Really tried to use KStars and EKOS

[Akarsh Simha]

In terms of the obscure objects you mention like globular clusters in
external galaxies, KStars is capable of automatically resolving objects
known to SIMBAD astronomical database and bringing them into KStars.
Unfortunately there isn’t a clean way to import an entire catalog (say from
VizieR), but you could use a workaround: in the Observation Planner, there
is a “Batch Add” feature. Paste a list of objects, maybe by generating a
text file using command line tools and copy pasting it, one object on one
line. KStars will pull the data from SIMBAD and add it to the observing
list. You can later delete from the observing list and the objects will
stay in the database.

Also take a look at the Manual DSO add system in Data -> Manage DSO
catalogs.


On Tue, Jun 10, 2025 at 21:50 Hy Murveit <murveit at gmail.com> wrote:

> Mark,
>
> Let me second that. Would love to get your feedback.
>
> Hy
>
> On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM Jasem Mutlaq <mutlaqja at ikarustech.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello Mark,
>>
>> Thank you for your email and we'd love to hear more from you. Please
>> share your experience and what it is that you miss in KStars/Ekos.
>>
>> --
>> Best Regards,
>> Jasem Mutlaq
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 10, 2025 at 7:23 AM Mark Casazza <markcasazza at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> As a fellow software developer I want to offer feedback for KStars and
>>> EKOS as replacements for my Windows tools (SkyTools & NINA). I really want
>>> to get off Windows and I've managed to convert every device except the two
>>> that control telescopes. That is six of eight computers now running Kubuntu
>>> with no regrets.
>>>
>>> The EKOS / NINA feature gap is too wide to even consider making the jump
>>> for imaging. KStars with Observation Manager seems closer to the feature
>>> set I need for visual observing with a 20" truss tube scope, but it would
>>> be a major investment in catalog population for objects like quasars and
>>> globulars in other galaxies.
>>>
>>> I would be happy to share the details of my A/B comparisons and suggest
>>> a few "easy" wins that could really help along with bigger items that might
>>> be worth including in your roadmap. I fully appreciate that dev teams have
>>> their plans and priorities so I will wait to hear back from you.
>>>
>>> I fully respect the great work you have done and I have several friends
>>> very happy with their Linux telescope control and image acquisition
>>> solution. I even recommend it whenever I find someone open to a Linux
>>> approach. I admit that I am spoiled and a power user. There are features I
>>> would be lost without that seem to be missing.
>>>
>>> Clear skies,
>>>
>>> Mark Casazza
>>> http://casazza.net
>>> Home of the Clear Sky Alarm Clock and Tonight's Sky
>>>
>>
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