PrimaLuceLab Eagle6

The PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 is a state-of-the-art control unit designed to enhance the astrophotography experience by integrating advanced computing power, connectivity, and control features into a single, compact device.

The EAGLE6 is PrimaLuceLab’s most advanced all-in-one computer for telescopes and astrophotography to date, combining powerful new features to simplify remote control and power management while allowing you to use astronomy devices and Windows software. Housed in the innovative PLUS aluminum body designed for easy telescope installation and cable management, offers ten USB ports (including 2 USB-C) and seven 12V power out ports let you power and control all your 12V devices, including dew heaters, with precision and reliability.

The Eagle6 is offered in four models using different processors:

– Eagle6 XTM: 13th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with 2-Core processor with 32GB RAM DDR4 3200 MHz and 2TB SSD NVMe disk.

– Eagle6 Pro: 13th Generation Intel Core i5 12-Core processor with 16GB RAM DDR4 3200 MHz and 512GB SSD NVMe disk.

– Eagle6 S: 13th Generation Intel Core™ i3 6-Core processor with 8GB RAM DDR4 3200 MHz and 256GB SSD NVMe disk.

– Eagle6: Intel Celeron J6412 Quad-Core processor with 8GB RAM DDR4 3200 MHz and 128GB SSD NVMe disk.

New features of this latest Eagle version include Lights-Out Management (LOM), allowing remote power-on and monitoring of sensors via a dedicated Ethernet port, even when the computer is powered off as well as Observatory Actions, with CTRL-IN and CTRL-OUT ports for easy remote control of devices like mounts and domes and WiFi 6E (802.11ax) providing faster speeds, reduced latency, and less interference. Additional advanced features include GPS sensor, EYE sky brightness monitor, Inclinometer, Motion detector, DARK mode to disable LEDs, and GHOST mode to replace USB cables for PrimaLuceLab devices with wireless connectivity.

The Observatory Actions feature in the new PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 introduces dedicated CTRL IN and CTRL OUT ports, offering powerful remote control capabilities for your telescope. The CTRL IN port allows for a range of remote control options, customizable through the EAGLE Manager X interface. You can remotely power on, off, or power cycle the EAGLE6 (without pressing the ON button), manage 12V power out or dew-heater ports (e.g., to pre-heat telescope optics before starting a session), toggle USB 2.0 ports, or activate/deactivate DARK mode. To trigger these actions, simply connect an external device with a dry contact (such as a smart relay switch) to the CTRL IN port via a 2.5mm audio jack cable, and activate the relay switch through your smartphone.

The CTRL OUT port expands functionality by enabling you to turn on/off external devices like mounts, domes, or other observatory equipment that support external switch control. Simply connect a compatible cable to the EAGLE6’s CTRL OUT port to the external switch port of the device, then configure the command settings in EAGLE Manager X.

The Lights-Out Management (LOM) feature in the new PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 elevates remote control and monitoring, ensuring everything is ready even before the EAGLE6 is powered on. With a dedicated Ethernet port, LOM allows you to remotely monitor the operational status of the computer, power it on, check its sensors, and control switchable power and USB ports – all independently of the operating system. This means you can manage these functions even when the EAGLE6 is turned off. This functionality is especially useful for remotely controlled telescopes, where physical access to the equipment may be limited or impractical. Lights-Out Management can be accessed by connecting a computer to the same network as the EAGLE6 and plugging an Ethernet cable into the EAGLE6’s dedicated LOM port.

The EAGLE6 runs a full Windows environment, similar to a laptop or desktop, ensuring compatibility with the wide range of astronomy devices and software available for Windows 10/11. Manufacturers typically offer official drivers for Windows, and you can easily install the software of your choice – provided it’s compatible with Windows 10/11. This includes popular applications like NINA, Sequence Generator Pro, Voyager, SharpCap, MaximDL, TheSkyX, Stellarium, Cartes du Ciel, PHD Guiding, and PrimaluceLab’s own PLAY software.

