Direction Buttons
The NexStar has four direction buttons in the center of the hand control which control the telescope motion in altitude (up and down) and azimuth (left and right). The telescope can be controlled at nine different speed rates.
Rate Button
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1 | = .5x | 6 | = 64x | ||
2 | = 1x | 7 | = 1º / sec | ||
3 | = 4x | 8 | = | 2º / sec | |
4 | = | 8x | 9 | = | 4º / sec |
5 | = | 16x |
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Nine available slew speeds
Pressing the RATE key (11) allows you to instantly change the speed rate of the motors from high speed slew rate to precise guiding rate or anywhere in between. Each rate corresponds to a number on the hand controller key pad. The number 9 is the fastest rate (4º per second, depending on power source) and is used for slewing between objects and locating alignment stars. The number 1 on the hand control is the slowest rate (2x sidereal) and can be used for accurate centering of objects in the eyepiece. To change the speed rate of the motors:
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Press the RATE key on the hand control. The LCD will display the current speed rate. Press the number on the hand control that corresponds to the desired speed.
The hand control has a "double button" feature that allows you to instantly speed up the motors without having to choose a speed rate. To use this feature, simply press the arrow button that corresponds to the direction that you want to move the telescope. While holding that button down, press the opposite directional button. This will increase the speed to the maximum slew rate.
Setup Procedures
The NexStar contains many user defined setup functions designed to give the user control over the telescope's many advanced features. All of the setup and utility features can be accessed by pressing the MENU key and scrolling through the options:
Tracking Mode - Once the NexStar is aligned the tracking motors will automatically turn on and begin tracking the sky. However, the tracking can be turned off for terrestrial use:
| This is the default tracking rate and is used when the telescope is placed on |
| a flat surface or tripod without the use of an equatorial wedge. The |
| telescope must be aligned with two stars before it can track in |
EQ North | Used to track the sky when the telescope is polar aligned using an |
| equatorial wedge in the Northern Hemisphere. |
EQ South | Used to track the sky when the telescope is polar aligned using an |
| equatorial wedge in the Southern Hemisphere. |
Off | When using the telescope for terrestrial (land) observation, the tracking |
| can be turned off so that the telescope never moves. |
Tracking Rate - In addition to being able to move the telescope with the hand control buttons, the NexStar will continually track a celestial object as it moves across the night sky. The tracking rate can be changed depending on what type of object is being observed:
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