Computer controlled telescope mount. In this video I show you how to download and install ASCOM. In amateur astronomy, " GoTo " refers to a type of telescope mount and related software that can automatically point a telescope at astronomical objects that the user selects. The mount used for the scope is a motorised GoTo mount which will point the scope to wherever you want it to as long as it pertains to the database of 42, 900+ objects. Remote control for Meade telescopes. It’s powerful enough to see Saturn’s rings and even distant galaxies. These modern telescopes have built-in cameras, so you don't have to peer through an eyepiece - you look at a live image on the screen of your phone or tablet. Check the cable going into the hand control, the hand control into the computer, the RS232 into the USB adapter and lastly, the Uncover the world of advanced astronomy with our GoTo Equatorial Telescope Mounts, featuring computerized and motorized capabilities at Telescopes. Our proprietary SkyAlign alignment procedure is simple to use, so you’re ready to explore the universe in minutes. g. Dobsonian telescope A Dobsonian telescope on display at Stellafane in the early 1980s A Dobsonian telescope is an altazimuth-mounted Newtonian telescope design popularized by John Dobson in 1965 and credited with vastly increasing the size of telescopes available to amateur astronomers. Summary of The DIY Arduino Telescope GOTO control project The article describes a DIY telescope control system built using an Arduino Mega 1280 to overcome limitations of commercial mounts. They also make aligning the telescope easy. When the computer is connected to power and ethernet, you will have immediate easy access into your remote telescope system. It uses motors, encoders, and GPS receivers to accurately position the telescope so it can follow astronomical objects as they move across the sky. Connecting your mount to your computer gives you a variety of options from controlling your telescope, controlling your accessories, and giving you the ability to update the firmware. Researching Computerized Telescopes In 2020 A computerized telescope is a telescope and motorized mount that comes together in one package. Before downloading software, make sure that you have all the drivers necessary for your computer to communicate with your mount! This computerized Newtonian telescope and its GoTo mount has been designed to automatically locate thousands of celestial objects with a simple push of a button on your NexStar+ hand control. NexRemote allows the user to control their Celestron computerized telescope from their personal computer. Traditional GoTo telescopes with motorized mounts remain excellent choices for visual A computerized telescope mount is a type of motorized mount that is controlled by a computer to track the night sky. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Shop for Telescopes With Computer Interface at Best Buy. GoTo Computerized Mounts Computerized mounts are available in both EQ and Alt-Azimuth designs and allow for precision tracking of night sky objects, a key part of imaging systems for longer exposures. You can control this accessory via your NexStar+ hand control, CPWI telescope control software via a wired PC connection or WiFi. December 5, 2025 The night sky is best explored with mounts that can automatically find and track objects. . The mount will automatically locate and track objects for you. Previously the main option was to connect a handset, A mount with a motor is additionally easy to be controlled from a computer. 99 + $36. Dobsonian Base This GoTo telescope comes on a Dobsonian base. Explore our entire collection of telescope mounts and tripods for sale at High Point Scientific today! Celestron manufactures telescope parts, optics, binoculars, spotting scopes and digital microscopes serious and amateur astronomers and hobbyists Computerised Telescopes use a motorised, star-tracking mount to automatically go to & track objects in the night sky. Using a smartphone app, a hand controller (remote control) or both, a Computerised Telescope will take you to whatever object you want to look at in the night sky. PC Connectivity The Meade #505 or #507 cable in conjunction with the Meade #07507 USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter cable are required to connect and remotely control most Meade computerised telescopes with a #497 AutoStar, AudioStar or AutoStar II handset from a PC running Microsoft Windows. We have taken this expertise in telescope technology one step further with NexRemote™ Telescope Control Software. Jun 27, 2025 · The Evolution mount and tripod feature GoTo that is controlled either with the provided hand controller or a smartphone app such as SkySafari or Celestron’s free SkyPortal app. What is the advantage of computer-controlled mounts for telescopes? One advantage of an automatic telescope mount is its ability to navigate in severely light-polluted skies. Celestron 114LCM Computerized Telescope. It’s up to the astronomer to point the telescope in altitude and azimuth to the coordinates indicated by the computer system. It balances power and high-quality design (with sturdy tripod) at a low to mid-range price. Viewing the sky through the eyepiece of your telescope is enriching. GoTo telescope mounts help you find terrestrial objects and keep them within your eyepiece with the help of a computer, which is usually a handheld controller. When using a serial to USB connection, make sure the drivers for the serial to USB adapter are installed. Please refer to the diagram below for compatibility. 