home. ### Testing the Wifi range With my sequence running now, it was time for me to get some sleep. The WiFi range had no issues getting inside my house from my back porch. With the previous ASIAir Pro, I couldn't go more than about 10 feet from the unit, and definitely not inside my home. I plugged in my iPad to charge overnight next to my bed, and decided to take one last look at my ASIAir Plus to check on progress. To my surprise it connected right away even though I was at least 30 feet away and through several walls in my home. Progress was continuing without my intervention, so I went to sleep. The next morning I woke up to find my ASIAir had parked my telescope, and was sitting idle ready to shoot some flats. I quickly made a new sequence of flats to match my lights, and set them to use the auto exposure mode for flats. Everything worked great. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3592-format-original.webp) The last part of the process was to pull the images off the ASIAir Plus, and process them on my Mac. They’re stored in a series of folders on the drive. In the main ASIAir folder, there’s a folder for each object, and inside that, there’s a folder for each type of frame, so I encountered one for flats and one for my lights. A few hours later, I had processed my first image off the ASIAir Plus. ![ The SADR star region. 10.5 hours total into HA, SII, and OIII filters. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3603-format-original.webp) The SADR star region. 10.5 hours total into HA, SII, and OIII filters. ### Conclusion The ASIAir Plus is a well refined package. It does about 95% of anything you might want to do with your Astrophotography gear. I only covered one aspect of its use: DSO imaging. I would love to test it out for planetary imaging, or live stacking, but I spend most of my free nights on DSO imaging. I’ve used the ASIAir Plus over two nights for this article, and encountered one crash (possibly self induced by clicking through the interface panels while a sequence was running), which disconnected all my external devices (focuser, guide camera, filter wheel, etc.). I was easily able to connect them again and start the sequence I had already created, and it didn’t require a reboot. I had one other issue, which could be addressed in a future update. I live in a 90%+ relative humidity area, and the camera cooler is so fast and efficient that cooling down takes mere minutes and has been creating ice crystals on my camera sensor window of the ASI294MM-Pro camera. I’ve not seen that before with this camera, but warming up the temp of the camera causes it to go away, and manually reducing the temp in 2.5° increments over about 30 minutes keeps the ice from forming. A lot of ZWO’s higher end cameras come with sensor window dew heaters that help avoid this problem. But the 294 doesn’t have that option. Manually managing the temperature by lowering it incrementally while using the preview function was a painful process. I’ve asked that they add a feature to the temperature control to lower it over a specified time frame (like 30 minutes) to help avoid creating ice crystals. ![ These black dots were tiny ice crystals forming on the sensor window during rapid camera cool down with high relative humidity. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0073-format-original.webp) These black dots were tiny ice crystals forming on the sensor window during rapid camera cool down with high relative humidity. ***I can whole heartedly recommend the ASIAir plus to anyone getting their start with Astrophotography. And some more advanced users might actually like the simplicity, especially if you have a travel imaging setup. It eliminates many early hardware setup trials and tribulations, and allows you to skip over the complex array of software packages that are available to astrophotographers, all of which have their own complexities and nuanced differences.*** The only caveat that comes to mind with this system, and it’s largest drawback, is that to fully automate DSO imaging through the night, you’re tied to ZWO specific hardware when using the ASIAir Plus. This is obviously a limitation put in place by ZWO to capture more business (since they sell hardware), but it’s also a support nightmare for them as well. Out of the box, the system supports most commercial mounts (surprisingly it includes some very premium mounts like the 10Micron, and Rainbow Astro mounts), ZWO cameras, DSLR cameras, and ZWO focusers. The biggest limitation for me is the lack of support for other focusers, power supplies, rotators or accessories like SQM, or weather specific hardware. Some of my setups use Moonlite focusers, and have a Moonlite focus motor attached. So the ASIAir Plus doesn’t work with them unless I replace my focuser and focus motor with a ZWO solution. It’s disappointing for sure. I like the ASIAir so much, I would prefer to use it on all of my setups. But, I understand it would be difficult for ZWO to suddenly be responsible for everyone’s hardware combinations (and drivers) that come along with supporting more options. ### My setup as tested: - [William Optics RedCat 51 telescope](https://agenaastro.com/william-optics-redcat-rc51ii-gen-2-51mm-f-4-9-petzval-apo-refractor-telescope-red.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI294MM-Pro Camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi294mm-pro-11-3-mp-cmos-mono-astronomy-camera-with-usb-3-0-asi294mm-p.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO EFW8 filter wheel](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-efw-8-1-25-filter-wheel-for-1-25-31mm-filters-2025.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrodon 5nm narrowband filters](https://farpointastro.com/collections/astrodon?ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO 30 mm F/4 Mini Guide Scope](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-30-f-4-mini-guide-scope-for-asi-cameras-30f4.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI290MM Mini CMOS Guide Camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi290mm-mini-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASIAir Plus](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asiair-plus-wi-fi-astrophotography-camera-controller.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Rainbow Astro RST-135E mount](https://www.tolgaastro.com/rainbow-astro-rst-135e.html?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Project Dumbbell: First light with the Rainbow Astro RST-135E and Celestron EdgeHD 8" URL: https://macobservatory.com/rst-135e-edgehd-8-first-light/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:47.000Z ![ M27, the Dumbbell Nebula, shot with the Rainbow Astro RST-135E and Celestron EdgeHD 8” scope. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/dumbbell-format-original.webp) M27, the Dumbbell Nebula, shot with the Rainbow Astro RST-135E and Celestron EdgeHD 8” scope. ### Astrophotography Portability limitations This image of the Dumbbell nebula is the culmination of effort into a project I started months ago. My goal was to put together a long focal length highly compact travel rig. I had been using the standard RST-135 mount with a 100mm refractor and my RedCat. But I wanted to image galaxies and small targets with the ease of that setup. However the +/- 30 periodic error of the mount made it difficult to guide longer focal length scopes fast enough to correct for the error. Trying to use an OAG with .5s guide exposures means very little signal on stars, and the guide rate has to be high on this mount to overcome the PE. ![ The Rainbow Astro RST-135 and SkyWatcher Esprit 100. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2390-format-original.webp) The Rainbow Astro RST-135 and SkyWatcher Esprit 100. ### A new mount, with new possibilities Queue Rainbow Astro introducing a new mount, the RST-135E. The same technology and mount as the original, but this version has incremental Renishaw encoders to help correct the massive PE. While this new mount was introduced as a way to image short focal length telescopes without guiding, it did open up a new possibility. The new mount has +/- 2.5 PE over the course of a cycle. With the lower PE I could consider a longer focal length telescope like the 8" EdgeHD and guide out any remaining tracking issues introduced by a long focal length scope. Of course, to prep it for imaging, I had to also invest in some accessories to get the whole kit up and running. Thankfully I had a ZWO ASI294MM-Pro with filter wheel and Astrodon filters sitting unused. The camera and telescope combination means the resulting pixel scale of the new system is .67". So the new mount needs to be able to guide with better RMS error than .67\. A tall order for this new mount. But experiments with the standard RST-135 were starting to net .3 RMS on some setups at the .5s guide rate. I need to achieve .67 or better at 1442mm focal length with 2-3s guide pulses in order to see stars and avoid the effects of any poor mount tracking with this system. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3304-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3306-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3309-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3312-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_3354-format-original.webp) I've had the equipment sitting around for more than a month now, with not a single clear night until last night. Rain and clouds have plagued us in the south, as we're trapped in some kind of alternate climate universe for summer. So I was extremely excited to get a clear night, and didn't put a lot of time into the image itself at only 5 hours total integration time. A lot of the early night was spent experimenting with tuning focus parameters and guiding. ![ The first night of data collected with the new setup. 5 hours total. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/dumbbell-f-format-original.webp) The first night of data collected with the new setup. 5 hours total. Seeing was poor after all the rain and humidity we’ve been experiencing, and on top of that sand storms from the Middle East have drifted into the Gulf of Mexico reducing our air quality. RMS during poor seeing on this first image was .64 total RMS. That RMS error was just below my requirement of .67\. Promising results that I hope to improve as I learn more about the mount. The resulting field of view is slightly smaller than my[EdgeHD 11/ASI6200 setup](https://www.macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11?ref=macobservatory.com), and is now making me question whether or not I need to keep that rig along with my 10Micron mount. I've been using my Rainbow mounts a lot. I can carry the whole setup outside without disassembling anything. It stays put together in my office during down time. Not only that, but[they can be fun to travel with.](https://macobservatory.com/remote-astrophotography-with-a-portable-setup-traveling-to-a-dark-site/)The 10M setup, while billed a portable rig, requires hauling lots of heavy pieces outside one at a time and assembling them. It's still the best mount I've ever used, but the convenience of the light weight stuff is so nice. ![ Overall guiding is fairly stable, though there are some excursions with DEC occasionally, and I have an e-mail out to Rainbow Astro to see what this might be. (Update: see note at the end of the article where Rainbow Astro addressed the issue.) ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/log-format-original.webp) Overall guiding is fairly stable, though there are some excursions with DEC occasionally, and I have an e-mail out to Rainbow Astro to see what this might be. (Update: see note at the end of the article where Rainbow Astro addressed the issue.) Then, we were blessed with a second clear night, and I was able to add another 80 5 minute subs to the above image and get a new result. This time I processed the image knowing how much signal was in the OIII images. I increased the contrast in OIII so that it wouldn’t completely blot out the HA signal lying underneath with lots of interesting detail. I’m very happy with these results, and hope to learn more over the coming months about this new mount and it’s characteristics. With any luck, I’ll be able to improve the guiding further to leave less room for error. ![ My final image of the Dumbbell nebula with a total of 11 hours 40 minutes exposure time. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/dumbbell-format-original-1.webp) My final image of the Dumbbell nebula with a total of 11 hours 40 minutes exposure time. ### Here’s a rundown of the gear used for this image and my final mount and scope setup: - [Rainbow Astro RST-135E mount](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/product/rainbow-astro-rst-135-weightless-mount?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Celestron EdgeHD 8” telescope](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-800-cge-ota-91030-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Celestron .7x EdgeHD reducer](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-7-x-reducer-lens-for-edgehd-800-94242.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI294MM-Pro Camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi294mm-pro-11-3-mp-cmos-mono-astronomy-camera-with-usb-3-0-asi294mm-p.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-pocket-powerbox-advance-gen-2-power-supply-peg-ppbadv-gen2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO EFW-8 slot filter wheel](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-eight-position-electronic-filter-wheel.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI174MM-Mini guide camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi174mm-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO OAG](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Moonlite CHL 2.5” Large format Crayford Edge Focuser](https://focuser.com/products.php?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrodon 31mm unmounted LRGB, and 5nm narrowband HA, SII, and OIII filters](https://cloudbreakoptics.com/collections/filters-by-astrodon?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Innorel RT90c Tripod](https://amzn.to/3kzGzz1?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrozap dew shield and heater](https://optcorp.com/products/astrozap-flexi-heat-for-8-celestron-edgehd-w-two-notches?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ADM Upper Vixen Dovetail](https://optcorp.com/products/adm-celestron-dovetail-vixen-orange?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) **UPDATE: Rainbow Astro released a firmware update due to a bug on the DEC tracking axis, which led to random DEC excursions. With this fixed, I now consistently get .3-.5 RMS guiding with this setup.** ### Some new images that I’ve taken with this mount and telescope combination. ![Venus - 3/25/2023](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-70.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/np4dwu/?ref=macobservatory.com)Mar 25, 2023 ![Moon - 3/25/2023](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-71.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/mh91uc/?ref=macobservatory.com)Mar 25, 2023 ![SH2-200](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-72.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/9o9qp0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 8, 2022 ![Jupiter/Europa Transit - 9/16/2022](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-73.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/w2hw0v/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 6, 2022 ![M100](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-74.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/0p7unr/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 8, 2022 ![M64: Black Eye Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-75.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/lfljqt/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 6, 2022 ![NGC 4236](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-76.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/q7i5oo/?ref=macobservatory.com)Mar 24, 2022 ![NGC 3184](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-77.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/vlvyie/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Mar 19, 2022 ![SH2-274: Medusa Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-78.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/nifyt9/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jan 29, 2022 ![IC 417: The Spider](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-79.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/fttm4w/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 23, 2021 ![NGC 2403, Caldwell 7](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-80.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/b8xse3/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 22, 2021 ![IC410](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-81.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/9w542u/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 20, 2021 ![M74](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-82.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/oztca0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 8, 2021 ![NGC 672 & IC1727](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-83.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/y6b4zr/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 1, 2021 ![Messier 33: The Triangulum Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-84.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/bus960/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 1, 2021 ![IC 1795: Fish Head Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-85.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ff9c1c/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 30, 2021 ![SH2-150: The Little Rosette](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-86.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/j1upw5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 29, 2021 ![NGC 289: Pac Man Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-87.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/7fqfbh/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 23, 2021 ![SH2-101: Tulip Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-88.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/gf27bk/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 25, 2021 ![NGC 7000: Cygnus Wall](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-89.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/fj1g7r/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 24, 2021 ![IC 5070: Pelican Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-90.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/dx66tc/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 23, 2021 ![IC 1396: Elephant Trunk Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-91.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/s9rm0l/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 22, 2021 ![M92](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-92.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/6mgf7d/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 22, 2021 ![M27: Dumbbell Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-93.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/o9rr97/D/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 19, 2021 ### Celestron EdgeHD 8" URL: https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-8/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T02:58:29.000Z ![Celestron EdgeHD 8 inch rear view](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd-IMG_3309.jpeg) ## The Challenges of Long Focal Length Imaging with an EdgeHD 8" As an early adopter of harmonic drive mounts (Rainbow Astro RST-135), I’ve had hopes to one day have a longer focal length setup to use with those mounts. In a way, I desired a portable long focal length imaging setup. The initial RST-135 guiding limitations made using a larger, longer focal length, telescope very difficult. With the release of the RST-135E Rainbow Astro suddenly made this possible. To read why, I wrote an article about my decision to purchase that mount and this telescope. ![Celestron EdgeHD 8 inch detail](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd-IMG_3310.jpeg) I primarily use my EdgeHD telescope for long focal length deep sky imaging. In general, Edge scopes have a few mechanical limitations that need to be overcome to support reliable imaging. The first is that the primary mirror moves position when you use the built in focuser. You may have heard the term “mirror flop”, and this specifically is that when you move the mirror by focusing it can shift left or right depending on it’s orientation when focusing. The second issue that crops up is what is knows as “flexure”. Flexure is the weight of the imaging train flexing under gravity. Why is this an issue? If you use a guide scope, and your main imaging train flexes as the telescope moves around, you have a mismatch in your guiding and capturing and this turns into a real issue at long focal lengths because any mismatch creates oblong star shapes. The same goes for the mirror flop when focusing, as it creates a shifted image after focusing or when crossing the meridian. There are a few things that can be done to fix these issues. The first is to install a Crayford focuser onto the rear of the scope. This allows you to lock down the primary mirror using the mirror clutches that are built in. You then focus only with the Crayford, and that eliminates any issues arising from mirror flop. The second thing you can do to eliminate the issue of flexure is to use an OAG (off-axis-guider). By installing this, a pickoff prism takes a portion of the area that your camera sensor doesn’t cover, and uses the main telescope as the guide scope. There are a few benefits to this. When your main camera and guide camera are utilizing the primary scope for both imaging and guiding, then there’s no mismatch caused by flexure. The image train can sag, and the main camera and guide camera are still both in the same position. Also, with a 1:1 guiding and imaging setup, you can more accurately track the stars and correct for errors in your mount movement. ![The ZWO OAG-L in position to pick off part of the light coming in the main telescope.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd-IMG_3369.jpeg) The ZWO OAG-L in position to pick off part of the light coming in the main telescope. ![The Moonlite low profile EDGE crayford focuser with stepper motor for automated focusing.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd-IMG_3327.jpeg) The Moonlite low profile EDGE crayford focuser with stepper motor for automated focusing. ## Using the EdgeHD 8" .7x Reducer Initially it was a no-brainer for me to add the .7x Celestron reducer to this setup. It increases the imaging speed, and provides for some more versatility. In practice, overall, I’m not completely satisfied with the performance. As I started imaging regularly with it, I noticed a few issues. My star color was very unsatisfactory, the chromatic aberrations is so bad that it can be very difficult to get realistic looking stars in your images. I also noticed that when capturing broadband images (galaxies, reflection nebula, and clusters) that I always had trouble correcting my images with flats. I wrote about the flats issue at length on CloudyNights.com until I discovered where the issue came from. The issue mainly stems from reflections off the metal of the reducer. It’s not coated in a flat black color, and if you shine a flashlight through the tube you can see light bouncing off the insides of the reducer. The reason it’s not as apparent in narrowband images is that the majority of the broadband light is filtered out before it gets to the camera. Removal of the reducer eliminates the issue completely. Regarding the star colors, there’s nothing that can really be done about this other than taking out the reducer. Without the reducer in place, stars look amazing and color is accurate across the board. My M100 and M64 images below were taken without the reducer in place and they are reflective of the quality you can get right out of the scope. The other broadband images all show varying amounts of discoloration in the stars, but otherwise look passable. I tend to have an innate desire to get my images as perfect as possible, and for me the reducer didn’t cut it. So, I’ve since sold the reducer and only image at native focal length. Some may say F10 is slow, but the aperture is large enough to let in a fair amount of light and not dramatically increase the imaging time. ![Narrowband vs broadband flats comparison with focal reducer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd-flats-comparison.jpg) Narrowband images on the left correct out perfectly once calibrated, but broadband data on the right always had strange issues with correction due to the focal reducer. ## Picking a CMOS Camera to Pair with the Telescope Last thing I’m going to touch on is the pairing of the main imaging camera with this telescope. There are a few factors that play into your choice here. One is image scale and your seeing, and the other is your guiding capability. Image scale is a function of focal length (with or without reducer), and pixel size of the camera with or without binning. Seeing for most places in North America are generally between 1.8-3\. You can get higher in some areas and lower in others. Mine averages around 2-2.5\. Using Astronomy.tools CCD Suitability Calculator, you can determine the image scale of your chosen equipment. After plugging in my parameters you can see that my camera choice (ASI2600MM-Pro) with 2x2 binning gets me a resolution of 0.76°/pixel with average seeing between 2-4\. Notice the indicator in the green area. You want to target a similar scale with your equipment, trying to keep the scale in that green area, too much below or above and you’re either under sampled or over sampled and wasting or losing resolution. ![CCD Suitability Calculator showing pixel scale](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd-ccd-calculator.jpg) CCD Suitability Calculator showing pixel scale for ASI2600MM-Pro with EdgeHD 8" One thing to understand about your pixel scale and how it translates to guiding is this: your total guiding RMS error needs to be smaller than your pixel scale. Lets say you have an inexpensive telescope mount, and your average guiding RMS is around 1.2-2.0 RMS. If you chose this camera and telescope combination that RMS is way above the .76 resolution of your setup. This will directly translate to oval stars in your output, because the guiding capabilities of your mount are not good enough to handle the detail being imaged at this resolution. Conversely if your RMS was 0.5 on your mount, imaging at .76 pixel scale, your mount is good enough that your pixel scale can hide any guide errors that occur at .5 RMS. So you always want to have your guide RMS lower than your pixel scale while pairing your camera to achieve good detail for your average seeing conditions. Using binning and a reducer can help increase your pixel scale to overcome your mount limitations if a new mount is not in the cards for you to purchase. I started imaging with a ZWO ASI294MM-Pro camera on this rig, but now use an ASI2600MM-Pro camera instead. This change was made to increase my pixel scale and account for more tracking error during poor seeing conditions. Here’s a complete rundown of the current hardware I’m using on this telescope: ### Current Equipment Configuration - [Celestron EdgeHD 8" Telescope](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-800-cge-ota-91030-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Celestron EdgeHD 8" .7x Reducer](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-7-x-reducer-lens-for-edgehd-800-94242.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Moonlite Edge Focuser](https://www.focuser.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro Camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mm-pro-astronomy-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI174MM-Mini Guide Camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi174mm-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO OAG-L Off Axis Guider](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Chroma LRGB and 3nm Narrowband HA, SII, and OIII filters](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-lgrb-imaging-filter-set-36mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Rainbow Astro RST-135E](http://www.rainbowastro.com/rst-135e-feature-eng/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Innorel RT90c Tripod](https://amzn.to/3xSgtMP?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrozap dew shield and heater](https://optcorp.com/products/az-122-flexible-dew-shield-for-8inch-celestron-hd-telescopes?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ADM upper Vixen Dovetail](https://agenaastro.com/agena-v-vixen-style-universal-dovetail-rail-bar-vr-180a.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-pocket-powerbox-advance-gen-3-power-supply-ppbadv-gen3.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [MeLE Quieter 2Q Fanless Mini PC](https://amzn.to/3yeEIGd?ref=macobservatory.com) ## Gallery of Images Shot with the EdgeHD 8" The gallery below showcases images captured with this setup, including galaxies such as M100, M64, and M74, nebulae including SH2-200 and IC 417, and various planetary objects. The EdgeHD 8" at native f/10 delivers excellent resolution for targets that reward high focal length imaging. ### ZWO Camera Sale URL: https://macobservatory.com/zwo-camera-sale/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:47.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/summer-sale-format-original.webp) ZWO just started their summer sale with discounts on a lot of their popular cameras both for DSO imaging and planetary imaging. The sale includes everything from the ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro down to the ASI1600MM-Pro. Some even include kits with filters and filter wheels. The ASI294MM-Pro camera is a great deal right now and has been[well reviewed](https://macobservatory.com/review-of-the-zwo-asi294mm-pro-camera/). On the planetary side, the cameras range from the 120s, up to the ASI462, which I use. ### Using Topaz Denoise AI for Astrophotography URL: https://macobservatory.com/using-topaz-denoise-ai-for-astrophotography/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:25.000Z ![ When the effects of Topaz Denoise AI with sharpening are pushed too hard the result is strange detail added where it should not exist. The dark nebula on the right is a good example of unrealistic added detail by the AI. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/comparison2-format-original.webp) When the effects of Topaz Denoise AI with sharpening are pushed too hard the result is strange detail added where it should not exist. The dark nebula on the right is a good example of unrealistic added detail by the AI. ## The debate over AI (artificial intelligence) based tools in astrophotography There’s a[massive debate](https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/774880-topaz-denoise-ai-sharpness-whats-going-on-here-art/?ref=macobservatory.com)happening[right now](https://www.astrobin.com/forum/c/astrophotography/deep-sky-processing-techniques/should-astrobin-lead-by-example-in-requiring-disclosure-of-ai-based-sharpening/?ref=macobservatory.com)across astrophotography[Internet forums](https://www.astrobin.com/forum/c/astrophotography/deep-sky-processing-techniques/topaz-denoise-312-severe-noise-model-do-we-have-an-astrophotography-solution-now/?ref=macobservatory.com)over whether or not AI based tools should be used in processing your astro images.[Topaz Denoise AI](https://www.topazlabs.com/denoise-ai?ref=macobservatory.com)is chiefly at the front of the discussion because it’s extremely good at removing noise from the image, however some of the Denoise settings come with an added feature of AI sharpening. When this sharpening is applied, it can have strange adverse effects if overused, or used improperly. See the above image example. The debate is whether or not software like this should be used at all, and if so, should it be a requirement to disclose you used it? Right now the results of this discussion are a mixed bag. Traditional image processors are very vocal at not using any software that adds new data that didn’t exist in the image you took, and this pertains to Denoise as well as sharpening. Others that are new to the hobby, argue that it’s fun to use and effective at getting them good results with little effort. I think I fall somewhere in the middle currently along with others that believe the power is in the users hands to wield the software and tools at our disposal in such a way as to not ruin the integrity of the captured image, but to limit the tools use for what it was intended. A good image processor will know and understand how to use masks to control what’s happening to their images, and will apply the effects of the tool in a way that doesn’t lead to misinterpretation of the image data that was captured. ![ Another example of Topaz Denoise AI with sharpening applied too judiciously. Notice the enhanced image on the right showing extra dark filaments in the nebulosity. This is a second example of the filter being taken too far. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/comparison-format-original.webp) Another example of Topaz Denoise AI with sharpening applied too judiciously. Notice the enhanced image on the right showing extra dark filaments in the nebulosity. This is a second example of the filter being taken too far. One thing is for certain though. The cat is already out of the bag as far as AI manipulations are concerned. Last year the PixInsight team incorporated Starnet++ into Pixinsight. This AI based tool can detect and remove stars from your image, so that you can process the object or nebulosity without having an affect on the stars. The AI itself then figures out how to fill in the spots left from the removed stars. The feature works fairly well, and has so far been widely accepted. ![ M13 with Topaz AI Sharpening on the right side. The smaller stars get sharpened to a point light. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/topaz-format-original.webp) M13 with Topaz AI Sharpening on the right side. The smaller stars get sharpened to a point light. ![ This image uses PixInsights unsharp mask tool to enhance the image on the right hand side. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/pi-unsharp-mask-format-original.webp) This image uses PixInsights unsharp mask tool to enhance the image on the right hand side. ### It’s here to stay whether we like it or not I expect we’ll see a lot more AI based features added to software processing tools over the coming months to year. There’s currently an AI[web based tool called Star Fixer](https://www.starfixer.org/?ref=macobservatory.com)that can correct your stars for tilt or coma. Photoshop already incorporates AI like features with it’s content aware fill functions. And pretty soon other software will follow. They might not even explicitly state the features are AI based. But we can be sure to see more of this stuff in the future. ## My basic processing routine and some examples showing how to use Topaz AI The process is pretty straight forward. After removing any light pollution and cropping out the edges from dithering, I typically do a masked stretch with the default values. You have to use a small preview window over an area that you know is pure black. This gets the stars to the perfect value (if you've not overexposed, this makes your brightest stars become white right at the center point. I then duplicate the image (whether it's a single channel like HA, or the RGB image). I make a duplicate image here because the StarNet process is destructive, and I sometimes want to go back to the original image before StarNet. On the duplicate image I run StarNet to remove the stars and make sure it has the star mask button is checked. This will give you two images. One that is only stars, and one that is only background with nebulosity. I then right click on the gray tab of the image and select Identify, and give it a name. stars for the star image, and starless for the starless image. I save the starless image as a 16-bit TIF file and edit in Photoshop. I carefully clone over any spots left by Starnet, this is usually just the largest stars then save the file keeping it 16-bit tiff. I pull that into Topaz and work the image until I think it's removed enough noise/enhanced detail. Then I open it back in pixinsight. ![ Topaz Denoise AI is extremely effective at removing noise from an image. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-06-09-at-7-25-45-pm-format-original.webp) Topaz Denoise AI is extremely effective at removing noise from an image. From here I continue to use CurvesTransformation to stretch each channel or the color image. When you're done with your starless image, and ready to put the stars back in, you're ready to load Pixelmath. In PixelMath you set it to single expression, and type in "stars + starless" without quote marks. Set it to create a new image, and set the appropriate color mode (grayscale for black and white, or RGB if you're making a color image). ![ The settings in Pixel Math within PixInsight. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-06-09-at-10-30-13-pm-format-original.webp) The settings in Pixel Math within PixInsight. Execute the job, and you have stars again in a new image. I've left out a ton of my personal steps I take to process images, but this is the gist of what you need to do. I will often on an SHO image like my Wizard and Bubble nebula process each channel separately without stars, then combine them in pixelmath like you would traditionally. Then I'll process a separate image in HSO pallet since it closer resembles RGB (HA=R, SII=G, and OIII=B). It's not quite RGB, but very close, and with some color tweaks they look just like RGB stars without having to take any RGB data. Then I'll run StarNet on that image, and take those stars, and add them into my SHO image that I processed separately. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/pixinsight-format-original.webp) ![ The final image of the Wizard Nebula using Topaz Denoise AI. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/wizard-sm-format-original.webp) The final image of the Wizard Nebula using Topaz Denoise AI. ![ Another image processed with Topaz Denoise AI: The Bubble Nebula. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/bubble-final-format-original.webp) Another image processed with Topaz Denoise AI: The Bubble Nebula. ![ One final processed image of the Heart Nebula core. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/heart-final-format-original.webp) One final processed image of the Heart Nebula core. ![ Montes Apenninus with Topaz AI Denoise and Sharpening. These results are impressive. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/moon-montes-apenninus-denoiseai-low-light-format-original.webp) Montes Apenninus with Topaz AI Denoise and Sharpening. These results are impressive. ## Leave a comment and let me know what you think of this controversial software. ### Some Amazon Prime Day deals worth looking at for your telescope URL: https://macobservatory.com/amazon-prime-day-telescope-deals/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:26.000Z There’s a lot of less than stellar telescope items on sale at Amazon right now, but I’ll link to the ones I think would be worthwhile. Most of the telescopes are cheap knockoff plastic products not worth considering, but there are some decent accessories that might be worth your time. - [SVBONY SV106 Guide Scope 60mm Multi-Use Finder Scope Guide Scope with Helical Focuser F4 for SG4 QHY5II ZWO SG4 CCD Astronomical Telescope](https://amzn.to/3j1LYOu?ref=macobservatory.com) $67.19 - [SVBONY SV172 Lens Warmer, 240mm Lens Heater Warmer Dew, 3 Gear Regulator Temperature USB Universal Dew Heater Strip for Telescope Camera](https://amzn.to/3gLzxVH?ref=macobservatory.com) $15.99 - [SVBONY SV121 Red Laser Collimator, Adjustable 1.25 inch Collimation Eyepiece, with 2 inches Adapter, Telescope Accessory for Newtonian Dobsonian Marca Telescope](https://amzn.to/2Uj8urP?ref=macobservatory.com) $28.79 - [SVBONY SV116 Guiding Scope Ring Kit for Telescope Tube Diameter or Finders 43mm to 70mm with Pair Ideal for astrophotography](https://amzn.to/3gLzSaV?ref=macobservatory.com) $20.79 - [SVBONY SV503 Telescope, 70ED F6 Extra Low Dispersion Refractor OTA, Micro-Reduction Rap Focuser, for Astrophotography](https://amzn.to/2SSTUqL?ref=macobservatory.com) $327.99 - [SVBONY Reticle Eyepiece 1.25 inches Illuminated Eyepiece 12.5mm Double-line Crosshair LED Illuminator 40 Degree FOV 4 Elements Design Telescope Accessory Guide Star](https://amzn.to/3cXX57q?ref=macobservatory.com) $28.79 - [Celestron - NexYZ DX Kit - 3-Axis Universal Smartphone Adapter](https://amzn.to/3xyeMlC?ref=macobservatory.com) $48.99 - [Celestron – Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars – Outdoor and Birding Binocular](https://amzn.to/3zLZ2NR?ref=macobservatory.com) $102.99 ### What are astrophotography calibration frames, and why should I use them? URL: https://macobservatory.com/astrophotography-calibration-frames-guide/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:48.000Z ## Understanding Calibration Frames in Astrophotography: A Beginner's Guide When you get your start in astrophotography, the complexity can quickly become overwhelming. You’re often happy if you can capture an image at all, let alone a bunch of calibration frames. But calibration frames are an important aspect of astrophotography. And their purpose is to make your images of the sky a lot better by removing the unwanted parts of your images such as dust, heat noise, camera bias noise and amp glow, so that your final deep sky image is free of artifacts and imperfections. ## How are calibration frames used? Calibration frames are used to calibrate against each other, as well as your light frames. A series of 25-50 of each calibration type (Bias or Flat Dark, Dark, and Flat) are typically taken then stacked together to end up with a single master image for each calibration type. Each type of calibration frame serves a purpose, and I’ll outline them all below. ## Light frames ![ A single uncalibrated light frame. Note the amp glow on the upper right, and sensor mottling that will be corrected out. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-04-20-at-3-20-28-pm-format-original.webp) A single uncalibrated light frame. Note the amp glow on the upper right, and sensor mottling that will be corrected out. Light frames are the images you take of deep sky objects. These are not calibration frames, but the frames you’re going to calibrate with calibration frames. Taking long exposures of deep sky objects will reveal many issues with your equipment. This includes issues introduced by the telescope, image train (reducer, spacers, filters, etc), and camera. Each type of calibration frame plays a role in removing these issues. It’s important when taking light frames to remember the gain/offset or ISO value you used, as well as the camera temperature if it has temperature control, and the exposure length. All these values apply in some way to your calibration frames. ## Bias Frames: The Quick Fix for Sensor Noise ![ A single bias frame showing the bias noise signal. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-04-20-at-3-15-53-pm-format-original.webp) A single bias frame showing the bias noise signal. A bias frame is an image taken while the camera is covered, with a minimum exposure set. Typically, the bias frame is capturing noise generated by the camera. When electricity flows through the sensor to take an image, a certain amount of noise is generated from that flow of electricity. This is called the bias signal. All cameras produce some type of bias noise from that electrical charge, and the goal of bias calibration frames it to remove that low level noise. To take this type of calibration frame, you cover your camera so that no light can leak into the image, and set it for the shortest possible exposure time. I’ve generally settled on 0.05 seconds as my exposure for bias. It’s best to take between 25-50 of these frames. - Taken in the dark (with lens cap) - Same gain/offset or ISO as your lights - Same temperature as your lights - .05 second exposure - 25-50 total frames captured ## Dark Frames: Eliminating Thermal Noise ![ A single dark frame showing amp glow and heated pixels on the camera sensor. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-04-20-at-3-16-18-pm-format-original.webp) A single dark frame showing amp glow and heated pixels on the camera sensor. These frames are meant to correct out heat noise, in your images as well as amp glow from the sensor itself. As the camera sensor begins to heat up during a long exposure, hot pixels and heat glow from the sensor begin to appear in your images. A dark frame is a frame that is taken with the camera or telescope covered, and exposure and temperature set to the same as your light frames. For these to be effective, no stray light should enter the camera sensor. Dark frames are taken to match the light frames in exposure and temperature so that you can reverse the effects of heat introduced noise from your light frames. It’s best to take between 25-50 of these frames. - Taken in the dark (with lens cap) - Same gain/offset or ISO as your lights - Same temperature as your lights - Same exposure time as your lights - 25-50 total frames captured ## Flat Frames: Correcting Vignetting and Dust ![ A single flat frame which shows some reflective mottling that appears on the sensor of the IMX492. Luckily my image train is free of dust, but if you had dust in your image train, it typically appears as gray donut shapes spread over the imaging area. