Meade LT SC Series, LT Series, LT ACF Series instruction manual Glossary Menu, Utilities Menu

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of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data.

Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every

2.8days during a 10 hour period, Algol undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. LT Series calculates minimum magnitude time at mid-eclipse.

Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of the current year.

Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time and date of the winter or summer solstice of the current year.

Glossary Menu

The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and AutoStar functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in AutoStar. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets], usually found when using the AutoStar Help function or when reading a scrolling message such as a description of a planet or star. Press ENTER whenever a hypertext word is on screen and AutoStar goes to the glossary entry for that word.

To access directly from the Glossary menu, use the Scroll keys to scroll through the alphabet. Press ENTER on the desired letter. Scroll to the desired entry and then press ENTER to read the description.

Utilities Menu

The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within AutoStar, including a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:

Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography and tracking satellites. See OBSERVING Satellites, page 32. To use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose “Set” or “Start/Stop.”

•Set: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER.

•Start/Stop: Activates the timer set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the timer. When the timer runs out, four beeps sound and the timer is deactivated.

Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder. To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose “Set” or “Start/Stop”.

•Set: Enter the time of day for the alarm to sound, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER.

•Start/Stop: Activates the alarm set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the alarm. When the alarm time arrives, AutoStar beeps. Press ENTER to deactivate the alarm.

Eyepiece Calc calculates information about an eyepiece for the specific telescope to which AutoStar is connected.

•Field of View: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the field of view is calculated.

•Magnification: Scroll through a list of available eyepieces. When an eyepiece is selected, the magnification is calculated.

•Suggest: AutoStar calculates and suggests the best eyepiece for viewing, based on the telescope and the object being viewed.

Brightness Adj adjusts the brightness of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER.

Contrast Adj adjusts the contrast of the display using the Scroll keys. When complete, press ENTER.

Note: This feature is usually only required in very cold weather.

Landmark Survey automatically slews the telescope to all user-defined landmarks with a short pause at each location. Press ENTER to start the survey. While a slew is in progress, press any key to skip that object and go to the next landmark on the list. To observe a landmark for a longer period, press MODE when paused on the object to stop the survey. Press ENTER to restart the survey at the first object on the list. See Landmarks, page 37.

AUTOSTARAutoStar#497#497MENUHANDBOXOPTIONS

INDEX

 

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Contents Index Battery Safety Instructions Contents LT Series ACF and LT Series SC Telescope IntroductionSpreader Shaft End Nut Spreader Bar Getting StartedAssembling the Tripod Lock-KnobMounting the Telescope Installing the BatteriesUsing an AC Adapter or DC Power Cord Power PortYour Telescope is now Fully Assembled Attaching AccessoriesGETTING#497 Handboxstarted Using the Red Dot Finder Adjusting the Red Dot FinderTrue North Home Position Aligning the LT SeriesLT Series Home Position Magnetic North Home PositionInitializing AutoStar Moving Through AutoStar’s MenusEasy Two-Star Align How to perform the Easy Align ProcedureGo To Saturn Using the Guided TourAutoStarLT SERIES#497KEYHANDBOXFEATURES B. C. D. E Computer Control Panel Eyepiece Holder Thumb ScrewOptional Accessories Choosing Eyepieces52º AutoStarOPTIONAL#497ACCESSORIESHANDBOX Imagers and Accessories Power SuppliesTour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button AUTOAutotarSTAR#497HANDBOXSlew Speeds Observing Using AutoStar’s Arrow Keys Terrestrial Observing Observe the MoonTo Calculate Sunset time AutoStar Navigation ExerciseNavigating AutoStar Entering Data into AutoStarGuided Tour Menu Object MenuAutoStar #497 Menu Tree Event Menu Utilities Menu Glossary MenuSetup Menu Index Autostar #497 Handbox Adding Observing Sites To Add a Site to the user-defined site listTo Edit a Site Using AutoStar to Find Objects Not in the Database To GO to a user-entered objectObserving Satellites Tour Modes How to Create Your Own Guided TourCommand Line Writing a TourComment Line Index Downloading Tours LandmarksTo check on the available amount of memory in AutoStar To Add a landmark to the databaseTo Select a landmark from the database To perform a Landmark SurveyDisplayed information Example IdentifyAdvanced Alt/Az Alignment Two-Star Alt/Az AlignmentAutostar Features One-Star Alt/Az Alignment BrowseCollimation MaintenanceLT Series Collimation Collimation ScrewsUpdating Your LT Series Firmware Customer ServiceInspecting the Optics Gauging the Movement of the TelescopeAppendix a DriveObjects in Space Appendix BDeep-Sky Objects Model and Product Number LT ACF # Optical System Appendix C SpecificationsAutoStarSPECIFICATIONS#497 Handbox ACF and SC Optical Systems Appendix DFederal Communications Commission Appendix ERecycling 55-09004 Meade Limited Warranty

LT Series, LT ACF Series, LT SC Series specifications

The Meade LT SC Series, LT ACF Series, and LT Series telescopes are designed to meet the diverse needs of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers alike. Each of these series caters to various levels of experience while incorporating advanced features and technologies that enhance observational stability and image quality.

The Meade LT SC Series, featuring the advanced Schmidt-Cassegrain design, excels in versatility. This series includes different aperture sizes, allowing users to view celestial objects ranging from the moon to distant galaxies. The telescopes come equipped with an AudioStar hand controller that provides a database of over 30,000 celestial objects, enabling users to easily locate and track their subjects. The built-in GPS feature facilitates effortless alignment by automatically determining the user’s location and time.

In contrast, the LT ACF Series showcases Meade's innovative Advanced Coma-Free (ACF) optics. This design minimizes coma and field curvature, providing sharp, crisp images across a wider field of view. Ideal for astrophotography, this series is enhanced by features like a fast focal ratio for better imaging of dim objects and a robust construction that ensures stability during use. The LT ACF telescopes also support advanced imaging techniques, allowing users to capture stunning images of deep-sky objects while minimizing aberrations.

The classic LT Series remains a favorite among beginners. Known for its straightforward setup and usability, this series is designed with a lightweight and portable frame. The LT Series telescope is equipped with an altazimuth mount, making it user-friendly for quick observations. The simplicity allows new astronomers to start observing with minimal technical knowledge. Additionally, these telescopes support a variety of accessories such as smartphone adapters, making it easy for users to capture their observations.

All three series incorporate Meade's proprietary StarLock technology in certain models, which facilitates automated tracking. This feature frees astronomers from the complexities of manual tracking, allowing them to focus more on the experience of observing celestial wonders.

In summary, the Meade LT SC Series, LT ACF Series, and LT Series deliver exceptional optical performance and user-friendly features, making them suitable for a wide range of astronomy enthusiasts. Whether you are a seasoned astrophotographer or a novice sky-watcher, Meade's telescopes provide the technology and capabilities needed to explore the universe.
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