EQStar User Guide www.astro-gadget.com
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1.
Overview
The control system EQStar is designed to automate the control of the equatorial mount, and can be
used in stand-alone mode or in a control mode using a computer or mobile device (phone, tablet,
etc.). For use with a PC, EQStar works with any astronomical programs that support the ASCOM
platform (
http://www.ascom-standards.org/
). For example, it works with planetarium programs
like Stellarium, Cartes de Ciel, StarCalc and others. Among the programs for astrophotography and
guiding, EQStar supports MaximDL, Guidemaster, PHDGuiding and others. When you work with a
PC, EQStar allows you to automatically goto sky objects and track them automatically during astro
photography with long exposures. When working with a PC, you must install the EQMOD ASCOM-
application (
http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/
Telescope control with mobile devices can automatically find sky objects in the planetarium
program on mobile devices. The control of the telescope should be chosen as Celestron SynScan, as
well as a mount - German equatorial mount. Compatible programs on mobile devices include
SkySafari, Orion StarSeek, DSOPlanner et al.
EQStar Communication with the PC is via the USB cable from the standard equipment, while mobile
devices use a WiFi interface.
A variety of platforms, drivers, and applications can control EQStar, making it possible for the user to
point the telescope on the mount to any object selected in a planetarium program or create
automated astrophotography sessions that cause the telescope to point to a series of objects or
locations and control guided imaging. For example, an astro photographer generally uses a laptop or
PC to point to an object, with targeting and guiding on the object during a long exposure. Such
opportunities are mostly programs running under Windows. But for an amateur interested in visual
astronomy, it is much more convenient to control the mount with a compact mobile device, such as
a smartphone or tablet, rather than using a PC or laptop.
In the EQStar kit is a universal mount a joystick for manual control as well. It also allows you to
control mount autonomously without a computer, smartphone or tablet.
EQStar Inputs, Outputs, and Control
