Starsense

[Spacedout]

Hello All,

 

Not sure if this is the right place to post this question but please move if necessary.

 

I have just received delivery of the Starsense camera and I was wondering if if was possible to use with Stellaruim?   I want to use a pc to control the scope remotely if possible.  

 

Many thanks

 

Karl

[iapa]

On ‎13‎/‎04‎/‎2016 at 23:50, Spacedout said:

Hello All,

 

Not sure if this is the right place to post this question but please move if necessary.

 

I have just received delivery of the Starsense camera and I was wondering if if was possible to use with Stellaruim?   I want to use a pc to control the scope remotely if possible.  

 

Many thanks

 

Karl

Hi,

I am assuming that you have a goto mount - a fair assumption given the Starsense is for Celestron GOTOs*  

You do not actually need the StarSense - with the exception of the Alignment with the StarSense, all of the below can be done with the original NexStar+hand controller..

You will need:

• a serial cable to the hand controller supplied with the StarSense , a USB-Serial adapter may be necessary if you do not have a serial port on our PC.
• ASCOM 6.2
• ASCOM driver for your mount
• StellariumScope: It is recommended that you run Stellarium before you start StellariumScope for the first time.

This is what I do, following the usual instructions, only to highlight the mistakes I made

• install ASCOM and the ASCOM mount driver; make sure you can connect to the mount - remember to set the ASCOM mount parameters correctly.
• install stellarium and run it once.
• install stellarium scope, and follow the instructions to configure both it and Stellarium
• do the usual mount alignment; level it, balance, rough polar alignment, them power off the mount, loosen the clutches and swing your telescope back to start position - weights down, telescope pointing straight up, tighten the clutches.
• CHECK THAT CABLES WILL NOT CATCH ON ANTYTHING, then check again
• power the mount on again and follow the StarSense controller instructions - read the isntructions first, twice, then once again. It is always a good idea to add a couple of calibration stars.

You should be ready to go.

In Stellarium, simple select the target and Ctrl-1 (unless you changed the key assignments), and away it goes.

ALWAYS watch the mount to ensure it does not over shoot, cable wrap is not a good thing.

Happy hunting

 

OK there is an StarSense kit for SkyWatchers due to ship shortly.

 

Edited April 28, 2016 by iapa
noting starsnese NOT REQUIRED

[cloudsweeper]

Has your 'scope got bult-in WiFi?  If so, just control it with the Skyportal app on a tablet.  (If not, get the WiFi module.)

You can use a PC for control with the Nexremote CD and appropriate cables.

I believe StarSense is an alignment tool.  As such, I would prefer aligning using Skyportal/WiFi since it is quick and easy.

Doug.

[iapa]

SkyPortal actually supports use of the StarSense for alignment but I didn't mention it as the OP had said contour from PC with Stellarium, wifi wasn't mentioned at the time

similarly, I didn't mention NexRemote as it is not compatible with the StarSense. Which is why I did suggest StellariumScope for controlling.

FWIW I until recently used SkyPortal with the SkyQ wifi module on my AVX to do the alignment with the StarSense, then on the Mac, used SkySafari (better facilities but not yet supporting StarSense ) to select targets, then Nebulosity to capture.

ive had to move to Windoze due limited camera support under OSX ?

 

[Spacedout]

Thanks guys, lots of great information very much appreciated.  I do want PC control preferably as I like to broadcast my views live and I want to incorporate Stellarium into the show so I'll try that avenue first but wifi might also be something to look at.  Anyway lots to digest so thank you both very much.

Regards

Karl

[iapa]

SkySafari v5 for OSX is meant to support your alignment with the StarSense, in the same way as the current version of SkyPortal on IOS and Android.

NOTE: I have not yet tried this. Probably by the end to the holiday I will have (no patience :))