Meade LXD 650 Planet, Daytime Slewing, The Cds Keypad Hand Controller, ENTER Key, MODE Key

- 9 -

will show data on the object (name, rating, object type, brightness, and size). Now, press GO TO. The telescope will automatically slew to M42. If the desired object is not above the horizon, the Keypad Hand Controller will display the message

“OBJECT BELOW HORIZON.”

Other good objects to begin with (if above the horizon) are any of the M objects—from M1 to M 110, and the planets. To find a planet, press the STAR key, followed by the number of the planet you wish to view (see chart below). Then, press ENTER.

Planet	Star #
Mercury	901
Venus	902
Mars	904
Jupiter	905
Saturn	906
Uranus	907
Neptune	908
Pluto	909
The Moon	903

If the planet is too close to the Sun for safe viewing (closer than 15 degrees) the Keypad will display a message to that effect.

3) Daytime Slewing

You may want to use the slewing feature of the CDS to locate the planets or other astronomical objects during the daytime. If not done correctly, this can be very dangerous.

The CDS “knows” where the planets are in relation to the Sun, but the telescope does not “know” where the Sun actually is. When the GO TO button is pushed, the telescope will slew to the object by the most direct route, which may move directly over the Sun.

WARNING

Use extreme caution when using the GO TO feature of the telescope to locate objects in the daytime! Looking into the telescope or viewfinder, even for the shortest fraction of a second, with sunlight entering the optics, will cause instant and irreversible eye damage. The telescope itself may also suffer serious damage if it is pointed at or near the Sun.

A responsible adult should supervise every aspect of telescope operation when children are observing in the daytime.

Use the following procedure to safely locate objects during the daytime, whether by manually slewing the telescope, using the "N", "E", "W", "S" keys, or using the GO TO key:

1.Before allowing the telescope to move, place the dust covers on the main telescope and viewfinder (or remove the viewfinder from the telescope completely). This will keep the Sun’s damaging light out of the telescope should it move across the Sun.

2.Select the desired object from the Object Library. Then, press the GO TO button or manually move the telescope by using the "N", "S", "E", or "W" keys.

3.After the telescope has stopped moving, visually check the telescope’s position to be sure it is not pointing near the Sun. If there is any question in your mind that the telescope may be pointing at or near the Sun, do not look through the telescope. Only when you are absolutely convinced that the telescope is pointing away from the Sun should you remove the telescope’s dust cover and observe the object.

Above all, be careful and use common sense. Observing the Sun, even for the shortest fraction of a second, will cause instant and irreversible eye damage.

	7
1	8
2	9
3	10
4	11
5	12
6	13

Fig. 8: CDS Keypad Hand Controller. (1) ENTER Key; (2) MODE Key; (3) GOTO Key; (4) Direction Keys; (5) RET Keys; (6) Speed Keys; (7) Red LED Map Light; (8) Display; (9) ALT LED; (10) Focus Key; (11) Object Keys; (12) MAP Key; (13) PREV & NEXT Keys.

THE CDS KEYPAD HAND CONTROLLER

The Computer Drive System gives an observer virtually every telescope function possible with all the controls in a compact hand-held console. The Keypad Hand Controller's tactile touch buttons are designed to have the right feel, even through gloves. Its red LED backlit display, key arrangement, and easy-to- understand information makes knowing where the telescope is pointing in the sky much easier than with most other systems.

Within a few minutes of powering up the Computer Drive System, the Keypad becomes warm. This is normal. The elec- tronics within the CDS utilize a heat sink to provide the right operating environment temperature for the LCD display — even in very cold conditions. If you are indeed in these colder conditions, the display may not be visible until the Keypad has transferred enough heat. This process can take a few minutes upon powering up the telescope. While severe cold weather is not damaging to the electronics, it is advised to keep the Key- pad in a warmer area to allow immediate proper display performance.

The Computer Drive System Keypad buttons are described below:

1. ENTER Key

The ENTER key (1), Fig. 8, is used to select a menu file, a file option, or to edit a value. To select a file or an option, press and release the ENTER key. The Computer Drive System will give a short beep tone and perform the action that you have requested. To edit a value, press and hold the ENTER key until a double beep tone is heard and a blinking cursor appears in the display. There are some other specific situations where the ENTER key is used. These are described in detail where necessary. From now on, the two types of presses will be called ‘press’ and ‘press and hold’.

2. MODE Key

The MODE key (2), Fig. 8, cycles through the following five modes of the Computer Drive System: Telescope/Object Library; Coordinates/GO TO; Clock/Calendar; Timer/Frequency; Keypad Off/Brightness Adjust. The MODE key is also used to exit from specific menu files.