STAR Atlas:PRO™ frequently asked questions - FAQs
How do I control my automated Telescope using STAR Atlas:PRO ?
There are a variety of methods you may utilise to control your automated or robotic Telescope. The following FAQs are combined together to give an overall description of telescope control features. The authors suggest that readers familiarise themselves with each aspect of telescope control so they may gain full benefit from STAR Atlas:PRO.
Opening a connection to the Telescope
Slew to mouse pointer
Slew to Celestial objects on the Chart
If I know the designation of an object, can I get STAR Atlas:PRO to slew my scope straight too it ?
Telescope Control - Slewing to individual objects when they are clustered together
Can I slew my Telescope with it's own controls and Track where it is pointing ?
Additional Telescope control commands including Stop Slew
Opening a Connection to the Telescope
Prior to performing telescope control operations, open a connection to the Telescope following this procedure:-
1. Start STAR Atlas:PRO
2. Click the [Scope] button from the main menu ( or press Alt-F2 on your keyboard ). An On-Line indicator appears at top right of the desktop indicating a successful connection with the Telescope. All telescope control menus now become enabled.
Slew to mouse pointer
Use this method to slew your Telescope to the star chart location indicated by the position of the mouse pointer.
1. position your mouse pointer to the location you wish to slew your telescope.
2. right mouse click.
3. Choose the [telescope driver name] menu from the popup menu (see note following):-telescope driver name: On the popup menu that is displayed, when you right-click on a chart, the name of the telescope control menu will have the same name as the Telescope Driver you setup for STAR Atlas:PRO.
For example: if you selected a Meade LX200 driver then the menu name is [Meade LX200] or if you selected a Celestron NexStar 5/8 driver then instead it would be named [Celestron NexStar 5/8] menu.4. now choose [Slew to Mouse], your telescope will begin the slew immediately.
Related FAQs: How do I setup the Telescope driver for my automated Telescope ?
Slew to Celestial objects on the Chart
Use this method for positioning your Telescope to point precisely to a celestial object displayed on the chart.
1. If you have not already done so, perform Steps 1 and 2 fromOpening a Connection to the Telescope
2. choose any object on the displayed star chart and right-click on it.
4. choose [Identify Object] from the popup menu.
5. choose [GOTO] from the menu bar ( near bottom right ) and your telescope will slew to the object.
If I know the designation of an object,
can I get STAR Atlas:PRO to slew my 'scope straight too it ?
Yes you certainly can. Use this method for positioning your Telescope to point precisely at a celestial object when you know the object's designation ( such as M42, NGC1976, Mars, etc), the object does not need to be located on the displayed star chart.
In the following example we'll show you how easy it is to slew to a known object
1. If you have not already done so, perform Steps 1 and 2 fromOpening a Connection to the Telescope
2. choose [Locate] from the main menu.
3. enter M42 into the Object Designation input field.
4. click the [Find] button.
5. click the [GOTO] button (near bottom right) and your telescope will slew straight to M42.
Additional Information: Use the [Locate] command (or L on the keyboard) to display the Astronomical Database Manager. You then have access to dozens of astro catalogues from the massive menu system. Each astro catalogue contains the [GOTO] command to slew your Telescope to the selected object.
Try slewing your telescope to the DSS Images you have collected in your personal STAR Atlas:PRO library - use the [GOTO] command on the Astro Database Manager menu option [95] - Digitized Sky Survey Images.
Slewing to individual objects when they are clustered together
Use this method for positioning your Telescope to point precisely to an individual celestial object that is clustered or grouped close together with other objects on the star chart.
1. If you have not already done so, perform Steps 1 and 2 fromOpening a Connection to the Telescope
2. choose [Field of View] from the menu (or F on keyboard)
3. click the tick box to the left of where it says 5 Degrees (the chart will now redraw with a 5 Degree Field of View).
4. now locate a close grouping of objects on the chart and position the cursor between them
5. right mouse click and choose [Identify].
6. the Objects Located at Cursor information panel is then displayed at lower left of screen. It lists all the celestial objects found near the position of your mouse pointer. ( If this panel does not appear then the objects on the chart are not clustered closely enough together! - go back to step 4)
7. double-click on one of the objects in the list - ( that you wish too slew your Telescope to).
8. the Astro Catalog information panel for that object will now appear.
9. click the [GOTO] button to slew to that object.
10. now return to the prior Step 5 and proceed to select the next object in the list displayed in the Objects Located at Cursor information panel.
Can I slew my Telescope with it's own controls and Track where it is pointing ?
Yes.
Use this method when you wish to track the pointing position of your telescope. A cross-hair is displayed on the chart, move your telescope and the chart is updated to the location you moved the 'scope too.
1. If you have not already done so, perform Steps 1 and 2 fromOpening a Connection to the Telescope
2. choose [Track Scope] from the Scope Control menu.
3. move your telescope and notice the star chart reticle follows the telescope. A cross-hair reticle is displayed by default where your telescope points -
4. press the Esc key on your keyboard to stop tracking your telescope movement ( or right click and choose [Stop Autotracking] )
Additional Telescope control commands
[Stop Slew] - The [Stop Slew] menu button aborts the current telescope slew operation and is useful to avoid unexpected conditions where you wish to immediately halt the telescope.
[Disconnect] - Disconnects the STAR Atlas:PRO / Telescope communications port, so that the COM Port may be temporarily used by another application.