The art of computing was early recognized by astronomers as being the link between observation and theory. Computing became more and more important with the appearance of electronic computers.

Today we can regard the application of electronic computers in three different aspects.

• 1. Theoretical investigations.

• 2. Data handling, that means collecting of astronomical observations and reduction to observational results.

• 3. Control of telescopes and other astronomical instruments.

The present paper deals with item No. 3 only. It should, however, be emphasized that the combination of items 2 and 3 will lead to fully automatic astronomical observation in the future.