Takahashi Temma Equatorial Mounts

 

Takahashi Temma Mounts

 

 

TheSky6 for Windows and TheSky Pocket Edition for Windows Mobile Devices can be used to control Takahashi Temma mounts.

 

All Takahashi Temma model telescopes use the identical software protocol. Therefore, the TheSky6's and/or TheSky Pocket Edition's Temma driver will control all Temma go to telescopes.

 

Links on this Page

 

Minimum System Requirements

 

Hardware Setup (Windows and Windows Mobile)

 

Telescope Initialization (Windows)

 

Telescope Initialization (Windows Mobile Devices)

 

Temma Troubleshooting

 

Related Links

 

Windows Mobile Device Bluetooth Setup

 

Minimum System Requirements (Windows)

 

Software

Hardware

See the Temma Bluetooth Setup PDF for details about controlling the Temma via Bluetooth with TheSky Pocket Edition.

 

Hardware Setup (Windows)

 

The photograph below shows how to Set up the Temma for use with TheSky6 for Windows.

 

Plug the gray cable into a DB9 serial port on your computer.

 

Step-by-step Temma Setup and Initialization Procedure (Windows)

 

TheSky must be configured correctly before it can communicate with the Temma mount. Make sure to set your Site Information correctly before proceeding.

  1. Turn off the Temma telescope mount.

  2. Using the appropriate cable, connect the RS232 serial port on the Temma to an unused serial port on your computer.

  3. Turn the Temma Power switch on. Each time the Temma is powered on, the Temma control system is initialized with the following parameters.

These default parameters probably do not match the actual position of the optical tube assembly. TheSky allows you to correctly initialize the Temma's control system to match the position of the OTA. See steps 4-8 to do so.

  1. Click Telescope | Setup.

  2. In the Control System list, select Temma by Takahashi.

  3. Click Settings and then select the correct COM port. Select 19200 from the Baud Rate list. Click OK twice.

  4. Click Telescope | Link | Establish. The Temma's local sidereal time and latitude are set according to TheSky's Data | Site Information parameters. If the telescope is not already synchronized (via other software) the Temma Not Synchronized dialog box appears. Click Close to proceed. The telescope cross hairs appear on the Virtual Sky at 0,0 right ascension/declination. The Temma's tracking direction is automatically set according to TheSky's North or South latitude setting.

  5. If the Temma has not been previously synchronized, do so now so that TheSky can control it.

 

When the Temma mount is powered off, then on, the Temma control system's right ascension/declination coordinates are always 0.0,0.0. TheSky displays the above dialog box under these conditions.

 

Synchronization Method

Procedure

To synchronize with the optical tube assembly on the West side of the mount

  1. Loosen the clutches on the mount and move the telescope to the West side of the mount.

  2. Center a known star that is on the East side of the Meridian in the field of view.

  3. Identify the star in TheSky6 (either by clicking on the star or using TheSky6's Edit | Find command)

  4. On the Large Object Information dialog box, from the Telescope tab, click Sync.

To synchronize with the optical tube assembly on the East side of the mount

 

  1. Loosen the clutches on the mount and move the telescope to the East side of the mount.

  2. Center a known star that is on the West side of the Meridian in the field of view.

  3. Identify the star in TheSky (either by clicking on the star or using TheSky6's Edit | Find command)

  4. On the Large Object Information dialog box, from the Telescope tab, click Sync.

No synchronization

The Temma telescope must be initialized using other software, or from a previous observing session by not turning off the Computer Stand By switch on the mount.

  1. From TheSky, click Telescope | Link | Establish.

 

Telescope Cross Hairs in TheSky (Windows)

 

 

Temma Settings and Status dialog box (Telescope | Options | Settings and Status command, Windows)

 

Temma mounts have several different options that can be configured via software.  From TheSky6, click Telescope | Options | Status and Settings to display the Temma Status and Settings dialog box.

 

 

RA Correction Speed Group

 

New

Enter the right ascension correction speed (as a percentage of the Sidereal rate). This setting is used for the slow speed setting on the Telescope | Motion Controls command.

 

Current

Displays the right ascension correction speed (as a percentage of the Sidereal rate).

 

Set

Click this button to set the current tracking rate using the number entered in the New text box.

 

Dec Correction Speed Group

 

New

Enter the declination correction speed (as a percentage of the Sidereal rate). This setting is used for the slow speed setting on the Telescope | Motion Controls command.

 

Current

Displays the declination correction speed (as a percentage of the Sidereal rate).

 

Set

Click this button to set the current tracking rate using the number entered in the New text box.

 

Mount Local Sidereal Time

Displays the telescope's local sidereal time in hours, minutes and seconds. The Temma is initialized using data from TheSky6's Data | Site Information.

 

Tracking Rates Group

 

Sidereal

Click this button to set the mount's tracking rate to the sidereal rate.

 

Solar

Click this button to set the mount's tracking rate to the Sun's (or solar) rate.

 

Power Source Group

 

12 Volt

Click this button to use 12 volt power supply. Note that a 24-volt power supply is required for high-speed slews.

