The Ursa Minor MC3 is an universal and powerful astronomical telescope controller. Whith this device, you can control equatorial astronomical telescope mounts. It provides goto functionality and it can cooperate with many kinds of autoguiders. The MC3 can be connected to a personal computer and can be used with many planetarium programs.

Main features

• Freely configurable to most of the medium and large equatorial telescope mounts.
• It uses bipolar stepper motors in fine microstep mode
• The unit runs from DC power: 12V-30V, max. 2.5A
• Maximum motor current: 1,8A
• The hand controller has a 128 x 64 pixel graphic display with user friendly menu structure
• Contains built in astronomical database with aprox. 50000 objects.
• Firmware can be upgraded by the end user.
• Astronomical database also can be upgraded.
• Compatibility with most of the planetarium programs: MC3 has a dedicated ASCOM driver with parking and Meridian flip support.
• Ursa Minor Pro planetarium program developed directly to fully support MC3 and MC5 controllers.

MC5 is the bigger brother of the MC3 controller.

It is a powerful astronomical telescope controller with improved performance and extended functions. It is a perfect choice for demanding amateur astronomers for advanced imaging or operating a telescope completely remote.

Main features

MC5 knows everything as the MC3, and has the following extra features:

• Improved resolution: MC3 does 32x microstepping, MC5 does 256x microstepping.
• Absolute encoders: MC5 can handle absolute encoders on both axis. The supported encoders are:
  • Heidenhain 25 bit / revolution models
  • Renishaw 32 bit / revolution models
• Thanks to the encoders, the system is completely failsafe: It can know the exact position of the telescope even after a software problem or accidential restart. It prevents the accidential pier-hit.
• MC5 can do closed loop tracking control. It gives you exceptional accuracy:
  • Tracking error within +/- 1 arcsecond with Heidenhain 25 bit encoder
  • Tracking error within +/- 0.2 arcsecond with Renishaw 32 bit encoder
• MC5 compatible with Ursa Minor Hand Controller: It has a 128 x 64 pixel graphic display with user friendly menu and an astronomical database with aprox. 50000 objects.
• Firmware can be upgraded by the end user.
• Astronomical database of the hand controller also can be upgraded.
• Compatibility with most of the planetarium programs: MC5 has a dedicated ASCOM driver with parking and Meridian flip support.
• Ursa Minor Pro planetarium program developed directly to fully support MC3 and MC5 controllers.

The following screenshot shows the tracking accuracy graph. The measurement was taken with a real mount with real load, controlled with real MC5. Please click onthe image to view it in the original resolution.