Any other Mac users out there?

[vulcan]

I'm looking for a way to drive my NextStar 6se from a MacBook laptop. The bundled software is for Windows and the interface cable is RS-232 - obsolete even in the Windows world. I have ordered an RS-232 to USB adapter cable and I do have Windows XP, Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux running under Parallels Desktop. I have Starry Night software but the version I have doesn't have the telescope drivers and I'm not sure that my scope is supported anyway. I also have pUniverse on my iPhone 4 which I can point at the sky and it identifies the objects for me. Anybody else doing anything like this that can offer some tips?

[James]

There's plenty of Mac using astronomers out there

I've never managed to get starry night or Stellarium to work (others have though) but the following apps work with my MacBook and a variety of Celestron and Skywatcher mounts:

Voyager

Equinox

TheSkyXSAE

Astroplanner (free with a restricted number of data catalogues, shareware if you want more- try the new beta version v2)

Carte Du Ciel (free)

Just google for them, they're easy to find.

With a Mac you only need to worry about the USB/Serial cable and whether the software has built in Mac drivers (all the above do).

You can run things under emulation but I find that Parallels struggles with USB connections - not sure why but I just leave XP for those appas I really have to have running in Windows (tbh thats just CCDWare )

James

[Dai150PL]

Hi also a mac man, using Stellarium version 0.10.5. This has telescope control and states its compatible with your mount. Please let me know how you get on, am thinking of getting a nextstar 8se.

[vulcan]

Thanks for the info folks. I have downloaded and tried all these today and I like Equinox best. It is considerably cheaper than Starry Night Professional and to my eye, a tad clearer too. Have to wait for my USB cable/adaptor before I can test the telescope. Watch this space ;?)

[garethmob]

im a mac user, i have starry nights pro+ latest version running on my powermac G5 and my intel macbook pro, both work perfectly (g5 can be a little laggy at times) but i have controled my meade ETX 70at with it

[gustavo_sanchez]

Hello, I am also use Stellarium 0.10.5 on Mac. You can try Lynkeos for image processing. Which other image processing software you know that are available for Mac?

[Dai150PL]

Keith's AstroImager and keith's Image Stacker. They are both free and compatible with my web cam from morgans. ( Once flashed to 900 )

[Dai150PL]

Keith's AstroImager runs better on non intel macs. ??????? Glad I kept my G4 iBook.

[F64]

useful tips here ta

Janine