SGT provides a means for you to monitor the motion of your telescope from your computer screen. By displaying real-time cross hairs atop a simulated version of the night sky, the SGT enables you to determine exactly where your telescope is currently pointed (without looking through the telescope eyepiece!). You move your telescope, and SGT simultaneously moves the cross hairs on your screen, giving you the power to point your telescope at even deep-sky objects quickly and easily. The SGT will even guide you to those hard-to-find faint fuzzies. Just use the Find command in TheSky, then click the Guide To button. Now line up the on-screen reticles and you're there!

SGT Hardware and Software

Support for Many Types of Telescopes

 
Encoder retrofit kits are available to fit more than one hundred telescope mount models from nearly two dozen manufacturers. Because these kits are specially designed for specific mount models, when ordering you must indicate which model(s) you intend to retrofit. It is also sometimes helpful if the mount's year-of-manufacture is included. With very few exceptions, the SGT hardware system — including encoders and appropriate mounting hardware, "BBox" serial decoder, and related cabling — is about $450 (TheSky Astronomy Software, whose price varies with Level selection, is not included in this price).

The following is a partial listing of the telescope models that can be retrofit with the SGT hardware. 

Q. My Telescope is not listed above.  Can I purchase a telescope interface kit?

A. If you're specific telescope is not listed above, contact Jim's Mobile Incorporated. They can supply telescope interface kits for almost every make and model telescope.

Q. I own a robotic telescope (such as the NexStar, Autostar, Compustar, Ultima 2000, LX200). Is there an SGT system for my telescope?

A. No. The SGT system is designed for non-robotic telescopes only. If you own a robotic telescope, it's already "computerized" and can be controlled by TheSky.

Q. Does the SGT system come with motors to slew my telescope?

A. No. The low-cost SGT system is requires that you physically move the telescope and the position of the telescope is displayed on the computer screen.

Q. Where can I purchase the required hardware (encoders, cables, mounting hardware)?

A. Contact Jim's Mobile, Inc. (JMI) to purchase the Software Guided Telescope (SGT) hardware. JMI sells kits for virtually every telescope.  

TheSky Astronomy Software is a trademark of Software Bisque, Inc.
All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used solely for identification.

Modified: April 13, 2004