WiFi-enabled Crestron touchpanel aids in stargazing

We've seen home automation touchpanels used for some -- shall we say, unorthodox -- activities, but this is taking things to another level galaxy. Franklin, NC-based Dan Quigley has whipped up a way for his WiFi-enabled Crestron TMPC8X to actually control a giant telescope. Rather than manually getting the 'scope into the right position, he simply touches a button and watches it automatically check to see "if and when that object is viewable." While he's at it, he can dim the lights around him and check the local weather, and once a celestial body is in view, he can snap a photograph or have the system channel the image to any computer / TV. Suddenly, astronomy has become entirely more attractive.

[Thanks, Chuck]

[avester @ Oct 1st 2008 11:31AM]

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Yeah, I'd like to gaze stars with that...

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Oct 1st 2008 1:34PM]

I've always said "Reach for the Stars"

And now you CAN Touch them! (Not counting Paris, seems 'bout anyone can touch her)

[Chris Are @ Oct 1st 2008 11:34AM]

I can show you the starrrs.

[Josh Warner @ Oct 1st 2008 11:34AM]

First: Very cool hack.

Second: He'd better not be using the pictured interface if he is worth his salt as an amateur astronomer (and I hope he is, with that scope). Customized monochrome red-on-black would be required so as not to destroy one's night vision.

[StalematE @ Oct 1st 2008 11:40AM]

can i get a wawa sandwich on that thing?

[jeffp @ Oct 1st 2008 12:19PM]

The telescope pictured is a Meade and there is no such thing as a "Crestron". There is Celestron. We have been doing remote operation for quite a few years so this is not new. There are sites on the net that allow you access to telescopes without owning one.

[Sean @ Oct 1st 2008 12:30PM]

Crestron refers to the touchscreen controller. They are typically used in home automation systems (think high-end home theaters)

Please see http://www.crestron.com/ for more info on Crestron controllers

[norm @ Oct 1st 2008 12:42PM]

Crestron is an automation system used to control electronics subsystems in very high-end homes and commercial buildings. They make very expensive touchscreens to control all of this stuff, such as the TMPC8X mentioned in the article. If you had clicked the tag link on the word "Crestron", you would have found plenty more articles about Crestron.

[neodorian @ Oct 1st 2008 1:55PM]

That is odd because I work with Crestron equipment on a daily basis at work. I wonder what they are actually paying me for instead.

[Travis @ Oct 1st 2008 12:32PM]

First off, awesome. As someone who has done a fair amount of home automation work in my own house, that's fabulous.

Second, that installer is a genius. He spent 500+ hours programming coordinates. Lets assume that's $75 an hour (my guess is more like 150 though). The installer charged this guy $37,500. Oh, and he's still working on it.

So, in a nutshell, this "astronomer" had someone program his fancy telescope so he can press a button and see the feed from his telescope on his TV. Or take a picture. Wow.

[johnzillah @ Oct 1st 2008 5:47PM]

This has been around for some time now. This is not new technology by no means. You can do this with many programs out their. The Sky6 is probably the most popular. I have to say that is a nice setup. Looks like a Meade RCX400 16 inch with UHTC coatings with a f/6.3 focal reducer , 2 inch Tele view Everbrite diagonal and a 2 inch 56mm Tele view eyepiece. The only problem with this setup is that if you want to change the magnification of the eyepiece you will have to do that manually. Nice Scope!

[Kolenka @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:44PM]

You sure about all that? The diagonal looks like the standard included Meade Series 5000 2" diagonal. Not an Everbrite, but still not bad. The eyepiece actually looks like a Televue 26mm Nagler. I honestly can't tell if there is a focal reducer, but I would believe it with the length of the tube coming out the back of that thing.