39
Two-Star Alt/Az Alignment
Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. AutoStar provides a database
of bright stars and two stars from this database are chosen by the observer for alignment.
1.
Turn the telescope on: Turn the telescope power switch to the ON position. The AutoStar
beeps and the display screen is activated. AutoStar then takes a few moments to start
up the system.
2.
Select Alignment Procedure: “Press 0 to Align or Mode for Menu” displays. Press
“Mode” to access the AutoStar menu.
3.
Note: AutoStar initializes the Smart Drive if turned “On”, the user has previously
performed PEC training, and you have “parked” the telescope. If you have parked it,
Autostar will remember its position on the worm gear. If you do not park the scope and
turn it off, it will not remember its position. See PARK, page 28 and PEC TRAINING,
page 53.
4.
Testing Motors: The telescope then tests the motor function of the telescope by moving
in the horizontal and vertical directions.
5.
Daylight Savings Time: The next screen requests the status of Daylight Savings Time. If
Daylight Savings Time is active, press the 1 key. If Daylight Savings Time is not active,
press the 2 key.
6.
Note: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by a different name in various areas of
the world.
7.
Telescope Model: AutoStar then asks for the Telescope Model. Using the scroll keys
(Pg. 10, Fig. 2, 7)
on the AutoStar locate the model of your telescope and press enter.
8.
With “Align: Easy” displayed, use the Scroll Keys to display “Align: Two Star”. Press
Enter.
9.
Setting the Home Position: “North Method: 1=True 2=Compass” displays. AutoStar is
asking which Home Position method to use to setup the telescope. See page 18
“Setting the “Alt/Az” Home Position using Magnetic North” or Setting the “Alt/Az” Home
Position using True North. The easiest way to set the telescope in the home position is
using the Magnetic North method. Follow the steps on page 18 to set the home position.
If using True North, press the “1” key, or press the “2” key to use Magnetic North.
10
.
"Select Star" displays. Autostar then displays a database of stars for the observer to
choose from. Use the Scroll keys to scroll to a star on the list that you wish to align upon.
Select a star that you can easily locate in the night sky. Press ENTER.
11.
The telescope slews to the star. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until the star
is centered in the eyepiece. Press ENTER.
12.
Repeat procedure for the second alignment star. The telescope is aligned and you are
now ready to use Autostar's GO TO capabilities for a night of observing.
One-Star Alt/Az Alignment
One-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar provides a database
of bright stars. One-Star Alignment is identical to Two-Star Alt/Az: Alignment (see “TWO-STAR
ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT,” above), except only one star from this database is chosen by the
observer for alignment.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The accuracy of One-Star Alt/Az Alignment, unlike the Two-
Star and Easy (Alt/Az) Alignment procedures, depends on how well the observer
levels the telescope and how close to North the telescope is pointed when setting
the Home Position (
Fig. 13
). Because the other methods use two stars to align
upon, they are more precise than One-Star Alignment.
Browse
This menu allows you to search the database for objects with certain parameters, much like a
search engine. “Edit Parameters” lets you set various parameters for the search, and “Start
Search” activates the search. A typical search might be performed as follows:
1.
Select "Browse" from the Object menu. Press ENTER. “Browse: Start Search” displays.
2.
Press one of the Scroll Keys and “Browse: Edit Parameters” displays. Press ENTER.
3.
“Edit Parameters: Largest (mins)” displays. “Mins” stands for arc-minutes. Press ENTER.
Fig. 13:
Alt/Az Home Position.
North
0°
Summary of Contents for LX90-ACF Advanced Coma-Free
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