help_start ( self )

Set help text cursor to the start of the first line. Returns: # The contains first string of the general handbox help file.

? - Help Text Retrieval

get_RA ( self )

Get Telescope RA Returns: HH:MM.T# or HH:MM:SS# Depending which precision is set for the telescope

set_manual_track_rate ( self,  rate )

Set Manual rate do the ASCII expressed decimal DDD.DD Returns: 1

set_site_latitude ( self,  angle )

Sets the current site latitude to sDD*MM# Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

set_lunar_latitude ( self,  lat )

Sets target object to the specificed selenographic latitude on the Moon. Returns 1- If moon is up and coordinates are accepted. sDD*MM 0 - If the coordinates are invalid

get_lower_limit ( self )

Get Lower Limit Returns: DD*# The highest elevation above the horizon that the telescope will be allowed to slew to without a warning message.

setup_dialog ( self,  fileName='LX200.cfg' )

Mandatory, in advanced mode additional parameters, such as the scope position, guide rates etc. will be set. No dialog, just read config...

get_tracking_rate ( self )

Get tracking rate Returns: TT.T# Current Track Frequency expressed in hertz assuming a synchonous motor design where a 60.0 Hz motor clock would produce 1 revolution of the telescope in 24 hours.

track_default ( self )

Select default tracking rate Returns: Nothing

AbortSlew_East ( self )

Halt eastward Slews Returns: Nothing

lunar_sync ( self,  coords=None )

Synchonize the telescope with the current Selenographic coordinates.

C - Sync Control

get_distance ( self )

D - Distance Bars

move_North ( self )

Move Telescope North at current slew rate Returns: Nothing

move_South ( self )

Move Telescope South at current slew rate Returns: Nothing

set_target_DEC ( self,  angle )

Set target object declination to sDD°MM or sDD°MM:SS depending on the current precision setting. Accepts float or sDD:MM or sDD:MM:SSReturns: 1 - Dec Accepted 0 - Dec invalid

get_site_lat ( self )

Get Current Site Latitude Returns: sDD*MM# The latitude of the current site. Positive inplies North latitude.

AbortSlew_West ( self )

Halt westward Slews Returns: Nothing

get_Dec ( self )

Get Telescope Declination. Returns: sDDMM# or sDDMM'SS# Depending upon the current precision setting for the telescope.

precision_toggle ( self )

Toggle between low/hi precision positions Low - RA displays and messages HH:MM.T sDDMM High - Dec/Az/El displays and messages HH:MM:SS sDDMM:SS Returns Nothing

U - Precision Toggle

set_slew_centering ( self )

Set Slew rate to Centering rate (2nd slowest) Returns: Nothing

toggle_time_format ( self )

Toggle Between 24 and 12 hour time format Returns: Nothing

H - Time Format Command

get_sidereal_time ( self )

Get the Sidereal Time Returns: HH:MM:SS# The Sidereal Time as an ASCII Sexidecimal value in 24 hour format

set_max_elev ( self,  elev )

Set highest elevation to which the telescope will slew - DD Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

align_home ( self )

LX200GPS and LX 16" Seeks the Home Position of the scope and sets/aligns the scope based on the encoder values stored in non-volatile memory Returns: Nothing Autostar,LX200 - Igrnored ???

move_West ( self )

Move Telescope West at current slew rate Returns: Nothing

help_prev ( self )

Retreive previous line of the handbox help text file. Returns: # The contains the next string of general handbox help file

set_align_mode ( self,  mode )

Sets method of alignment used L Land alignment mode P Polar alignment mode A AltAz alignment mode Returns: nothing

set_pointing_mode ( self,  mode=None )

set or toggle precision in high precision mode -- requires centering

P - High Precision Toggle

set_site_num ( self,  num )

Set current site to , an ASCII digit in the range 0..3 Returns: Nothing

W - Site Select

set_lunar_longitude ( self,  lon )

Sets the target object to the specified selenogrphic longitude on the Moon Returns 1 - If the Moon is up and coordinates are accepted. sDDD*MM 0 - If the coordinates are invalid for any reason.

set_site_name (

        self,

        site,

        name,

        )

Set site name to be . LX200s only accept 3 character strings. Other scopes accept up to 15 characters. Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

determine_model ( self,  model="LX200" )

TO DO run a series of commands to test for pass/fail

set_site_longitude ( self,  angle )

Set current site's longitude to DDD*MM an ASCII position string Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

set_slew_rate ( self,  N )

Set maximum slew rate to N degrees per second. N is the range (2..8) Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

R - Slew Rate Commands

axis_rates ( Axis )

Axis (TelescopeAxes) The axis about which rate information is desired Return (Object) Collection of Rate objects describing the supported rates of motion that can be supplied to the MoveAxis() method for the specified axis.

