Markless™ Astronomics

Accessories for Big and not-so-Big Dobs

  1. Netbook Stalk II™ by Markless™ Astronomics

  2. Tablet Stalk II™ by Markless™ Astronomics

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Computer Control

You have a big Dob telescope with lots of aperture.   You have an Argo Navis and maybe a ServoCAT.   You are set up and ready to observe, but you didn’t have time to prepare an observing plan.   Or, you have an observing plan, but you didn’t have time to get your sky charts printed, or study where the objects are on your Sky Atlas.   Or, you have a big stack of charts and books next to your scope and its hard to juggle them all.   Or, you have a plan, but the guys around you are tracking down some new comets and they are not loaded into your Argo Navis.   Does any of that that sound familiar?   Maybe some other variation of it?

You can circumvent those problems and solve them once and for all, if you use a planetarium program with your telescope.   To do that, of course, you are going to need a computer; i.e., a laptop, a netbook, tablet, or smartphone.

There are several excellent planetarium programs available to run on your computer.   The planetarium has almost unlimited objects from which to choose. Many have comets available to download real time.   The only limitations are the limiting magnitude of the night sky and your telescope’s aperture.   If you had a plan and had loaded it on to AstroPlanner or Sky Tools, you could observe from the plan and control your telescope with it, too.

You really owe it to yourself to try observing with a computer.   Even if you don’t owe it to yourself, you ought to try it.   It is like the step you took when you moved from starhopping to DSCs!

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As is so often the case, the Netbook Stalk arose out of requests from customers who, this time, had acquired Netbooks and wanted something with which it could be affixed to their telescopes.   This Markless Stalk is modeled after the Markless DSC Stalk II.  

The Netbook Stalk II is lightweight and comes with a black poly mounting block and Moonlite clamp and typically would be mounted a few inches to the left of and lower than an installed DSC Stalk II.   However, its aluminum tube is longer in order to permit its Netbook shelf to be above the DSC Stalk shelf.   In use, the Netbook shelf might be angled to the left while the DSC Stalk shelf might be angled to the right.   The Netbook shelf is sized for netbooks, and reinforced for additional strength to be able to hold a Netbook PC safely.   Industrial strength Velcro is the attachment method for the Netbook.

A single 4-conductor telecom cable connects the ServoCAT PC Port (serial port) to the Netbook (actually to the base connector of the Netbook Stalk II ).   Since Netbooks (like nearly all modern laptops) do not have serial ports, a Keyspan USB to serial port adapter is needed.   However, if you get a Bluetooth equipped Netbook, you could try using an AIRcable or other Bluetooth generating device at your ServoCAT for a Bluetooth connection.   This would not be required, but is possible.

An inherent advantage of a Netbook Stalk II and mounted Netbook PC is that by being attached to the telescope, a planetarium program and telescope control reside continuously at the observing position.   If you haven’t yet experienced telescope control by PC, planetarium, and ServoCAT, you are in for a real treat.   (Digital Setting Circles and encoders are needed to provide object offset data.)

However, telescope drive motors are not mandatory for Netbook and planetarium program use.   You can connect your Digital Setting Circles to your Netbook, operate your scope in "Push-To" mode, and watch the cross hairs on the planetarium screen move as you move your telescope. You can use other astronomy software in "Push-To" mode, also.

The Netbook Stalk II is suited for almost any size Dobsonian telescope.   It especially opens up telescope control by PC on the telescope for small to medium size big Dobs, which cannot handle the size and weight of a regular laptop and Markless PC Podium.

Netbook Stalk II contents (it does not include a Netbook!):

  • Aluminum-reinforced acrylic shelf, dimensions: 9.5" W x 8.75" D, with Fan knockout.
  • Aluminum mounting tube, 39.5" L. and installed 6-conductor telecom cable
  • Black Poly mounting block and stainless steel hardware
  • Moonlite Clamp and stainless steel hardware

    Prices:

  • Markless Netbook Stalk II price:   $149 plus $20 S&H.  
  • Markless Netbook Stalk II for UC price:   $164 plus $20 S&H.     The extra cost of the UC version is for the metal attachment plate.   The machined plate permits the block to be removed easily so that the VRB can fit into the ATA case.   If you do not need that plate, the non-UC version can be used.

    Actual shipping cost may be higher, depending upon location. Netbook Stalk products require two separate shipping boxes, one for the tube and one for the shelf and other components.

    North Carolina residents and North Carolina shipping addresses: please add 7.25% for NC sales tax.

    Please contact me to order this product.   cs(at)marklessastronomics dot com   Available exclusively at Markless Astronomics.

    People who purchase this product might also want to consider obtaining the following items:

  • Red acrylic screen cover
  • 4-conductor telecom cable (you probably have one of these, but if not, contact us)
  • Keyspan high speed USB to serial adapter (this one has worked consistently with the ServoCAT)
  • Netbook (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung, Sony, etc.)
  • Planetarium software (TheSky, Starry Night Pro, etc.)
  • Observation planning and recording software (AstroPlanner, Sky Tools, etc.)
  • ServoCAT
  • DSC (Argo Navis, Sky Commander, etc.), encoders, and hardware
  • Markless DSC Stalk II

    Charles Starks, Charlotte, NC

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    The

    Tablet Stalk II™

    Introducing the Tablet Stalk II for tablet computers.   A picture is worth a thousand words, so have at it.   Here's three thousand words worth!

    Tablet Stalk II features (does not include a tablet computer!):

  • Aluminum-reinforced acrylic shelf, dimensions: 9.5" W x 8.75" D., angled downward 30 degrees.
  • Shelf has 5/8" retaining ledge on lower front.
  • Aluminum mounting tube, 39.5" L.
  • Black Poly mounting block and stainless steel hardware
  • Moonlite Clamp and stainless steel hardware
  • Optional Auminum Mounting Plate for UCs.

    Prices:

  • Markless Tablet Stalk II price:   $129 plus $20 S&H to Continental USA.  
  • Markless Tablet Stalk II for UC price:   $144 plus $20 S&H to Continental USA.     The extra cost of the UC version is for the metal attachment plate.   The machined plate permits the block to be removed easily so that the VRB can fit into the ATA case.   If you do not need that plate, the non-UC version can be used.

    Actual shipping cost may be higher, depending upon location. Tablet Stalk products require two separate shipping boxes, one for the tube and one for the shelf and other components.

    North Carolina residents and North Carolina shipping addresses: please add 7.25% for NC sales tax.

    Please contact me to order this product.   cs(at)marklessastronomics dot com   Available exclusively at Markless Astronomics.

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    Great Astro Links to other fine products and ideas:

    Astrocrumb Filter Slides - a "MUST HAVE" accessory for your Big Dob. Roger builds 'em RIGHT!

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    Obsession® Telescopes - by Dave Kriege - Heirloom Grade Telescopes for the discriminating astronomer

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    Copyright 2003-2015, by Charles Starks, Charlotte, NC, All Rights Reserved

    Last Updated: 13:47 PM 03/26/2015