Meade MAX-ACF Aligning for the First Time, To prepare your telescope for Automatic Alignment

Important Note:

First time you align the telescope, perform the following procedures to insure precision pointing:

1.Automatic Align

2.Drift Align

3.Collimation

4.OTA Align

(if non -MAX-ACF model)

5. Calibrate home.

Aligning for the First Time

If you wish to have precise pointing accuracy, the first time you align your telescope you will need to align it to using Automatic Alignment and Drift Alignment. You will then electronically collimate the telescope, square the OTA and finally calibrate home. Once you do this. you will need only to park your scope and you will keep this alignment. When you turn the telescope back on after parking, it will be very nearly perfectly aligned from this point on.

To prepare your telescope for Automatic Alignment:

1.Connect Autostar II to the HBX port of the RA Control Panel (or Dec Control Panel).

2.Flip the power switch of the RA Control Panel to the ON position.

The Autostar II screen is activated and a copyright message displays briefly.

3."Press 0 to Align or Mode for Menu" displays. Press 0.

4.The telescope will seek the home position. Autostar II initializes the Smart Drive. The R.A. and Dec. motors operate briefly and "Initializing: Smart Drive" displays.

5."Automatic Alignment" displays. Press ENTER. The system now performs the fol- lowing routines (press any Autostar II key to abort Automatic Alignment) :

Attempts a "GPS Fix." The MAX-ACF's GPS receiver attempts to acquire and sync up with signals from GPS satellites.

After performing these operations, Autostar II now knows:

￿The telescope's limiting positions

￿The observing site's location

￿The date and time

6."CTR Polaris: Slewing" displays. When the telescope stops slewing, center

Polaris in the eyepiece using only the latitude and azimuth adjust knobs (see Fig. 41a). DO NOT USE THE HANDBOX TO CENTER POLARIS. When Polaris is centered, press ENTER.

9.Autostar II then chooses another star to align upon. "Searching...." displays. The telescope then slews to a bright star for alignment. If it does not appear in the field of view in the eyepiece, look through the viewfinder—in most cases, the star will be visible. Use the Arrow keys to move the telescope until the star is visible and centered 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. Press ENTER. "Align Successful" displays. If "Align Unsuccessful displays," repeat the procedure.

Next, you will drift align the telescope.

Azimuth	Latitude
Adjust
	Adjust
Knob
	Knob

Fig. 41a: The latitude and azimuth adjust knobs.

28	Looking at or near the Sun will cause irreversible damage to your eye. Do not point this telescope at or near the
	Sun. Do not look through the telescope as it is moving.