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Digital setting circles are a computer aid which helps to point a telescope quickly and accurately to a chosen object. After a simple alignment process the direction the telescope is pointing can be determined by a computer.

After alignment the computer can display the telescope's currnet coordinates and call up an object from its database to help direct the telescope to it.

Meade has its own version for the LX10 called Magellan 1. Because of its cost (about £400 in the UK) I have decided to build my own kit employing my Z80 assembler programming, electronics and mathematics knowledge (?!). I have been working at this since November 1998 and it is turning out to be a very interesting project.

I did a presentation on 22 June 2000 to my local society, Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society. I have uploaded my notes which contains some details of the mathematics behind the workings of a digital setting circles with 2+ star alignment and other technical issues.