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-04-20-at-3-16-34-pm-format-original.webp) A single flat frame which shows some reflective mottling that appears on the sensor of the IMX492\. Luckily my image train is free of dust, but if you had dust in your image train, it typically appears as gray donut shapes spread over the imaging area. Flat frames are a type of light frame, taken with an [evenly illuminated light panel ](https://macobservatory.com/how-to-take-easy-flats-using-an-inexpensive-light-source/)to correct for minor vignette, sensor mottling (if any), as well as dust and other stray particles that get into your imaging train (on reducers, the sensor window, or filters). This type of calibration frame tends to be the trickiest to capture properly. It’s recommended you use the same gain/offset or ISO as your lights, and expose to a median ADU value of 32,000, or half way on the histogram. What makes these tricky is you have to exactly replicate the placement of filters, and your camera relative to how your lights were taken. This is why it’s always recommended to shoot flats immediately after shooting your lights, and before you dismantle your equipment. Any bump to the image train mounted to your telescope could result in dislodging dust, or rotating the camera just enough that these frames will not correct out the issues you see in your lights. In fact, if something has indeed changed since taking your light frames, flat frames can often make your calibrated image worse. - Taken with an [evenly illuminated flat panel](https://macobservatory.com/how-to-take-easy-flats-using-an-inexpensive-light-source/) (or against the sky at dawn or dusk). - Same gain/offset or ISO as your lights - Same temperature as your lights - Exposure set to median ADU value of 32,500, or the mid point of your camera histogram - For one shot color cameras, you only need 1 set of flat frames, for mono, or filter use (even on color cameras) you need 1 set of flat frames for each filter used with the camera. - 25-50 total frames captured ## Flat Dark Frames: A Special Case Some cameras don’t respond reliably to short exposures. A few cameras that suffer from this issue are the cameras that use the IMX294 and IMX492 Sony sensors, but there may be others. On these cameras, bias frames will not properly calibrate against your flats. And this will result in flats that don’t properly correct your light frames. So, a flat dark frame is a ***substitute for bias frames on cameras that require them***. These frames are taken with the camera covered like a bias frame, but instead of a short exposure, you need to take it for the same length of time that you exposed your flat frames. If your flat frame took 2.5 seconds to expose, then you need to take a flat dark at 2.5 seconds as well. - Only used if bias frames don’t properly calibrate your flats (you’ll know if your flats overcorrect your light frames) - Taken in the dark (with lens cap) - Same gain/offset or ISO as your lights - Same temperature as your lights - Same exposure length as your flats - 25-50 total frames captured ![ A well calibrated stacked set of light frames. This is the result you will aim for in calibrating your images. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-04-20-at-3-16-49-pm-format-original.webp) A well calibrated stacked set of light frames. This is the result you will aim for in calibrating your images. ## Best Practices for Calibration Frames: - Bias and dark frames can be reused, after you process and stack them into master frames, for future calibration runs. I generally replace these with new frames every 6 months to a year as the characteristics of your camera don’t often change much over time. - I recommend you take all your calibration frames in the same application that you take your lights. Some programs will write different information into the header of the image files, and when processing sometimes PixInsight or Astro Pixel Processor doesn't know what to do with the frames, and throw an error, or it results in uncalibrated frames. - Always take your flat frames at the end of an imaging run. Dust can move throughout an imaging session. You also run the risk of bumping your camera when dismantling your setup to bring it indoors. So it’s better to take your flats before you move your telescope. - All calibration frames require the exact same gain/offset or ISO, and temperature as your light frames, or they will not work properly. - [Here’s a tutorial I wrote on taking flat frames.](https://macobservatory.com/how-to-take-easy-flats-using-an-inexpensive-light-source/) - [Here’s a tutorial I wrote on calibrating your images in Astro Pixel Processor.](https://macobservatory.com/processing-a-bi-color-narrowband-astronomy-image-in-astro-pixel-processor-on-the-mac/) ### Imaging the moon with a Celestron C5 Spotting Scope URL: https://macobservatory.com/imaging-the-moon-with-a-celestron-c5-spotting-scope/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:27.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0150_2-moon_lapl4_ap6872-format-original.webp) ## Taking Photos of the Moon This past week the moon was directly overhead. A cold front had just come through and cleared out the clouds giving us some good transparency and seeing here in the south. I swapped out my normal imaging scope (the SkyWatcher Esprit 100) for my Celestron C5 Spotting scope. While Celestron considers this a spotting scope, it is a Schmidt Cassegrain telescope, and is in fact the same telescope that is used in the NexStar 5SE package that they sell. For its size, it’s extremely well made, and provides very crisp sharp views. ![ The Celestron C5, set up and aimed at the moon prior to dusk. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2878-format-original.webp) The Celestron C5, set up and aimed at the moon prior to dusk. I prepped for the imaging session by aligning my mount, and targeting the Moon. Then I got out a chair and enjoyed some visual views through my Tele Vue Delos 10mm eye piece before getting to the imaging. For imaging, I connected up the ZWO ASI462MC camera, to my Mac Book Pro using a USB to USBC adapter that Apple makes. Then booted up ASICap, which is part of the ASIStudio imaging suite from ZWO to capture the images. I set my frame rate down into the low 20 MS and gain between 0-200 until I found the right balance of speed and contrast. On the moon it’s easy to blow out parts of the images (like highlights of light on craters), so I keep the histogram towards the left (dark) half to ensure I don’t wash out any parts of the image. I know I can always go back in post processing to brighten up the mid-tones of my images if I need to. I shot a few images at the native focal length of the telescope (1250mm), then put in a Tele Vue PowerMate 2.5x to more than double the focal length to a whopping 3125mm! This also more than doubles the F ratio from F10 to F25, and requires a refocus and changes to the gain and capture speed to reflect the slower speed of the scopes light gathering abilities at F25. **My imaging equipment for the session:** - [Rainbow Astro RST-135 mount](http://www.rainbowastro.com/rst-135/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Celestron C5 Spotting scope](https://optcorp.com/products/celestron-5-schmidt-cassegrain-spotting-scope?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO ASI462MC camera](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi-462mc-color-cmos-telescope-camera?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO UV/IR Cut filter](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-2-uv-ir-cut-filter?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Tele Vue PowerMate 2.5x](https://optcorp.com/products/tele-vue-2-5x-1-25-inch-powermate?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0130_4-moon_lapl4_ap9214-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0132_5-moon_lapl4_ap5977-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0135_2-moon_lapl4_ap2236-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0138_5-moon_lapl4_ap9301-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0140_2-moon_lapl4_ap7516-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0142_5-moon_lapl4_ap6134-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0143_9-moon_lapl4_ap1831-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0145_6-moon_lapl4_ap2127-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0148_1-moon_lapl4_ap2565-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/2021-03-22-0148_9-moon_lapl4_ap9951-format-original.webp) ### QuickFits 1.0 released with Finder QuickLook for Fits files URL: https://macobservatory.com/quickfits-10-released-with-finder-quicklook-for-fits-files/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:18.000Z QuickFits is a nice little application for the Mac that will debayer, auto stretch and preview your images right from the finder. This makes for a very nice way to “blink” through your images as you take them and inspect for possible rejects or anomalies you might have captured. It will also read the fits header and display the Time taken, exposure length, temperature, and gain setting of the camera. Additionally, you can set your finder window to thumbnail view and inspect for any that might have had thin clouds pass through. It’s available in the[App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quickfits/id1551075981?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com)at this link for free, for a limited time. ![ Here the finder is set to thumbnail view. This makes it easy to inspect thin cloud layers on frames by being able to compare the background lightness of a group of images. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-02-13-at-5-59-54-pm-format-original.webp) Here the finder is set to thumbnail view. This makes it easy to inspect thin cloud layers on frames by being able to compare the background lightness of a group of images. ![ You can preview one shot color fits images as well. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2021-02-13-at-6-07-26-pm-format-original.webp) You can preview one shot color fits images as well. ### Affinity Photo 1.9 adds astrophotography workflow support with stacking and calibration URL: https://macobservatory.com/affinity-photo-astrophotography-stacking/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:28.000Z A new astrophotography processing contender[Affinity Photo](https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/?ref=macobservatory.com)has entered the Mac…and PC race. Affinity introduced it’s suite of applications to compete against Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator a few years ago. They are extremely capable applications and in their effort to remain competitive come at a very nice discount in pricing compared to Adobe’s applications. Currently Affinity Photo is for sale at a 50% discount. They’ve recently upped their game to add features beyond Photoshop’s set of tools by getting into the Astrophotography realm with the following new features in their 1.9 update: - Dedicated Persona for stacking - RAW and FITS image support - Stack light and calibration frames (dark/dark flat/flat/bias) - Stack, tone stretch and retouch entirely in 32-bit - Stack files from different sessions using file groups - Create full color, composite (HaRGB, SHO), grayscale or false color images One advantage to Affinity Photo compared to existing astrophotography stacking and calibration applications is that it takes advantage of the GPU in your Mac for very fast processing and stacking. I calibrated and stacked a set of 12 images in about 1-2 minutes on my iMac Pro. This compares to about 10 minutes in APP and PixInsight. Not only does this program calibrate and stack your images, but it’s a full fledged photo editing program, so you have all the tools at your disposal for stretching, sharpening, color enhancement, mask manipulation, and more with a vastly superior interface for ease of use. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/desktopaffinity-format-original.webp) Here’s a set of tutorials to get you up and running with Affinity Photo’s new features. - [Astrophotography stacking: One shot colour processing](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/desktop/video/504455362/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrophotography stacking: LRGB composition](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/desktop/video/504455079/?ref=macobservatory.com) (mono cameras) - [Astrophotography stacking: HaRGB composition](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/desktop/video/504454921/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrophotography stacking: Bicolour composition](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/desktop/video/504454782/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrophotography stacking: Monochrome colour mapping](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/desktop/video/504455200/?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Astrophotography stacking: SHO composition](https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/tutorials/photo/desktop/video/504454666/?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Remote astrophotography with a portable setup: traveling to a dark site URL: https://macobservatory.com/portable-astrophotography-dark-site/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:49.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2521-format-original.webp) For some time now, I had been planning on taking my[portable astrophotography rig](https://macobservatory.com/a-modern-portable-astrophotography-setup-with-the-rainbow-astro-rst-135/)to a dark site. During the Thanksgiving holiday, my family and I thought we would do the best kind of social distancing during this pandemic, and that was to rent a home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This home bordered on the mountains and backed up to a forest preserve which gave us pretty dark skies. We weren’t in completely dark skies, as fortune would have it, this was during a full moon. But, the skies were still plenty dark so long as I could image far enough away from the moon as possible. ## Travel preparation To prepare for the trip, I wanted to see if I could get my entire setup inside a[Pelican Air 1615 travel case](https://amzn.to/2Ks8fWu?ref=macobservatory.com). This would pack away nicely in the SUV, and double as a great air travel case. I had already purchased one for a trip I did to Hawaii a few years ago where I took my iOptron Cube Pro and Astro-Tech AT60ED for visual viewing of nebulas in a dark sky, but I had never done photography away from my back yard. To start the process, I reexamined my existing portable setup with the Moonlite focuser attached to it. It’s big and bulky, and I had a spotting scope on there too which was big and bulky. This setup also required a few additional power supplies and a StellarMate to control everything, plus a laptop to control the StellarMate. ## Using the ASIAir Pro I decided to give the ASIAir Pro an opportunity here. The one down side to the ASIAir, is you have to have all ZWO accessories (camera, filter wheel, focuser, etc) in order to make that type of setup work. Since I was ditching the Moonlite, I replaced it with a ZWO focuser, and the[Deep Sky Dad mounting kit](https://deepskydad.com/autofocuser/redcat/eaf?ref=macobservatory.com)for the Redcat 51\. This allowed me to mount everything in a very compact way, and I can control the entire kit from my iPhone or iPad, and only require a single power brick to power everything. ## Testing the new astrophotography travel kit with the ASIAir Pro I had all this equipment now, and needed to make sure it would work well before I took it out in the field, so I set it up in the back yard and imaged M45 one night before the trip. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m45-redcat-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2386-format-original.webp) This setup turned out the be really nice. I do have a few issues with the ASIAir itself. It’s far from perfect, but it was extremely easy to set up and get going my first night with no instructions. The whole system was fairly intuitive. I used my iPad to set it up and get it imaging. Then you can walk away from it and it’s fully automated from that point forward. You only need to be in WIFI range to check its progress or pick another target. ![ Here’s the entire setup, mount, tripod, telescope, electrical cables, usb cables, guide scope with camera, and ASIAir Pro. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2564-format-original.webp) Here’s the entire setup, mount, tripod, telescope, electrical cables, usb cables, guide scope with camera, and ASIAir Pro. ## The Dark Site I had always known that imaging from a dark site was preferred. Imaging time can be cut dramatically because the skies are so dark you are able to pick up very faint detail in just a few images. In light polluted skies like I have at home (bortle 7/8 suburbs), it easily takes 10 hours of imaging to start to get a respectable image. I was not even close to being prepared for this difference. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2512-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2515-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2520-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2528-format-original.webp) The first night out actually took me quite a while to get polar aligned as I played with the ASIAir polar alignment feature. Since my mount doesn’t point at Polaris, but instead points due west, it took me a few tries to figure out I needed to rotate the mount to 90 degrees from where it was, rather than trying to use the GOTO to aim at Polaris (leading to some weird issues). Once I got set up, I only ended up with 45 minutes before snow and clouds rolled in, so I picked an easy target: The Andromeda Galaxy, M31. ## This is 42 minutes at a dark site. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/andromeda-format-original-1.webp) WOW! I could not believe this. In my back yard, it takes me 10+ hours to achieve this level of detail and color, but in only 42 minutes, I could achieve some amazing results. This result had me so hyped for the rest of the nights in Santa Fe. The weather report was showing me I would have at least two more fully clear nights to image. ## Dark Sky Astrophotography is awesome. With two nights left, I planned my targets. I wanted some objects I couldn’t get from home without tons and tons of hours of integration time, so I picked the Witch Head nebula, the Iris Nebula, a cluster of nebulas in the constellation Auriga, and because I’ve never done it justice yet, the Orion Nebula. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/the-witch-head-nebula-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/iris-nebula-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/constellation-auriga-nebula-group-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m42-format-original.webp) What a cool experience. Now that I have a working system for this type of work. I hope to get out more often to dark skies. The final equipment setup was as follows: - [William Optics Redcat 51 telescope](https://optcorp.com/products/william-optics-redcat-51-f-4-9-petzval-refracting-telescope-upgrade?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Rainbow Astro RST-135 moun](https://www.tolgaastro.com/rainbow-astro-rst-135.html?ref=macobservatory.com)t - [ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi2600-pro-usb3-0-cooled-color-astronomy-camera?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO ASI290MM-Mini guide camera](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi290mm-mini?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO ASIAir Pro](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asiair-pro-wi-fi-camera-controller-for-zwo-asi-cameras?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) computer control and power management - [ZWO Mini Guide Scope](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-30mm-f-4-mini-guide-scope?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO EAF focuser](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-eaf-standard?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Deep Sky Dad EAF Mounting kit](https://deepskydad.com/autofocuser/redcat/eaf?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Innorel RT90C carbon fiber tripod](https://amzn.to/2ISoH1Z?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Pelican Air 1615 travel case](https://amzn.to/386Qjcb?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Review of the ZWO ASI294MM-Pro camera URL: https://macobservatory.com/review-of-the-zwo-asi294mm-pro-camera/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:30.000Z ZWO recently surprised everyone by announcing a camera no one thought would arrive. A new micro 4/3 sensor based mono camera called the[ZWO ASI294MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi294mm-pro-11-3-mp-cmos-mono-astronomy-camera-with-usb-3-0-asi294mm-p.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). This camera is based off the similar color sensor camera[ZWO ASI294MC-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi294mc-p-cooled-color-astronomy-camera-with-2-duo-band-filter-fd-m42-filter-drawer-asi294mc-p-kit1.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). In this review, I’ll cover what’s new, what’s better, and what could have been as I compare and contrast it with its predecessor the[ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi1600mm-p-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera-pro.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). ## What’s new, and what’s better… ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/294mm-parameters-format-original.webp) This camera uses a newer generation Sony IMX492 sensor. This sensor is actually a single generation behind ZWO’s other newest cameras the[ASI6200MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi6200mm-p-cmos-mono-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), and the[ASI2600MC-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), but it’s at least 5 generations newer than what was released in the ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro camera. So, what can you get with five generations of change? - A larger 4/3 sensor (by a few mm) 19.1 x 13 mm - Resolution of 4144 x 2822 - 14bit ADC - Full Well capacity 66ke - QE around 90% - Pixel Size 4.63um - AR/UV sensor window - See the update at the bottom of this article showing a new mode of operation with this camera that can now offer 8192 x 5556 px resolution with 2.314 um pixels at a cost of slightly lower 12 bit-depth color. So, what do these specs mean, and how are they improved over the ASI1600? To start, the slightly larger sensor means you can see just a bit more in your field of view. The resolution is actually slightly lower by a touch, but mainly because the pixel size is larger. Larger pixels typically offer better light gathering capability and a better degree/pixel ratio on your telescope, helping to keep those images sharp even during moderate seeing. 14bit ADC is going to give you two more stops of bit-depth. This is better color fidelity for a given area of imaging on the histogram. You’ll capture more color than you could on the 1600\. The full well capacity has increased to 66ke from 20ke on the 1600\. This means you can image longer subs without saturating the pixels of extremely bright areas (specifically stars). And the QE of 90% compared to 60% means that in a single image, you’ll capture and retain 90% of the total light that comes across the sensor, where on the 1600 you would only capture 60%. So, given the same integration time on a given DSO image, the ASI294 will gather 30% more light than the ASI1600. ## A few issues. One thing I noticed right away when comparing to the ZWO ASI1600 camera is that the sensor itself on the ASI294 has some mottling over the sensor. I’m not sure what has caused this. Surely, it’s part of the manufacturing process. While the photo shows some minor mottling on the 1600 sensor (TOP), this can’t be seen well with your eyes, as it appears smooth. The 294 sensor has some clear discoloration visible (BOTTOM) that you can see with your eyes, and is clearly visible in the photo. ![ ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro sensor at the top, and ZWO ASI294MM-Pro at the bottom. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2303-format-original.webp) ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro sensor at the top, and ZWO ASI294MM-Pro at the bottom. Unfortunately, this appears in your flats AND images. While worrying, it 100% corrects out of all your images, but flats will be necessary to do this. I set my flat ADU value to 32,000 ADU, and every frame perfectly corrects out. Interestingly, this only appears on narrowband filters like HA and SII, but in OIII and LRGB it’s absent. ![ Luminance flat on the left, and HA flat on the right for the ASI294MM-Pro. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-09-25-at-5-01-03-pm-format-original.webp) Luminance flat on the left, and HA flat on the right for the ASI294MM-Pro. ## What could have been… Unfortunately, ZWO has opted to maintain the existing form factor without any real change. The down side of this, is that there’s no built in tilt adjuster like this camera’s bigger brothers. It only uses the original OAG and filter wheel that’s been out for years. This would have been an ideal time to update this form factor, along with the OAG and filter wheel to have bolt on options that keep the parts well aligned and minimize tilt from the poor connection method used in these devices. An improvement similar to the ZWO 2” filter wheel and M68 OAG would have been welcome. All is not lost though. This makes the upgrade path very straight forward if you have an ASI1600 that you’re ready to upgrade. The one benefit of this camera using the older style filter wheel and OAG, is that if you currently own them for your 1600, they can be used here as well. This definitely keeps the costs down, and makes upgrading an easier choice. This camera is really the spiritual successor to the ASI1600, and is better than it in every respectable way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2346-format-original.webp) ## So, how does the ZWO ASI294MM-Pro perform? I decided to pair this camera with my[Celestron EdgeHD 11”](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-1100-ota-91050-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)telescope and .7x reducer. This puts me at a small, but still respectable pixel scale of .49”/pixel. This is really pushing the limits of my system under moderate seeing conditions. Images have been turning out on the softer side, and I think I prefer using the ASI6200MM-Pro set to Bin 2x2 to achieve a .79”/pixel scale, which results in crisp, sharp images. On telescopes with a shorter focal length, you can expect even better results with the ASI294, and I plan on trying it on my[Sky-Watcher Esprit 100](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-esprit-100mm-ed-triplet-apo-refractor-ota-s11410.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)in the near future. My first target is something I’ve been wanting to image for some time. The core of the Heart Nebula. It’s really a wonderful area with a contrasting blue background that makes the center nebulosity really pop. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/heart-format-original.webp) With my first image squared away, I took a small break to image with the ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro on my Sky-Watcher Esprit 100\. Eventually I made my way back this week, and snapped a few more images. ![ The moon at dawn. I snapped this real quick about 6:00am one morning when I got up to shoot some flats for the nights imaging session. This was a single L R G B set of frames stuck together with no processing. It has a very nice low contrast yet detailed look. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/moon-at-dawn-format-original.webp) The moon at dawn. I snapped this real quick about 6:00am one morning when I got up to shoot some flats for the nights imaging session. This was a single L R G B set of frames stuck together with no processing. It has a very nice low contrast yet detailed look. ![ The Blue Snowball planetary nebula, NGC 7662. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/blue_snowball-format-original.webp) The Blue Snowball planetary nebula, NGC 7662. ![ The Heart of the Soul, IC 1871. 10.3 hours exposure with the Edge HD 11” and ZWO ASI294MM-Pro. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/soul-format-original.webp) The Heart of the Soul, IC 1871\. 10.3 hours exposure with the Edge HD 11” and ZWO ASI294MM-Pro. ![ NGC 7331. Just 6 hours of exposure from a bortle 7/8 zone. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-7331-sm-format-original.webp) NGC 7331\. Just 6 hours of exposure from a bortle 7/8 zone. I’m very happy with the results of this camera. All these images were taken from my back yard in Pearland Texas. Bortle 7/8 skies. Finally the gallery below shows a few images I took with this camera and my Sky Watcher Esprit 100 telescope. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic-63-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m33-format-original-2.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/heart-nebula-format-original.webp) ### UPDATE: New camera mode now available When this camera was released, and ZWO revealed it would use the Sony IMX492 sensor, users looked to the Sony website for details on this image sensor, and revealed that it can operate in a sub pixel mode with 2.315 um pixels, offering 8192x5556 pixel resolution with a cost of lower bit rate at 12-bit color. Many were left wondering why the sensor was locked at 4.62 um pixel size with only 4144x2822 resolution at 14 bits per pixel color. While the latter mode does provide better color depth and larger pixels which are more suitable for a larger range of telescope sizes, ZWO “unlocked” this new mode through an updated driver. Many new users to the hobby have smaller refractor telescopes, and this new mode is very suitable for those telescopes with the smaller pixel size. The bit depth difference can be become a non-issue through the stacking process which naturally adds all the pixel color variations on top of each other thus increasing the bit depth for the final image. What ZWO has provided now, is a very versatile camera. You can operate in Bin 1x1 mode with the smaller pixels and large resolution of 8192x5556 at 12-bit color, or you can operate in Bin 2x2 mode the larger pixels at 4144x2822 and 14-bit depth color. Because the pixels are so small in the 1x1 mode you may or may not see an improvement in your image resolution due to seeing effects of the atmosphere slightly blurring your image. But in very good seeing, you should be able to fully realize the potential of this camera. Or if you live in an area with moderate seeing and high humidity like myself, you may find the Bin 2x2 mode is the best option. But now you have a choice. Over the last 4 nights, I tried out this new Bin 1x1 mode of the camera while shooting the Jellyfish Nebula IC 443\. I think the results were great. See the full resolution image at my[Astrobin page here](https://www.astrobin.com/full/howziy/C/?ref=macobservatory.com). ![ The Jellyfish Nebula, shot with the ZWO ASI294MM-Pro with the new Bin 1x1 mode 8192x5556 px resolution on a Sky Watcher Esprit 100.. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/jellyfish-nebula-format-original.webp) The Jellyfish Nebula, shot with the ZWO ASI294MM-Pro with the new Bin 1x1 mode 8192x5556 px resolution on a Sky Watcher Esprit 100.. ## Some more recent images taken with this camera: ![Soul Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-43.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/9fy5bw/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 30, 2022 ![PK 136 4.1 and PK 136 5.1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-44.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/pwj1j1/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 10, 2022 ![SH2-154 & SH2-155](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-94.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ji2dfz/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 21, 2022 ![Lobster & Bubble Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-95.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/a4xlt5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 18, 2022 ![The Lion: SH2-132](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-96.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/kg1kxx/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 9, 2022 ![The Bat and Squid: SH2-129](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-97.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/iqmad3/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 9, 2022 ![Simeis 57: The Propeller Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-98.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/xlnu3z/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jun 18, 2022 ![SH2-240: Spaghetti Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-99.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/oszrxq/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 14, 2022 ![The Wizard Nebula: NGC 7380](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-47.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/sl72c2/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 8, 2021 ![SH2-155: The Cave Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-48.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/gwyr2o/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2021 ![LBN 583](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-49.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/omxnk5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 28, 2021 ![The SADR region](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-100.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/87g9uf/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 21, 2021 ![SH2-132: Lion Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-50.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/rmmp05/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 10, 2021 ![SH2-124](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-51.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/vutocf/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 23, 2021 ![SH2-115, SH2-112, SH2-116](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-52.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/9g9tki/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 9, 2021 ![IC 5070: The Pelican Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-53.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ja357x/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 6, 2021 ![M27: Dumbbell Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-93.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/o9rr97/D/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 19, 2021 ![SH2-261: Lower's Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-55.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ftiywn/D/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 8, 2021 ![SH2-235, 231, 232, 233](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-56.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/lt79gs/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 5, 2021 ![IC417: The Spider and the Fly](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-57.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/o1q6hr/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 1, 2021 ![IC 405: Flaming Star nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-58.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ee8rc2/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jan 8, 2021 ![LBN 576 & NGC 7788](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-59.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/xmxssd/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 17, 2020 ![IC 443: The Jellyfish Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-60.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/howziy/E/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 26, 2020 ![IC 410: Twin Tadpoles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-61.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/6bm2wu/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 17, 2020 ![M45: The Seven Sisters](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-62.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/c1qjft/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020 ![NGC 884, NGC 889 - Double Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-63.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/e21tsq/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020 ![IC 63: The Ghost of Cassiopeia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-64.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ijseh8/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ![M33: The Triangulum Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-65.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/1tv1oj/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ![IC1805: The Heart Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-66.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/hbllrp/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ![NGC 7331](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-1.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/zegv92/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 15, 2020 ### Review of the ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro camera URL: https://macobservatory.com/review-of-the-zwo-asi6200mm-pro-camera/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:49.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2206-format-original.webp) Some time, earlier in the year, I made the decision to move to full frame imaging. Full frame, is essentially an uncropped DSLR sensor like you would find in a high end Canon, Nikon or Sony camera. In fact, the sensor inside[ZWO’s ASI6200MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi6200mm-p-cmos-mono-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)is a mono version of the image sensor used in Sony’s A7R IV ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/asi6200-1024x435-format-original.webp) ## What makes this camera stand out, and why should I care? This camera is very high resolution at 60 megapixels. Each frame taken with the camera is around 132 MB in size. It has a very small overall pixel size at 3.76um so you’ll want to pair it correctly with your different scopes by using the[astronomy.tools CCD suitability calculator](https://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd%5Fsuitability?ref=macobservatory.com). You’ll want your overall output resolution around 1” per pixel, or very close to your guiding total RMS. If you can guide under .5” RMS then the pixel resolution resolved by the camera could go lower to .5” per pixel. This sensor uses a 16bit ADC, which means it’s capturing a very wide range of color depth. While this sensor is mono (black and white), the bit depth increase means it can pull a more varied range of gray shades out of very small areas of the histogram compared to lower bit depth cameras. The camera’s sensor is also backlit, which is a feature new to this generation of cameras, and is in the[ZWO ASI533MC-P](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi533mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), and[ZWO ASI2600MC-P](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)as well. ZWO explains this well on their site showing how the structure of the backlit sensor minimizes degradation of the sensitivity due to its construction. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6200-5-format-original.webp) The camera also features an extremely low read noise, reducing the amount of noise or error you see in your captured images. This equates to better signal from the objects you’re imaging. Additionally the full well capacity is quite large at 51k, which means you’ll saturate stars and bright areas less quickly, allowing you to capture longer singe frames. This is helpful when each frame is so large. One final point about the specs, is ZWO claims a Quantum Efficiency (QE) of 91%. This is frankly amazing, and quite unheard of for cameras of this nature. Most cameras top out at around 60% and a generation or two ago they were even less. So, you might be asking, what is QE? This is how efficient the camera sensor is at capturing and retaining the data that comes across the sensor. Given all the electrical interference, heat noise, etc, a camera loses a lot of the data that falls across the sensor, and this camera is able to retain about 91% of it in each frame. Imagine if you extruded this concept out as time. Even though it’s not the same, this analogy might make sense. You image for 1 hour, at 60% efficiency you would lose 1/3 of your images. At 91% you’re only losing 1/10 of your images for that hour you spent imaging. In this case, you’re not actually losing images, but instead data that might be captured with each single frame. ## Connecting up the camera Now that we’ve waded through the specs and performance of the camera. Lets get it hooked up to some equipment and see how it works. In order for me to adopt a full frame camera, I had to make sure that my telescopes could support a full frame sensor. What does this mean exactly? Every telescope has what’s called an image circle. This is the diameter of the cone of light that comes out of the back of the telescope and hits the sensor of a camera, or eye piece. If that diameter isn’t large enough, then shadow is cast across the corners of the sensor. Many imagers use a reducer to speed up their telescope and create a wider apparent field of view, this often times also reduces your image circle diameter. I looked at all the telescopes I owned, and two wouldn’t work with a full frame sensor, so I decided to sell them, and get a telescope replacement that would work. I ended up choosing the[SkyWatcher Esprit 100](https://macobservatory.com/first-light-with-the-sky-watcher-esprit-100ed/). But I also had a few existing telescopes that could support a full frame sensor, like my Celestron EdgeHD 11” and my William Optics Redcat 51. I had all the right connectors for my EdgeHD 11”, so this is the telescope I ended up trying first with the new camera. According to the Astronomy.tools CCD calculator, binning the images 1x1 would prove to create too small of a pixel scale. But Binning 2x2, gets me around .79” per pixel, which is higher than my guiding average of .3” RMS. So this seems to match up quite well. Binning in the camera will effectively cut the resolution in half, so it means my image frames now come out to 32MB instead of 132MB. Quite a size saving. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2250-format-original.webp) A few more considerations for using the camera are the Filter Wheel required to hold the filters, the OAG if you need one, and adapters to connect the telescope to the camera. In my case, I had the adapters that came with my Moonlite focuser, and I opted to get[ZWO’s new large M68 OAG](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), as well as their new[2” filter wheel](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-7-position-electronic-filter-wheel-for-2-or-50-4mm-filters-efw-7x2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). This combination creates a 55mm image train, which is ideal for most telescopes. I also chose to get Chroma filters, and went with an[LRGB](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-lgrb-imaging-filter-set-2-mounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)set, plus 3nm narrowband[HA](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-h-alpha-3nm-imaging-filter-50mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com),[SII](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-s-ii-3nm-imaging-filter-50mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), and[OIII](https://agenaastro.com/chroma-o-iii-5nm-imaging-filter-50mm-round-unmounted.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)filters. ## Lets see the images! My first night out with the camera, I shot the Wizard nebula. I did not get a lot of time on the subject, at just 6.9 hours. So as I started to process the images, I was afraid the final result wouldn’t be that good. On my[ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi1600mm-p-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera-pro.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), I’ve been used to imaging narrowband targets at least 10 hours, and sometimes a lot more. This is where that quantum efficiency comes into play. At only 7 hours, this was my first image result. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/wizard-nebula-format-original.webp) Yowza! Look at that detail. You can see a larger version in my gallery. I was floored with the result, and very excited that this camera worked so well. It got me interested in visiting a lot of other common targets so I could re-image them in increased detail using the Edge telescope. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/crescent-hoo-format-original.webp) The second night, I shot the Crescent nebula. I processed it as HOO here, and in my gallery I added SII to the mix for an SHO colored pallet. This image was right at 8 hours. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/bubble-nebula-full-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/bubble-cropped-format-original.webp) Finally, here’s the Bubble Nebula. Imaged a total of 6.8 hours. Look at the detail of the zoomed in crop. Amazing. ## Final thoughts A full frame sensor will allow you to image a much wider view than a traditional CMOS sensor that’s 4/3 size or smaller. This is an amazing camera, and I look forward to using it with a wider array of telescopes over time. The only caveat that I can see is the cost. These sensors don’t come cheap, and by the time you add the camera, filter wheel, filters, OAG, and adapters, you’ve invested quite a bit. The next least expensive option is the ASI1600MM-Pro camera, and while that one does have a micro-lens issue, this new one does not. Rumors are that ZWO is fast at work on a crop version of this sensor called an APSc sensor, which uses a mono version of the chip in the ASI2600MC-Pro. If I were a betting man, that camera is going to sell like hot cakes to anyone who has a 1600 and is looking to upgrade. APSc sized sensors hit the sweet spot of most current telescopes imaging circles. ## Some more recent images from this camera: ![Cone Nebula: NGC 2264](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-101.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=ol63uc&ref=macobservatory.com)Jan 3, 2024 ![Rosette Nebula: NGC 2239](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-102.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=xdn55c&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 31, 2023 ![NGC 1560](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-103.