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If you want to explore the entire object database, set the maximum altitude limit to 90º and
the minimum limit to –90º. This will display every object in the database lists regardless of
whether it is visible in the sky from your location.
Direction Buttons –
The direction a star appears to move in the eyepiece changes depending on
which side of the Meridian the telescope tube is on. This can create confusion especially
when guiding on a star when doing astrophotography. To compensate for this, the direction
of the drive control keys can be changed. To reverse the button logic of the hand control,
press the MENU button and select Direction Buttons from the Utilities menu. Use the
Up/Down arrow keys (10) to select either the Declination (north and south) or Right
Ascension (east and west) button directions and press ENTER. Select either positive or
negative for both axes and press ENTER to save. Setting the azimuth button direction to
positive will move the telescope in the same direction that the telescope tracks (i.e. towards
the west). Setting the altitude buttons to positive will move the telescope counterclockwise
along the DEC axis.
Goto Approach -
lets the user define the direction that the telescope will approach when
slewing to an object. This allows the user the ability to minimize the affects of backlash
when slewing from object to object. Just like with Direction Buttons, setting GoTo Approach
to positive will make the telescope approach an object from the same direction as tracking
(west) for Right Ascension (RA) and counterclockwise in declination. Declination Goto
approach will only apply while the telescope tube is on one side of the Meridian. Once the
tube passes over to the other side of the Meridian, the Goto approach will need to be
reversed.
To change the Goto approach direction, simply choose Goto Approach from the Scope Setup
menu, select either Altitude or Azimuth approach, choose positive or negative and press
ENTER.
In order to minimize the affect of gear backlash on pointing accuracy, the settings for Button
Direction should ideally match the settings for GoTo Approach. By default, using the up and
right direction buttons to center alignment stars will automatically eliminate much of the
backlash in the gears. If you change the Goto approach of your telescope it is not necessary
to change the Button Direction as well. Simply take notice of the direction the telescope
moves when completing it final goto approach. If the telescope approaches its alignment star
from the west (negative azimuth) and clockwise (negative altitude) then make sure that the
buttons used to center the alignment stars also move the telescope in the same directions.
Autoguide Rate –
Allows the user to set an autoguide rate as a percentage of sidereal rate.
This is helpful when calibrating your telescope to a CCD autoguider for long exposure
photography.
Mount Settings-
Once the mount settings have been calibrated (see Utilities section below) the
values are stored and displayed in the hand control. It is not recommended that the calibration
values be changed, however each setting can be changed if necessary to improve the
performance of the telescope.
Observing
Tip!
Helpful
Hint!
