15
OBSERVING
Observing by Moving the Telescope Manually
If you wish to observe a distant land object, such as a mountain top or a bird, you can
observe by merely pointing the telescope and looking through the eyepiece.
1.
Loosen the telescope’s horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1a) and vertical lock (6, Fig. 1b).
2.
Move your telescope to observe distant street signs, mountains, trees and other struc-
tures. Use the SmartFinder to help sight-in on an object.
3.
Center the object with SmartFinder’s red dot and then in the telescope
eyepiece. When the object is centered in your eyepiece, remember to re-tighten the
horizontal and vertical locks.
4.
Practice focusing objects using the focus knob (8, Fig. 1b).
5.
Once you get a feel for how your telescope moves and focuses, try to view
something more challenging, like a bird or a distant moving train.
You can also observe stars and objects in the night sky using this method, but note that
objects begin to slowly drift across the eyepiece field. This motion is caused by the rotation
of the Earth. As you become familiar with the AutoStar handbox operation, you can coun-
teract the drift using the automatic tracking feature (see TO TRACK AN OBJECT AUTO-
MATICALLY, page
16) or by using AutoStar's GO TO capabilities (see GO TO SATURN,
page 18).
Terrestrial Observing
ETX telescopes are excellent high-resolution terrestrial (land) telescopes. Viewing terres-
trial objects requires looking along the Earth's surface through heat waves. These heat
waves often cause degradation of image quality. Lower power eyepieces, like the 26mm,
magnify these heat waves less than higher power eyepieces (such as a 9mm eyepiece).
Therefore, lower power eyepieces provide a steadier, higher quality image. If the image is
fuzzy or ill-defined, reduce to a lower power eyepiece, where the heat waves do not have
such an effect on image quality. Observing in early morning hours, before the ground has
built up internal heat, produces better viewing conditions than during late afternoon hours.
Observing Using AutoStar Arrow Keys
You may observe land and astronomical objects using AutoStar's Arrow keys to move the
telescope.
1.
Tighten the horizontal (9, Fig. 1a) and vertical locks (6, Fig. 1b).
2.
Make sure that AutoStar’s coiled cord is connected to the computer control panel’s
HBX port (C, Fig. 2).
3.
Flip the Power Switch (A, Fig. 2) on the computer control panel to the ON
position. A copyright message lights on AutoStar’s LCD display, followed by a warning
not to look at the Sun. Press the AutoStar key prompted by the message when you
are done reading. See page 9 to 11 for more information about AutoStar’s keys.
4.
A “Getting Started” message displays. Press ENTER to skip this message.
5.
AutoStar then displays: “Location Option: 1-Zipcode 2-City”. This option allows you to
choose how you wish to enter the location of your observing site: you can enter your
zip code or choose the site from a list of countries, states and cities.
Press the number key “1” if you wish to enter by zip code. Then enter the five
digits of the zip code of your observing site and press ENTER.
Press the number key “2” if you wish to select your observing site from a list of coun-
try, states and cities. First, use a Scroll key to cycle through the list of countries and
states (listed alphabetically). Press ENTER when the correct location displays. Next,
use a Scroll key to cycle through the list of cities (also listed alphabetically). Press
ENTER when the closest city displays.
6.
Finally “Telescope Models” displays. Using the SCROLL KEYS, cycle through the list of
telescope models and press ENTER when your model displays.
7.
The display now displays "Align: Automatic."
You can now use the ARROW KEYS to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right or left.
Practice using the ARROW KEYS to center objects in the eyepiece.To change the speed
at which the telescope moves (known as the “slew” speed), press a NUMBER KEY from 1
through 9. 1 is the slowest speed and 9 is the fastest.
NEVER point
the telescope
directly at or
near the Sun at
any time! Observing the
Sun, even for the smallest
fraction of a second, will
result in instant and
irreversible eye damage,
as well as physical
damage to the telescope
itself.
Do not look through the
telescope's eyepiece
while it is rapidly moving.
Children should always
have adult supervision
while observing.
Note:
Viewing conditions vary
widely from night-to-night
and site-to-site. Turbulence
in the air, even on an
apparently clear night, can
distort images. Low-power
eyepieces, such as the
26mm supplied with your
telescope, are better suited
to resolving images in poor
viewing conditions.
Important Note:
AutoStar requests the
Country/State, City and
Telescope Model
information
only the first
time
AutoStar is activated.
Subsequently, AutoStar
uses the location and model
number you have chosen.
If you wish to change this
information, use the
"Telescope Model" and
"Site" options in the Setup
menu. See pages 27 and
29 for more
information.
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Summary of Contents for ETX series AutoStar
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