Meade ETX-60AT instruction manual Observing Exercises, Go To Saturn, Using the Guided Tour

NOTE:

Keep in mind that when viewing through the eye- piece, images of terrestrial objects are right-side-up, but reversed left-for- right. Normally, such an image orienta- tion is not bother- some, unless trying to read a distant sign, for example.

If the telescope is to be used for exten- sive terrestrial observations, a cor- rectly oriented image is provided with the #933 45° Erecting Prism. See

“OPTIONAL

ACCESSORIES,” page 25.

OBSERVING EXERCISES

Go To Saturn

After performing the Easy Two-Star Alignment procedure, the motor drive begins operating and the telescope is aligned for a night of viewing. Objects in the eyepiece should maintain their position even though the Earth is rotating beneath the stars.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once aligned, only use the GO TO or Arrow keys to move the telescope. Do not loosen the telescope locks (6 and 9, Fig. 1), or move the base manually, or alignment will be lost.

This exercise demonstrates how to select an object for viewing from Autostar’s database. This example demonstrates how to select Saturn.

NOTE: Saturn is not visible the entire year and you may need to choose another object from Autostar's database; however, the procedure, as described below, remains the same.

1 After the telescope is aligned, “Select Item: Object” displays. Press ENTER.

2.“Object: Solar System” displays. Press ENTER.

3.“Solar System: Mercury” displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Down key until “Solar System: Saturn” displays.

4.Press ENTER. “Calculating” displays. Then “Saturn” and a set of coordinates displays. Saturn’s (and other planets’) coordinates change throughout the year.

5.Press GO TO. “Saturn: Slewing...” displays and the telescope slews until it finds Saturn. You may need to use the Arrow keys to center Saturn precisely in the eyepiece. Autostar then automatically slews (moves) the telescope so that it "tracks" Saturn (or whatever other object you may have chosen); i.e., Saturn remains centered in the eyepiece. If an object is observed in the telescope without using Autostar's GO TO or automatic tracking capabilities (see "TO TRACK AN OBJECT AUTOMATICALLY," page 20), objects in the eyepiece gradually drift out of the field of view due to the Earth's rotation.

Using the Guided Tour

This example demonstrates using “Tonight’s Best” Guided Tour.

1.After observing Saturn, press MODE twice so that “Select Item: Object” displays again.

2.Press the Scroll Down key twice. “Select Item: Guided Tour” displays.

3.Press ENTER. “Guided Tour: Tonight’s Best” displays. Press ENTER.

NOTE: If you wish to try out other Guided Tours, press the Scroll Down key to scroll
through other tour choices. When
the tour you wish to select dis-	TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
plays, press ENTER.

4.“Tonight’s Best: Searching...” dis- plays. After calculating, “Tonight’s Best: Jupiter” displays.

NOTE: Different objects may be displayed on a tour list on any given night.

Press ENTER or Speed/? to display information about the object. Press GO TO to move the telescope to the object.

5.Press MODE to return to the Tour list. Press the Scroll keys to scroll through the list. Press ENTER when you find the next object you wish to observe.

6.Press MODE repeatedly to leave the Guided Tour menu.

Which One’s the Alignment

Star?

If Autostar has chosen an alignment star with which you are unfamiliar, how can you be sure if the star in your eyepiece is really the alignment star?

The rule of thumb is that an alignment star is usual- ly the brightest star in that area of the sky. When you view an alignment star in an eyepiece, it stands out dramatically from the rest of the stars in that portion of the sky.

If you have an obstruction, such as a tree or a build- ing blocking your view of the alignment star, or if you have any doubts at all about the star that has been chosen, no problem. Just press the Scroll Down key and Autostar will find another star to align upon.

Observing Exercises 15