Software Bisque's Remote Astronomy Software (RAS) consists of all the software required for
you to run a robotic telescope and imaging system. With RAS, you can control
computer-driven telescopes and CCD cameras that are located next to your computer, on the
other side of the Earth, or virtually anywhere in between!
Using RAS, you connect to a telescope and CCD camera via direct cabling, phone line or the
Internet. With the simple click of your mouse, you then instruct the telescope to slew to an
object in TheSky's Object Database. While the telescope is in motion, you'll see a real-time
indicator of the telescope's progress across the on-screen starfield. Once the telescope
reaches the target, you can take a live digital CCD image which is then downloaded for
display and image-processing on your computer!

RAS is available in two forms:

RAS 16-bit for Windows 3.1x, Windows 95/98. Includes TheSky Level II version 2, SkyPro
version 2 and Local Serial Port Controller. Remote capability requires a modem with an
available phone line.
Price - £275.00

RAS 32-bit for Windows 95/98/NT. Includes TheSky Level IV version 5, CCDSoft version 4
and RASClient. Remote capability requires access to the Internet.
Price - £475.00

Remote Astronomy via Direct Cabling
Using TheSky and CCDSoft together, you can control computer-driven telescopes and CCD
cameras that are directly connected to your computer. Currently, telescope support is
provided for the Meade LX200, the Quadrant Engineering Coordinate I, Software Bisque's own
Paramount ME and all telescopes supporting the ACL protocol. In addition, CCD camera
support is provided for the complete camera lines of Santa Barbara Instrument Group and
Apogee Instruments.

Remote Astronomy via the Telescopes in Education (TIE) Project
High in the mountains north of Pasadena, California is the Mount Wilson Observatory, home
of the Telescopes in Education Project. There, a large dome houses a 24-inch telescope with
CCD camera that has been fully dedicated to remote astronomy for the past six years. More
recently, a second, 14-inch telescope on a Software Bisque Paramount GT-1100, was
installed on the mountain as the first Internet-controlled telescope in TIE's expanding network.

Using the 24-inch Telescope

This telescope has been remotely controlled since 1993, and has been widely used by
schools and individuals alike. The remote operation of this instrument requires RAS 16-bit, a
modem with an available phone line, and access time scheduled with TIE.

Using the 14-inch Telescope

This telescope was installed at Mount Wilson in April 1998, and at present is being made
available only to select users. Remote operation of this instrument requires RAS 32-bit, an
Internet connection and access time scheduled with TIE.

The Astronomy Shop

1 Tone Hill. Wellington

Somerset TA21 0AU

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1823 665510