A Computerized Dobsonian

Abstract

One of the characteristics of many ATMs is that, as soon as some new gizmo is available for professional telescopes, they set about finding out how to arrive at the same system in a manner that makes it available to the home constructor. Some of the largest modern professional telescopes use altazimuth mounts. ATMs seized upon this idea as being compatible with the ATM workhorse: the Dobsonian-mounted telescope. Mel Bartels has designed a system whereby the simple Dobsonian can be controlled by a PC and a simple hand-pad. His software will also interface with some planetarium programs in order to give the telescope the GOTO ability of commercially available instruments. This project also exemplifies what is attainable through the principle of mutual aid in the ATM community.