With this setup, you’re not restricted to proprietary hardware or software, allowing you the freedom to customize the EAGLE to your exact needs. The EAGLE6 operates on a Windows 11 IoT Enterprise license, which is leaner and more stable than the standard Windows 11 Home or other OEM versions often bundled with unnecessary bloatware. It offers robust connectivity options, including four USB 3.2 ports (two Type-C), six USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI 2.0b port, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, and WiFi 6E 802.11ax for fast and reliable connectivity.

The PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 is designed for seamless integration with a wide range of telescopes, including refractors, Schmidt-Cassegrains, Ritchey-Chrétiens, Newtonians, and more, thanks to its specialized PLUS case. The chassis features multiple threaded holes, and with the availability of various PLUS system accessories (such as support rings, dovetail bars, and dovetail clamps), attaching the EAGLE to your telescope is straightforward and secure.

By using the EAGLE6 instead of a laptop or desktop, you reduce cable clutter, with shorter cable runs that move in tandem with the telescope. This significantly minimizes the risk of cables snagging or detaching as the telescope tracks objects across the sky. Additionally, the EAGLE6 has a lower power consumption, which reduces the battery capacity needed to power your telescope for an entire night of observation.

Built for field use, the EAGLE 6’s internal electronics are designed to withstand extended temperature ranges and high humidity conditions. The processor’s minimal heat output gently warms the EAGLE 6’s chassis, helping to prevent dew from forming on the device or the EYE lens, ensuring reliable performance throughout the night.

The PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 consolidates all your astrophotography connections into one hub, offering convenience and flexibility. With its numerous USB ports, you can connect cameras, mounts, guiding systems, and other devices without the need for multiple USB hubs. This streamlines your setup, reduces cable clutter, and keeps everything neatly organized. Each port is strategically placed for easy access, minimizing the risk of tangled cables or accidental disconnection during your session.

You can even remotely control four USB 2.0 ports, turning them on or off as needed, saving power and providing a simple solution if a device connection fails. The EAGLE puts all your equipment under one roof, making your setup more efficient, reliable, and easier to manage throughout your astrophotography sessions.

Adding the PrimaLuceLab ECCO (Environmental Computerized Controller) to your EAGLE6, allows you to automatically and continuously monitor the dew point by measuring both the air temperature and humidity around your telescope, as well as the temperature of your lenses. ECCO then adjusts the voltage to the EAGLE6’ s ports connected to your dew heater bands, preventing dew from forming on your optics. This all happens automatically with a simple, user-friendly device that connects directly to one of the EAGLE6’s USB ports.

The PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 offers an integrated GPS sensor that automatically detects your telescope’s elevation, latitude, longitude, and local time by connecting to GPS satellites. The high-gain external antenna ensures rapid and precise data acquisition, even with limited sky visibility or when the EAGLE is installed in a dome observatory.

Once the GPS data is captured, the EAGLE automatically synchronizes the date, time, and position information with the system’s Windows settings. This seamless integration ensures that the astrophotography software you use can control your telescope with enhanced accuracy.

The Eagle6’s EYE sensor provides an automatic solution, measuring sky brightness in magnitude per square arc second (mag/sq arcsec) over a 5-degree field of view, precisely where your telescope is pointed.

The EYE value is displayed in real-time within the EAGLE Manager X interface, allowing you to effortlessly track sky quality measurements. The EAGLE is equipped with two EYE sensors, one located at each end of the device. Depending on the orientation of the EAGLE on your telescope, you can simply rotate the lens to the other sensor, point it toward the sky, and select the appropriate lens position within the EAGLE Manager X interface to begin monitoring sky brightness from any setup.

The EYE sensor features a narrow field of view, ensuring it measures only the sky where your telescope is directed. This minimizes interference from clouds or other obstructions in different parts of the sky, providing accurate readings specific to the region you’re observing. Additionally, the proximity of your telescope or accessories (such as a dew shield) will not affect the sensor’s measurements, even when the EAGLE is mounted close to the telescope or uses a long tube. The small amount of internal heat generated by the processor further reduces the risk of dew formation on the sensor lens, ensuring consistent performance throughout the night.