 

24 Volt

Click this button to use 24 volt power supply. Note that a 24-volt power supply is required for high-speed slews.

 

Comet Tracking Rates Group

 

RA Adjustment (sidereal sec/day)

Enter the adjusted tracking rate for the right ascension axis in sidereal seconds per day. There are 86,164 seconds in one sidereal day. (1 "earth day" = 1.002738 "sidereal day"). See the tracking rate example below.

 

Dec Adjustment (min/day)

Enter the adjusted tracking rate for the declination axis in minutes per day. See the tracking rate example below.

 

Tracking rate example:

 

Here's an example of how to set the Temma's tracking rates to match (approximately) the moon's reported rate.

  1. From TheSKy6, click Edit > Find.

  2. Enter Moon in the Find text box, and then click the Find button.

  3. On the Object Information dialog box report, note the RA Rate (arcseconds/sec) and the Dec Rate (arcseconds/sec). For this example, suppose ra = 0.4334 and dec = -0.2567.

  4. Compute the RA adjustment using the following equation: (TheSky6's RA Rate * 5760) * -1. For this example, the value is -2496.

  5. Compute the Dec adjustment using the following equation: (TheSky6's Dec Rate * 1440) * -1. For this example, the value is 370.

  6. Enter both values, then click Set.

Current RA Adjustment

Displays the Temma's current tracking rate adjustment setting for the right ascension axis.

 

Current Dec Adjustment

Displays the Temma's current tracking rate adjustment setting for the declination axis.

 

Set

Click this button to set the current tracking rate adjustment setting for the right ascension and declination axis.

 

OTA is on this Side of Mount (East/West)

For German equatorial mounts, the optical tube assembly (OTA) is located on the East or West side of the mount. The Temma reports which side of the mount it "thinks" the optical tube assembly is on. If you wish to initialize the telescope to the opposite side of the local meridian, or want to flip sides, click the appropriate option and then click OK.

 

See the Temma Step-by-Step Setup Procedure for details about this setting.

 

Southern/Northern Hemisphere Tracking

Temma mounts determine the direction of sidereal rotation from TheSky's Data | Site Information | Latitude | North or South setting.

 

Version

Displays the version of the Temma telescope.

Motion Controls (Windows)

 

From TheSky6, click Telescope | Motion Controls to display the Motion Control dialog box. Controls on this dialog box allow you to slew the continuously (N = North, S = South, E = East or W = West), or jog to telescope a specified amount in any direction.

 

 

N, E, S, W

Press and hold these directional buttons to slew the telescope. Release the button to stop the slew. Note that the direction the telescope moves is somewhat relative for German equatorial mounts. The buttons operation will be revered when the OTA switches sides of the mount (East or West).

 

Move

Click this option, then select the rate to move the telescope (High, Medium or Slow). Press N, E, S, W to actually slew the telescope.

 

The High move speed uses the Temma's slew speed. Therefore, when a directional button is pressed using this speed, the telescope will always accelerate up to the slew speed, then decelerate and stop when the button is released. The High speed is useful for long movements; use the slower rates for slews under 1 degree or so.

 

Jog

Click this option, then select the angular distance to slew the telescope. Note that all telescope's do not support all jog distances. Press N, E, S, W to actually slew the telescope.

 

Notes

Temma Drive Speed Specifications (Reproduced from Temma Instruction Manual)

 

High Speed Drive

Working Voltage

 

DC12V

DC24V

EM-10 Temma2 Jr.

120X

 

250X

EM-200 Temma2 Jr.

120X

250X

EM-200 Temma2

350X

700X

NJP Temma2

175X

350X

EM-500 Temma2

260X

520X

 

Setting Up the Temma for use with Windows Mobile Devices

 

Temma with Pocket PC connected

See the Temma Bluetooth Setup PDF for details about Temma Bluetooth setup and control.

 

Temma and Windows Mobile Devices Notes

 

Step-by-step Temma Setup and Initialization Procedure (Windows Mobile Devices)

 

To connect to the Temma

TheSky Pocket Edition must be configured correctly before it can communicate with the Temma mount. Make sure to set the Data | Site Information correctly before proceeding.

  1. Turn off the Temma telescope mount.

  2. Connect the 9-pin DIN end of the Temma serial cable to the port labeled RS-232C on the Temma control panel and the DB9 male end to the Gender Changer/Null Modem adaptor/ActiveSync cable. Make sure to plug the ActiveSync cable into the mobile device. The mobile device’s ActiveSync connection window may appear automatically. Click Cancel to close this window.

  3. Turn the Temma Power switch on. Each time the Temma is powered on, the Temma control system is initialized with the following parameters: A. The optical tube assembly (OTA) is on the West side of the mount. B. The telescope is pointing to 0.00 in both right ascension and declination. C. Right ascension and declination correction speeds are set to 90. D. The mount’s tracking is direction is for the northern hemisphere.

  4. Tap Telescope | Setup.

  5. In the Select Your Telescope list, select Temma.

  6. COM1 is used by default. Click Settings and then select the correct COM port if necessary. TheSky Pocket Edition automatically configures all remaining serial port options.

