Can TheSky track comets, minor planets or satellites using a computer-controlled telescope?
A. TheSky combined with a Paramount can track the “fast” or “slow” moving objects. Just click on the satellite in TheSky and then click the Track Satellite button on the Object Information dialog box (Telescope tab). TheSky slews the Paramount to the satellite, and then TheSky computes and adjusts the telescope tracking rates in both right ascension and declination to follow the object. Software Bisque routinely captures fast-moving satellites on video using the Paramount. Solar System Objects Tracking Issues 1. For fast-moving objects (such as low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites), the telescope must be able to point accurately enough to place the object in the field of view. TPoint telescope pointing analysis software makes this task relatively simple. 2. In order to automatically track slow- or fast-moving satellites, the telescope’s control system must have configurable tracking rates (different than slew rates) in both the right ascension and declination axis. In addition, the telesco
