I'm 100% new to this, and have so many questions

[rodrigopolo]

Hi everybody,

My name is Rodrigo, and I'm a photography enthusiast from Guatemala, a place with so many clouds . Allow me to share my journey and the equipment I have, so you'll understand how I ended up here.

I enjoy photography, and on November 8, 2022, I attempted to capture a picture of the total lunar eclipse, but failed. The moon was so dim that my pictures turned out blurry due to the slow shutter speed. So, I looked online for ways to improve this for the next time, and I found that the best solution was to get an equatorial mount.

Because I live in Guatemala City (so please, forgive my not-so-perfect English) where we have many mountains and volcanoes, I have NO clear view of Polaris. After researching various equatorial mounts and watching tutorials, I decided to get the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTI. The shipping to Guatemala was extremely expensive , but here it is now.

I have no background in astrophotography, but I understand many key concepts. I love using Stellarium to see where certain stars and planets will be right here in my backyard. I even created my own landscape using the Insta360 X3 and Photoshop to see how the trees will block my view. My background is in software development, creating web apps using PHP, MySQL, Apache, Node.js, MongoDB, etc. AND I also enjoy photography as a hobby. I have the EOS R5 with the RF 15-35mm f/2.8, EF 24-70, 70-200mm f/2.8, the RF 35mm f/1.8, the EF 50mm and 85mm f/1.8, the EF 100mm f/2.8 macro (which is the sharpest lens I own), and a Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3.

The main gear I use to take pictures of the sky are the EOS R5 with the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 and the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTI. Because I didn't have a background in astrophotography, I didn't knew I needed to get a Vixen Style Dovetail which I attach to an Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamp Baseplate in order to mount any lens or camera, as all of my equipment uses Arca-Swiss.

The Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 isn't quite sharp, either in autofocus or manual focus, but it is what I have, and clear skies here are as rare as a unicorn sighting , not to mention the sky light pollution—awful, but again, it is what it is, it is what I have.

Recently, with the annular solar eclipse, I practiced a day before with all the equipment, where I realized that the SynScan Pro app needs to be always connected in order to track the sun. Yeah, go figure, I believed that the app was just an interface and not the brain of the operation . Yes, you can laugh at my ignorance in this matter.

I watched many tutorials online on how to use NINA (or N.I.N.A.) in combination with your mount and camera equipment, but man, those dudes have a huge budget and all specialized equipment, from an autofocuser, guide scope, heaters, ZWO ASIAIR, etc. And what I'm doing is, because of the inability to have a clear view of Polaris:

1. Put the tripod with the mount in place, pointing to the geographical north pole using the iPhone compass, and the iPhone attached to the mount using a phone to Arca-Swiss adapter, and checking the tripod level.
2. Using the Polar Scope Align Pro iOS app, with the "Daytime / No Polarscope Alignment" tool, setting the elevation of the mount and fixing the azimuth.
3. Putting the EOS R5 with the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3, the counterweights and balancing the ascension and declination.
4. Once balanced, using the SynScan Pro iOS app, I do a star alignment with the amount of visible stars available, from 1 to 3.

It works well with exposures that require less than 5 seconds, beyond that, I get star trails, that is why I wanted to use something like NINA, but it only runs on Windows, and I only have a Mac .

I found a tutorial from Kamil Pekala who showed how to connect the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTI on a Mac using KStars, the mount worked, but the EOS R5 didn't connect, and after trying the GoTo option in KStars, the mount went past the limit, requiring me to turn the mount off immediately . I thought it was broken, luckily, after releasing the clutch, I got it back into the home position.

So, after this long introduction, I was wondering... Is there any solution for crazy people like me who use macOS and Mirrorless/DSLR equipment to be able to use something like NINA to take pictures of the sky, aligning the mount without being able to see Polaris? I was able to take some good pictures of the Orion Nebula and Jupiter yesterday, but I had to use short shutter speeds. Is there any solution to be able to have longer exposures?

Thank you in advance.

[Graeme1858]

Hello Rodrigo.

I'm sure our Mac users will be able to give you some pointers when they come on line.

Welcome to the forum.

Regards

Graeme

[JayTee]

Hi Rodrigo, welcome to TSS.

Before you do anything else please read this article. Hopefully it will clear a lot of stuff up for you. I know you have a lot of questions and hopefully this article will answer quite a few of them.

app.php/article/choosing-the-ideal-setu ... -journey-2

[messier 111]

welcome to tss .

[helicon]

Hi and Welcome to the forums.

[Bigzmey]

Welcome on board Rodrigo!

[jrkirkham]

Welcome, you've come to the right place.

[Ylem]

Welcome to TSS Rodrigo!