The Inclinometer sensor integrated into the EAGLE6 precisely measures your telescope’s elevation relative to the horizon, with a resolution of 0.1 degrees and an average measurement error of less than 1 degree. Elevation data is displayed in real-time through the EAGLE Manager X interface.

Designed for versatility in installation, the EAGLE6 can be mounted parallel to your telescope, and the elevation is accurately displayed even if the EAGLE is inverted (with the power-out ports facing the sky). This allows you to remotely verify whether your telescope is correctly aligned to the desired elevation, check if the equatorial mount’s elevation setting is properly calibrated for your latitude, or ensure that your Alt-Az mount’s home position is correctly set in terms of elevation.

During a sequence capture, it’s possible for one image to be blurred while others remain sharp due to external factors like wind gusts or cable snags, which can affect your telescope’s tracking accuracy. The Motion Detector in the EAGLE6 identifies and displays any unwanted motion in the EAGLE6 Manager X interface, distinguishing it from normal mount tracking or goto movements. This allows PLAY (or third-party software that supports the Motion Detector) to automatically repeat the last acquisition if unexpected motion is detected, ensuring your images remain sharp and consistent.

The EAGLE6 can be operated without the need for a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. Instead, you can control it remotely via a free dedicated app, available on smartphones, tablets, or personal computers running Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android. Simply power on the EAGLE6, enable your device’s Wi-Fi connection, and select the Wi-Fi network created by the EAGLE6. Once connected, launch the remote control app to access the EAGLE desktop on your device, with full control over all your astrophotography software.

For added flexibility, you can configure the EAGLE6 to connect to an existing Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet network, enabling remote access via the internet—ideal for remote observatories. Unlike traditional remote control solutions like VNC, the EAGLE offers faster and more stable performance.

Each EAGLE creates a unique Wi-Fi network to prevent interference from nearby devices, ensuring secure operation. To further enhance security, every EAGLE comes with a unique access password known only to you. For those who prefer a wired connection, the EAGLE also includes a Gigabit Ethernet port, making it an excellent option for large observatories.

To mitigate this, PrimaluceLab has equipped the EAGLE with a DARK mode, which allows you to instantly disable all LED lights on the device when necessary. This feature helps eliminate any potential light interference with your telescope, while also ensuring consideration for fellow astronomers, particularly during group observations or star parties. The DARK mode makes the EAGLE an ideal solution for environments where traditional computers, with their bright screens and uncontrolled light emissions, may be restricted. Since the EAGLE operates without a screen, it provides full functionality while minimizing light pollution.

In modern astrophotography setups, the complexity of managing multiple devices and cables can quickly become cumbersome. The EAGLE simplifies this by offering an integrated power distribution system and a variety of USB ports, significantly improving cable management. Furthermore, with the introduction of GHOST mode, the EAGLE can wirelessly control PLL devices (such as SESTO SENSO 2, ESATTO, ARCO, GIOTTO, and ALTO) via Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for USB cables and specialized drivers or software. When activated, GHOST mode allows EAGLE Manager X to wirelessly connect to your PLL devices and create a virtual COM port, just as if a USB cable were connected. This ensures seamless integration with your astrophotography software and the ASCOM platform, all while reducing physical cable clutter and simplifying your setup.

The PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 is equipped with EAGLE Manager X software, which launches automatically upon startup and offers a user-friendly, intuitive interface for comprehensive system control. With this software, you can:

