[ATMoB-discuss] satellite tracking with Celestron or Meade scope and mount

[Bob Napier]

The Meade LX200GPS series mounts have the satellite tracking functions already programmed in their AutoStar II system.
The up-to-date orbital elements of satellites need to be downloaded to the AutoStar II in order for it to function reasonably well.
I have never tried satellite tracking but I think others on the LX200GPS Yahoo discussion group have with some success.  Bob N.



> From: pbealo at comcast.net> To: M.Aramini at Verizon.net> Subject: Re: [ATMoB-discuss] satellite tracking with Celestron or Meade scope and mount> Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2007 19:53:07 +0000> CC: atmob-discuss at atmob.org> > Michael,> > > I think that all hinges upon what he means by "track". If he means to within 1 pixel on a CCD - probably not. If he means keeping a rapidly moving object within a "reasonable" field of view - probably.> > There is off-the-shelf code called, strangely enough, "SatelliteTracker". To quote their feature page: "Satellite Tracker is a 32-bit Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP program which calculates satellite positions using NORAD SGP4/SDP4 orbital models. An interface to the Meade LX200, LX200GPS, AutoStar, LX200 Compatible, Celestron Ultima, Celestron CGE, NexStarGPS and NexStarGT telescopes allows automatic tracking and viewing. Satellite Tracker is a fast and compact single executable, no other runtime libraries or supporting DLLs are required!" > > Their website is: http://www.heavenscape.com/> > If I were the LL guy - I would use all reflective optics, like a newtonian, for the broadest spectral range without refocusing or worrying about IR or UV performance. If its a good parabola in the UV, its a great parabola in the IR!!> > have fun,> > Peter> > > > > -------------- Original message ----------------------> From: Michael Aramini <M.Aramini at Verizon.net>> > A colleague from Lincoln Lab would like to be able to do computer> > control of a Celestron or Meade mount with a scope on it to do real> > time tracking of satellites in low Earth orbit.> > > > He has a software model of that can predict the satellite's apparent> > motion, but wanted to know if it is feasible to low level commands to> > the mount to tell it where to point when, but wanted to know if such> > mounts could respond to such commands quickly and precisely enough to> > track satellites in real time.> > > > A secondary question is whether a Celestron or Meade scope which was> > designed primarily for visible light use can reasonably be used for> > near IR.> > > > -Michael> > > > -------- Original Message --------> > Subject: Telescope State of the Art> > Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2007 10:04:05 -0400> > From: Flanagan, Robert <flanagan at ll.mit.edu>> > To: Aramini, Michael <aramini at ll.mit.edu>> > > > Mike,> > > > I’ve been asked to develop a satellite tracking system that tracks> > during the day. I’m planning on connecting an InGaAs near IR detector to> > a Celestron or Meade telescope.> > > > The big problem is the tracking end of things. I need to be able to> > control the telescope with a computer so I need to receive mount encoder> > information and send instructions to the mount to move.> > > > Based on your experience in ATM, do you know if the mounts on the> > high-end commercial telescopes can be programmed this way?> > > > Thanks for your advice on this.> > > > Regards,> > > > Bob> > > > > > Dr. Robert W. Flanagan, Jr.> > Group 91> > MIT Lincoln Laboratory> > 244 Wood Street> > Lexington, MA 02420-9108> > (781) 981-0453> > > > _______________________________________________> > ATMoB-discuss mailing list> > ATMoB-discuss at atmob.org> > http://lists.atmob.org/mailman/listinfo/atmob-discuss> > _______________________________________________> ATMoB-discuss mailing list> ATMoB-discuss at atmob.org> http://lists.atmob.org/mailman/listinfo/atmob-discuss
_________________________________________________________________
Live Search Maps – find all the local information you need, right when you need it.
http://maps.live.com/?icid=wlmtag2&FOR M=MGAC01