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=mopyuv&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 24, 2023 ![NGC 2403 Intermediate Spiral Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-104.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=s725ib&r=0&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 22, 2023 ![Hind's Variable Nebula: NGC 1555](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-105.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=48ux1o&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 18, 2023 ![vdB 31](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-106.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=kn197v&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 16, 2023 ![NGC 1788](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-107.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=a8x4vv&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 14, 2023 ![The Boogeyman: LDN 1622](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-108.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=j0bz2q&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 10, 2023 ![vdB 29](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-109.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=nu2yk8&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 7, 2023 ![IC 2087](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-110.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=xihz9z&ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 4, 2023 ![Soul Nebula: Westerhout 5](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-111.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=xsy8ta&ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 30, 2023 ![The Seven Sisters M45](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-112.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=ter5ll&ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 27, 2023 ![vdB 16](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-113.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=zx6rj8&ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 14, 2023 ![IC348](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-114.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=b8toq0&ref=macobservatory.com#gallery)Nov 12, 2023 ![M78](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-115.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=psttyf&ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 7, 2023 ![Heart Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-116.webp) [Image details](https://app.astrobin.com/u/Lead%5FWeight?i=n9rcy6&ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 6, 2023 ![SH2-125](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-117.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/1dtztx/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 30, 2023 ![Horse Head Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-118.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/6aoksz/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 27, 2023 ![Helix Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-119.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ctaq4x/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 25, 2023 ![IC 2070](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-120.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/dc0g11/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 23, 2023 ![SH2-200 / PK138+04.1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-121.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/w3rupa/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 19, 2023 ![PK 136 4.1 & PK 136 5.1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-122.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/39truy/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 15, 2023 ![CTB1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-123.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/mq257w/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 12, 2023 ![vdB 6](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-124.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/r9ud26/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 11, 2023 ![vdB 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-13.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/3axueu/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 11, 2023 ![vdB 14 & 15](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-14.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/aem8d0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 7, 2023 ![vdB 154](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-15.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/fgd3bf/D/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 4, 2023 ![SH2-187](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-16.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/luthbn/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 2, 2023 ![NGC 281](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-17.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/epouh6/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 30, 2023 ![SH2-176](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-18.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/mo2a04/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 27, 2023 ### Imaging with the ZWO Duo-band filter for color astrophotography cameras. URL: https://macobservatory.com/zwo-duo-band-filter-review/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:31.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2187-format-original.webp) While waiting for the adapter to connect up my ASI6200MM-P camera and filter wheel, I've been experimenting with the[ZWO Duo-band filter](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-duo-band-narrowband-light-pollution-reduction-imaging-filter-2.html?aw%5Faffiliate=eyJjYW1wYWlnbl9pZCI6IjQiLCJ0cmFmZmljX3NvdXJjZSI6IlpXTyBEdW8tQmFuZCBGaWx0ZXIgUmV2aWV3IiwiYWNjb3VudF9pZCI6NDV9&ref=macobservatory.com)that ZWO gave away free with purchase of the[ASI2600MC-P](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?aw%5Faffiliate=eyJjYW1wYWlnbl9pZCI6IjQiLCJ0cmFmZmljX3NvdXJjZSI6IlpXTyBEdW8tQmFuZCBGaWx0ZXIgUmV2aWV3IiwiYWNjb3VudF9pZCI6NDV9&ref=macobservatory.com)(during product launch) when I got it early in the year. According to the ZWO website the HA cutoff is 15nm, and OIII cutoff is 35nm. My first image was the Pelican nebula, which was cut short by clouds. But at two hours, I thought it was decent enough, if a bit lacking in fine detail. ![ My first image with the ZWO Duo-Band filter. Only 2 hours! This looks pretty good for a bortle 7-8 zone. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/pelican-format-original.webp) My first image with the ZWO Duo-Band filter. Only 2 hours! This looks pretty good for a bortle 7-8 zone. My second night experimenting with the filter, I managed a full night, and only had to wait for NGC7000 to come above the clouds. In processing this originally, the image right off the camera is saturated in Hydrogen Alpha, and looks very red. ![ Close to 5 hours using the ZWO Duo-Band filter. This is what your image will look like if processed without any enhancement, right off the camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc7000-unprocessed-format-original.webp) Close to 5 hours using the ZWO Duo-Band filter. This is what your image will look like if processed without any enhancement, right off the camera. I put the image into PixInsight, and extracted the RGB channels into their individual channels. In the blue and green channels I saw the faint OIII signal. Then using pixel math and Starnet++, I removed the stars and combined both green and blue channels into a single channel to represent OIII. I then stretched and processed the single OIII image adding back the stars at the end. I then recombined as HOO using pixel math to put back the new OIII synthetic channel for blue and green with the existing red channel for the final image. ![ The final processed image with enhanced OIII channel. Looks pretty good! This was only 4.7 hours of integration time. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc7000-processed-format-original.webp) The final processed image with enhanced OIII channel. Looks pretty good! This was only 4.7 hours of integration time. One thing to note, this image is noisier than it would be if this was shot with a mono camera, and you lose some amount of fine detail around the Cygnus wall. I've shot this nebula before with mono, and you can see that image here where I shot it on the[ASI1600MM-P](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi1600mm-p-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera-pro.html?aw%5Faffiliate=eyJjYW1wYWlnbl9pZCI6IjQiLCJ0cmFmZmljX3NvdXJjZSI6IlpXTyBEdW8tQmFuZCBGaWx0ZXIgUmV2aWV3IiwiYWNjb3VudF9pZCI6NDV9&ref=macobservatory.com)with a similar speed and sized refractor. ![ A mono only version of the same area shot on a true HA and OIII filter and the ZWO ASI1600MM-P camera. This was processed a little differently to present a different color combination, but the details are clearly better here, both from shooting mono, and from more integration time (close to 15 hours). ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/yvrzdgob_5_1824x0_mzd2tpda-format-original.webp) A mono only version of the same area shot on a true HA and OIII filter and the ZWO ASI1600MM-P camera. This was processed a little differently to present a different color combination, but the details are clearly better here, both from shooting mono, and from more integration time (close to 15 hours). There's a huge difference in the amount of detail. However, this new integration is only around 4-5 hours total, and looks quite good despite that low integration time. My previous attempt with the ASI1600MM-P had close to 15 hours integration, and while it was also an HOO image, I processed the OO channels with some HA combined to produce (to me) a more pleasing color pallet. Both the final processed image with enhanced OIII, and the final integrated image without OIII processing show the difference in what you would get right off your camera, and with taking the time to modify the green and blue channels to enhance the OIII. ## Recent Duo-Band Images ![Heart & Soul Nebula Mosaic](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-125.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/23jt4b/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 26, 2022 ![Gamma Cassiopeiae](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-126.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ck89fn/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 9, 2022 ![IC 5070: The Pelican Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-53.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ja357x/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 6, 2021 ### First light with the Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED URL: https://macobservatory.com/first-light-with-the-sky-watcher-esprit-100ed/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:51.000Z ![ Wow, look at that jumble of wires. I did my best to tie everything up, but it still looks like quite a mess. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2184-format-original.webp) Wow, look at that jumble of wires. I did my best to tie everything up, but it still looks like quite a mess. ## Imaging Full Frame I recently decided to start imaging with a full frame sensor. The[ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi6200mm-p-cmos-mono-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). Previously I had been using a[ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi1600mm-p-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera-pro.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), while still an incredible camera, I’ve always been bothered by the micro lens effect of that specific chip. Apparently the best way to accomplish using a full frame sensor is to identify all the telescopes that I own, that don’t support a full frame sensor, and sell them. So, that’s what I’ve been doing. I sold my 8” RC telescope, as well as my workhorse imager the Explore Scientific 102CF FCD-100\. My EdgeHD 11 and William Optics Redcat 51 both support full frame, but I needed a focal length in-between these two scopes that supported full frame too. I looked long and hard at a Takahashi FSQ-106EDX4, but could not justify the cost for the large imaging circle it provides. It supports up to an 80mm wide imaging circle, and since full frame cameras are around 43-44mm in size, I could never take advantage of that telescope, so I went for a telescope that’s had some high praise for a mass produced scope, and ended up with the[Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-esprit-100mm-ed-triplet-apo-refractor-ota-s11410.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). ## Accessories One thing I wanted to avoid this time around was purchasing a 3rd party focuser. The built in Esprit focuser is a large 3 inch diameter focuser, and is fairly robust. With a 3” clear path, it should have no issues supporting a full frame sensor. I’m using the stock field flattener that came with the telescope, also sized for full frame. This means the telescope operates at F/5.5 and 550mm focal length. The speed is moderately quick, and any faster in my light pollution and I would have to take a lot of very short frames, so I think the speed is pretty good. You can attach a Massimo Riccardi .75x reducer to this scope and still image at full frame with an even wider, faster view. But I don’t think I’ll go that route unless I can get to some really dark skies. In order to operate with full automation through the night, I needed to consider a focus motor. The[ZWO EAF](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-eaf-electronic-automatic-focuser-standard-5v-eaf-std.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)motor would have been ideal, but it has a 5kg limit pulling weight, and the new camera with 2” filter wheel, is right at that limit. So that left me with two options, the[PrimaLuceLab Sesto Senso 2](https://agenaastro.com/primalucelab-sesto-senso-2-robotic-focusing-motor.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), or the[Pegasus Astro FocusCube 2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-focus-cube-2-universal-fc2-univ.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). I went with the latter since I already have[some very nice Pegasus Astro gear](https://macobservatory.com/upgraded-to-the-pegasus-astro-ultimate-powerbox-v2/)that I’m happy with. With the focuser squared away now, I needed to figure out how to connect up the ZWO ASI6200\. To keep that large diameter opening all the way to the camera, I needed to consider a different adapter than the one included with the telescope. The telescope comes with a DSLR Canon adapter, or a CMOS M42 adapter. M42 is a 2” diameter, and limits the light cone traveling through the optical train to the camera. The stock back focus is 66mm for the field flattener, and the CMOS adapter is 8mm, leaving 55mm for the ZWO ASI6200, ZWO M68 OAG, and ZWO 2” filter wheel. I got a set of 2” Chroma 3nm narrowband filters and a set of LRGB Chroma filters to fit into the filter wheel. That equipment takes up 55mm exactly. However, due to the 3mm thickness of the Chroma filters, it extends the back focus requirement by 1mm making it 56mm. To accommodate this extra millimeter, I ordered a Precise Parts adapter that was 9mm thick with threading for the M66 flattener on one side, and threading for the[M68 tilt adapter from ZWO](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-m68-sensor-tilt-adapter-for-asi-6200mc-mm-pro-cameras-m68-plate.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). This keeps the open aperture just under 3” until the light hits the 2” filters and finally the camera. ![ The Precise Parts setting I used for this new adapter. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-08-05-at-10-54-18-am-format-original.webp) The Precise Parts setting I used for this new adapter. ![ The Precise Parts M66-M68 9mm adapter. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-08-05-at-10-53-55-am-format-original.webp) The Precise Parts M66-M68 9mm adapter. ## Equipment List for First Light - [Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-esprit-100mm-ed-triplet-apo-refractor-ota-s11410.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Pegasus Astro FocusCube 2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-focus-cube-2-universal-fc2-univ.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2](https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-ultimate-power-box-v2.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Askar Losmandy Universal Dovetail](https://agenaastro.com/askar-losmandy-style-universal-dovetail-plate-400mm-15-7-length-ldp400.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com#ca%5Fs%5Fcolor=6323) - [ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO OAG-L](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-large-off-axis-guider-for-full-frame-cameras-with-1-25-holder-m68-oag-l.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [ZWO ASI174MM-Mini guide camera](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi174mm-mini-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) - [Unihedron Sky Quality Meter (USB)](https://agenaastro.com/unihedron-sky-quality-meter-lens-usb-sqm-lu.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) ## First Light—Not Full Frame… Unfortunately due to the pandemic, there’s a delay of about a month to get the Precise Parts adapter. Therefore, I can’t get first light with the new camera, and opted instead to use my ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro color camera for first light. I used the stock CMOS adapter that came with the telescope to connect up the ZWO OAG, and camera. With the focuser installed, and camera attached, I was ready to get out for a night of imaging. I picked a few easy RGB targets that didn’t require a ton of integration time so that I could see how clean and flat the field of view would be. First target up was M13\. A lovely globular cluster, with good color. M13 was about 75° altitude. I shot it for an hour while waiting for another easy target to rise up. ![ One hour of M13 images taken with the Esprit 100 and the ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m13-format-original.webp) One hour of M13 images taken with the Esprit 100 and the ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro. Second target came up about 50° altitude before I started to image. This was NGC 7789, Caroline’s Rose open cluster. Lots of stars in this one allowed me to see how flat the field of view was, and it’s extremely flat. Some very slight tilt on the left side, easily corrected with the built in ZWO tilt corrector plate. This target got around 3.7 hours of images. ![ Caroline’s Rose, 3.7 hours imaged with the Esprit 100 and ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/caroline-s-rose-format-original.webp) Caroline’s Rose, 3.7 hours imaged with the Esprit 100 and ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro. I’m extremely impressed with the results. The results here required no finessing during processing, and came out clean and beautiful. The real test will be with the full frame sensor, hopefully not too long from now. My only complaint with the telescope was the horribly small dovetail which barely fit between the dovetail clamps on my 10Micron mount. They need a dovetail that’s at least 7”, and I ended up getting an ADM 11” universal Losmandy dovetail to replace it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2189-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2187-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2193-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2191-format-original.webp) ### Update: Here’s Some recent images I’ve taken with this telescope ![Soul Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-43.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/9fy5bw/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 30, 2022 ![PK 136 4.1 and PK 136 5.1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-44.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/pwj1j1/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 10, 2022 ![IC 342: The Hidden Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-45.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/lwg5g5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 13, 2021 ![NGC 891 & Able 346 Galaxy Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-46.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/qtm5l9/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 11, 2021 ![The Wizard Nebula: NGC 7380](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-47.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/sl72c2/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 8, 2021 ![SH2-155: The Cave Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-48.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/gwyr2o/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2021 ![LBN 583](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-49.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/omxnk5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 28, 2021 ![SH2-132: Lion Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-50.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/rmmp05/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 10, 2021 ![SH2-124](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-51.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/vutocf/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 23, 2021 ![SH2-115, SH2-112, SH2-116](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-52.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/9g9tki/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 9, 2021 ![IC 5070: The Pelican Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-53.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ja357x/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 6, 2021 ![M 81, M 82, NGC 3077](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-54.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/3qku82/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 13, 2021 ![SH2-261: Lower's Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-55.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ftiywn/D/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 8, 2021 ![SH2-235, 231, 232, 233](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-56.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/lt79gs/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 5, 2021 ![IC417: The Spider and the Fly](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-57.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/o1q6hr/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 1, 2021 ![IC 405: Flaming Star nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-58.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ee8rc2/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jan 8, 2021 ![LBN 576 & NGC 7788](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-59.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/xmxssd/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 17, 2020 ![IC 443: The Jellyfish Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-60.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/howziy/E/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 26, 2020 ![IC 410: Twin Tadpoles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-61.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/6bm2wu/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 17, 2020 ![M45: The Seven Sisters](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-62.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/c1qjft/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020 ![NGC 884, NGC 889 - Double Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-63.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/e21tsq/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020 ![IC 63: The Ghost of Cassiopeia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-64.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ijseh8/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ![M33: The Triangulum Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-65.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/1tv1oj/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ![IC1805: The Heart Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-66.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/hbllrp/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020 ![SH2-157, M52, SH2-162, SH2-161, NGC 7635, NGC 7638, NGC 7510, IC 1470](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/the-lobster-claw-sm.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/bs2nko/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 8, 2020 ![SH2-171 Widefield](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-67.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/oxxstj/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2020 ![M31: Andromeda](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m31-v2.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/7rhlva/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 3, 2020 ![NGC 7789: Caroline's Rose](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-68.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/cyfeb3/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 5, 2020 ![M13: Hercules Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-69.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/lo7cly/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 5, 2020 ### The Growing List of Mac Planetary Imaging and Processing Applications URL: https://macobservatory.com/mac-planetary-imaging-software/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T15:58:58.000Z ![ Saturn captured on the Celestron EdgeHD 11” with ASICap and a ZWO ASI224MC camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/saturn-7-9-2020-format-original.webp) Saturn captured on the Celestron EdgeHD 11” with ASICap and a ZWO ASI224MC camera. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/macobservatory-ad-format-original.webp)](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) AutoStakkert has no Mac version. It never has, and the developer says there are no plans for one: the official download page states the software is Windows only, runs under Wine on Linux and macOS, and that native versions are not coming. So if you searched for "AutoStakkert for Mac" and found a pile of forum threads and Wine tutorials, that is why. What exists instead is a set of Mac applications that do the same job, and as of 2026 several of them run natively on Apple Silicon. I wrote the first version of this page in 2020\. Back then the honest answer was "install Python and run Planetary System Stacker." That answer is out of date. Here is what the Mac actually has now, capture and stacking, with what each one does and where each one still falls short. The short answer There is no Mac build of AutoStakkert, RegiStax, WinJUPOS, or PIPP. On macOS the equivalent work is done by Strata, Planet Stacker X, Planetary System Stacker, LuckyStackWorker, and Lynkeos for stacking and sharpening, and by Laminar, FireCapture, AstroDMx Capture, and ASIStudio for capture. Most of these are free. Several are native Apple Silicon apps that need no emulation layer at all. ## What the Windows tools map to on the Mac Almost every planetary tutorial on YouTube assumes a Windows machine running four separate programs. That chain exists for historical reasons, not because planetary imaging requires four programs. Here is what each one corresponds to if you stay on macOS. Windows to Mac The planetary chain, translated What Mac software covers each step of the standard Windows workflow. FireCapture Capture [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) AstroDMx Capture FireCapture also ships a Mac build SharpCap Capture [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) AstroDMx Capture No Mac build of SharpCap itself AutoStakkert!4 Stacking [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) Planet Stacker X Planetary System Stacker Lynkeos RegiStax Wavelet sharpening [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) LuckyStackWorker Planet Stacker X WinJUPOS Derotation [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) LuckyStackWorker PIPP Preprocessing [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) Folded into import and frame analysis Mac Observatory Suite Apple Silicon native Available on Mac The interesting rows are PIPP and WinJUPOS. Preprocessing and derotation were separate programs on Windows because nobody built them into a stacker. On the Mac they are features inside applications rather than applications in their own right. ## Capturing on the Mac Capture is the half of the workflow people forget about when they ask about AutoStakkert. A stacker is only as good as the SER file you feed it, and this is where the Mac has quietly caught up. [Laminar](https://macobservatory.com/laminar-planetary-capture-software) is the Mac Observatory capture app. It requires macOS 15 and Apple Silicon, which is a real limitation if you are on an older Intel machine. In exchange you get direct vendor SDK support for ZWO ASI, PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek, SVBONY, Altair, OGMA, Omegon, MallinCam, and RisingCam, plus generic UVC devices including iPhone Continuity Camera. If you have an iPhone and a phone eyepiece holder, that is a quick way to dabble in planetary imaging without buying a dedicated camera. The features I care about most came from testers rather than from a spec. Custom ROI selection, shaped in part by solar imagers running spectroheliographs, where the region you read off the sensor is the instrument. A warning when your capture length is long enough that Jupiter or Mars will visibly rotate during the run, which is the difference between a sharp stack and a smeared one. And continuous disk write speed monitoring: Laminar measures what your drive actually sustains, names the volume, and tells you whether it can keep up, so you find out before the session rather than afterward when frames are missing. Newer versions reach past the camera, too: Laminar now drives filter wheels and focusers, with 24 filter wheel drivers and 29 focuser drivers built in, and runs LRGB and time-lapse sequences, so a full color set is done before the planet has a chance to rotate. FireCapture is still the reference tool for a lot of imagers, and it does have a Mac build at version 2.7.15\. Read the compatibility grid on the FireCapture site carefully though, because the Mac column is shorter than the Windows column. On macOS it covers Altair, OGMA, PlayerOne, QHY, SVBony, ToupTek and Omegon, and ZWO ASI. Basler, FLIR, TIS, LUCID, NexImage, Skyris, and anything going through ASCOM are Windows only. The Mac download is also an x64 build, so on Apple Silicon it runs through Rosetta. AstroDMx Capture deserves more attention than it gets. It is free, actively developed by Nicola Amanda Mackin, currently at 2.17.2, and it has shipped a native Apple Silicon build since version 2.6.3\. It supports a wide spread of cameras including UVC devices and capture cards, and it added INDI mount, camera, focuser, and filter wheel support in the 2.0.2 series. The catch is that it is not notarised by Apple, so macOS reports the app bundle as damaged on first launch. The developer explains this openly on the site: notarisation carries an annual fee that is difficult to justify for free software. If you shoot ZWO exclusively, ASICap inside ASIStudio is the path of least resistance. Note that ZWO's macOS download is version 1.8 and was last updated in April 2023, so the Mac build trails the Windows one. oaCapture is still listed everywhere, including in the 2020 version of this page, but its last release was 1.8.0 in December 2020 and the Mac build is Intel. It works if your gear is older, and the source is on GitHub, but it is no longer where I would send a new imager. Capture software Planetary capture apps on macOS | App | Apple Silicon | Camera families on Mac | Cost | | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------- | | Laminar | Native, required | ZWO, PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek, SVBONY, Altair, OGMA, Omegon, MallinCam, RisingCam, UVC and iPhone | Paid, Mac App Store | | FireCapture 2.7.15 | x64 build, Rosetta | ZWO, PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek and Omegon, SVBony, Altair, OGMA | Free, donationware | | AstroDMx Capture 2.17.2 | Native ARM64 build | Wide vendor range plus UVC, capture cards, and INDI devices | Free, not notarised | | ASIStudio 1.8 (ASICap) | Mac build last updated April 2023 | ZWO only | Free | | oaCapture 1.8.0 | Intel build, last release Dec 2020 | ZWO, QHY, ToupTek, Altair, MallinCam, RisingCam, IIDC, UVC | Free, open source | Camera lists reflect each developer's own published compatibility information at the time of writing. ## Stacking and sharpening on the Mac This is the part people are searching for when they type "AutoStakkert Mac" into Google. The thing AutoStakkert does that simpler stackers do not is local alignment: instead of aligning whole frames, it places a mesh of alignment points across the planet and aligns each patch independently, because atmospheric seeing distorts different parts of the disc differently. Any stacker without that will give you a softer result, no matter how many frames you throw at it. [Strata](https://macobservatory.com/strata-planetary-processing) is the Mac Observatory processing app. It runs the whole pipeline in one window across seven phases: import, analyze, stack, derotate, sharpen, color, export. Frame quality scoring runs on the GPU with an interactive selection curve, stacking uses Strata Warp, which aligns each part of the disc separately, with real drizzle at 1.5x, 2x, and 3x, sharpening covers wavelets, deconvolution, and Micro Contrast, and derotation handles multi-capture combination with a separate path for Saturn's rings. It reads SER v2 and v3 at 8 and 16 bit, the uncompressed RAW8 AVI subset that ZWO's ASIAir and ASICap produce, and TIFF, PNG, JPEG, and FITS stills. It needs macOS 14.6 or later. What it deliberately does not do is deep sky work, and it does not assemble mosaics: one capture in, one stacked result out. For a whole night of video, Batch Analysis grades every capture, ranks them against the night's best, and stacks the keepers unattended, from a single clip to thousands of them. The color work is where Strata pulls away from the other Mac stackers. There is a solar palette system with ten built-in palettes drawn from what solar imagers actually use, and you can duplicate any of them and edit the stops yourself, with a background tint on top. Solar Tone sits alongside the wavelets in the sharpen phase. For lunar work there is mineral enhancement, which pulls out the color differences between titanium-rich and iron-rich terrain that your eye cannot see in the raw stack. And every image, color or mono, gets a Levels card with draggable black point, midtone, and white point stops on a live GPU histogram, with a clip readout that counts inside the planet disc rather than across the whole frame. Planet Stacker X from Rain City Astro is free on the Mac App Store and is the easiest recommendation I can make to someone who wants to try this tonight without spending anything. It handles SER and RAW AVI, offers automatic or manual frame selection with a sharpness graph, previews alignment live, and includes wavelet sharpening, RGB shift correction, tone curves, noise reduction, and batch processing. The developer's own story is worth reading: he got tired of not being able to stack planetary data on an M1 MacBook Pro without virtualisation, wrote a script, and the script became the app. Planetary System Stacker is the one I recommended in 2020, and it is still algorithmically excellent. Rolf Hempel's own documentation states that test results show at least the same image quality as AutoStakkert!3, and it builds a proper alignment point mesh with per-point frame ranking. The problem is entirely about getting it running. The current PyPI release is 0.9.8.3 from July 2023, and the only macOS wheel published is an Intel one, so on Apple Silicon you are running it under an x86 Python through Rosetta. Nick Kohrn's launcher, which I linked in the original version of this article, still helps, but it is a project from a different era of Mac hardware. LuckyStackWorker changed a lot since I first covered it. Wilco Kasteleijn added derotation and stacking in version 7.0.0, and version 7.1.0 improved derotation reliability and added direct derotation of mono R, G, and B sets. It is not a lucky imaging stacker in the AutoStakkert sense, since it works on image stacks rather than raw video, but the deconvolution, dispersion correction, and batch sharpening are strong and it is free under the MIT licence. There are Mac builds for both Intel and Apple Silicon. Like AstroDMx, it is unsigned, and on Apple Silicon you have to run a quarantine removal script in Terminal before it will open. Lynkeos is the long-running native option. Jean-Etienne Lamiaud has maintained it for close to twenty years, and it does multi-point alignment: the v3.0 release notes from September 2018 record a new multiple points align. SER support arrived in 3.1, a SER exporter in 3.7, and version 3.6 brought a native ARM build. The current release is 3.10 from November 2025, running on Intel and Apple Silicon, macOS 10.13 and later. That deep OS compatibility makes it the obvious choice on hardware the newer apps have left behind. Siril is the other one worth watching. Multi-point registration for planetary video was developed with the support of Rolf Hempel and has been merged into the 1.5 development cycle. In current stable releases the planetary registration methods are single point, which the Siril documentation itself describes as poorly suited to high definition planetary alignment. When 1.5 lands, that changes. Stacking and processing Planetary stackers on macOS | App | How you install it | Local alignment | Derotation | Cost | | ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------- | ----------------- | | Strata | Mac App Store | Yes, GPU | Yes, built in | Paid | | Planet Stacker X | Mac App Store | Not stated by developer | No | Free | | Planetary System Stacker | Python 3 and pip, or a third-party launcher | Yes, alignment point mesh | No | Free | | LuckyStackWorker 7.1.0 | DMG, unsigned, Terminal step on Apple Silicon | Works on stacks, not raw frames | Yes, since v7 | Free, MIT | | Lynkeos 3.10 | Disk image from SourceForge | Yes, since v3.0 | No | Free, open source | | Siril | Installer or Homebrew | In the 1.5 development cycle | No | Free, open source | Version numbers current at the time of writing. Check each developer's release page before downloading. About those "damaged app" warnings Several free Mac astronomy apps are unsigned or unnotarised, and macOS will tell you the app is damaged when it is not. Apple charges an annual developer fee for notarisation, which is hard to justify for software given away for free. Follow the developer's own instructions on their site rather than a random forum post, and only ever run a quarantine removal script you got directly from the project. ## Putting a Mac workflow together If you are starting from nothing and want to spend nothing, capture with AstroDMx Capture or FireCapture depending on your camera, then stack and sharpen in Planet Stacker X. That gets you a real planetary image tonight with no Terminal commands and no Windows. If you want the shortest path with the fewest applications, capture in Laminar and process in Strata, which keeps everything native and hands SER files straight between the two. If you already own a stack you like, Strata reads SER from any capture tool, so nothing forces you to change how you shoot. If you have older Intel hardware, Lynkeos is the most sensible native option, and FireCapture's Mac build will run without Rosetta. What has actually changed since 2020 is not that one great application appeared. It is that the Mac now has several, at different price points, from different developers, and the answer to "can I do planetary imaging on a Mac" stopped requiring an apology. ![ Seven single images processed separately, then combined in Photoshop to make an animated GIF. This was shot on my EdgeHD 11” telescope with ASICap and the ZWO ASI224MC camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/jupiter-animated-7-09-2020-format-original.gif) Seven single images processed separately, then combined in Photoshop to make an animated GIF. This was shot on my EdgeHD 11” telescope with ASICap and the ZWO ASI224MC camera. Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about planetary imaging software on the Mac. Is there a Mac version of AutoStakkert?+ No. AutoStakkert is Windows only, and the developer's download page states there are no plans for native Mac or Linux versions. It does run under Wine or CrossOver on macOS. Native Mac alternatives that do the same job include Strata, Planet Stacker X, Planetary System Stacker, and Lynkeos. What is the best free planetary stacking software for Mac?+ Planet Stacker X is the easiest free option, since it installs from the Mac App Store and handles SER and RAW AVI with wavelet sharpening built in. Planetary System Stacker is more capable algorithmically but requires a Python installation. Lynkeos is a good native choice, particularly on older Macs. Does FireCapture work on a Mac?+ Yes. FireCapture ships a Mac build alongside the Windows, Linux, and Raspberry Pi versions. The Mac camera support is narrower than on Windows, covering ZWO, PlayerOne, QHY, ToupTek and Omegon, SVBony, Altair, and OGMA. The Mac download is an x64 build, so it runs under Rosetta on Apple Silicon. How do I do WinJUPOS derotation on a Mac?+ WinJUPOS has no Mac build. Two Mac applications handle derotation natively: Strata, where it is a phase in the main processing pipeline, and LuckyStackWorker, which added derotation in version 7.0.0. Why does macOS say a free astronomy app is damaged?+ The app is almost certainly fine. Apple requires notarisation, which carries an annual developer fee that many free and open source astronomy projects choose not to pay. AstroDMx Capture and LuckyStackWorker both document the workaround on their own sites. Follow the developer's instructions rather than advice from a forum. Can I use an iPhone as a planetary camera on a Mac?+ You can, with a phone eyepiece holder to mount the iPhone on the telescope and Laminar capturing from it through Continuity Camera as a generic UVC device. It is a quick way to dabble in planetary imaging before buying a dedicated camera. A dedicated planetary camera will give far better results, mostly because of frame rate, sensor size, and control over exposure and gain. Do I need Apple Silicon for planetary imaging on a Mac?+ Not for everything, but the newest applications increasingly assume it. Laminar requires Apple Silicon and macOS 15\. Strata is optimized for Apple Silicon and supports Intel. Lynkeos runs natively on both and supports macOS 10.13 and later, which makes it the best option on older hardware. Mac observatory Every astronomy app that runs on macOS Planetary is one corner of it. The full directory covers capture, stacking, processing, mount control, and FITS tools. [Mac Astronomy Software →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software) [Deep-Sky Stacking on Mac →](https://macobservatory.com/mac-deep-sky-stacking-software-guide) Astrophotography from the Mac perspective ### Imaging Comet Neowise with AstroImager on the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/imaging-comet-neowise-with-astroimager-on-the-mac/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:33.000Z I’ve had only two opportunities to see and get images of comet C/2020 F3 Neowise. The first time out I wasn’t sure I’d be able to see it at all, and I only used my DSLR and a 250mm lens. I shot wide first to try and find it. Once I saw where it was I was able to snap a few images of it untracked on a tripod. It resulted in the below image. ![ Shot on a tripod with a Canon T3i and 250mm kit lens. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/neowise-format-original.webp) Shot on a tripod with a Canon T3i and 250mm kit lens. This gave me some satisfaction that I could find it, and image it while it was still in the sky. So I made every attempt the very next night to try and get some real images with the telescope. With that in mind, and knowing we’re about to get a week long set of heavy rain storms, I set out to try and image through the light pollution and clouds to get something usable. ![ My imaging rig for the night. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2149-format-original.webp) My imaging rig for the night. Here’s the equipment and software that I used for the shots: - [Explore Scientific 102mm Carbon Fiber FCD-100](https://optcorp.com/products/explore-scientific-fcd100-ed102-carbon-fiber-f-7-triplet?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Stellarvue SFFT-102-2 .8x focal reducer](https://optcorp.com/products/stellarvue-focal-reducer-field-flattener-for-f7-refractors-with-2inch-focusers?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi2600-pro-usb3-0-cooled-color-astronomy-camera?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [10Micron GM1000 Mount](https://optcorp.com/products/10-micron-gm-1000-hps-computerized-equatorial-telescope-mount?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Pegasus Astro UPBv2 power and USB management](https://optcorp.com/products/pegasus-astro-ultimate-powerbox-v2?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [13” Apple MacBook Pro](https://amzn.to/2WDAkxq?ref=macobservatory.com) - [AstroImager](http://www.cloudmakers.eu/astroimager/?ref=macobservatory.com) image capture software ![ AstroImager with the comet in view, and taking a set of 60 30s frames. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-07-19-at-9-23-01-pm-format-original.webp) AstroImager with the comet in view, and taking a set of 60 30s frames. I set out to not overexpose the images, but to try and get as much data as I dared given the low altitude, light pollution, and clouds. I combined all the frames into a video so you could see what I was shooting through. This was my first time processing a comet in PixInsight. And the comet align function worked great. But I still ended up having to use Astro Pixel Processor, and Photoshop to fully process the image to remove as much of the clouds and other issues that appeared in my final frames. Not a bad attempt considering all the issues I faced. You can easily see the core of the comet, but with all the light pollution and clouds, the tail didn’t come out as great as I had hoped. ![ The final processed comet image. