6
north 28.1 degrees (Note: the final digit in the declination is in tenths of a
degree.) Pressing ENTER will momentarily show the chart number of the
Sky Atlas 2000.0 sky map that covers the part of the sky where the tele-
scope is currently pointing. Example:
SA=08.
cataloG
This mode retrieves information from one of Sky Wizard’s nine sepa-
rate catalogs. Select this mode by pressing MODE, then either UP or
DOWN until
CATALOG is displayed, then press ENTER. Press the
UP or DOWN arrows to select one of the catalogs, then press ENTER
when the catalog you prefer is displayed.
Catalogs available (and typical display):
Star
catalog:
ST001
Messier
catalog:
M001
NGC
catalog:
NGC0001
IC
catalog:
IC0001
Non-Stellar
catalog:
NS001
ESO
catalog:
E000-01
UGC
catalog:
U00001
NEW (programmable) user’s catalog:
NEW01
The Planets catalog:
PLANETS
The first time a catalog is used the display will show its first entry. For
example, the Messier catalog displays
M001, which happens to be
the Crab Nebula. The
“M” will be blinking.
The
ST (Star) catalog contains many interesting stars, double stars
and red stars and includes all of the alignment stars. (The complete
list is included in the back of this manual.) First look up the object,
select
CATALOG mode, choose ST, and enter the index number using
the arrow buttons to set the blinking digit, pressing ENTER to advance
to the next digit to be set. Press ENTER after setting the last digit and
the display will show the coordinates. For the famous double star
“Abireo” the following information would appear on the display:
Example
CATALOG display for selecting an object from the star (ST) list:
Enter number:
ST182
Coordinates:
0513+028
Description:
ST182 MAG=4.5 SIZE=7.0
RHO ORION COLORED DOUBLE
STAR SA=11
The MESSIER catalog
“M” contains the full historical list of 110
objects identified by the famous French astronomer Charles Messier.
These objects are the most popular objects observed by amateur
astronomers. (The catalog list includes objects now known to be
duplicates or asterisms, which are identified in the description.)
To view an object in the Messier Catalog, select
CATALOG with the
MODE button and press ENTER. If you are already in
CATALOG,
simply press the arrow buttons to switch between the nine groups and
press ENTER. The display will show
M001. Enter the desired value of
the blinking digit using the arrow buttons and press ENTER to advance
to the next digit. When the last digit has been set, press ENTER and
the display will show the M number. Press ENTER again to show the
coordinates for the selected object. Press ENTER again for a scrolling
description which includes magnitude, popular name, constellation and
description. If you make a mistake, you must start over.
Example
CATALOG display for selecting an object from the Messier (M)
list:
Catalog number:
M027
Celestial coordinates:
2000+227
Description:
M027 MAG=8.0 SIZE=480
DUMBBELL NEBULA VULPECULA
PLANETARY NEBULA IRREGULAR
SA=08
The
NGC Catalog is the New General Catalog of deep-sky objects
compiled by the Danish astronomer J.L.E Dreyer more than 100 years
ago. It contains hundreds of excellent examples of each type of deep-
sky object and is the most well known and used catalog by amateur
astronomers beyond the already mentioned Messier
(M) catalog.
The
IC Catalog, the Index Catalog, contains objects which were
discovered in the decade or so after the NGC was first published. This
list contains objects similar to the NGC, but IC objects are typically
fainter and more difficult to observe.
The
NON-STELLAR Catalog contains those objects not included in
either the popular NGC or IC catalogs. Multiple sources were used to
compile this list of 661 interesting astronomical objects.
The
ESO and UGC Catalogs include selections from two profes-
sional scientific astronomical catalogs.
The
NEW (User’s) Catalog is initially empty. It may be used to store
the coordinates of the observer’s favorite objects, for current positions
of an unexpected comet or nova, or for a variable star observing list.
Look up the coordinates of the new object in a magazine or other
publication. There is space for 27 objects in the memory. The objects
are kept in memory even when power is turned off.
First the object number is set in the same manner as selecting any
catalog object. After the object is selected, press ENTER and the
coordinates will be displayed. If you want to change the coordinates
press ENTER again. The first digit of the coordinates will blink, this
digit may be changed by pressing the UP and DOWN buttons to
increment or decrement the digit. When the first digit is set press
ENTER to go on to the next digit. Should you decide not to change
the coordinates, press MODE to exit. When you have finished setting
the digits, press ENTER, then MODE to exit or UP or DOWN to go to
another entry in the catalog.
Example
CATALOG display for selecting an object from the NEW catalog:
Enter number:
NEW15
Coordinates:
1930+275
The
PLANETS Catalog consists of the major planets of the solar
system. The planetary positions are calculated according to the date.
While the date is not required for any other type of celestial subject,
it is necessary for calculating correct planet positions. Sky Wizard will
remind you to enter the date the first time you choose the Planets
catalog during an observing session.
Press MODE, scroll to
CATALOG, press ENTER. Scroll to PLANETS
and press ENTER. When
DATE appears, press ENTER twice. The
last calendar date entered will be displayed. This date is used in the
planetary orbit calculations. The range of years is from 1950 to 2050.
Press ENTER again. The display order is Month, Date, and Year. The
digits may be set sequentially using the UP and DOWN buttons to set
each digit. Press ENTER when each digit is set to the desired value.
After setting all the digits of the date, press UP or DOWN to select a
planet.The UP and DOWN buttons will allow you to scroll through the
list of planets. Press enter to display the current coordinates of the
planet.
