Copyright Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements
Step-By-Step Setup Instructions
Please carefully read the warning about observing the sun before proceeding.
TheSky6 Screen Showing Simulated Telescope Cross Hairs
The Orion Telescopes & Binoculars IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator allows you show the position of the telescope against a simulated starry background.
The telescope's position is updated as you move the telescope, giving you instant, graphical feedback. You can even use TheSky6's "Guide To" feature to have the software help you locate objects.
See Software-Guided Telescopes for additional information about encoder-based telescope control.
There is often confusion about the capabilities telescopes using encoder-based control.
The SkyQuest IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator can:
show you the current position of the telescope on TheSky6's simulated or "virtual sky."
be used to guide your telescope to any object.
be used to find planets, comets, asteroids, galaxies, or any of the millions of objects in TheSky6's databases.
The SkyQuest IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator cannot:
move or "slew" the telescope without human intervention. There are no motors on this telescope.
track the constant motion (or "sidereal motion") of the stars over time. There are no tracking motors on this telescope.
show you the actual view from the telescope's eyepiece on the computer screen. A digital optical detector (such as CCD camera or video camera) must be attached first.
Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements
Hardware
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars SkyQuest Telescope with the IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator.
Any computer running Windows 98 or later. See TheSky6's minimum system requirements for details about TheSky6's minimum system requirements.
One free RS232 serial port. If your computer only has USB ports, you'll need a USB to serial adaptor.
One Orion Telescopes & Binoculars PC-To-IntelliScope cable. Contact Orion Telescopes & Binoculars to purchase this cable.
Software
TheSky6 Serious Astronomer Edition or Professional Edition version 6.0.0.19 or later.
Step-By-Step IntelliScope to TheSky6 Setup Instructions
Before getting started, make sure that you've carefully read and understand the Orion Telescopes & Binoculars SkyQuest and IntelliScope Instruction Manuals for safe operation of your telescope.
You must be able to operate the IntelliScope as a stand-alone device before using it with TheSky6!
Plug the RJ22 (the narrower phone-type connector) end of the telescope cable into the RS232 jack in the top end of the IntelliScope Computerized Object Locator device.
Plug the DB9 connector into the computer's serial port. Make note of the port number (COM1, COM2, etc.). TheSky6 will need this information later.
From TheSky6, click Telescope | Setup.
On the Telescope Setup dialog box, select SkyQuest IntelliScope by Orion Telescopes & Binoculars from the Telescope or Control System list.
Click Settings.
Select the correct serial or COM port from the COM Port list.
No other options need be changed. If you modify these settings, the device will not function properly. The options must be:
9600 for the Baud Rate.
90 into the Point Declination text box.
9216 into the Tics/rev (RA, Azm) and Tics/rev (Dec, Alt) text boxes of the Communication box group.
Counterclockwise option in the Azimuth Direction group box.
Clockwise option in the Altitude Direction group box.
9216 into the Tics/rev (RA, Azm) and Tics/rev (Dec, Alt) text boxes in the Encoders group.
Click OK. This setting is now saved and does not need to be saved again (unless your COM port is changed).
Click OK on the Telescope Setup dialog box.
If you have not already done so, turn on the IntelliScope object locator on by pressing the POWER button. Then, when the screen reads "POINT VERTICAL", press ENTER on the keypad, (not the computer's keyboard) regardless if the telescope is pointing vertically or not.
The IntelliScope must now be aligned from within TheSky6 by pointing the telescope at three different locations (straight up and at any two stars). Note that the IntelliScope and TheSky6 use different (but similar) alignment procedures. They are independent and have nothing to do with each other. If you've already used the IntelliScope's internal alignment procedure, you must repeat the process from TheSky6. TheSky6's main menu, click Telescope | Link | Establish.
The following screen appears:
Point the SkyQuest telescope vertically (straight up and down) now, then click OK.
The following screen appears:
Point the telescope at the first alignment star. By default, the first alignment star is Polaris.
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To use a different star:
TheSky6 will now use this star as the alignment star. Click OK.
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The following screen appears:
Point the telescope at the second alignment star. By default, the second alignment star is Capella.
The difference between the actual angular separation of the alignment stars and the angle measured by the encoders is displayed. A difference of zero indicates a “perfect” alignment. Experience has shown that a difference of less than ½° is acceptable.
Click Accept. The alignment is complete. You should see cross hairs in the Virtual Sky, marking the center of the field of view of the telescope.
As you move the telescope, the cross hairs move to show where the telescope is pointing. As the cross hairs reach the edge of the screen, the Virtual Sky automatically scrolls to keep the cross hairs visible.
Selecting Alignment Stars
If you choose different alignment stars, don’t pick closely spaced ones. No encoder is perfect; all have some positional error. Generally speaking, the greater the angular separation of the alignment stars (in both right ascension and declination), the more this error is “averaged out” across the sky.
Realignment with Each Use
TheSky6 has no provision for saving alignment settings because you must align the telescope each time you use it, even when observing from the same location. Slight differences in telescope elevation and leveling will invalidate the previous calibration, especially at high magnifications. Suspending the link does not cause loss of alignment. You do not have to realign when you reestablish a link in the current session.
Finding a Particular Object
TheSky6 can help you position the telescope on a particular object using the Guide To feature.
Use the Find command to locate the object.
Click Guide To in the Object Information dialog box. The Guide To dialog box is displayed. The current position of the telescope is shown by the long lines (“guiding needles”) in the Axis circles. The object’s coordinates are indicated by short lines (“destination marks”) at the edges of the circles. Mark the Enlarge checkbox if you want a larger display for greater precision.
Starting with the azimuth (RA/Az) axis, move the telescope to align the needles with the marks. When the needle and mark are aligned, use the telescope’s fine adjustment to make the middle, red “LED” illuminate. Lock the azimuth axis.
Repeat Step 3 for the altitude (Dec/Alt) axis.
When both red “LEDs” are illuminated, the Guide To dialog box closes.
The Virtual Sky’s cross hairs are now over the desired object. When you look through the telescope, the object should be in the eyepiece. If Telescope | Setup | Impose slew limits option is enabled, TheSky6 warns you if you try to move the telescope into a limit region.
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To conserve battery life, the IntelliScope Object Locator automatically turns itself off when none of the locator's buttons are pressed for a period of 15 minutes.
To ensure continuous operation when operating the object locator in conjunction with TheSky6, you must press a button on the locator's hand paddle. There is no way to override this behavior. |
See the Telescope Troubleshooting section for information about resolving telescope setup and connection problems.
