Like a real Martian Observatory, the basic premise is to be able to control the operation of the telescope from inside the Hab. The MDRS Observatory has its own computer that is used to control the telescope, dome rotation, cameras, and lights. These functions are networked onto the Observatory Hab Laptop Computer that can control all of these operations remotely by using the VNC program. The beauty of the system is that if necessary you can operate the observatory from either location. Keep in mind that operating the observatory from outside the Hab is breaking SIM as you can not walk around inside the structure with a spacesuit. However, you will need to go to the observatory to prepare it for a night session. This includes opening the shutter, removing the dust caps and alignment of the telescope. These are the only functions that are not automated and need to be carried out on site at the observatory.

Cameras: Staying connected between the observatory and the Hab is accomplished by the use of two cameras and a network cable. One of the cameras is a small video camera that allows you to watch the telescope move from inside the Hab. The other camera sits on the bottom of the telescope and is an electronic finder scope or efinder. The field of view is about 2.7° x 2°. This camera is quite versatile and acts as an electronic finder, guide scope and a back up CCD camera for imaging through the main telescope.

Television: Both cameras are viewed off of the television set in the Hab. There is a small selector switch mounted under the television inside the Hab. This A/B selector switch allows you to change the television view from A: Surveillance Camera to B: efinder. Using switch A (telescope view) allows you to watch the telescope when it is slewing- be ready to stop the slew if you see any cables getting tangled or any damage to the equipment about to happen. Use switch B to center your object via the efinder.

Everything else from controlling the telescope, the cameras and even the lights can be operated from either computer.