Meade ETX-80AT-TC instruction manual Surf the Web, Tips For Beginners, Reverse L/R Reverses the

Date changes the date used by Autostar. This function is useful to check events in the past or future. For example, set the Date menu for a day three months in the future. Then check the "Select Item: Event" menu for the Sunset time on that date. See EVENT MENU, page 24.

Time changes the time entered into Autostar. Setting the correct time is critical for Autostar to properly calculate locations and events. Time may be set to 24-hour mode (military time) by selecting the "blank" option which follows the "AM" and "PM" options.

Daylight Saving is used to enable or disable Daylight Savings time.

NOTE: Daylight Savings Time may be referred to by different names in various areas of the world. Check local time to verify.

Telescope accesses the several options, including:

NModel: Allows you to select the telescope model connected to Autostar.

NFocal Length: Displays the focal length of the selected telescope.

NAz Ratio and Alt Ratio: The Az (Azimuth) ratio and Alt (Altitude) ratio refers to the gears of the telescope's motors. Do not alter these numbers.

NAz Percent: The Az (Azimuth) Percent allows you to change the azimuth backlash, i.e., the way the Arrow keys move the telescope along the azimuth (horizontal) axis. If you enter a value near 100, the telescope tube responds more quickly (it responds immediately at 100%) as you hold down an Arrow key and also slews (moves) the tube more quickly. If you enter a value near 0, it takes longer for the tube to respond as you hold down an Arrow key and also slews the tube more slowly. Experiment with this option. Try changing the per- cent value until you get a "feel" for the Arrow keys that is comfortable for you.

Alt Percent: The Alt (Altitude) Percent operates identical to the AZ Percent option (see above), but allows you to change the altitude backlash, i.e., the way the Arrow keys move the telescope when moving along the altitude (vertical) axis.

N Train Drive: Trains the Altitude and					TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
	Azimuth motors to locate objects
	with more precision.				Surf the Web
	If you are experiencing any problems
	with	pointing accuracy, follow the		One of the most exciting resources for astronomy is
				the internet. The internet is full of websites with new
	procedure described in APPENDIX D:
				images, discoveries, and the latest astronomical
	TRAINING THE DRIVE, page 40, to			information. For example, when comet Hale-Bopp
	insure accurate pointing and		track-	made its approach to our Sun in 1998, astronomers
	ing.			around the world posted new photos daily.
N Tracking Rate: Changes the speed				You can find websites for almost any topic relating
	at which the telescope tracks targets			to astronomy on the internet. Try the following key
	in the sky.			word searches: NASA, Hubble, HST, astronomy,
				Messier, satellite, nebula, black hole, variable stars,
	a. Sidereal: The default setting for			etc.
		Autostar; sidereal rate is the		Check out Meade’s website for the latest product
		standard rate at which stars
				and technical information. You can download the
		move from East to West across		latest software revisions, links to other astronomical
		the sky due to the rotation of the		sites, coordinates of celestial objects and the latest
		Earth.		satellite tracking information for your #494 AutoStar
				handbox. See page 29 for more information. You’ll
	b.	Lunar: Choose this option to
				find our website at:
		properly track the Moon over			http://www.meade.com/
		long observing sessions.
	c.	Custom: Allows entry of	user-	Here are some other sites you might find interesting:
		defined tracking rates.
				•	Sky & Telescope:
N	Reverse L/R: Reverses the		func-
					http://www.skypub.com/
	tions of the Left and Right Arrow
				•	Astronomy:
	keys (i.e., the Right key moves the				http://www2.astronomy.com/astro/
	telescope to the left).			•	The Starfield:
N	Reverse UP/DOWN: Reverses the				http://users.nac.net/gburke/
				•	Astronomy Picture of the Day:
	functions of the Up and Down Arrow				http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.goc/apod/
	keys (i.e., the Up key moves the tele-			•	Heaven’s Above (satellite observing information):

scope down).

http://www.heavens-above.com/

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