Clear Skies

visual astronomy

Tour files

CSOG includes tourfiles for use with different types of telescope controllers. There are tours for Meade's Autostar, NexTours for use with Celestron's NexRemote, EQTours for use with EQMOD and Argo Navis User Catalogs for Wildcard Innovation's Argo Navis controller.

The tours' titles match those of the observing guides and the tours' object order matches that of the guides and the AstroPlanner planfiles.

The tours do not make CSOG "GOTO-telescope-only". To the contrary: all CSOG objects include epoch J2000.0 coordinates. The coordinates can be plotted on almost any starchart. If your starchart does not include the object, simply plot the position and make your starhop. Once close to the object's position, the DSS image in the guide takes over. The DSS image will leave no doubt whether or not you found the targeted object.

Autostar Tours

Autostar tours work with Meade's Autostar #497 and Autostar II & III controllers. The tours can be uploaded using Meade's Autostar Updater (ASU) software. You will need the required cable, the same one that is used to upgrade the software of the controller. They are widely available from telescope vendors.

When it comes to using tours the biggest advantage of Autostar is the ability to upload the files to the controller: after the upload a computer connection is not required to use the tours.

NexTours

Celestron's NexRemote allows tours to be used with NexStar controlled telescopes. It is a Windows PC application. A suitable cable is required to link the NexStar controller to your computer. The tourfiles can be opened in NexRemote when placed in the application's Tours folder.

The application converts text to speech. Using a gaming controller, such as a Logitech Cordless Rumblepad the telescope can be controlled wirelessly. This allows control of the telescope without actually having to view a laptop screen.

EQTours

Many telescopes can be controlled via EQMOD. It is a Windows PC application. A suitable cable is required to link your telescope to your computer.

A feature of EQMOD is EQTours. The tourfiles can be opened when placed in the "EQMOD - EQTOUR" folder.

Argo Navis User Catalogs

Wildcard Innovation's Argo Navis controller allows tours to be created from objects in its database. User catalogs bring all CSOG objects to the controller.

Wildcard Innovation Argo Navis

Other..?

CSOG Tours are available for the abovementioned controllers and software. More may be added in the future for different types of controllers. Please contact me if you know of a controller or telescope control system that allows uploading of tours or object lists.

Please do keep in mind that CSOG contains many objects that are not part of the standard database of many controllers and applications. A true "user object" option must be present that allows adding of objects independently from the applications database.

Sync Charts & Tours

With the publication of CSOG 2.4, Sync Charts & Tours were added: basic constellation charts with matching tours to aid in alignment and synchronisation of goto telescopes.