is not fixed; it moves as the mount moves.
Using the LX80 hex head tool loosen the right and left side latitude locks. Insert the same tool into the latitude adjustment drive. Turn the LX80 tool until the latitude reference arrow points to the latitude that corresponds to your location. Once your have “dialed in” your latitude, secure the right and left latitude adjustment locks with the hex head tool.
Fig 36: Equatorial home position
If steps 1 through 5 above were performed with reasonable accuracy, your telescope is now sufficiently well aligned to Polaris, the North Star, for you to begin an Easy Alignment on the night sky.
Once the mount has been placed in the polar home position as described above, the latitude angle need not be adjusted again, unless you perform the one or two star alignment, move to a different geographical location (i.e., a different latitude), you wish to resume observation in the
Important Note: For almost all visual astronomical observing, approximate settings of the telescope’s latitude and other settings are acceptable. Do not allow undue attention to precise settings of polar home position of the telescope to interfere with your basic enjoyment of the instrument.
Your telescope is now in the Polar Home Position and now ready to begin the AudioStar Alignment procedure.
Locating the Celestial Pole
To get basic bearings at an observing location, take note of where the Sun rises (East) and sets (West) each day. After the site is dark, face North by pointing your left shoulder toward where the Sun set. To precisely
point at the pole, find the North Star (Polaris) by using the Big Dipper as a guide (Page 62, Fig 47).
Easy Align
The fastest and easiest way to locate objects with AudioStar’s GoTo capabilities is to use Easy Align.
AudioStar automatically chooses two stars from its database for the Easy Align procedure. During this procedure, AudioStar slews the telescope to the first alignment star. The user is asked to verify that the telescope is pointed at the chosen star and then prompted to center the star in the eyepiece. The process is repeated with a second star to complete the alignment.
Note: Before aligning the telescope, first verify that “INITIALIZING AUDIOSTAR”, Page 24, has been performed. See “Moving through AudioStar’s Menus”, Page 22, for a description of how AudioStar’s keys operate.
How to perform the Easy Align
When the telescope is already powered on and the correct site location, date, time, telescope model and mount configuration have already been entered, the Easy Alignment can be started by selecting in the menu “Setup: Align: Easy” and following the steps below.
1.When the Easy Alignment procedure is selected in the AudioStar’s setup menu, LX80 should be in the Polar North Home position. See Page 28, “Setting the Polar North Home Position” for a description of how to place your LX80 telescope in the home position.
2.Star Alignment - The AudioStar then uses two alignment stars to align upon. When the telescope slews to the first star for alignment, it may not appear in the field of view in the eyepiece. The alignment star should be easily recognized and be the brightest star in the area of the sky where the telescope is pointing. While looking through the finderscope, use the arrow keys to center the alignment star in the viewfinder. Now look through the eyepiece and use the arrow keys to move the star to the center of the eyepiece field. Press ENTER. If that area of the sky is obscured, you can prompt AudioStar to choose an alternate star by pressing either one of the two scroll keys. Repeat procedure for the second alignment star.
When the procedure is performed correctly, “Alignment
The LX80
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