This thesis presents the development and implementation of a system for the automated tracking and positioning of celestial objects using a Dobsonian telescope. The aim of the project was to design an affordable and easily implementable GoTo system capable of automatically locating and tracking objects in the night sky.
The thesis describes the methods and technological solutions employed, including the selection and integration of hardware components such as the ESP32 microcontroller, stepper motors, TMC2209 drivers, and the mechanical structure, which was partially fabricated using a 3D printer. The developed software is based on calculations derived from celestial mechanics, enabling the determination of the telescope’s position using geographic coordinates, local time, and other relevant parameters.
The results of the project demonstrate that the developed system enables efficient automatic movement and tracking of celestial objects with sufficient accuracy for visual observation. Furthermore, the system represents a cost-effective solution for upgrading a Dobsonian telescope with GoTo functionality.
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