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EXPLORESTARS APP
object. Buttons below this location display allow you to move to either the previous object or the next
object in this particular series with a simple push of a button.
You Can Also Choose The Take A Tour Option To Explore The Night Sky. To Do This:
1. Select “Take Tour,” and you will be presented with a list of constellations to tour.
2. Once you select one, the display will show the sky map of the object closest to the western horizon
that is visible in the constellation.
3. To move the telescope to the object, select “Go To Target.” If you would like more details about this
object, select “Target Info” in the bottom right corner. To exit the tour, simply press App Bar.
Coordinate Input:
To move to specific coordinates, select “Coordinate Input” from the bottom menu options. This will
bring you to the coordinate entry screen where you can enter either RA/DEC or ALT/AZ information in
either decimal or hms format. Once you submit your information, the destination of the telescope will
be displayed on the screen as it slews.
Load Extra Stars:
To access extra libraries of celestial objects, select the “Load Extra Stars” option. To access objects
in these libraries, do a keyword search for an object using the built-in Windows search feature. Once
a list of objects related to your search pops up, you can select one and it will take you to the target’s
information page. If the object is above the horizon, the “Slew to Object” button will appear
on that page.
Manual Operation
The telescope can be moved using the control pad on the right side of the application’s home screen.
The numbers represent the speed at which the mount will move with 0 being the slowest and 9 being
the fastest. In general, each speed is twice as fast as the previous one. Once you select a speed, use
the up, down, left, right navigation buttons to move the telescope to your desired position. You can
also control the mount using the “compass” image on the left side of the home screen. Press the
Explore Scientific logo in the center of the compass and drag it in the direction that you would like
the telescope to move, this acts like a virtual joystick controller. As you move the dot, a number will
appear in the middle that shows the speed at which you are moving the mount. The further from the
original location that you move the dot, the faster the scope will travel in that direction.
Other Features:
Park the mount: This option will send the mount back to its original position pointing at the north
celestial pole (NCP) or very close to the star Polaris.
Reset Alignment:
Anytime you relocate the telescope/mount, you will want to go through the
alignment process again. This option clears the current alignment settings.
Emergency Stop:
If you ever need to stop the mount in a hurry, then you can touch any of the direction
buttons or the compass rose virtual joystick area. The mount should immediately stop slewing
at that point.
Sync on Target:
If you find the target is not well centered in the eyepiece after executing a go-to
command (due to misalignments, poor leveling, improper time output or errors in site location),
center the object. Then press the Sync on Target button. This feature in essence synchronizes the
telescope to a particular area of the sky. The next object will be better centered provided it is not to far
away from the target you synced on.
