OnStep Controller vs MLAstro Hub

OnStep Controller Take full control of your OnStep telescope mount from your iPhone. OnStep Controller is a clean, dark-mode companion app for amateur astronomers — connecting over WiFi (OnStep or OnStepX) or Bluetooth Low Energy (OnStepX with the BLE plugin required) to give you everything you need from setup to the final star. Connect and Configure Connect to your mount over your local WiFi network or via Bluetooth Low Energy. Send your GPS coordinates and current time directly to the mount for accurate alignment, and verify that the mount's site data matches your device before you start observing. Interactive Sky Chart Browse a live star chart showing hundreds of named stars and Messier deep-sky objects projected for your exact location and time. Pan and zoom freely, then tap any object to see its details and issue a GoTo command. Horizon, overhead, and meridian flip limits are drawn directly on the chart so you always know what your mount can reach. Visual Star Alignment Begin a 1- to 9-star alignment from the Setup tab and get guided through the process on the sky chart. Pick your alignment stars visually, slew to each one, then fine-tune with the on-screen directional pad and accept. Full Mount Control Move the mount in any direction at four slew rates — Guide, Center, Find, and Slew. Toggle tracking on and off, switch between Sidereal, Lunar, and Solar tracking rates, park and unpark, and find home — all from a single screen with live RA, Dec, Alt, and Az readouts. GoTo from a Catalog Search a built-in catalog of stars, open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and planetary nebulae. Filter to objects currently above the horizon and slew to any target with a single tap. Or enter coordinates manually for objects not in the catalog. Designed for the Dark The entire app runs in forced dark mode with a deep red accent color chosen to protect your night vision at the eyepiece. Requires an OnStep or OnStepX telescope mount controller. WiFi works with both; Bluetooth requires OnStepX with the BLE plugin installed. iOS does not support Classic Bluetooth.

MLAstro is the wireless remote control companion for OnStep-based telescope mounts connected through SmartWebServer. Whether you're in your backyard or at a dark-sky site, MLAstro gives you everything you need right from your phone — no laptop, no cables, no hassle. KEY FEATURES ● Live Mount Status See your mount's current state at a glance: tracking mode, guide rates, slew status, and connection health — all updated in real time. ● Full Directional Control A responsive on-screen directional pad lets you nudge the mount in any direction. Adjust slew rates, start or stop tracking, and send mount utility commands with a tap. ● Home & Park Safely home or park your mount at the end of a session with dedicated one-tap controls. ● Go-To Catalogs Browse built-in catalogs and send your mount directly to any object: - Messier catalog (110 objects) - Caldwell catalog (109 objects) - Bright Stars list - J2000 coordinate entry for any custom target ● Target Detail & Slew View object details before slewing, confirm the target, and watch your mount move — all from one clean screen. ● Alignment Workflow Step through the alignment process guided by the app, so your mount points accurately every time. ● Flexible Network Setup Supports both Access Point and Station (router) Wi-Fi modes. Save your controller's IP address and port so you're always one tap from connecting. ● Configuration & Tuning Adjust meridian flip settings, slew limits, slew rates, tracking mode, time & location, and controller / axis parameters — all without leaving the app. ● Light & Dark Theme Choose light, dark, or follow your system preference. REQUIREMENTS - An OnStep-based telescope mount controller - SmartWebServer (or compatible TCP bridge) running on port 9998 (configurable) - iOS 15 or later - Same local Wi-Fi network as the mount MLAstro is built for amateur astronomers who want a clean, capable mobile controller for their OnStep rig. No account required. No cloud. Just your phone and your mount.