Hi and thanks for letting me join. Apologies if this is a long message.
I wonder if it’s right for me and I will download the free version. Before I retired I bought a 12" LX Meade Classic. Sadly the mount failed last year and I bit the bullet for a Losmandy G11. So I deforked the Meade.
At around the same time, unsure what to do I took advantage of a PMC-8 Mount on sale and an AT60ED. I have a Canon T7 also, along with some paraphernalia I’ve accrued.
I have a Chromebook with Skysafari 7 installed and just a few days ago downloaded the new PMC-8 Alpaca Server for it so I’m working on getting Skysafari to work with it.
Unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with a Parkinsonism. Lack of balance mostly with weak muscles mainly along with some clumsiness.
I realize that I now need to control and photo remotely as much as I can.
So it might be that I need something like SGP along with other software?
My equipment can go on a south facing deck with no view north but decent view south.
I am waiting on an astro gadget Skysafari/Losmandy wifi interface, not sure if I need it in the end but a decent price.
I’m pretty technically challenged and so need either something out of the box or aid to install etc.
I stress I am a newbie to photos too. I can place a Win 11 laptop on a nearby table for usb if need be.
Thanks.
You can use a Windows laptop as a control computer, but probably will need a USB multiport adapter for it. This probably is better choice:
Initially it needs a display, keyboard and mouse to configure, but then you can connect with it using a remote computer using Remote PC. You need the “pro” versions of Windows for that.
Peter
SGPro might be useful for you, but only with respect to certain combinations of gear. Attemping to use a 12" SCT as the imaging scope is insanely difficult and should be a feat only attempted by the most experiences astrophotographers. But… For your AT60ED + Losmandy G11, SGPro is an excellent fit. I don’t have any direct experience with it, but due to its size and price, there is a very good chance that the PMC-8 is not suitable for long exposure AP… you might get away with exposure lengths less than 5 min, but I am not sure. No problem with the losmandy though. As goofy as that AT60 would look on that hulking mount, it would be rock solid.
You might also want to consider NINA which is open source software for automation of these types of things.
Happy to continue here though if you are interested…
Thanks Both
I don’t think I’m capable (even with help) to unfork the Meade now. All my equipment was bought before my condition worsened.
My sun filter is due Friday - and I’ll see how Skysafari 7 does with tracking. I’ve been looking at EOS Utility just to see how the Canon does.
The Meade was brought from a workmate, and I would hope it’s good for at least lunar photography.