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/neowise-final-format-original.webp) The final processed comet image. ### Adventurers with the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer URL: https://macobservatory.com/adventurers-with-the-sky-watcher-star-adventurer/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:33.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1346-format-original.webp) ## Traveling with the Star Adventurer Last month, I finally got an opportunity to travel with my[Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Pack](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-star-adventurer-astro-package-s20510.html?aw%5Faffiliate=eyJjYW1wYWlnbl9pZCI6IjQiLCJ0cmFmZmljX3NvdXJjZSI6IlNreSBXYXRjaGVyIFN0YXIgQWR2ZW50dXJlciBSZXZpZXciLCJhY2NvdW50X2lkIjo0NX0&ref=macobservatory.com), and my[Canon T3i DSLR](https://amzn.to/3f9BOXc?ref=macobservatory.com)as my only rig. It was a family outing to west Texas near[Garner State Park](https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/garner?ref=macobservatory.com)where the skies are around Bortle class 1 or 2\. There, the Milky Way looks like a dusty cloud in the night sky. I didn’t have any real room to take a telescope with all the family bags, so I packed as light as I could. The Star Adventurer, a tripod, my Canon T3i plus lenses, and a 13” MacBook Pro. ![ Check out the Big Dipper here in the North sky. This was a 15 second shot with the DSLR where I was staying. You can see the tree tops lit up at the very bottom from the neighbor’s back porch lights. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1315-format-original.webp) Check out the Big Dipper here in the North sky. This was a 15 second shot with the DSLR where I was staying. You can see the tree tops lit up at the very bottom from the neighbor’s back porch lights. The forecast gave me one truly clear night, and several partially cloudy nights. So I had time to play around before the first clear night. On my first night, I set up the sky tracker and pointed it towards Polaris to polar align. Polar alignment was a snap with the built in polar scope. I used[Polar Scope Align Pro](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/polar-scope-align-pro/id970161373?ref=macobservatory.com)for the iPhone to find where Polaris should appear in the polar scope. Then dialed it in with the manual align controls on the Star Adventurer. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_2102-format-original.webp) ### Always check your batteries Here’s where I encounter the only issue I ran into for the weekend. Check your batteries. I was perfectly aligned, and yet I was getting star trails. I could not figure this out for the life of me. I probably spent 2-3 hours checking alignment, picking different targets, with different exposures, and got star trails on all of them. This drove me nuts, as polar alignment is very straight forward. You find Polaris in your finder scope, and make it match the orientation shown in PS Align Pro. Easy peasy. But if your batteries are almost dead (enough energy to turn on tracking, but not enough to move the mount), then no matter how aligned you are, you’ll get star trails. Once I noticed the red light on the on/off indicator for the Star Adventurer was blinking in pulses with its effort to move the mount, I realized the battery was probably low for it to be doing that. Batteries replaced (I did bring some backup AA batteries), now tracking worked perfectly, and I was prepared for the first clear night. I got the laptop, and Star Adventurer set up, I decided that I wanted to monitor the images as they came in, and not rely on the Canon camera to store the images. So I tethered the camera to my laptop, and used[AstroDSLR](http://www.cloudmakers.eu/astrodslr/?ref=macobservatory.com)to start taking the images. I put on my[Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens](https://amzn.to/2VWBRye?ref=macobservatory.com). It’s the cheapest fast lens they offer. But, because it’s fast, it can gather light pretty quickly. In fact, I only shot about an hour of images of the Rho Ophiuchi region, an area of the sky I’ve wanted to take for quite some time, but can’t see from my back yard at home. ![ Rho Ophuichi region taken with the Canon T3i and 50mm f/1.8 lens. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/rho-ophiuchi-format-original.webp) Rho Ophuichi region taken with the Canon T3i and 50mm f/1.8 lens. ### Beautiful astrophotography with the Star Adventurer The Sky Adventurer performed flawlessly. Man, this thing has super accurate tracking. It was really a blast to use. To find my targets, I used[SkySafari 6 Pro](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skysafari-6-pro/id1306165506?ref=macobservatory.com)on the iPhone. Using the built in compass, I was able to point in the general direction, and look for a pattern in the stars that I could match to what I was seeing through the camera. This allowed me to point my camera mounted to the top of the Star Adventurer with some accuracy. The above image was captured in less than an hour, but my aging camera battery started to run out of power. Satisfied that I got one good set of images, I called it a night, and processed the images the next morning on my laptop with[Astro Pixel Processor](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com). ![ The moon shot with the Canon 250mm kit lens. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1519-format-original.webp) The moon shot with the Canon 250mm kit lens. The last night I was there, I managed to grab some shots of the moon right before the clouds rolled in. We were treated to a spectacular lightening show behind the clouds. So I took a few shots of it before shutting down on the last night. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1538-format-original.webp) ### A modern, portable, astrophotography setup with the Rainbow Astro RST-135 URL: https://macobservatory.com/rainbow-astro-rst-135-portable-setup/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:34.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1634-format-original.webp) I’ve had in my possession a[Celestron Advanced VX](https://optcorp.com/products/celestron-avx?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion)(my first astrophotography mount), an[iOptron Cube Pro](https://optcorp.com/products/ioptron-cubepro-goto-altaz?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion)as a visual grab and goto mount, and a[Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro](https://optcorp.com/products/sky-watcher-star-adventurer-pro-pack?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion). The AVX has a 30 lb capacity, which makes it fairly capable with scopes under 5”. I’ve had a lot of fun imaging with it. The Cube pro isn’t really capable of imaging as it’s an Alt-Az type mount incapable of star tracking for imaging. But I did manage to get some planetary shots with the mount. And the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer is super easy to use, great at tracking, but lacks goto, and with no dithering capabilities, leaves a lot of fixed pattern noise in your images. When I learned about the[Rainbow Astro RST-135](http://www.rainbowastro.com/rst-135/?ref=macobservatory.com), I wanted one from the very first day. It has spot on GOTOs, 30 lb carrying capacity, requires no counter weights, can switch between equatorial and Alt-Az modes, and is super portable. I managed to sell off all three other mounts to get this one. It’s pricy, so not within reach ofor most, unless you have deep pockets or a desire to try something new and cool. It’s also a bit experimental, as it uses a new strain wave gear, the same used in advanced robotics. The gearing system is able to bear the weight of the equipment without issue. It’s got a built in mount area on the front for a[QHY Polemaster](https://optcorp.com/products/qhy-polemaster?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion)to polar align. Unfortunately I can’t see Polaris from my own yard, making polar alignment tricky. But when traveling a Polemaster or any software than can polar align using the imaging camera will work great. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1639-format-original.webp) My current setup here consists of: - Telescope is a [William Optics Redcat 51](https://optcorp.com/products/william-optics-redcat-51-f-4-9-petzval-refracting-telescope-upgrade?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion). - I’ll also be using my [Explore Scientific FCD100 102mm](https://optcorp.com/products/explore-scientific-fcd100-ed102-carbon-fiber-f-7-triplet?ref=macobservatory.com) scope. - I’m running a [StellarMate](https://optcorp.com/products/stellarmate?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) as the portable imaging computer (connected to my Mac in the house, or MacBook Pro in the field). - An [Astrozap dew heater](https://optcorp.com/products/az-720-dew-controller?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) for the scope and guide scope. - I have the ZWO Mini guide scope hooked up with the [ZWO ASI290Mini guide cam](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi290mm-mini?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion). - For the main imaging camera a [ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi1600mm-pro-cooled?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) with [8-slot filter wheel](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-electronic-filter-wheel-8-position-1-25-31mm?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion). The mount and scope fit in a backpack. And the tripod zips up into a nylon bag. I can carry both over my shoulder and put this setup just about anywhere. It should run a full night with a decent lithium battery, maybe even two nights with a larger one. Of course, if I’m within reach of AC power that works too. ![ The StellarMate and AC bricks to power everything. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1641-format-original.webp) The StellarMate and AC bricks to power everything. I’ve yet to swipe my[Pegasus Astro Ultimate Power box](https://optcorp.com/products/pegasus-astro-ultimate-powerbox-v2?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion)off my other setup, so I have a huge tangle of wires right now. I’m strongly considering trying an ASIAir Pro with this setup to cover power and dew control, but it requires I also get a ZWO EAF for focusing instead of my Moonlite focus motor. I might do that, and take the focus motor off for use with one of my Canon lenses. But for now, this is how I’m set up. Tonight is my first night out testing everything, so no images yet. But if I get all the issues sorted tonight, I’ll be imaging soon enough. ### Apple announces ARM CPU based Macs URL: https://macobservatory.com/apple-announces-arm-cpu-based-macs/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:35.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/bigsur-format-original.webp) ## What does this mean for Astrophotography? Good news. Likely not much. While the two CPUs are not compatible from a software standpoint, Apple is providing an emulation layer that will keep compatibility on both platforms. Intel based Macs will work long into the future. Apple is providing the ability to compile “Fat binaries” meaning, that each application will have the correct components to run on both Intel and Arm based Macs. Existing software will continue to work. If you purchase one of the ARM based Macs at the end of the year when released. An emulation layer will allow existing Intel based applications to run on the new chips. During their developer preview of the technology, they showed high end 3D applications running full speed on an ARM based Mac. So it seems like there will not be issues with emulation. An additional bonus, because the ARM based Macs use the same CPUs that are in the iPhone and iPad, Mac desktops will be able to run all iOS applications natively, and Apple intends to makes these available on the Mac App Store. So all your favorite iPhone and iPad astronomy apps will now be on your desktop. ### Observatory Astronomical Image Library updated to 1.5.1 URL: https://macobservatory.com/observatory-astronomical-image-library-updated-to-151/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:35.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/narrowbandsmartalbum-2x-format-original.webp) Sander has[just updated](https://codeobsession.com/news/2020/05/30/organizing-Images-with-observatory/?ref=macobservatory.com)his Mac astronomical image cataloging application with some cool new features. You can now filter your image library by 21 new criteria, creating smart filters to filter by object type, equipment used, etc. How cool. [Get it here in the Mac App Store.](https://apps.apple.com/app/observatory/id1037215068?ref=macobservatory.com) New - New smart album criteria: album name, observatory name, detector temperature, constellation IAU code & name, canvas width & height, binning width & height, airmass, azimuth, altitude, latitude, longitude, focal length, aperture diameter, ISO speed, pedestal, gain, right ascension and declination. - Rotator angle support. This optional information is extracted from images upon importing, and taken into account when calibrating and auto-stacking. This field is available in the version inspector and list browser. - Help articles about organizing images with Observatory and smart albums. - Expert preference for disabling the automatic black & white point adjustments. Changed - Improved library performance. - Copy the original file when exporting a master FITS or SBIG file with its original dimensions. - Double click a folder, album or smart album to edit it. - Duration of importing and exporting in console output. - Small corrections to the user guide and added a FAQ about automatically reopening library windows. - When exporting a FITS file the SWMODIFY keyword is now set. Fixed - A bug in galaxy overlay position angles. - Missing title when exporting to PDF. - Observer, camera and telescope name smart album criteria not behaving correctly. - After creating or editing a smart album it is now always selected and the browser updated. - Incorrect library is being opened when using Open Recent from Welcome window. - Enabled image upscaling for printing and PDF export, because only allowing downscaling had the unintentional consequence that for high dpi printers images would come out post stamp sized. - Adjustments and managed masters created from image versions are now using the attributes of the image version instead of the master image. - Lowered precedence of ESO hierarchical FITS keywords so they are not used for exporting. - FITS image concurrency bug that could be triggered by automatically reopening multiple libraries upon application launch. - Support DEBAYER FITS keyword. ### Remote telescope imaging on the Mac or PC using a Raspberry Pi URL: https://macobservatory.com/raspberry-pi-remote-telescope-imaging/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:51.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-overview-module-format-original.webp) This tutorial is the second part of a tutorial I wrote a few weeks ago.[In the first part](https://macobservatory.com/how-to-connect-your-telescope-to-your-home-network-with-kstarsekos/), I covered how to set up a Raspberry Pi unit with StellarMate or Astroberry disk images to use those devices for imaging remotely. In that tutorial, I show how to install the software, and configure the devices to capture images directly on them using your desktop computer inside your home to control the device through VNC (Screen sharing). However, there are some limitations with this method. Raspberry Pi units are fairly underpowered, they have limited disk space, and if you’re unfamiliar with using Linux, installing new software can be an exercise in frustration. This tutorial, aims to set up the Pi device, not as the imaging computer, but as the server that your imaging computer connects to. In other words, the Raspberry Pi acts as a server with drivers that broadcasts the driver over your local network so that a different computer can access and control the equipment through that device. Ideally, this would be your Mac or PC desktop inside your home. ## What are the benefits of this connection method? - You can image using a fast computer with lots of processing power and RAM, ie. your desktop! - You have access to tons of storage space. - You don’t have to transfer images after capturing to your main computer, because the images are captured directly on your main computer. - You can access your telescope equipment from any device you have, laptop, desktop, secondary laptop, iPad, iPhone etc. - You can run multiple programs concurrently that can access an INDI based server. Other INDI based imaging programs besides Kstars/EKOSPHD2, PHD2 for guiding, some planetarium programs like Cartes du Ciel, and you can even image directly within PixInsight using INDI connections to your StellarMate device. Setting this up is relatively trivial once you have your Pi device running as I explain in the[first tutorial](https://macobservatory.com/how-to-connect-your-telescope-to-your-home-network-with-kstarsekos/). ## Putting the Stellarmate or Raspberry Pi into server mode Connect and boot the Raspberry Pi device (connected to your telescope equipment) through VNC on your Mac or PC as described in[part one](https://macobservatory.com/how-to-connect-your-telescope-to-your-home-network-with-kstarsekos/). When first viewing the remote Pi through VNC you will want to close out KStars if it auto loads (there’s a preference to turn this off through the StellarMate dashboard), and look at the desktop of the StellarMate (Raspberry Pi) device. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/stellarmate-desktop-format-original.webp) You will see an icon there labeled “StellarMate Dashboard”. Double click that, and you’re presented with a web dashboard for your device.***(UPDATE: In StellarMate 1.5.3 the Dashboard icon was removed for some reason. But if you click the blue globe web browser icon in the toolbar at the top, there will be a short cut called Control Panel. This takes you to the dashboard).*** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/stellarmate-web-dashboard-format-original.webp) This dashboard view allows you to monitor the Raspberry Pi hardware, update the software, and install additional software such as ASTAP for astrometric plate solving with KStars on the Pi. But we don’t really need to use any of that functionality for this purpose. In the lower right hand corner of the dashboard there is a menu you can select that opens up a few options. One of them is the Web Manager. This is where you create a profile for your equipment, and start the server on your Pi device. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/stellarmate-web-manager-format-original.webp) Inside the web manager, you will need to create a new profile, by giving it a name, then press the plus sign to add the profile (upper right hand corder under New Profile). Add your profile, then select the device drivers for your equipment from the Drivers drop down. You will select multiple drivers, making sure there is one for each piece of your equipment. If your main camera and guide camera are the same vendor and don’t see a unique driver for each camera, then you’ll just select that vendor driver. In my case, both my cameras are ZWO, and I only need to choose the ZWO ccd driver to use for both the main and guide cameras. Once you have added all drivers for your equipment, press the floppy disk icon to save your new profile under the Equipment Profile. Note that you can make multiple profiles for different sets of equipment that you might have. Lastly, if all equipment is connected to the Pi device, and you’re ready to start the server, Press the start button under the Remote Drivers box. The server quickly stars, and you are now finished configuring the pi device. ## Install KStars/EKOS on your desktop Mac or PC computer With your server now running, you can install[KStars/EKOS on your Mac or PC](https://edu.kde.org/kstars/?ref=macobservatory.com#download)computer that you intend to image with. This can be a laptop or desktop computer that is on the same network as your Raspberry Pi device running StellarMate. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-44-11-am-format-original.webp) Install and launch KStars. Configure your default time and location as described in the[first tutorial](https://macobservatory.com/how-to-connect-your-telescope-to-your-home-network-with-kstarsekos/)where I cover setting up KStars on the Pi device. It’s the same process for KStars on your desktop computer. Then launch EKOS by pressing the Toggle EKOS button in the top nav bar of KStars. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-42-02-am-format-original.webp) In the top portion of the EKOS window that loads, press the “wand icon” to run the profile wizard. Here we’re going to tell EKOS what hardware you’ve got running on the Pi Server, and how to connect to it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-42-30-am-format-original.webp) The first window that pops up just describes what you’ll be doing. Press the Next button. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-42-41-am-format-original.webp) This window here gives you the option to select whether the telescope equipment is connected to the computer you’re on currently, or if it’s on a remote device. The Raspberry Pi is a remote device, so we will choose the bottom option. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-42-48-am-format-original.webp) In this next window we’re asked to choose the type of remote device. We’re going to pick StellarMate since we’re running the StellarMate OS installed on a Raspberry Pi. But if you’re running Astroberry, or ATIK base, you have options here to select those instead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-42-56-am-format-original.webp) Next window shows the host address and port of the server. Leave these settings default if you have never changed the name of your device or port address on the Raspberry Pi. Press next. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-43-06-am-format-original.webp) The last option here is to give your profile a name, and select whether you will be using the EKOS guide software (internal guider), or external guide software PHD2 or Lin Guider. Press the Create Profile and Select devices button. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-06-04-at-9-41-33-am-format-original.webp) Now that your profile is created, we’ll add the pieces of equipment that are part of your setup and connected to the Pi device. I’ve added my mount, main camera, guide camera, filter wheel, Pegasus power box, MBox, and SQM devices. Make sure to add your telescopes with the Plus button at the bottom, this should include both your main telescope and guide scope. If you use an OAG, the Primary and Guide scopes will be the same. Now press the save button. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-summary-window-format-original.webp) You’ll be back at the summary tab of EKOS, and from here you now press the Play button to start the connection to your remote equipment. Imaging will work exactly as it has when running directly on the Pi device as shown in the first tutorial, but you’re operating from your desktop instead. If you want a good overview of the capabilities of EKOS, see my[overview here](https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/), and a tutorial here on[capturing images](https://macobservatory.com/using-ekos-to-capture-the-wizard-nebula-ngc7380-on-the-mac/). ## A few things to note about remote imaging this way You will find image capturing and focus will lag considerably compared to imaging directly connected to your equipment. Now you’re transferring every image over to your desktop as it’s captured. If you have a seriously high resolution camera like an APSc or full frame camera, where images are 50mb plus, you’ll notice a transfer rate of about 10-20 seconds per image. After all, you’re sending these images over WIFI, or possibly wired and it’s not as instantaneous as imaging directly. There are a few things you can do to mitigate the speed if you’re impatient. As we all are in some ways. :) The speed does not impact the performance of capturing, and typical with short subs, like 30 seconds to 1 or 2 minutes, you have plenty of time between the subs for the transfers to take place. But this scenario is not going to be ideal for planetary capturing where you need to transfer large amounts of data rapidly. This is only ideal for DSO imaging. To mitigate or speed up focus, you can select sub frame focusing, where EKOS will capture only the area around a single focus star, and transfer only a tiny image, not a full frame. You can also consider binning your focus images to 2x2, and even 3x3 for very high resolution cameras and gain a considerable speed up for these specific functions. Binning also works for the align module, where you only need to plate solve your current pointing position. I bin 4x4 here without any issue on my ZWO ASI2600 camera. Smaller sensor cameras might only consider binning 2x2. You will want to leave your main capture module set to bin 1x1 so that your captured images are full size. So expect a longer transfer here with each captured image. Finally, and something I’ve personally done, is go to a wired connection in my back yard. You might wonder how this is achieved as most people do not have an ethernet connection in their back yard. Well, I use the[TP-Link Powerline adapter](https://amzn.to/3dtwxcl?ref=macobservatory.com), which allows you to run ethernet through your AC wall outlets. The kit comes with two adapters. One to place near your router, where you run an ethernet cable out of your router into the Powerline adapter, and plug that power line adapter into the wall outlet. The second one, I have plugged into the wall outlet on my back porch, and the ethernet comes out of that device and goes to my Raspberry Pi. ![ My outdoor outlet with ethernet signal going through the AC outlet into the Powerline device. Ethernet then comes out of that device and goes into my Raspberry Pi. You don’t even use up the outlet, as the Powerline unit has an empty one ready to plug something else into it. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1961-format-original.webp) My outdoor outlet with ethernet signal going through the AC outlet into the Powerline device. Ethernet then comes out of that device and goes into my Raspberry Pi. You don’t even use up the outlet, as the Powerline unit has an empty one ready to plug something else into it. Since both my mount and Raspberry Pi unit use ethernet, I bought a cheap[Netgear Gigabit switch](https://amzn.to/3gVbBNF?ref=macobservatory.com)($30) to split the connection so I can run ethernet to both my mount and Pi unit. ![ Proverbial box of wires featuring my switch, and Raspberry Pi. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1960-format-original.webp) Proverbial box of wires featuring my switch, and Raspberry Pi. And finally, the imaging rig set up and ready to image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1959-format-original.webp) ### Observer Pro 1.3 for iPhone released URL: https://macobservatory.com/observer-pro-13-for-iphone-released/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-1-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-2-format-original.webp) I love this app, and have been using it for some time. Joshua Bury is the developer, and over the last few months he’s been busy updating the software to run on larger phones and adopt some of the new OS features like light and dark mode. I use this app to find objects that have the best visibility within my horizon, and incidentally, it features a really cool mode that will help you build a custom horizon for use in the application, and for export to Sky Safari and other applications that use Alt/Az coordinates to create a custom horizon. Here’s the full breakdown on new features: **Finder View**: The object Finder View now has an extended zoom range with support for visualizing the object image overlaid with custom camera and eyepiece field-of-view indicators. **Sort**: New sort options in object lists to make it easier to find the perfect object to observe. Imagers will find that sorting by hours of unobstructed visibility particularly useful! Object lists also now support context previews and menus under iOS 13 (tap and hold an object in the list). **Horizon Measurement**: Local horizon measurement accuracy has been greatly improved. You can now also export and import horizon profiles in more convenient ways, including to/from the Files app as well as exporting a PNG for use in SkySafari. **Light Theme**: For iOS 13 users who are not fans of dark mode, Observer Pro now has a light UI option. Check the Appearance options in the Observer Pro settings screen. Plus numerous bug fixes and small enhancements. In particular, the default astronomical weather forecast now loads correctly. If you like the app, feel free to leave Joshua a review in the App Store. [**Grab a copy here**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/observer-pro/id462392803?ref=macobservatory.com)**.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-4-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-3-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-9-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-5-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-8-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-7-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/6-5-6-format-original.webp) ### Setting up the Raspberry Pi for Remote Telescope Imaging over your home network URL: https://macobservatory.com/raspberry-pi-telescope-network-setup/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:52.000Z ## This is part one of a two part series on remote imaging in your back yard. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1304-format-original.webp) It’s difficult to brave the mosquitos at night. It’s also difficult to stay out in freezing weather for long periods. You want to maximize your imaging time, and you need sleep each night. The best solution to all these issues is to network connect your telescope equipment for remote imaging in the back yard. Once you have your equipment set up, time outside will be minimal, and you can image from the comfort of your own home. Automation of your telescope equipment is key to making a lot of this work. But even without some elements like a robotic focuser, you can still make due. The one thing you will need though, is a computer that you’re willing to leave outdoors. For my first few years of imaging, I would leave my MacBook Pro 13” laptop outside, and one summer we had an unexpected summer rain on a 0% rain chance. Water did get into the side of my laptop and it shorted out the USB ports and WIFI card on that side of the computer. Thankfully, I was able to get it fixed for less than $100\. But that made me rethink my outdoor computer. I settled on a Raspberry Pi4 device. They’re less than $100, and you won’t mind losing it if it gets rained on. It’s certainly better than losing a $2,000 laptop. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/macobservatory-ad-format-original-1.webp)](https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com) Here’s what I got for the Raspberry Pi. - [Raspberry Pi4 4GB model](https://amzn.to/2xzEw7u?ref=macobservatory.com) $61.71 (at time of writing) - [Aluminum case with heatsink and fan](https://amzn.to/2vVFo5Z?ref=macobservatory.com) $13.99 (at time of writing) - [SanDisk 128GB Extreme MicroSD card. ](https://amzn.to/3auxCPB?ref=macobservatory.com)$24.99 If you prefer,[bundles for Raspberry Pi devices are sold that include everything you need to get going](https://amzn.to/3aDDZAp?ref=macobservatory.com). I purchased my pieces separate, because I wanted an aluminum case to help dissipate heat as it’s very warm where I live in the south U.S. Additionally, you’ll need an OS to run on the device. For using the[KStars/EKOS imaging package](https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/), there’s nothing better than the[StellarMate OS](https://stellarmate.com/products/stellarmate-os.html?ref=macobservatory.com). You’ll need to purchase a license of the OS for another $49\. If you are more technically inclined, and don’t mind configuring everything yourself, you can use the FREE[Astroberry Server](https://www.astroberry.io/?ref=macobservatory.com)on the same Pi unit. If you happen to be really technically challenged, you can forgo all of the above Raspberry Pi stuff, and purchase a[StellarMate device](https://optcorp.com/products/stellarmate?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion)instead of the OS for $179\. This has everything preinstalled and set up. ## Setting up the Raspberry Pi If you’ve gone the route of purchasing your own Raspberry Pi, and need to install the Stellarmate OS or Astroberry Server, you’ll insert the MicroSD card into your computer directly if it has a slot, or with an adapter if you don’t have one. You’ll need to download[balenaEtcher](https://www.balena.io/etcher/?ref=macobservatory.com)in order to copy the Stellarmate OS image over to your card. Download the image of the OS to your computer, and download balenaEtcher as well. Run balenaEtcher and select the downloaded StellarMate OS image (or Astroberry Server image), select your SD card as the target, and then select Flash. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/balenaetcher-format-original.webp) After a few minutes, the OS is written to your SD Card. When it’s done, eject the card, and put it into the slot of your Raspberry Pi device. Now you can turn it on. The easiest way I’ve found to configure your new device is to plug in a spare USB keyboard and mouse, as well as an HDMI monitor (you can use any HDMI TV for this too). This is after all, a full 4-core CPU computer. You can alternatively follow the[StellarMate first time setup instructions](https://stellarmate.com/support/first-time-setup.html?ref=macobservatory.com)to set it up using the Android or iOS StellarMate apps. But I find it easier to access the device directly using a monitor, keyboard and mouse. I even picked up a[small portable 10” HDMI monitor](https://amzn.to/2UK9OR9?ref=macobservatory.com)for $100 that I can take with me in case I get in a pinch and need to access the Pi directly when traveling. When you’re first booted up, you’ll see the screen below. KStars is running! Yes, you can image directly on the Pi device using KStars/EKOS (a bit more on that later). However, In[part two](https://macobservatory.com/remote-telescope-imaging-on-the-mac-or-pc-using-a-raspberry-pi/)of the tutorial I’m going to show how you can run the Pi in server mode, and use KStars/EKOS on your Mac or PC inside the house. This will be less resource intensive on the Pi device, and you’ll be able to use all your screen real estate that you have on your desktop computers. ![ First boot! Right into your astro imaging program KStars/EKOS. You don’t need this now, so you can close it by clicking the X in the upper right hand corner of the program window. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1876-format-original.webp) First boot! Right into your astro imaging program KStars/EKOS. You don’t need this now, so you can close it by clicking the X in the upper right hand corner of the program window. ![ Access the WIFI menu at the top right hand side of the window. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1877-format-original.webp) Access the WIFI menu at the top right hand side of the window. ![ Select “Disconnect” to disconnect from the stellarmate WIFI. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1878-format-original.webp) Select “Disconnect” to disconnect from the stellarmate WIFI. ![ Your home WIFI network should now appear. Select it. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1879-format-original.webp) Your home WIFI network should now appear. Select it. ![ Now type in your WIFI password to connect to your WIFI network inside your home. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1880-format-original.webp) Now type in your WIFI password to connect to your WIFI network inside your home. With the StellarMate OS installed, and the device connected to your home network, you can now access it through your Mac’s built in VNC (Virtual Network Computer). Alternatively PC and Mac users can connect through a web browser at the following address:[http://stellarmate.local:6080/vnc.html](http://stellarmate.local:6080/vnc.html?ref=macobservatory.com). (The VNC password will be “smate”) This allows you to see the Raspberry Pi units screen directly in a window on your Mac. You can then control the device using your desktop or laptop computer instead of directly accessing it with it’s own keyboard and monitor. The benefit of connecting through the Mac’s built in VNC is that you will also have access to shared drives on the Pi unit, making it easy to transfer images to your desktop for processing. Here are the steps to access it through the Macs built in VNC: ![ Open a Finder window. Look in the left hand column for Network. Select that. You’ll now see a list of computers broadcasting on your home network. stellarmate:0 is there. Double click it. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-11-27-19-am-format-original.webp) Open a Finder window. Look in the left hand column for Network. Select that. You’ll now see a list of computers broadcasting on your home network. stellarmate:0 is there. Double click it. ![ This opens a finder window of the device, and it’s shared drives. None are being shared from the Pi unit yet, so no drives appear. But there is a Share Screen button that appears. Click that. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-11-27-39-am-format-original.webp) This opens a finder window of the device, and it’s shared drives. None are being shared from the Pi unit yet, so no drives appear. But there is a Share Screen button that appears. Click that. ![ Put in your Stellarmate password. The default is “smate” without the quotes. Press Sign In. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-11-28-40-am-format-original.webp) Put in your Stellarmate password. The default is “smate” without the quotes. Press Sign In. ![ Ta da! You are now seeing your Raspberry Pi desktop on your Mac computer. To do this on a PC, you would need to download FreeVNC or something similar to connect to the device or use the provided web address in your browser as I linked above in the article. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-11-29-09-am-format-original.webp) Ta da! You are now seeing your Raspberry Pi desktop on your Mac computer. To do this on a PC, you would need to download FreeVNC or something similar to connect to the device or use the provided web address in your browser as I linked above in the article. ## Configuring your Raspberry Pi and the KStars locale and time information Lets now make sure your Raspberry Pi has the correct localization information for your location. Go to the StellarMate Icon in the upper left, and open up the menu to Preferences, Raspberry Pi Configuration. ![ Select Raspberry Pi Configuration. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-12-34-59-pm-format-original.webp) Select Raspberry Pi Configuration. ![ Select the Localization tab, and set each of the 4 settings according to where you live. I live in the North America Central time zone, so I chose America/Chicago for my Timezone. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-12-50-21-pm-format-original.webp) Select the Localization tab, and set each of the 4 settings according to where you live. I live in the North America Central time zone, so I chose America/Chicago for my Timezone. You will be asked to reboot after the settings are done, and you press OK. Reboot should happen automatically. Make sure you reconnect over VNC to the device. If you left your Mac VNC window open, it will reconnect automatically. Your time in the upper right corner of the Raspberry Pi device should now show the current accurate time for your location. Now to configure KStars/EKOS location and equipment profile so that you can image with your Raspberry Pi unit over VNC from the comfort of your home. Your computer should have booted up to KStars. If not, launch KStars from the desktop KStars icon. ![ The two (highlighted in red) icons, allow you to set the geography and time for the KStars planetarium program. It’s important to set this, as EKOS will utilize this information to make sure you GO TO the correct locations for objects. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-12-54-37-pm-format-original.webp) The two (highlighted in red) icons, allow you to set the geography and time for the KStars planetarium program. It’s important to set this, as EKOS will utilize this information to make sure you GO TO the correct locations for objects. Lets start with Geographic location. Press the globe icon. Type the closest city to your location in the city filter. This will be good enough. You can alternatively type in your home location with Latitude, Longitude, and elevation information that you get from a GPS device or your Phone. ![ I’ve picked Houston, as this is close enough to my home location (about 8 miles off). ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-12-57-50-pm-format-original.webp) I’ve picked Houston, as this is close enough to my home location (about 8 miles off). Press OK, and now select the clock Icon to set the time for the planetarium program. Note: It’s best to set it to now for imaging purposes, but if you want to look at where objects might be in the future, or past, you can change the time to another date. Just don’t forget to set it back to now. ![ I pressed the Now button. This sets the planetarium clock to the current date and time. The time should now match the Raspberry Pi’s time in the upper right corner of your screen. If it does not. Then either in your Raspberry Pi preferences, or Geographic location in KStars is incorrect, and you need to double check your settings. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-01-30-pm-format-original.webp) I pressed the Now button. This sets the planetarium clock to the current date and time. The time should now match the Raspberry Pi’s time in the upper right corner of your screen. If it does not. Then either in your Raspberry Pi preferences, or Geographic location in KStars is incorrect, and you need to double check your settings. ## Final Step: setting up an equipment profile for your telescope equipment. We’re going to now launch EKOS, the imaging suite that is within KStars. Look for the Observatory Dome icon in the top bar of KStars (indicated in red on the below screenshot). This toggles the Ekos window. Since we’ve never launched it before, it’s going to go right into the automatic profile wizard to select your telescope equipment. ![ Press the Next button. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-06-21-pm-format-original.webp) Press the Next button. ![ Select “Equipment is attached to this device”. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-10-44-pm-format-original.webp) Select “Equipment is attached to this device”. In[part two](https://macobservatory.com/remote-telescope-imaging-on-the-mac-or-pc-using-a-raspberry-pi/)of this tutorial, I’ll show you how to use this device as a remote device, and you’ll learn how to use the other option to image on your desktop instead of the Raspberry Pi unit. ![ Give your profile a name. Select Internal Guider, and then Create Profile and Select Devices. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-13-52-pm-format-original.webp) Give your profile a name. Select Internal Guider, and then Create Profile and Select Devices. This profile will represent one set of equipment that you might image with. So name it after the equipment you might have connected. For instance. I have several telescopes and mounts. This profile will be set up for my AT6RC telescope and CGX mount. Later I might make a second profile for a different scope and same mount, or different combinations of hardware. Choose the internal guider for simplicity. It’s very good. If you have special circumstances where you need a more control over your guiding, you can choose to use PHD2, but I’m not covering how to set that up here. Finally, create the profile, and choose the rest of your equipment. ![ Select your equipment here. My setup uses a Pegasus Astro Ultimate Power box for focusing, and it’s considered an Auxiliary device. So I select it under Aux:1 instead of Focuser. But if you have a dedicated focuser and don’t use the UPB, then you’ll choose it under the focuser section. If no focuser, just leave it blank. I would also add a free Weather service, as Ekos can automatically shut down your equipment if rain approaches. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-19-00-pm-format-original.webp) Select your equipment here. My setup uses a Pegasus Astro Ultimate Power box for focusing, and it’s considered an Auxiliary device. So I select it under Aux:1 instead of Focuser. But if you have a dedicated focuser and don’t use the UPB, then you’ll choose it under the focuser section. If no focuser, just leave it blank. I would also add a free Weather service, as Ekos can automatically shut down your equipment if rain approaches. The final step here is to add your telescopes. This includes primary and guide scopes. Make sure when filling out focal length, you take into account any reducer you might be using as part of the focal length for that particular scope. The Eyepiece, Lens, and Filter sections do not matter here.**You also do not need to choose a driver for the telescope**. Leave that blank. ![ I’ve added my telescope and guide scope for this profile. You can add all the telescopes and guide scopes you own here now if you wish, because once they’re added, you can then create multiple profiles and not have to add the scopes again. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-26-44-pm-format-original.webp) I’ve added my telescope and guide scope for this profile. You can add all the telescopes and guide scopes you own here now if you wish, because once they’re added, you can then create multiple profiles and not have to add the scopes again. