Meade MAX-ACF instruction manual Object Menu, To slew the telescope to catalog objects

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Object Menu

Almost all observing with Autostar II is performed using the Object menu category. (Note: Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.)

Autostar II contains many libraries of viewable objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one of these objects is selected from a library, Autostar II moves your telescope (if properly aligned) and points it at the selected object. Six of the most popular libraries can be accessed directly using the hot buttons.

The Object Menu options include:

Solar System: A library of the eight planets (Earth is not included) in order out from the Sun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets (Number key "5").

Constellation: A library of all 88 Northern and Southern Hemisphere constellations. When this menu option is chosen and a constellation name appears on the first line of the screen, press GO TO and the telescope goes to the center of the constellation and will display coordinates. Then, use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list of the most significant stars in the constellation. Then it will display deep space objects and so forth in the constellation.

Deep Sky: A library of objects outside our Solar System such as nebulae, star clus- ters, galaxies, and quasars.

Star: A catalog of stars listed in different categories such as named, double, variable, or nearby. Also included are the Hipparcos, SAO, HD, and HR catalogs. The Star cat- alog may also be accessed directly by pressing Number key "6."

Satellite: A library of Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and geo- synchronous orbit satellites.

Other Catalogs are accessed directly using the Autostar II "hot keys": Caldwell (key "2"), Messier catalog ("3"), Solar System ("5"), IC ("8"), and NGC ("9").

To slew the telescope to catalog objects:

Enter the catalog number of the object using the Number keys and then press ENTER. For example: To slew to NGC 6720, press Number Key "9," then using the Number keys, enter the digits "6-7-2-0." Then press ENTER.

Autostar II displays the common name and alternate names of the object, if available. Press one of the Scroll keys to display some or all of the following information about that object: Type of object (galaxy, nebula, etc.), Dec. and R.A. coordinates, constella- tion it is located within, magnitude, size, distance, and star-type classification, if the object is a star. If further information is available, it displays as scrolling text.

Press GO TO. The telescope, if aligned, will slew to that chosen object. Press MODE repeatedly to return to previous menu levels.

User Objects: Allows the user to define and store in memory deep-sky objects of spe- cific interest that are not currently in the Autostar II libraries. See CREATING USER OBJECTS, page 42, for more information.

Identify: An exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start exploring. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar II Arrow keys to move about in the sky. Then follow this procedure:

Important Note: Only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope during the Identify procedure. Do not loosen the telescope locks or move the base or alignment is lost.

1.When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, keep pressing MODE until the “Select Item: Object” menu is displayed. Press ENTER to select this menu.

2.Scroll through the Object menu options until the “Object: Identify” screen appears.

3.Press ENTER. Autostar II searches the libraries for the identity of the object being observed.

4.If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar II library object, the nearest library object is located and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the telescope slews to that object.

Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.

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Contents MEADE.COM Page Contents Components of MAX Telescope FeaturesPedestal Assembly Pedestal Wedge AssemblyRight Ascension Housing Assembly RA AssemblyDeclination Housing Assembly DEC AssemblyMAX Tripod COUNTER- WeightsCounterweights TripodMaleTHE OTA Optical Tube AssemblyControl Panels and Ports RA Assembly Control Panel Saddle Control PanelLibrary # of Objects Autostar II FeaturesTour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving Pedestal Assembly and Adjusting Latitude Position Tripod AssemblyIf you need to set for low range or high range Latitude AdjustmentAssembly Requires TWO People to Lift RA AssemblyDEC Saddle Assembly Attach Counterweight Assembly 21 B Attach Optical Tube to the DEC Saddle Attach LOW Latitude CounterweightsWhen end Align the Viewfinder with the OTA Electrical ConnectionsHome Position and Balancing the OTA To Balance the RA AssemblyBalance the DEC Axis This ProcedureAlign the Viewfinder Mounting and Focusing the Viewfinder for the First TimeGetting Started Focusing the Telescope To exit the focus operation at any time To select a previously defined focus presetTo sync on a focus preset Slew SpeedsTo prepare your telescope for Automatic Alignment Aligning for the First TimeTest your Collimation How to Drift Align Max Northern HemisphereCollimation OTA align bolt. Misaligned 1, 2, Aligned Follow these steps for collimation of the optical systemParking the Scope Calibrate HomeTo Calculate Sunset time Basic AutostarAutostar II Navigation Exercise Navigating Autostar Example of Locating a menuAutostar IIs Menus To slew the telescope to catalog objects Object MenuUtilities Menu Event MenuGlossary Menu Enter Setup Menu Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving Setup Menu Daylight SAVING, above Hot Button Menus To Edit a Site Adding Observing SitesTo Add a Site to the user-defined site list To GO to a user-entered object Creating User ObjectsIdentify Observing SatellitesDisplayed information Example BrowseEasy Polar Alignment Alternate Polar AlignmentsInitialize Autostar Two-Star Polar AlignmentErase Menu Option Periodic Error CorrectionUpdate Menu Option Train Menu OptionMeade Series 4000 Eyepieces Optional AccessoriesRear cells of Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain models Deep Sky Imager Maintenance Telescope Specifications Meade Consumer Solutions Advanced Autostar II System SpecificationsAutostar II Handbox Specifications City Country Latitude Appendix a Latitude ChartLatitude Chart for Major Cities of the World City State/Prov./Country LatitudeAppendix B the Moon To observe the Apollo 15 landing site using the Moon optionTraining IntroductionOperation Off UpdatePermanently Mounted Scopes Other Menus Options Save As and LoadAppendix D How to Read the Latitude Scale Page Meade Limited Warranty
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