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Reticle LED Knob
Eyepiece
Fig. 43: The polar alignment viewfinder.
Fig. 44: The view inside the polar alignment viewfinder reticle.
APPENDIX B: ENHANCING POINTING PRECISION
The Polar Alignment Viewfinder
Typically Autostar's pointing capabilities are sufficient for most telescope observers, and the use of the polar alignment viewfinder is unnecessary for them. However, for those observers who need to meet the more demanding requirements of astropho- tography, the polar alignment viewfinder allows the telescope mount to be more pre- cisely aligned with true North. The polar alignment viewfinder contains a reticle, lit by an LED (Figs. 43 and 44).
To align your telescope to North using the polar alignment viewfinder:
1.Set your telescope in the home position (see page 17). Then loosen the Dec. lock (17, Fig. 1d) and rotate the optical tube 90°.
2.Loosen the R.A. Lock (33, Fig. 1d).
3.Remove the polar viewfinder cap (18, Fig. 1d).
4.If you have not already done so, remove the plastic separating the watch batter- ies inside the polar alignment reticle. See step 12, page 13.
5.Turn the polar alignment reticle LED knob to turn on the LED and look through the reticle.
6.Northern Hemisphere: Move the telescope mount until Polaris is superimposed on the graduated area of the reticle (between 40' and 60'). The center crosshair denotes the North celestial pole. Southern Hemisphere: The
7.Use the latitude
Note: Not all pointing positions are possible with the polar alignment reticle, as the tripod is a limiting factor as to how far the optical tube and mount can be moved.
8.Tighten the R.A. Lock (33, Fig. 1d). Return the optical tube to the home position. Note: Remember to turn off the polar alignment reticle LED.
Enhancement Methods
Autostar provides four methods of enhancing your telescope’s pointing precision:
#1:
#4: Smart Drive Training (Periodic Error Correction).
Method #1 is recommended for all users, but especially for the beginner and Methods #2, #3 and #4 are recommended for the Advanced observer.
Method #1: Three-Star Alignment Using Autostar
Perform this procedure at night. This method is similar to
In order to get the most out of this procedure, make sure you perform the Train the Drive procedure (see page 20). The combination of Training your Drive and perform- ing
To perform the Three-Star Alignment:
1.Keep pressing MODE until "Select Item: Setup" is displayed. Press ENTER.
2."Setup: Align" displays. Press ENTER. "Align: Easy" displays. Press the Scroll
Down key until “Align:
3."German North" displays and a scrolling message prompts you to set your telescope in the polar home position. See SETTING THE POLAR HOME POSITION, page 17, for a description of this procedure. Press ENTER after you finish the procedure.
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