the star you are pointing at is indeed the one selected in the MAX computer.
For indoor familiarization, the alignment process may be simulated to allow access to additional modes (attempting to select some modes before the alignment process has been completed will result in a STAR SIGHTINGS ARE REQUIRED message).
RA DEC
This mode displays the Right Ascension and Declination (coordinates) of the direction the telescope is currently pointed. By use of an internal sidereal clock, the MAX computer will work properly with or without a clock drive running. This means that users not using a clock drive will be able to watch the Right Ascension slowly increase with time as the Earth rotates.
The Right Ascension is displayed in the format HHMM (hours and minutes) and the Declination is in the format ±DDTT (plus or minus degrees and tens of arc minutes). Please note that the Declination is to tens of minutes, not tenths of a degree (thus the digits
R=12h36 D=+26°42 | |
miniMAX / microMAX: | 1236+264 |
The MAX computer uses epoch 2000.0 coordinates. Because the computer "sees" all stars and objects relative to each other, rather than to an
The ENTER button can be pressed any time during the RA DEC mode to display a star chart number for that region of sky. The
ST Unique compilation of most of the brighter and
interesting stars (including many doubles)
MMessier catalog
NGC Revised New General Catalog
IC Index Catalog
Planets Eight major planets and the Sun (alias "DATE") NEW
NS/DS Unique compilation of
The user definable list contains the coordinates of any objects you wish, and can only be changed by writing new information over the old. In other words, even without a battery, the list is retained within the MAX computer until you want to change it.
Upon entering the CATALOG mode, use the UP/DOWN buttons to select which catalog you wish to use, and then press ENTER. You will now be permitted to define the specific catalog number
M001 0534+220
With the exception of the planets and user defined (NEW) objects, you may now press ENTER once more to see a description of the object scroll across the screen. For our above example, this would appear as follows:
M001 MAG= 8.4 SIZE=5.8 CRAB NEBULA SUPERNOVA REMNANT TAURUS NEBULA SA=05
The descriptions fit a common format which is normally self- explanatory. This format is: object catalog and number; magnitude; size (in minutes unless followed by "); common name (if applicable); constellation; object type; and Sky Atlas 2000.0 or Uranometria chart number. The smaller
CATALOG
The MAX computers have several catalogs in memory:
Model |
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| ST | M | NGC |
| IC | P | NEW NS/DS | |||
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90 | 110 |
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| 28 | 17 | ||||
80 | 110 | 2745 | 960 | 9 | 28 | 86 | ||||||
928 | 110 | 7840 | 2852 | 9 | 28 | 386 |
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NEW Catalog
The coordinates for up to 28 user defined objects may be entered into the MAX computer for later reference. This can be used to store the positions of objects not found in the other MAX computer catalogs (such as comets, asteroids and variable stars). While it is possible to plan an evening's viewing ahead of time and put the coordinates of each object in the NEW catalog, it is recommended that the builtin catalogs (M, NGC, etc.) be used whenever possible. This is because the