Using Northstar for the First Time

After EARTH ALIGN, the display will then read:

EXPLORE will be flashing. This indicates that you could choose other options by pressing the UP and DOWN buttons. However, let’s look at EXPLORE first. This is the default menu at this point because, this will most likely be the most often used mode. This is where the starfinding takes place.

Select EXPLORE by pressing ENTER. SCROLL UP and DOWN to see what flashing menu choices you have. I always choose PLANET. These are the most interesting. Even if you are a first time telescope user, PLANET objects can be very exciting.

Press ENTER when the display reads:

This will take you into a list of named PLANETobjects. By using the SCROLL UP or SCROLLDOWN buttons, you can explore several items in the object list.

Press ENTER to choose the PLANET you wish to view. The display would then be:

NOTE: IF AN OBJECT IS BELOW THE HORIZON, THE DISPLAY WILL PERIODICALLY DISPLAY THE WORD "HORIZON".

SCROLLUP or SCROLLDOWN to see other PLANETS in the list. Notice the display shows you directions to each object. But what if you are a first time user want to find out more about the object? Wouldn’t it be nice to know what the object is before moving the telescope?

PRESS ENTER when:

is displayed or any other PLANET item. You will see a scrolling message telling you the coordinates for the object, how bright it is, how big it is, what its proper name is, what constellation it is in, and a brief description of what the object is. For JUPITER it would read:

Now imagine that you are a parent trying to impress your kids (or vice versa). Ten minutes into your first observing session you are already learning astronomical objects.

This is a great educational tool!!!!

To find the object, just follow the directions displayed by the arrows until you zero the object out and it will be right in the telescope’s eyepiece!

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