Synchronizing

Procedure

To synchronize with the optical tube assembly on the East side of the mount, Scope pointing West

1. Loosen the clutches on the mount and move the telescope to the East side of the mount.

2. Center a known star that is on the West side of the Meridian in the field of view.

3. Identify the star in your planetarium software.

4. Sync on the star.

5. An on screen dialog will notify you of the correct side of the meridian to select the sync star.

To synchronize with the optical tube assembly on the West side of the mount, Scope pointing East

1. Loosen the clutches on the mount and move the telescope to the West  side of the mount.

2. Center a known star that is on the East side of the Meridian in the field of view.

3. identify the star in your planetarium software.

4. Sync on the star.

5. An on screen dialog will notify you of the correct side of the meridian to select the sync star.

Keep Last Sync

The Temma telescope was previously synced and not powered off, or the Temma was 'Parked'

Temma Setup dialog box

Temma mounts have numerous different options that can be configured via the driver.  

Highlight the longitude/latitude input boxes via a double click or left mouse drag to input new values.

The mount safety features is not a failsafe way to protect your equipment from damage, and it is not intended to be a substitute for for good judgment or and attendant at the scope.  Please use with caution.  Keep the checkbox checked to disable these features.  Setup the Parameters: note:  scope movements started via the Temma's hand paddle control box can not be controlled via the driver's mount safety features.  Only the rule imposed by 'Minimum Allowable Altitude' will affect slews initiated by the driver.  These features are mainly designed to help avoid crashes from the telescope tracking in to the mount, tripod, or other object. Minimum Allowable Altitude - Input a number representing degrees in altitude that the mount will stop all movement when it is reached or exceeded. Maximum Allowable HA (hourangle) - A positive number for the maximum HA permitted (e.g. 5.5 = a HA of +/- 5.5 hours from the Meridian). Calculations for declinations other than 0 will automatically be performed using this input.  Allowable Tracking Near the Meridian - Enter a number for the minutes tracking near the Meridian when the mount is West on the pier and pointing East (e.g. -.5 will stop tracking when the mount reaches 30 minutes of the Meridian). When a crash is avoided by these features you must take the following actions to reinitialize your mount and the Temma driver: 1. Disconnect the driver 2. Enter the Temma Driver's setup and check the 'Disable Mount Safety Limits' checkbox 3. Reconnect to the Mount 4.  Move the mount to a safe position 5.  Enter the Temma Driver's setup and uncheck the 'Disable Mount Safety Limits' checkbox 6. Resume

The 'Warn Before Flip' checkbox , when checked, will make prompt before a GOTO that requires a Meridian flip is attempted.

The 'Automatic Meridian Flip' checkbox , if checked, will perform a Meridian flip when the mount reaches a point equal to the hourangle of the Meridian plus/minus the user inputted factor contained in the 'Allowable Tracking Near The Meridian' box (e.g. HA or Meridian = 0, user input = .5, so 0 +.5 will result in a Meridian flip .5 hours or 30 minutes past the Meridian.  The flip will occur only when the scope is positioned on the West side of the pier (counterweights pointed East).  Caution: ensure that the scope will not strike the pier or any other objects prior to allowing a Meridian flip.  Meridian flips will move the mount's RA axis 180 degrees, be careful!

The 'Flip Mount' checkbox , when checked, will make prompt the user to perform a manual Meridian Flip.  This is very useful to place the mount in a position that allows the longest time for astroimaging.  For example, a GOTO to an object that is near and has not yet crossed the Meridian will leave the mount positioned with the OTA on the West side of the pier.  Pressing the 'Flip Mount' button will move the mount 180 degrees to position the OTA on the East side of the pier allowing the longest possible time for astroimaging of the object.

The 'Always Show' checkbox , when checked,' will make the handbox visible on connection to the Temma.  If unchecked the handbox will remain minimized in the tray until called.

Clicking the 'Stop' button or hitting the 'Esc' on the computer keyboard will halt all slews.

Correction Speed

New

Enter the right ascension correction speed (as a percentage of the Sidereal rate). This setting is used for the slow speed moves or for guiding.

Current

Displays the right ascension/declination correction speed (as a percentage of the Sidereal rate).

Apply Speed

Check the 'Apply Speed' and 'Send All Settings' boxes then click 'OK'  to set the tracking rates.

