Meade Tripod LX600-ACF 14 inch User Manual - Page 20

AutoStar #497 OHbAsNerDvBiOngX OBSERVIING Observing Using AutoStar II's Arrow Keys You may observe land and astronomical objects using AutoStar II's Arrow keys to move the telescope. 1. Tighten the RA and DEC locks (Fig. 1, 12 and 17). 2. Verify that AutoStar II is properly connected to your telescope. See Quick Start, page 6. 3. Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position. The AutoStar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by a short beep. Then AutoStar II takes a few moments to start up the system. 4. After the Autostar II has finished startup, "Press Mode for Menu or 0 to Align displays". Press Mode. 5. Press the Mode key several times until Setup Item: Object displays. 6. The Arrow keys are now activated. Press the Arrow keys (Pg. 14, Fig. 2, 5) to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left. 7. Press the Speed key (Number key "1") and then a Number key (Fig. 2, 6) to change the telescope's slew speed ("1" is the slowest speed, "9" is highest speed). 8. Use the viewfinder (Fig. 1 , 22) to locate an object and practice using the AutoStar II's Arrow keys to center the object in the telescope's field of view. Warning: Do not look through the telescope's eyepiece or viewfinder while it is rapidly moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing. Slew Speeds AutoStar II has nine slew speeds that move the optical tube at rates that are directly proportional to the sidereal rate and have been calculated to accomplish specific functions. Press the Speed key (Number key "1") and then press a Number key to change the slew speed, which is shown for about two seconds on AutoStar II's display. The nine available speeds are: Number Key 1= 1x = Guide Rate, programmable Number Key 2= 2x = 2 x sidereal (0.5 arc-min/sec or 0.008°/sec) Number Key 3= 8x = 8 x sidereal (2 arc-min/sec or 0.033°/sec) Number Key 4= 16x = 16 x sidereal (4 arc-min/sec or 0.067°/sec) Number Key 5= 64x = 64 x sidereal (16 arc-min/sec or 0.27°/sec) Number Key 6= 128x = 30 arc-min/sec or 0.5°/sec Number Key 7= 1.5° = 90 arc-min/sec or 1.5°/sec Number Key 8= 3° = 180 arc-min/sec or 3°/sec Number Key 9= Max = 480 arc-min/sec or 8°/sec) Speeds 1, 2, or 3: Best used for fine centering of an object in the field of view of a higher power eyepiece, such as a 12mm or a 9mm eyepiece. Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enable centering of an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard Super Plössl 26mm. Speeds 7 or 8: Best used for rough centering of an object in the viewfinder. Speed 9: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another. 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 will need to initialize and align your telescope. 20