Want to learn more about
Slew Speeds? See Slew
Speeds, this page.
See MIRROR MIRROR, page 31, for more information about the microfocuser and the primary mirror lock.
Tip:
The slowest speed, 1x, may be changed using the Guiding Rate menu. This menu allows you to change the speed by entering a percentage of the speed (either more or less than 100%). This function may be useful in guiding the tel- escope during CCD and
8.Autostar II then requests the current date and time. Press ENTER repeatedly to bypass these menus. Keep pressing until "Setup: Align" displays.
9.The Arrow keys are now activated. Press the Arrow keys (5, Fig. 2) to slew (move) the telescope up, down, right, or left.
10.Press the Speed key (Number key "1") and then a Number key (6, Fig. 2) to change the telescope’s slew speed. ("1" is the slowest speed, "9" is highest speed.)
11.Use the viewfinder (22, Fig. 1) to locate an object and practice using the Autostar II’s Arrow keys to center the object in the telescope’s field of view.
12.Bring the object into focus (see below).
Focusing the Eyepiece Using the Microfocuser
The LX200GPS zero
To use the microfocuser:
1.Perform this part of the procedure during the daytime, without the eyepiece assembly (eyepiece, diagonal, etc.) attached to the microfocuser. Press the Autostar II Focus button and then the Up and Down Arrow keys. Observe the microfocuser drawtube as it travels in and out. When the drawtube reaches the furthest extension of its travel, listen for a change in the pitch of the motor. Notice that the drawtube's maximum extension is about a
2.When you begin your viewing session, attach the eyepiece assembly. See pages 13 and 14 for details.
3.Make sure that the microfocuser is plugged into the computer control panel focus port (13C, Fig. 1).
4.Point the telescope at a bright star.
5.Rotate the mirror lock knob (9, Fig. 1) towards the "unlock" position, until it feels loose. Use the coarse focus control (6, Fig. 1) to achieve a rough focus of the star.
6.Rotate the mirror lock knob towards the "lock" position and adjust the tension to a firm feel; this action serves to lock in the coarse focus.
Important Note: Do not use or bump the coarse focus knob once you have set the coarse focus. If you do so, repeat steps 5 and 6 above to reset the coarse focus.
7.Press the Focus key (Number key "4"). "Focus Control: Speed: Fast" displays. Press the Up or Down Scroll keys to cycle through the four speed options. Press ENTER to select the desired speed. Or press one of the following Number keys after pressing the Focus key to change the speed:
Key # | Speed | Key # | Speed |
1 or 2 | Fine | 6 or 7 | Medium |
3, 4, or 5 | Slow | 8 or 9 | Fastest |
8.Use the Arrow keys to bring the star into fine focus.
9.You may need to repeat this procedure when you change eyepieces.
Slew Speeds
Autostar II has nine slew speeds that move the optical tube at rates that are directly pro- portional to the sidereal rate and have been calculated to accomplish specific functions. Press the Speed key (Number key "1") and then press a Number key to change the slew speed, which is shown for about two seconds on Autostar II’s display.
The nine available speeds are:
Number Key 1 | = | 1x | = |
| Guide Rate, programmable (see Tip at left) |
Number Key 2 | = | 2x | = | 2 | x sidereal (0.5 |
Number Key 3 | = | 8x | = | 8 | x sidereal (2 |
Number Key 4 | = | 16x | = | 16 | x sidereal (4 |
Number Key 5 | = | 64x | = | 64 | x sidereal (16 |
Number Key 6 | = | 128x | = | 30 | |
Number Key 7 | = | 1.5° = | 90 | ||
Number Key 8 | = | 3° = | 180 | ||
Number Key 9 | = | Max = | 480 | ||
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