Telescope Auto Focuser

[alanwhitson]

Would BYE be able to focus my telescope (Celestron SCT 8") with an auto focuser?  I'm considering adding the Celestron AutoFocuser and it would be great if BYE could control this.

[astroman133]

If you have a Premium license for BYE and an absolute focuser with an ASCOM driver then BYE will be able to control it. Offhand I do not know if the new Celestron focuser is a relative focuser or an absolute focuser. If it is absolute, then you should be able to control it from BYE.

I should caution you that BYE does allow you to adjust focuser from the ASCOM Focuser panel, but it does not automatically bring your camera into focus. You must driver the movements from BYE's user interface.

[alanwhitson]

Thanks for your response.  Could you help me understand "absolute focuser" a bit better, please?  The focuser makes available the needed driver you mentioned above so I'm assuming it is "absolute." 

[astroman133]

The ASCOM Focuser standard supports absolute and relative focusers. The Absolute focuser is moved by sending a command to go to a specific position (specified by steps from the zero position). A Relative focuser is moved by specifying how many steps inward or outward to move. It has no position value.

Relative focuser drivers typically support focusers with a servo motor. Absolute focuser drivers typically support focusers with stepper motors.

I believe that the Celestron Focus Motor driver implements an Absolute focuser.

[alanwhitson]

Thanks again!!!  Your description above suggests that the Celestron focuser is absolute.  Also, they supply an ASCOM driver which would confirm this as well.