|
Observing
in Real Time with SkyTools 3
The Real Time
tool is designed specifically for use at the telescope.
In real time mode SkyTools continually updates to the current
time by reading the computer's clock, providing up-to-the-minute
observing advice. An interface is also provided for
controlling a variety of telescopes.
The
Real Time tool is included with the Professional Edition.
For the Standard Edition it is a separately purchased add-on. It
is not available for the Starter Edition.
 Support
is provided for most GOTO telescopes via the ASCOM
platform. Telescopes
equipped with simple Digital Setting Circles (or Pushto
systems--because the observer typically pushes the telescope to
the target) are also supported via ASCOM.
Pushto telescopes equipped with the popular Argo
Navis or Sky Commander units are supported directly
from within SkyTools. Additional specialized features, such as
observing list uploads, are supported for these units.
The telescope
can be targeted at any object in your observing list, any object
you can point at on a chart, or for that matter any object in
the database. Keyboard
shortcuts are provided for all basic functions, both on the
planner and the charts.
Your choice of
natural
sounding voice keeps you informed of what your telescope
is doing, indicating events such as, "telescope slew
complete." listen
The current
location of the telescope is indicated on all charts via a
moving indicator. The telescope can be controlled directly
from any chart. Use
the Context Viewer to drag your telescope from galaxy to galaxy
or to place your camera. For Pushto systems,
zero the Pushto Indicators or use the charts to guide the telescope to
your target.
It’s not
just about Controlling Telescopes
The Real Time tool is designed
for any observing at the telescope. The
objects best viewed at that moment are displayed at the top of
the list and prioritized by whether or not they are rising or
setting, how far they are away from the current telescope
position, by their status (observed or not yet observed) and
the priority you have given them.
The date and time used for
all functions are obtained directly from your computer clock.
When you open
a chart, start a log entry, or view object information, the time
is always assumed to be current.
Even if you
have no way to connect your telescope to a computer this tool
can be quite useful.
Supported
Telescope Mounts
A wide variety of mounts
are supported for use with SkyTools via the popular 3rd party
ASCOM standard, including most every Celestron and
Meade model (they use a standard interface).
List
of Telescopes
currently supported by ASCOM
SkyTools directly
supports the Argo Navis and Sky Commander.
The ServoCAT is also supported.
ASCOM now supports Tangent-based
DSCs such as the Celestron Advanced Astromaster, David
Chandler Co. Deep Space Navigator, Discovery Digital Setting
Circles, Grecner Navigator, JMI NGCMAX, Lumicon Sky Vector,
Mountain Instruments Star Pilot, Orion Sky Wizard 3, and TeleVue
Sky Tour, as well as BBox, Ouranos, MicroGuider III and V, and
other similar units.
Current
SkyTools Standard Edition users can try the Real Time add-on as a free trial. Open the SkyTools
Preferences dialog, select the Add-on
tab and click Trial.
How
To Tell if Your Telescope Control System is Supported by
SkyTools
|
