Software Bisque Paramount ME Robotic Mount

Paramount ME Robotic Mount.

Sets The Standard In Telescope Mounts. Latest MKS 4000 Version. On Display at The Astronomy Shop.

Software Bisque is pleased to introduce our third-generation telescope mount: the Paramount ME.

We've literally redesigned every component of the Paramount ME to optimize your efficiency, productivity and enjoyment while observing.

In order to create the ME, we've assembled a world-class mount production and manufacturing staff at our facility in Golden, Colorado.

Combined, our team has over 50 years of telescope mount manufacturing experience. We've surrounded the "A-team" with state-of-the-art CNC machining stations and tooling. The result? An astronomical survey machine that actually blurs the line between professional and amateur astronomy.

The Paramount ME's control system uses brush-less DC Servo motors. If your mount is used for survey astronomy all night, every clear night, no other type of motor is sufficient. Note that the life of the brush-less DC servo motor is limited to the service life of the bearings. This translates to about 100,000 hours under normal operating conditions. On the other hand, the life of brushed DC Servo motors is limited to the life of the carbon brushes, which is anywhere from 4,000-10,000 hours according to the manufacturers specifications. Brush-less motors also do not "cog" at any rate. This ensures a smooth, constant output when tracking at the Sidereal rate.

The Paramount's control system boasts state-of-the-art electronics for unmatched performance.

MKS-4000 Features/Specifications: Brush-less DC-servo motors ensure long life and smooth operation. Field upgradeable flash RAM permits easy, immediate software updates. Fast slew speeds and consistent torque at all slew rates. A maximum rate of five degrees per second in right ascension and seven degrees per second in declination gets you to the object, fast. Virtually unlimited selection of tracking and slew rates. AutoHome^TM capability (to better than one arcsecond) with built-in sensor circuitry on each axis ensure that the mount always knows its orientation (after a one-time initialization), even after power failure. Software controlled "hard limits" prevent the mount from tracking or slewing into itself. User-defined parameters can be stored to on-board flash RAM. Numerous safety features critical to remote operation including current-limit protection, encoder-error limits, acceleration ramping, and user-definable maximum slew speeds. Joystick, TheSky for Windows or TheSky Pocket Edition control. Programmable and updateable Periodic Error Correction. Intelligent German Equatorial flipping eliminates unnecessary long slews. The MKS-4000 control system can track at true lunar, solar, minor planet or comet, NEO or LEO satellite rates, or at almost any user-defined rate (when used with TheSky). No other commercially available control system can make this claim. TheSky has been updated to provide many new capabilities that were previously not possible. Some examples of these new features include: display a graph of the periodic error of the worm gear; track a low-earth satellite by clicking on the object on the Sky Display.

S o f t w a r e

TheSky Astronomy Software or TheSky Pocket Edition pumps life into the Paramount and is the heart of the mount. TheSky supplies the onscreen control panel for operating the mount, and unleashes the power of your personal computer or mobile device, thereby increasing your productivity in data acquisition. In addition, TheSky's seamless integration with other astronomical hardware and software enables even first-timers to achieve impressive results!

The Paramount's mind becomes even more powerful when coupled with the TPoint Telescope Pointing Analysis Software. Providing repeatable pinpoint pointing accuracy, TPoint does the thinking so that you don't have to. TPoint learns the quirks and idiosyncrasies of your mount and your optical system, and it makes automatic pointing adjustments to help eliminate these inherent flaws. With TPoint, you no longer have to recalibrate, realign, or "re- synchronize" each time you point the telescope to a new part of the sky or change a piece of equipment!

Includes 2 Counterweights.

Please note: Piers, Counterweights and Wedge to Pier Adapters are only available with purchase of a Paramount ME. We do not sell them separately.

Available From Stock.

On Display at The Astronomy Shop.

Ten good reasons to buy your Paramount ME from SCS Astro Ltd:

* SCS Astro Ltd has been an authorised Software Bisque dealer for over 13 years.
* SCS Astro's owner, Kieron McGrath, has personally known Software Bisque President, Steve Bisque, for the same length of time, and we meet up every year.
* Paramounts sold by SCS Astro are supplied by Baader Planetarium, the sole authorised European distributor for these mounts. We do not handle GREY Imports.
* Kieron McGrath has personally known Thomas Baader for 17 years.
* SCS Astro has been trading for 18 years.
* All Paramounts supplied by SCS Astro come with a 2 year return-to-base warranty.
* Kieron McGrath has personally owned and operated a Paramount since 2003.
* Customers can pay by credit/debit card, BACS transfer or cleared cheque. There are no surcharges or discounts for different payment methods.
* When Paramounts are in stock with Baader, orders are delivered within 7 working days.
* Orders are delivered direct to the customer by UPS. You will not save money by collecting from our shop.

Please note that prices are subject to change without notice. Always check with us before placing your order. Shipping & Insurance £150.00.

See the review in the May 2003 issue of Sky & Telescope.

You are buying from an authorized Software Bisque UK dealer.