We will take a look at connecting a Meade Autostar to Starry Night Pro Plus. Using the software during the day to make an observing plan for the night is always a good idea. You can look at the screen and decide if an object is available for viewing or if it is occluded by a tree, the horizon, or other objects.
With Starry Night Pro Plus, you get a simulated view of your sky, as it is right now, or how it will be tonight when you are out with your telescope. The biggest one is that finding an object in it’s database is clunky and it provides little information as to where the object currently is, until you select it and find it won’t be in the sky until next winter!
Although the telescope’s computer does include a lot of objects in it’s database, I have had a number of issues with it over the years. I use a Macintosh MacBook Pro laptop and for software I have Starry Night Pro Plus. I will share a little of my experience and hopefully you will to give it a try.įirst of all, I have a Meade LXD75 6″ telescope, which includes a Meade Autostar controller. Making the connection between your telescope and software is easy, and the results are rewarding. Astronomy software makes it easier to search and locate celestial bodies, plus it provides a lot more information about objects you might want to observe. If you have computer-controlled telescope and a decent Astronomy program, it’s a good idea to connect them. By Ted Bade, © Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.