INSTRUCTION MANUAL NexStar 80GTL TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................4 Warning ...........................................................................................................................................................................4 ASSEMBLY.......................................................................................................................................................................5 Assembling the NexStar ..................................................................................................................................................6 Attaching the Telescope to the Tripod.........................................................................................................................7 Balancing the Telescope tube ......................................................................................................................................7 The Erect Image Diagonal...........................................................................................................................................7 The Eyepiece ...............................................................................................................................................................8 Focusing ......................................................................................................................................................................8 The Star Pointer Finderscope ......................................................................................................................................8 Star Pointer Installation ...........................................................................................................................................9 Star Pointer Operationn ...........................................................................................................................................9 Using your Solar Filter ..............................................................................................................................................10 HAND CONTROL ..........................................................................................................................................................11 Attaching the Hand Control.......................................................................................................................................11 Powering the NexStar................................................................................................................................................11 The Hand Control......................................................................................................................................................11 Hand Control Operation ................................................................................................................................................13 Alignment Procedure.................................................................................................................................................13 Auto-Align ................................................................................................................................................................13 Two Star Alignment ..................................................................................................................................................14 Quick-Align...............................................................................................................................................................15 NexStar Re-Alignment ..............................................................................................................................................15 Object Catalog...............................................................................................................................................................16 Selecting an Object....................................................................................................................................................16 Slewing to an Object .................................................................................................................................................16 Tour Mode.................................................................................................................................................................16 Direction Buttons ..........................................................................................................................................................17 Rate Button................................................................................................................................................................17 Set Up Procedures .........................................................................................................................................................17 Tracking Mode ..........................................................................................................................................................17 Tracking Rate ............................................................................................................................................................18 View Time-Site .....................................................................................................................................................18 Sidereal Time ........................................................................................................................................................18 Filter Limits...........................................................................................................................................................18 RS-232...................................................................................................................................................................18 User Defined Objects ............................................................................................................................................18 Get RA/DEC .............................................................................................................................................................19 Get Alt-Az .................................................................................................................................................................19 Goto R.A/Dec............................................................................................................................................................19 Goto Alt-Az...............................................................................................................................................................19 Utility Features..............................................................................................................................................................19 Setup Time-Site.....................................................................................................................................................19 Anti-backlash ........................................................................................................................................................19 Slew Limits ...........................................................................................................................................................20 Direction Buttons ..................................................................................................................................................20 Light Control .........................................................................................................................................................20 Select Model..........................................................................................................................................................20 TELESCOPE BASICS....................................................................................................................................................22 Focusing ....................................................................................................................................................................22 Image Orientation......................................................................................................................................................22 Calculating Magnification .........................................................................................................................................22 Determining Field of View........................................................................................................................................23 General Observing Hints ...........................................................................................................................................23 CELESTIAL OBSERVING ...........................................................................................................................................24 Observing the Moon ..............................................................................................................................................24 Lunar Observing Hints ..........................................................................................................................................24 Observing the Planets ............................................................................................................................................24 Planetary Observing Hints.....................................................................................................................................24 2 Observing the Sun .................................................................................................................................................24 Solar Observing Hints ...........................................................................................................................................25 Observing Deep Sky Objects.................................................................................................................................25 Terrestrial (Land) Viewing....................................................................................................................................25 Terrestrial (Land) Viewing Hints ..........................................................................................................................25 Seeing Conditions..................................................................................................................................................25 Transparency .........................................................................................................................................................25 Sky Illumination ....................................................................................................................................................26 Seeing....................................................................................................................................................................26 TELESCOPE MAINTENANCE....................................................................................................................................27 Care and Cleaning of the Optics....................................................................................................................................27 OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES .......................................................................................................................................28 APPENDIX A - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................................................30 APPENDIX B ­ GLOSSARY OF TERMS ...................................................................................................................31 APPENDIX C ­ RS 232 CONNECTION ......................................................................................................................34 Communication Protocol:......................................................................................................................................34 APPENDIX D ­ TIME ZONE MAPS ...........................................................................................................................35 SKY MAPS ......................................................................................................................................................................37 3 Congratulations on your purchase of the Cel ...