APPENDIX A: USING AUTOSTAR TO ENTER R.A. AND DEC COORDINATES
Although AutoStar's database contains more than 1400 objects (stars, nebulae, planets, etc.) that you can observe, you may eventually want to view objects that are not part of the database. AutoStar provides a feature that allows you to enter an object's R.A and Dec coordinates in the "User: Objects" option of AutoStar's Object menu and then automatically slews the telescope to the
In order to use this menu option, you first need to look up the R.A and Dec coordinates of the object or objects you wish to observe. Check out your local library, computer store or bookstore for astronomy books, CD Roms, or magazines (such as Sky & Telescope or Astronomy), to find coordinates of celestial objects.
The objects/coordinates you enter become part of your own permanent database, called "User Objects." You may use this menu to view these object as often as you like, but the objects' coor- dinates just need to be entered once.
To enter coordinates of an object into the "User: Objects" option of the Object menu:
1.Make sure AutoStar has been initialized (see INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 17) and the telescope has been aligned and set to the Alt/Az home alignment position (see EASY ALIGNMENT, page 19).
2.After the telescope is aligned, "Select Item: Object" displays. (If necessary, use the Scroll keys to scroll through the menus, as previously described, to find this option.) Press
ENTER.
3."Object: Solar System" displays. Keep pressing the Scroll Up key until "Object: User Object" displays and press ENTER.
4."User Object: Select" displays. Press the Scroll Down key once. "User Object: Add" dis- plays. Press ENTER.
5."Name" displays on the top line and a blinking cursor on the second line. Use the Arrow keys (as previously described) to enter the name of the object you wish to add to the data- base. When you are finished, press ENTER.
6."Right Asc.: +00.00.0" displays. Use the Arrow keys to enter the digits for the Right Ascension coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change "+" to
7."Declination: +00°.00'" displays. Use the Arrow keys to enter the digits for the Declination coordinate of your object. If necessary, use the Scroll Keys to change "+" to
8.AutoStar then prompts you to enter the Size of the object. This step is optional. Use the Arrow keys to enter this information, if so desired, and press ENTER to go to the next dis- play. If you do not wish to enter this information, simply press ENTER.
9.AutoStar then prompts you to enter the Magnitude of the object. This step is also optional. Use the Arrow keys to enter this information, if so desired, and press ENTER to go to the next display. "User Object: Add" displays again.
To GO TO a user-entered object:
1.With "User Object: Add" displayed, press the Scroll Up key once. "User Object: Select" dis- plays. Press ENTER.
2.Use the Scroll keys (if necessary) to scroll to the desired object. Press ENTER.
3.The name of the object and the Right Ascension and Declination coordinates display.
4.Press GO TO and the telescope slews to the object.
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