14 replies to this topic

[Victory Pete]

I had a brief encounter with TheSky, what similar programs exist?. The all in one concept is appealing to me.

Edited by Victory Pete, 22 November 2022 - 07:07 PM.

[Iver]

    I can strongly recommend AstroArt, I've used it since ver. 2 it's now at 8. Full featured, image calibration and processing, camera control, auto guiding, plate solving, sequencer, scripting, planetarium. The developer is very responsive and there is also a user group.

The demo does not save or expire.

https://www.msb-astroart.com/

Edited by Iver, 22 November 2022 - 08:55 PM.

[mark77]

My AlpacaPi project implements Alpaca and is complete.  I have implemented all of the devices and it runs on distributed computers. (all Linux).  The drivers are Raspberry-Pi's attached to each scope (3 on one mount), one for the dome rotation, one for the dome door, one for the mount,

 

I can fire up the control program (SkyTravel) which is a complete planetarium program with everything integrated into it.

 

It CAN talk to other Alpaca/ASCOM devices and I use the ASCOM simulators extensively for testing everything.

 

I run my entire observatory from my basement and do not have to go out to the observatory at all (real nice when its freezing outside).

 

It is all free and open source.

 

https://github.com/msproul/AlpacaPi

 

https://msproul.github.io/AlpacaPi/

 

My drivers support many brands of cameras and filter wheels, Moonlite focusres.  I am constantly working on adding more and have worked with several users on custom drivers for their roll off roofs.

Edited by mark77, 22 November 2022 - 08:56 PM.

[psandelle]

Prism is another one.

 

Paul

[Victory Pete]

Prism is another one.

 

Paul

This looks very good, thanks.

[DuncanM]

I can highly recommend Astroart 8 as well. In one very compact package you get:

 

Two 32bit imaging/full frame focus/full frame autoguide/ mount/ observatory automation engines with a built in, standalone plate solve engine, for plate solve assisted gotos and a star atlas app for planning and object location. You can literally centre any observable object, with arc sec precision, on your 2nd goto from a parked mount. One 32bit engine is optimized for legacy equipment and the the other is designed for best memory function on 64 bit win OS.

 

A 64 bit processing engine, written using highly optimized code, that is the fastest processing and preprocessing that engine I've tested. It runs supremely well on low end CPUs and it is just staggeringly fast on modern multicore CPUs. It (and the 32bit versions) is highly optimized for multicore CPUs and it is highly multithreaded. Starting with SP3 (due in Jan 2023) the 64 bit engine will begin to utilize 64 drivers for camera and mount control.

Edited by DuncanM, 23 November 2022 - 12:33 PM.

[Victory Pete]

I have both Prism and Astroart demos on my PC. Prism gets my attention more purely out of what I see without really know how to use any of this yet.

[DS INC]

Funny, Prism is a shiny red ball to you, you will actually have to learn these programs to figure out what works for you, yes it does take time but better that relying on hearsay.

 

Good luck, looks like you're gonna need it.

[Victory Pete]

Funny, Prism is a shiny red ball to you, you will actually have to learn these programs to figure out what works for you, yes it does take time but better that relying on hearsay.

 

Good luck, looks like you're gonna need it.

So far I have needed no luck, just logic. Thanks for your hearsay.

Edited by Victory Pete, 25 November 2022 - 09:04 PM.

[psandelle]

Funny, Prism is a shiny red ball to you, you will actually have to learn these programs to figure out what works for you, yes it does take time but better that relying on hearsay.

By definition, it’s not “hearsay” if the person who is recommending it has used the software.

 

Paul

[Victory Pete]

I joined the Prism Forum 2 days ago but have not been approved yet by an Administrator. Getting a bit discouraged.

[DuncanM]

I have both Prism and Astroart demos on my PC. Prism gets my attention more purely out of what I see without really know how to use any of this yet.

A good way to learn Astroart is to use the camera, focus, autoguide and mount simulators that are built into the camera control plugin.

 

This article is useful as well:

 

https://www.cloudyni...to-part-1-r3225

[psandelle]

I joined the Prism Forum 2 days ago but have not been approved yet by an Administrator. Getting a bit discouraged.

Could be the Thanksgiving Holidays. EVERYONE's off.

 

Paul

[Victory Pete]

Could be the Thanksgiving Holidays. EVERYONE's off.

 

Paul

Just the USA, Prism is a French company.

[psandelle]

Just the USA, Prism is a French company.

Their representative in the USA (I think he's in Texas) is usually who deals with the USA stuff, but maybe that's changed.

 

Paul

Edited by psandelle, 26 November 2022 - 03:38 PM.