Developer’s Description
472 stored stars plus planets. Real-Time Tracking of a selected star or all visible stars (included planets and other stellar bodies). Real-Time of a selected constellation or all selected constellations by using customized filters.
A 2d-graph (altitude-azimuth) where will plotted all the visible stars/planets/galaxies with the feature of zooming in the selected stellar body. Zoom -14+14, -10+10, -7+7, -5+5, -2+2, -1+1 (referred to the calculated azimuth of the selected stellar body). Azimuth and Altitude Plotter. Stellar map generator (bmp and jpeg formats). Latitude and longitude can be used in DMS or in decimal formats. Latitude and longitude can also be extracted from google-map web links (save/load .loc files). Locate selected astro (the located star will blinking for 15 times and the mouse cursor will be moved on the founded star). Heliocentric Osculating Orbital Elements can be updated online. AstroFinder2019.exe can be updated online. Real-Time precession and nutation corrections to all stellar bodies. Calculator of the best day (where altitude will be > 15,20,25,30) in the selected month of a selected star at current longitude/latitude. Calculator of the best day (where altitude will be > 15,20,25,30) until end of the current year of a selected star at current longitude/latitude. Calculator of the best day (where altitude will be > 15,20,25,30) until end of next year of all the stars at current longitude/latitude. Calculator (where altitude will be > 10,15,20,25,30) of all the visible stars at current date/time/longitude/latitude. Date and Time are referred to the GMT
Features:
494 stored stars plus planets
Real-Time Tracking of a selected star or all visible stars (included planets and other stellar bodies) or all selected stars by using customized filters (Filter Stars) at selected longitude/latitude
Real-Time Tracking of a selected constellation (Filter Constellation) or all selected constellations (Filter Constellations) by using customized filters at selected longitude/latitude
A 2d-graph (altitude-azimuth) where will plotted all the visible stars/planets/galaxies with the feature of zooming in the selected stellar body.
Zoom -14+14, -10+10, -7+7, -5+5, -2+2, -1+1 (referred to the calculated azimuth of the selected stellar body)
Azimuth and Altitude Plotter (with clipboard support)
Stellar map generator (bmp and jpeg formats)
Latitude and longitude can be entered in DMS or in decimal formats.
Latitude and longitude can also be extracted from google-map web links (save/load .loc files for future uses)
Locate selected astro (the located star will blinking for 15 times and the mouse cursor will be moved on the founded star)
Heliocentric Osculating Orbital Elements of the Planets can be updated online!
AstroFinder2019.exe can be updated online!
Real-Time precession (matrix) and nutation (Nutation IAU 2000A) corrections to all stellar bodies (starting from J2018.5)
Extended (10bytes) real type variables are used for the best accuracy
Calculator of the best days (where altitude will be > 15,20,25,30) in the selected month of a selected star at selected longitude/latitude
Calculator of the best days (where altitude will be > 15,20,25,30) until end of the current year of a selected star at selected longitude/latitude
Calculator of the best days (where altitude will be > 15,20,25,30) until end of next year of all the stars at selected longitude/latitude
Calculator (where altitude will be > 10,15,20,25,30) of all the visible stars at selected date/time/longitude/latitude
Export displayed stars/galaxies/nebulae on txt files grouped by hemisphere
Date and Time are referred to the GMT (GreenWich)
Well, it took some doing, but I finally figured out how to download the latest firmware and data to my 497 Autostar controller. There are several obstacles for the uninitiated (like me) to overcome:
1. You have to understand that the Meade download installs a software tool on your desk that does two very different things. First of all, it can be used to update the firmware (instructions) in your handset. Second, it can update the object data.
2. Regarding the firmware, there is a button on the window that is labeled “Upgrade Autostar Software Now” which is used to update the firmware, not to download more accurate object data.
3. For downloading object data, there are two sub-windows. One is labeled “Library” and the other is labeled “Autostar”. You use the Library window to retrieve data from the internet and then you select data from that window and designate it for copying to the Autostar by moving it to the Autostar sub-window. Once the data is listed in the Autostar sub-window, you “Send” the data using the “Autostar Commands” from up above.
4. The Autostar Update software is expecting you to have a serial port on your computer. But most laptops and desktops sold today don’t. So you will need an adapter cable to use some other port. Typically you will need to use a USB port and you will need to get a USB-to-serial port adapter cable. But be forewarned — there are two versions of such cables and one is compatible with Windows 10 and the other is not.
5. Speaking of Windows 10 and these adapter cables, you will need to download a driver to patch the expected serial communication through the USB ports. The driver is also found on the Meade support page of their website.
6. Downloading data to the Autostar handset is fairly quick — a minute or two. But downloading the latest firmware can take 30 minutes or so.
Description
For all Meade models equipped with the #494 type AutoStar handbox (small keypad). Allows you to both operate the telescope from your computer and download free updates from the Meade site as they become available.
Autostar Suite Astronomer Edition shows the night sky, constellations, planet positions, and more for any location on Earth. Controls any Meade telescope with a #494 AutoStar handbox, allowing telescope control from a Windows personal computer. The included serial cords also allow downloading updated software to the AutoStar from your PC, and additionally cloning one AutoStar to another.