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-28-56-pm-format-original.webp) Now, all my equipment has been added, and I can save this profile. The EKOS window should now appear with your currently created profile selected. Connect all your equipment indoors to your Raspberry Pi unit during the day so that you can test and configure your drivers that are built into EKOS. ![ This is the main EKOS window. Start and stop the connection to your equipment from the #2 section of icons near the top. Pressing the play button connects to the devices plugged into the Pi like your camera, and telescope mount. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-51-31-pm-format-original.webp) This is the main EKOS window. Start and stop the connection to your equipment from the #2 section of icons near the top. Pressing the play button connects to the devices plugged into the Pi like your camera, and telescope mount. After pressing the play button, the INDI control panel comes up so you can set individual settings per device. This is where you would set your default gain, color depth and more for your camera. Set your park position for your mount, focuser backlash settings, and filter wheel slot labels and more with each tab. ![ All individual equipment settings are done from the INDI control panel. Make sure every device is configured correctly and works. You’ll see connection errors at the bottom of each tab indicating whether or not the device is working. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-29-at-1-50-25-pm-format-original.webp) All individual equipment settings are done from the INDI control panel. Make sure every device is configured correctly and works. You’ll see connection errors at the bottom of each tab indicating whether or not the device is working. Close the window, and now you’re ready to start imaging remotely over VNC to your Pi device. Follow one of my other tutorials for the steps to take when imaging and you’ve got all your equipment set up and working with EKOS. - [An overview of all the modules in EKOS. This will give you an idea of the functionality within EKOS.](https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/) Some new functionality has been added to EKOS since I wrote this article. It now includes an Observatory tab where you can monitor the current weather conditions and set automatic shutdown conditions in the case of bad weather. - [A tutorial on running the modules. In my example, I capture images of the Wizard Nebula.](https://macobservatory.com/using-ekos-to-capture-the-wizard-nebula-ngc7380-on-the-mac/) Now, all you need is clear skies. Set up all equipment outside. Connect all your devices to the Pi device, and boot it up. Connect over your network using VNC to the Pi and open up EKOS to connect to your hardware, and start the imaging session. In[part two](https://macobservatory.com/remote-telescope-imaging-on-the-mac-or-pc-using-a-raspberry-pi/). I’ll show you how to configure the Pi device to act as a server instead of the main imaging computer. And you’ll be able to run KStars/EKOS on your Mac or PC desktop computer inside your home. I’ll also cover some better connectivity options like a[Powerline adapter](https://amzn.to/3dzKohI?ref=macobservatory.com)that you can use to get Ethernet to the Raspberry Pi instead of using WIFI. ### How the Telescope Field of View Affects Equipment and Object Selection URL: https://macobservatory.com/how-the-telescope-field-of-view-effects-object-selection/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:53.000Z ![ The field of view (FOV) for all the imaging telescopes I own. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-11-at-12-48-52-pm-format-original.webp) The field of view (FOV) for all the imaging telescopes I own. Your field of view (FOV) is the view your telescope has of the star field in the night sky. Telescope and camera selection has an effect on your FOV and in turn the size of object that’s suited for imaging with that combination. In the example above, I have 5 of my telescopes paired with a single camera, the ZWO ASI2600 MC-Pro. You can see how using the single camera with the different focal length telescopes has an effect on the size of the imaging area. At the widest FOV you have the[William Optics RedCat 51 telescope](https://macobservatory.com/william-optics-redcat-51-apo), and at the narrowest FOV you have the[Celestron EdgeHD 11” telescope](https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11). The Edge scope is going to image an area that is much smaller, or more zoomed in, while the RedCat is going to image a much wider field. For this target of M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy), the Edge is only going to capture a portion of the galaxy, while the RedCat is going to capture an area much larger than the galaxy. But, it looks like my[Astro-Tech AT60ED](https://macobservatory.com/astro-tech-at60ed)is just right for the job. ![ This scope provides the perfect framing for Andromeda. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-11-at-1-05-20-pm-format-original.webp) This scope provides the perfect framing for Andromeda. ## How to use Astronomy.tools to try out image and camera combinations I use the website[Astronomy.tools](https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field%5Fof%5Fview/?ref=macobservatory.com)to check my equipment combinations during object selection to find the most suitable telescope and camera for the job. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-11-at-12-44-47-pm-format-original.webp) The first thing you’ll want to do is select the Imaging Mode tab at the top of the page. This allows you to pick a telescope and camera combination. If you are in visual mode, you can test out eye piece and telescope combinations to see how large an object should appear visually when looking through the telescope with your eyes. Secondly, pick a target you’re looking to image for the night. You can use the search or pick a common Messier or planetary object. Then proceed to choose your telescope and camera combination. Then select add to view to see how the pairing looks on the selected object. Now, lets see how camera sensor size has an effect on the available FOV. Since you’re “seeing” the object with the camera sensor, the size of sensor plays into how large your FOV would be with the selected telescope. Here’e two cameras that I currently use. The ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera, and the Two ASI2600MC-Pro camera. The former is a mono camera, and the latter is a color camera. But, lets ignore that fact right now, and just look at the sensor sizes. The 1600 is a 4/3” sensor size, which is approximately 17.7mm X 13.4mm. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/1600-sensor-size-format-original.webp) The ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera is an APSC sized sensor. So much larger at 23.5mm X 15.7mm. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/asi2600-parameters-1024x434-format-original.webp) So, lets see how these cameras work on a new target. I’ve picked a small galaxy, M51\. In this example, I’m using the same exact telescope, the Celestron EdgeHD 11”, but pairing it with two different cameras. You can see, the 1600 camera provides better framing, as the 2600 is just a bit larger. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-11-at-1-21-06-pm-format-original.webp) Finally, here’s one more example of a different target, using the same two cameras, but the GSO 8” Ritchey Chreiten telescope instead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2020-03-11-at-1-25-47-pm-format-original.webp) This example shows M81 and M82, Bodes Nebula and the Cigar Galaxy. This screenshot was taken in SkySafari 6 Pro, which also has FOV tools for all your telescope and camera combinations. Here we see that the ZWO ASI1600MM-C is a bit small with this scope, and I risk cutting off one of the galaxies. But if I go with the larger ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro camera, the sensor is large enough to cover both galaxies and leave a little room to spare. This hobby can be complex. And camera telescope combinations add to that complexity. In addition, there’s another factor that I didn’t cover, which is a bit more advanced, and that’s how suitable the camera is for any given telescope. The quality of the telescope, the effective seeing (a measure of atmospheric turbulence), focal length, effective resolution of your telescope, and the camera’s pixel size all factor into what makes a specific camera better or worse for your imaging outcome. Fortunately, Astronomy.tools offers a[CCD Suitability Calculator](https://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd%5Fsuitability?ref=macobservatory.com)that helps you properly pair a camera with your telescope, and they provide a good overview of the reasoning behind picking the perfect camera for your gear. ### Imaging a Kaleidoscope of colors on the North American Nebula URL: https://macobservatory.com/north-american-nebula-imaging/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:38.000Z ![ The LRGB (Luminance, Red, Green Blue) color pallet. The “natural” color of the North American Nebula ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/lrgb-format-original.webp) The LRGB (Luminance, Red, Green Blue) color pallet. The “natural” color of the North American Nebula I recently came across a directory full of images labeled HD199479, which just happens to be the name of the bright star right at the very center of the above image. The North American Nebula. I had about 3 hours of color data imaged with my RedCat 51 telescope, and the ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera. I processed that data, and the above image is the results of that. I knew though, that I had captured this image previously using narrowband filters. So I also had data captured for Hydrogen Alpha emissions, Sulphur II emissions, and Oxygen III emissions. With all that captured data, I could use Astro Pixel Processor to align all my final frames of L, R, G, B, Ha, SII, and OIII to each other. I could then combine them in all the common color pallet combinations for some exciting results I’d not seen with my own imaging. In addition to the LRGB image, I was able to do LHaRGB, LRGBHOO, HOO, and SHO pallets. Check them out in the below gallery. In total, there’s 18 hours of captured images here. For all the gritty equipment details, check out my[Astrobin page](https://www.astrobin.com/o6hw4b/?ref=macobservatory.com)for the image set. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/lrgb-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/lhargb-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/lrgbhoo-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/hoo-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/sho-format-original.webp) ### Basically I was just interviewed on the Mac Power Users podcast URL: https://macobservatory.com/mac-power-users-podcast-interview/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:39.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/mpu_artwork-png-format-original.webp) …where I basically say basically about a thousand times. It’s all good though. A few more podcasts and I’ll be a pro. Don’t they say you’re always your own worst critic? But if you can get past that, there’s some good info in there for beginners. I tried to not get overly technical, so hopefully it’s easy to follow. I’m featured on episode #524 Photographing the stars, interviewed by David Sparks and Stephen Hackett. I met Stephen a few months ago when he visited NASA Johnson Space Center for a tour. He hosts another podcast called[Liftoff](https://www.relay.fm/liftoff?ref=macobservatory.com)which I suggest everyone check out if you’re interested in space and space news. They had come to Houston do to the tour, and had a local meetup with podcast fans. A few months later Stephen and David graciously asked me to be on their show Mac Power Users. ### [**#524: Photographing the Stars, with Andrew Burwell**](https://www.relay.fm/mpu/524?ref=macobservatory.com) Hope you all like it. ### 5 things to consider if you're interested in astrophotography URL: https://macobservatory.com/5-things-to-consider-if-youre-interested-in-astrophotography/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:39.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1715-format-original.webp) The setup shown above is what I could consider a rather advanced setup. In all likelihood you’ll start in this hobby with a much simpler setup. Astrophotography is fairly easy to get into, but it’s difficult to master. It does not require very complex hardware at the start. In fact, you can start with a simple DSLR, and a tripod. This type of setup can capture the Milky Way across the night sky when it’s visible. Upgrade that basic setup with a sky tracker, and eventually to a telescope and mount as your skills increase. But, this isn’t necessarily a recommended path, although it can be done that way. If you’re like me and you want to see some impressive stuff, maybe you jump right in with a telescope. Anyhow, this article is going to give you some basic direction on where to start. ## 1: Visit a local observatory or outreach program hosted by a local astronomy club. This is a great way to get your feet wet. Meet some people who have been there, and done that. Soak in the sights, both by looking through a telescope to give you an idea of what you can see, and to talk to users that own telescopes to get their valuable input on a possible future purchase. Amateur astronomers love sharing their knowledge, and that’s exactly why they host outreach programs. ![ One of my first imaging setups . A smaller telescope, a smaller mount. A far cry from the complex setup at the top of the page. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_8292-format-original.webp) One of my first imaging setups . A smaller telescope, a smaller mount. A far cry from the complex setup at the top of the page. ## 2: Use equipment you have on hand. It’s possible you already own a DSLR and a tripod. Take it to a state park, pick a fast (F2-F4), wide lens like a[50mm](https://amzn.to/32hlYEu?ref=macobservatory.com),[35mm](https://amzn.to/37PiASu?ref=macobservatory.com), or even wider at[12mm](https://amzn.to/2T0oVoG?ref=macobservatory.com). This kind of lens with ISO setting around 1600, will allow you to capture images of the milky way with 15-20 second exposures. If you want to up your game with longer exposures, add in a sky tracker like the[SkyWatcher Star Adventurer](https://amzn.to/38RcpyG?ref=macobservatory.com). This allows the DSLR to track the night sky for longer exposures than 20 seconds. Up to a minute or more exposure allows you to start to capture more detail. Take advantage of the inexpensive or free software available on the Mac and enhance your skills by adding in image processing to the mix to squeeze out those extra details. ## 3\. Big scopes don’t always equal big views. In fact, big scopes can cause a lot of beginner issues. Telescope manufactures like to sell[packaged deals](https://amzn.to/37IwkOM?ref=macobservatory.com)combining a telescope with a mount. They often sell these with scopes that are too large for the mount to handle when imaging. The larger and heavier your scope is, the more precision that’s required to aim it. And when you have long exposures requiring extreme stability and precision, these small mounts probably are not going to cut it. A telescope is essentially like a long focal length fixed camera lens. If you’ve ever tried to hold a zoom lens steady, it’s much more difficult than a wide angle lens. The same principle applies here. You might think, why do they sell those packages? They can be great for visual use, or even planetary imaging where tracking of your targets doesn’t have to be that accurate. ## 4\. Small scopes can see and capture more than you think. Small scopes between 60-80MM in size can capture awesome images of galaxies like Andromeda, or huge swaths of nebula in the night sky. There’s a large number of big objects that you just can’t image well with very large telescopes because the area they can see at once is so small. In fact, Andromeda is about 3° across. Compared to the moon which is 0.5° across, Andromeda is six times larger. If you tried to image it with a large telescope, you would only see a small portion of the overall galaxy. Other benefits of small scopes are that they’re light weight, and don’t require very precise tracking of the mount. Since they are not as zoomed in as a large scope, small imperfections in the tracking of the mount go unnoticed. These telescopes are often less expensive, and make entry into the hobby both easier to do from a technical standpoint, but it’s also easier on the wallet. ![ Andromeda Galaxy, shot with a 51mm telescope . No large scope could capture this image. It took a small one to fit in the full field of view. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1228-format-original.webp) Andromeda Galaxy, shot with a 51mm telescope . No large scope could capture this image. It took a small one to fit in the full field of view. ## 5\. Ask questions. Take advantage of other people’s experiences, both their mistakes and good choices. Browse the[CloudyNights.com](https://www.cloudynights.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)forum (one of the largest astronomy and astrophotography forums around). Learn what you can from others. Contact me at my site contact button (on the bottom of the site) and ask away. I love talking to other people about this fun hobby, and am open to offering others advice. Also, take a look at the site[Astrobin.com](https://www.astrobin.com/?ref=macobservatory.com). This is all amateur astrophotography taken by amatuers around the world. Before I got into the hobby, I thought all these kinds of images only came from space telescopes like the Hubble. I had no idea you could capture these images from your own back yard. ### Review of the ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro astrophotography camera URL: https://macobservatory.com/zwo-asi2600mc-pro-review/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:40.000Z ![ NGC 2403 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2403-format-original.webp) NGC 2403 Fans of ZWO Optical have been waiting patiently all year as new cameras were announced, and they slowly proceeded through the QA/QC and final manufacturing process. It just so happens that the[ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mc-p-cmos-color-astronomy-imaging-cooled-camera.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)camera released during galaxy season when I have my larger[Celestron EdgeHD 11”](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-edgehd-1100-ota-91050-xlt.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)telescope out. So all of my first few images are with this scope and camera combination. Despite that, I’m looking forward to the summer months when I can do some wide field color imaging. This is one of the first new ZWO cameras based off of a new Sony CMOS chip, the IMX571\. It’s a 16-bit depth color capture camera, where previous cameras in their lineup were 14-bit or 12-bit. This provides for more sensitivity and color range when capturing. The sensor size is APS-C, so not quite full frame. This is about the maximum sized chip you can use with most 2” focusers or 2” reducers. Most of the newer sensors feature fairly small pixel sizes which make them ideal for shorter focal length telescopes, but if you can achieve very good guiding, and have good seeing conditions you can image with this camera on larger telescopes. An additional new feature is the large dew heater on the front window of the camera. This alleviates problems that the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro experienced by cooling so fast the front window would ice over. So far I’ve had no icing issues. Additionally, the front window is an IR/Cut window, so no extra filter is necessary when imaging on scopes that require an IR filter. The full well depth of 50,000e allows for some long single sub image captures if you have very dark skies. Quantum efficiency is around 80%. This is pretty high…it means that of all the light captured it can retain as much as 80% of what falls across the sensor. Older cameras can dip below 50% which is pretty inefficient. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/asi2600-parameters-1024x434-format-original-1.webp) One potential downside to these new cameras is they are extremely high resolution. Each frame is 6248x4176, and that equates to about 52.2 MB per capture. If you’re like me, and you have to take relatively short exposures as a way to manage light pollution, then you can expect some long processing times as you try to integrate a bunch of 52 MB captures into a final image. Overall though, I’ve been really enjoying the new camera. It’s very sensitive, and because of the smaller pixel size, noise is very small in the frame, and easier to deal with when post processing as it’s less noticeable. Below are a series of images I’ve taken so far with the camera. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2905-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m1-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2419-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc3079-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2403-format-original-1.webp) The high resolution and small pixel size of the camera is suitable for many refractors from the[Askar FRA400](https://agenaastro.com/askar-72mm-f-5-6-quintuplet-petzval-flat-field-astrograph-fra400.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com)to the[SkyWatcher Esprit 100](https://agenaastro.com/sky-watcher-esprit-100mm-ed-triplet-apo-refractor-ota-s11410.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com), or even larger refractors in the 130 size like an[Askar 130PHQ](https://agenaastro.com/askar-130mm-f-7-7-quadruplet-flat-field-astrograph-130phq.html?rfsn=7382607.4cfa63&ref=macobservatory.com). Check below for some recent shots using a wide range of telescopes. ## Some more recent images taken with this camera: ![Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) - 1/27/2023](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-127.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/hzeo7v/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jan 27, 2023Askar FRA400,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![NGC 678, NGC 697, NGC 691](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-128.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/4su8av/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 28, 2022Takahashi Epsilon 200,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Astro-Physics Mach2 GTO ![M33: Triangulum Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-129.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/etcaoj/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 25, 2022Takahashi Epsilon 200,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Astro-Physics Mach2 GTO ![M45: Subaru](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-130.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/2a4j0k/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 25, 2022Askar FRA400,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![Triangulum Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-131.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/k4np9k/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 21, 2022Askar FRA400,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![Andromeda Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-132.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/n2vy2t/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 19, 2022Askar FRA400,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![Gamma Cassiopeiae](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-126.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/ck89fn/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 9, 2022Askar FRA400,ZWO Duo-Band Filter,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro ![IC5146: Cocoon wide field ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-133.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/wbnt3x/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 27, 2022Askar FRA400,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![IC 342: The Hidden Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-45.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/lwg5g5/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 13, 2021Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![NGC 891 & Able 346 Galaxy Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-46.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/qtm5l9/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 11, 2021Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![NGC 2264: The Cone Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-134.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/y75pcp/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 12, 2021Rainbow Astro RST-135,William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro ![M42: The Orion Nebula (with a little Horse Head)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-135.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/klatjd/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,William Optics RedCat 51,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC 2118: The Witch Head Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-136.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/uslf5x/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![NGC 7023: Iris Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-137.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/slqzkz/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,William Optics RedCat 51,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![Constellation Auriga nebula group](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/constellation-auriga-nebula-group.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/m07iyx/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![M31: Andromeda Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/andromeda.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/r5lct1/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135,William Optics RedCat 51 ![M45: The Pleiades](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-138.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/waz84a/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135,William Optics RedCat 51 ![NGC 7789: Caroline's Rose](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-68.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/cyfeb3/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 5, 2020Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,10Micron GM1000 HPS ![M13: Hercules Cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-69.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/lo7cly/?ref=macobservatory.com)Aug 5, 2020Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,10Micron GM1000 HPS ![Sharpless 2-129: Flying Bat Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-139.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/2g5chb/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jun 18, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,10Micron GM1000 HPS,William Optics RedCat 51 ![NGC 3953 & NGC 3917](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-140.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/j8cdel/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 29, 2020GSO 8" F/8 Ritchey-Chrétien,10Micron GM1000 HPS,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro ![NGC 4244: Silver Needle Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-141.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/u8q2jl/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 29, 2020GSO 8" F/8 Ritchey-Chrétien,10Micron GM1000 HPS,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro ![NGC 5866: The Spindle Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-142.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/yrrpve/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 29, 2020GSO 8" F/8 Ritchey-Chrétien,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,10Micron GM1000 HPS ![NGC 2419 - Intergalactic Wanderer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2419.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/22d7ol/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Celestron EdgeHD 11",10Micron GM1000 HPS ![NGC 3079](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-8.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/m2xa0b/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Celestron EdgeHD 11",10Micron GM1000 HPS ![NGC 2905](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-2905.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/a1ozeq/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Celestron EdgeHD 11",10Micron GM1000 HPS ![M1: Crab Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-9.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/zto3qi/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 21, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Celestron EdgeHD 11",10Micron GM1000 HPS ![NGC 2403](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-11.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/pkh2qx/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 31, 201910Micron GM1000 HPS,ZWO ASI071MC-Pro,Celestron EdgeHD 11",ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro ### A new year, new mount, new camera, new scope. URL: https://macobservatory.com/a-new-year-new-mount-new-camera-new-scope/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:40.000Z ![ Unfortunately my back yard neighbor installed a small ‘sun’ as their back porch light. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1732-format-original.webp) Unfortunately my back yard neighbor installed a small ‘sun’ as their back porch light. Late last year as galaxy season began to start, I got out my EdgeHD 11 scope to start shooting those small targets. I had been using the Celestron CGX for almost a year at that point, but hadn’t used it very much with my Edge. I was finding it difficult to get perfectly round stars, especially in the RA axis. Guiding was always worse in this one axis on my CGX. And if you do a search on the internet for CGX and RA axis, you’ll see a whole bunch of people with the same issue. I was able to mitigate it some in a bunch of my images by using some de-blurring features in photoshop where you can remove motion blur in a single direction. But, you can tell it was not perfect. Long story short, this seems to be an intrinsic issue for a lot of CGX owners, and I didn’t want to rip apart the mount and try to fix it myself. So, I sold it online to recoup any costs I could, and the next owner was happy to have it for visual where these tiny tracking errors wouldn’t show up. So, as you can see by the photo, I purchased a[10Micron GM1000 HPS](https://www.10micron.eu/en/product/gm1000-hps/?ref=macobservatory.com)mount. I researched a bunch, over on[cloudynights.com](https://www.cloudynights.com/forum/66-mounts/?ref=macobservatory.com). I strongly considered a bunch of different options including an Astrophysics Mach2 (which had an extremely long wait list), Paramount MyT, as well as the GM1000\. Ed from[Deep Space Products](https://www.deepspaceproducts.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)contacted me after reading one of my posts, and after answering a lot of my questions, swayed me to go with the GM1000\. Ed shipped it out and in a matter of days I had it set up and running. Unfortunately as luck would have it in this hobby, I started to experience some strange electrical problems with the mount only when the DEC motor was operating. This is very unusual to have any issues in these mounts as they’re throughly tested before leaving the manufacturing plant. The problem I experienced only came about during temperature drops which explained why it wasn’t caught in testing. Through Ed’s direct support (late night phone calls) he walked me through a bunch of trouble shooting, and I eventually shipped the mount head back to him at no charge to me. He reseated all the electrical plugs (that were internal) and the problem disappeared for him. Just to be sure they replaced the DEC motor/encoder assembly. Ed tested for another week, and it seemed all clear, so he shipped it back to me. It’s been working flawlessly ever since. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/pjmac-dmevdv_1824x0_kwxurflk-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/xqm579r5rmsd_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ztq4bdhgx7v0_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/shkkrzsopcnd_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/qbpdmkvlf6xr_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) Some galaxy images done on the new mount. The most surprising thing to me with the new mount is how fast and silent it is. It slings the Edge around like it’s nothing. If you weren’t careful, you could knock yourself out. In addition to the speed, it’s highly accurate. With encoders on both axis, it can correct for wind gusts, bumps, or I could even unlock the clutches and move it around and it would still know the position it’s pointed. Guiding is unnecessary as it tracks below .2 arc second error with the encoders. ![ Tracking error measured by 10Micron. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/schema-format-original.webp) Tracking error measured by 10Micron. In addition to the mount, I decided to swap out my AT6RC telescope for an 8” RC. I sold the 6” through the classifieds on cloudy nights. And picked up a used 8”. I was able to swap out the Moonlite focuser from my 6” as the flange size is the same. I have really only used it for one image, as the larger size started to have dew problems and I didn’t have a dew shield. Got those ordered, but have not tried the scope again. The larger size scope puts it more evenly between the Edge 11 and my 102mm refractor for focal length, giving me a better overall range of scope focal lengths. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1708-format-original.webp) Lastly, towards the end of the year ZWO has released a handful of new cameras based on newer sensor technology. Since I’ve been using my color camera (ZWO ASI071) on the EdgeHD, and have always had temperature cooling and icing issues with it in the high humidity of Houston, I wanted to get a replacement. ZWO’s new full frame mono sensors were very enticing, but expensive. Once you purchased filter wheel, new OAG, and filters with the camera, you’re looking at about 10k. So I opted for their less expensive color camera, which is an APSc sized version of the same chip. I got the ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro just after the new year started. While I have been imaging successfully with the 071, I intend on selling it. The new camera features a full front window dew heater, better cooling system, and much more sensitive sensor. ![ Size comparison between the new and old camera. The ASI2600 is significantly larger. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1781-format-original.webp) Size comparison between the new and old camera. The ASI2600 is significantly larger. I have yet to make first light with the new camera. As luck would have it…cloudy nights, and of course during the first clear night, I’m under the weather myself. Looks like another week of waiting. But this year will be exciting for me as I learn the new camera and gear. ### Imaging with the William Optics RedCat 51, achieving great images with beginner equipment URL: https://macobservatory.com/william-optics-redcat-51-beginner-imaging/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:53.000Z ![ The Soul Nebula, captured on the William Optics RedCat 51. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/soul-nebula-format-original.webp) The Soul Nebula, captured on the William Optics RedCat 51. I recently picked up a[10Micron GM1000 HPS mount](https://optcorp.com/products/10-micron-gm-1000-hps-computerized-equatorial-telescope-mount?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion). It’s a serious piece of equipment, but not responsible for these images. A lot of people tend to believe, big gear equals big results. But believe it or not, these images were taken with some very beginner equipment. Quality images don’t necessarily come from amazing gear. The above and below images come with practice, and honing your skill with the equipment and software you have. I started imaging in Astrophotography with modest equipment. I had, and still use an entry level[Celestron Advanced VX mount](https://optcorp.com/products/celestron-avx?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion). In fact, these images were taken with that mount. The full set of gear I used for these images is listed below, along with some alternatives you could use that cost less and will do just as good a job: - [William Optics RedCat 51](https://optcorp.com/products/william-optics-redcat-51-f-4-9-petzval-refracting-telescope-upgrade?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) telescope or [SpaceCat 51](https://optcorp.com/products/william-optics-spacecat-telescope?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) (if you prefer gray) - [Celestron Advanced VX Mount](https://optcorp.com/products/celestron-avx?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera with Filter Wheel](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi1600mm-pro-camera-kit?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) or you could go with a color camera and no filter wheel like the [ZWO ASI294MC-Pro Color camera](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi294mc-p?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion). - [ZWO Mini Guide Scope](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-30mm-f-4-mini-guide-scope?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [ZWO ASI290MM-Mini Guide Camera](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi290mm-mini?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) or the less expensive option of a [ZWO ASI120MM-Mini Guide Camera](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-asi120mm-mini?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) - [Raspberry Pi4 Computer](https://amzn.to/35ZX5O4?ref=macobservatory.com) with [Aluminum Case](https://amzn.to/38aaxAQ?ref=macobservatory.com) - [Pegasus Astro UPBV2](https://optcorp.com/products/pegasus-astro-ultimate-powerbox-v2?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) USB hub and Power box, or the less expensive [Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox](https://optcorp.com/products/pegasus-pocket-powerbox?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) which will power all your items, but will still need a USB hub. - [Moonlite Focuser Motor](http://focuser.com/motorfocus.php?ref=macobservatory.com) or [ZWO EAF Focuser](https://optcorp.com/products/zwo-eaf-standard?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) or [Pegasus Astro Universal Focus Motor](https://optcorp.com/products/pegasus-astro-universal-motor-focus-kit?rfsn=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fcampaign=3314052.0bbdf0&utm%5Fmedium=affiliate&utm%5Fsource=refersion) For software, I ran[EKOS/KStars](https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/)on the Raspberry Pi unit at the telescope, and controlled everything from the comfort of my home with a[MacBook Pro laptop.](https://amzn.to/368IlfR?ref=macobservatory.com) If you ever have any questions on setup, or gear, feel free to contact me through the site’s contact form at the bottom of every page. ![ The California Nebula captured with the same gear listed above. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/california-nebula-format-original.webp) The California Nebula captured with the same gear listed above. ### Upgraded to the Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2 URL: https://macobservatory.com/upgraded-to-the-pegasus-astro-ultimate-powerbox-v2/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:54.000Z ![ The Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1300-format-original.webp) The Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2. There’s a few reasons I’ve made some resent upgrades to my equipment. A few weeks ago I had set up for a night of imaging. I religiously check the weather for any incoming rain, and if there’s even the slightest chance I don’t image. Well, this particular night It was crystal clear, no chance of rain. I set up the imaging rig and went to bed for the night. I woke up with my regular alarm at 6:00am, and looked out the window. It was raining! A lot! A stray summer shower had come through (the first time in 3 years of imaging). I jumped out of bed and went to the back yard. I could see my Mac Pro laptop sitting in the concave chair next to the scope in about an inch of water. Everything was wet. I immediately yanked the power out of the wall under the porch covering before I walked out to the scope. The damage had been done, and all I could do was dry stuff off, and bring it indoors. The computer power adapter was burned out, the mount power adapter was burned out, the usb hub was fried, and the laptop wifi module was burned out. Thankfully that was the extent of the damage. Somehow the cameras, scope and mount made it out ok. I took the laptop to Apple, and they wanted $750 to repair anything they found wrong. But the technician was nice enough to open it up, and take some photos. He showed me where the WIFI module had burned out, you could see traces of residue from the water. I decided I could fix the WIFI module myself after looking at an[IFIXIT article](https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Retina+Display+Early+2015+AirPort+Board+Replacement/38518?ref=macobservatory.com)on repairing it. It was around $85, so I did fix it myself, and it works great now. This brings me to my upgrades. I had a rats nest of cables and power bricks. More than would fit into your typical power strip. Pegasus had recently released their[Ultimate PowerBox V2](https://pegasusastro.com/products/ultimate-powerbox-v2/?ref=macobservatory.com), it’s got power for up to 4 devices, 6 USB ports (4 USB3, 2 USB2), a focus controller, and 3 dew heater outlets, as well as humidity and temperature monitors. All controlled from a single box. I ordered one and set it up with Kstars/EKOS. All my cameras and my mount are plugged into it. I also hooked up the[Moonlite focus motor](https://focuser.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)to the controller output of the UPBV2, hooked up my dew heaters too. This one device does so much, I was able to get rid of the following: - Focus controller - Focus a/c adapter - USB hub - USB hub a/c adapter - Dew Controller - Dew controller a/c adapter - Camera a/c adapter Seven items that I had to hook up every night, now replaced with one piece of hardware. AWESOME. What a way to simplify things. Especially if you set up and tear down every time you image. This brings me to my second upgrade. I’ve adopted a[Raspberry Pi 4 device](https://amzn.to/2pK1FQE?ref=macobservatory.com)as my new computer server at the mount. I bought this[nice aluminum case](https://amzn.to/32Ng7Gc?ref=macobservatory.com)for it too. I still run[KStars/EKOS](https://macobservatory.com/using-ekos-to-capture-the-wizard-nebula-ngc7380-on-the-mac/). I also still use my Mac Book Pro to set up the telescope and align it every night, but now I don’t need to leave my $1900 MacBook Pro outside where it has the potential to be destroyed by rain. The Pi device starts at $30 for the RPI3, but really, you should spring for a little more and get the RPi4, the newest, fastest Raspberry Pi device. I can easily replace a $60 computer if rain strikes again. The best part, is since it runs KStars/EKOS server, I can still run the KStars/EKOS client on my Mac inside the house. ![ The Raspberry Pi 4 running Stellarmate, and connected to the Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1305-format-original.webp) The Raspberry Pi 4 running Stellarmate, and connected to the Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2. In the photo above, you can see my Pegasus UPBV2 (the blue box) with the Raspberry Pi 4 sitting on top. I start the night aligning my telescope using[Cloudmakers AstroImager](http://www.cloudmakers.eu/astroimager/?ref=macobservatory.com)so I can see the alignment stars while I run[Celestron’s ASPA routine](https://macobservatory.com/celestrons-all-star-polar-alignment-procedure/)on the handset. Then I unplug the blue USB from the laptop and plug it into the already booted RPi4 device. Go inside to my Mac and start KStars/EKOS and start imaging. For the Raspberry Pi device, I bought a copy of the[StellarMate OS](https://stellarmate.com/products/stellarmate-os.html?ref=macobservatory.com), so that it’s easy to set up and run KStars/EKOS. The Pi4 device is fast enough now that you can actually VNC in with the Mac’s built in screen sharing and run KStars/EKOS right on the device, or you can run the server on it, and then connect from your Mac desktop. it’s been great. Very reliable, and now, with a little bit of additional weather proofing (covers over the electronics, and a box to get them off the ground) I can image without the fear of rain ruining everything. ![ I took this image around 10pm, about an hour after twilight. Look at that sky! That’s light pollution! It looks like daylight. This is what I have to deal with when imaging. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1310-format-original.webp) I took this image around 10pm, about an hour after twilight. Look at that sky! That’s light pollution! It looks like daylight. This is what I have to deal with when imaging. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1309-format-original.webp) ### The tale of the Cocoon Nebula in three images. URL: https://macobservatory.com/the-tale-of-the-cocoon-nebula-in-three-images/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:55.000Z ![ The final image. 18.5 hours of imaging time. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/cocoon-3-format-original.webp) The final image. 18.5 hours of imaging time. I started imaging the Cocoon Nebula on my[EdgeHD 11” setup](https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11)some time last week. I was able to get in two full nights during clear weather. As I image, I start to get excited about how the final image will turn out. So I always try and process the images I take each night as I finish them. This allows me to see the progress and how the data looks as it starts to come together. Below are three images showing how adding more capture time can improve your final images. ![ This image is from the first night of imaging. It’s around 390 60s subs with the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera. Already, it looks quite nice. Good color, pretty stars. But still somewhat dim, and the details are lacking in the center nebula. