IMPORTANT NOTE: While performing the automatic tracking procedure, only use the Arrow keys to move the telescope. Once the telescope has been set in the Alt/Az home position, do not loosen the telescope locks (13 and 14, Fig. 1), or move the base manually, or alignment will be lost.
Time Zone | Shift |
Atlantic | |
Eastern | |
Central | |
Mountain | |
Pacific | |
Hawaii | |
|
|
Table 1: Time Zone Shift.
NOTE:
The Download function requires the optional #506 Astrofinder Software and Cable Connector Kit. See the instruction sheet included with the kit for more information on how to download. Also see OPTIONAL
ACCESSORIES, page
32.
NQuiet Slew: Sets the maximum slew rate to 1.5° for quieter operation.
NMax Elevation: Allows you to enter a value in degrees that sets a limit as to how far the optical tube can swing upward during a programmed slew. (Note that it does not prevent you from performing a manual slew past this limit.) This is useful when you have a camera or other peripheral attached to the
NMin AOS (Acquisition of Signal): Allows you enter a value in degrees. This value repre- sents the altitude at which your telescope begins to slew when acquiring a satellite track. This is useful when you are observing satellites, but a tall tree or building is obstructing the telescope. For example, you might begin to track the satellite at 15° altitude, instead of 5°.
See OBSERVING SATELLITES, page 29, for more information about satellites.
NCalibrate Motor: If the telescope motors appear to have a problem, use this option to retest the motors before performing a Reset. This option is also used if an Autostar unit is moved between telescopes, to match Autostar to the new telescope. To calibrate the motors, select this option and press ENTER.
NHigh Precision: If High Precision is turned on, when looking for a faint celestial object (i.e., a nebula or galaxy), Autostar first slews to a nearby bright star and displays "ENTER to Sync." Center the star in the eyepiece, then press ENTER. At that point the telescope has a high precision alignment to that part of the sky and it then slews to the object that was originally requested.
Targets switches between Astronomical targets and Terrestrial targets. If "Astronomical" is selected, the telescope tracking motor is activated and any object you observe will remain cen- tered in the eyepiece. If "Terrestrial" is selected, the tracking motor is turned off. To learn how to track an object automatically, see page 16.
Site provides access to several options including:
NSelect: Displays the currently selected observing site. Use the Scroll keys to cycle through all available sites (see ADD below). Press ENTER when the site you wish to select displays. Use this option when you move to a different geographic location.
NAdd: Allows you to add new observing sites to the database (up to six sites may be stored). Scroll through the list of Countries/States. Press ENTER when the site you wish to add dis- plays. Then choose the desired city in the same manner.
NDelete: Deletes a stored site from the database.
NEdit: Edits a selected site, including: the name, latitude, longitude, and time zone. Time Zone refers to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time zone shift. Users West of Greenwich, England use
NOTE: Autostar compensates for daylight savings time, if selected. See SETUP
MENU: DAYLIGHT SAVING, page 26.
NAddress: Use the Up and Down Arrow keys to enter your street address, city, state, and zip code. Press ENTER when the entry is complete.
Download transfers information from another Autostar. During the operation, the warning “Downloading Do Not Turn Off” appears.
NOTE: To update AutoStar’s database from a computer, use the optional #506 Astrofinder Software and Cable Connector Kit.
Statistics provides basic statistical data about Autostar, including:
NCharacters Free: Shows how much room is available in
NVersion: Shows the current version of the Autostar software.
Reset completely resets Autostar. Most values entered into the menus revert to factory defaults. Autostar requires initialization again after a Reset before proceeding with observa- tions. See INITIALIZING AUTOSTAR, page 16.
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