Software Bisque Paramount ME MKS 4000.

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™ 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.

Price - To Be Announced.

On Display at The Astronomy Shop.

Paramount ME Adapter Plate - £130.00
Additional Counterweight - £160.00
Counterweight Extension Bar - £90.00

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

The Astronomy Shop

1 Tone Hill. Wellington

Somerset TA21 0AU

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1823 665510