en:documentation:telescope_ascom

# ASCOM Telescope interface

From the menu: Telescope

This interface can be used with any telescope supported by the ASCOM Platform. It work only on Windows. Please refer to http://ascom-standards.org to obtain the latest driver version and for more information.

Then use Setup → System → Telescope to select the Ascom interface and then open the Control panel.

For the first time use you need to Select the driver to use and provide some configuration information depending on the telescope you use.

The Advanced setting button open a window with some settings you normally not need to change.
At the moment this is use to force the equatorial system equinox when it is wrongly reported by a driver.

Then click the “Connect button”, the light must change to green and the telescope coordinates are displayed.

You can now set the geographical coordinates and time of the telescope using the values from your computer. But this is normally not required as your telescope must be already aligned before you connect.

To free some space on the screen you can close the interface window by clicking the “Hide” button. Refer to the main menu Telescope to learn how to show the telescope position on the chart or to use the Goto facility if supported by your telescope.

Also if supported you can refine the local slewing precision by using “Sync current object” on a nearby star at any time.

The configuration options are saved when you hide the window. Also save the default options in Skychart menu to keep your interface choice.