Tracking Rates

• Sidereal (default)
• Lunar - When used in conjunction with the 'Use TheSky Data' checkbox the lunar rate will be set to a high precission mode that will control both the RA speed and Dec rate to account for parallax
• Solar
• King - Rate will compensate for atmospheric refraction
• Manual - When selected rates must by inputted into the RA and DEC boxes, then press the 'Send' button
• Custom -  This features requires TheSky v6.  When selected uses can input the objects name  and update interval in the 'Custom Tracking Rates' frame.  Updates to to current offests will be made at the desired intervals. 

Clicking on the ' Tracking Rate' option buttons will toggle the rates.

'Tracking On/Off' is used to stop/start the tracking on Temma 2 mounts, or slow the tracking rate to ~60% sidereal rate for non Temma 2 mounts.  This is useful if you want to pause viewing.  The slower rate will avoid the mount running in to itself when left unattended.  Additionally, when using non Temma 2 mounts the 'Rewind RA' checkbox (when checked) will rewind the right ascension back to the point where the tracking was stopped adding one more level of mount protection for unattended pauses in observing or imaging. 

This feature will stop tracking in Temma 2 models only!  Therefore, parking the mount and turning off the power is the preferred way to stop motion of the NON-Temma 2 mount for prolonged periods.

Power Source 

Select the appropriate power setting from the 'Power' drop-down box.  You must have the appropriate 24 volt power supply to run at the 24 volt high slew rates (see details). 

Comet Tracking Rates  

RA Adjustment (sidereal sec/day)

• Enter the adjusted tracking rate for the right ascension axis in sidereal seconds per day max = +/- 32767. There are 86,164 seconds in one sidereal day (1 "earth day" = 1.002738 "sidereal day").  

Dec Adjustment (min/day)

• Enter the adjusted tracking rate for the declination axis in minutes per day, max = +/- 1180 (plus = North, - = South).

Use TheSky Data

• Checking this box allows for the direct input of RA/Dec rates obtained from Thesky's object info box

Example:

1.  +140, +50 - Entering +140 into the RA text box will speed up the RA tracking by 140 seconds per day (one revolution normally takes 86164 seconds at sidereal rate), +50 into the Dec text box will move the declination axis 50 minutes per day North.  Check the 'Manual Input' box 'Send' to apply the new comet settings.   The maximum offsets are +/- 32767 for RA, and +/-1180 for Dec

Parking the Temma

The Temma's electronics do not offer advanced features such as the ability to park the mount.  However, via this driver there is now a software solution to the mount's limitations.

Park Procedure:

    Two park methods are available:

'Slew Before Park' slews to the inputted alt/az position before parking
'Park at Current Position' parks the current alt/az position of the mount.

Prior to using the park feature the mount must be correctly synced as described above.

The 'Set Park' button can be used to select the mount's current position as the parking position whenever the Temma is connected.  The position will be saved thus removing the need to manually input the values.

        1. Input the desired park altitude and azimuth
        2. Select one of the park methods
        3. Click the 'Park Mount' button
        4. When the park slew is completed disconnect the driver and immediately power off the mount or the mount can be left parked. 

            However, if the power is not turned off the mount will remain in the simulated 'tracking off' mode for NON-Temma 2 models.

Upon reconnection to the mount the unpark sequence will begin.

Stop Tracking:

This feature is useful as a precaution against mount damage in the event you fall asleep or otherwise leave the mount unattended for extended periods.

Procedure:

1. Use the scroll bars to set the local time (in 24 hour format) that you want to stop tracking (make sure it is before the mount will track into itself!)

2. Select either 'Park' or 'Tracking off'

3. Click the 'Stop tracking' button.

4. When the set time is reached the driver will set tracking to off.

To use the GPS the Temma must not be connected.

Procedure:

1. Your GPS must be set to send data in NMEA format, baud rate 4800.

2. Press the 'Link' button to connect to the GPS.

3. Once connected press the 'Send' button to send the GPS time and location to the Temma and to update your systems computer clock.

4. Press the 'Unlink' button to disconnect the GPS then press 'Exit to return to the setup window.

Telescope.HoursPastMeridian(read-write, Double)
 
Integer representing 0-30 minutes

Syntax

Telescope.HoursPastMeridian[= Integer]

The property syntax has these parts:

Special thanks to all the beta testers!!