3. Each entry highlights core features, control methods, and what makes it A “push to” telescope mount is a type of computerized mount that simply tells you where in the sky objects are located. Control Your Telescope Using Stellarium & Arduino: I am fascinated by astronomy since the first time I looked to the night sky. 25-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube with StarBright XLT optical coatings and Fastar compatibility Computerized GoTo mount with high-performance worm gears and motors for improved tracking accuracy, along with reduced gear backlash Rechargeable lithium-iron This iOptron StarFi Wi-Fi Adapter allows your telescope mount to be controlled wirelessly. NexRemote Download NexRemote HERE Celestron has been in the forefront of computerized telescope technology for over two decades. com: computer telescopes for astronomy Telescope, 90mm Aperture 900mm Astronomical Refractor Telescope for Adults High Powered - Multi-Coated Professional Telescopes for Astronomy Beginners with AZ Mount, Portable Carry Bag, Phone Adapter Adding or Upgrading Computer Control for your telescope mount [June 2021] OnStep is a brilliant open-source project started by Howard Dutton. Both axes of a GoTo mount are driven by a motor and controlled by a computer. Besides the fully-featured telescope control software, it includes circuit board layouts, enclosure designs, and a comprehensive wiki and messaging board online. com: computer controlled telescope Telescope, Telescope for Adults High Powered Professional, 90mm Aperture 800mm Refractor Telescopes for Astronomy Beginners Fully Multi-Coated with AZ Mount Tripod & Phone Adapter & Carry Bag There are many benefits of computer-controlled mounts over manually controlled mounts. Verify that your connections are snug. Thinking to buy a new telescope? Have a look at our buying guide below for the best computerised GoTo telescope, and make up your own mind. Electrical power came from solar arrays and fuel cells in the docked Apollo CSM. Here are some of the best. The telescope’s computerized GoTo mount, controlled by the included handheld controller, allows for automatic slewing and tracking of over 42,000 celestial objects. This video is part two of two in a beginner series on how to connect your computer to your Celestron telescope mount. net. Celestron NexStar 4 SE telescope. Recently, I bought a 8" Newtonian telescope that came with a Dobsonian mount. When you go to actually operate your remote telescope system, we recommend you install NINA to do anything from basic to advanced automated imaging. Celestron PWI (CPWI) Telescope Control Software unleashes the full pointing accuracy of your new Celestron computerized Using a computer to control an amateur telescope adds functionality that wasn’t possible previously and turns a hobby telescope into one capable of taking fantastic images as well as doing serious work. Best computerized telescopes – reviews, advice, comparisons, and more. A popular model from Meade. These all-in-one units encapsulate the complicated world of astrophotography into one system, making this hobby incredibly accessible to anyone with a smart device! Amazon. Computerized telescopes are equipped with a built-in computer and motorized mounts that can locate and track celestial objects with high accuracy. The easiest way to connect and control your telescope with a computer is to use a free planetarium software called Stellarium. NexRemote telescope control software and RS-232 cable included for advanced control of your telescope via computer GPS-compatible with optional CN16 GPS accessory The computer contained in the handset gives commands to the drive motors in the telescope mount, and that is how the telescope moves. Automatic telescopes are advanced optical devices equipped with motorized mounts and computerized tracking systems. This driver will aid in communication from your mount to your computer for Celestron, iOptron, Sky-Watcher, Orion, and other mounts. Apr 2, 2025 · These computer controlled telescopes have a fully automated GoTo mount featuring a database of more than 40,000 celestial objects. The software operation is organized into functional groups that are accessed by menus. In areas where real estate development leaves the amateur seeing lees and less of the night skies, computers can help one find the target and then move a telescope right onto that target. Wi-Fi or smartphone telescopes allow users to control what they see sky by using a smartphone or tablet. Generally, the computer-controlled mounts are more precise. Perfect for astronomers to discover the wonders of space with ease. 98 shipping Some users prefer to access Astroberry OS using a VNC client installed on their computer or mobile device e. What we want to eventually accomplish here is that we can put together a low cost, and potentially low power, mini computer that we can mount on or near our telescope which will run all aspects of our night time, or day time, imaging sessions. The telescope market has changed dramatically over the past two years. Moreover, they help in producing stable, crisp images. The mount also comes with a dual encoder design which will allow you to move the telescope manually if that’s what you want to do without needing to constantly realign the scope. These computerized telescope mounts are easy to use and won't require any special expertise or knowledge. Smart telescopes provide users with a fun, interactive astronomy experience that anyone can engage in. In this case you need to plug the Serial RS232 port of the telescope hand controller to your PC using a (cheap!) Serial to USB cable. This means that finding your celestial object of interest is very simple. Beautiful View You can be sure that this computer-controlled telescope will provide the most beautiful view of the celestial object you want to observe. It uses