I
17
s4OSLEWTOTHEOBJECTDISPLAYEDPRESS
ENTER
.
s4OSEETHENEXTTOUROBJECTPRESSTHE
DOWN
key.
Identify Button
Pressing the
IDENTIFY
button will search the mount’s da-
tabase catalogs and display the name and angular distances
to the nearest matching objects from the telescope’s current
location. This feature can serve two purposes. First, it can be
used to identify an unknown object in the field of view of your
eyepiece. Additionally, Identify Mode can be used to find
other celestial objects that are close to the objects you are
currently observing.
For example, if your telescope is pointed at the brightest
STARINTHECONSTELLATION,YRACHOOSING)DENTIFYWILLNODOUBT
return the star Vega as the star you are observing. However,
the Identify feature will also search its NGC and Solar
System databases and display any planets or Deep Sky
objects that are close by. In this example, the Ring Nebula
(M57) would display as being approximately 6° away.
The brightness and proximity of the objects displayed can be
defined by the user using the Identify Filter under Telescope
Setup.
Direction Buttons
The hand control has four direction buttons in the center
of the hand control which control the telescope motion in
altitude (up and down) and azimuth (left and right). The
telescope can be controlled at nine different speed rates.
1 = 2x
²SEC
2 = 4x
²SEC
3 = 8x
²SEC
4 = 16x
²SEC
5 = 32x
Motor Speed Button
Pressing the
MOTOR SPEED
button (12) allows you
to instantly change the speed rate of the motors from
high speed slew rate to precise guiding rate or anywhere
in between. Each rate corresponds to a number on the
hand controller key pad. The number 9 is the fastest rate
(approximately 4° per second, depending on power source)
and is used for slewing between objects and locating
alignment stars. The number 1 on the hand control is the
slowest rate (2x sidereal) and can be used for accurate
centering of objects in the eyepiece. To change the speed
rate of the motors:
s0RESSTHE-/4/230%%$KEYONTHEHANDCONTROL
4HE,#$WILLDISPLAYTHECURRENTSPEEDRATE
s0RESSTHENUMBERONTHEHANDCONTROLTHATCORRESPONDS
to the desired speed.
The hand control has a “double button” feature that allows
you to instantly speed up the motors without having to
choose a speed rate. To use this feature, simply press the
arrow button that corresponds to the direction that you want
to move the telescope. While holding that button down,
press the opposite directional button. This will increase the
speed to the maximum slew rate.
When using the
UP
and
DOWN
buttons on the hand control,
the slower slew rates (6 and lower) move the motors in the
opposite direction than the faster slew rates (7- 9). This is
done so that an object will move in the appropriate direction
when looking into the eyepiece (i.e., pressing the up arrow
button will move the star upwards in the field of view of the
eyepiece). However, if any of the slower slew rates (rate 6
and below) are used to center an object in the starpointer,
you may need to press the opposite directional button to
make the telescope move in the correct direction.
Help Button
In future firmware updates, this button will offer troubleshooting
tips. For your convenience, it currently functions as a shortcut
to the Messier Catalog.
Menu Button
The Advanced VX mount contains many user-defined
setup functions designed to give the user control over the
telescopes many features. All of the setup and utility features
can be accessed by pressing the
MENU
key and scrolling
through the options below.
Tracking Menu
Tracking Mode
n4HISALLOWSYOUTOCHANGETHEWAYTHE
telescope tracks depending on the type of mount being used
to support the telescope. The telescope has three different
tracking modes:
s
EQ North
n5SEDTOTRACKTHESKYWHENTHETELESCOPEIS
polar aligned in the Northern Hemisphere.
s
EQ South
n5SEDTOTRACKTHESKYWHENTHETELESCOPE
is polar aligned in the Southern Hemisphere.
s
Off
n7HENUSINGTHETELESCOPEFORTERRESTRIALLAND
observation, the tracking can be turned off so that the
telescope never moves.
Tracking Rate
n)NADDITIONTOBEINGABLETOMOVETHE
telescope with the hand control buttons, your telescope
will continually track a celestial object as it moves across
the night sky. The tracking rate can be changed depending
on what type of object is being observed:
s
Sidereal
n4HISRATECOMPENSATESFORTHEROTATIONOFTHE
Earth by moving the telescope at the same rate as the
rotation of the Earth, but in the opposite direction. When
the telescope is polar aligned, this can be accomplished
by moving the telescope in right ascension only.
s
Lunar
n5SEDFORTRACKINGTHE-OONWHENOBSERVINGTHE
lunar landscape.
s
Solar
n5SEDFORTRACKINGTHE3UNWHENSOLAROBSERVING
with the proper filter.