M - Telescope Movement Commands

fan_on ( self )

LX 16"- Turn on the tube exhaust fan

LX200GPSTurn on power to accessor panel LX200 7" Maksutov - Turn on cooling fan Autostar & LX200 < 16" - Not Supported Returns: nothing

f - Fan Command

get_menu_entry ( self,  entry )

Get Alignment Menu Entry Returns: A # Terminated ASCII string. [LX200 legacy command]

G - Get Telescope Information

set_tracking_rate ( self,  rate )

Sets the current tracking rate to TT.T hertz, assuming a model where a 60.0 Hertz synchronous motor will cause the RA axis to make exactly one revolution in 24 hours. Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

smart_PEC_toggle ( self )

Toggles Smart Drive PEC on and off for both axis Returns: Nothing Not supported on Autostar

Q- Smart Drive Control

track_rate_incr ( self )

Increment Manual rate by 0.1 Hz Returns: Nothing

T - Tracking Commands

__repr__ ( self )

Return a representation string.

change_date ( self,  date )

Change Handbox Date to MM/DD/YY Returns: D = 0 if the date is invalid. The string is the null string. D = 1 for valid dates and the string is "Updating Planetary Data" #" Note: For LX200GPS this is the UTC data!

get_site_names ( self )

return all names in a List

store_home ( self )

LX200GPS and LX 16" Seeks Home Position and stores the encoder values from the aligned telescope at the home position in the nonvolatile memory of the scope. Returns: Nothing Autostar,LX200 - Ignored ???

h - Home Position Commands

track_rate_dec ( self )

Decrement Manual rate by 0.1 Hz Returns: Nothing

get_local_time_24 ( self )

Get Local Time in 24 hour format Returns: HH:MM:SS# The Local Time in 24-hour Format

get_temperature ( self )

LX200GPS - Return Optical Tube Assembly Temperature Returns - a # terminated signed ASCII real number indicating the Celsius ambient temperature. All others - Not supported

get_local_time12 ( self )

Get Local Telescope Time In 12 Hour Format Returns: HH:MM:SS# The time in 12 format

set_time_lon (

        self,

        time,

        lon,

        )

Since the time setting in seconds is 4x better than the Lon setting of minutes, I propose using the combination of Lon and time to minimize error of rounding: ie, if Lon is 117deg15'19" use the time setting to compensate for the 19".

get_high_limit ( self )

Get High Limit Returns: sDD* The minimum elevation of an object above the horizon to which the telescope will slew with reporting a "Below Horizon" error.

set_slew_find ( self )

Set Slew rate to Find Rate (2nd Fastest) Returns: Nothing

AbortSlew ( self,  direction=None )

Halt all current slewing Returns:Nothing

Q - Movement Commands

move_to_object ( self )

Slew to Target Object Returns: 0 Slew is Possible 1 Object Below Horizon w/string message 2 Object Below Higher w/string message

get_site3 ( self )

Get Site 3 Name Returns: # A # terminated string with the name of the requested site.

get_site2 ( self )

Get Site 2 Name Returns: # A # terminated string with the name of the requested site.

get_site1 ( self )

Get Site 1 Name Returns: # A # terminated string with the name of the requested site.

get_alignment ( self )

Query of alignment mounting mode. Returns: A If scope in AltAz Mode L If scope in Land Mode P If scope in Polar Mode

ACK - Alignment Query

set_slew_max ( self )

Set Slew rate to max (fastest) Returns: Nothing

get_site4 ( self )

Get Site 4 Name Returns: # A # terminated string with the name of the requested site.