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/cocoon-1-format-original.webp) This image is from the first night of imaging. It’s around 390 60s subs with the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera. Already, it looks quite nice. Good color, pretty stars. But still somewhat dim, and the details are lacking in the center nebula. ![ Here’s day two. I’ve added 360 more 60s subs. Lots more color, everything is brighter, and I’m starting to see more of the faint white nebulosity around the edges of the nebula. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/cocoon-2-format-original.webp) Here’s day two. I’ve added 360 more 60s subs. Lots more color, everything is brighter, and I’m starting to see more of the faint white nebulosity around the edges of the nebula. ![ Day three now. I’ve added a further 358 images. We’re now up to a total of 1,108 60s subs…18.5 hours of imaging. The outer white ring of the nebula is really visible now. Everything is looking fantastic. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/cocoon-3-format-original-1.webp) Day three now. I’ve added a further 358 images. We’re now up to a total of 1,108 60s subs…18.5 hours of imaging. The outer white ring of the nebula is really visible now. Everything is looking fantastic. I think I could image for double the time integrated to around 36 hours and get only slightly better detail. The light pollution in my area is really a limiting factor. It doesn’t stop me from getting more detail, but it takes longer and longer to achieve better results when imaging RGB from a suburb. Some things to note for my imaging session. I learned a few lessons. I extended one leg of my CGX tripod to level it out. Normally I don’t try and get it perfectly level, as the alignment procedure can compensate for being slightly off. However, I wanted my guiding to be perfect, so I leveled the tripod. During the third imaging session, the imaged seemed to jump some about every 15 minutes. I could not for the life of me figure out what was going on. Every time it would jump, the tracking would get worse and worse. It turns out, that despite tightening down the tripod leg as much as I could, it was slipping, and lowering itself back into the retracted state. I had to stop imaging, lower the leg all the way until it was seated at the lowest point, and then I had to realign the scope. It took me about two hours to figure this out, or I would have had more imaging time. The other issues that cropped up happened with calibrating the frames in Astro Pixel Processor. I ran out of memory, and disk space, but didn’t find out until the final integration stage of calibration, after it had run for 5 hours. So, it took me about 20 hours of running the process over and over again, first cleaning disk space, then trying again until it errored out, then moving it to an external drive…another error, this time RAM. Then I increased the RAM to 30GB for Astro Pixel Processor, and finally, 10 hours later, it finished processing the stack of 1,108 APSC sized 60s images into one final image. ### The RedCat 51 has reached its final form URL: https://macobservatory.com/the-redcat-51-has-reached-its-final-form/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:42.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0367-format-original.webp) I’ve finally finished getting all the pieces together for this little scope. Pictured here is the William Optics RedCat 51 refractor telescope,[Celestron CGX](https://amzn.to/2SUqxzT?ref=macobservatory.com)mount,[ZWO ASI1600MM-C](https://amzn.to/2SV5ahO?ref=macobservatory.com)main camera,[ZWO ASI120MM Mini](https://amzn.to/2SYC0OX?ref=macobservatory.com)guide camera, ZWO Mini Guide Scope,[ZWO 8-slot electronic filter wheel](https://amzn.to/2LU50qe?ref=macobservatory.com)with LRGB and 5nm narrowband Astrodon filters, Moonlite focuser,[Baader Sky Surfer V](https://amzn.to/2LVraZk?ref=macobservatory.com)red dot finder, and some dew heaters from AstroZap. Now that everything has been put together I’ve managed to grab some imaging time on quite a few clear nights. ![ The SADR star region. That’s Sadr in the middle. I shot this as one hour of RGB on my ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera, then managed to get a second night where I added 4 hours of Hydrogen Alpha data using the ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera. I then processed and combined the RGB data, and replaced the red channel with the HA data from the other camera. Then I cropped the final frame to the size of the smaller camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/vk2labdthtsj_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) The SADR star region. That’s Sadr in the middle. I shot this as one hour of RGB on my ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera, then managed to get a second night where I added 4 hours of Hydrogen Alpha data using the ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera. I then processed and combined the RGB data, and replaced the red channel with the HA data from the other camera. Then I cropped the final frame to the size of the smaller camera. ![ This is the North American Nebula (NGC 7000) along with the Pelican Nebula (IC1050). I captured this over 4-5 nights for a total of about 16 hours. It’s All narrowband, Hydrogen Alpha, Oxygen III, and Nitrogen II. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/fvdcl5qlpxs6_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) This is the North American Nebula (NGC 7000) along with the Pelican Nebula (IC1050). I captured this over 4-5 nights for a total of about 16 hours. It’s All narrowband, Hydrogen Alpha, Oxygen III, and Nitrogen II. ![ The Veil Nebula, which is a supernova remnant. Its circular shape is the expanding gas from a star’s explosion. Pretty cool. This was a quick shot, just three hours each of Hydrogen Alpha and Oxygen III filters. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/o7obyj5i5zip_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) The Veil Nebula, which is a supernova remnant. Its circular shape is the expanding gas from a star’s explosion. Pretty cool. This was a quick shot, just three hours each of Hydrogen Alpha and Oxygen III filters. ### William Optics RedCat 51 URL: https://macobservatory.com/william-optics-redcat-51/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:56.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0353-format-original.webp) I’ve been really interested in the[William Optics RedCat 51](https://agenaastro.com/william-optics-redcat-rc51ii-gen-2-51mm-f-4-9-petzval-apo-refractor-telescope-red.html?aw%5Faffiliate=eyJjYW1wYWlnbl9pZCI6IjQiLCJ0cmFmZmljX3NvdXJjZSI6IldpbGxpYW0gT3B0aWNzIFJlZENhdCA1MSBSZXZpZXciLCJhY2NvdW50X2lkIjo0NX0&ref=macobservatory.com)since the original announcement. A few web bloggers got ahold of early versions of this scope, and took some really fantastic wide field images with it. Once the scope finally released early reports from purchasers showed lots of issues. Poor coma and off axis issues were prevalent. I waited for the initial manufacturing run to go out of stock, and ordered when they started the second run hoping any issues would be cleared up and I would get one without problems. The day finally arrived. Agena Astro had them in stock, and I was quick to grab one. It arrived last week to cloudy skies, and I only had it out for a few minutes. Since then, i’ve been able to get it out for a full night of Hydrogen Alpha imaging on the Elephant Trunk nebula. I paired it up with an older[Orion StarShoot AutoGuider](https://amzn.to/2LFWMRC?ref=macobservatory.com)that I had laying around, a[ZWO Mini Guide Scope](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-30-f-4-mini-guide-scope-for-asi-cameras-30f4.html?aw%5Faffiliate=eyJjYW1wYWlnbl9pZCI6IjQiLCJ0cmFmZmljX3NvdXJjZSI6IldpbGxpYW0gT3B0aWNzIFJlZENhdCA1MSBSZXZpZXciLCJhY2NvdW50X2lkIjo0NX0&ref=macobservatory.com), and my existing[ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-asi1600mm-p-cmos-monochrome-astronomy-imaging-camera-pro.html?aw%5Faffiliate=eyJjYW1wYWlnbl9pZCI6IjQiLCJ0cmFmZmljX3NvdXJjZSI6IldpbGxpYW0gT3B0aWNzIFJlZENhdCA1MSBSZXZpZXciLCJhY2NvdW50X2lkIjo0NX0&ref=macobservatory.com)main camera,[ZWO 8-slot filter wheel](https://agenaastro.com/zwo-eight-position-electronic-filter-wheel.html?ref=macobservatory.com)and Astrodon filters. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0356-format-original.webp) At first I couldn’t figure out how to focus. It turns out that the scope shipped with the lens hood flipped around covering the focus. I had to unscrew it and reattach the other direction. It makes the scope quite compact for traveling, and I intend to pair it with my Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer when I head out of town in the future. To set up for imaging, I had to reach the prescribed back focus distance, and I used one 16.5 adapter, the filter wheel and space to sensor to achieve 55mm of distance. William Optics also offers DSLR adapters that attach to the back of the scope where you can hook up your Canon or Nikon camera with no additional spacers. Once set up to image, I placed it on my[Celestron AVX mount](https://agenaastro.com/celestron-advanced-vx-mount-91519.html?ref=macobservatory.com), and loaded up[EKOS](https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/)to begin imaging for the evening. A quick[Polar Alignment](https://macobservatory.com/celestrons-all-star-polar-alignment-procedure/), and I was off imaging. I picked a target that would fully fit into this wide field of view, the entire Elephant Trunk nebula. Here’s the first night of imaging with around 6 hours of HA data. I calibrated and stacked the image with[Astro Pixel Processor](https://macobservatory.com/processing-a-bi-color-narrowband-astronomy-image-in-astro-pixel-processor-on-the-mac/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/elephant-trunk-format-original.webp) I ran the final image through PixInsight’s FWHM/Eccentricity and image analysis tools. The final image shows very little issues with the scope. There is an interesting aberration with the largest stars, it looks a bit liked pinched optics. I have an e-mail out to William Optics to confirm and see if I can fix it by adjusting the screws around the lenses. There is very little coma in the final image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/arberration-inspector-format-original.webp) The above image shows the very slight coma in the extremes of the corners. It’s practically invisible zoomed out, so I can live with that. But one of the benefits of a Petzval scope like this is that it’s supposed to be corrected for these issues, and provide an extremely flat field. The field is definitely flat, but the coma still exists however minor it is. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0357-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0358-format-original.webp) ## Recent images taken with the RedCat 51 ![SH2-240: Spaghetti Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-99.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/oszrxq/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Feb 14, 2022William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI294MM-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![The SADR region](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-100.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/87g9uf/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 21, 2021William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI294MM-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135E ![NGC 2264: The Cone Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-134.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/y75pcp/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Apr 12, 2021Rainbow Astro RST-135,William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro ![M42: The Orion Nebula (with a little Horse Head)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-135.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/klatjd/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,William Optics RedCat 51,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![IC 2118: The Witch Head Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-136.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/uslf5x/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![NGC 7023: Iris Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-137.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/slqzkz/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,William Optics RedCat 51,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![Constellation Auriga nebula group](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/constellation-auriga-nebula-group.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/m07iyx/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135 ![M31: Andromeda Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/andromeda.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/r5lct1/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 15, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135,William Optics RedCat 51 ![M45: The Pleiades](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-138.webp) [Image details](https://www.astrobin.com/waz84a/?ref=macobservatory.com)Nov 3, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,Rainbow Astro RST-135,William Optics RedCat 51 ![Sharpless 2-129: Flying Bat Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-139.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/2g5chb/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jun 18, 2020ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,10Micron GM1000 HPS,William Optics RedCat 51 ![IC 1871: Soul Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/soul-nebula-1.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/heqipl/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 4, 2019ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,Celestron Advanced VX,William Optics RedCat 51 ![NGC 1499: California Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/california-nebula.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/l9rojg/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Dec 4, 2019ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,William Optics RedCat 51,Celestron Advanced VX ![IC 1805: Heart Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/heart-nebula.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/yfb6y5/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 28, 2019William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,Celestron Advanced VX ![Crescent Nebula Widefield](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/crescent-nebula-widefield.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/y8t56l/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Oct 10, 2019Celestron CGX,William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool ![M31: Andromeda](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m31.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/p69bi4/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Sep 9, 2019Celestron CGX,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,William Optics RedCat 51 ![The Veil Nebula: supernova remnant](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/o7obyj5i5zip_1824x0_wmhqkgbg.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/417276/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 31, 2019William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,Celestron CGX ![NGC 7000 & IC5070 - North American Nebula & Pelican Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/fvdcl5qlpxs6_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-1.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/417021/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 31, 2019William Optics RedCat 51,Celestron CGX,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool ![Sadr Region - RGB-Ha](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/vk2labdthtsj_1824x0_wmhqkgbg.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/416061/0/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 19, 2019William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool,ZWO ASI071MC-Pro,Celestron CGX ![Sadr Region](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/sadr.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/415913/B/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 18, 2019William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI071MC-Pro,Celestron Advanced VX ![IC 1396 - Elephant Trunk Nebula](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/dfvjnh3zmcny_1824x0_wmhqkgbg.webp) [Image details](https://astrob.in/413987/C/?ref=macobservatory.com)Jul 7, 2019Celestron Advanced VX,William Optics RedCat 51,ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool ### Mac Observatory is on Instagram! URL: https://macobservatory.com/mac-observatory-is-on-instagram/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:19.000Z I finally set up an Instagram account. I’ll be posting my images there, but will still post them here on the site as well. I’m hoping to take more images of my different imaging setups as I image each night. I’ve got a new scope, and you can see it over on Instagram.[https://www.instagram.com/macobservatory/](https://www.instagram.com/macobservatory/?ref=macobservatory.com) ### Using Astro Pixel Processor to calibrate and integrate multiple imaging sessions URL: https://macobservatory.com/astro-pixel-processor-multi-session-tutorial/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:44.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/fireworks-format-original.webp) The beautiful thing about astrophotography is that the effects of imaging are additive. You can essentially shoot the same object, night after night, even with different cameras and telescopes, and combine all the images into one fantastic final image. But, some careful attention needs to be paid to each imaging session to ensure that when you integrate them all together you don’t have any issues. Primarily, this means shooting your main images, you need a good set of flats for each session, and comparable darks and bias that match your gain and offset settings of your light images. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-18-at-10-25-05-pm-format-original.webp) This was the set of folders I had on my hard drive after shooting the galaxy. I shot 3 sessions, and two were back to back, so I was able to create one set of flats for session 1 and 1 for sessions 2 and 3. Between the first imaging session and sessions 2 and 3, and extra piece of dust appeared on the camera sensor. I tried to cheat, and I initially processed all the images with only the first sessions flats, but that single stray piece of dust left a blemish in my final integrated images. So I had to reprocess the entire thing again using two sets of flats. Thankfully, this worked. After you have your images organized by folder session and type of image, you can begin to load them into Astro Pixel Processor. Start up the application, and choose the root folder where all your images are saved. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-18-at-10-30-13-pm-format-original.webp) Select the load tab, make sure that multisession processing is selected. If you have a color camera, you might want to go to tab 0 RAW/FITS and set “force Bayer CFA” and pick the pattern that matches your color camera. I use the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera in this tutorial, so the pattern I set is RGGB. Back on the Load tab, I select the light button and navigate to my session 1 light frame folder and choose all the light frames from there. Once I press OK, Astro Pixel Processor will ask me what session this was. I pick “session 1”, and select ok. You will see the number of lights indicated to the right of the light button. Pressing the light button again, you can now navigate to your session 2 light folder, and choose all the images there. After pressing ok, it will again ask which session, this time pick session 2\. Now you will see the total number of lights has increased by the number of lights you just added. Next up is flats. Press the Flat button, and navigate to your flats session 1 folder, and choose all the images. APP will then ask you which session those flats belong to. You’ll pick session 1\. Then to add more flats for the other sessions, you’ll repeat the process. For the second flats in my scenario, I had a session 2 and 3, so after selecting the flats for those sessions, I was able to choose to apply them to both sessions 2 and 3 in the screen after adding the images. Finally, I added a master dark, master bias, and bad pixel map I had from previous sessions. Since no light is involved in creating them, they can be reused any time you shoot so long as they match the same length time, gain, and bias as your light images. From here, I go directly to the integrate tab, leaving all the default settings in tabs 2-5\. Here under multi-session options, I pick Integrate all. This produces one final stacked image from all imaging sessions. Alternatively you can set integrate per session, and this will leave you with a stacked image for each session. In my case I would end up with three final images that still need to be combined. So I just choose to integrate them all. There are only three further settings on tab 6 that I set. One is I reduce the total number of lights to stack down to about 90% of the total. This removes the 10% worst images from all my imaging sessions based on their overall quality. Sometimes you might have a gust of wind, or a cable that drags causing elongated stars in a few of your images. Or maybe a stray cloud came in for a few frames. This helps get rid of any of those bad images. Right underneath that slider, I change the weights setting to Quality. This stacks all the images according to the quality. In any given imaging session all your images get ranked from best to worst. This feature will make sure that the best images are weighted higher than the worst images when stacking, meaning that the worst images have less overall impact on the final output than the best images would have. Finally, I change the Outlier Rejection filter setting to Windsor clip. This eliminates stray satellites, airplane lights, and other anomalies that might appear outside of the normal content of the image while still keeping the good parts of those images. You’re all set to press the integrate button at the bottom of that tab. APP will now run through and calibrate, stack all images from all sessions. This may take some time. Go get a drink or snack! I like to set my computer to not sleep during the processing. If the computer falls asleep, processing stops, and you have to wake it up again for the processing to continue. Thankfully it doesn’t make you start over. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-18-at-10-51-22-pm-format-original.webp) This is what my stacked, calibrated image looks like. It might not look that great so far. But what I can tell, is that the flats worked their magic. There are no dust motes in the image that I can see. But I can tell that my images were not all aligned perfectly from each session. They are off by a few arc minutes causing some overlaps at the edges. But this is no problem to deal with. I can load it into the crop tool and crop out the bad areas of the image. Press tab 9) Tools. Double click your integrated image at the bottom of the files list in the bottom of the APP window. Once it’s loaded, on the tools tab, press batch modify. It should load your image, and provide you with a list of tools to the left. All we’re going to do at this stage is draw a green selection window with our mouse cursor over the area we want to keep. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-18-at-10-56-26-pm-format-original.webp) Press the “Crop ok” button to the left after you’ve drawn your green selection. It will ask you to pick a file type, fits is good. APP saves all edits as a separate file. In your files list at the bottom, you’ll have a new cropped file there. Double click it to load it into the viewer. If like me, you were shooting RGB images, you might have some light pollution. I certainly do. That is the white gradient that is washed over my whole image. I image to the North, directly facing the city of Houston. So there’s always a ton of light pollution I need to get rid of from my images. I’m now ready to load this cropped image into the Remove Light Pollution tool on the tools tab. Make sure you’ve double clicked the cropped image, and press the remove light pollution button. Your images loads into the new tool. From here, you’ll begin drawing those green selection boxes. But this time you want to draw small squares all over your image trying to avoid the object you’re taking a picture of. The reason for this is we’re now selecting the light pollution areas of the image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-15-at-11-02-12-am-format-original.webp) If you had imaged more than one galaxy or object, you’ll want to omit covering each one with boxes. Make sure you leave enough space around the objects so that you don’t remove any faint trails of light coming off the object. Also, the smaller the boxes you make, the better the light pollution filter is at removing all the light blemishes. Larger boxes don’t remove the gradient as smoothly. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-15-at-11-05-41-am-format-original.webp) Your final selection should look something like the image above. When you feel you’ve covered all the light pollution, you can press the calculate button. This will show the image with the light pollution removed. If you’re happy with the results, press the OK & Save button. Again, APP makes you create a new file with the light pollution removed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-15-at-11-06-05-am-format-original.webp) The image is starting to look decent at this stage. But we’re not done. As you can see, my overall image is quite yellow. This could be from the camera itself, or it could be from the light pollution. But in any case, we need to correct the color of the image. APP has some really nice, easy to use tools for this. But, before we can calibrate the color of our galaxy, we have to get the background calibrated to a neutral state. Double click your latest image that has the light pollution removed. Select “calibrate background” from the tools tab. This will load your image into the new tool. This time, we draw boxes around any background that should be black. This gets a little more tricky if you have an image of a nebula, because you don’t want to pick any of the nebulosity. Just pick the areas where you know the image should be black. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-15-at-11-06-55-am-format-original.webp) Your selections should look like the above, or very similar. Press the calculate button. You might only see the slightest change to your image, and sometimes it’s not noticeable, but the background is getting turned to a neutral color. Press the OK & Save button to create the new image. Last, and final step, we want to color correct the stars themselves. APP stores known color values for stars, so it knows what color ranges to expect. It color corrects the overall image by bringing those star colors in line with the actual colors of the stars. Select your background corrected image, double click it, and press Calibrate Star Colors in the tools menu. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-15-at-11-07-46-am-format-original.webp) This selection will look very similar to your background selection. Select all stars in your image, avoiding the primary subject. Once you’re happy with the selection, press calculate. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-15-at-11-08-23-am-format-original.webp) Now you’ll see a graph plotted showing the red and blue stars within your image before and after the correction. You can see I had some serious outliers in the top graph, now they’re brought more in line with expected star colors, and my galaxy has now lost the yellow color cast that it had. Press OK & Save to save out your calibrated image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-06-15-at-11-08-58-am-format-original.webp) That’s it. You’re done. You’ve managed to stack, calibrate, and color correct your images from multiple sessions. You should have a pretty good looking image at this point. I certainly do. But, at the very top of this post, you can see my final galaxy image. It’s not quite the same. The one at the top looks a lot better. That is where post processing comes into play. I’ve basically prepped my image in APP so that I can now begin the difficult part of processing the image to make it look as good as possible. At this point in my workflow, I take the calibrated image, and move it into PixInsight to start the next part of the process. I will detail that in a different tutorial. ### Breathing new life into M101 URL: https://macobservatory.com/breathing-new-life-into-m101/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:56.000Z ![ 28 total hours of exposure on M101. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m101-ha-format-original.webp) 28 total hours of exposure on M101. One really cool aspect of imaging deep sky objects is that the photons of light come into the camera randomly. This makes it possible to image the same object with different equipment (cameras, telescopes, etc) multiple times across multiple years, and combine all that data for an additive effect. Since all the light data is random, you’re only going to enhance any image you’ve already taken by adding more data to it. In the image above, I took photos of M101 for the first time in April of 2018\. I captured 17.5 hours over multiple nights using my AT6RC telescope, along with the ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera. This was monochrome data captured with LRGB filters. ![ My original capture of M101 on the ZWO ASI1600MM-C of 17.5 hours. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/zwo-asi1600-format-original.webp) My original capture of M101 on the ZWO ASI1600MM-C of 17.5 hours. About two weeks ago, I again captured this same galaxy while trying out a new color camera the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro on the same telescope. This provided a much wider view thanks to the larger APS-C sized sensor in the new camera. I managed to capture another 9.5 hours. ![ The wider field of view captured with the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro for 9.5 hours. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/zwoasi071-format-original.webp) The wider field of view captured with the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro for 9.5 hours. Then I decided to combine both sets of data in Astro Pixel Processor. I did this by loading the final calibrated and combined data sets (two files, one from each session) into APP as light frames. APP gives a warning that these two images are integrations. That’s ok. I next went into the analyze stars tab and analyzed the stars for both frames, then I went into the register tab scrolled to the bottom started registration, after complete, I pressed “save registered frames”. This writes out two new files that are now aligned and registered to each other. I pulled both registered images into PixInsight and combined them with Image Integration. Very happy with the new combined result, I had a 27 hours worth of image data in a new image of M101. Then last night, thinking of how I could enhance the image further, I thought I could take some Hydrogen Alpha data to add to the set. I only had an hour of clear skies, so I set up all the equipment, aimed the AT6RC once again at M101 and started imaging with the HA filter. Most of the nebulas in our night sky are made up primarily of Hydrogen Alpha. Well, those nebulas also exist in other galaxies, and we can see them (although very small) by imaging the galaxies with a Hydrogen Alpha filter. ![ The single hour of Hydrogen Alpha data. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ha-format-original.webp) The single hour of Hydrogen Alpha data. I followed the[tutorial for PixInsight](https://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorial-combining-lrgb-with-narrowband.html?ref=macobservatory.com#Section2)over on Light Vortex Astronomy to merge the HA data with the 27 hour image I already had. This created the final 28 hour image you see at the top of this post. In total, this image was the combined process involving[KStars/EKOS](https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/)for image capture,[Astro Pixel Processor](https://macobservatory.com/processing-a-bi-color-narrowband-astronomy-image-in-astro-pixel-processor-on-the-mac/)for calibration and integration of frames, stretching and enhancement in PixInsight, and final touch up in Adobe Photoshop all on the Mac. The following equipment was also used. AT6RC telescope, ZWO ASI071MC Pro, ZWO ASI1600MM-C, Astrodon 5nm narrowband and LRGB filters, a Moonlite focuser, the Celestron CGX mount, and the Celestron AVX mount, a 60MM Orion guide scope, and the ZWO ASI290MM Mini guide camera. ### Imaging Star Clusters with the AT6RC and the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro URL: https://macobservatory.com/star-cluster-imaging-at6rc-asi071mc/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:45.000Z ![ M13 globular cluster imaged with the AT6RC, 6” Ritchey Chretien telescope. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m13-format-original-1.webp) M13 globular cluster imaged with the AT6RC, 6” Ritchey Chretien telescope. I spent a few nights this week trying out my color camera, the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro on the AT6RC. I really love the pixel scale achieved here with the combination. It provides very nice resolution and a moderate field of view. I managed to divide my time between the two clusters. Four hours or so on M53 and about two hours on M13\. I honestly wish I had a few more hours on M13, as there are a lot more stars to bring out that are quite dim around the edge of the cluster. Both images were stacked, integrated, calibrated, light pollution removed, and color corrected with Astro Pixel Processor. I then took them into PixInsight for denoise, stretching, and color saturation. ![ M53 globular cluster. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m53-format-original.webp) M53 globular cluster. ### Imaging M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro URL: https://macobservatory.com/imaging-m51-whirlpool-galaxy-with-the-zwo-asi071mc-pro/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:46.000Z ![ M51 taken with the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera and the AT6RC scope. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m51-format-original.webp) M51 taken with the ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera and the AT6RC scope. After a rocky start with my EdgeHD 11 telescope, I decided to move the main imaging camera over to the AT6RC telescope I have. It actually pairs very well, and produces 1.1 arc seconds of resolution, which is spot on for this scope. Imaging has been interesting, as there were some rings in my images that had to be corrected out with flats and some serious light pollution removal with Astro Pixel Processor. The end result is quite nice. The galaxy size is more suited to the EdgeHD 11”, but given the rocky start (couldn’t find any guide stars with the OAG). I managed some really nice guiding with the CGX as well. Last night, I had .4 arc second total RMS. I took the image over two nights , just 2.5 hours the first night, and 7.5 hours the second night. - Ten hours total exposure time. - 600 sixty second frames. - Gain 50, offset 12. - 50 darks, 50 flats, 50 bias calibration frames. - Integration, calibration, light pollution removal in Astro Pixel Processor. - Stretching, masked denoise, color enhancement in PixInsight. - Final color processing and touch up in Photoshop. ![ Cropped view of M51. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-04-15-at-11-01-52-pm-format-original.webp) Cropped view of M51. ### Celestron EdgeHD 11" URL: https://macobservatory.com/celestron-edgehd-11/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:34:07.000Z ## Going Big The EdgeHD 11" represents a significant step up in aperture and focal length from the 6" Ritchey-Chrétien I had been using. At native 2800mm and f/10, with the option of a 0.7x reducer bringing it to f/7 (\~1960mm), this telescope opens up small galaxies and planetary nebulae that simply cannot be resolved at shorter focal lengths. ### Upgrade from the 6" RC Moving from the Astro-Tech AT6RC to the EdgeHD 11" was driven by the need for more aperture and focal length. The 6" RC at 1370mm was excellent for larger targets, but small galaxies and planetary nebulae demanded more reach. The EdgeHD's flat-field optics eliminate the need for a separate field flattener, and the fastar-compatible secondary makes f/2 imaging possible with the right corrector. ![EdgeHD 11 inch telescope at night](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-night.webp) ### The Focuser and Mirror Flop Problem The focuser and mirror flop are two things the Edge scopes are burdened with that are less than stellar. The stock focuser has too much play for serious imaging at long focal lengths. I replaced it with a Moonlite CHL 2.5" large format Crayford Edge focuser — a significant improvement in stability and precision. ### Imaging Train ![Close up of the imaging train — ZWO ASI174MM-Mini guide camera, ZWO Off-Axis Guider, 2 inch Astronomik L-2 UV/IR block filter, Moonlite CHL focuser, and ZWO ASI071MC-Pro](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-imaging-train.webp) The current imaging train includes: - ZWO ASI174MM-Mini guide camera - ZWO Off-Axis Guider - 2" Astronomik L-2 UV/IR block filter - Moonlite CHL 2.5" large format Crayford Edge focuser - ZWO ASI071MC-Pro main camera (later upgraded to ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro) ### Guiding Performance ![15 minutes of guiding on the CGX — total RMS of 0.78 arc seconds](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-guiding.webp) Initial guiding results on the Celestron CGX mount showed 0.78 total RMS error with 0.71" RA and 0.33" DEC error over 15 minutes. Acceptable, but the CGX was eventually replaced with a 10Micron GM1000 HPS — a dramatically more capable mount for this weight class. ### Current Setup ![Most up-to-date EdgeHD 11 inch setup with 10Micron GM1000 HPS mount and Pegasus Astro Ultimate Power Box V2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-latest-setup.webp) The most current configuration pairs the EdgeHD 11" with the 10Micron GM1000 HPS mount and Pegasus Astro Ultimate Power Box V2, with the ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro as the primary imaging camera. This combination delivers consistent sub-arcsecond guiding and reliable unattended imaging sessions. ### Sample Images Some recent images taken with this telescope: ![Cocoon Nebula captured with EdgeHD 11](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-cocoon.webp) ![M13 — Great Globular Cluster in Hercules](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-m13.webp) ![NGC 6946 — Fireworks Galaxy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-fireworks.webp) ![M38 open cluster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-m38.webp) ![Lunar surface detail](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/edgehd11-moon.webp) ### First light with the EdgeHD 11" URL: https://macobservatory.com/first-light-with-the-edgehd-11/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:47.000Z ![ First light with the new telescope. Only managed 30 minutes of imaging time before the clouds rolled in. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m38-format-original.webp) First light with the new telescope. Only managed 30 minutes of imaging time before the clouds rolled in. It’s been a few weeks since I picked up the used EdgeHD 11” SCT. And in that time I made some final hardware decisions for the camera, and other gear. In the end, I got the Moonlite CHL Large format Edge focuser. It’s low profile to take up as little back space as possible. The Edge has a generous 147mm backspace allotment, which is quite a bit, but when your focuser takes up all that space, it doesn’t leave a whole lot of room. Initially I wanted a really large sensor camera with larger pixels around 6-8um size. Those cameras approach the $4k range, then you need 2” filters on top of that which could set you back a few more thousand. It was way too costly, so I went with a color camera instead. It simplifies the image train, and operation of the whole scope. I ended up with a[ZWO ASI071MC-Pro](https://amzn.to/2WjWK3X?ref=macobservatory.com)camera. It’s an APSC sized sensor with 4.78um pixel size. This means my guiding has to be really good to keep round stars at that pixel scale. In addition to the camera, I got an Off-Axis Guider (OAG) from ZWO as well, and paired it with the[ZWO ASI290MM-Mini](https://amzn.to/2JBf5YP?ref=macobservatory.com)guide camera. The very tiny pixels of this camera are ideal for increased guiding resolution. A better option might have been the[ZWO ASI174MM-Mini](https://amzn.to/2OlSgY1?ref=macobservatory.com)due to its sensitivity which benefits OAG guiding, but didn’t want to spring for a new guide scope. ![ This was the view through the OAG of the star field shown in the image at the top of the post. It can be quite challenging to find a star to guide on when imaging galaxies that don’t have a cluster of stars like M38 above. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-03-22-at-8-32-37-pm-format-original.webp) This was the view through the OAG of the star field shown in the image at the top of the post. It can be quite challenging to find a star to guide on when imaging galaxies that don’t have a cluster of stars like M38 above. The[CGX](https://amzn.to/2Tpiee4?ref=macobservatory.com)performed quite well. Prior to guiding with the OAG, I achieved a total RMS of around 1.2 on my smaller scopes. On the OAG, I’ve had as low as .3 arc seconds of error. That’s super accurate. Last night as the clouds rolled in I only got 30 minutes to image M38, and due to the poor seeing, my guiding RMS was just over 1 arc second. I was able to save the guide log and took a screen shot of it. ![ This is 30 minutes of guiding crunched into the window. You can pretty easily see the periodic error fo the worm gear spiking in the graph. If I train the periodic error correction within the mount, I might be able to eliminate that spike and smooth out the chart some. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-03-23-at-1-52-27-pm-format-original.webp) This is 30 minutes of guiding crunched into the window. You can pretty easily see the periodic error fo the worm gear spiking in the graph. If I train the periodic error correction within the mount, I might be able to eliminate that spike and smooth out the chart some. In all, I think it was pretty successful fun (for 30 minutes). But it was 3 anguishing nights of trial and error before I got everything to mesh. It was a comedy of software errors as a few versions of EKOS came out that had introduced some new bugs. I was not able to get the internal guiding software to work with the OAG. It’s previously worked fine for me with a guide scope. So, I paired up EKOS with PHD2 to get the job done, but only attempted it on the third night out as our skies started to cloud up. At this point, i’m not completely happy with the OAG setup. As you can see in the OAG image, the small diameter which the camera goes through needs to be adjusted so I have more field of view. The prism also sticks into the frame just a hair, so I need to adjust it some as well. ![ The final scope setup all connected together and ready to go. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0603-2-format-original.webp) The final scope setup all connected together and ready to go. ![ A close up of the imaging train. Starting at the EdgeHD 11”, there’s the Celestron .7x Edge reducer, the Moonlite focuser, a spacer ring, an Astronomic L-2 UV/IR cut filter, the OAG with 290mm, another spacer, and then the 071mc color camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0601-format-original.webp) A close up of the imaging train. Starting at the EdgeHD 11”, there’s the Celestron .7x Edge reducer, the Moonlite focuser, a spacer ring, an Astronomic L-2 UV/IR cut filter, the OAG with 290mm, another spacer, and then the 071mc color camera. ### AstroPixel Processor 1.072 Released URL: https://macobservatory.com/astropixel-processor-1072-released/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:20.000Z **The latest version of Astro Pixel Processor has been released.** Lots of support for Sony cameras has been added. Improved Drizzle/Bayer Drizzle. Lots of changes and improvements to - Image EXIF data, - console panel - progress monitors - Improved loading for frames - fixed some memory issues - dynamic distortion correction. - Improved star analysis - GUI frame panel scrolling Head over to the[APP website](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)to get the latest version. Take a look at the[full update notes here](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/community/release-information/astro-pixel-processor-1-072-ready-for-download/?ref=macobservatory.com). ### KStars/EKOS 3.1 is released! URL: https://macobservatory.com/kstarsekos-31-is-released/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:21.000Z An update to my current favorite imaging platform has been released. In this release there’s a bunch of 3.0 fixes as well as a hand full of new features. - Fixes to the scheduler to cover some multi-object multi-night scheduling. - Ring-field focusing, an improvement to star selection methods for focusing. - Updates to the meridian flip code. - Huge updates to the [official documentation](https://docs.kde.org/trunk5/en/extragear-edu/kstars/index.html?ref=macobservatory.com). - Polar alignment routines for non-GOTO mounts. - Live view for DSLR’s so you can now focus easier. - A host of other random fixes and improvements. Get the updated file at the [Kstars download site](https://edu.kde.org/kstars/?ref=macobservatory.com). **Quick note for Mac users:**there’s a bug with offline plate solving in this release, and is expected to be fixed soon. ### Celestron CGX and EdgeHD 11" Schmidt Cassegrain URL: https://macobservatory.com/celestron-cgx-and-edgehd-11-schmidt-cassegrain/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T04:14:48.