Portable telescope mount with integral locator using magnetic encoders for facilitating location of objects and positioning of a telescope

A portable telescope mount for facilitating location of astronomical objects and positioning of a portable telescope movable along a first axis and a second axis, the telescope mount comprising:

• a first axial shaft defining the first axis and coupling the telescope with the telescope mount;
• a second axial shaft defining the second axis;
• a first encoder, including a first magnet and a first magnetic field detector, operably associated with the first axial shaft to generate a first data signal corresponding to movement of the first magnet relative to the first magnetic field detector resulting from movement of the telescope about the first axis;
• a second encoder, including a second magnet and a second magnetic field detector, operably associated with the second axial shaft to generate a second data signal corresponding to movement of the second magnet relative to the second magnetic field detector resulting from movement of the telescope about the second axis;
• a controller comprising
• a microprocessor operable to translate the first and second data signals into a set of current position coordinates, and
• a memory operable to store a plurality of position data sets for use by the microprocessor;
• and
• a display operable to communicate the set of current position data.

A portable telescope mount for supporting a portable telescope and facilitating location of astronomical objects and positioning of the telescope for observation, the telescope being movable along an azimuth axis and an altitude axis, the portable telescope mount comprising:

• a base having a top and bottom;
• a weatherproof housing coupled with the top of the base;
• a support structure uprightly coupled with the weatherproof housing;
• an azimuth axial shaft defining the azimuth axis, and coupling the telescope with support structure;
• an altitude axial shaft defining the altitude axis perpendicular to the azimuth axis, and coupling the weatherproof housing with the base;
• a first encoder, including a first magnet and a first magnetic field detector, operably associated with the azimuth axial shaft to generate a first data signal corresponding to movement of the first magnet relative to the first magnetic field detector resulting from movement of the telescope about the azimuth axis;
• a second encoder, including a second magnet and a second magnetic field detector, operably associated with the altitude axial shaft to generate a second data signal corresponding to movement of the second magnet relative to the second magnetic field detector resulting from movement of the telescope about the altitude axis;
• a controller located within the weatherproof housing and comprising
• a microprocessor operable to translate the first and second data signals into a set of current position data, and
• a memory operable to store a plurality of position data sets for use by the microprocessor;
• and
• a display mounted upon the weatherproof housing operable to communicate the set of current position data.

A telescope mount for facilitating location of astronomical objects and positioning of a portable telescope movable along an axis, the telescope mount comprising:

• an axial shaft defining the axis and coupling the telescope with the telescope mount;
• an encoder, including a magnet and a magnetic field detector, operably associated with the axial shaft to generate a signal corresponding to movement of the magnet relative to the magnetic field detector resulting from movement of the telescope about the axis;
• a microprocessor adapted to translate the signal into a set of current position data based upon a set of reference position data, wherein the set of reference position data is based upon an initial calibration of the telescope mount involving alignment of the telescope with at least two of the astronomical objects;
• and
• a display operable to communicate the set of current position data.