Autostar II Features, Library # of Objects | Meade LX200GPS guide

AUTOSTAR II FEATURES

Want to learn more about

downloading the latest updates of Autostar II software from the Meade website? See

page 30.

Fig. 2: The Autostar II Handbox.

Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button

Control of the LX200GPS telescope models is through the operation of the standard Autostar II system. Nearly all functions of the telescope are accomplished with just a few pushes of Autostar II’s buttons.

Because the Autostar II system uses flash (rewritable) memory, your system will be able to grow when new features and enhancements become available. Download the latest satellite data, star and object catalogs, tours, serial commands list, and soft- ware revisions, directly from the Meade website (www.meade.com). (Requires the optional LX200 Interface Cable. See OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES, page 43.)

Some of the major features of the Autostar II system are:

■Automatically move the telescope to any of the more than 145,000 objects stored in the object library, including:

Library	# of Objects
New General Catalog (NGC):	7,840
Index Catalog (IC):	5,386
Messier Catalog (M):	110
Caldwell Catalog:	109
Named Objects:	227
Herschel Catalog:	400
Abell Catalog of Galaxy Clusters:	2,712
Arp Catalog of Irregular Galaxies:	645
Uppsala Galaxy Catalog:	12,940
Morphological Catalog of Galaxies:	12,939
General Catalog of Variable Stars:	28,484
SAO:	17,191
Hipparcos Star Catalog:	17,325

■Take a guided tour of the best celestial objects to view on any given night of the year.

■Control your LX200GPS with your PC using an RS232 interface.

■Align your telescope automatically using GPS (Global Positioning System).

■Access a glossary of astronomical terms.

■Mount the telescope in the “Alt/Az” mode (altitude—azimuth, or vertical—hori- zontal) for fully automatic tracking of celestial objects.

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Meade LX200GPS Autostar II Features, Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a Button, Library # of Objects

Contents

Meade Instruments Corporation Meade Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical System Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Optical System Contents QUICK-START Guide Important Note Autostar Telescope Features Ascension Declination setting See Optional ACCESSORIES, pages 41, 42,# Computer Control Panel see inset Telescope? See pages 17 Definitions Ascension,Shift Microfocuser? Autostar II Features Tour the Cosmos with Just the Push of a ButtonLibrary # of Objects Want to learn more about changing slew speeds? See LX200GPS Tips Parts Listing How to Attach the Tripod to the Telescope AssemblyGetting Started How to Assemble Your Telescope To install batteriesTip Choosing an Eyepiece Attach Diagonal or accessories Too Much Power? Mounting and Adjusting the Viewfinder Observing Observing Using Autostar IIs Arrow KeysObserving by Moving the Telescope Manually Terrestrial Observing Slew Speeds Focusing the Eyepiece Using the MicrofocuserTo use the microfocuser Key # Speed Astronomical Observing Observe the MoonTo Track an Object Automatically Moving Through Autostar II’s Menus Important Notes Which One’s the Alignment Star? Observe a Star using the Automatic Tracking Feature Using the Guided TourGo To Saturn Global Positioning System Detecting True LevelFinding True North Basic Autostar Autostar II Navigation ExerciseTo Calculate Sunset time Look into the Future Navigating Autostar Select Item Object Menus Object Menu To slew the telescope to catalog objectsWant to learn more about Observing Satellites? See Event Menu Want to learn more about using the Browse menu? See Glossary Menu Utilities MenuWant to learn more about Landmarks? See Timing is Everything Setup Menu RECTION, Adding and editing sites? Setup Menu Daylight SAVING, Mirror, Mirror Hot Button Menus Adding Observing Sites To Add a Site to the user-defined site listTo Edit a Site To GO to a user-entered object Creating User Objects Landmarks Observing SatellitesTo Add a landmark to the database Tips To Select a landmark from the database IdentifyTo perform a Landmark Survey To check on the available amount of memory in Autostar Displayed information Example Browse Alternate Alt/Az Alignments How to perform the Easy Align ProcedureInitialize Autostar Easy Two-Star Alignment One-Star Alt/Az Alignment To Set the Home Position ManuallyTip Try a Spiral Search Star Charts Periodic Error Correction Few tips on photography with the LX200GPS telescopes Photography Meade Series 4000 Eyepieces Optional Accessories Series 4000 8 24mm Zoom Eyepiece Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece Collimation Maintenance Defocused star images. Misaligned 1, 2, Aligned What is Smart Drive? Meade Customer ServiceInspecting the Optics Gauging the Movement of the Telescope Specifications 15 LX200GPS SpecificationsMaksutov Fan 10 LX200GPS Specifications 10 f/10 LX200GPS Specifications12 f/10 LX200GPS Specifications 16 f/10 LX200GPS Specifications Autostar II System SpecificationsAutostar II Handbox Specifications Setting Circles Equatorial AlignmentCelestial Coordinates Equatorial Wedge Declination Setting Circle Locating Polaris Lining Up with the Celestial Pole LX200GPS mounted on an equatorial wedge Precise Polar Alignment Easy Polar Alignment Autostar II Polar AlignmentOne-Star Polar Alignment Two-Star Polar Alignment Latitude Chart for Major Cities of the World Appendix B Latitude ChartCity State/Prov./Country Latitude City Country Latitude What you will need Command LineTour Modes Comment Line Title Writing a Tour Pick ONE / Pick END Further Study Appendix D Training the Drive Appendix E the Moon Menu To observe the Apollo 15 landing site using the Moon option 16 LX200GPS Unique Features Control Panel FeaturesCommercial Shipping To Assemble the 16 Super Field Tripod Telescope Assembly Attaching the Power and Data Cords Mounting the Optical Tube Assembly OTAAttaching the 16 Drive Base Attaching the Fork Observing Considerations Tighten the fork arm assem- bly using the provided hex key To attach the microfocuser to the de-rotater Appendix G Autostar II Glossary Basic AstronomyObjects in Space Moon Deep-Sky Objects PlanetsPage Meade Instruments Corporation