• Enable/Disable 12V Power Out Ports: Remotely activate or deactivate any connected devices (e.g., mount, camera, filter wheel) when powering on the system, keeping everything connected but only powered when needed.
• Monitor Power Consumption: Track the power usage of each 12V device connected to the EAGLE, along with the total power consumption of your telescope, enabling optimal power management.
• Rename Power and USB Ports: Assign custom names to each port according to the device it’s connected to, making it easier to manage your setup and keep track of associated COM ports.
• View GPS Data: Access your telescope’s GPS information, including elevation, latitude, longitude, date, time, and the number of connected satellites.
• Monitor EYE Sky Brightness: Select the active EYE sensor facing the sky to view real-time sky brightness data, including the Bortle Scale rating.
• Adjust 0-12V Power Out Ports: Fine-tune the power output to connected devices like dew heaters, with the ability to monitor current consumption over time.
• Check Inclinometer Data: Verify the elevation of your telescope relative to the horizon with real-time inclinometer readings.
• View Motion Detector Data: Detect any unwanted motions, helping identify potential disruptions in tracking during astrophotography sessions.
• Activate DARK Mode: Disable all LED lights on the EAGLE to prevent light pollution and interference, especially during night observations.
• Activate GHOST Mode: Wirelessly control PLL devices (e.g., SESTO SENSO 2, ESATTO, ARCO, GIOTTO, ALTO) by replacing USB cables with a wireless connection, simplifying your setup and reducing cable clutter.
• Set CTRL-IN Port Options: Configure the CTRL-IN port to remotely power on the EAGLE, control 12V power out ports, manage dew heater ports, toggle USB 2.0 ports, or activate DARK mode.
• Set CTRL-OUT Port Options: Control external devices via the CTRL-OUT port, with options for switching on/off, pulse duration, and repetitions, providing flexible remote control of connected equipment.
• Manage USB 2.0 Ports (A-B-C-D): Temporarily disconnect and reset devices like auto-guiders or planetary cameras without having to physically access the telescope, saving time and effort during troubleshooting.
• Configure Connectivity Options: Choose between wireless or wired connections, and set up your device for direct access in AP mode (without a router) or through your existing Wi-Fi or Ethernet network in HOST mode.
• Define Automatic Power Routines: Set specific power-on and power-off routines for connected devices, automating the startup and shutdown of your equipment based on your preferences.
• Automatically Connect to ECCO Controller: If using the optional ECCO environmental controller, the EAGLE Manager X will automatically connect at startup, managing dew heater power based on real-time dew point calculations.
• Save Sensor Data for Later Analysis: Automatically log data from the EAGLE’s sensors for later review and analysis, allowing you to download logs for in-depth post-session processing.

This suite of features ensures seamless integration and efficient management of your astrophotography system, providing enhanced control, automation, and monitoring for a more streamlined observatory experience.

PrimaluceLab designed the EAGLE case to be exceptionally rigid, capable of supporting even a compact telescope in parallel (up to 8 kg). This allows the EAGLE to be installed directly beneath the main telescope, optimizing space and efficiency. Through precise FEM simulations, PrimaluceLab engineered the EAGLE case to maintain a maximum deformation of just 0.002 millimeters, even when loaded with up to 10 kg of weight. The case is equipped with M5 and M6 threaded holes, enabling the seamless attachment of PLUS accessories (such as support rings, guide rings, dovetail bars, and dovetail clamps) at a minimum of two points to ensure maximum rigidity. For example, the EAGLE can be securely mounted between the PLUS support rings and guiding rings, preventing any flexure and enhancing the portability of the entire telescope setup. This design allows the system to be transported to the field pre-assembled, significantly reducing setup time and improving overall efficiency.

The EAGLE6 integrates all of these advanced features into a lightweight, compact aluminum chassis, designed for versatile installation on your telescope. This design allows you to easily connect all USB and 12V power cables from your devices to the EAGLE6, significantly improving cable management and organization. Weighing only 2.75 lbs (1.25kg), the EAGLE6 offers a balance of strength and portability. The image shows the precise dimensions, along with the positions of M6 and M5 threaded holes for attaching rings, bars, and clamps, ensuring a secure and customizable installation.

You can learn more about the new PrimaLuceLab Eagle6 here.

You can learn more about the Tele Vue Nagler Type 7 eyepieces here.’ And to make it easier for you to get the most extensive news, articles and reviews that are only available in the magazine pages of Astronomy Technology Today, we are offering a 1-year magazine subscription for only $6! Or, for an even better deal, we are offering 2 years for only $9. Click here to get these deals which only will be available for a very limited time. You can also check out a free sample issue here.