Meade-instruments LX600 User Manual download pdf (Page 20)

AutoStar #497 HANDBOX

Observing

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

by a short beep. Then AutoStar II takes a few

moments to start up the system.

4. After the Autostar II has ﬁ nished 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 viewﬁ nder (Fig. 1 , 22) to locate an

object and practice using the AutoStar II’s Arrow

keys to center the object in the telescope’s ﬁ eld

of view.

Warning: Do not look through the telescope’s

eyepiece or viewﬁ nder 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 speciﬁ c 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 ﬁ ne centering of an object in

the ﬁ eld 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 ﬁ eld 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

viewﬁ nder.

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

ﬁ eld 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.

OBSERVIING

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Meade-instruments LX600 User Manual Page 20

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