There are several options for controlling a dome from TheSky planetarium software.
(TheSky and Paramount ME are trademarks of Software Bisque.)
If your telescope has an ASCOM driver available, then we recommend that you use the ASCOM Dome Control Panel or other hub to operate the dome. It has several advantages:
All necessary software is included with MaxDome II
Goto commands result in the dome moving immediately to the target coordinates
Sidereal tracking is handled automatically
The ASCOM Telescope API plug-in must be installed into TheSky. You then set up TheSky to connect to the ASCOM Dome Control as the telescope. Please see Slaving Setup for additional instructions.
Please note that this configuration is not possible if you are using a Paramount ME, because the telescope drivers are built into TheSky.
If your telescope cannot be controlled by a separate ASCOM driver, as for the Paramount ME, then you can connect ASCOM Dome Control Panel to TheSky as if it were the telescope driver. This has advantages and disadvantages, as follows:
All necessary software is included with MaxDome II
Works with drivers built-in to TheSky, including the Paramount ME
Goto commands from TheSky do not move the telescope immediately. Instead the dome follows the telescope, and may start and stop several times as the telescope continues to move.
Goto commands from third-party programs connected to the ASCOM Dome Control Panel do result in the dome moving immediately to the target coordinates
Sidereal tracking is handled automatically
Configure as follows:
Open TheSky
Open Telescope menu Server Settings, and set the following:
Turn on Allow sync
Turn on Allow goto
Turn on Allow focus control
Turn on Allow set park
Turn on Allow park
Turn on Allow map
Turn on Allow set tracking rate
Turn on Remote clients use Orchestrate's "ImageThenSlewTo" command
Click OK
Now configure the ASCOM Dome Control Panel to connect to TheSky Controlled Telescope.
In the Chooser click Properties and set the following:
Select the version of TheSky you are running (Version 5.0.110 or later or Version 6.0 or later)
Inhibit SYNC to protect TPOINT model may be configured as needed
In most cases you should turn off Slew-start delay for CPU-hogging cameras
You can also use AutomaDome in conjunction with MaxDome II. This configuration also has various advantages and disadvantages:
Additional third-party software purchase is required
Works with drivers built-in to TheSky, including the Paramount ME
Goto commands from both TheSky and third-party software move the telescope immediately
Sidereal tracking is not handled automatically; a script is available for this purpose; please contact Software Bisque for more information.
Make sure the software is configured properly, per the software installation instructions, To link to the dome, follow these instructions:
Start TheSky.
In TheSky 5 hold down the SHIFT and CTRL keys, and press the D key. In TheSky 6 just hit the D key.
A small pop-up window will appear. Select Setup... and make sure Local Connection is on. Click OK.
Select Dome menu, and click Link -> Establish.
Select Dome menu, and click Find Home. Wait for the dome to locate the home sensor.
Now establish the link to the telescope.
Attempt a GOTO operation on the telescope. The dome should follow the telescope.
If the dome does not align properly with the telescope, check the settings in AutomaDome. Refer to the AutomaDome documentation for more information.