  7. Tap Telescope | Establish Link. The Temma's local sidereal time and latitude are set according to TheSky Pocket Edition’s Data | Site Information parameters. The telescope cross hairs appear on the Virtual Sky at 0,0 right ascension/declination. The Temma's tracking direction is automatically set according to TheSky's North or South latitude setting.

  8. If the Temma has not been previously synchronized, do so now so that TheSky can control it.

 

Synchronization Method

Procedure

To synchronize with the optical tube assembly on the West side of the mount

  1. Loosen the clutches on the mount and move the telescope to the West side of the mount.

  2. Center a known star that is on the East side of the Meridian in the field of view.

  3. Identify the star in TheSky Pocket Edition (either by tapping on the star or using the Tools | Find command)4. On the Object Information dialog box, tap Sync.

To synchronize with the optical tube assembly on the East side of the mount

  1. Loosen the clutches on the mount and move the telescope to the West side of the mount.

  2. Center a known star that is on the East side of the Meridian in the field of view.

  3. Identify the star in TheSky Pocket Edition (either by tapping on the star or using TheSky's Tools | Find command)

  4. On the Object Information dialog box, tap Sync.

No synchronization

 

The Temma telescope must be initialized using other software, or from a previous observing session by not turning off the Computer Stand By switch on the mount.

  1. From TheSky, click Telescope | Link | Establish

 

To Slew the Temma from TheSky Pocket Edition (Windows Mobile Devices)

  1. Tap on the object you wish to point the telescope, or tap Edit | Find command to locate the object.

  2. Tap Slew.

The telescope will now slew to the object.  The Slew button text changes to Abort during slews.  Tap Abort to terminate the slew, or tap Telescope | Abort.

 

Temma Settings Dialog Box

 

The Temma mount has several different options that can be configured via software.  Tap Telescope | Settings to display the Temma Status and Settings dialog box.

 

OTA is on this Side of Mount (East/West)

For German equatorial mounts, the optical tube assembly (OTA) is located on the East or West side of the mount. The Temma reports which side of the mount it “thinks” the optical tube assembly is on. If you wish to initialize the telescope to the opposite side of the local meridian, or want to flip sides, click the appropriate option and then click OK.

 

Southern/Northern Hemisphere Tracking

Temma mounts determine the direction of sidereal rotation from TheSky Pocket Edition’s Data | Site Information | Latitude | North or South setting.

 

Comet Adjustment Rates

 

RA (sec/day)

Enter the adjusted tracking rate for the right ascension axis in seconds per day. There are 86284 seconds in one day.

 

Dec (min/day)

Enter the adjusted tracking rate for the declination axis in minutes per day.

 

Correction Speeds

 

RA (10-90)

Enter the right ascension correction speed (as a percentage of the sidereal rate).

 

Dec (10-90)

Enter the declination correction speed (as a percentage of the sidereal rate).

Power Source

 

12 Volt

Click this button to use 12-volt power supply. Note that a 24-volt power supply is required for high-speed slews.

 

24 Volt

Click this button to use 24-volt power supply. Note that a 24-volt power supply is required for high-speed slews.

 

Mount LST (Local Sidereal Time)

Displays the telescope’s local sidereal time in hours, minutes and seconds. The Temma is initialized using data from TheSky's Data | Site Information.

 

Version

Displays the version of the Temma telescope.

 

Temma Telescope Troubleshooting (Windows and Windows Mobile Devices)

 

Symptom

Cause

At small fields of view (approximately 5 degrees or less), the telescope cross hair jumps noticeably when the telescope is not slewing.

 

The coordinates reported by the Temma control system (when the telescope is not slewing) can vary by one arcsecond. This causes the telescope cross hairs to "jump" between the reported positions. This is a limitation of the Temma protocol.

When observing telescope motion small fields of view (approximately 5 degrees or less), the telescope cross hair jumps noticeably during slews.

The resolution of TheSky's screen exceeds the maximum resolution of the Temma's coordinates.

 

The Temma protocol reports coordinates to the nearest second in right ascension (15 arcseconds at the 0 degrees declination) and to the nearest 6 arcseconds in declination.

  • This Temma protocol limitation causes the cross hairs to move noticeably at small fields of view.

  • This is a limitation of the Temma protocol and has nothing to do with TheSky's Temma control.

The telescope cross hairs are off by about 12 arcseconds in declination after synchronization.

The Temma's control system accepts declination coordinates to the nearest 12 arcseconds, so, at small fields of view, the cross hairs will not exactly match the coordinate that was used to synchronize the telescope. This is a limitation of the Temma protocol.

 

The Temma mount slews in the wrong direction.

The Temma mount will slew in the wrong direction if the mount has been incorrectly synchronized.

 

Carefully read the Temma Initialization Procedure to correctly initialize the mount. You can also click Telescope | Options | Status and Settings to display the Temma Status and Settings dialog box, and swap the East/West setting for the OTA is on this side of mount option.

 

 

See the Telescope Troubleshooting section for additional information about resolving telescope setup and connection problems.

 

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