INSTRUCTION MANUAL INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................................5 WARNING.......................................................................................................................................................................5 QUICK SETUP ...............................................................................................................................................................6 ASSEMBLY.....................................................................................................................................................................9 ASSEMBLING THE NEXSTAR ...........................................................................................................................................9 Setting Up The Tripod ...............................................................................................................................................9 Adjusting the Tripod Height ....................................................................................................................................10 Attaching the NexStar to the Tripod ........................................................................................................................10 Attaching the Hand Control ....................................................................................................................................11 Adjusting the Clutches.............................................................................................................................................12 The Star Diagonal ...................................................................................................................................................12 The Eyepiece ...........................................................................................................................................................12 The Finderscope......................................................................................................................................................13 Finderscope Installation.......................................................................................................................................13 Aligning the Finderscope.....................................................................................................................................14 Powering the NexStar..............................................................................................................................................14 HAND CONTROL ........................................................................................................................................................15 Hand Control Operation .........................................................................................................................................16 Alignment Procedures .............................................................................................................................................16 GPS Alignment....................................................................................................................................................17 Auto-Align ..........................................................................................................................................................18 Two Star Alignment ............................................................................................................................................19 Quick-Align.........................................................................................................................................................19 Quick-Align.........................................................................................................................................................19 EQ North / EQ South Alignment.........................................................................................................................20 NexStar Re-Alignment ........................................................................................................................................20 Object Catalog ........................................................................................................................................................21 Selecting an Object..............................................................................................................................................21 Slewing to an Object ...........................................................................................................................................21 Finding Planets .......................................................................................................................................................21 Tour Mode...............................................................................................................................................................22 Direction Buttons ....................................................................................................................................................22 Rate Button..............................................................................................................................................................22 Setup Procedures.....................................................................................................................................................23 Tracking Mode ....................................................................................................................................................23 Tracking Rate ......................................................................................................................................................23 Date/Time............................................................................................................................................................23 User Defined Objects ..........................................................................................................................................23 Get RA/DEC .......................................................................................................................................................24 Goto R.A/Dec......................................................................................................................................................24 Scope Setup Features...........................................................................................................................................24 Steup Time-Site...................................................................................................................................................24 Anti-backlash ......................................................................................................................................................24 Slew Limits .........................................................................................................................................................24 Filter Limits.........................................................................................................................................................25 Direction Buttons ................................................................................................................................................25 Goto Approach ....................................................................................................................................................25 Autoguide Rates ..................................................................................................................................................25 Cordwrap.............................................................................................................................................................25 Utility Features .......................................................................................................................................................25 GPS On/Off .........................................................................................................................................................25 Compass ..............................................................................................................................................................26 Alt Sensor............................................................................................................................................................26 Wedge Align .......................................................................................................................................................26 Periodic Error Correction ....................................................................................................................................26 Light Control .......................................................................................................................................................26 Factory Settings...................................................................................................................................................26 2 Version ................................................................................................................................................................26 Get Alt-Az ...........................................................................................................................................................26 Goto Alt-Az.........................................................................................................................................................26 TELESCOPE BASICS..................................................................................................................................................28 Image Orientation ...................................................................................................................................................28 Focusing..................................................................................................................................................................29 Calculating Magnification.......................................................................................................................................29 Determining Field of View ......................................................................................................................................29 General Observing Hints.........................................................................................................................................30 ASTRONOMY BASICS ...............................................................................................................................................31 The Celestial Coordinate System.............................................................................................................................31 Motion of the Stars ..................................................................................................................................................32 Polar Alignment (with optional Wedge) ..................................................................................................................33 Wedge Align .......................................................................................................................................................33 Finding the North Celestial Pole.............................................................................................................................33 Declination Drift Method of Polar Alignment.....................................................................................................34 CELESTIAL OBSERVING .........................................................................................................................................36 Observing the Moon ................................................................................................................................................36 Lunar Observing Hints ........................................................................................................................................36 Observing the Planets .............................................................................................................................................36 Planetary Observing Hints...................................................................................................................................36 Observing the Sun ................................................. ...