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/57214589146_acfdd2fd-74a0-47c7-98c3-1ac55cf2c8e7-format-original.webp) ### GOING BIG This past holiday, I received a Celestron CGX for Christmas. You might have seen photos of it pop up on some of my other equipment pages. I knew, once I upgraded from the AVX to a mount with more capacity, it was only a matter of time before a large aperture scope entered the picture. Introducing the EdgeHD 11” Schmidt Cassegrain from Celestron. I picked up this scope second hand from a person I work with. They had been ready to upgrade to something even larger. For me, though, moving from a 6” RC to an 11” SCT is quite a jump. I’ve only had a chance to do some quick visual work with it. The views are impressive. Outside of their renowned optics, the focuser and mirror flop are two things the Edge scopes are burdened with that are less than stellar. As you focus to the inside and outside of the focus range, there is slop in the mechanics that cause the mirror to flop from side to side. The only remedy, is to lock the mirror down, and attach a new focuser to the back of the scope. I expect to provide updates as new accessories arrive. I’m addressing the focuser with a Moonlite CHL 2.5” Large format Crayford Edge focuser. Moonlite has a low profile focuser that works in tandem with the EdgeHD 11” .7x reducer. Reducing down to F7 from F10 will enable me to image at twice the speed for the same signal to noise ratio. The .7x reducer is not only going to aid in imaging time, but also aid in keeping the mount accurate. I think the native 2800mm focal length might be a bit much for the CGX during long duration guiding, and I’ll only reserve that native length for bright planetary objects that don’t require quite as accurate tracking. The big benefit of having a large aperture scope like this is that I can begin to image small galaxies and planetary nebulas that were just a bit too small on the 6” scope. I’m excited to get going, but have to wait for clear skies and all the accessories to arrive. I’ve got a dew shield, dew heater, .7x focal reducer, and Moonlite focuser on order. In addition, I’ll probably need an OAG for guiding, and potentially a suitable guide camera. Longer term, I’d like to try out a new imaging camera like the QHY16200A, but the price of the camera and 2” filters are keeping it out of reach for a while longer. Until that time, I’ll make due with my ZWO ASI1600MM-C and 31mm filters. ### Astro Pixel Processor 1.071 released URL: https://macobservatory.com/astro-pixel-processor-1071-released/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:21.000Z This version includes a bunch of new fixes and features. - IMPROVED, access to license server - IMPROVED/FIXED, star analysis & registration - FIXED, Calibration AMP-GLOW - FIXED, Sorting of frames on analytical data - FIXED, IMPROVED, charting analytical data - ADJUSTED, METADATA saved frames For all the details, visit the[APP forum](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/community/release-information/astro-pixel-processor-1-071-ready-for-download/?ref=macobservatory.com). ### Removing light pollution with Astro Pixel Processor URL: https://macobservatory.com/removing-light-pollution-with-astro-pixel-processor/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:57.000Z The above screenshot is what my Luminance data looks like after a few nights of imaging the same object. In this particular image I was shooting LRGB with a mono camera. So this is just one filter. But the process I’m about to describe covers removing light pollution from any image. This could be light pollution from your DSLR, Color Astro camera, or a mono camera just like the one I used. The first thing you should have done was integrated and calibrated your images that you’ve taken.[See here for a tutorial on that](https://macobservatory.com/processing-a-bi-color-narrowband-astronomy-image-in-astro-pixel-processor-on-the-mac/). After integration you’re left with a single color image in the case of a DSLR or Color Astro camera. Or you’re left with multiple mono channels that you’ll later combine into a color image if you used a mono camera. Now for the light pollution removal. Double click your integrated image at the bottom of the files list. This loads it as the current selection. Now select the 9) Tools tab on the left column, and press Remove Light Pollution. If you want to do a quick and dirty job removing the light pollution, you can use the cursor to “draw” green boxes on your image. Try to draw a grid of them across the entire image excluding parts where you want to retain detail. In this case, I avoid the area around the large galaxy in the lower right. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-9-14-22-pm-format-original.webp) The issue with this method of drawing large boxes, is the algorithm that is used to remove the light pollution from this grid means it does so with very little variance across the removal. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-9-15-04-pm-format-original.webp) At first glance, it looks like it did a pretty decent job. But on closer inspection, you can see a light ring around the center, and brighter edges along the right hand side. They are very subtle, but definitely there, and you can even see them better when the image is enlarged inside Astro Pixel Processor. So, how I get around this issue is I create lots of tightly packed boxes instead of a few large ones. This alternate method creates a fine pattern for the algorithm to detect and remove the gradient with more subtle finesse. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-9-23-12-pm-format-original.webp) This method is a lot more time consuming, but produces perfect results. If you look closely, you’ll see I avoided drawing boxes around the brighter stars, small galaxies and the large galaxy. But now, I’ve been able to provide a lot more granular detail on the areas where I want the light pollution removed. After placing your grid, press the calculate button. Don’t worry about any boxes that change colors to red or yellow. Then press the OK & Save button. Give your image a new name, so that you don’t overwrite the original. This way, if you’re unhappy with the results, you can attempt it again. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-9-34-53-pm-format-original.webp) Now I have a perfectly corrected image with no light pollution. If you’re using mono, I suggest you perform this light pollution removal on each channel independently, then combine them into an RGB image only after the light pollution removal. ![ Your end result will look fantastic. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/o1txxffgtlhe_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) Your end result will look fantastic. ## What about narrowband? You might be asking now, what about a narrowband image that has light pollution? With all that nebulosity, they’re a lot more tricky. You can’t draw boxes all over those images, as you’ll more than likely remove nebulosity from your image. While narrowband does work wonders in a light polluted sky, it cannot eliminate all of the light pollution. So, at times, we’ll have to apply some light pollution removal to those images. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-9-54-54-pm-format-original.webp) I start with an image like the above. There is some light pollution that I can see, maybe even some humidity in the air that creates a brighter spot towards the middle. All of this can be removed with this light pollution removal tool. To start the process, identify a few areas that appear to have no or little nebulosity, and draw a few small boxes in those ares. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-9-58-16-pm-format-original.webp) This is going to be a multistage process. As we start to get a few boxes in there, we’re going to go ahead and press the calculate button, and APP will remove a layer of light pollution. This should reveal some other areas where nebulosity is light or non existent that you can now add more boxes to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-10-00-19-pm-format-original.webp) We’re going to repeat this process, adding boxes, and pressing calculate until we think we’ve removed all the light pollution without effecting our nebula. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-10-02-05-pm-format-original.webp) When you’re satisfied you’ve removed as much light pollution as you can and avoided damaging the nebulosity, you can press calculate one last time and then OK & Save the image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-02-03-at-10-02-31-pm-format-original.webp) The end result is a well corrected, light pollution free image. ### Sometimes...all you need to do is reprocess your data URL: https://macobservatory.com/sometimesall-you-need-to-do-is-reprocess-your-data/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:23.000Z It often pays to revisit older images you’ve captured. I was never very happy with the processing job I did originally on the Pacman Nebula. It was hastily done the first time. I shot it over multiple days, and cropped it in pretty tight for the final version originally. ![ This is the original image. Over processed, over saturated, and lacking contrast despite the very saturated coloring. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/pacman-1-format-original.webp) This is the original image. Over processed, over saturated, and lacking contrast despite the very saturated coloring. When I reprocessed this, I actually removed 100 180s frames from the overall data set, getting rid of the 100 poorest quality frames. So, overall, there was less integration time, but the quality of the final image is really nice. There’s a high contrast of colors at the inner nebula that can be seen a lot better in this new version. ![ This tight crop of the inner part of the new image really shows off some detail that was missing in my original process of this nebula. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2019-01-30-at-11-50-37-pm-format-original.webp) This tight crop of the inner part of the new image really shows off some detail that was missing in my original process of this nebula. In all, I reprocessed in Astro Pixel Processor to integrate and calibrate all frames, removing the 100 worst frames. I then pulled in into PixInsight to stretch each channel, combine them into one RGB image, denoise, and add contrast. Then pulled it into Photoshop for final color touch up. ### Asteroid or satellite? URL: https://macobservatory.com/asteroid-or-satellite/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:24.000Z I managed to catch this on my guide scope with the ZWO ASI290mm camera as I was trying to focus it better. I saw a small moving object and hit record. Usually when I catch stuff like this, it just appears as a streak across a 3 minute frame. So, I was happy to catch this celestial object…whatever it is. ### The bloodiest of moons. URL: https://macobservatory.com/the-bloodiest-of-moons/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:24.000Z As most people did last week, I managed to get outside and catch the Blood Moon. I came prepared. I had two telescope setups and my Canon T3i DSLR. I managed to rummage through my bin of unused telescope parts and came across an old T-Adapter for the Canon that allowed me to attach it directly to the back of my C5 scope. This image is the moon at prime focus with the C5 and T3i. It barely fit in the view. Since the moon was so dark, I had to expose up to 4 seconds, so the image isn’t quite as sharp as it could be, but is still very representative of the night. Below is a grid of all the images I took during the night. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/50519301_10156283437074072_7897244255070978048_o-format-original.webp) ### Revisiting IC 417 on the ES 102mm URL: https://macobservatory.com/revisiting-ic-417-on-the-es-102mm/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:58.000Z I decided to [revisit ](https://macobservatory.com/narrowband-imaging-ic410-and-ic417/)IC 417 but this time with a wider field of view. The image was previously taken with my AT6RC, and it focused primarily on IC 417\. But this time I was able to frame it such that I also got the open cluster NGC 1907, as well as the smaller nebula below IC 417, NGC 1931\. I’m really happy with how it turned out. ## Imaging details **Imaging telescope or lens:**Explore Scientific ED102 FCD-100 CF **Imaging camera:**ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool **Mount:**Celestron CGX **Guiding telescope or lens:**Stellarvue F050G **Guiding camera:**ZWO ASI290MM Mini **Focal reducer:**Stellarvue SFFR102-2 **Software:**Kstars/Ekos, Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight 1.8 Ripley **Accessories:**Moonlite High res stepper motor and Mini-V2 controller, MoonLite CF 2" Focuser **Resolution:**4432x3235 **Dates:**Jan. 4, 2019, Jan. 5, 2019 **Frames:** Astrodon Tru-Balance H-a 5nm: 125x180" (gain: 200.00) -15C bin 1x1 Astrodon Tru-Balance OIII 5nm: 112x180" (gain: 200.00) -15C bin 1x1 Astrodon Tru-Balance SII 5nm: 80x180" (gain: 200.00) -15C bin 1x1 **Integration:**15.8 hours **Darks:**\~50 **Flats:**\~50 **Bias:**\~50 **Avg. Moon age:**28.56 days **Avg. Moon phase:**1.31% **Bortle Dark-Sky Scale:**6.00 **Astrometry.net job:**[2454319](http://nova.astrometry.net/status/2454319?ref=macobservatory.com) **RA center:**82.351 degrees **DEC center:**34.736 degrees **Pixel scale:**1.380 arcsec/pixel **Orientation:**92.987 degrees **Field radius:**1.051 degrees **Locations:**Home Observatory, Pearland, Texas, United States **Data source:**Backyard ### Narrowband Imaging IC410 and IC417 URL: https://macobservatory.com/narrowband-imaging-ic410-and-ic417/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:25.000Z Over the last two weeks, I’ve had 3 imaging nights. KStars & EKOS 3.0 were released which fixed a ton of long standing issues with the scheduler. In addition to that nice software update, I got a Celestron CGX for Christmas! So, those two things combined and I set my sights on the only northern region available to me from the back yard and imaged IC417 on my AT6RC, and IC410 on my Explore Scientific 102mm FCD100 scope. Here’s a recent photo of the setup. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0340-format-original.webp) So far it’s worked great. Average RMS has been between .6 and .8\. My AVX was hovering between .8 and 2.0 RMS. I think I can get the CGX tuned a little more in guiding to get those numbers even lower, but have not attempted any adjustments. These are the numbers I’ve been getting without changing any of the default guide settings. ![ IC 417 imaged on the AT6RC from Astro-tech. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic417-format-original.webp) IC 417 imaged on the AT6RC from Astro-tech. ### KStars/EKOS 3.0 released with new features URL: https://macobservatory.com/kstarsekos-30-released-with-new-features/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:26.000Z The team behind KStars and EKOS have been busy wrapping up a[new version](https://edu.kde.org/kstars/?ref=macobservatory.com#download)of their imaging software just in time for the holidays. There’s a lot of new features in this one. The first major feature is the XPlanet solar system viewer developed by Robert Lancaster. It’s a significant upgrade over the built-in viewer. Robert also created a new interface for the FITS viewer which can how show you all the data of your images in a new side panel which features the FITS header info, Histogram, Statics, and recent images. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-9-format-original.webp) Additionally, Eric Dejouhanet dedicated time to a huge scheduler rewrite. The scheduler system previously allowed for scenarios where you could have conflicts in operations, but with the rewrite all this has been fixed and numerous improvements have been added: - Dark sky, which schedules a job to the next astronomical dusk/dawn interval. - Minimal altitude, which schedules a job up to 24 hours away to the next date and time its target is high enough in the sky. - Moon separation, combined with altitude constraint, which allows a job to schedule if its target is far enough from the Moon. - Fixed startup date and time, which schedules a job at a specific date and time. - Culmination offset, which schedules a job to start up to 24 hours away to the next date and time its target is at culmination, adjusted by an offset. - Amount of repetitions, eventually infinite, which allows a job imaging procedure to repeat multiple times or indefinitely. - Fixed completion date and time, which terminates a job at a specific date and time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-6-format-original.webp) A few other enhancements are a new scripting and DBus system allow for 3rd party applications to take advantage/control of features with EKOS which will open up the system for more options down the road. Other improvements and new features can be found on Jasem’s (lead developer)[website](https://knro.blogspot.com/2018/12/kstars-v300-is-released.html?ref=macobservatory.com). Here’s a few more screens of the rest of the updated interface panels. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-1-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-2-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-3-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-4-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-5-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-8-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ekos-10-format-original.webp) ### 13 Panel Mosaic of the Moon URL: https://macobservatory.com/13-panel-mosaic-of-the-moon/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:27.000Z Yesterday, I had a few hours of clear sky, and got out my AVX along with my Celestron C5, and ZWO ASI224MC camera. I was determined to get a few shots of the moon. I initially tried a Powermate 2.5x, but the seeing just wasn’t there. I ended up shooting everything at prime focal length 1250mm. I used[Planetary Imager](https://blog.gulinux.net/en/planetary-imager?ref=macobservatory.com)on the Mac to capture everything, then merged them all together in Photoshop using it’s photo merge feature. Below you can see the individual frames that make up each part of the mosaic. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final1-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final2-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final3-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final4-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final5-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final6-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final7-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final8-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final9-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final91-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final92-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final93-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/final94-format-original.webp) ### HD 14771 and Galactic Friends URL: https://macobservatory.com/hd-14771-and-galactic-friends/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:58.000Z I managed to produce a neat image over the last two nights. I centered the star HD14771 to place NGC 891 in the lower right and a galaxy cluster in the upper left. After two nights of imaging, I had around 13 hours. I placed it all together today. Turns out that the galaxy cluster was only a few of the total galaxies in this image. In all, there are 79. Captured in[EKOS/Kstars](https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/) Integrated with slight processing in[Astro Pixel Processor](https://macobservatory.com/processing-a-bi-color-narrowband-astronomy-image-in-astro-pixel-processor-on-the-mac/) Completed processing in[PixInsight](https://pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)and Photoshop Overlay done in[Observatory](https://macobservatory.com/observatory-astronomy-image-catalog-application-for-the-mac/) **Equipment used and shown in photo:** Imaging telescope or lens:Astro-Tech AT6RC Imaging camera:ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool Mount:Celestron Advanced VX Guiding telescope or lens:Orion 60mm Guide Scope Guiding camera:ZWO ASI224MC Focal reducer:Astro-Physics CCDT67 Software:Astro Pixel Processor Filters:Astrodon Tru-Balance Blue E-Series Gen 2 31mm, Astrodon Tru-Balance Green E-Series Gen 2 31mm, Astrodon Tru-Balance Red E-Series Gen 2 31mm, Astrodon Tru-Balance Luminance E-Series Gen 2 31mm Accessory:MoonLite CSL 2.5" Focuser with High Res Stepper Motor ![ In this overlay, done in Observatory on the Mac, you can see all 79 galaxies highlighted. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/galaxy-overlay-format-original.webp) In this overlay, done in Observatory on the Mac, you can see all 79 galaxies highlighted. ![ Here’s the scope that took the image. The AT6RC with CCDT67 reducer and ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0318-format-original.webp) Here’s the scope that took the image. The AT6RC with CCDT67 reducer and ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera. ### iObserve gets a new release, now with Mojave Dark Mode support URL: https://macobservatory.com/iobserve-mojave-dark-mode-update/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:28.000Z A little over a year ago, iObserve saw its last update. The developer (Cedric Follmi) had put the Mac iObserve application on hold to devote time to an online only web version over at[arcsecond.io](https://www.arcsecond.io/?ref=macobservatory.com). But after a year or so of developing efforts on the website, he put up a poll online asking users what development path they would like to see going forward. Continue the website? Update the Mac app to be compatible with Mojave? Make an even better Mac app longer term? Given those choices, people voted, and now there’s a new Mac application. ## What’s new in iObserve 1.7.0? - Added full support for macOS 10.14 Mojave with a complete update of the app internals (especially about network requests and dates). - Dropped support for all macOS versions before High Sierra (10.13). - Mojave Dark Mode - Suppressed the large title bar to adopt a more modern and compact look . - Suppressed the ability to submit new observatories by email, and explain that Arcsecond.io is the new home for observatories. - Fixed the failing downloads of the sky preview image (available when clicking the icon to the right of the object name in the right-hand pane). - Fixed an issue that prevented the app to complete the import of a Small Body. - Fixed an issue that prevented the user to select a Small Body in the list when multiple ones are found for a given name. - Fixed the failing downloads of 2MASS finding charts. - Fixed various stability issues. Get the latest version directly from the[Mac App Store.](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iobserve/id424693907?mt=12&ref=macobservatory.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-11-20-at-10-06-33-pm-format-original.webp) ### Observatory for Mac updated to Mojave with dark mode URL: https://macobservatory.com/observatory-for-mac-updated-to-mojave-with-dark-mode/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:59.000Z Observatory 1.4 was just released, and fully supports MacOS Mojave, including dark mode! The complete release notes with all changes listed are[here](https://codeobsession.com/observatory/releasenotes.html?ref=macobservatory.com)on the Code Obsession website. If you want to check out what Observatory is all about, check out the overview I[wrote](https://macobservatory.com/observatory-astronomy-image-catalog-application-for-the-mac/). ### How to take easy flats using an inexpensive light source. URL: https://macobservatory.com/how-to-take-easy-flats-using-an-inexpensive-light-source/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:29.000Z Here’s my setup at 5:30 am this morning. Taking good flats is key. I had been using the dawn sky to shoot flats for some time. EKOS has a feature where it will shoot flats of any desired ADU value. I’ve found that a median ADU value of 32,000 is perfect for my setup. I found this value through trial and error, by taking flats ad different ADU values, then calibrating with them to see what the results were. Anything above 24,000 overcorrected, and anything less than 20,000 under corrected, so I’m right in the middle now. I recently discovered this really awesome and inexpensive light source for flats. It’s worked like a charm. [A3 Light Box by AGPtek](https://amzn.to/2QhtI2w?ref=macobservatory.com)\- currently $47.99 First off, A3 is large enough to cover the front of most large scopes. It’s 11.69” x 16.53” and it’s a flat evenly lit LED panel with three built in brightness settings. It can be powered by the A/C plug it comes with, or through USB plugged into your laptop. In the photo above I have it plugged into the laptop, and am taking my flats through EKOS. This makes capturing flats quick and easy. Within EKOS, I build a camera sequence for all my filters, 25 images each, auto exposure set to ADU value 32,000\. Then I run the sequence. Within seconds it measures the light from the frame, and knocks out 25, then switches filters, measures the light again, and bangs out another 25 frames. In about 2-5 minutes I can capture all my flats in one go. Below are the two sequences I captured for the evening (Double Cluster, and M33). While short at under 2 hours each, you can see that they are clean and well calibrated thanks to the easy flats system I’ve been using. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/double-cluster-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m33-format-original-3.webp) ### Pacman Nebula captured with EKOS, and processed in PixInsight. URL: https://macobservatory.com/pacman-nebula-captured-with-ekos-and-processed-in-pixinsight/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:30.000Z I managed to get a few clear nights last week. Just two in fact. So, knowing I had only two nights to image, I focused on getting another bi-color nebula image. My earlier Pacman nebula imaging attempt was at F9 on my RC with a one shot color camera. It didn’t quite come out with the detail I could achieve on this particular image. This one was imaged on my Explore Scientific 102mm FCD-100 scope. I captured about 8 hours per filter (Astrodon 5nm HA, and OIII) using the ZWO ASI1600MM-C camera using the EKOS imaging platform on the Mac. I did the initial image integration and calibration with Astro Pixel Processor, then took each final filter’s image HA and OIII into PixInsight for final processing. In PixInsight, I processed each image to maximize the brightness and contrast of the nebula without destroying the stars. I tried a pixel math combination into RGB with the goal of keeping the nebula as natural looking as possible with good star colors. I find that the following combination is good for that R=HA, G=OIIIx.6+HA\*x.4, with B=OIII. I think the final image turned out great. UPDATE: I added some SII data now, for a new pallet based on the Hubble coloring. This new image is a total of 24 hours of data. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc281-format-original-1.webp) ### Astro-Tech AT6RC URL: https://macobservatory.com/astro-tech-at6rc/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T16:00:40.000Z ## Hubble at Home The Astro-Tech AT6RC is probably the most economically viable Ritchey-Chrétien telescope money can buy at roughly $350\. Its dual-hyperbolic mirror design eliminates coma and delivers a flat, well-corrected field — the same optical design used in the Hubble Space Telescope, scaled down to a manageable 6-inch aperture. ### Optical Specifications At native f/9 the AT6RC has a focal length of 1370mm. With an Astro-Physics CCDT67 telecompressor, it operates at approximately f/6 with a \~915mm focal length — a much faster system for deep-sky imaging on the Celestron AVX mount. - **Aperture:** 6 inches (152mm) - **Native focal length:** 1370mm at f/9 - **With AP CCDT67:** \~915mm at f/6 - **Weight:** \~13 lbs (18–20 lbs with full imaging gear) - **Optical design:** Ritchey-Chrétien (dual hyperbolic mirrors) ### Imaging Equipment The full imaging configuration includes: - Celestron AVX mount (30 lb max payload) - Orion 60mm guide scope - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool (primary imaging camera) - ZWO ASI224MC (guiding) - Astro-Physics CCDT67 telecompressor - ZWO 8-position electronic filter wheel - Astrodon LRGB and narrowband filters - Moonlite CSL focuser with stepper motor ### Achieving Proper Polar Alignment At these focal lengths, precise polar alignment is crucial. Even small alignment errors become visible in long exposures at 1370mm. The Celestron AVX's built-in polar alignment routine combined with plate-solving through EKOS provides reliable results. ### Sample Images ![NGC 7331 and the Deer Lick Group captured with the Astro-Tech AT6RC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ngc-7331-sm-format-original-1.webp) The AT6RC proved to be an exceptional value for deep-sky astrophotography. Its Ritchey-Chrétien design delivers sharp, well-corrected images across the field — remarkable for a telescope at this price point. It served as my primary imaging scope before upgrading to the Celestron EdgeHD 11". ### Tutorial for Astro Pixel Processor to calibrate and process a bi-color astronomy image of the Veil Nebula URL: https://macobservatory.com/astro-pixel-processor-bicolor-tutorial/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:31.000Z To get started, you'll need to have taken a full set of light images to process. In addition you will need darks, flats, and bias for calibration of those light images. The calibration process is going to remove any artifacts caused by dead pixels in your camera, and correct for lens dust and uneven illumination caused by your image train. Starizona has a [great page ](https://starizona.com/tutorial/image-calibration/?ref=macobservatory.com)detailing why you would do image calibration. If you don't have Astro Pixel Processor, you can download an [unlimited 30-day trial at the website](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com). If you like the process, and find the program easy to use, it's fairly affordable in comparison to some of the other tools out there. ## Loading your images into Astro Pixel Processor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-01-format-original.webp) When you first open the program, you'll be asked to choose a working directory. I typically make a folder on my desktop called Processing, and put all my images neatly organized into folders within. I label them Light, Darks, Bias, and Flats. Inside each folder there are more folders for each filter. For this particular image, I have HA and OIII images of the Veil Nebula, so there is a folder for each in the light folder, and a folder for each in the Flats folder. Bias and Dark can be shot as a single set (the filter doesn't matter since the frames are dark) and used to calibrate both HA and OIII. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-02-format-original.webp) From here, I need to go to the Load tab on the left panel in APP. I'm going to check off a setting here for Multi-channel/filter processing since I'm processing two channels/filters at once. You do both at once here, because you want them to register the alignment of all stars across all images at the same time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-03-format-original.webp) If I had shot the same filters over multiple nights, I could select Multi-Session processing, which allows you to do day 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. of each filter and use a different set of flats for each day of the same filter. This is especially useful if you re-image an object over multiple nights throughout a year, you can keep adding data to improve your image. But in this case, I shot all my images for each filter on a single night. **NOTE:**I *f you have a One Shot Color (OSC) camera, and need to make some modifications to the images as they are processed, you would go to the RAW/FITS tab and you can select debayer options there before you load your lights in.* On the load tab, you will now select the Light button, navigate to your first lights folder and select your first set of images for the first filter. In this case, I'm selecting my HA images. You can select the first image in the list, scroll to the last, hold shift, and select it. This will multi-select all images in the window, and you can then press OPEN to import them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/image-asset-format-original.webp) When you add them, it will ask you which filter these light images are, be sure to select the correct filter. In this case they are Hydrogen Alpha images. I select that, then you'll see that there are a bunch of images now associated with the Light button on the left pane. Press the light button again to add the second filter's images. This time go to your OIII light directory and select all OIII frames. Open them, and choose Oxygen III for the filter. Now your light frames are loaded. You'll do the same for flats, being careful to assign HA flats to HA filter and OIII flats to the OIII filter. This insures the right frames get calibrated with the right flats. Now add your Darks and Bias frames. For both of these when it asks which filter to choose, pick the top options to apply the Darks and Bias to all filters. ## Calibration options Now, we're going to set one calibration option, and that's to have the program create a bad pixel map. You'll press tab two "Calibration", scroll down and find the check box "Create Bad Pixel Map". This will create a map of all bad pixels on your camera sensor, and correct for them when processing the final image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-06-format-original.webp) ## Integration options This is a very straight forward simple process just to give you an idea of how the program works. We're only going to set a few things in this tab. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-07-format-original.webp) We're going to integrate per channel under the Multi-Channel/Filter options setting since we're processing multiple filters of light data. We're also going to stack all 100% of the images, because I've already gone through them and removed any images where clouds or airplanes came into the frame. You could lower the % to integrate if you want the program to automatically remove the worst images based on a percent of overall images. I'm going to also set "weights" to quality. This is going to look at all the images in my set, and integrate lower quality images with a lower weight than higher quality images. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-08-format-original.webp) I'm going to set "Outlier rejection" to "Windsor clip" and leave the rest of the settings to the default. This is going to average out satellites and other stray objects that get into the frames. Finally, we now have all settings ready to go. It's time to start the integration process. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-09-format-original.webp) You'll press the integration button, and now APP will run through your entire set of images creating master bias, dark, flats, and bad pixel map. It will then apply them to all your light frames to calibrate them, then it will align all frames using the registration process, and finally integrate them into two light images, one for HA, and one for OIII. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-10-format-original.webp) Once complete, you should have a folder that looks something like this: ![ These image thumbnails were generated with a finder plugin that came with Observatory on the Mac. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-11-format-original.webp) These image thumbnails were generated with a finder plugin that came with Observatory on the Mac. ## Processing your calibrated images From here, we're going to load integrated light frames in order to process them into a final image. If you look at the bottom of your files window in APP, the last two files on there should be your Integrated HA and OIII images. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-12-format-original.webp) The first thing we're going to do is remove any light pollution that came from either the moon or any nearby lights (or city glow). Even narrowband images can be affected by light pollution, but it will not be quite as bad as RGB images. Open the tools tab (Tab 9), and double click the first integration image, this loads the image into the viewer, and you can now press remove light pollution on the tools tab to open it for editing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-14-format-original.webp) With your image loaded into the light pollution removal tool, you'll take your cursor and draw boxes over any area that is sky only. Be careful not to draw boxes over any area that has nebulosity or image data in them. It's OK if you include stars. Once you have a good set of boxes covering most of the area, press the Calculate button. This will remove the light pollution based on the boxes you have currently. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-16-format-original.webp) Once you see how this has an effect on your screen, it might reveal some hidden nebulosity that was covered by the light pollution. You should now be able to add a few more boxes to finish refining the light pollution removal. Once complete you can check by pressing calculate again. If you're happy with the results, press OK & Save. Rename your file here to remember which version this file is. Each time you process an image with APP it will have you save that image. You can continue to save over the previous image, but I always find it best to rename it different after each save. I use HA-LPR in this case. Keep the format as FITS. Now you can process your other channel the same way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-17-format-original.webp) Don't worry about the edges of your frame. Due to the different alignment of each frame (assuming you used dithering curing your image capturing) you will have a few pixels on each side of your frame from the registration process. It's not necessary to try and remove any light pollution from here as you'll just crop it out in the next step. Cropping your frames is a little tricky. You can load them one at a time using the batch modify tool and manually draw a box around each one. But that's imprecise. You might accidentally crop each frame differently. In order to do both at the same time with the same crop, you'll need to NOT load an image before choosing "batch modify". So press Batch Modify, tell it not to load an image, and it will then ask you which files you want to batch modify. Select your two frames that have light pollution removed. It will load the first frame. Draw a box around it, and press the Crop OK button. This will crop both frames at this location you've indicated. You'll now see two frames at the bottom of your list that are both cropped. ## Combine RGB This is the fun part of the process. We're now going to take your two individual frames and combine them into a single color image. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-18-format-original.webp) Now you'll choose Combine RGB in the tools area of APP (left Tab 9). It will open a new area with nothing in it. From here we're going to add in our images using the Add button. We'll pick the cropped HA image, choose HA channel. Then we'll pick OIII and choose OIII channel. Then, since a full color image actually consists of three channels Reg, Green and Blue, we need to add the OIII frame again. On the left column, you should now have 3 channels listed, each with a few settings underneath them. From here, we can assign which color we want each frame to be colored. Take the slider under Hydrogen Alpha labeled R (for red), and slide it to 100%. Then make one of the OIII channels B (for blue) 100%, and the last channel of OIII G (for green) 100%. Now press the calculate button at the top of the column. This will process the three channels into an RGB image, and you should see the results in your main window. Now press the create button, save it as your RGB integration (any name you choose), and keep the format as FITS. ## Background calibration ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-20-format-original.webp) We're now going to use the background calibration tool on our new RGB image. This is going to make sure that the black in the background is a true neutral color. If we had just a little bit too much red, or blue, this will knock it out and make sure the black background is true black. Load your image using the Background Calibration tool (tab 9). Draw your boxes around only background area that is black sky and stars. Do not get any of your nebulosity in the boxes, because we don't want it to neutralize your pretty colors. Press calculate to see the results. If it looks good press OK & Save. Name your file and pick FITS again for the format. ## Star calibration ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-23-format-original.webp) Because we're making a false color image with two filters, our star colors are going to be exaggerated a bit. I like to use the star calibration to bring them more in line with the typical star color temperature they should be. The calibrate stars tool is is also in the tools menu (tab 9). Select the image where you calibrated the background. Load it into the calibrate stars tool. And draw your boxes around large sets of stars. Press the calculate button, and this will process the image. You'll notice your bright red stars drop down to a more normal color. The stars are now in a proper temperature color range. But you'll notice that we also lost a little color in the nebulosity. We're going to bring that color back in the next step. Save your image, and again name it and pick FITS for the format. ## Final processing In this last step, I'm going to process the final color in another app that I'm more familiar with. These steps can be done in APP using the tools always shown to the right of the image. But for me, I can achieve the results faster by using an app I know better. In this case, I'm going to use Photoshop, but the same tools I'll use here are also available in a number of other apps on the Mac. GIMP, which is free has these tools, as well as Acorn, Pixelmator, and others. First things first. We need to get the last image we did out of APP and into a regular image format for use an a standard image editor. In the upper right hand corner of APP, you'll see a Save button. Load your last star color calibrated frame, and then press the save button. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-21-format-original.webp) Keep the stretch option checked, and it will export the image as you see it in the viewer. If you uncheck this, and export, you'll have to stretch your image in your other image app instead. I find the default stretch here to be adequate. When saving, make sure to pick a format you can read in your image application. I picked 8-bit Tiff, but you can also pick JPG if you want a smaller file at the expense of a little bit of quality. I now load the image into photoshop and apply some Curves to darken the blacks, and brighten the lights. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/app-22-format-original.webp) I also add some saturation here to make the colors more vibrant. With those two things done, I'm ready to save my final image and complete the process. This tutorial is provided to show the basic steps in processing with APP. It is capable of so much more, and I only touched the surface with this tutorial. To achieve the best results, experiment with all the tools to see what you can achieve. ## The final processed Veil Nebula image ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/veil_nebula-format-original-1.webp) ### Astronomy and astrophotography planning with AstroPlanner on the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/astroplanner-mac-review/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:32.000Z ## Overview of AstroPlanner AstroPlanner is a complete system for tracking observations and planning out nightly viewing or imaging sessions with your equipment. It also offers computer scope control from within the application. Upon launching the software you'll need to start populating it with your user information. You'll provide your observing locations, this can contain your current location, as well as offsite locations that you visit for observing. AstroPlanner can access a USB GPS device to give you pinpoint accuracy for your site location. This should allow you to plan for those remote visits before you travel, so that you can be prepared with the equipment you require for the objects you plan on viewing or imaging. In addition to your location, you can add each telescope you own, any eye pieces you have, optical aids like Barlows or reducers, camera or viewing filters, the observer (yourself or a buddy who might observe with you), and any cameras you might utilize for imaging. