PF vs OnStep Controller

The PF-L Assist is a free app for smartphones and tablets in order to support polar axis setting which is basic to your equatorial mount. The PF-L Assist app makes it possible to set the field of view of your polar alignment scope PF-L II at the specific date and time of your observation. (It is usable in both the northern and southern hemisphere.) [Functions] Orientation of the scale and position of starts are indicated in real time. The orientation of the scale and the position of the stars are computed automatically in accordance with the date, time and site of your observing session. An image of the field of view seen though the polar alignment scope at the time of observing is indicated on the screen of your smartphone or tablet. It is available for both the northern and southern hemisphere (Automatic or manual operation are available). Adjacent stars of no relevance to the polar alignment are not indicated in the imaginary field of view so that you can instantly recognize the position of the stars you want. After you confirm the position of the stars with the app, it is easier to polar align your PF-L scope. [How to use] Usage in the northern hemisphere is shown as an example. (1) Start up the app. (2) While looking through the polar alignment scope, turn the scope’s scale so that it comes to the same orientation as the scale indicated on the screen of the app. (3) The direction of the scope’s scales is parallel to the scale on the app. (4) Bring Polaris to the designated position on the scale in the field of view of the polar alignment scope by adjusting the equatorial mount in azimuth and/or altitude directions and finish the polar alignment setting. For beginners and those who are unfamiliar with the polar alignment scope, it may take time to set up the equatorial mount.　The polar alignment requires a process that matches the reticle with the actual rows of stars by turning the polar alignment scope. The app enables you to simplify this process and quickly advance to the polar alignment by Polaris. Vixen’s polar alignment scopes are designed to align the equatorial mount using Polaris and two reference stars named Delta UMi and 51 Cep to increase accuracy of the polar alignment (in the northern hemisphere). If the above two reference stars are added to your polar alignment, you will increase the setting accuracy and tracking precision. These two reference stars are less bright than Polaris and may be difficult to find. Using the app you will find it easier to locate the two reference stars. Assisting the polar alignment, the PF-L Assist app is a highly convenient app for those who use an equatorial mount first time. [Enlargement] The imaginary field of view of the polar alignment scope on the app is enlarged and you can easily check the position of the stars. [Night vision] Switching ON the night vision mode in the setting screen will turn the screen of the app to illuminate in red, which allows you to keep your eye's sensitivity in night observing. [Support page] Help, support page is provided in the setup menu. The support page links you to the Vixen web site.

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.