I personally don't do AP, many do here, thanks for joining us!

[rodrigopolo]

Thank you all for the greetings, I'll share what I was lucky to capture with you, first, the Pleiades:
[image][/image]

Orion constellation and Nebula:
[image][/image]
[image][/image]
[image][/image]

And different exposures of Jupiter with its moons:
[image][/image]
[image][/image]
[image][/image]
[image][/image]

I think I'll have to get a PC to get this feature of NINA in order to "Polar Align in the BLIND", I can't believe there is not an option for macOS :-/

[UkDave]

Welcome Rodrigo have a look here https://www.macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/ for Mac software soloutions ccdciel may be useful or cloud makers software for dslr which are in the lists on that webpage .


Dave

[Richard]

Welcome to TSS nice photos

[rodrigopolo]

Welcome Rodrigo have a look here https://www.macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/ for Mac software soloutions ccdciel may be useful or cloud makers software for dslr which are in the lists on that webpage .


Dave

Thank you very much, it is quite a list, I'll see which has something like N.I.N.A.'s Three Point Polar Alignment plug-in.

I totally forgot I had an old Intel MacBook Pro that has a ruined keyboard and touchpad, but it works with an external keyboard and mouse, so I did a clear install of the latest macOS, and then with Boot Camp, I installed a modified version of Windows 11 with TPM bypassed, then I was able to download and install:

1. EOS Utility 3.17.0 for the EOS R5
2. SynScan Pro App, Version 2.4.8 for the mount
3. Ascom Platform 6.6SP2
4. ASCOM Driver for SynScan App Version 1.4.0
5. N.I.N.A. Version 2.3 HF1 + Sky Atlas Image Repository + Offline Sky Map Cache
6. ASTAP + Very large database installer (D80)
7. PHD2 Guiding
8. PlateSolve2

I followed a tutorial in YouTube to install all the software and to setup N.I.N.A., first I had to start SynScan Pro App, setup the right coordinates, the COM3 connection, connect to the mount, then open N.I.N.A., after closing the EOS Utility (which runs in background), I was able to connect to the camera, and then I was able to connect to the mount, and control both, the camera and the mount, then I installed the Three Point Polar Alignment plug-in, but because I'm doing this in my free time, I'll leave the testing for tomorrow, it looks like it will work, and I think I'll use the Windows Remote Desktop once I align the mount which is my biggest burden, quite happy to have come this far.

BTW, I didn't knew that N.I.N.A. didn't had common planets in it's database, after a Google search I realized it is more focused in DSO photography, but the Three Point Polar Alignment is a life saver for people like me, without a clear view of Polaris.

Here is the tutorial I followed, in case it is useful to some novice like me here.


Again, thanks for the list and the greetings.

[UkDave]

Welcome Rodrigo have a look here https://www.macobservatory.com/mac-astronomy-software/ for Mac software soloutions ccdciel may be useful or cloud makers software for dslr which are in the lists on that webpage .


Dave

Thank you very much, it is quite a list, I'll see which has something like N.I.N.A.'s Three Point Polar Alignment plug-in.

I totally forgot I had an old Intel MacBook Pro that has a ruined keyboard and touchpad, but it works with an external keyboard and mouse, so I did a clear install of the latest macOS, and then with Boot Camp, I installed a modified version of Windows 11 with TPM bypassed, then I was able to download and install:

1. EOS Utility 3.17.0 for the EOS R5
2. SynScan Pro App, Version 2.4.8 for the mount
3. Ascom Platform 6.6SP2
4. ASCOM Driver for SynScan App Version 1.4.0
5. N.I.N.A. Version 2.3 HF1 + Sky Atlas Image Repository + Offline Sky Map Cache
6. ASTAP + Very large database installer (D80)
7. PHD2 Guiding
8. PlateSolve2

I followed a tutorial in YouTube to install all the software and to setup N.I.N.A., first I had to start SynScan Pro App, setup the right coordinates, the COM3 connection, connect to the mount, then open N.I.N.A., after closing the EOS Utility (which runs in background), I was able to connect to the camera, and then I was able to connect to the mount, and control both, the camera and the mount, then I installed the Three Point Polar Alignment plug-in, but because I'm doing this in my free time, I'll leave the testing for tomorrow, it looks like it will work, and I think I'll use the Windows Remote Desktop once I align the mount which is my biggest burden, quite happy to have come this far.

BTW, I didn't knew that N.I.N.A. didn't had common planets in it's database, after a Google search I realized it is more focused in DSO photography, but the Three Point Polar Alignment is a life saver for people like me, without a clear view of Polaris.

Here is the tutorial I followed, in case it is useful to some novice like me here.


