Meade ETX-80AT-TC instruction manual

NOTE:

Throughout this man- ual, you will notice the term "Alt/Az." Alt/Az stands for alti- tude-azimuth, which is just a fancy way of saying the telescope moves up and down, and from side to side. Not all telescopes move like this. Alt/Az alignment is just one of many methods used by amateur astronomers to help locate stars in the night sky.

The AutoStar Computer Controller provides control of virtually every telescope function within a compact handbox. AutoStar has soft-touch keys designed to have a positive feel. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is backlit with a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) for easy viewing in the dark. The backlit display, key arrangement, and sequential database make AutoStar extremely user friendly.

Note: AutoStar does not require batteries; the telescope’s batteries supply power to AutoStar.

b2-Line LCD Display: Provides a visual interface between AutoStar and the telescope.

•Top line: Displays a menu item, or a menu option.

•Bottom line: Displays a menu option or information about a subject.

cENTER Key: Accesses the AutoStar menus. See MOVING THROUGH AUTOSTAR'S MENUS, page 16 and AUTOSTAR’S MENUS, page 20. The ENTER key is similar to the Return key on a computer.

Note: If ENTER is pressed for two seconds or more and then released, AutoStar emits a beep and “ENTER to Sync” is displayed. "ENTER to Sync" is relevant only after the telescope has been aligned and is pointing at an object. If the "ENTER to Sync" feature is accessed by mistake, press MODE to return to the previous screen. See HIGH PRECISION, page 27, for more details about this feature.

dMODE Key: Returns to the previous menu. If you keep pressing Mode, it will continue to access previous menus until the top level, “Select Item," is reached. The MODE key is similar to the ESCAPE key on a computer.

NOTE: If MODE is pressed and held for two seconds or more, the following infor- mation is then available using the Scroll keys (6 , Fig. 5):

•Right Ascension and Declination (astronomical) coordinates (see APPENDIX A)

•Altitude (vertical) and Azimuth (horizontal) coordinates

•Local Time and Local Sidereal Time (LST)

•Timer and Alarm Status

Press MODE again to return to the previous menu.

eGO TO Key: Moves the telescope to the coordinates of the currently selected object. While the telescope is moving (or “slewing”), the operation may be stopped at any time by press- ing any key except GO TO. Pressing GO TO again resumes the slew to the object.

fArrow Keys: Move the telescope up, down, left and right, at one of nine different speeds. Speed selection is explained in SLEW SPEEDS, page 15. The following functions are avail- able with the Arrow keys:

•Alt/Az Alignment - Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to move the telescope ver- tically up and down. The Left Arrow key rotates the telescope (horizontally) coun- terclockwise, while the Right Arrow key rotates it clockwise.

•Data Entry - Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to scroll through the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits. The Down Arrow key starts with the letter "A" and the Up Arrow key starts with the digit "9." The Left and Right Arrow keys are used to move the blinking cursor left and right across the LCD display.

gScroll Keys: Accesses menu options within a selected menu. The menu is displayed on the first line of the screen. Options within the menu are displayed, one at a time, on the second line. Press the Scroll keys to move through a list of options. Press and hold a Scroll key to move quickly through the options.

The Scroll keys, like the Arrow keys, also scroll through the letters of the alphabet and numerical digits.

NOTE: The Scroll Down key and the Down Arrow key move forward through the alphabet & digits (A to Z, 0 to 9). The Scroll Up key and the Up Arrow key move backward (Z to A, 9 to 0). Common symbols are also available in the list.

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