Paramount ME Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Paramount ME. Click on a question to view the answer.
General Questions
What is the Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System?A. The Software Bisque Paramount ME is a fully robotic, research-grade German equatorial telescope mount (GEM) designed for the serious amateur or professional astronomer who wants to perform CCD imaging, visual observing, or traditional photography. Unlike other "go to" telescope mounts, the Paramount ME requires a personal computer or Pocket PC for computerized operation. Coupled with our Bisque Observatory Software Suite (BOSS) of software — which includes The Sky Astronomy Software™, CCDSoft CCD Astronomy Software™, TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis Software™, and Orchestrate™, the Paramount ME comprises just one component of Software Bisque's observatory control system.A. The Software Bisque Paramount ME is a fully robotic, research-grade German equatorial telescope mount (GEM) designed for the serious amateur or professional astronomer who wants to perform CCD imaging, visual observing, or traditional photography. Unlike other "go to" telescope mounts, the Paramount ME requires a personal computer or Pocket PC for computerized operation. Coupled with our Bisque Observatory Software Suite (BOSS) of software — which includes The Sky Astronomy Software™, CCDSoft CCD Astronomy Software™, TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis Software™, and Orchestrate™, the Paramount ME comprises just one component of Software Bisque's observatory control system.
What is the price of the Paramount ME?A. + shipping and handling. This price includes the robotic mount, a joystick controller for local operation, two 9 kg (20 lb.) counterweights, and Software Bisque’s Observatory Software Suite (BOSS). The pier and optical tube assembly (OTA) are not supplied. Software Bisque sells permanent piers and can recommend OTAs. Shipping and handling extra.
Why did the price of the Paramount ME increase?A. Software Bisque increased the price of the Paramount ME from $10,000 to $12,500 on May 15, 2004 to offset increased material costs, maintain unsurpassed quality and cover the cost engineering improvements in mechanics, software, and firmware (control system).
One of the most exciting new features in the latest model Paramount ME is the completely redesigned DC servomotor control system. See Introducing the MKS 4000 for details.
What is the payload capacity of the Paramount ME?The Paramount ME can carry up to 68 kg (150 lb.) of astronomical equipment (that is, excluding counterweights). This is more than adequate for optical tube assemblies such as most amateur refractors (Takahashi, Vixen, etc.), Celestron’s C-14, RC Optical System's 12- 14- or 16-inch OTAs, or Meade's 12-, 14-, 16-inch optical tube assembly with a CCD camera, color filter wheel, and finder scope. See the Paramount ME Technical Specifications for details.
Can the Paramount ME be disassembled into two or more components?A. No. The Paramount ME's is designed to be self-contained into one unit. It cannot be broken into one or more separate components.
Does Software Bisque sell piers?A. Software Bisque manufactures permanent piers of various heights.
How does the Paramount ME attach to my pier?A. If your are building your own pier, Software Bisque offers an adapter plate to attach the Paramount ME to your existing pier. We also offer a steel pier top plate that can be bolted or welded to another plate. For technical specifications about this adaptor plate, see the Pier Specifications page.
How does my optical tube assembly (OTA) attach to the Paramount ME?A. Most commercially manufactured optical tubes can be mounted to the Paramount ME using the Losmandy Dovetail System or rings to connect to the Versa-Plate.
Is the Paramount ME designed to be portable?A. The Paramount ME weighs approximately 29 kg (64 lb.) can be used "in the field" as a portable mount.
See the Paramount ME Technical Specifications for details.
How do I perform polar alignment with the Paramount ME?A. Of course, you can always use the standard "drift method" or your preferred polar alignment technique with the Paramount ME. However, there is a better way. TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis Software computes the polar misalignment in azimuth and altitude, so you know how far "off the pole" the right ascension axis falls, even if the pole is not visible. The Paramount ME also has calibrated declination and azimuth adjustment screws—one revolution equals fourteen arcminutes of adjustment. No more guess work for aligning the Paramount ME with the celestial pole!
My power supply is 240 volts. Will I need a special transformer to run the Paramount ME?A. No. The Paramount ME power supply works with either 110 or 240 volt input. Power cables with the correct "plug-in connectors" are available for different locales.
How much does a permanent pier cost for the Paramount ME? A. See the Paramount ME Pier specifications page for details.
Does the Paramount ME operate in the Southern Hemisphere? A. Yes. See "Appendix D – Setting Up and Using the Paramount in the Southern Hemisphere" in the Paramount ME User's Guide for details.
Does the Paramount ME have clutches?A. No. In order to achieve repeatable, arcminute all-sky pointing, there can be no clutches. TPoint will correct repeatable errors inherent to all gears and it requires that the gear-to-worm synchronization be maintained.
Since the Paramount ME has no clutches, how can the mount's payload be balanced?A. The Paramount ME's payload is balanced by separating the worm from the gear using "balance knobs" on each axis.
How does the Paramount ME "handle" situations such as slewing into stationary objects?A. The MKS 4000 control system is "current limited" so that if the mount accidentally encounters a "fixed" object, the slew is immediately stopped. Software Bisque does not recommend slewing your expensive equipment into stationary objects such as ladders and observatory roofs. If this very unfortunate situation occurs, the Paramount ME is designed to minimize damage.
