Meade LX200-ACF 12 inch User Manual - Page 19

Definition: Initialization is a procedure that ensures that AutoStar II operates correctly. When you first use AutoStar II, it doesn't yet know where the observation location site is or the time or date of the observation session. During the automatic alignment procedure, the system calculates these parameters automatically. AutoStar II uses this information to precisely calculate the location of celestial objects (such as stars and planets) and to move your telescope correctly for various operations. Tip: When multiple choices are available within an AutoStar II menu option, the current option is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing arrow (>). Important Note: Press any key on the AutoStar II handbox to abort the GPS fix. Press MODE repeatedly until "Select Item" displays and use the AutoStar menu options to choose a manual alignment or to find an AutoStar option, such as "Brightness". Observe the Moon Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is not visible every night) and practice using the Arrow keys, the microfocuser and the slew speeds to view different features. The Moon contains many interesting features, including craters, mountain ranges, and fault lines. The best time to view the Moon is during its crescent or half phase. Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle during these periods and adds a depth to the view. No shadows are seen during a full Moon, making the overly bright surface to appear flat and rather uninteresting. Consider the use of a neutral density Moon filter when observing the Moon. See page 45. Not only does it cut down the Moon's bright glare, but it also enhances contrast, providing a more dramatic image. Astronomical Observing Used as an astronomical instrument, your telescope has many optical and electromechanical capabilities. It is in astronomical applications where the high level of optical performance is readily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is limited only by the observer's motivation. To Track an Object Automatically As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate. You can setup your telescope to move at the sidereal rate so that it automatically tracks (follows) the stars and other objects in the night sky. If the telescope is not tracking an astronomical object, the object will drift out of the eyepiece field of view. The tracking function automatically keeps an object centered in the telescope's eyepiece. To automatically track objects, you need to learn how the AutoStar II keypad operates in order to move through its menus. You'll need to initialize and align your telescope. Moving Through AutoStar II's Menus The AutoStar II database is organized in levels for quick and easy navigation. a Press ENTER (Pg. 10, Fig. 2, 2) to go deeper into AutoStar II's menu levels. a Press MODE Fig. 2, 3) to move back toward the top menu level. a Press the Scroll keys (Fig. 2, 7) to move up and down through the options available for each level. a Press the Arrow keys (Fig. 2, 5) to enter characters and digits. The Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope. a Use the Number keys to enter digits. Automatic Alignment (Auto Align™) Feature AutoStar II offers four methods of altazimuth (alt/az) alignment; this section describes how to initialize and align your telescope using Automatic Alignment. (For a description of the other alt/az alignment methods, see pages 38 and 39. For information about equatorial (polar) alignment, see APPENDIX A, page 53). To prepare your telescope for Automatic Alignment: 1. Tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks (Pg. 7, Fig. 1, 12 and 17). 2. Verify that AutoStar II is properly connected to your telescope. See HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TELESCOPE, page 13. 3. Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position. When you slide the On/Off switch to "On" on your telescope's computer control panel, a version screen briefly appears, followed by "Welcome to AutoStar". 4. "Press 0 to align or Mode for Menu". displays. Press "0" to begin Automatic Alignment. (If you wish to choose a manual alignment method, keep pressing Mode to go through the menus to find other alignments.) Note: AutoStar II initializes the Smart Drive if "On" has been previously performed PEC training and you have "parked" the telescope. If you have parked it, AutoStar II will remember its position on the worm gear. If you do not park the scope and turn it off, it will not remember its position. See PARKING THE TELESCOPE, page 29 and PEC TRAINING, page 40. - 19 -