move_East (

        self,

        rate=None,

        t=None,

        )

Move Telescope East at current slew rate Returns: Nothing

get_Altitude ( self )

Get Telescope Altitude Returns: sDDMM# or sDDMM'SS# The current scope altitude. The returned format depending on the current precision setting.

get_current_long ( self )

Get Current Site Longitude Returns: sDDD*MM") The current site Longitude. East Longitudes are expressed as negative

set_target_AZ ( self )

Sets the target Object Azimuth [LX 16" and LX200GPS only] Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

set_site ( self,  site )

Set current site to , an ASCII digit in the range 0..3 Returns: Nothing

S - Telescope Set Commands

get_home_status ( self )

Autostar, LX200GPS and LX 16" Query Home Status Returns: 0 Home Search Failed 1 Home Search Found 2 Home Search in Progress LX200 Not Supported

set_target_RA ( self,  angle )

Set target object RA to HH:MM.T or HH:MM:SS depending on the current precision setting. Angle is a float or sDD:MM.T or sDD:MM:SS. Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

track_custom ( self )

Select custom tracking rate Returns: Nothing

auto_align ( self )

Start Telescope Automatic Alignment Sequence [LX200GPS only] Returns: 1: When complete (can take several minutes). 0: If scope not AzEl Mounted or align fails

A - Alignment Commands

get_calendar_format ( self )

Get Calendar Format Returns: 12# or 24# Depending on the current telescope format setting.

ser_slew_guide ( self )

Set Slew rate to Guiding Rate (slowest) Returns: Nothing

get_date ( self )

Get current date. Returns: MM/DD/YY# The current local calendar date for the telescope.

track_lunar ( self )

Set Lunar Tracking Rate Returns: Nothing

__init__ (

        self,

        comPort,

        model='LX200',

        debug=False,

        )

Constructor.

help_next ( self )

Retrieve the next line of help text Returns: # The contains the next string of general handbox help file

move_to_current_target ( self )

Autostar, LX 16", LX200GPS - Slew to target Alt and Az Returns: 0 - No fault 1 - Fault LX200 - Not supported

get_UTC_offset ( self )

Get UTC offset time Returns: sHH# or sHH.H# The number of decimal hours to add to local time to convert it to UTC. If the number is a whole number the sHH# form is returned, otherwise the longer form is return. On Autostar and LX200GPS, the daylight savings setting in effect is factored into returned value.

toggle_precision ( self )

Toggles High Precsion Pointing. When High precision pointing is enabled scope will first allow the operator to center a nearby bright star before moving to the actual taget. Returns: "HIGH PRECISION" Current setting after this command. "LOW PRECISION" Current setting after this command.

FindHome ( self )

Autostar, LX200GPS and LX 16"Slew to Park Position Returns: Nothing

AbortSlew_North ( self )

Halt northward Slews Returns: Nothing

set_UTC_offset ( self,  hours )

Set the number of hours added to local time to yield UTC "sHH.H" Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

get_site ( self,  siteNum )

return site name

set_sideral_time ( self,  stime )

Sets the local sideral time to HH:MM:SS Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid

set_precision_type ( self,  pType )

Sets telescope to give various position responses No command to check precision, so read something

set_target_alt ( self,  alt )

Set target object altitude to sDDMM# or sDDMM'SS" [LX 16", Autostar, LX200GPS] Returns: 0 Object within slew range 1 Object out of slew range

fan_off ( self )

LX 16"- Turn off tube exhaust fan LX200GPS - Turn off power to accessory panel LX200 7" Maksutov - Turn off cooling fan Autostar & LX200 < 16" - Not Supported Returns: Nothing

get_AZ ( self )

Get telescope azimuth Returns: DDDMM#T or DDDMM'SS# The current telescope Azimuth depending on the selected precision.

AbortSlew_South ( self )

Halt southward Slews Returns: Nothing

can_move_axis ( Axis )

Axis (TelescopeAxes) The identifier for the axis to be tested Return (Boolean) True if the telescope can be controlled about the specified axis via the MoveAxis() method.

set_local_time ( self,  ltime )

Set the local Time "HH:MM:SS" Returns: 0 - Invalid 1 - Valid