DC motors with encoder feedback for precise positioning, interfaced via an L298 dual H-bridge driver and an encoder counting IC to handle high tick Computer controlled telescopes instantly locate celestial targets utilising automated controls for ease of use. Press the 'align' button and view stars in minutes. Selecting the best computer controlled telescope involves evaluating essential criteria such as aperture size, telescope type, mount type, and compatibility with software. Using the supplied USB-B cable, you can control the telescope from your computer and take advantage of today’s most advanced astronomy software. You will be able to see different lunar and planetary objects as well as the tiniest and faintest deep-space objects. In the ultimate mating of two hobbies, computers and astronomy, computer controlled telescopes have captured the backyard astronomer’s imagination and pocketbook. Sky-Watcher website Using a linux computer as a bridge between Stellarium Mobile PLUS and the telescope It is also possible to use a computer sitting next to the telescope as a bridge. With the help of the computer, users can easily search for objects in the night sky, such as stars, galaxies, planets, and more, and the telescope will automatically point to the correct location. This software supports many computerized mounts, and after a successful connection, you can control the telescope from your computer. The autoguider also works with the rest of your Celestron accessories for a seamless solution that fits in perfectly with your telescope setup. " Above: The basic Celestron C-8 Schmidt Computerised (Go-To) telescopes are telescopes that have star-tracking technology mounts. Meade StarNavigator NG telescope. These telescopes automatically align and Connecting a SynScan telescope mount to a computer for control can give the user a number of additional useful features over using the supplied hand controller. On the hunt for a new telescope mount, or picking one to go with your first telescope? Read our guide to the best mounts, both budget models and high-end. It’s one of the best-selling computerized telescopes on the market and this model is the smallest and most portable of Celestron’s NexStar SE range. We offer motorized equatorial, dovetail, and computerized telescope mounts and heavy-duty tripod types to improve your nighttime stargazing experience. This takes the stress out of focusing, so you can spend more time viewing than searching. Modern telescopes with motorized GoTo Mounts are great, easy to use intruments. Does this exist? Smart telescopes are revolutionizing how we observe the night sky — offering app-controlled, automated stargazing without the steep learning curve. From planets & the moon to deep sky objects such as galaxies & nebula, most Computerised Telescopes use a database Explore the Universe and control your NexStar Evolution telescope with the free Celestron SkyPortal app for iOS and Android! Portable 9. Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i IntelliScope telescope. Amazon. I'd like to find a telescope that attaches to my laptop through a USB where I could then control the movement and function of the telescope with my mouse, and have the image on my laptop screen. These are the best smart telescopes available in 2026! The key features of each model, and what you can expect on your first night out. Skylab included the Apollo Telescope Mount (a multi-spectral solar observatory), a multiple docking adapter with two docking ports, an airlock module with extravehicular activity (EVA) hatches, and the orbital workshop, the main habitable space inside Skylab. Our take on the best computerized telescopes in 2021 for your budget. In this picture, the compartment is just above the hand control. Others want to use a physical display over HDMI and prefer to boot to graphical mode rather than text console. RealVNC. Buying A Computer Controlled Telescope? "The optical tube determines what may be seen with a telescope, while the mount determines how the telescope may be employed. For Windows users, you’ll want to use ASCOM (for Linux or macOS users, read on). This guide will cover 6 contenders for the best computerized telescopes. Does anyone make a telescope that can be controlled by a laptop? My hands are too shaky. Known collectively as GoTo telescopes, this advanced technology is fascinating to watch in action Meade Refractor Telescope with Tripod Computer Control GoTo Mount Power Tested $9. The built-in ST-4 autoguider port turns this mount into an astrophotography powerhouse, allowing you to use most of today’s best autoguiders. Offers control via your favorite planetarium software using iOptron's ASCOM Driver and Commander. Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software Celestron and PlaneWave Instruments have joined forces to develop specialized telescope control software that is now included with all new Celestron computerized telescope mounts. Shop our telescope mounts, accessories, and tripod collections at High Point Scientific. Of the lower cost options in this list, this is our top recommendation. Make sure the telescope is powered on. This article reviews five computer-controlled telescope mounts and related accessories that help American astronomers—beginners and seasoned observers—achieve stable, accurate, and effortless sky navigation. This compact tabletop telescope can be used on any flat surface and offers good grab-and-go portability. This is a good beginner option, at relatively low cost with easy set-up and configuration. 2. In addition, you 1. Computerized mounts can also lower the learning curve for beginner and intermediate astronomers. ue5la, somrx, fptta, vqt0nq, b92n, vdfpob, gmer, qxy08, ar0lq, m12mm,