Again, thanks for the list and the greetings.

Patriot Astro on YouTube has some good Nina videos too with a look .

Dave

[Graeme1858]

and I think I'll use the Windows Remote Desktop once I align the mount which is my biggest burden, quite happy to have come this far.

BTW, I didn't knew that N.I.N.A. didn't had common planets in it's database,

Sounds like you've ticked a lot of boxes already!

Windows Remote Desktop only works with the Windows Pro version, I've got the Home version so I use Teamviewer which does a great job.

Not sure why NINA doesn't include planets but you can connect Stellerium as your planetarium and import the coordinates into the the Framing screen.

Good luck!

Graeme

[carastro]

I haven’t read through the links provided but seems to me that you need to be guiding to keep your stars round. This means using a small telescope (can be very small) fixed to your set up that follows a star. Connected by cable to your star adventurer it will send messaged to the SA to make fine adjustments to keep the tracking accurate.

However not sure about the use if a Mac for all this. Many astrophotographers l know bought a windows machine just fir astrophotography because most stuff is written for windows.

[rodrigopolo]

I haven’t read through the links provided but seems to me that you need to be guiding to keep your stars round. This means using a small telescope (can be very small) fixed to your set up that follows a star. Connected by cable to your star adventurer it will send messaged to the SA to make fine adjustments to keep the tracking accurate.

However not sure about the use if a Mac for all this. Many astrophotographers l know bought a windows machine just fir astrophotography because most stuff is written for windows.

Indeed, I saw a video tutorial from Peter Zelinka showing that (6WuBKfo_KMo), I'll do my savings to get a guider, and a mini PC, also considering the ASIAir Plus with the guider combo. (QP2Z32e5ZcI)

Sounds like you've ticked a lot of boxes already!

Windows Remote Desktop only works with the Windows Pro version, I've got the Home version so I use Teamviewer which does a great job.

Not sure why NINA doesn't include planets but you can connect Stellerium as your planetarium and import the coordinates into the the Framing screen.

Good luck!

Graeme

I just have finished the last video of the three part video tutorials titled "NINA - As EASY As 1-2-3" where at the end, showed how to use Stellarium with N.I.N.A., (fNs_hKEalsA, VDzGfMq1Rpg, mTe7ki5kqvA), N.I.N.A. is huge, so many things can be done automatically, tomorrow I'll try to connect Stellarium with N.I.N.A.

A small update on my journey… tonight I went to my backyard with the mount, the lens, the camera, the old MacBook computer with the external keyboard and mouse, a plastic table, the external power adapter for the camera and the mount, a USB hub, a huge electric cord, a power strip, the USB cords for the camera and mount, and connected everything. I did the typical ritual, level the tripod, point to mount to the geographical north, adjust the elevation, balanced the camera with the lens on the mount, turned the mount and camera on, and open N.I.N.A., started the camera, and when I tried to start the mount (telescope) but it wasn't able to connect, then I realized I had to be connected to a network in order for ASCOM to work so I connected to a wireless network and it worked, I got the mount connected to N.I.N.A.

Then, I followed the N.I.N.A. video tutorial for the Three Point Polar Alignment, and I got an error telling me to input my focal length, which I did, then I got an error from PlateSolve2, I didn't downloaded the APM Star Catalog, and the UCAC3 Star Catalog, so I downloaded both, installed, and got the same error I had to close N.I.N.A., open PlateSolve2, set the right paths for the catalogs, and then open N.I.N.A., now it is working, but not solving…

Just two times PlateSolve2 worked solving, but most of the time was struggling, so I switched to ASTAP, it didn't work either, I reviewed if I did the correct install procedure for ASTAP, restarted N.I.N.A. a couple of times… then my sky got filled with clouds, so a little bit frustrated, I packed everything… just to realize I didn't turn the physical lens focal length to 600mm, it was at 150mm I feel so dumb

So tomorrow night will be the night, I'll do my check list and check everything twice, also try to connect Stellarium, now is time to rest.

Thank you all for the tips.

[Juno16]

Hi Rodrigo and Welcome to TSS!

Sounds like you got quite a bit accomplished on your night out. There is a bunch of things going on with AP and you got off to a good start.
In my experience, ASTAP is defiantly the way to go. I hear that it isn't very tolerant to star trailing, but you should not have too many issues as long as you keep your focal length and exposures short.

I've been at AP for only about five years and I am constantly learning new things and there are things going off course along the way constantly. Defiantly a fun and challenging hobby, but the rewards are stellar!

N.I.N.A. is amazing. Please keep us up with your progress and issues (if you have any).

Best of success!