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/camera-format-original.webp) Once you've added all your equipment, you can start to add objects to the observing list. There are four primary tabs for objects. The objects list, the observations tab to add observations, the field of view tab which shows you how your image will look using the selected equipment, and finally the sky tab which shows the nights sky chart and allows you to view where the object you selected lies in the night sky, as well as other objects that are visible. ## The Objects view in Astro Planner ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/astroplanner-main-format-original.webp) This is the main view within AstroPlanner. From here you add objects by using the Plus symbol in the lower left corner fo the screen. You get a search function to find the object and add it to the list. You an also browse by what is visible currently in the sky, and filter those choices by object type (open cluster, galaxy, nebula, planetary nebula, etc.). Across the top of your screen, you get a readout for the current date and time, sidereal time, Julian date, GMT, and GMST. On the second row below that information you can select the telescope you intend to view your object with. Next to that, you can see the sun and twilight time, what the current moon looks like, as it's helpful to know how much of an impact the brightness of the moon will have with imaging. Then next to that is your site location, and a clock which you can set to show the object at different time intervals. On the next row of information you see the[ephemeris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephemeris?ref=macobservatory.com)of the object during the night and month. This allows you to see the objects elevation during the darkest part of the night between sundown and sunrise and it's visibility over the month. Next you see see altitude and azimuth indicators from due north. This gives you an idea of how you will need to point your telescope to see the object, in the above image it's indicating you need to point east and slightly above the horizon. Lastly there is a tiny indicator of where the object is in the night sky. At the bottom of the screen you see your object list, as well as the local sky chart (showing the object constellation where your object is. You can switch the sky constellation chart to show images from several astronomical databases like the Hubble Space Telescope raw images. ## The Observations view in AstroPlanner ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/observations-1-format-original.webp) This tab highlights observations for the currently selected object. From here you can put in seeing and transparency conditions, note your field of view, and add any observations you made of the object during this particular time and date. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/observations-2-format-original.webp) Additionally, you can add attachments to your observations. In this case, I added an image I took with my telescope of NGC7000\. I left an observation note listing out the focal length and equipment I used for this session. ## Field of view in AstroPlanner ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/field-of-view-format-original.webp) This tab allows you to select all of your equipment for the viewing session. In this particular instance you can see I picked the AT6RC scope, with a CCDT67 reducer, and the TeleVue Delos 4.5 eye piece. With the current object M33 selected, and a Hubble Space Telescope image loaded, I'm able to see what it would look like in my telescope's view had I been looking through that particular set of equipment. You can choose additional display options in the lower right hand corner and it will overall known stars, object names, etc into the view. ## The Sky view in AstroPlanner ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/sky-view-format-original.webp) In this final object view screen, the Sky tab, you can see a sky chart of where your object is in the night sky. You can turn on and off planets, stars, galaxies, etc using the display options to the right to fine tune the view and make it easier for you to spot your object in the night sky. I hope this gives you a good indication of the use and benefit of having a detailed planning tool. AstroPlanner is[available here](http://www.astroplanner.net/?ref=macobservatory.com)and is priced at $45, which doesn't seem like that much for all the features that it offers. ### Using the EKOS sequencer to capture the Wizard Nebula (NGC7380) on the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/using-ekos-to-capture-the-wizard-nebula-ngc7380-on-the-mac/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:58:59.000Z This will be a general walkthrough of a typical capture session with my AstroTech[AT6RC setup](https://macobservatory.com/astro-tech-at6rc). This should be a good walkthrough for someone not familiar with the system to enable capturing their own images. However, I'm not covering equipment setup in this post, but might cover it in the future in another post. A few caveats with my particular setup. I break it down and set it up each night, so I require a new polar alignment before each session. My AVX mount doesn't fully support the park function in EKOS, so after a nights session, I cannot auto park, but others may have a mount that supports this feature. ## Connect your equipment The first step in my process is to set up all my equipment, connect it to the Mac laptop and start with an[All Star Polar Alignment](https://macobservatory.com/celestrons-all-star-polar-alignment-procedure/)(I can't see Polaris, so use this method built into Celestron mounts). After this procedure is complete, I load up Kstars, then press the EKOS button on the top bar to launch the EKOS capture system. I then press the connect button to connect to my equipment which I have pre-setup within EKOS prior to this nights session. ## Focus Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/focus_window-format-original.webp) The mount is probably already aimed at your last alignment star from your polar alignment, and this is typically good enough to use for focusing. I select the Focus Module and then press the capture button. This grabs a single screen and displays it in the screen preview window. Since I have a motorized Moonlite focuser, I can select a star with the cursor (it puts a green box around it in the screen), and then press the Auto Focus button. This begins the auto focus routine where it begins automatically focusing in and out and measuring it's effects on FWHM (Full-Width Half-Maximum) which continually measures the width of the star to get it as small as possible after iterating multiple times. Now, we're in focus, and can move on to the next step.*(*Side note*, if you don't have an automated focusing system, you can use the camera module's live preview feature and a Bahtinov mask to focus instead of using this module.)* ## Mount Control Window ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/mount_window-format-original.webp) The next part of the process is to open up the Mount Control module, and select "Mount Control" in the upper right of the window. This will open a small control pad with arrows, and a target search to move your mount. I'll press the search icon and type in a target name for a simple, easy to identify target for plate solving. Usually I pick an open star cluster for this process. I selected NGC129, then pressed the GOTO button to slew the mount to that target. ## Alignment Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/alignment_window-format-original.webp) Now that I have slewed to NGC129, I press the Alignment Module tab to go through a plate solving process to improve my GOTO model inside the mount and EKOS module. The reason you want to do this is both so that you have increased slewing accuracy, and so that once you pick your target and slew to it, you have confirmation that this is in fact the target you picked. Additionally, this helps with the meridian flip and ensuring that once the mount has flipped, after passing the meridian line, that your target is picked up in the exact same spot it left off before the flip. Usually what I do in this first step is select Sync under Solver Action. Then I press Capture and Solve. All I'm doing here is plate solving the current position to tell the mount exactly where it's aimed. I had told it to aim at NGC129, but after this first solve, it shows the mount is way off. Not knowing for sure if this is an adequate target, I pick a new one using the Telescope Control and aim at M39, an open cluster. I once again set it to Sync, and press Capture and Solve. Now I'm fairly close to the target, but not quite in the green area. I press goto one more time now that my mount knows where it is, and then Capture Solve/Sync one more time and see if the last slew was closer to the target. Finally, we're in the green and good to go to our final imaging target for the night. I pick the Wizard Nebula NGC7380, and press goto. Once there, I perform a Capture and Solve/Move to target. This will perform multiple Capture and Solve routines moving the mount each time getting the target lined up perfectly. Once it's good the Capture and Solve process stops. Time to turn on guiding now. ## The Guide Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/guide_window-format-original.webp) With our target picked, and GOTO plate solved to the target, we're ready to start guiding. This process is fairly straight forward. Dithering is turned on by default (you can check it by going to the options button in the lower right corner of the window). Now, we press capture, this shows you a single image from your guide cam. Select a star with your mouse, and it highlights with a green box. Press Guide, and the guiding calibration begins. This process is automatic, and you can watch the steps it's performing in the text window at the bottom of the screen. Once it's complete, guiding starts automatically. Now it's time to program our image sequence and start capturing. ## The Sequence Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/sequence_window-format-original.webp) This is the final step for my process for an evening capture session. For the Wizard Nebula, I had planned on capturing it in bi-color over a two night period. Tonight is the first night, so I only plan to capture 7-8 hours of HA (Hydrogen Alpha filter), basically as long as I can before the sun comes up. Tomorrow night, I'll be capturing OIII (Oxygen III filter) for another 7-8 hours using the same routine. Since I have a cooled camera, the first thing I do here is set it's temperature to -15°C, and press the set button. The temperature quickly begins to lower. I can check that box next to the temperature, and the sequence will not start until the temperature has been reached. Next I plug in my Exposure time, I've set it to 180s, or 3 min images. A count of 240, which is more than enough to cover me to sun up. I make sure the type is set to "Light" for light frames (as opposed to dark, bias, or flat). I set the filter to H-a, then under file settings I name the files with a prefix, in this case NGC7380, and I check off Filter, Duration, and TS (Time Stamp) so that those are appended to the file names that I'm capturing. Now I've set all the parameters for my sequence. I now add the parameters to the sequence que by going up to the top and pressing the "+" button. This adds it to the right into the que. If I lived in a dark area, and wanted to capture more than HA during the evening, I could change my parameters and add sequences for OIII, SII, or LRGB and just make sure that I only put enough time into each so that the sequence can finish by the end of the night. But since I'm in a light polluted area, I need as much time as I can spend on each filter, so I typically spend one evening per filter and get decent imaging results. We're done now with setting the sequence, and we're ready to run it for the evening. You'll press the play button at the bottom of the sequence window, and your camera will start capturing images until the sequence is complete. You can now tab over to the main window and watch the images roll in for the evening, or head to bed like I do, ready to wake up by sunrise and take down all the equipment before it gets too hot outside. (I live in the south where it's quite warm during the day). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/main_window-format-original.webp) From here you can monitor the images that are being captured for the sequence you've plugged into the sequence editor. Below is the final processed image from two nights of imaging. I processed it with[Astro Pixel Processor](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com),[PixInsight](https://pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), and[Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html?ref=macobservatory.com)on my[iMac Pro workstation](https://macobservatory.com/the-2017-imac-pro-astrophotography-processing-workstation/). Full equipment details can be found at[Astrobin](https://www.astrobin.com/362294/0/?ref=macobservatory.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/the-wizard-format-original.webp) ### Getting Started with Astrophotography on the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/getting-started-with-astrophotography-on-the-mac/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:59:00.000Z ## Recommendations for your start in imaging on the Mac There's a few things that need to be covered here as a starting point. I make some assumptions that you’re familiar with Astronomy, possibly already have a first telescope, and are ready to start taking some images. First you have to make a decision as to whether you want to take photos of the planets and Moon, or if you want to take photos of nebula, star clusters, or galaxies. Basically, the decision between planetary, or deep space objects. These things are not exclusive to each other, and can be done with the same telescope but the results might not be optimal for each choice. Your telescope is probably suited to one or the other.*(Edit: If you’re just getting into the hobby, have a look at this article on*[*5 things to consider if you’re interested in astrophotography.*](https://macobservatory.com/5-things-to-consider-if-youre-interested-in-astrophotography/)*)* ### Planetary imaging on the Mac Planetary is fairly straight forward. Large aperture scopes like 6" and above are great for this, and you don't need to have an equatorial mount. Any Alt/Az (Altitude Azimuth) mount will work. A high speed web cam or astro camera and Mac laptop are the only additional entry level hardware requirements. Since most planets are relatively small, the larger the scope, the closer/larger they will look, and the more detail you can get out of your images. **Recommended starting software for planetary imaging:** - [OACapture](https://www.openastroproject.org/downloads/?ref=macobservatory.com) \- for taking pictures or videos: free - [SiriL](https://www.siril.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) \- for stacking planetary images: free - [PixInsight](https://pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) \- for processing your planetary images to get the most detail out of them: $230 EUR Unfortunately planetary processing software is a gap right now on the Mac. You need wavelet processing to get the most detail out of your images, and currently PixInsight is the only real option. There are two other apps that might run on older hardware and operating systems ([Lynkeos](http://lynkeos.sourceforge.net/?ref=macobservatory.com)and[Keiths Image stacker](http://keithwiley.com/software/keithsImageStacker.shtml?ref=macobservatory.com)), but they're not developed any longer, and crash often on modern hardware. They are however, free applications. For more advanced options, you might switch out Planetary Imager for[FireCapture](http://www.firecapture.de/?ref=macobservatory.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/moon-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/5svgzxeavcsw_1824x0_wmhqkgbg-format-original.webp) ### Deep sky object imaging on the Mac DSO imaging requires a little more effort. Because this type of imaging focuses on long exposure shots, where tracking your object across the sky accurately is a requirement, you'll need a German Equatorial Mount (GEM). These deep sky objects can vary greatly in size, with a large number of them being bigger than earth's moon in the night sky. Because of this, a large scope isn't a requirement to get started. In fact, it's preferable to start with a smaller scope, like an 80mm refractor. The reason for this is that the larger your scope, the more accurate your tracking needs to be, the better your mount needs to be to handle the weight and accuracy. The difficulty (and cost) goes up exponentially with larger telescopes. So start small. All of the telescopes I use are relatively small (under 6" in size), and all fit on my entry level GEM mount, the Advanced VX by Celestron. Additional requirements are going to be a guiding camera and guide scope. This is essentially a small telescope mounted on top of your main scope, with a guide camera. This camera's job is to watch the star movement, and send corrections to your GEM mount when the mount isn't moving accurately. For entry level equipment, this is a necessity, as these mounts are far from accurate for long exposure imaging. You'll also need a main imaging camera, and your options vary widely here. You have the option of using a DSLR (maybe you have one already in your possession), or a dedicated astrophotography camera that can do color or mono. Mono is a black and white camera, that when combined with color filters, can achieve a higher fidelity color image than a regular color camera can but with more effort and expense. **Recommended starting software for deep sky imaging:** - [Cloudmakers Astro Imager](http://cloudmakers.eu/astroimager/?ref=macobservatory.com) \- for taking pictures with an astronomy camera: $21.99 - [Cloudmakers AstroDSLR](http://www.cloudmakers.eu/astrodslr/?ref=macobservatory.com) \- for taking pictures with a DSLR camera: $21.99 - [PHD2](https://openphdguiding.org/?ref=macobservatory.com) \- Guiding software for your guide scope and camera: Free - [Astro Pixel Processor](https://www.astropixelprocessor.com/?ref=macobservatory.com) \- Processing software for your images. $50/year, or $125 to purchase outright. For more advanced options you might switch out Astro Imager for[EKOS](http://www.indilib.org/about/ekos.html?ref=macobservatory.com). And Astro Pixel Processor for[PixInsight](https://pixinsight.com/?ref=macobservatory.com), or[Star Tools](http://www.startools.org/?ref=macobservatory.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic417-final-format-original.webp) ### An Overview of Double Stars on the iPhone URL: https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-double-stars-on-the-iphone/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:34.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1139-format-original.webp) Here's another well done, simple, and focused astronomy application that's been recently added to the App Store. Double Stars, as it's name implies is a quick way to look up and keep track of your double star viewing. What makes this app so special is that you can go on a Sky Tour of the night sky. Double Stars points out the best double stars that are visible from your location, and sets you up with challenges to see if you can split (magnify the stars enough so that they appear as the two stars that they really are) the nights doubles. The sky tour has a nice location assistant feature which uses your phones gyroscope and GPS to locate your position, and let you rotate around and to the correct altitude to easily find the star pair. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1135-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1138-format-original.webp) This handy application can be a lot of fun at a star gazing party, or right in your back yard. Mark your favorite double stars, and mark if you were able to split them with your equipment. It can be[downloaded through the iPhone App Store](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/double-stars/id515272752?mt=8&ref=macobservatory.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1134-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1136-format-original.webp) ### An Overview of MeteorActive on the iPhone URL: https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-meteoractive-on-the-iphone/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:34.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1129-format-original.webp) MeteorActive is a great way to stay on top of all the meteor showers headed your way. The iPhone application is very straight forward in it's premise. Detailing major and minor events, and listing them in date order allowing you to see how many meteors to expect on a per hour basis. I had no idea there were this many going on. Detail views of each meteor shower allow you to see the best viewing times during the evening sky, and during which hour they will peak. Every astronomer should have this app handy. It's available on the iPhone App Store and can be[downloaded through this link](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meteoractive/id1205712190?mt=8&ref=macobservatory.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1130-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1131-format-original.webp) ### An overview of Observer Pro on the iPhone URL: https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-observer-pro-on-the-iphone/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:35.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1114-format-original.webp) Observer pro is really an invaluable application to use for choosing targets in the night sky. It contains objects from all the large catalogs Messier, Caldwell, Herschel, NGC, and IC. You can also browse objects by type including Galaxies, Galactic Nebulae, Planetary Nebulae, Open Clusters, and Globular Clusters. The above views show the listing view and object view. In the listing view you can see the objects visibility during the 24 hour period. It's depicted by an orange/green bar. The best viewable time for that object is depicted in Green. Bright blue depicts day, dark blue depicts moon light, and black is no moon during the night. You'll notice some gaps in the orange/green bars shown above and that's because I have my local horizon measured in the application. The application uses mixed reality to view through your phone camera and trace the horizon of your sky (in this case, my back yard, which has several large trees that block my view). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1123-format-original.webp) It's best to position yourself where your telescope would be, then use your phone as a viewfinder and draw your local horizon tracing any objects that might be in the way. The result should show something similar to the above. Once done and saved, you can turn on local horizon, and have it show when objects go behind obstacles in your horizon. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1118-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1119-format-original.webp) These views depict where the object is during the night sky, and show a finder view to help you see what the sky and object location look like with no obstructions. Other views depict detail of each chart available to each object, as well as detailed information on each object. ![ Detail view showing the rise and set of the sun and moon, as well as the object rise and set time, and depicted in green is the best available time for imaging with no moon. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1117-format-original.webp) Detail view showing the rise and set of the sun and moon, as well as the object rise and set time, and depicted in green is the best available time for imaging with no moon. ![ This view shows detailed information on the object, including it's magnitude, location, and what type of object it is. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1120-format-original.webp) This view shows detailed information on the object, including it's magnitude, location, and what type of object it is. To top it all off, you can export your local horizon out of the application and convert it to a horizon file for use in Sky Safari. I have my local horizon loaded into Sky Safari 6 Pro on both my iPhone and my Mac desktop computer. ![ Here's my local horizon file loaded into Sky Safari 6 Pro. To export your horizon file, you must download a converter program (from Joshua Bury the creator of Observer Pro), and also download a script to run the converter from Processing.org , it will take your horizon file and output a PNG that can be imported into Sky Safari. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1127-format-original.webp) Here's my local horizon file loaded into Sky Safari 6 Pro. To export your horizon file, you must download a converter program (from Joshua Bury the creator of Observer Pro), and also download a script to run the converter from Processing.org , it will take your horizon file and output a PNG that can be imported into Sky Safari. I highly recommend[Observer Pro](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/observer-pro-astronomy-planner/id462392803?mt=8&ref=macobservatory.com)to anyone that owns an iPhone. It's an invaluable resource that allows for easily scanning the objects lists to see what's visible during the night sky. It also has a handy night mode for use in the field. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1125-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_1113-format-original.webp) ### Celestron's C5 Spotting Scope: Maximize Your Grab-And-Go URL: https://macobservatory.com/celestrons-c5-spotting-scope-the-newest-edition/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:36.000Z Make no mistake, this is a BIG, little grab-and-go. The biggest I could fit on the[iOptron Cube Pro](https://amzn.to/2uzyq1M?ref=macobservatory.com)mount. The AT60ED wasn't cutting it for planetary views. The mount has a weight limit of 8lbs, so I opted for the largest scope with the longest focal length that I could get to fit on this class of mount. That happened to be[Celestron's C5 Spotting Scope](https://amzn.to/2LiUrZU?ref=macobservatory.com). Yes, Celestron sells this as a spotting scope, but at it's heart, it's really a 5" Schmidt Cassegrain telescope with XLT Starbright anti-reflective coatings. It's focal length is 1250 at a speed of F10\. It's perfect for planet and moon viewing. It's got almost 3 times the focal length of the AT60ED and it's only 6lbs. Two pounds under the weight limit of the mount. This gives me room to add a few light accessories. It pairs well with eye pieces from 32mm down to about 6mm. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_9429-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_9431-format-original.webp) ### Celestron C5 Spotting Scope URL: https://macobservatory.com/celestron-c5-spotting-scope/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T16:00:41.000Z ## Grab and Go The Celestron C5 is a 5" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with XLT Starbright anti-reflective coatings, delivering 1250mm of focal length at f/10 in a remarkably compact package weighing just 6 lbs. It serves as my dedicated "grab-and-go" portable telescope — the largest scope that fits on the iOptron Cube Pro mount's 8 lb payload limit. ### Portability and Versatility At under 6 lbs, the C5 can be mounted on lightweight alt-az mounts that would buckle under a larger telescope. Celestron markets it as a spotting scope, but functionally it operates as a fully capable telescope. It accepts standard 1.25" eyepieces ranging from 32mm down to approximately 6mm, and delivers nearly three times the focal length of the AT60ED. ### Visual Observation For visual astronomy, the C5 punches well above its weight. At 1250mm, it resolves detail in planetary nebulae, splits close double stars, and provides satisfying views of the Moon and planets. The XLT coatings deliver bright, contrasty images with minimal scatter. ### Planetary Imaging Paired with a ZWO ASI224MC camera, the C5 produces surprisingly detailed planetary and lunar images for its aperture: ![Lunar surface captured with C5 and ZWO ASI224MC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/c5-moon.webp) ![Saturn captured with C5 and ZWO ASI224MC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/saturn-c5.png) The C5's compact form factor makes it ideal for nights when setting up the full EdgeHD 11" rig isn't practical. It's a genuine telescope disguised as a spotting scope — and at this focal length, it captures detail that surprises people who underestimate a 5-inch aperture. ### Imaging the Elephant Trunk Nebula - IC1396 URL: https://macobservatory.com/imaging-the-elephant-trunk-nebula-ic1396/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:36.000Z I imaged this nebula over two nights for a total of 14 hours. There are 7 hours of H-a, and 7 hours of OIII data. Each done on a separate night. Thanks to the clean structure of EKOS when imaging, it organized all the data for me into proper folders. From here, I was able to load all of the data into Astro Pixel Processor at once, loading up each channel's info and specific calibration frames. From here I left it to process on it's own. It took about 2 hours total to go through all 500 images and calibrate them. After this point, I was left with two final calibrated frames, one for H-a, and one for OIII. I brought them into PixInsight to crop, and align, then stretch them to appropriate levels. I then used PixelMath inside PixInsight to combine the two monochrome images into a bi-color pallet showing the result above. Finally I moved the file into PhotoShop to enhance the color and contrast slightly, as I prefer the controls in Photoshop for this task. Below are some other pixel math combinations for how you could combine the two images into other color pallets. You can see all the equipment details over on my[Astrobin](https://www.astrobin.com/353988/?ref=macobservatory.com)page. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-07-08-at-3-45-07-pm-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic-1396-blue-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic-1396-green-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic-1396-deep-red-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic-1396-orange-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/ic-1396-orange-format-original-1.webp) ### A Night At The George Observatory URL: https://macobservatory.com/a-night-at-the-george-observatory/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:37.000Z A few weeks ago, I was able to attend a 'special event' at the George Observatory in Brazos Bend Park just south of Houston Texas. We arrived at sun down, and were given treats, coffee, and paper star maps. There were about 15 in the group, and we were going to spend some time in the main observatory on the 36" Gueymard Research Telescope, one of the largest telescopes in the US that is available for public viewing. After a brief introduction, we were led up to the observatory where it was lights off. They began the viewing session by picking out a few objects, starting with Jupiter. We got a great view of the bands and moons, however the eye piece that was in place shortened the focal length quite a bit and it didn't look much more impressive than my 6" AT6RC. Second target was M3, and the eye piece was switched to something with more magnification, I overheard it was a Takahashi eye piece. This time, I was impressed. What had only appeared as a blur to me on my telescopes, now appeared brilliant, and I could make out hundreds of individual stars in the cluster. Additionally, they have 11" and 6" refractors hanging off the side, and the views through the 11" refractor were equally impressive. We moved on to two of the Leo triplet (M65 & M66) galaxies next. Both fit in the FOV. They were fairly dark still despite the light gathering power of the scope. And much brighter objects were in the night sky for our next viewing. It was interesting to see the arcane controls on such a large scope. Dials read out coordinates in arc hours, minutes and seconds. Coordinates were plotted from object to object. Once at a known location, they could plug in how far to rotate from the current object to get to the next, and used an iPad to look up coordinates of objects. In all, it was a fun night, and they stayed as late as we wanted to punch in coordinates for new objects. The observatory is open most Friday and Saturday nights to the public. There's an admission fee, but plenty of scopes to check out. In addition to the three primary scopes in the main observatory, they also have a 14" Celestron SCT, and 18" Newtonian reflector in the West and East domes respectively. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0805-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0807-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0808-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0809-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0811-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0815-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0822-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0825-format-original.webp) ### An Overview of EKOS Astrophotography Suite on the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/an-overview-of-ekos-astrophotography-suite-on-the-mac/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:59:01.000Z [EKOS](http://www.indilib.org/about/ekos.html?ref=macobservatory.com)is the capture suite that comes as part of the[KStars Observatory](https://edu.kde.org/kstars/?ref=macobservatory.com)software package. It's a free, fully automated suite for capturing on Mac, Linux, and PC. It's not to dissimilar to[Sequence Guider Pro](http://mainsequencesoftware.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)on the PC. While the capture suite comes with KStars, you're not limited to using KStars. EKOS will also allow you to send commands to your mount from[SkySafari](https://skysafariastronomy.com/?ref=macobservatory.com)on the Mac as well. I'll break down it's use and capabilities screen by screen. ## Main Window In the main window shown above, you see tabs that represent each part of the application which include the Scheduler, Mount Control, Capture Module, Alignment Module, Focus Module, and Guide Module. From the main window you will see the currently taken image, the seconds remaining in the next image, as well as which image number you are on during the sequence, and the percent complete of the entire sequence with hours, minutes, and second remaining in your sequence. Additionally to the right of your image, you see your target and tracking status, focus status, and guiding status. ## Scheduler ![ This is the Scheduler window, where you can pick your targets, and assign capturing sequences to them. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-22-at-9-30-32-pm-format-original.webp) This is the Scheduler window, where you can pick your targets, and assign capturing sequences to them. From the Scheduler, you can pick your targets, and assign them capture sequences (which are set up in the imaging module). Additionally there are some overall parameters you can set here for starting a session and ending a session. If you have a permanent observatory, you do things here like open and close your observatory with startup and shut down sequences, or set parameters for when to run your schedule based on the twilight hour, weather, or phase of the moon. The scheduler lets you set up multiple imaging sessions, mosaics, and more. And as the twilight hour approaches, it will start up and pickup imaging based off of priorities you set, or object priorities based on their visibility in the night sky. Imaging sessions can be set for a single night, or can be taken over multiple nights if it wasn't able to complete them in a single night. ## Mount Control ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-22-at-9-30-25-pm-format-original.webp) Mount control is fairly straight forward. This window shows the current aperture and focal length of your selected equipment. You can save multiple equipment configurations from this window for various telescope and guide scope combinations that you might have. Current tracking information is also shown in this window. If you select Mount Control in the upper right of the screen, it pops up a floating window with arrow buttons, speed and goto functions for manually controlling the mount. You can search for a target, and manually go to an object in the sky to start an imaging session without setting one up in the scheduler. ## Capture Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-22-at-9-30-22-pm-format-original.webp) From here you control all aspects of your imaging camera including setting up imaging sequences. For instance, I might have 7 hours of night time to image before the sun rises. I can divide that time up between each filter, and save the sequence of 120 captures, at 60s each at -20°C for each individual filter, and save that as a sequence which I can later load and reuse anytime I want to run that session during a 7 hour window. Or I could say I want 20 hours total on an object, and set all parameters for each filter to accommodate a 20 hour session, and save it. Or maybe I want one session for LRGB, and one for narrowband imaging. You can also set flat, dark and bias sequences. Flats have an awesome automatic mode, where you can set a pre-determined ADU value, and it will expose each filter automatically to the same ADU and capture all your flats in a single automatic session. It also supports hardware like the[FlipFlat](https://optecinc.com/astronomy/catalog/alnitak/flipflat.htm?ref=macobservatory.com)so that flat sessions can be run immediately following a nights imaging session. Additionally you can set guiding and focus limits for imaging sessions, and control when your meridian flip occurs. ## Focus Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-22-at-9-25-17-pm-format-original.webp) Here you can control all focus functions if you have a computer controlled focuser. I highly recommend getting one of these. Focusing can be set up to run automatically. It will capture a single image, and auto select a star, then run a sequence where it continues to capture, while moving the focuser in and out. Each time it is graphing the HFR on a curve plot trying to find the best point of focus. Depending on seeing conditions, it can get focusing down in 3-4 iterations, or sometimes 20\. All parameters including threshold and tolerance settings for focusing are controlled in this window. ## Alignment Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-22-at-9-30-16-pm-format-original.webp) From this window you can polar align (assuming you can see Polaris), and also plate solve to locate an object center window or improve GOTO accuracy. Since I can't see Polaris from my location, I have to use my mounts built in[All Star Polar Alignment process](https://macobservatory.com/celestrons-all-star-polar-alignment-procedure/), then I can come to this window to capture & solve a target to improve it's GOTO accuracy. There are several nice features accessible here. You can load a fits file from a previous imaging session, it will plate solve the image, then move your telescope to that precise point to continue an imaging session. Or you can select targets from the floating mount control window, then capture and solve, or capture and slew to bring the mount as close to center of the target as possible. EKOS automatically uses this function during an imaging session to initially align to a target, and then realign once the meridian flip occurs. ## Guide Module ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-22-at-9-30-11-pm-format-original.webp) The guide module handles all guiding through your guide scope and camera. Press capture in the upper left, and hit guide, a star will be automatically selected, calibration starts, and once calibrated guiding begins. Additionally options can be set for dithering, and guide rate. For people who prefer PHD2, EKOS integrates seamlessly with it, and even shows PHD2's guiding graphs within the app and on your overview tab. I've not personally had any issues using the EKOS guiding, and it has an additional benefit of being able to reacquire a guide star after clouds interrupt your imaging session, and can continue the imaging session when it's clear again. ## Overall thoughts As someone who images regularly, and doesn't have a permanent setup (like an observatory), I like how much of the application can automate my nights imaging sessions. There is little else available on the Mac that is this full featured. The[Cloudmakers suite](http://www.cloudmakers.eu/xindi/?ref=macobservatory.com)comes in a close second for me, but is initially easier to set up and use. Additionally[TheSkyX](http://www.bisque.com/sc/pages/TheSkyX-Editions.aspx?ref=macobservatory.com)is also a full featured suite, however I've not used it. The setup process with EKOS isn't too difficult once you get an understanding of how the modules interact with each other and what all the options do. I hope this brief overview gives you enough of an idea that you can setup and use the software on your own. EKOS has a healthy number of contributors on the project, and regularly sees updates on a monthly basis, and has good support through it's[user forums](http://www.indilib.org/forum.html?ref=macobservatory.com). ![ The final image of M101 taken during this session that I captured the above screens from. This was actually 17 hours done over three imaging sessions. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/m101-format-original.webp) The final image of M101 taken during this session that I captured the above screens from. This was actually 17 hours done over three imaging sessions. ### The observatories on Haleakala URL: https://macobservatory.com/the-observatories-on-haleakal/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:38.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0980-format-original.webp) My family and I took a trip to Maui this past week. While we were there we made the trek up Haleakala park mountain to the peak to watch the sunset. It's a pretty wild drive that takes a little over an hour to do. But the views are amazing. The terrain looks a bit like being on Mars. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0955-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0947-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0953-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0954-format-original-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0963-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0967-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0969-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0970-2-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0972-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0973-format-original.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/img_0981-format-original.webp) ### This is what processing a stack of 720 light frames looks like on an iMac Pro URL: https://macobservatory.com/imac-pro-720-frames-processing/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:39.000Z 1,000% CPU utilization in Astro Pixel Processor. I'm three hours into processing this stack of 720 luminance images for M101\. It's currently 29% in writing the light stacked image. So I anticipate about 4 hours total to stack this set. Interestingly CPU utilization isn't maxed. This[iMac Pro](https://amzn.to/2tVML8A?ref=macobservatory.com)has 32GB RAM, and 8 cores clocked at 3.2 GHz. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-05-08-at-6-43-50-pm-format-original.webp) ### Observatory Astronomy Image Catalog Application for the Mac URL: https://macobservatory.com/observatory-astronomy-image-catalog-application-for-the-mac/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T15:27:40.000Z What do you do with the organized or unorganized chaos of your astrophotography library of images as you continue to add to it over time? I end up with dozens and dozens of folder within folder sorted by date and object. Well, Observatory has shown that there's a better way. After importing your images (which is just a reference to your files on your drive, so very little additional space is required) you can plate solve the images for automatic tagging by all the known astronomical databases. The benefit of this is that any object you've purposely captured, or objects you inadvertently captured are tagged in your images. You can then create smart folders which then subdivide your set of images into nice little categories like galaxies, nebulas, planetary nebulas, etc. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-30-at-8-53-21-pm-format-original.webp) Additionally you can batch tag your images with equipment you used, and also have those same images flow into smart folders for sets of equipment you used. The benefit being that you might have imaged a smaller galaxy or object with a wide FOV set of equipment, and you want to revisit that object with a narrow FOV set of equipment. This could really help in planning your imaging sessions going forward. And, if your'e a completionist like I am, and intend to image the whole Messier catalog, this is a great way to keep track of it. ![ Automatic tagging and smart folders, show you what images in your library match the criteria of the folder selected. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-30-at-8-53-32-pm-format-original.webp) Automatic tagging and smart folders, show you what images in your library match the criteria of the folder selected. There are some light weight stacking, and calibration features that work well for one shot color cameras, which take folders of hundreds of images and displays them in a single stack to mitigate the clutter. I would like to see some way to integrate mono channels into single stacks by selecting each channel and assigning it a color. Additionally, a small, but powerful feature of adding astronomical image types to quicklook is an amazingly beneficial too for browsing your images in the finder. No more loading images to see what they are, when you select one and press the spacebar, you see it instantly. Some things I'd like to see come to a future version are better management tools for your equipment, since this is only done through tagging right now. I would like some place to store equipment I own, so it's easier to select when tagging images. I'd also like to see FOV overlays of my equipment on some of the research portions of the data. (Incidentally, the application has access to vast NASA libraries of images you can download into and view.) It would be nice to pull up a Hubble image and see how my gear could frame it, and what might be the best possible set of gear to use when planning a session on a particular object. Other information like object rise and set time based on my location would be beneficial for planning sessions. In all though, this is a great v1 of a cataloging application for astronomical images, and I look forward to what v2 will bring. ![ M101 and surrounding nebula are auto tagged once the image is plate solved. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-30-at-8-51-17-pm-format-original.webp) M101 and surrounding nebula are auto tagged once the image is plate solved. ![ Markarian's Chain has an enormous amount of galaxies hidden deeper into the image that are only revealed after plate solving. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8d/3a/8d3ae6c9-185e-49c7-b8a6-36d44545d9f9/content/images/2026/03/screen-shot-2018-04-30-at-8-52-32-pm-format-original.webp) Markarian's Chain has an enormous amount of galaxies hidden deeper into the image that are only revealed after plate solving.