ASCOM: The Unsung Standard for Astronomy

First off, if ASCOM isn’t already on your radar, definitely check out their website: ascom-standards.org (it’s in English!). ASCOM (Astronomy Common Object Model) is essentially a collaborative effort by a bunch of astro hardware manufacturers and developers. Their main gig? Building a free, open platform and drivers that let you control just about every piece of your astrophotography gear – think telescopes, mounts, domes, roll-off roofs, filter wheels, cameras, and more!