Meade LX90 instruction manual Basic Autostar Operation, AutoStar Navigation Exercise

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BASIC AUTOSTAR OPERATION

OBJECT

Select from over 30, 220 database objects and

press GO TO to move the telescope automatically to the object and place it in the telescopic field of view.

SETUP

Quick, easy alignment permits all telescope operations with only a 2-minute setup.

Select Item:

Setup

UTILITIES Calculate eyepiece magnifications; set the timer for an observing session; or change the display brightnes.

Select Item:

Utilities

GLOSSARY

Discover the world of astronomy by alphabetically accessing astronomical terms.

Select Item:

Object

The Universe of

Autostar

Select Item:

Glossary

Select Item: Event

EVENT

Access the time of an astronomical event, such as the rising or setting times of the Moon.

Select Item: Guided Tour

GUIDED TOUR Journey through the universe as Autostar escorts you to the best celestial objects at your location.

Object

Event

Guided Tours

Glossary

Utilities

Setup

Fig. 10: Menus set in a loop.

Select Item

Object

Solar System

Fig. 11: AutoStar levels.

Fig. 9: The AutoStar Universe: The six primary categories listed in the Select Item menu of AutoStar.

It is important to understand that menu selections are set in a loop (Fig. 10). This means that pressing the Scroll Down key (7, Fig. 2) cycles down through all the available options within a given category, then returns to the first option. The Scroll Up key (7, Fig. 2) cycles up through the options in the opposite order. Note that this capability is a quick way to get to an option that is near the bottom of the list. The following example demonstrates this capability.

Example:

To navigate to the “Select Item: Setup” menu option when the “Select Item: Object” menu is displayed:

1.Press the Scroll Down key four times or the Scroll Up key once.

The screen in Fig. 11 displays two lines of information. The top line shows the current menu level. The second line displays an option which may be selected within that menu level. Some options are choices that select the next menu level down. The Scroll keys move up and down within the list of available options, showing one option at a time.

When the desired option is displayed on the second line, press the ENTER key to choose that option and move down one menu level.

Press the MODE key to leave a level; e.g., the wrong menu option is chosen.

IMPORTANT NOTE: No matter how many levels into AutoStar are traveled, each press of the MODE key moves up a level, until the top level, "Select Item," is reached. Once in the Select Item level, press MODE to return to the topmost level, "Select Item: Object."

AutoStar Navigation Exercise

To demonstrate how the AutoStar menu structure works, the following exercise calculates Sunset time so an evening observing session can be planned.

NOTE: To perform an accurate calculation, AutoStar must be properly initialized. See “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,” page 18, before proceeding with this exercise.

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Contents LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System Contents QUICK-START Guide ON/OFF E D Telescope FeaturesPage To Attach the Handbox Holder Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Autostar FeaturesTopmost screen Select Item Object Page Getting Started How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope AssemblyPrecautionary notes for the tripod How to Assemble Your TelescopeChoosing an Eyepiece Using SmartFinderAligning the Viewfinder Aligning SmartFinderObserving Observing Using AutoStars Arrow KeysObserving By Moving the Telescope Manually Terrestrial ObservingObserve the Moon Slew SpeedsTo Track an Object Automatically Astronomical ObservingMoving Through AutoStar’s Menus Initializing AutoStar for the First TimeHow to perform the Automatic Alignment procedure Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking FeatureAutomatic Alignment While it does soGo To Saturn Using the Guided TourAutoStar Navigation Exercise Basic Autostar OperationEntering Data into AutoStar Navigating AutoStarTo Calculate Sunset time Select Item Object AUTOSTAR’S MenusObject Menu Menus and Menu OptionsEvent Menu Glossary MenuUtilities Menu Observing Considerations Setup Menu Time Zone Shift Menu Daylight SAVING, Adding Observing Sites Advanced Autostar FeaturesTo Add a Site to the user-defined site list To Edit a SiteUsing AutoStar to Find Objects Not in the Database To GO to a user-entered object Observing SatellitesCommand Line How to Create Your Own Guided TourWhat you will need Tour ModesTitle Writing a TourPick END Downloading Tours LandmarksTo Add a landmark to the database To Select a landmark from the databaseAdvanced Alt/Az Alignment IdentifyTo perform a Landmark Survey To check on the available amount of memory in AutoStarBrowse Two-Star Alt/Az AlignmentOne-Star Alt/Az Alignment Photography with the LX90 Few tips on photography with the LX90Photography with a Digital Camera Meade Deep Sky Imager Photography with Meade’s AutoStar SuiteEyepiece Power 2x Barlow Super Plössl 4-elements Optional AccessoriesSuper Wide Angle 6-elements Ultra Wide Angle 8-elements#62 T-Adapter Collimation MaintenancePage Meade Customer Service Inspecting the OpticsGauging the Movement of the Telescope LX90 Specifications AutoStar SpecificationsAutoStar Dimensions Celestial Coordinates Polar AlignmentLocating the Celestial Pole Setting CirclesAutoStar Polar Alignment Easy Polar AlignmentEquatorial Wedge Lining Up with the Celestial PolePrecise Polar Alignment Star Charts City State/Prov./Country Latitude Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the WorldCity Country Latitude City State/Country LatitudeAppendix C Training the Drive To replace the battery Appendix D Changing the LNT Module BatteryAutoStar Glossary Objects in SpaceMoon Deep-Sky Objects PlanetsPage Page Page Meade Limited Warranty
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