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 6-9 never appear in the last column). With the telescope pointed at R.A. (Right Ascension) 12 hours 36 minutes and Dec. (Declination) +26 degrees 42 minutes, the display would read:

NGC-MAX: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 Earth-based coordinate system, the Earth's precession is not a factor in the pointing accuracy of the MAX computer. Only the reported R.A. and Dec. are affected by precession, therefore any user defined objects should be entered with epoch 2000.0 coordinates.

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 NGC-MAXcan display information for either the Sky Atlas 2000.0 or Uranometria charts. The NGC- miniMAX and NGC-microMAXunits only display Sky Atlas 2000.0 chart numbers.

ST Unique compilation of most of the brighter and

interesting stars (including many doubles)

MMessier catalog (deep-sky)

NGC Revised New General Catalog (deep-sky)

IC Index Catalog (deep-sky)

Planets Eight major planets and the Sun (alias "DATE") NEW User-definable list of object coordinates

NS/DS Unique compilation of non-stellar, deep-sky objects.

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 (2-4 digits, depending on the catalog) one digit at a time, or planet name. This is accomplished through a process similar to setting a digital watch. Use the UP/DOWN buttons to define each digit, then ENTER to continue on to the next. If your desired number is of fewer digits than requested, you will need to use preceding zeros (e.g. - for M1 you would enter M001). After ENTERing the last digit, the coordinates for that object will be displayed, similar to the following:

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 NGC-microMAXdatabase does not include size, constellation or type information.

CATALOG

The MAX computers have several catalogs in memory:

Model

 

 

ST

M

NGC

 

IC

P

NEW NS/DS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGC-microMAX

90

110

 

 

 

 

 

28

17

NGC-miniMAX

80

110

2745

960

9

28

86

NGC-MAX

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 built-in catalogs store coordinates more precisely than is allowable under the NEW catalog.