Meade DS-114AT instruction manual Event Menu, Observing Considerations

Landmarks stores the location of terrestrial points of interest in the permanent Autostar data- base.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark function, the telescope must be located and aligned exactly as when the landmark was added to the database.

■Select: To select a Landmark already in the database (see ADD below), choose the "Select" option and scroll through the list. Press ENTER to select a Landmark, then press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.

■Add: To add a Landmark, choose the "Add" option. Enter a name for the Landmark. Locate and center the Landmark in the eyepiece, then press ENTER.

Identify is an exciting feature for an observer who wants to scan the night sky and start explor- ing. After the telescope has been properly aligned, use the Autostar Arrow keys to move about in the sky. Then follow this procedure:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope during the Identify procedure. Do not loosen the telescope locks or move the base or align- ment is lost.

1.When a desired object is visible in the eyepiece, keep pressing MODE until the “Select Item: Object” menu is displayed. Press ENTER to select this menu.

2.Scroll through the Object menu options until the “Object: Identify” screen appears.

WARNING! Never use a Meade DS-

114AT Telescope to look at the Sun! Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irre- versible damage to your eye. Eye dam- age is often painless, so there is no warn- ing to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point the telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through the tele- scope or its viewfind- er as it is moving. Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

3.Press ENTER. Autostar searches the database for the identity of the object being observed.

4.If the telescope is not directly on an Autostar database object, the nearest database object is located and displayed on the screen. Press GO TO and the tele- scope slews to that object.

Event Menu

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

Sunrise and Sunset calculates the time that the Sun rises or sets on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See DATE, page 25.

Moonrise and Moonset calculates the time that the Moon rises or sets on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See DATE, page 25.

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 maxi- mum.

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

Observing Considerations

•Try to pick an observing site away from street and house lights, and car head- lights. While this is not always possible, the darker the site, the better.

•Give your eyes about ten minutes to adjust to the darkness before observing. Give your eyes a rest from observing every ten or fifteen minutes to relieve eye- strain.

•Try not to use a standard flashlight. Seasoned observers use red LED flash- lights or tape red cellophane over their flashlights for setup and map reading so they don’t have to continually readjust their eyes to the darkness. Be careful not to shine bright lights if there are other observers in the area. Never shine a flash- light into a telescope while someone is observing!

•Dress warmly. It gets chilly when you’re sitting for prolonged periods, even on some summer nights.

•Practice setting up your equipment during the day or in a lighted area to become familiar with it before going to a dark site.

•Use your 25mm eyepiece to view terrestri- al objects and wider areas of space, such as open star clusters. Use your higher power eyepieces when you wish to view something up close, such as craters on the Moon or the rings of Saturn.

•Know your observing site. If you’re going to try out an unfamiliar site, check it out in the daylight for obstructions and pitfalls.

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