Use the Event menu to look up dates of various astronomical events, such as sunrises and sunsets, eclipses, moon phases, meteor showers, equinoxes and solstices...
...and not just for the current date. Set any date, past or future, when initializing AutoStar and you can check the time for other events.
Use the Glossary menu to look up definitions of astronomical terms and get a description of AutoStar features.
Use the Utilities
menu to perform many of AutoStar’s useful features, such as setting an alarm, adjust the display contrast, calculate the best eyepiece for viewing an object, set up your own landmark survey, and so forth.
Event Menu
The Event menu provides access to dates and times of astronomical events. The Event database includes:
Sunrise and Sunset calculates the time that the Sun rises or sets on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See DATE, page 28.
Moonrise and Moonset calculates the time that the Moon rises or sets on the current date. Find rise and set times for other dates by entering a new date into the “Setup: Date” menu. See DATE, page 28.
Moon Phases displays the date and time of the next Full, New, 1st Quarter, and 3rd Quarter Moon.
Meteor Showers provides information on upcoming meteor showers, such as the Perseids, the Leonids, etc. Also lists the dates of the showers and when they reach maximum.
NOTE: Meteors are fast moving objects that cover large areas of the sky and are usually best observed with the naked eye.
Solar Eclipse lists upcoming Solar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, annular, or par- tial) of eclipse, and the location and time of the first and last contacts of the Moon's shadow. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data. Remember, never use a telescope to look at the Sun! See WARNING! to the left.
Lunar Eclipse lists upcoming Lunar Eclipses, including the date and type (total, partial, penumbral) of eclipse. Use the Scroll Up and Down keys to display the available data.
Min. (Minimum) of Algol is the minimum brightness of the dramatic eclipsing binary star system, Algol. It is relatively close at a distance of 100 light years. Every 2.8 days during a 10- hour period, Algol undergoes a major change in apparent magnitude as one of the two stars passes behind the other. The combined magnitude of the two stars thus dips from +2.1 to a minimum of +3.4 halfway through the eclipse as the second star is hidden. AutoStar calculates minimum magnitude time at
Autumn and Vernal Equinox calculates the time and date of the fall or spring equinox of the current year.
Winter and Summer Solstice calculates the time and date of the winter or summer solstice of the current year.
Glossary Menu
The Glossary menu provides an alphabetical listing of definitions and descriptions for common astronomical terms and AutoStar functions. Access directly through the Glossary menu or through hypertext words embedded in AutoStar. A hypertext word is any word in [brackets], usually found when using the AutoStar Help function or when reading a scrolling message such as a description of a planet or star. Press ENTER whenever a hypertext word is on screen and AutoStar goes to the glossary entry for that word.
To access directly from the Glossary menu, use the Scroll keys to scroll through the alphabet. Press ENTER on the desired letter. Scroll to the desired entry and then press ENTER to read the description.
Utilities Menu
The Utilities menu provides access to several extra features within AutoStar, including a countdown timer and an alarm. The Utilities functions include:
Timer selects a countdown timer. This feature is useful for functions such as astrophotography and tracking satellites. See OBSERVING SATELLITES, page 33. To use the Timer, press ENTER, then choose “Set” or “Start/Stop."
JSet: Enter the time to be counted down, in hours, minutes, and seconds, then press ENTER.
JStart/Stop: Activates the timer set previously. Use the Scroll keys to toggle between ON and OFF. When ON is displayed, press ENTER to activate the timer. When the timer runs out, four beeps sound and the timer is deactivated.
Alarm selects a time for an alarm signal as a reminder. To use the Alarm, press ENTER, then choose "Set" or "Start/Stop."
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