AUTOSTAR MENUS

The Complete Autostar Menu Structure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select Item:

 

 

Select Item:

 

Select Item:

 

Select Item:

 

Select Item:

 

Select Item:

 

 

 

Object

 

 

Event

 

 

Guided Tour

 

 

Glossary

 

 

Utilities

 

 

Setup

 

 

 

 

 

Solar System

 

 

 

Sunrise

 

Tour Objects

 

A...

 

 

 

 

Timer

 

 

 

 

 

Align

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mercury

 

 

 

Sunset

 

 

 

 

Tonight's Best

 

 

 

Accretion Disk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etc.

 

 

 

Moonrise

 

 

 

 

How Far is Far

 

 

 

Etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start & Stop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Star

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moon

 

 

 

Moonset

 

 

 

 

 

B...

 

 

 

 

Alarm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Star

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Star's Life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asteroids

 

 

 

Moon Phases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comets

 

 

 

 

Next Full Moon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On & Off

 

 

 

 

 

Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constellations

 

 

 

 

Next New Moon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E...

 

 

 

 

Eyepiece Calc.

 

 

 

 

 

Daylight Saving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andromeda

 

 

 

 

Next 1st Qtr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Field of View

 

 

 

 

 

Telescope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etc.

 

 

 

 

Next 3rd Qtr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magnification

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tele. Model

 

 

 

 

Deep Sky

 

 

 

Meteor Showers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Focal Length

 

 

 

 

 

 

Named Object

 

 

 

 

Quadrantids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I...

 

 

 

 

Display Options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Az/Alt Ratio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galaxies

 

 

 

 

Lyrids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun Warning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nebulae

 

 

 

 

Eta Aquarids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Started

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train Drive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planetary Neb.

 

 

 

 

Delta Aquarids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L...

 

 

 

 

Brightness Adj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracking Rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etc.

 

 

 

 

Perseids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

M...

 

 

 

 

Contrast Adj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverse L/R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Star

 

 

 

 

Orionids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N...

 

 

 

 

Battery Alarm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reverse Up/Dn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Named

 

 

 

 

Taurids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O...

 

 

 

 

Landmark Survey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calibrate Motor

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAO Catalog

 

 

 

 

Leonids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P...

 

 

 

 

Sleep Scope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Precision

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double

 

 

 

 

Geminids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q...

 

 

 

 

Park Scope

 

 

 

 

 

Targets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etc.

 

 

 

 

Ursids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astronomical

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Satellite

 

 

 

Solar Eclipses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrestrial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select

 

 

 

Lunar Eclipses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add

 

 

 

Min. of Algol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delete

 

 

 

Autumn Equinox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit

 

 

 

Vernal Equinox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

User Objects

 

 

 

Winter Solstice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select

 

 

 

Summer Solstice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Y...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owner Info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Z...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landmarks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Object Menu

Almost all observing with Autostar is performed using the Object menu category. (NOTE: Exceptions include Guided Tour and Landmark Survey.) See “GO TO SATURN,” page 15, for an example of observing using the Object menu. Also see “USING THE GUIDED TOUR,” page 15.

Many Autostar menu categories contain databases. An Autostar database is a list of viewable objects, such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae and so forth. When one of these objects is selected, Autostar moves your telescope (if properly aligned) and points it at the selected object.

The Object Menu functions include:

Solar System is a database of the eight planets (Earth is not included) in order out from the Sun, followed by the Moon, asteroids, and comets.

Constellation is a database of all 88 Northern and Southern Hemisphere constellations. When this menu option is chosen and a constellation name appears on the first line of the screen, press GO TO once to change the second line to the name of the brightest star in the constel- lation. Press GO TO a second time to slew the telescope to that star. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through the list of stars in the constellation, from brightest to dimmest.

Deep Sky is a database of objects outside our Solar System such as nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and quasars.

Star is a database of stars listed in different categories such as named, double, variable, or nearby.

Satellite is a database of Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, Iridium, Global Positioning System satellites, and geosynchronous orbit satellites. See OBSERVING SATELLITES,” page 23.

User Objects allows the user to define deep-sky objects of specific interest that are not cur- rently in the Autostar database. See "APPENDIX B," page 33, for more information.

Use the Landmark Survey option in the Utilities menu to sequentially view all Landmarks entered into Autostar.

Landmarks stores the location of terrestrial points of interest in the permanent Autostar database.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To use the Landmark function, the telescope must be located and aligned exactly as when the landmark was added to the database. Additionally, the telescope needs to be mounted in the same configuration, i.e., Alt/Az or Polar.

16 Autostar Menus

Page 16
Image 16
Meade ETX-70AT instruction manual Autostar Menus, Complete Autostar Menu Structure, Object Menu

ETX-70AT specifications

The Meade ETX-70AT is a compact, portable telescope that caters to both amateur astronomers and educational purposes. This telescope is part of the renowned ETX series, known for its innovative features and user-friendly design. With an aperture of 70mm, the ETX-70AT is designed to provide clear, bright images of celestial objects, making it an ideal choice for novice astronomers eager to explore the night sky.

One of the standout features of the ETX-70AT is its Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design. This design combines a Maksutov corrector plate with a compact cassegrain layout, allowing for a shorter tube length while still providing excellent optical performance. As a result, users can easily transport the telescope to various observing locations without compromising on image quality.

The telescope boasts a focal length of 350mm, which offers a wide field of view, allowing observers to comfortably locate and track celestial phenomena. The ETX-70AT comes equipped with a built-in electronic control system known as the Audio Star, featuring a database of over 30,000 celestial objects. This system not only makes it easier for users to locate specific targets but also enhances the overall observing experience by providing informative audio commentary about different astronomical objects.

Another notable characteristic is its lightweight design, weighing in at just around 5 lbs. This portability factor makes it an excellent choice for stargazers who prefer to travel or hike to optimal viewing locations. The telescope is mounted on an adjustable and stable aluminum tripods, providing a solid foundation for viewing.

The Meade ETX-70AT also includes a variety of accessories, including two eyepieces (26mm and 9.7mm), a finder scope to help users aim accurately, and a variety of optional filters to enhance viewing contrast and clarity. Furthermore, the telescope supports direct connection to a computer for astrophotography, enabling enthusiasts to capture their astronomical observations digitally.

In summary, the Meade ETX-70AT is an exceptional entry-level telescope that combines portability, advanced technology, and ease of use. With its powerful optics, automated features, and impressive accessory offerings, it serves as an excellent tool for any individual or educational institution looking to delve into the wonders of astronomy.