Meade ETX-60AT instruction manual Easy Two-Star Alignment, To Calculate Sunset time

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The "Telescope: Mount" option of the Setup menu is set to "Alt/Az" as the default alignment by the factory. The example presented in this section assumes that you are performing an alignment procedure for the first time with your telescope and therefore, the "Telescope: Mount" option does not need to be selected. For infor- mation on equatorial (Polar) alignment, see “APPENDIX A,” page 31.

	North
Declination	Pointer
at 0˚

Fig. 11: Alt/Az Alignment

Home Position.

NOTE:

The GO TO key also allows you to perform a "spiral search." A spiral search is useful when the telescope slews to an object, but that object is not visible in the eye- piece after the telescope finishes it search. (This sometimes occurs dur- ing an alignment proce- dure.) Press GO TO when the slew is finished and the telescope starts slewing in a spiral pattern at a very slow speed around the search area. Look through the eye- piece and when the object does become vis- ible, press MODE to stop the spiral search. Then use the Arrow keys to center the object.

To Calculate Sunset time:

1.Press the MODE key several times, until “Select Item: Object” is displayed.

2.Press the Scroll Down key once to display the “Event” option in the “Select Item” menu.

3.Press the ENTER key to choose the "Event" option and move down a level. "Event: Sunrise" is displayed.

4.Press the Scroll Down key once to display the "Sunset" option in the Event menu.

5.Press the ENTER key to choose the "Sunset" option and move down another level.

6.Autostar calculates the Sunset time based on the current date, time, and location. Autostar then displays the results of the calculation.

7.Press MODE once to start moving back up through the Autostar levels. The first level up is the Event menu.

8.Press MODE again to move up another level. This is the top level, "Select Item."

9.Press MODE again to return to the starting point of "Select Item: Object."

Easy Two-Star Alignment

The fastest and easiest way to start observing with Autostar is to use Easy Two-Star Alignment.

Autostar automatically picks two stars from its database for the Easy Two-Star Alignment pro- cedure. During the Easy Alignment procedure, Autostar slews the telescope to a first alignment star. The user is asked to verify that the telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then to cen- ter the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the align- ment.

NOTE: Before aligning the telescope, first verify that “INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR,” page 12, has been performed. See “MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR’S MENUS,” page 12, for a description of how Autostar’s keys operate.

Easy Two-Star Alignment Procedure:

1.Sun Warning - Press the Speed/? key to accept.

2.Getting Started - Press ENTER to continue, or the Speed/? key to access the Autostar Help tutorial. Press MODE to leave the tutorial at any time.

3.Enter Date - Enter the current date, then press ENTER.

4.Enter Time - Enter the current time. Select "AM," "PM," or 24-hour clock (blank). Then press ENTER.

5.Daylight Savings - Select “Yes” or “No,” then press ENTER.

6.Alignment Option Screen - “Setup: Align” displays. Press ENTER.

7.Select Alignment - “Align Easy” displays. Press ENTER.

8.Set Home Position - Autostar then prompts you to set the telescope in the Alt/Az Alignment home position. To set your telescope in the "Alt/Az" home position:

•Loosen the telescope’s vertical lock (6, Fig. 1).

•Level the optical tube by lining up 0° on the Dec setting circle (17, Fig. 1) with the pointer (Fig. 13).

•Tighten the vertical lock (6, Fig. 1) to a "firm feel" only.

•Unlock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1) and turn the telescope horizontally until it points North. Re-lock the horizontal lock (9, Fig. 1).

•Press ENTER. See “ALT/AZ HOME POSITION,” page 21, for more information.

9 . Star Alignment - The Autostar then chooses two stars to align upon. When the telescope slews to the first star for alignment, it may not appear in the field of view in the eyepiece. The alignment star should be easily recognized and be the brightest star in the area of the sky where the telescope is pointing. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until the star is visible and centered in the eyepiece. Press ENTER. Repeat procedure for the sec- ond alignment star.

NOTE: Autostar locates alignment stars based on the date, time, and location entered. The alignment stars may change from night to night. All that is required is for the observer to center the selected stars in the eyepiece when prompted.

14 Autostar Operation