Oh, btw, Like Graeme said, Remote Desktop only works with the Pro version of Win 11. However, if you have Pro on the server (imaging laptop), you can run the show from Windows client even if it is the Home version. Also like Graeme said, Teamviewer works great. NOTE: Win Home can be upgraded to Pro for about $20.
I just started using a mini PC and I have had great success with RD. But, I also have the mini PC configured to automatically start Teamviewer so that I can use it as a backup. A mini PC without a remote connection is worthless!!!

[SkyHiker]

Don't worry about Nina, just use Ekos (Kstars) that is at least as good if not better.

It has plate solving based 3-star polar alignment that does not require you to see Polaris.

With good polar alignment you should not need an autoguider but if you have one, Ekos will support it.

Personally, I do all my AP with Ekos running on a Raspberry Pi 4b on Raspbian Linux. It is a one-stop shop that works extremely well. Ekos supports various Unix dialects among which MacOS. It has a learning curve, of course. I can go into more detail if you have specific questions.

[rodrigopolo]

Patriot Astro on YouTube has some good Nina videos too with a look .
Dave

Thank you for the recommendation, indeed, Patriot Astro has great content, just finished watching "Setting Up Your Astro MiniPC to Control Your Telescope (End-to-End Process)" (Ta5t4dCEjNc), I learn a lot.

Not sure why NINA doesn't include planets but you can connect Stellerium as your planetarium and import the coordinates into the the Framing screen.

Good luck!

Graeme

Today I installed it and I was able to find common planets with Stellarium within N.I.N.A., I'm amazed on how complete this software is.

In my experience, ASTAP is defiantly the way to go. I hear that it isn't very tolerant to star trailing, but you should not have too many issues as long as you keep your focal length and exposures short.

I've been at AP for only about five years and I am constantly learning new things and there are things going off course along the way constantly. Defiantly a fun and challenging hobby, but the rewards are stellar!

N.I.N.A. is amazing. Please keep us up with your progress and issues (if you have any).

Best of success!

When I first got the mount, I took some pictures the first chance I got a small clear view of the stars, and I though "there should be a way to know which stars I got in the picture", I google it and found Astrometry.net, I didn't knew about plate solving, now with N.I.N.A., I installed both, ASTAP and PlateSolve2, and as I told you, I messed up the focal length, but because I though it was an issue with both, I also installed "All Sky Plate Solver", and because today I got a cloudy sky, I tried to see how this plate solvers work without N.I.N.A. using the same image I took and processed in Astrometry, ASTAP interface is above me, even entering the right ascension and declination from Astrometry, PlateSolve2 was struggling also, but "All Sky Plate Solver", without any parameter, solved the plate, and even give me some extra information. I'll wait for a clear sky to try them all to see which one is faster in my case, and I see most people use ASTAP.

And because it was too cloudy… When life gives you lemons… I made a timelapse part of the quirks of living in the tropic.

Don't worry about Nina, just use Ekos (Kstars) that is at least as good if not better.

It has plate solving based 3-star polar alignment that does not require you to see Polaris.

With good polar alignment you should not need an autoguider but if you have one, Ekos will support it.

Personally, I do all my AP with Ekos running on a Raspberry Pi 4b on Raspbian Linux. It is a one-stop shop that works extremely well. Ekos supports various Unix dialects among which MacOS. It has a learning curve, of course. I can go into more detail if you have specific questions.

I'll give it a try, building a Raspberry Pi sounds like a good idea, just watched a tutorial on that (G6hUf5L_Scw, kbvdxa_qeow), as soon as I get clear skies I'll try it.

Thank you all

[Juno16]

When I first got the mount, I took some pictures the first chance I got a small clear view of the stars, and I though "there should be a way to know which stars I got in the picture", I google it and found Astrometry.net, I didn't knew about plate solving, now with N.I.N.A., I installed both, ASTAP and PlateSolve2, and as I told you, I messed up the focal length, but because I though it was an issue with both, I also installed "All Sky Plate Solver", and because today I got a cloudy sky, I tried to see how this plate solvers work without N.I.N.A. using the same image I took and processed in Astrometry, ASTAP interface is above me, even entering the right ascension and declination from Astrometry, PlateSolve2 was struggling also, but "All Sky Plate Solver", without any parameter, solved the plate, and even give me some extra information. I'll wait for a clear sky to try them all to see which one is faster in my case, and I see most people use ASTAP.

You will find the right plate solver for you.
I tried ASPS and used it for several years with good success. When I moved to a dedicated astronomy camera, and moved to N.I.N.A. I tried ASTAP and was blown away with it's speed. ASTAP solves in about one second.
The time saved can be used to capture more data!