Meade MAX-ACF instruction manual Event Menu, Glossary Menu, Utilities Menu

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Browse: Allows you to search the library for objects with certain parameters, much like a search engine. "Edit Parameters" lets you set various parameters for the search, such as: Object Type, Minimum Elevation, Largest, etc. Once you have set the param- eters of the search, select "Start Search" and press ENTER. Autostar II will display the results of the search.

Event Menu

The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The

Event database includes:

Sunrise, Sun Transit, and Sunset: Calculate the time of Sun rise, Sun transit, or Sun set on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu.

Moonrise, Moon Transit, and Moonset: Calculate the time of Moon rise, Moon tran- sit, or Moon set on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by enter- ing a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu.

Moon Phases: Displays the date and time of the next Full, New, 1st Quarter, and 3rd

Quarter Moon.

Meteor Showers: Provides information on upcoming meteor showers, such as the Perseids, the Leonids, etc. Also lists the dates of the showers and when they reach maximum.

Note: Meteors are fast moving objects that cover large areas of the sky and are usually best observed with the naked eye.

Solar Eclipse: Lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, annular, or partial) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the avail- able data. This option is dependent on your location.

Lunar Eclipse: Lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, par- tial, penumbral) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data.

Min. (Minimum) of Algol: Displays 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 mag- nitude 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. Autostar II calculates minimum magnitude time at mid- eclipse.

Autumn and Vernal Equinox: Calculate the time and date of the fall or spring equi- nox of the current year.

Winter and Summer Solstice: Calculate 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 II functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in Autostar II. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets], usually found when using the Autostar II 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 II goes to the glossary entry for that word.

To access directly from within 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 II, includ-

 

ing a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:

 

Balance OTA: Use while you're balancing the OTA (see pages 22 - 23 for complete

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procedure). Allows to balance on both axes.

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 Telescope Features Components of MAXPedestal Wedge Assembly Pedestal AssemblyRA Assembly Right Ascension Housing AssemblyDEC Assembly Declination Housing AssemblyCOUNTER- Weights CounterweightsTripod MAX TripodOptical Tube Assembly MaleTHE OTARA Assembly Control Panel Saddle Control Panel Control Panels and PortsAutostar II Features Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a ButtonLibrary # of Objects Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving Tripod Assembly Pedestal Assembly and Adjusting Latitude PositionLatitude Adjustment If you need to set for low range or high rangeRA Assembly Assembly Requires TWO People to LiftDEC Saddle Assembly Attach Counterweight Assembly 21 B Attach LOW Latitude Counterweights Attach Optical Tube to the DEC SaddleWhen end Electrical Connections Align the Viewfinder with the OTATo Balance the RA Assembly Home Position and Balancing the OTAThis Procedure Balance the DEC AxisMounting and Focusing the Viewfinder for the First Time Getting StartedAlign the Viewfinder Focusing the Telescope To select a previously defined focus preset To sync on a focus presetSlew Speeds To exit the focus operation at any timeAligning for the First Time To prepare your telescope for Automatic AlignmentHow to Drift Align Max Northern Hemisphere CollimationTest your Collimation Follow these steps for collimation of the optical system OTA align bolt. Misaligned 1, 2, AlignedCalibrate Home Parking the ScopeBasic Autostar Autostar II Navigation ExerciseTo Calculate Sunset time Example of Locating a menu Navigating AutostarAutostar IIs Menus Object Menu To slew the telescope to catalog objectsEvent Menu Glossary MenuUtilities Menu Enter Setup Menu Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving Setup Menu Daylight SAVING, above Hot Button Menus Adding Observing Sites To Add a Site to the user-defined site listTo Edit a Site Creating User Objects To GO to a user-entered objectObserving Satellites IdentifyBrowse Displayed information ExampleAlternate Polar Alignments Initialize AutostarTwo-Star Polar Alignment Easy Polar AlignmentPeriodic Error Correction Update Menu OptionTrain Menu Option Erase Menu OptionOptional Accessories Meade Series 4000 EyepiecesRear cells of Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain models Deep Sky Imager Maintenance Telescope Specifications Advanced Autostar II System Specifications Autostar II Handbox SpecificationsMeade Consumer Solutions Appendix a Latitude Chart Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the WorldCity State/Prov./Country Latitude City Country LatitudeTo observe the Apollo 15 landing site using the Moon option Appendix B the MoonIntroduction OperationTraining Update Permanently Mounted ScopesOther Menus Options Save As and Load OffAppendix D How to Read the Latitude Scale Page Meade Limited Warranty
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