Computerizing an old SCT

astroron (Ron) · #1 12-05-2010, 10:58 AM

I have a 20 year old Celestron Ultima 8 Fork mount SCT with motors on
both axis and a basic hand controller.
Is there any way to attach the scope to a computer, except the ARGO NAVIS route

Cheers

Barrykgerdes · #2 12-05-2010, 11:53 AM

If it has encoders on the axes and a computer socket probably OK. otherwise no. However the old original Celestron Ultima was the first computer controlled telescope released on the general market. I believe it had problems and was withdrawn. The next Ultima version that was released about 12 years ago was computer controlled and could be connected to a computer. Are you sure it is a Celestron Ultima?

Barry

astroron (Ron) · #3 12-05-2010, 12:08 PM

Barry, I can assure you it is the Celestron ULTIMA 8 Purchased in the USA by myself on the 13 September 1990 from a shop in Orlando Florida and carried back to Australia as excess Baggage.

I think it could have been one of the first Ultima's in this country

It has a chip in it for the PEC which I think was a first

But as far as I am aware that is all it has to do with computers

I thought as much about the computerization,but thought I would ask anyway

Barrykgerdes · #4 12-05-2010, 02:59 PM

Ah Yes Ron

They were available in the USA and the were supposed to be arriving in Australia. It was well before the LX200 was released. I wanted to have a look at one but they never arrived at the dealers. I was told there were teething problems and they would not be sold in Australia. If they had computer input I am sure you would have found it by now.

I ended up getting a 10" LX200 in 1994

The next I saw of them was the later version about 1998. They were a full Goto and these did in fact have computer input connection. A friend of mine bought one and I helped him set it up with a computer using TheSky version 5.

It looks like you will need an Argo Navis if you want to connect it to the computer.

Barry