Meade LXD 75 instruction manual Observing Considerations

Want to learn more about using the Date menu? See the LXD75 TIPS box, page 24.

Want to learn more about Training the Drive? See the LXD75 TIPS box, page 20.

Then check the "Select Item: Event" menu for the Sunset time on that date. See EVENT MENU, page 27.

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 (i.e., no option is displayed) 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 vari- ous areas of the world. Check local time to verify.

Telescope accesses several options, including:

WTelescope Model: Allows you to select the telescope model connected to Autostar.

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

WAz/R.A. Ratio and Alt/Dec. Ratio: The Az (Azimuth) or the R.A. (Right Ascension) ratio and Alt (Altitude) or Dec. (Declination) ratio refers to the gears of the telescope's motors. Do not alter these numbers.

WAz/R.A. Percent: This option allows you to change the AZ (azimuth) or R.A. (right ascension) backlash, i.e., the way the Arrow keys move the telescope along the azimuth or R.A. axes. 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 percent value until you get a "feel" for the Arrow keys that is comfortable for you.

WAlt/Dec. Percent: The option operates identical to the Az/R.A. Percent option (see above), but allows you to change the altitude or declination backlash, i.e., the way the telescope responds to the Arrow keys when moving along the altitude or declination axes.

WTrain Drive: Trains the Altitude/Declination and Azimuth/R.A. motors to locate objects with more precision.

WTracking Rate: Changes the speed at which the telescope tracks targets in the sky.

a.Sidereal: The default tracking setting for Autostar; sidereal rate is the stan- dard rate at which stars move from East to West across the sky due to the rotation of the Earth.

LXD75 TIPS

Observing Considerations

•Try to pick an observing site away from street and house lights and car head- lights. While this is not always possible, the darker the site, the better.

•Give your eyes about ten minutes to adjust to the darkness before observing. Give your eyes a rest from observing every ten or fifteen minutes to relieve eyestrain.

•Try not to use a standard flashlight. Experienced observers use red LED flash- lights, the red utility light on the Autostar handbox, or tape red cellophane over their flashlights to use for setup and map reading so they don’t have to contin- ually readjust their eyes to the darkness. Be careful not to shine bright lights if there are other observers in the area. Do not shine a flashlight into the tele- scope while someone is observing!

•Dress warmly. It gets chilly when you’re sitting for prolonged periods.

•Practice setting up your equipment during the day or in a lighted area to become familiar with it before going to a dark site.

•Use your 26mm eyepiece to view terrestrial objects and wider areas of space, such as open star clusters. Use an optional 9mm eyepiece when you wish to view something up close, such as craters on the Moon or the rings of Saturn.

•Know your observing site. If you’re going to try out an unfamiliar site, check it out in the daylight for possible obstructions and pitfalls.

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