From:
Niels from Track The Stars <info@trackthestars.com>
Subject:
Track the Space Station, align the mount remotely - a new free firmware release for the Panther Mount brings you this
Observe the International Space Station (ISS)
Have you ever looked up and seen the International Space Station drifting silently across the sky?
Have you ever tried pointing a telescope at it and tracking it? It’s not easy, but it’s doable with low magnification for some.
If you’ve succeeded, you know you can actually see the Station’s shape. The solar panels are visible, and you might even spot other parts.
With the latest firmware update for the Panther Mount, we’ve improved motor control, making it possible to automatically track satellites with the mount.
This gives you time to truly study the details and observe how the appearance of the Station changes with distance and viewing angle. Watching it turn reddish as the sunset reaches the astronauts is a mesmerizing experience.
Automated tracking also allows you to share the view with people who aren’t familiar with handling a telescope.
If you’re an imager, you can capture great video sequences and stack them to create detailed images that reveal the smallest details.
Satellite tracking is managed using the Skytrack app from a connected PC.
Automatic alignment of the mount using ASCOM
Today, you can remotely align the mount using the handpad app to input coordinates. With the new firmware (in conjunction with the updated ASCOM driver), everything can be done from a connected PC using third-party apps like NINA, Sharpcap, Sequence Generator Pro, CdC, The Sky, and many others.
The process is straightforward: power up the mount and connect to ASCOM. From the PC, slew to the desired area for alignment point 1, take an image and plate solve, then sync to set the first alignment point. Repeat the process for alignment point 2 in another region. That’s it. The process can even be scripted for automatic execution. It’s never been easier. Plus, there’s no need to visit the mount for polar alignment.
The New firmware release 355RC1
The new firmware is currently being tested by users worldwide, so it’s called RC1 (Release Candidate 1). However, it will be officially released within a few weeks. A great thanks to Reid Smythe who has put a huge effort into making this possible.
If you can’t wait, simply send an email to info@trackthestars.com with your mount’s serial number, and you’ll receive the update files shortly.
New ASCOM driver version TTS160.v.355 (for ASCOM Platform 7.0.)
To complement the new firmware, an updated ASCOM driver has been released, designed for the upcoming ASCOM Platform 7.0. Ensure that you install the ASCOM 7.0 platform first before installing the new TTS ASCOM Driver.
The new firmware is compatible with the existing TTS ASCOM driver, but the new features mentioned above are only available when using the updated TTS ASCOM driver.
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