The very popular tutorial for pre-processing images in PixInsight has just received a good update. A new section has been added to cover the use of the SubframeSelector script. This is used to allow the user to exclude and approve exposures for use in stacking, and quite importantly, to optimise the approved exposures' weightings. 

Anyone who controls their mount through ASCOM can use an EQDirect cable that connects the mount directly to the computer via USB (allowing use of the likes of EQMod). A popular choice are the EQDirect cables made by HitecAstro. These are based on a controller made by Prolific, which have no officially-supported drivers for Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. Anyone trying to use these beyond Windows 7 will only encounter driver problems. Thankfully there are alternatives, which use a controller made by FTDI​. 

​​A recent conversation with Rupert Smith of Astrograph.net on Facebook led me to find out about the facility named e-EyE in Extremadura, Spain. Created and ran by Jose Luis Quiñones and his wife Cristina Fabo, this facility provides many things beyond remote hosting. This includes accommodation on-site, a conference room for courses, an area powered with mains electricity for star parties, a pool, an area for BBQs, etc. Most interesting for me was the actual observatories for remote hosting.