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Not a lot actually! But our Kuhn
Telescope is a LOT quieter.
As of a few weeks ago work was
completed on a new upgrade to the Clubs 22.5"
Kuhn Telescope. This upgrade allows the telescope
to be controlled by any software which would ordinarily
be used to control a Meade LX200 telescope. Many
club members who have automated goto telescopes
such as those from Meade will be aware that it is
possible to run a wide variety of programs to control
the telescope from their computer.
This capability has now been developed
for our own telescope.
OCA Member John Hoot has spent
the past month developing and perfecting the system
that allows the telescope to act as if it were a
Meade LX200 as far as programs such as The Sky,
Skymap pro and many others.
John is very well qualified to
develop such a capability. He has written all the
telescope control software for the Meade ETX range
of Autostar controllers along with the more recent
revolutionary Meade GPS system.
Star Member trainer Chuck Lodoza
and myself checked out the new system on the Tuesday
prior to the first Star Party in November (10th).
We wanted to make sure that all was well with the
setup and that other Star Members would be able
to use the new capability with very minimal training.
I was luckily the first person
to use the system in public on the November 10th
Star Party. Everything worked perfectly. In order
to get the Kuhn to goto any object you simply use
The Sky software, installed on a brand new computer
in the observatory, to point at objects and click
"Slew-to". The Kuhn now obediently moves
to the object selected. All night the telescope
moved accurately and effortlessly to every object
I selected. This really was a testament to the programming
skills of John Hoot.
I see the Kuhn Telescope and our
Anza site as one of the clubs most prized assets.
It was developed through the generous gifts of time
and money from many OCA members and corporations
in years gone by. John Hoots contribution is one
which will be remembered in perpetuity by all of
us in the club who will benefit from his efforts.
Thank you John!
"every day we are connecting ever more photons
of light from distant galaxies to the eyes, hearts,
minds and imaginations of our members and others
in our community."
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