C-Sat turns your telescope into a computerized satellite tracking system!

C-Sat automatically scans space for objects in orbit over your specific location, points your LX200 to them with ultra-high precision, and allows you to view the satellites directly through the telescope eyepiece. C-Sat's orbital search and pointing routines are accurate for any observing site on Earth and any satellite for which orbital elements are available (also tracks weather and radio satellites). The perturbation algorithms built into C-Sat are very powerful, and account for gravitational influences from the sun and moon, atmospheric drag, Earth gravitational harmonics, and much more. C-Sat was specially designed to generate the ultimate in high precision predictions- otherwise satellites could never be seen in a telescope's tiny field of view.

Connect your telescope and computer with the included cable, and you'll be viewing satellites within minutes. With C-Sat you can see literally hundreds of targets every night, everything from classified spysats to space junk. Your LX200 can even be used for photgraphing and observing geosynchronous satellites 36,000 km above the Earth. The key to seeing satellites is knowing EXACTLY when in time and EXACTLY where in space to point the telescope. C-Sat does the intense orbital calculations, you enjoy the view!

Although C-Sat for the LX200 is designed primarily for visual use, a custom version of the software has also been used on an ArchImage telescope mount to obtain spectacular close-up photographs of the Space Shuttle and the Russian space station Mir. A sample of these images were first published in the August 1996 Sky and Telescope magazine (pp.86-88), along with a description of the C-Sat satellite tracking system.

Just a few C-Sat features...

• Tracks 4,000+ Satellites (including the Space Shuttle, Mir,
  and classified U.S. and Russian Spy Satellites)
• Specially designed for the Meade LX200 and #1697 Drive/Slew System
• Supports both alt-azimuth and equatorial mounted telescopes
• Uses SGP4 and SDP4 orbital propagation for extremely accurate predictions
• Built-in Atomic Time Synchronization Routine (via modem)
• "What's Up?" Orbital Scanner (auto-detects targets passing over your exact location)
• Automatically Identifies Satellite's Country of origin and Exact Launch Date
• Select from 1000 pre-loaded cities worldwide, or enter your precise coordinates
• Real-time Logging Capability (automatically keeps a record of each satellite you see)
• Key-Press Flash Timer/Recorder (records satellite flash periods for the advanced user)
• Includes serial to RJ11 cable and a database of 4,000 satellites
• Free C-Sat Upgrades for one year (as available)
• Easy-to-use Windows installer (C-Sat works with both DOS and Windows)
• C-Sat's Data Screens Feature Real-Time Displays of:
1. Local and UTC Time
2. Current Julian Day and Epoch
3. Sub-satellite Latitude and Longitude
4. Right Ascension/Declination
5. Azimuth/Elevation
6. Orbital Altitude and Velocity
7. Satellite Range
8. Geocentric X, Y, Z
9. Orbital Period
10. T+Epoch
11. Eccentricity
12. Argument of Perigee
13. Right Ascension of Ascending Node
14. Mean Motion
15. Mean Anomoly
16. B* Drag

... and more

You can try C-Sat risk-free with our 30 day, unconditional money back guarantee. If for any reason you wish to return your copy of C-Sat in the first month, you will receive a full refund, no questions asked. We always go the extra mile (km) to make sure our customers are pleased with our product.

Our customer list includes...

• The United States Department of Energy
• Aerospace Corporations
• Major Universities
• Amateur Astronomers Worldwide...

C-Sat v2.0 is available from...

Price: $99 US + $5 S&H
Check, Money Order, or Bank Wire Transfer Accepted
30 Day Unconditional Money-Back Guarantee
Free C-Sat Upgrades For One Year (as available)


System Requirements

• PC or 100% compatible 386 or better
• MS-DOS version 3.0 or above
• 512k free RAM and 2 Mb hard drive space
• Available DB-9 (9-pin) or DB-25 (25-pin) serial port (specify which when ordering)
• Math co-processor recommended (but not required)

What is it like to use C-Sat?

In a word, simple. Once the software is running, simply tap the computer's <space> bar, and C-Sat automatically scans the orbital space above the telescope, searching for satellites. When you pick a satellite from the generated list of targets, C-Sat slews the telescope to a precise rendezvous spot, and begins a countdown. As you carefully watch through the eyepiece, the computer beeps for each of the last five second in the countdown... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BEEP! Suddenly, there it is! The telescope automatically begins to track along with the satellite, which is now easily visible in the eyepiece. Amazed, you watch as the satellite glides silently against the starry background, racing across the sky at up to 28,000 kph. After a few moments, the computer emits another tone- a new countdown appears on the main control screen, "Sun LOS:2:00" in bright yellow. In two minutes (and counting) this satellite will experience sun "loss of signal"- it will enter Earth's Shadow and disappear into the darkness. When the countdown reaches zero, watch as the satellite plunges into darkness, and vanishes from view. Ready for another satellite? Try a tumbling rocket booster 30,000 km up, or a Russian spy satellite a mere 500 km overhead! The idea is to have fun, and you will.


Always Something To See!

• General Satellite elements file ( 667 satellites) (14-Aug-96)
• General Satellite elements file (4000 satellites) (14-Aug-96)

• Satellite Passes Prediction page (Predict Mir and other sats for your area)
• U.S. Gazetteer (Find out your exact latitude and longitude here!)
• Visual Satellite Observers Home Page (Good general information)