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New beginner here...how should I start?

Hello, I just got home my Sky-Watcher Explorer 150 EQ3 telescope and am curious as to which control program is best or a favorite of people here in the forum?

It would be helpful with a few suggestions please. Thank you in advance.

 

 

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7 comments

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    Bill Tschumy

    Clayton,

    I'm a little confused about what mount you have.  It looks like the standard EQ3 mount doesn't have motors for a hand controller.  Does yours?  Is it a SynScan hand controller with a serial control jack on the bottom (looks similar to a telephone jack).

    If you have these then either Skysafari Plus or Pro can control the mount.  Are you planning on running on iOS, Android or Mac?  Which platform you are on affects your options for connecting.

     

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    Clayton Murphy

    I will be using my lapotop and Windows 10.

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    Clayton Murphy

    Hello and thank you. I am attaching a picture of how mine looks like.

    I even purchased a NexGuide stand alone autoguider from Celestron.

     

    I have a lot to learn about this as this is my first telescope.

     

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    Bill Tschumy

    Clayton,

    This is the SkySafari forum and SkySafari doesn't run on Windows.  YO might be interested in our other product Starry Night that does run on Windows and should be able to control your scope.  To be honest,, I've never seen a setup like yours.  What is the box on the tripod leg?

    I suspect this will work like a standard Synscan mount, but I can't be sure.

  • 0
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    Clayton Murphy

    Hello Bill, the box under my scope is a control for the scope. You have never seen it before? This is why I am on this forum.... Total new at this.

  • 0
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    Bill Tschumy

    With most SkyScan mounts I've seen this is built into the mount.  They may be external for you because motor control is an add-on for this mount.

    I assume the hand controller has a free jack on the bottom in addition to the one going to the "box"?  This should be the RS-232 serial jack for external control by another program.

     

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Clayton, 

    Welcome to the community forums - thanks for posting your setup!  We can certainly help you get started :) 

    Do you have a iOS or Android tablet (or phone for either OS)?  You will probably enjoy controlling your telescope wirelessly, which is possible from an iOS and Android device. If so, consider getting SkySafari.

    http://skysafariastronomy.com/

    You can achieve wireless Wi-Fi control using SkySafari + the SkyFi 3.

    http://skysafariastronomy.com/skyfi-3-professional-astronomy-telescope-control.html

    If you only want to use Windows the Starry Night Pro is the program for you:

    http://starrynight.com/starry-night-7-professional-astronomy-telescope-control-software.html

    On WIndows, you can also achieve wireless Wi-Fi control using Starry Night + the SkyFi 3 or you could get a USB-to-Serial connection from your Windows PC to your mount.

    Please let me know if you have any further questions.

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