Meade RCX400TM instruction manual RCX400 Tips

FOCUS

4

Want to learn

more about the Focus menu? See page 19.

RET

7

Want to learn more about the Reticle menu? See page 36.

Tip:

When an astronomical term appears in [brack- ets], press ENTER for a definition or more detailed information. Press MODE to return to the scrolling Autostar II Help display.

If a celestial object's

name appears in brackets (and your telescope is aligned), press ENTER and then GO TO to slew the telescope to the object.

4 FOCUS: Toggles between two functions. The first press allows you to change the focus and focus speed. The next press allows you to create presets that tell the telescope where to focus.

5 SS: Press to display the Solar System library.

6 STAR: Press to display the Star library.

7 RET (Reticle): Press to display the Reticle Control menu.

8 IC: Press to display the Index Catalog library.

9 NGC (New General Catalog): Press to display the NGC catalog library.

0 LIGHT: Press to turn on and off the red utility light on the top of the hand- box.

h Scroll Keys: Press to access options within a selected menu. The menu is dis- played on the first line of the screen. Options in the menu are displayed, one at a time, on the second line. Press the Scroll keys to move through the options. Press and hold a Scroll key to move quickly through the options.

The Scroll keys also control the speed of text scrolling on the Autostar II display. When text is scrolling, press and hold the Up Scroll key for a faster display speed and the Down Scroll key for a slower display speed.

i ? Key: Press to access the "Help" file. "Help" provides on-screen information on how to accomplish whatever task is currently active.

Press the ? key and then follow the prompts on the display to access details of Autostar II functions in the Help feature. The Help system is essentially an on- screen instruction manual.

If you have a question about an Autostar II operation, e.g., INITIALIZATION, ALIGNMENT, etc., press the ? key and follow the directions that scroll on the sec- ond line. When satisfied with the Help provided, press MODE to return to the orig- inal screen and continue with the chosen procedure.

j Coil Cord Port: Plug one end of the Autostar II coil cord (10, Fig. 2) into this port located at the bottom of the Autostar II handbox.

1) Coil Cord: Plug one end of the Autostar II coil cord into the HBX port (F, Fig. 1d) of the computer control panel of the telescope and the other end into the Autostar II coil cord port. See j above.

1! Utility Light: Use this built-in red light to illuminate star charts and accessories without disturbing your eye's adaptation to darkness. Press "0" to turn the light on and off.

RCX400 TIPS

Join an Astronomy Club, Attend a Star Party

One of the best ways to increase your knowledge of astronomy is to join an astronomy club. Check your local newspaper, school, library, or telescope dealer/store to find out if there’s a club in your area.

At club meetings, you will meet other astronomy enthusiasts with whom you will be able to share your discoveries. Clubs are an excellent way to learn more about observing the sky, to find out where the best observing sites are, and to compare notes about tele- scopes, eyepieces, filters, tripods, and so forth.

Often, club members are excellent astrophotographers. Not only will you be able to see examples of their art, but you may even be able to pick up some “tricks of the trade” to try out with your RCX400 telescope. See page 45 for more information about photogra- phy with the RCX400.

Many groups also hold regularly scheduled Star Parties at which you can check out and observe with many different telescopes and other pieces of astronomical equipment. Magazines such as Sky & Telescope and Astronomy print schedules for many popular Star Parties around the United States and Canada.

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