Meade RCX400TM Observe the Moon, Astronomical Observing, To Track an Object Automatically

Definition: Initialization is a proce- dure that ensures that Autostar II operates cor- rectly. When you first use Autostar II, it doesn't yet know where the observa- tion location site is or the time or date of the obser- vation session.

During the automatic alignment procedure, the system calculates these parameters automatically.

Autostar II uses this infor- mation to precisely calcu- late the location of celestial objects (such as stars and planets) and to move your telescope correctly for vari- ous operations.

Tip:

When multiple choices are available within an Autostar

IImenu option, the current option is usually displayed first and highlighted by a right pointing arrow (>).

Note:

Press any key on the Autostar II handbox to abort the GPS fix. If aborted, Autostar II then displays "Enter Date." You may follow prompts to perform a manu- al alt/az alignment (see page 42) or press MODE repeatedly until "Select Item" displays to use the Autostar II menu options.

Speeds 4, 5, or 6: Enable centering of an object in the field of a low-to-moderate power eyepiece, such as the standard UltraWide 24mm.

Speeds 7 or 8: Best used for rough centering of an object in the viewfinder.

Speed 9: Moves the telescope quickly from one point in the sky to another.

Observe the Moon

Point your telescope at the Moon (note that the Moon is not visible every night) and practice using the Arrow keys, the digital front focus and the slew speeds to view dif- ferent features. The Moon contains many interesting features, including craters, moun- tain ranges, and fault lines. The best time to view the Moon is during its crescent or half phase. Sunlight strikes the Moon at an angle during these periods and adds a depth to the view. No shadows are seen during a full Moon, making the overly bright surface to appear flat and rather uninteresting. Consider the use of a neutral density Moon filter when observing the Moon. See SERIES 4000 PHOTO-VISUAL FILTERS, page

48.Not only does it cut down the Moon's bright glare, but it also enhances contrast, providing a more dramatic image.

Astronomical Observing

Used as an astronomical instrument, your telescope has many optical and electro- mechanical capabilities. It is in astronomical applications where the high level of opti- cal performance is readily visible. The range of observable astronomical objects is lim- ited only by the observer’s motivation.

To Track an Object Automatically

As the Earth rotates beneath the night sky, the stars appear to move from East to West. The speed at which the stars move is called the sidereal rate. You can setup your telescope to move at the sidereal rate so that it automatically tracks (follows) the stars and other objects in the night sky. If the telescope is not tracking an astronomi- cal object, the object will drift out of the eyepiece field of view. The tracking function automatically keeps an object centered in the telescope’s eyepiece.

To automatically track objects, you need to learn how the Autostar II keypad operates in order to move through its menus. You'll need to initialize and align your telescope.

Moving Through Autostar II’s Menus

The Autostar II database is organized in levels for quick and easy navigation.

JPress ENTER (2, Fig. 2) to go deeper into Autostar II's menu levels.

JPress MODE (3, Fig. 2) to move back toward the top menu level.

JPress the Scroll keys (7, Fig. 2) to move up and down through the options avail- able for each level.

JPress the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to enter characters and digits. The Arrow keys are also used to move the telescope.

JUse the Number keys to enter digits.

Automatic Alignment Feature

Autostar II offers four methods of altazimuth (alt/az) alignment; this section describes how to initialize and align your telescope using Automatic Alignment. (For a descrip- tion of the other alt/az alignment methods, see pages 42 and 43. For information about equatorial (polar) alignment, see APPENDIX A, page 57.)

To prepare your telescope for Automatic Alignment:

1.Tighten the R.A. and Dec. locks (13 and 17, Fig. 1a).

2.Verify that Autostar II is properly connected to your telescope. See TO CONNECT AUTOSTAR II, page 17.

3.Flip the telescope power switch to the ON position.

The Autostar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly, followed by a short beep. Then Autostar II takes a few moments to start up the system.