Software Bisque Paramount ME - The Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System; What Makes the Paramount ME So Different?

The Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System
Thank you for purchasing the Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System. The Paramount
ME is an ultra-precision German equatorial mount that is designed to deliver unmatched
performance to the amateur or professional astronomer.
This document covers the basic setup and use of the Paramount ME. It assumes that you
are familiar with many fundamental concepts in astronomy and are somewhat experienced
using a telescope and or CCD camera in conjunction with a personal computer. If a
concept presented here is new to you, consider using a search engine on the Internet to
find out more information about the topic. Unfortunately, there’s simply no way that all
the different facets of setting up and controlling a robotic telescope mount can be covered
in a single document.
What Makes the Paramount ME So Different?
The Paramount ME is designed from the ground up to be a rock solid, reliable mount for
instrument payloads up to 68 kg (150 lbs.). The following features ensure that you’ll enjoy
increased productivity and superior results from your observing efforts.
 Research-grade right ascension gears with seven (7) arcseconds or less peak-to-
peak periodic error, before applying periodic error correction (PEC).
 Integration with TheSky6 Professional Edition Astronomy Software to control the
mount locally, remotely, or via scripted operation.
 CCDSoft CCD Astronomy Software for controlling CCD cameras, adaptive optics,
focusers, and filter wheels, as well as performing image processing, data reduction
and research.
 CCDSoft’s DirectGuide™ feature eliminates the need for an autoguider cable on the
Paramount ME.
 TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis software with ProTrack™ provides unmatched
pointing and unguided, or autoguided, tracking performance.
 Orchestrate™ scripting software automates data acquisition.
 Software Bisque’s MKS 4000™ control system provides precise tracking, accurate
periodic error correction and smooth, fast slews.
 The MKS 4000 control system supports a wide dynamic range for slewing and
tracking rates. Virtually any slew speed is available between stopped and several
degrees per second.
 Configurable acceleration and deceleration rates during slews.
 Accurate homing sensors for rapid initialization and precision repeatability from
night to night.
 Homing allows the mount to be quickly reinitialized under any circumstance,
including power loss.
 Super-stable physical design that rapidly dampens external vibrations.
 Built-in software slewing limits prevent damage to the mount and telescope by
slowly decelerating to limit regions.
 Clutch-free design ensures consistent pointing and tracking from night to night.
 50 conductors of through the mount cabling to minimize the nightmare of having
CCD power, CCD signal, focus, video, dew heater, and other accessory cables routed
to the telescope.
 Cable Conduit™ allows adding custom cables, wires or tubes through the mount.