Glossary | Telescopes | GoTo control | GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) consists of 24 satellites that orbit the Earth and constantly transmit their exact position and system time.

GPS receivers on Earth capture signals from between three and twelve of these satellites to determine the receiver’s exact latitude, longitude and time. A telescope with a GPS receiver uses latitude, longitude, and time information to calculate the position of celestial objects. This information could also be entered manually, but the GPS saves the effort and it is also more accurate, especially if you are mobile and use your telescope in different locations.

Telescopes and mounts that have integrated Wi-Fi connect to a smartphone or tablet and use that device’s GPS. The technical data for these systems therefore indicates GPS, even if no GPS receiver is actually built into in the system.