orion intelliscope and planning software

hi all

I'm looking for planning software that I can use to guide my scope mounted on a Skyview pro mount with the intelliscope push to add on. I would like to create an observation list, choose an object from the list, and use the software to guide me in moving the scope to the object. I'm looking for functions similar to the way the intelliscope controller guides me to an object.

Any ideas?

John

John Begg said:I'm looking for planning software that I can use to guide my scope mounted on a Skyview pro mount with the intelliscope push to add on. I would like to create an observation list, choose an object from the list, and use the software to guide me in moving the scope to the object. I'm looking for functions similar to the way the intelliscope controller guides me to an object.

I would suggest that you make a list of the objects you want to view from sources such as observing handbooks, Sue French's monthly article in Sky & Telescope, one of the Internet sites that lists object of interest by constellation, etc. etc. Then proceed as follows:
1. If the object is a galaxy, nebula or cluster in the NGC or IC or Messier catalogs, it's already in your database and you can punch it into your Intelliscope DSC to get to it.
2. If the object is a star or binary, it may also already be in the Intelliscope database. For prominent named stars, use the Intelliscope list of named stars to get to it; if it's not named, check the Intelliscope list (an appendix to the User's Manual) of stars that have a number in the Intelliscope catalog and use that catalog number to get to the object.
3. For any other object, note down its celestial coordinates from whatever source you're using, and make it one of the up to 99 user-selected objects you can enter into the Intelliscope database. Or else just use Intelliscope to slew to those coordinates (the User Manual also tells you how to do that).