All such applications talk to telescopes using the common ASCOM interface. A wide range of astronomy applications are needed for successful imaging.

Whilst the Arduino can happily handle all the tasks associated with running the motors and pointing the telescope, in a modern observatory the PC rules. Whilst one would architect this using multiple microcontrollers, such an approach seems silly when a single Arduino Mega has far more computing power that you need. This does not leave a lot of time in the Arduino for performing other tasks. Steppers require constant attention from the Arduino to keep going around. Microcontrollers like Arduino have a fundamental problem with stepper motors. This project needed a wide range of inputs and outputs, so has been done using an Arduino Mega 1280 board, although a Mega 2560 would do just as well. I decided to make my own telescope control system from the ground up and the Arduino platform seemed the obvious choice. It was also impossible for me to change the programming or maintain the system. This system was extremely slow, underpowered and unreliable.

The DIY Arduino Telescope GOTO control project Why make your own Arduino control system?Īfter completing my homemade telescope mount it was powered by a Meade DS motor kit.

Stellarium arduino