Meade RCX400TM Autostar II Polar Alignment, Easy Polar Alignment, One-Star Polar Alignment

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Important Note:

In order to select any of Autostar II's three polar alignment options, you must first select "Polar" in the "Mount" option of the "Setup: Telescope" menu.

Autostar II Polar Alignment

Autostar II provides three different (manual) methods for polar alignment: Easy, One- Star and Two-Star.

Easy Polar Alignment

Two alignment stars are chosen by Autostar II based on the date, time, and location. First, choose "Polar" from the "Setup: Telescope: Mount" menu. The rest of the proce- dure is identical to the (Alt/Az) EASY (TWO-STAR) ALIGN, page 42.

One-Star Polar Alignment

Polar One-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar II pro- vides a library of bright stars and one star from this library is chosen by the observer for alignment. Polaris is chosen by Autostar II. First, choose "Polar" from the "Setup: Telescope: Mount" menu. The rest of the procedure is almost identical to the (Alt/Az) ONE STAR ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT, page 43, except that Autostar II prompts you to point the telescope at Polaris and center it in the telescope eyepiece.

Two-Star Polar Alignment

Polar Two-Star Alignment requires some knowledge of the night sky. Autostar II pro- vides a library of bright stars and two stars from this library are chosen by the observ- er for alignment. First, choose "Polar" from the "Setup: Telescope: Mount" menu. The rest of the procedure is almost identical to the (Alt/Az) TWO STAR ALT/AZ ALIGNMENT, page 42.

RCX400 TIPS

Surf the Web

One of the most exciting resources for astronomy is the internet. The internet is full of websites with new images, discoveries, and the latest astronomical information. For example: When comet Hale-Bopp made its approach to our Sun in 1998, astronomers around the world posted new photos daily.

On the internet, you can find websites for almost any topic relating to astronomy. Try the following key word searches: NASA, Hubble, HST, astronomy, Messier, satellite, nebula, black hole, variable stars, etc.

Check Meade’s website for the latest product and technical information. You can download the latest software revisions, links to other astronomical sites, coordinates of celestial objects and the latest satellite tracking information for your Autostar II handbox. See page 35 for more information. You’ll find our website at:

www.meade.com/

Here are some other sites you might find interesting:

•Sky & Telescope: http://www.SkyandTelescope.com

•Astronomy: http://www.astronomy.com

•The Starfield: http://users.nac.net/gburke/

•Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.goc/apod

•Heavens Above (satellite observing information): http://www.heavens-above.com

•Photographic Atlas of the Moon: http://www.lpi.ursa.edu/research/lunar_orbiter

•Hubble Space Telescope Public Pictures http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pictures.html

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Contents
MEADE.COM How to Hot Swap the Autostar II Handbox Focusing the TelescopeContents Attach the legs of the tripod to the base Tighten the adjustment lockRotate the leg Hook the Release PinPosition the mount over the tripod Install the batteriesSecure the mount with the T-handle Move the optical tube from its shipping positionInsert the eyepiece and remove dust cover Attach the visual back and diagonal mirrorPlug in the AutoStar II handbox Turn on AutoStarTighten the R.A. and Dec. Locks To exit the focus operation 1. Press Mode Point and ObserveFan Telescope FeaturesViewfinder close up Base Computer Control Panel see j RCX400 Your Personal Window to the UniverseDefinitions Viewfinder Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Autostar II FeaturesLibrary # of Objects About changing slew RCX400 Tips How to Assemble the Tripod Parts ListingHow to Assemble Your Telescope Getting StartedTo attach the diagonal mirror and the eyepiece To attach AutoStar II and connect the handbox holderAligning the Viewfinder Mounting and Focusing the Viewfinder for the First TimeObserving PresetsChoosing an Eyepiece To focus the telescope eyepieceTo select a previously defined focus preset To define a presetTo sync on a focus preset Observing by Moving the Telescope ManuallyTerrestrial Observing Observing Using Autostar IIs Arrow KeysSlew Speeds Astronomical Observing Observe the MoonTo Track an Object Automatically Moving Through Autostar II’s MenusWhich One’s the Alignment Star? Using the Guided Tour Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking FeatureGo To Saturn RCX400 Info Autostar II Navigation Exercise Basic AutostarTo Calculate Sunset time Navigating Autostar Example of Locating a menuSelect Item Object AutostarTo slew the telescope to catalog objects Object MenuDefinition Event MenuUtilities Menu Glossary MenuLook into the Future Setup MenuPage Adding and editing sites? Setup Menu Daylight SAVING, Hot Button Menus To Add a Site to the user-defined site list Adding Observing SitesTo Edit a Site To GO to a user-entered object Creating User ObjectsLandmarks Observing SatellitesTo Add a landmark to the database To Select a landmark from the database IdentifyTo perform a Landmark Survey To check on the available amount of memory in AutostarDisplayed information Example BrowseAlternate Alt/Az Alignments How to perform the Easy Align ProcedureInitialize Autostar Easy Two-Star AlignmentTo Download the Latest Version of Autostar II Software One-Star Alt/Az AlignmentTo Set the Home Position Manually Update Menu Option Periodic Error CorrectionTrain Menu Option Erase Menu OptionFew tips on photography with the RCX400 telescopes PhotographyPhotography with Meade’s AutoStar Suite Photography with a Digital CameraImage of M13 captured with the Deep Sky Imager Meade Series 4000 Eyepieces Optional AccessoriesSeries 4000 8 24mm Zoom Eyepiece Star Charts Collimation MaintenanceTest your Collimation Defocused star images. Misaligned 1, 2, Aligned Follow these steps for collimation of the optical systemInspecting the Optics Meade Customer ServiceGauging the Movement of the Telescope 12 f/8 RCX400 Specifications 10 f/8 RCX400 Specifications14 f/8 RCX400 Specifications Autostar II Handbox Specifications Advanced Autostar II System Specifications Equatorial Alignment Setting Circles Celestial Coordinates Equatorial Wedge Declination Setting CircleLocating Polaris Lining Up with the Celestial PoleRCX400 mounted on an equatorial wedge Precise Polar AlignmentEasy Polar Alignment Autostar II Polar AlignmentOne-Star Polar Alignment Two-Star Polar AlignmentLatitude Chart for Major Cities of the World Appendix B Latitude ChartCity State/Prov./Country Latitude City Country LatitudeWhat you will need Command LineTour Modes Comment LineTitle Writing a TourPick ONE / Pick END Downloading Tours Pick END Auto Slew on / Auto Slew OFFFurther Study Appendix D Training the DriveAppendix E the Moon Menu To observe the Apollo 15 landing site using the Moon optionIntroduction Appendix FOperation TrainingPermanently Mounted Scopes UpdateOther Menus Options Save As and Load OffAutostar II Glossary Basic AstronomyObjects in Space MoonDeep-Sky Objects PlanetsPage Meade Limited Warranty
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