What software comes with the Paramount ME?A. See Paramount ME Supplied Software for details.
Pointing-Specific Questions
How accurately can the Paramount ME point my telescope?A. In theory, the Paramount ME can point the telescope to 1/3 of an arcsecond (which is the limit of the control system’s optical encoders).
In practice, repeatable, quantifiable pointing accuracies achieved by Paramount ME customers range from 10 to 30 arcseconds RMS by employing TPoint for Windows Telescope Pointing Analysis software.
The bottom line is that the Paramount ME using TPoint for Windows will point as well as, and in most cases better than any other commercial mount on the market.
What is RMS pointing mean?A. Root-mean-square (RMS) pointing is a statistical measurement of how accurately a telescope points to any location in the sky from any other location. RMS pointing can be determined through a process called mapping, where the telescope is pointed to a number of known positions (stars) and the difference of where the telescope lands and the actual position of the star is recorded. The ability to accurately point a telescope from any point in the sky to any other point is completely different from methods used by other mounts. Other mounts employ "offset," or "two-step" pointing, whereby the telescope must has to be "synchronized" on a known object near the destination object before actually slewing there.
How does the Paramount ME achieve such good pointing, over the entire sky?A. The Paramount ME comes with the Windows version of the TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis Software, the world-renowned telescope pointing analysis system that makes the Gemini, Keck and AAT telescopes (among others) point to one arcsecond RMS accuracy. Paramount ME customers routinely achieve sub-arcminute RMS pointing. TPoint can "learn" about the errors inherent in all mounts and make corrections for these errors to greatly improve telescope pointing accuracy.
Can the Paramount ME be automatically restarted? That is, does it remember its position information from session to session, or if power is lost?A. Yes. The Paramount ME uses our proprietary AutoHome™ technology, meaning the telescope can be shut down, powered up and will point as accurately tomorrow night as it did last night, or after power is lost. At the beginning of each viewing session, the Paramount ME finds the absolute home position. After this 30-second process you are ready to start observing right where you left off!
Tracking-Specific Questions
What is the magnitude of the Paramount ME’s periodic error before periodic error correction (PEC)?A. The Paramount ME uses research-grade 11-inch gears on the right ascension axis and 7-inch research-grade gears on the declination axis. The resulting smooth periodic error for the RA gears is 7 arcseconds or less, before periodic error correction. Periodic error after correction has been applied is typically one arcsecond or less. This permits (non-ProTrack assisted) two- to four- minute unguided exposures at focal lengths under 3800 mm (150 inches).
What is the magnitude of the Paramount ME’s periodic error after periodic error correction?A. The Paramount ME uses research-grade 11-inch gears on the right ascension axis and 7-inch research-grade gears on the declination axis. The resulting smooth periodic error for the RA gears is 5 arcseconds or less, before periodic error correction. Periodic error after correction is typically about 1.5 arcseconds or less. This permits (non-ProTrack assisted) two- to four- minute unguided exposures at focal lengths under 3800 mm (150 inches). A. The Paramount ME's periodic error after periodic error correction has been applied is typically about 1 arcsecond or less. This permits (non-ProTrack assisted) two- to four- minute unguided exposures at focal lengths under 3800 mm (150 inches).
Does the Paramount ME have permanent periodic error correction?A. Yes. Once you manually train the periodic error, this information is stored in the control system's flash memory (and can be reprogrammed at any time).
What is ProTrack™?A. See the What is ProTrack? page for details.
Maintenance-Specific Questions
What should be used to lubricate the worm and gears?A. Under normal operating temperatures, Software Bisque recommends using Lubriplate Motor Assembly Grease Series 105 (Manufacturer number L0034-094) for the worm and gears.
This product is available at many auto-parts stores, or online. (Search Google)
See Lubricating the Paramount ME for details.
Purchase/Delivery-Specific Questions
I've decided to purchase the Paramount ME from Software Bisque. How should I proceed? A. Visit the Purchasing a Paramount ME page for details.
If I order a Paramount ME today, when can I expect to receive it? A. The current delivery time is about 4 months from when you place your order with Software Bisque.
Will Software Bisque accept orders for and deliver the Paramount ME outside the USA?A. Yes. Software Bisque gladly accepts international orders (not including Europe). If you reside in Europe, please contact the Baader Planetarium to order your Paramount ME.
What is the shipping weight of the Paramount ME?A. See the Paramount ME Shipping Details page for information.
What is the cost to ship the Paramount ME to my address?A. See the Paramount ME Shipping Details page for information.
Pier-Specific Questions
What height pier do I need for my observatory?A. See Computing Pier Height for details.
How can I minimize pier-related oscillations in my telescope system?A. See the Minimzing Oscillations topic for details.
Operating-Specific Questions
Is the variable-pitched sound emitted by the Paramount ME normal?A. Yes. See the "Audible Feedback" section of the Paramount ME Manual for details about different sounds emitted by the Paramount ME's control system.
