Meade LX850-ACF User Manual - Page 31

Event Menu, Glossary Menu

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AutoStar II Operation star-type classification, if the object is a star. If further information is available, it displays as scrolling text. Press GO TO. The telescope, if aligned, will slew to that chosen object. Press MODE repeatedly to return to previous menu levels. User Objects: Allows the user to define and store in memory deep-sky objects of specific interest that are not currently in the Autostar II libraries. See CREATING USER OBJECTS, page 37, for more information. Identify: An exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar II Arrow keys to move about in the sky. Then follow this procedure: Important Note: Only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope during the Identify procedure. Do not loosen the telescope locks or move the base or alignment is lost. 1. When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, keep pressing MODE until the "Select Item: Object" menu is displayed. Press ENTER to select this menu. 2. Scroll through the Object menu options until the "Object: Identify" screen appears. 3. Press ENTER. Autostar II searches the libraries for the identity of the object being observed. 4. If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar II library object, the nearest library object is located and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to that object. Browse: Allows you to search the library for objects with certain parameters, much like a search engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, such as: Object Type, Minimum Elevation, Largest, etc. Once you have set the parameters of the search, select "Start Search" and press ENTER. Autostar II will display the results of the search. Event Menu The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The Event database includes: Sunrise, Sun Transit, and Sunset: Calculate the time of Sun rise, Sun transit, or Sun set on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the "Setup: Date" menu. Moonrise, Moon Transit, and Moonset: Calculate the time of Moon rise, Moon transit, or Moon set on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the "Setup: Date" menu. Moon Phases: Displays the date and time of the next Full, New, 1st Quarter, and 3rd Quarter Moon. Meteor Showers: Provides information on upcoming meteor showers, such as the Perseids, the Leonids, etc. Also lists the dates of the showers and when they reach maximum. Note: Meteors are fast moving objects that cover large areas of the sky and are usually best observed with the naked eye. Solar Eclipse: Lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, annular, or partial) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. This option is dependent on your location. Lunar Eclipse: Lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, partial, penumbral) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. Min. (Minimum) of Algol: Displays the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 days during a 10-hour period, Algol undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. Autostar II calculates minimum magnitude time at mid-eclipse. Autumn and Vernal Equinox: Calculate the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of the current year. Winter and Summer Solstice: Calculate the time and date of the winter or summer solstice of the current year. Glossary Menu The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and Autostar II functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar II. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets], usually found when using the Autostar II Help function or when reading a scrolling message 31

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star-type classification, if the object is a star. If further
information is available, it displays as scrolling text.
Press GO TO. The telescope, if aligned, will slew to
that chosen object. Press MODE repeatedly to return
to previous menu levels.
User Objects:
Allows the user to define and store in
memory deep-sky objects of specific interest that are
not currently in the Autostar II libraries. See
CREATING
USER OBJECTS,
page 37, for more information.
Identify:
An exciting feature for an observer who wants
to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the
telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar II
Arrow keys to move about in the sky. Then follow
this procedure:
Important Note:
Only use the Arrow keys to
move the telescope during the Identify procedure.
Do not loosen the telescope locks or move the
base or alignment is lost.
1. When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece,
keep pressing MODE until the “Select Item:
Object” menu is displayed. Press ENTER to select
this menu.
2. Scroll through the Object menu options until the
“Object: Identify” screen appears.
3. Press ENTER. Autostar II searches the libraries for
the identity of the object being observed.
4. If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar II
library object, the nearest library object is located
and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the
telescope slews to that object.
Browse:
Allows you to search the library for objects
with certain parameters, much like a search engine.
“Edit Parameters” lets you set various parameters for
the search, such as: Object Type, Minimum Elevation,
Largest, etc. Once you have set the parameters of
the search, select “Start Search” and press ENTER.
Autostar II will display the results of the search.
Event Menu
The Event menu provides access to dates and times
of astronomical events. The Event database includes:
Sunrise, Sun Transit, and Sunset:
Calculate the time
of Sun rise, Sun transit, or Sun set on the current date.
Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a
new date into the “Setup: Date” menu.
Moonrise, Moon Transit, and Moonset:
Calculate
the time of Moon rise, Moon transit, or Moon set on the
current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by
entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu.
Moon Phases:
Displays the date and time of the next
Full, New, 1st Quarter, and 3rd Quarter Moon.
Meteor Showers:
Provides information on upcoming
meteor showers, such as the Perseids, the Leonids,
etc. Also lists the dates of the showers and when they
reach maximum.
Note:
Meteors are fast moving objects that cover
large areas of the sky and are usually best observed
with the naked eye.
Solar Eclipse:
Lists upcoming Solar Eclipses,
including the date and type (total, annular, or partial)
of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display
the available data. This option is dependent on your
location.
Lunar Eclipse:
Lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses,
including the date and type (total, partial, penumbral)
of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display
the available data.
Min. (Minimum) of Algol:
Displays the minimum
brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system,
Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light
years. Every 2.8 days during a 10-hour period, Algol
undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude
as one of the two stars passes behind the other. The
combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from
+2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse
as the second star is hidden. Autostar II calculates
minimum magnitude time at mid-eclipse.
Autumn and Vernal Equinox:
Calculate the time and
date of the fall or spring equinox of the current year.
Winter and Summer Solstice:
Calculate the time
and date of the winter or summer solstice of the
current year.
Glossary Menu
The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of
definitions and descriptions for common astronomical
terms and Autostar II functions. Access directly
through the Glossary menu or through
hypertext words
embedded in Autostar II. A hypertext word is any word
in
[brackets]
, usually found when using the Autostar II
Help function or when reading a scrolling message
31
AutoStar II Operation