Paramount GT-1100 Robotic Telescope Mount

page 10 Paramount User’s Guide
The Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System
Thank you for purchasing the Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System. The Paramount
ME is a high-precision instrument designed to deliver unmatched telescope performance to
the amateur or professional astronomer.
The Paramount ME represents an evolution of the popular “go to” telescopes of the 1990’s.
Though these telescopes provided increased ease of use over their manual predecessors, they
lacked numerous design features that are required for efficient image acquisition and
unattended operation. Most of the earlier “go to” telescopes and mounts were designed as
primarily visual instruments that faired only marginally well for CCD imaging. Efficient
CCD imaging demands numerous additional capabilities not present in systems that are
“good enough” for visual use.
What Makes Paramount ME Different?
The Paramount ME is designed from the ground up to be a sturdy, reliable mount for
instruments up to 57 kg (125 lbs.). The following features insure increased productivity for
astronomer using the ME:
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Research-grade right ascension gears with less 5 arcseconds or less peak-to-peak periodic
error.
TheSky Astronomy Software integration to remotely control the mount.
CCDSoft CCD Astronomy Software, for controlling CCD cameras.
Orchestrate scripting program for running unattended data acquisition sessions.
TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis Software with ProTrack, to provide unmatched
pointing and tracking capabilities.
Software Bisque’s TheSky TCS Telescope Drive System, for precise tracking, periodic
error correction and slewing.
Accurate homing for quick startup and exact repeatability night to night.
Super stable design dampens rapidly.
Built in soft-limits prevent damage to the mount and telescope by decelerating softly into
limits.
Clutch free design insures consistent pointing and tracking from night to night.
56-bit internal precision in the control system for a wide speed range. Virtually any speed
is available between stopped and several degrees per second.
Advanced periodic error correction with polynomial fitting function.
50 conductors of through-the-mount cabling minimize the cabling nightmare that usually
results from CCD power, CCD signal, focus, video and other cables routed to the
telescope.
Cable ConduitTM allows for passing additional cables, wires or tubes through the mount.
Wedge design accommodates latitudes from 15 to 58 degrees.
Altitude divisions provide an accurate altitude starting point for polar alignment.
8-inch RA bearing and 6-inch declination provide maximum stability.
Numerous internal webbings and external buttresses make the ME extremely rigid, even
with heavy payloads.